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Hurricane Saftey Tips

Nancy Clayson
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Hurricane Saftey Tips

Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) has issued the following safety tips on how to cope with a hurricane.

Before a Hurricane

To prepare for a hurricane, you should take the following measures:

• To begin preparing, you should build an emergency kit and make a family communications plan.

• Know your surroundings.

• Learn the elevation level of your property and whether the land is flood-prone. This will help you know how your property will be affected when storm surge or tidal flooding are forecasted.

• Identify levees and dams in your area and determine whether they pose a hazard to you.

• Learn community hurricane evacuation routes and how to find higher ground. Determine where you would go and how you would get there if you needed to evacuate.

• Make plans to secure your property:

• Cover all of your home’s windows. Permanent storm shutters offer the best protection for windows. A second option is to board up windows with 5/8” marine plywood, cut to fit and ready to install. Tape does not prevent windows from breaking.

• Install straps or additional clips to securely fasten your roof to the frame structure. This will reduce roof damage.

• Be sure trees and shrubs around your home are well trimmed so they are more wind resistant.

• Clear loose and clogged rain gutters and downspouts.

• Reinforce your garage doors; if wind enters a garage it can cause dangerous and expensive structural damage.

• Plan to bring in all outdoor furniture, decorations, garbage cans and anything else that is not tied down.

• Determine how and where to secure your boat.

• Install a generator for emergencies.

• If in a high-rise building, be prepared to take shelter on or below the 10th floor.

• Consider building a safe room.

Hurricanes cause heavy rains that can cause extensive flood damage in coastal and inland areas. Everyone is at risk and should consider flood insurance protection. Flood insurance is the only way to financially protect your property or business from flood damage. To learn more about your flooding risk and how to protect yourself and your business, visit the Federal Insurance and Mitigation Administration (NFIP) Web site,www.floodsmart.gov or call 1-800-427-2419. For more detailed information on how you can protect your property, view NFIP’s printer-friendly handout Avoiding Hurricane Damage.

During a Hurricane

If a hurricane is likely in your area, you should:

• Listen to the radio or TV for information.

• Secure your home, close storm shutters and secure outdoor objects or bring them indoors.

• Turn off utilities if instructed to do so. Otherwise, turn the refrigerator thermostat to its coldest setting and keep its doors closed.

• Turn off propane tanks

• Avoid using the phone, except for serious emergencies.

• Moor your boat if time permits.

• Ensure a supply of water for sanitary purpose such as cleaning and flushing toilets. Fill the bathtub and other larger containers with water.

• Find out how to keep food safe during and after and emergency.

You should evacuate under the following conditions:

If you are directed by local authorities to do so. Be sure to follow their instructions.

• If you live in a mobile home or temporary structure – such shelter are particularly hazardous during hurricane no matter how well fastened to the ground.

• If you live in a high-rise building – hurricane winds are stronger at higher elevations.

• If you live on the coast, on a floodplain, near a river, or on an island waterway.

Read more about evacuating yourself and your family. If you are unable to evacuate, go to your wind-safe room. If you do not have one, follow these guidelines:

• Stay indoors during the hurricane and away from windows and glass doors.

• Close all interior doors – secure and brace external doors.

• Keep curtains and blinds closed. Do not be fooled if there is a lull; it could be the eye of the storm – winds will pick up again.

• Take refuge in a small interior room, closet or hallway on the lowest level.

• Lie on the floor under a table or another sturdy object.

• Avoid elevators.

After a Hurricane

• Continue listening to a NOAA Weather Radio or the local news for the latest updates.

• Stay alert for extended rainfall and subsequent flooding even after the hurricane or tropical storm has ended.

• If you have become separated from your family, use your family communications plan or contact FEMA or the American Red Cross.

• FEMA has established the National Emergency Family Registry and Locator System (NEFRLS), which has been developed to help reunite families who are separated during a disaster. The NEFRLS system will enable displaced individuals the ability to enter personal information into a website database so that they can be located by others during a disaster.

• The American Red Cross also maintains a database to help you find family. Contact the local American Red Cross chapter where you are staying for information. Do not contact the chapter in the disaster area.

• If you evacuated, return home only when officials say it is safe.

• If you cannot return home and have immediate housing needs. Text SHELTER + your ZIP code to 43362 (4FEMA) to find the nearest shelter in your area (example: shelter 12345).

• For those who have longer-term housing needs, FEMA offers several types of assistance, including services and grants to help people repair their homes and find replacement housing. Apply for assistance or search for information about housing rental resources

• Drive only if necessary and avoid flooded roads and washed¬ out bridges. Stay off the streets. If you must go out watch for fallen objects; downed electrical wires; and weakened walls, bridges, roads, and sidewalks.

• Keep away from loose or dangling power lines and report them immediately to the power company.

• Walk carefully around the outside your home and check for loose power lines, gas leaks and structural damage before entering.

• Stay out of any building if you smell gas, floodwaters remain around the building or your home was damaged by fire and the authorities have not declared it safe.

• Inspect your home for damage. Take pictures of damage, both of the building and its contents, for insurance purposes. If you have any doubts about safety, have your residence inspected by a qualified building inspector or structural engineer before entering.

• Use battery-powered flashlights in the dark. Do NOT use candles. Note: The flashlight should be turned on outside before entering – the battery may produce a spark that could ignite leaking gas, if present.

• Watch your pets closely and keep them under your direct control. Watch out for wild animals, especially poisonous snakes. Use a stick to poke through debris.

• Avoid drinking or preparing food with tap water until you are sure it’s not contaminated.

• Check refrigerated food for spoilage. If in doubt, throw it out.

• Wear protective clothing and be cautious when cleaning up to avoid injury.

• Use the telephone only for emergency calls.

• NEVER use a generator inside homes, garages, crawlspaces, sheds, or similar areas, even when using fans or opening doors and windows for ventilation. Deadly levels of carbon monoxide can quickly build up in these areas and can linger for hours, even after the generator has shut off.

 

 

Hurricane Sandy: US begin Frankestorm shutdown in Maryland, New York, Pennsylvania, Virginia, Washington DC and North Carolina

Diane A. Wade
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Hurricane Sandy: US begin Frankestorm shutdown in Maryland, New York, Pennsylvania, Virginia, Washington DC and North Carolina

President Barack Obama has warned Americans to take Hurricane Sandy seriously as authorities started shutting down the eastern seaboard ahead of its arrival.

Several states have declared emergencies, with tens of millions of people affected as schools are closed and transport services suspended.

Experts fear Hurricane Sandy may become a super-storm when it makes landfall later.

Some election rallies have been called off, with Barack Obama warning affected citizens to take precautions.

International travel has been badly affected. Air France, British Airways and Virgin Atlantic grounded Monday’s transatlantic flights to and from East Coast cities, including New York, Baltimore, Newark, Washington, Boston and Philadelphia.

At 02:00 EDT, the storm was turning north, its eye swirling about 425 miles (760 km) south-east of New York City, according to the National Hurricane Center.

With winds of 75 mph, Hurricane Sandy, dubbed “Frankenstorm”or “Superstorm”, is expected to bring a “life-threatening” surge flood to the mid-Atlantic coast, including Long Island Sound and New York Harbour.

The winds are expected to strengthen when Hurricane Sandy makes landfall anywhere between Virginia and southern New England on Monday.

The prospect of merging with a wintry storm coming from the west during a full moon has many fearing dangerous high tides.

Sandy is some 520 miles (835 km) across. It is also very slow, moving north-east at just 15 mph, and could linger over as many as 12 states for 24-36 hours, bringing up to 25 cm of rain, 60 cm of snow, extreme storm surges and power cuts.

States of emergency have been declared in Maryland, New York, Pennsylvania, Virginia, Washington DC and parts of North Carolina.

The two presidential election contenders have modified their campaign engagements, with Mitt Romney pulling out of an event in Virginia and Barack Obama cancelling rallies in Virginia and Colorado.

The president has pulled out of a Monday event in Ohio – considered a key swing state – in order to return to Washington to monitor the storm – although he is still set to attend a rally with former President Bill Clinton in Florida earlier on Monday.

Visiting the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) in Washington on Sunday, Barack Obama vowed his government would “respond big and respond fast” after Hurricane Sandy had passed.

Con Edison workers prepare for Hurricane Sandy using sandbags to cover up power vaults in New York
Con Edison workers prepare for Hurricane Sandy using sandbags to cover up power vaults in New York

Amtrak has started suspending passenger train services across the north-eastern US and air travel has been badly hit, with some 6,800 flights cancelled.

New York City’s subway, bus and train services were suspended from 19:00 on Sunday, and schools will be shut on Monday.

With predicted storm surges of up to 11 ft, New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg ordered 375,000 people in the city’s vulnerable low-lying areas to leave their homes.

Evacuation shelters have been set up at 76 public schools.

“If you don’t evacuate you’re not just putting your own life in danger, you are also endangering lives of our first responders who would have to rescue you,” he said.

The Statue of Liberty was reopened on Sunday after a year of renovation, but only a group of army cadets got a tour before it was shut again until at least Wednesday.

Some 200 National Guardsmen will patrol Manhattan and 300 more will be deployed in Long Island.

The New York Stock Exchange will be fully closed on Monday, its operator said, and possibly on Tuesday as well.

It had earlier said electronic transactions would be possible but on Sunday announced it was closing fully because “the dangerous conditions developing as a result of Hurricane Sandy will make it extremely difficult to ensure the safety of our people and communities”.

Similar precautions were taken last year as Hurricane Irene approached the East Coast. It killed more than 40 people from North Carolina to Maine and caused an estimated $10 billion worth of damage.

FEMA has warned that the threat extends well inland, and has issued safety tips on how to cope with the hurricane.

Blustery winds were already being felt in New York on Sunday night and the anxiety felt on the streets indicated that residents were taking city orders seriously and with haste.

In New Jersey, Governor Chris Christie confirmed a swathe of mandatory evacuations, told civil servants to stay at home on Monday and said the casinos in Atlantic City had closed.

“The weather will turn ugly [on Monday] and we want everyone off the roads,” he said.

“Don’t be stupid. Get out. Don’t try to be a hero and act as if nothing is going on here.”

New Jersey authorities expect very significant flooding, with three increasingly high tides on Monday, possibly creating surges of 13-14 ft – the worst since 1903, authorities said.

Hurricane Sandy has already killed 60 people in the Caribbean during the past week.

TRAVEL CHAOS IN NEW YORK

• New York City’s Metropolitan Transportation Authority announced service on subways will be curtailed beginning at 7:00 p.m.

• The bus network will cease to operate at 9:00 p.m.

• Long Island Rail Road and Metro-North Railroad will start their finals trains by 7:00 p.m. from terminal locations

• Stations will close once the last trains pass through

• New Jersey has suspended all services from 4 p.m. Sunday until 2 a.m. Monday

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Penguin and Random House agree on merger

Sonia Pantiss
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Penguin and Random House agree on merger

Publisher Pearson announces agreement with German media group Bertelsmann to combine their Penguin and Random House businesses.

Under the terms of the deal, the two businesses will be run in a joint venture called Penguin Random House.

Bertelsmann will own 53% of the joint venture while Pearson will own 47%.

The two firms said last week that they were discussing a deal. A report at the weekend also said News Corporation was planning a bid for Penguin.

The Sunday Times reported that News Corp – which owns publisher HarperCollins – was prepared to make a “substantial cash offer” for Penguin, expected to be about $1.5 billion.

The tie-up between Penguin and Random House marks the first deal between the world’s big six publishers.

Publisher Pearson announces agreement with media group Bertelsmann to combine their Penguin and Random House businesses
Publisher Pearson announces agreement with media group Bertelsmann to combine their Penguin and Random House businesses

When news of the talks emerged last week, industry observers said that such deals were inevitable as firms sought to adapt to the changing publishing landscape.

The rapid take-up of e-books means publishers are now attempting to bolster their negotiating strength. most notably with Amazon.

Pearson chief executive Marjorie Scardino, who is leaving the firm at the end of the year, said: “Penguin is a successful, highly-respected and much-loved part of Pearson. This combination with Random House… will greatly enhance its fortunes and its opportunities.

“Together, the two publishers will be able to share a large part of their costs, to invest more for their author and reader constituencies and to be more adventurous in trying new models in this exciting, fast-moving world of digital books and digital readers.”

Based on recent results, combining the two firms will create a business with annual revenues of about $3.8 billion.

In 2011, Random House’s revenues were 1.7 billion euros with an operating profit of 185 million euros. Meanwhile, Penguin recorded revenues of $1.5 billion and a $170 million operating profit.

The joint venture is subject to regulatory approval, but the two firms hope the deal will be completed in the second half of 2013.

 

Cheap colour test could detect HIV, other viruses and some cancers

Kathryn R. Bown
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Cheap colour test could detect HIV, other viruses and some cancers

British researchers have developed a cheap test which could detect even low levels of viruses and some cancers.

The colour of a liquid changes to give either a positive or negative result.

Researchers from Imperial College London say the device could lead to more widespread testing for HIV and other diseases in parts of the world where other methods are unaffordable.

The prototype, which needs wider testing, is described in the journal Nature Nanotechnology.

The test can be configured to a unique signature of a disease or virus – such as a protein found on the surface of the HIV.

Cheap colour test could detect HIV, other viruses and some cancers, blue for yes, red for no
Cheap colour test could detect HIV, other viruses and some cancers, blue for yes, red for no

If that marker is present it changes the course of a chemical reaction. The final result is blue if the marker is there, red if the marker is not.

The researchers say this allows the results to be detected with “the naked eye”.

Prof. Molly Stevens said: “This method should be used when the presence of a target molecule at ultra-low concentration could improve the diagnosis of disease.

“For example, it is important to detect some molecules at ultra-low concentrations to test cancer recurrence after tumor removal.

“It can also help with diagnosing HIV-infected patients whose viral load is too low to be detected with current methods.”

Early testing showed the presence of markers of HIV and prostate cancer could be detected. However, trials on a much larger scale will be needed before it could be used clinically.

The researchers expect their design will cost 10 times less than current tests. They say this will be important in countries where the only optifons are unaffordable.

Fellow researcher Dr. Roberto de la Rica said: “This test could be significantly cheaper to administer, which could pave the way for more widespread use of HIV testing in poorer parts of the world.”

 

Lynne Spears claims Sam Lufti drugged her daughter Britney

Lisa.Felice
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Lynne Spears claims Sam Lufti drugged her daughter Britney

Lynne Spears, Britney Spears’ mother, has claimed her daughter’s former manager crushed drugs into the singer’s food.

Lynne Spears has told a US court that Osama “Sam” Lufti admitted to her that he did it five years ago to help Britney sleep.

At the time, Britney Spears was going through a public meltdown where she shaved her head, temporarily lost custody of her children and was briefly hospitalized.

Sam Lufti is suing Lynne Spears, saying she wrote lies about him.

Lynne Spears has been giving evidence in her defence.

On the claims Britney’s food was drugged in 2007, Lynne Spears told the court: “Those were his exact words.”

“I was very worried and I didn’t know what to do so I tried to get her away from there.”

Lynne Spears has claimed Britney's former manager Sam Lufti crushed drugs into the singer's food
Lynne Spears has claimed Britney’s former manager Sam Lufti crushed drugs into the singer’s food

She also claims Sam Lufti cut off Britney Spears’ communication by detaching her phone lines.

On cross-examination, Lynne Spears said that despite her worry about Britney she didn’t call police.

She also admitted that she was estranged from her daughter for a brief period in 2007 and Osama Lufti told her he wanted to help reunite them.

The accusations refer to the year Osama Lufti said he was Britney Spears’ manager, before he was let go from her team in 2008.

Sam Lufti is suing the star’s parents and Britney herself. He says Lynne Spears made damaging claims about him in her 2008 book Through the Storm.

He is also suing Jamie Spears, the singer’s father, for punching him.

Osama Lufti is seeking a share of Britney Spears’ fortune saying he had an agreement to act as her manager in exchange for 15% of her earnings.

He’s always maintained he was a friend of Britney Spears who tried to help the singer get clean of drugs.

Britney Spears, now 30, has since made a comeback, most recently with a judging slot on The X-Factor USA.

She’s not expected to appear at the trial.

 

Bobbi Kristina Brown’s inheritance from Whitney Houston settled by executors

Lisa.Felice
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Bobbi Kristina Brown’s inheritance from Whitney Houston settled by executors

The executors of Whitney Houston’s estate have reached an agreement with her daughter Bobbi Kristina Brown over payments.

While members of the trust – including Whitney’s mother Cissy and sister-in-law Pat Houston – launched a legal bid to stop the original payment schedule over fears those close to her could take advantage, all parties have now come to an agreement which is similar to the original plan, according to TMZ.

Bobbi Kristina Brown is set to receive her money in three segments, 10% when she turns 21, almost 20% at age 25 and the remainder when she turns 30.

Bobbi Kristina Brown, 19, is the sole beneficiary of Whitney Houston’s estate.

Bobbi Kristina Brown is set to receive her money from Whitney Houston in three segments
Bobbi Kristina Brown is set to receive her money from Whitney Houston in three segments

 

Yoko Ono was not responsible for Beatles split, says Paul McCartney interviewed by David Frost

Sonia Pantiss
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Yoko Ono was not responsible for Beatles split, says Paul McCartney interviewed by David Frost

Sir Paul McCartney claims during a new TV interview that Yoko Ono was not responsible for splitting up The Beatles.

“She certainly didn’t break the group up,” tells Paul McCartney, 70, to Sir David Frost in an interview to be broadcast next month.

“I don’t think you can blame her for anything,” he says, claiming John Lennon was “definitely going to leave”.

His remarks challenge a school of thought that holds John Lennon’s widow responsible for the band’s separation.

Paul McCartney’s revelations feature in an hour-long interview with David Frost, 73, that will be aired on the Al Jazeera English TV channel in November.

The programme will also see the former Beatle claim that John Lennon, who died in 1980, would not have written his hit song Imagine without the conceptual artist’s influence.

Paul McCartney claims that Yoko Ono was not responsible for splitting up The Beatles
Paul McCartney claims that Yoko Ono was not responsible for splitting up The Beatles

“When Yoko came along, part of her attraction was her avantgarde side, her view of things,” Paul McCartney tells the veteran broadcaster.

“She showed him another way to be, which was very attractive to him. So it was time for John to leave.”

According to The Observer, the interview will see Paul McCartney muse on losing his mother at the age of 14 and the death of his first wife Linda in 1998.

The musician also discusses being a father and a grandfather, which he describes as “my coolest thing”.

Both Paul McCartney and John Lennon went on to forge successful solo careers after the Fab Four split up in 1970.

Earlier this month saw the 50th anniversary of The Beatles releasing their first single, Love Me Do, in 1962.

 

Hurricane Sandy: New York City on lockdown and its residents stock up on supplies ahead of Frankestorm

Diane A. Wade
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Hurricane Sandy: New York City on lockdown and its residents stock up on supplies ahead of Frankestorm

New York City is on lockdown in anticipation of Hurricane Sandy, as it barrels towards America’s largest city, and its residents were quick to respond rushing to stock up the essentials.

Staples like bread, water, eggs, and produce have been flying off the shelves as the city’s 8 million residents prepare for the megastorm.

In addition, for only the second time in the subway’s hundred-year history, the entire metropolitan transit system, including buses, will be halted, starting at 7:00 p.m. tonight, adding a sense of urgency to New Yorker’s pre-storm preparations.

In a news conference shortly before noon, Mayor Michael Bloomberg said that those living in low-lying areas must evacuate, and said that all public schools will be closed tomorrow.

The mayor urged residents of New York to stay inside as much as possible starting at sundown tonight, warning of high winds up to 70 mph and torrential rain.

In addition to low-lying areas of Manhattan, Michael Bloomberg ordered that residents of the Rockaways, a low-lying area of Queens by Jamaica Bay, evacuate.

“If you don’t evacuate, you are not only endangering your life, you are also endangering the lives of the first responders who are going in to rescue you,” he said today.

“This is a serious and dangerous storm.”

New York City is on lockdown in anticipation of Hurricane Sandy and its residents were quick to respond rushing to stock up the essentials
New York City is on lockdown in anticipation of Hurricane Sandy and its residents were quick to respond rushing to stock up the essentials

New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo echoed Michael Bloomberg’s warnings.

“A situation like this, you don’t want to be overly panicked and overly prepared, but you want to be prudent, you want to do what’s necessary,” he said.

Andrew Cuomo also said the National Guard would be deployed, 200 troops in New York City, and 400 on Long Island.

In addition, nearly 4,000 flights were canceled for Monday, with 857 cancellations at Newark in New Jersey, followed by 632 at New York’s Kennedy Airport and more than 500 cancellations at both New York’s LaGuardia and Philadelphia International.

FlightAware said it expects the number of flight cancellations for Monday and Tuesday to “rise considerably”.

A spokesman for United Airlines parent United Continental Holdings Inc. told the Associated Press that the carrier has suspended an unspecified number of flights to New York and Washington-area airports beginning Sunday evening with plans to resume Tuesday as conditions permit.

JetBlue Airways, which flies out of JFK, said it has canceled more than 1,000 flights from Sunday through Wednesday morning.

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NYC subway, bus and train services shut down tonight ahead of Frankestorm

Diane A. Wade
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NYC subway, bus and train services shut down tonight ahead of Frankestorm

New York City’s public transport system will be suspended tonight ahead of the arrival on Monday of Hurricane Sandy.

Governor Andrew Cuomo said the subway, bus and train services would shut down from 19:00 on Sunday.

As many as 375,000 people have been ordered to evacuate low-lying areas, and schools will be shut.

Sandy’s winds are set to intensify as it merges with a wintry storm from the western US. A number of states on the East Coast have declared an emergency.

Up to 60 million people could be affected by the storm, which is set to hit several states key to the 6 November presidential election

Barack Obama and Mitt Romney have modified their campaign engagements. President Barack Obama described the storm as “big, serious and slow-moving” – and said it would pose additional problems.

“It is important for us to respond big and to respond fast,” he said after a meeting at the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA).

Asked whether the storm would affect the vote, Barack Obama said: “We don’t anticipate that at this point but we’re obviously going to have to take a look.”

Republican candidate Mitt Romney has cancelled an event scheduled for Sunday in Virginia, a key election state, because of the weather, and was instead heading to Ohio.

Hurricane Sandy has already killed 60 people in the Caribbean during the past week.

At 11:00 EDT, the eye of Hurricane Sandy was about 250 miles (400 km) South of Cape Hatteras in North Carolina, and 575 miles south of New York City, according to the National Hurricane Center.

With winds of 75 mph, it was expected to bring a “life-threatening” surge flooding to the Mid-Atlantic coast, including Long Island Sound and New York Harbour.

The centre said winds were expected to be near hurricane force at landfall.

New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg said people needed to start taking action immediately.

New York City's public transport system will be suspended tonight ahead of the arrival on Monday of Hurricane Sandy
New York City’s public transport system will be suspended tonight ahead of the arrival on Monday of Hurricane Sandy

Michael Bloomberg said the worst of the storm would hit New York on Monday, but warned that a storm surge expected later on Sunday could do “plenty of damage”.

“I don’t want anybody to go to bed tonight thinking that they can spend the day worrying about the night after,” he said.

The mayor said 375,000 people living in low-lying areas should leave on Sunday.

In his warning, Governor Cuomo said he did not want to overreact, but to be “prudent”. He urged people not in low-lying areas to stay at home.

Flights were expected to be affected – Air France says it will cancel all flights into New York and Washington DC on Monday.

However, the New York Stock Exchange announced it would open as usual on Monday.

“We continue to monitor the situation and to communicate with government officials, regulators, and markets participants,” NYSE spokesman Rich Adamonis told Reuters news agency.

Similar precautions were taken last year as Hurricane Irene approached the East Coast. It killed more than 40 people from North Carolina to Maine and caused an estimated $10 billion worth of damage.

FEMA director Craig Fugate said: “This is not a coastal threat alone. This is a very large area.”

Its safety tips include preparations for and what to do during and after a hurricane.

While the East Coast is used to extreme weather, Sandy is causing concern to meteorologists who fear it could mutate into a “Frankenstorm” as it merges with a winter storm in the run-up to Halloween.

It is only moving north-east at 14mph, and could hit as many as 12 states, bringing up to 25 cm of rain, 60 cm of snow, extreme storm surges and power cuts.

States of emergency have been declared in Maryland, New York, Pennsylvania, Virginia, Washington DC and a coastal county in North Carolina.

The NHC said further strengthening was possible on Sunday, before Sandy touched down anywhere between Virginia and southern New England late on Monday.

In New Jersey, Governor Chris Christie pleaded with residents not to be complacent.

“I know everyone’s saying this isn’t going to happen… that the weathermen always get it wrong,” he said.

He urged people to stock up on essentials in case they were trapped at home for a few days.

“We have to be prepared for the worst here. I can be as cynical as any of you but when the storm comes, if it’s as bad as they’re predicting it will be, you’re gonna wish you weren’t as cynical as you might otherwise have been.”

Delaware has ordered a mandatory evacuation of 50,000 people from coastal areas.

Earlier in the week, Hurricane Sandy caused havoc as it ploughed across the Caribbean, killing at least 44 people in Haiti, 11 in Cuba and four more in the Dominican Republic, Jamaica and the Bahamas.

 

Hawaii tsunami triggered by Canada quake

Diane A. Wade
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Hawaii tsunami triggered by Canada quake

A tsunami triggered by a 7.7 magnitude earthquake thousands of miles away in Canada has hit the island chain of Hawaii, without causing major damage.

Emergency sirens sounded to alert residents late on Saturday, and people were ordered out of low-lying areas.

The first waves were reported to be up to 2.5 ft (76 cm) in one area, but were generally smaller than expected.

Hours later, the tsunami warning was downgraded and the state governor said Hawaii could count its blessings.

Wave heights of three to six feet had been predicted in some areas.

The quake struck 125 miles (200 km) south-west of the Canadian town of Prince Rupert at a depth of 11 miles (18km), said the US Geological Survey.

While the Pacific Tsunami Warning Center did not initially expect a threat beyond the immediate area, it later warned that a tsunami had been generated “that could cause damage along the coastline of all islands in the state of Hawaii.”

The centre called for urgent action to protect lives and property. People living in areas considered to be at risk were urged to move to higher ground.

First waves hit the archipelago, made up of hundreds of islands spread over some 1,500 miles, from around 22:30 local.

A senior scientist at the Pacific Tsunami Warning Centre, Gerard Fryer, told journalists that while the tsunami had arrived as predicted, he had been “expecting it to be a little bigger.”

A civil defence source tweeted that Wailoa Harbor on Hawaii island was reporting 4 ft waves every six minutes.

The Pacific Tsunami Warning Center said, in an announcement posted at 00:54 local, that the tsunami warning was cancelled.

“Based on all available data, the tsunami threat has decreased and is now at the advisory level and not expected to increase.

“Sea level changes and strong currents may still occur along all coasts that could be a hazard to swimmers and boaters as well as to persons near the shore at beaches and in harbors and marinas. The threat may continue for several hours,” it said.

In the wake of the cancellation, police began reopening roads and people in low-lying areas area were being allowed home, local media reported.

“We want to make certain that everybody understands this advisory now. The water is still treacherous; the water is still dangerous but we can go home and, as I say, we can count our blessings here in Hawaii,” Governor Neil Abercrombie said.

Earlier, an eyewitness watching the beaches on Kauai island told said the waves were big and that a “strange mixture of fear and anticipation” reigned.

“A plane with a siren flew over … and everyone left the beach and coastal buildings. All the boats have been taken out of the water. It’s empty down there which is weird. People went buying gas and groceries,” Mike Dexter-Smith said.

The quake struck the coast of western Canada at around 03:00 GMT and was followed by a 5.8 magnitude aftershock.

There were no immediate reports of damage on the Canadian coast following the earthquake.

Tsunami alerts that were issued for coastal areas of Alaska and British Columbia were swiftly downgraded.

Urs Thomas, operator of the Golden Spruce hotel in Port Clements, close to the epicentre, said the initial quake lasted about three minutes.

“It was a pretty good shock,” he told Associated Press.

“I looked at my boat outside. It was rocking. Everything was moving. My truck was moving.”

A resident of the mainland town of Prince Rupert, Grainne Barthe, told AP: “Everything was moving. It was crazy. I’ve felt earthquakes before but this was the biggest. It was nerve-wracking. I thought we should be going under a table.”

Following the quake, small waves measuring 69 cm (27 inches) were reported on the north-east tip of Haida Gwai, while parts of the north-east coast of Vancouver Island saw waves up to 55 cm high.

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Natina Reed died at 32 after being hit by a car in Georgia

Lisa.Felice
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Natina Reed died at 32 after being hit by a car in Georgia

R&B star Natina Reed died Friday night after being hit by a car at the age of 32.

Mother-of-one Natina Reed, who was a member of ’90s R&B group Blaque along with Shamari Fears DeVoe and Brandi Williams, was killed in Georgia almost instantly after she was hit by a car.

The Gwinnett Police Department said the driver of the vehicle that hit Natina Reed called 911 at 10:30 PM last night, according to TMZ.

They added that Natina Reed was pronounced dead at Gwinnett Medical Center 29 minutes later.

A press release relayed that Natina Reed “was in the roadway on Lawrenceville Highway near Hamilton Road when struck”.

Police say the driver “was determined to be not at fault and there are no charges pending”.

Natina Reed also appeared in the 2000 film, Bring It On, in which she played cheerleader Jenelope.

She was a protegé of the late Lisa “Left Eye” Lopes, who died after crashing her car.

Natina Reed died Friday night after being hit by a car
Natina Reed died Friday night after being hit by a car

Natina Reed has a 10-year-old son, Tren Brown, whose father is rapper Kurupt.

Her bandmate Shamari Fears DeVoe took to Twitter to pay tribute, posting: “My heart and my soul is in so much pain. My sister, my best friend, I will always love you.”

She then wrote: “My world as I know it has forever changed. Until we meet again, may you find comfort in the arms of an angel. I love you Natina.”

Gabrielle Union, who starred in Bring It On with Natina Reed, also paid her respects and wrote: “#RIP #Sad #BringItOn.”

 

Lithuania votes in the second round of national elections

Diane A. Wade
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Lithuania votes in the second round of national elections

Lithuania is voting in the second round of national elections, with budget cuts and joining the euro seen as key issues.

Polls opened at 07:00 with half the seats being contested.

Two centre left parties, the Labour Party and the Social Democrats, finished first and second in the first round on 14 October.

PM Andrius Kubilius’ governing conservatives, unpopular for cutting pensions and public wages, came third.

Having won 34 seats in the first round, Labour and the Social Democrats hope to win enough of the 67 seats available on Sunday to allow them to form a coalition government.

Lithuania’s 3.3 million inhabitants face an unemployment rate of 13% and declining living standards, as well as high energy costs since the country closed its Soviet-era nuclear power plant in 2009.

They voted against government plans to build a new nuclear power station – seen as a way of cutting dependence on imported Russian energy – in a referendum held at the same time as the first round of elections.

Opposition parties had questioned the plant’s affordability. They have promised to improve the ex-Soviet state’s strained relations with Russia, still Lithuania’s biggest trade partner.

The populist Labour Party, founded by Russian-born millionaire Victor Uspaskich, won 18 seats in the first round of voting, while the Social Democrats won 16 seats and the ruling Homeland Union 13.

Led by former finance minister Algirdas Butkevicius, the Social Democrats have promised to raise the minimum wage, make the rich pay more tax and put back euro entry until 2015, a year later than the government hopes.

But analysts say there will be little room for fiscal manoeuvre. Among the EU’s poorest countries, the Baltic state needs to borrow 7% of its GDP – some 7.6 billion litas – next year to refinance debt and fund the deficit.

Andrius Kubilius came to power in 2008, just as the global financial crisis was bringing a dramatic end to an extended Lithuanian boom fuelled by cheap Scandinavian credit.

He staved off national bankruptcy with a drastic austerity programme as economic output dropped by 15%, unemployment climbed and thousands of young people emigrated in search of work.

The budget deficit has since been tamed and GDP reached growth of 5.8%.

Lithuania’s approach won praise from other governments and the International Monetary Fund, but analysts say the rebound came too late to translate into a political revival for the conservatives.

Delaying euro entry means the country could run a bigger deficit than euro accession rules permit.

 

Amir Khan cheats on Faryal Makhdoom with two women in Marbella

Lisa.Felice
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Amir Khan cheats on Faryal Makhdoom with two women in Marbella

British champion boxer Amir Khan has allegedly cheated on his beautiful girlfriend Faryal Makhdoom with two women in the same day.

According to The Sun, the engaged 25-year-old star fooled around with the girls whilst on holiday in Marbella with friends.

Solicitor Tanya Reed, told the paper how the boxer had kissed her in a hot tub once she’d stripped down to her underwear: “I’d left my shoes on so I didn’t lose them but he ripped them off and threw them out of the pool. Then he started kissing me and I thought ‘I’m kissing Amir Khan.”

The 26-year-old then admitted that she hadn’t realized that the star had a girlfriend: “Now I know he’s engaged I think he’s an absolute slimebag. I feel sorry for her. If I could say anything to her, it would be ‘Don’t marry him because he is a cheat.”

Amir Khan has allegedly cheated on his beautiful girlfriend Faryal Makhdoom with two women in the same day
Amir Khan has allegedly cheated on his beautiful girlfriend Faryal Makhdoom with two women in the same day

Before meeting Tanya Reed, Amir Khan had allegedly chatted up someone else, promotions girl Natalie Kane, at a pool party on the same evening.

“Natalie and Amir were together most of the day. He was pouring champagne in her mouth and at one point they slipped in the pool together,” said a source.

After meeting, the pair reportedly spent a lot of time together during Amir Khan’s lads’ holiday in Spain.

According to reports, Natalie Kane met up with Amir Khan on four consecutive days and spent two night at his villa.

Amir Khan, who has been in his trouble with his fiancée before for alleged trysts with women, took to Twitter to defend himself while still on holiday: “U all know I’m engaged and love my fiance to @faryalxMakhdoom to bits.”

Amir Khan got engaged to the 21-year-old New Yorker ten months ago and gave her a $150,000 engagement ring.

Taking to Twitter a few days ago, Amir Khan posted: “Dnt need your tweets stressing about mine + @FaryalxMakhdoom life. Relax. Enjoy your day every1. Glad its sunday rest day, day off.”

 

Kirstie Alley continues to lose weight as she battles through grueling DWTS practice schedule

Diane A. Wade
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Kirstie Alley continues to lose weight as she battles through grueling DWTS practice schedule

Kirstie Alley famously shed 100 pounds during the 12th season of Dancing With The Stars last year and it seems that she is still slimming down during the current All-Stars season of the show.

Kirstie Alley, 61, looked svelte in a black cowl-neck dress worn over matching leggings as she left rehearsals on Friday afternoon.

While the hue is always flattering, Kirstie Alley looked noticeably slimmer in the face and neck area.

The actresses paired her attire with some tan T-bar sandals and carried a metallic gold bag.

Make-up free, Kirstie Alley looked tired as she left the practice session, her hair in its usual disheveled state.

Kirstie Alley looked svelte as she left DWTS rehearsals on Friday afternoon
Kirstie Alley looked svelte as she left DWTS rehearsals on Friday afternoon

Earlier in the day as she arrived for her day of dancing, Kirstie Alley looked absolutely exhausted as she sipped on a cup of coffee, which clearly later perked her up.

As the oldest member of the show Kirstie Alley has certainly been put through her paces with the grueling seven day a week practice schedule so it’s no surprise she might be looking a bit worse for wear.

This All-Stars season of the show is particularly tough as celebrities who have previously competed and done extremely well on the show are given another chance to take the DWTS crown.

Kirstie Alley has still managed to keep her trim figure after famously shedding 100 pounds during season 12 of the hit show.

The actress once topped 230 pounds and recently said on the Dr. Oz show: “I know I’ve conquered [my weight battles], but you always have to keep it in check.

“My whole life I could eat whatever I wanted to eat, and we ate tons of food. I was lucky. I had a free ride, basically, until I was 54 and then all hell broke loose.”

 

Paul Ceglia arrested for trying to defraud Facebook

Diane A. Wade
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Paul Ceglia arrested for trying to defraud Facebook

Paul Ceglia, a New York businessman, has been charged with trying to defraud Facebook by claiming he was owed a 50% share of the social media company, prosecutors say.

Paul Ceglia, 39, is accused of fabricating and destroying evidence in a lawsuit asking for half-ownership of the firm.

Arrested at his home in Wellsville, New York, Paul Ceglia was due in court on Friday afternoon.

Attorney Preet Bharara said the entrepreneur had been chasing a “quick payday based on a blatant forgery”.

In 2003, Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg, then a Harvard University student, agreed to do programming work for Paul Ceglia and his fax business, say prosecutors.

Paul Ceglia is accused of fabricating and destroying evidence in a lawsuit asking for half-ownership of Facebook
Paul Ceglia is accused of fabricating and destroying evidence in a lawsuit asking for half-ownership of Facebook

Paul Ceglia later filed his lawsuit claiming that he and Mark Zuckerberg had signed a two-page contract awarding him a 50% stake in Facebook.

But Mark Zuckerberg said he had not yet conceived the idea for the social network at the time.

Facebook’s lawyers said the contract that Paul Ceglia and Mark Zuckerberg signed in 2003 was to develop street-mapping software.

Paul Ceglia subsequently doctored the document to insert Facebook references, it is alleged.

 

Ukraine parliamentary elections

Diane A. Wade
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Ukraine parliamentary elections

Ukrainians are voting in a parliamentary election Western officials are billing as a litmus test of its democratic credentials.

Polls opened at 08:00 and pit a main opposition grouping against President Viktor Yanukovych’s Party of Regions.

Viktor Yanukovych has been criticized in the West for the jailing of his main rival, former PM Yulia Tymoshenko.

A number of smaller parties are aiming to capitalize on disillusionment.

These include the liberal Udar party of boxing champion Vitali Klitschko – known as Dr. Ironfist – and the far-right Svoboda party.

Polls will be open for 12 hours and while some counts will come in very quickly, a final result is expected on Monday.

Half of the seats in the 450-member parliament will be filled by elected parties on a candidate list basis.

The other half will be filled by individual candidates voted in on a first-past-the-post system.

Some 5,000 candidates are standing for election.

These are some of the most closely watched elections in Ukraine’s history, with 3,500 accredited foreign observers, including more than 600 from the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE).

Western officials have voiced concerns over campaigning.

In a New York Times editorial this week, US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton and EU foreign policy chief Catherine Ashton cited “worrying trends” in the interim election report from the OSCE (of which Ukraine is due to take over the rotating chair in January).

These included government resources being used to favor ruling party candidates, media restrictions, vote-buying and lack of transparency on the electoral commissions.

Critics claim Yulia Tymoshenko was prosecuted and imprisoned last year in order to prevent her running in the election.

She is serving a seven-year prison sentence after being charged with overstepping her powers as prime minister four years ago when she signed a gas deal with Russia.

The EU indefinitely postponed its association agreement, including a free trade pact, after the jailing.

Yulia Tymoshenko’s Fatherland party has joined with other opposition parties to form a united front.

Viktor Yanukovych – who has been president for three years and faces re-election in 2015 – has rejected calls to free his rival, maintaining that she was sentenced by an independent court.

He insists European integration is one of his government’s main goals and will hope his pro-business party can hold on to the parliamentary majority it enjoys.

Ukraine’s 46 million-strong population has been hit by the global economic downturn and unpopular pension and tax policies.

Viktor Yanukovych’s Party of Regions recently attempted to assuage public opinion by boosting public sector salaries and pensions – although this also exacerbated a $2 billion budget deficit and called into question the likelihood of securing IMF lending, correspondents say.

Ukrainian authorities hope a good assessment by 3,500 international election observers will reopen the door to the association agreement.

Vitali Klitschko’s popularity has grown because of his opposition to Viktor Yanukovych and because, as a newcomer, he is so far untainted by Ukraine’s corrosive politics which, correspondents say, are blighted by corruption and cronyism.

Svoboda’s strong anti-government stance and its passionate defence of Ukraine’s culture and language has also gained support, although the party is also known for racist and anti-Semitic statements.

 

Asia manifesto: Julia Gillard outlines Australia in the Asian Century policy plan

Diane A. Wade
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Asia manifesto: Julia Gillard outlines Australia in the Asian Century policy plan

Australia’s Prime Minister Julia Gillard has outlined Asia manifesto, a major foreign policy plan aimed at improving Asian ties.

The government white paper sets out 25 national objectives to be met by 2025, with targets ranging from improving trade links to teaching more Mandarin.

Julia Gillard said she wanted to refocus Australia away from Europe’s “old countries” towards its near neighbors – particularly China and India.

The plan is detailed in a 312-page paper, Australia in the Asian Century.

With Asia on track to become home to most of the world’s middle class in the next 20 years, this was a moment in history to grasp, said Julia Gillard during the release of the white paper at Sydney’s Lowy Institute.

“The scale and pace of Asia’s rise is staggering, and there are significant opportunities and challenges for all Australians,” she said.

“It is not enough to rely on luck – our future will be determined by the choices we make and how we engage with the region we live in.”

While Julia Gillard underlined continued strategic ties with the US, her speech formalized trends built up during the past three decades in which China has become Australia’s top trading partner, ahead of Japan, the US and South Korea.

Previous prime ministers such as Bob Hawke and Paul Keating established the first ties with Asia, but the new policy would be deeper and more organized.

Some of the goals outlined are specific, others more aspirational. They include:

• Boosting Australia’s average national income from $62,000 per person now to $73,000 in 2025

• Improving the school system so it is ranked in the world’s top five, with 10 of its universities in the world’s top 100

• Making studies of Asia a core part of the Australian school curriculum

• Giving all students the opportunity to learn a priority Asian language – Chinese (Mandarin), Hindi, Indonesian or Japanese

• Making sure more business leaders are “Asia-literate”

A member of the 21-member Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) group, Australia is one of the 11 nations involved in negotiations for a Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP), both of which aim to liberalize regional trade.

On security issues, Australia in the Asian Century says any policy aimed at containing China’s military growth would not work.

Rather, it says Australia can balance its defence ties to the US while backing China’s emerging military strength.

 

Courtney Love plans a new film about Kurt Cobain’s life

Lisa.Felice
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Courtney Love plans a new film about Kurt Cobain’s life

Courtney Love is planning a film about her late husband Kurt Cobain’s life.

Courtney Love, 48, is working on either a musical or a movie about the lives of her and her late Nirvana singer husband, who committed suicide in 1994.

Sam Lutfi, who claims to be her co-manager, said: “[Courtney Love and I] are currently working on a possible motion picture or Broadway musical based on the Nirvana catalogue, based on her life and Kurt Cobain’s. She’s an accomplished actress.”

Sam Lutfi made his claims in a Los Angeles court, where he is suing former client Britney Spears’ parents for libel and breach of contract.

A source close to Courtney Love confirmed the movie plans, telling the New York Daily News newspaper: “She’s been talking about doing a movie or play about her life with Kurt for a long time.

“It’s been her dream to get her side of the story out.”

Courtney Love is planning a film about her late husband Kurt Cobain's life
Courtney Love is planning a film about her late husband Kurt Cobain’s life

However, the source also added: “So far, nothing has materialized,” from Courtney’s ideas and she’s “never made any serious actions to do it”.

Courtney Love’s acting career includes appearing in The People Vs. Larry Flynt in 1996, 200 Cigarettes in 1999 and Straight to Hell Returns in 2010.

Many films have been made about and inspired by Kurt Cobain since his death, including Last Days by Gus van Sant, a lose fictionalization based on what the rocker’s final days may have been like, and documentary Kurt and Courtney by Nick Broomfield, which explored the theory Kurt could actually have been murdered.

 

Kim Kardashian dressed as mermaid for Halloween party with Kanye West

Lisa.Felice
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0
Kim Kardashian dressed as mermaid for Halloween party with Kanye West

Kim Kardashian found a Halloween costume to perfectly accentuate her famous hourglass figure as she celebrated the holiday with her beau Kanye West.

Kim Kardashian, 32, decided to go dressed as a mermaid, squeezing her curves into a green fishtail skirt and a shell bra.

The reality star also sported a blonde wig to complete her elaborate look for the evening as she hit a Midori party in New York on Saturday.

Kim Kardashian was clearly delighted with her costume and eagerly shared photos with her fans via her Twitter and Instagram pages, including one of her with her “captain” Kanye West, who wore a naval outfit.

Kim Kardashian found the perfect Halloween costume to celebrate the holiday with her beau Kanye West
Kim Kardashian found the perfect Halloween costume to celebrate the holiday with her beau Kanye West

Since dating Kanye West, Kim Kardashian seems to have developed quite the penchant for leather.

And she overdid it earlier in the day on a solo outing when she teamed a knee-length red skirt with thigh high black boots, both made from her favorite fabric.

 

Hawaii tsunami warning after 7.7-magnitude earthquake strikes British Columbia

Diane A. Wade
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Hawaii tsunami warning after 7.7-magnitude earthquake strikes British Columbia

A tsunami warning has been issued for Hawaii after a 7.7-magnitude earthquake rocked an island off the west coast of Canada Saturday.

The Pacific Tsunami Warning Center originally said there was no threat to the islands, but a warning was issued later Saturday and remains in effect until 7:00 p.m. Sunday. A small craft advisory is in effect until Sunday morning.

A small tsunami prompted state and federal officials to warn people in southeast Alaska and down the Canadian coast to take precautions.

The temblor shook the Charlotte Islands area on Saturday night, followed by a 5.8-magnitude aftershock several minutes later. There were no immediate reports of major damage.

The U.S. Geological Survey said the quake hit the Queen Charlotte Islands just after 8:00 p.m. local time Saturday at a depth of about 3 miles (5 kilometers) and was centered 96 miles (155 kilometers) south of Masset, British Columbia. It was one of the biggest earthquakes around Canada in decades and was felt across a wide area around British Columbia.

The National Weather Service issued a tsunami warning for coastal areas of British Columbia, southern Alaska and Hawaii. The first wave of the small tsunami, about four inches (101.6 millimeters), hit the southeast Alaska coastal community of Craig.

A tsunami warning has been issued for Hawaii after a 7.7-magnitude earthquake rocked an island off the west coast of Canada Saturday
A tsunami warning has been issued for Hawaii after a 7.7-magnitude earthquake rocked an island off the west coast of Canada Saturday

Dennis Sinnott of the Canadian Institute of Ocean Science said a 69 centimeter (27 inch) wave was recorded off Langara Island on the northeast tip of Haida Gwaii, formerly called the Queen Charlotte Islands. Another 55 centimeter (21 inch) wave hit Winter Harbour on the northeast coast of Vancouver Island.

“It appears to be settling down,” he said.

“It does not mean we won’t get another small wave coming through.”

The Pacific Tsunami Warning Center originally said there was no threat to the islands of Hawaii, but a warning was issued later Saturday and remains in effect until 7:00 p.m. Sunday. A small craft advisory is in effect until Sunday morning. The center says the first tsunami wave could hit the islands by about 10:30 p.m. local time.

The USGS said the 7.7 magnitude temblor shook the waters around British Columbia and was followed by a 5.8 magnitude aftershock several minutes later. Several other aftershocks were reported.

The U.S. Coast Guard in Alaska said it was trying to warn everyone with a boat on the water to prepare for a potential tsunami.

Lt. Bernard Auth of the Juneau Command Center said the Coast Guard was working with local authorities to alert people in coastal towns to take precautions.

The quake struck 25 miles (40 kilometers) south of Sandspit, British Columbia, on the Haida Gwaii archipelago, formerly known as the Queen Charlotte Islands. People in coastal areas were advised to move to higher ground.

 

Joe Simpson steps out with a new look amid rumors of an affair with model Bryce Chandler Hill

Lisa.Felice
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Joe Simpson steps out with a new look amid rumors of an affair with model Bryce Chandler Hill

Joe Simpson, Jessica Simpson’s father, was seen stepping out in Los Angeles on Friday sporting a new haircut and a bright and cheery ensemble.

Joe Simpson, 54, showed off blonder, shorter locks as he grabbed a cup of coffee, while dressed in a lemon yellow knitted jumper along with matching trainers and black trousers.

Reports that Joe Simpson came out as gay were followed by new claims that aspiring male model Bryce Chandler Hill has allegedly been having an affair with Joe.

Joe Simpson has reportedly been dating Bryce Chandler Hill, who at 21 is 33 years his junior, on and off for about a year.

 

A source allegedly told Radar Online that Bryce Chandler Hill and Joe Simpson were introduced by a mutual friend, who is close to Joe’s famous daughters Jessica and Ashlee.

The insider reportedly told the website: “Joe Simpson being outed by the National Enquirer was no surprise to the gay community in Hollywood, Bryce has been bragging about hooking up with Joe for a while now.

“Bryce is close to TJ Espinoza, who in turn is good friends with both Jessica and Ashlee and worked for Britney Spears as a back-up dancer.”

 

Frankestorm threat to vital poll week

Diane A. Wade
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Frankestorm threat to vital poll week

Hurricane Sandy is swirling towards the US East Coast, forcing presidential candidates to adjust schedules and cancel events.

President Barack Obama has held a conference call with emergency chiefs to discuss preparations for the storm, which could hit as early as Monday.

Its sustained winds of 75 mph (120 km/h) are set to intensify as it merges with a wintry storm from the western US.

A number of states key to the election could be hit by a storm that may affect up to 60 million Americans.

At 20:00 EDT, the eye of the storm was about 330 miles south of Cape Hatteras in North Carolina, according to the National Hurricane Center.

Craig Fugate, director of the Federal Emergency Management Agency, said: “This is not a coastal threat alone. This is a very large area.”

Hurricane Sandy has already killed 60 people in the Caribbean as it swirled north during the past week.

Republican candidate Mitt Romney cancelled an event scheduled for Sunday in Virginia, a key election state, because of the weather, and was instead heading to Ohio.

Barack Obama will head to Florida on Sunday rather than Monday, and has cancelled a campaign stop with former President Bill Clinton in Virginia on Monday and a rally in Colorado on Tuesday to monitor the storm from the White House, said White House spokesman Jay Carney.

Vice-President Joe Biden also cancelled a rally in coastal Virginia to allow for disaster preparations.

Early balloting in Maryland saw lines of voters stretching for a number of blocks at some polling stations on Saturday.

But despite concerns about Hurricane Sandy’s impact, with some polls suggesting the contest is a virtual dead heat, both Mitt Romney and Barack Obama pressed ahead with campaigning in key swing states on Saturday.

Nine states are thought to be too close to call.

In New Hampshire, Barack Obama urged his supporters to encourage people to vote early and allow him to finish the job he started.

“We’ve still got a lot of work to do, but New Hampshire and the country has come too far to go back to the policies that got us into this mess,” he said.

“All he’s offering is a big rerun of the same policies,” Barack Obama said of his opponent.

In Florida, Mitt Romney said he stood for “big ideas” that would get America going again, compared to what he called Barack Obama’s “shrinking agenda”.

“The president doesn’t have a plan, he’s out of ideas, he’s out of excuses and this November, Florida is going to make sure we put him out of office,” Mitt Romney said to cheers from the conservative crowd in Pensacola.

New Jersey people board up their homes in preparation for Hurricane Sandy
New Jersey people board up their homes in preparation for Hurricane Sandy

How Barack Obama handles the weather emergency and how far Mitt Romney tries to make political capital out of it could enhance or harm their chances.

While the East Coast is used to extreme weather, Hurricane Sandy is concerning meteorologists who fear it could mutate into a “Frankenstorm” as it merges with a winter storm in the run-up to Halloween.

It is only moving north-east at 13 mph, meaning it could hover for 36 hours over as many as 12 states, bringing up to 10 in (25 cm) of rain, 2 ft of snow, extreme storm surges and power cuts.

States of emergency have been declared in Maryland, New York, Pennsylvania, Virginia, Washington DC and a coastal county in North Carolina.

Tropical storm warnings are in effect in both South and North Carolina, as well as Pamlico and Albemarle Sounds.

The NHC said further strengthening was possible on Sunday, before Sandy touched down anywhere between Virginia and southern New England late on Monday.

In New Jersey, Governor Chris Christie pleaded with residents not to be complacent.

“I know everyone’s saying this isn’t going to happen… that the weathermen always get it wrong,” he said.

He urged people to stock up on essentials in case they were trapped at home for a few days.

“We have to be prepared for the worst here. I can be as cynical as any of you but when the storm comes, if it’s as bad as they’re predicting it will be, you’re gonna wish you weren’t as cynical as you might otherwise have been.”

Delaware has ordered a mandatory evacuation of 50,000 people from coastal areas.

New York has not yet ordered evacuations.

Mayor Michael Bloomberg said: “This is a dangerous storm. But I think we’re going to be OK.”

Earlier in the week, Hurricane Sandy caused havoc as it ploughed across the Caribbean, killing at least 44 people in Haiti, 11 in Cuba and four more in the Dominican Republic, Jamaica and the Bahamas.

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Alicia Richman wins Guinness World Record for breast milk donation

Kathryn R. Bown
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Alicia Richman wins Guinness World Record for breast milk donation

Alicia Richman, a North Texas mother, has been awarded a Guinness World Record for donating breast milk.

Alicia Richman, 28, from Granbury, pumped over 86 gallons between June 2011 and March 2012 for donation to The Mothers’ Milk Bank of North Texas, a nonprofit that supplies neonatal intensive care units.

The vast quantity equates to 11,000 oz – to put it into context, a typical newborn’s feed is around 3oz.

Alicia Richman told CBS DFW: “I pumped at work, on vacations, in the car. And I never had to buy formula.”

She began donating shortly after giving birth to her son, now 19 months, when she found that she had managed to fill two freezers with pumped milk – far more than he would ever need.

Alicia Richman decided to put her extraordinary ability to good use and help premature and critically ill babies who could benefit from the nourishment human breast milk can provide over formula.

“I feel like God blessed me with plenty of milk and I need to do something special with it,” she said.

“There’s a need for it, little babies everywhere are sick and they need breast milk to survive, and I wanted to give them that.”

Alicia Richman began donating breast milk shortly after giving birth to her son, now 19 months
Alicia Richman began donating breast milk shortly after giving birth to her son, now 19 months

Director of The Mothers’ Milk Bank of North Texas, Amy Vickers, told the TV network: “Three ounces of donor human milk could be as much as nine feedings for a premature baby.”

Alicia Richman, who exceeded that existing record by 23 gallons, plans to try to beat her own record when she has a second child.

She has also challenged other mothers to attempt to beat it too, in the hope that more women will donate to breast milk banks.

 

Early voting results 2012 released so far

Diane A. Wade
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Early voting results 2012 released so far

When President Barack Obama flew to Chicago to cast his vote early in Chicago on Thursday, he became one of over 8 million Americans to have already made their decision for the November election.

And now with the election just ten days away, early results from those polls are giving both Barack Obama and Mitt Romney cause to claim victory – despite neither campaign having established a distinct advantage.

In encouraging results, Barack Obama appears to be matching his 2008 presidential victory totals across the country, but Mitt Romney is exceeding Senator John McCain’s efforts and appears to be already ahead in key state Florida.

Early voting results released so far show success in Florida for Mitt Romney but encouragement for Barack Obama in North Carolina
Early voting results released so far show success in Florida for Mitt Romney but encouragement for Barack Obama in North Carolina

• Colorado: 325,810 votes have been cast so far – 126,539 from Republicans and 120,965 from Democrats and 75,030 from unaffiliated voters

• Florida: 925,604 votes as mail-in-absentee ballots have been cast – 414,016 from Republicans and 363,881 from Democrats. In person early voting begins today in the Sunshine State

• Iowa: 399 ballots have been cast – 183,780 for Democrats and 126,872 from Republicans. In this key state in 2008, Democrats had a 24-percent point lead and this year that lead is eight percent.

• Nevada: 218, 616 votes have been cast so far – 101,935 for Republicans and 79,059 for Democrats

• Ohio: 808,051 ballots have been cast so far in Ohio – but party affiliation is not revealed

• Virginia: 247,862 votes have been cast so far in Virginia which does not reveal party affiliation

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Silvio Berlusconi says he will stay in politics after receiving jail term for tax fraud

Diane A. Wade
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Silvio Berlusconi says he will stay in politics after receiving jail term for tax fraud

Silvio Berlusconi has said he feels “obliged” to stay in politics, a day after receiving a jail term for tax fraud.

The former Italian Prime Minister said he wanted to “reform the justice system so that what happened to me doesn’t happen to other citizens”.

Later Silvio Berlusconi confirmed he did not want to stand for prime minister.

He is expected to appeal against the conviction of inflating the price of distribution rights bought by his Mediaset group to avoid paying taxes.

The media mogul has also been barred from holding office for five years.

“There will be consequences,” Silvio Berlusconi said in an interview given on Saturday to TG5, one of the TV channels owned by Mediaset.

“I feel obliged to stay in the field,” he added.

Silvio Berlusconi went on to dismiss the case against him as “science fiction”.

On Wednesday, he said he would not to run again for office – confining himself to “giving advice, experience, speaking and judging without intruding”.

Silvio Berlusconi has said he feels "obliged" to stay in politics, a day after receiving a jail term for tax fraud
Silvio Berlusconi has said he feels “obliged” to stay in politics, a day after receiving a jail term for tax fraud

Silvio Berlusconi’s lawyers said on Friday that he would appeal against the four-year jail sentence for tax fraud, according to media reports.

The appeal will be lodged by 10 November, reports said, and could take several years.

A furious Silvio Berlusconi went on national television on Friday to condemn the sentence as “intolerable judicial harassment”.

He has long complained that he is being persecuted by left-leaning judges in Milan.

“It is a political, incredible and intolerable judgement,” Silvio Berlusconi said on Italia 1 – another one of the TV stations he owns.

Silvio Berlusconi has faced a number of trials.

He has in the past either been cleared, or cases have run beyond the judicial time limit.

In 1997 Silvio Berlusconi received a suspended sentence for false book-keeping but that conviction was reversed on appeal.

In the latest case, prosecutors said that part of the money declared for the purchase of US film rights was skimmed off to create illegal slush funds, reducing tax liabilities for Silvio Berlusconi’s Mediaset group.

The court handed Silvio Berlusconi a longer sentence than the three years and eight months requested by prosecutors. However, it later announced that the sentence served would be one year due to a 2006 amnesty law aimed at reducing prison overcrowding.

It ordered him and his co-defendants to pay 10 million euros in damages.

Both the jail term and the ban from holding office will only take effect if the sentence is upheld by a higher court.

Silvio Berlusconi is unlikely ever to serve his sentence as the conviction first has to be confirmed by two successive courts of appeal.

Those appeals could take years, he adds.

In February a court threw out a corruption case against him after the statute of limitations had expired.

He is also currently on trial charged with paying for sex with an underage girl and trying to cover it up. He denies any wrongdoing.

Silvio Berlusconi, 76, was forced to resign as prime minister of a centre-right coalition last November.

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