Irene floods in North Carolina and New York 'disaster'

US President Barack Obama has announced a "major disaster" in North Carolina and New York state, as cresting rivers and floodwaters threaten communities in the wake of Tropical Storm Irene.

Extra funds had been release to two states which was more effected.

Raging rivers along the eastern seaboard have given way to swear flooding and prompted new rounds of evacuations in states like New Jersey.

At least 44 deaths in 13 states due to heavy storm.

RAF flies £950m unfrozen cash assets to Libya

The RAF is flying £950m of Libyan cash to Libya after an assets freeze aimed at Col Muammar Gaddafi was lifted.

Notes, amounting to 1.86 billion Libyan dinars that were printed in the England, this cash has been given to Libya's Central Bank.
A White-house said the money would be available to load into cash machines and distribute to Libyan banks  very quickly.
The cash was released following a decision by the United Nations sanctions committee in New York

New York recovers as Irene passes

People of New York are returning to normal life as flood waters brought by Tropical Storm Irene recede. The feared devastation failed to materialise.

Despite being downgraded from a hurricane, the storm still battered the city with fierce winds and rain.
More than 370000 people effected with Hurricane Storm and Storm Irene stock exchanges would open on Monday.
But flights will remain suspended until Monday afternoon at the earliest.

ATC orders Musharraf’s assets be seized

Pakistani Anti-Terrorism Court (ATC) hearing the Benazir Bhutto murder case has ordered to seize the property of former president of Pakistan Pervaiz Mushraf.

The decision was made after getting report from FIA  containing information regarding the assets of the former president Pervaiz Mushraf was presented before the court. FIA officials informed the court that Musharraf owned a farm house in Chak Shahzad, Islamabad and a plot in the Gwadar Housing Society. While his bank accounts contained Rs 80.90 million.

Al-Qaeda's operations chief 'killed in Pakistan'

According to US official, Al-Qaeda's suspected operations chief  Atiyah Abd al-Rahman, has been killed in Pakistan.

The Libyan terrorist was killed on 22 August in the volatile Pakistani tribal region of Waziristan.

He would not say how Abd al-Rahman died, but a CIA drone strike was reported in Waziristan on the same day.

Abd al-Rahman was reportedly number two on a list of the five top terrorist in Afghanistan and Pakistan whom the US most wanted to capture or kill.

In October 2010, Pakistani intelligence officials believed that Abd al-Rahman had been killed in an air strike by a US drone in North Waziristan.

Ford Explorer

Jan - Aug 2011 sales: 75,720

Price: $28,170 - $39,740

Fuel economy: 18 City / 25 Hwy

People keep predicting the death of the SUV, but it's just not happening. That's because SUVs have changed so that consumers can now find ones that do what they've always loved, including going off-road occasionally, without the things people always hated, like the bad fuel economy and rough rides.
Exhibit A is the new Ford Explorer which, so far this year, has had the highest increase in number of vehicles sold of any SUV. It probably contributes that last year's pre-redesign Ford Explorer sales were Exhibit A in the "SUVs are dead" argument.
While the new Explorer has met with different reviews -- its ride and handling qualities are more SUV-like than you might think -- it's unquestionably much more fuel efficient than the truck-based vehicle it replaces while retaining enough towing, hauling and off-road capability to satisfy needs of most SUV buyers.
Here are eleven more SUVs that have seen the highest sales rises from last year, according to data collected

1957 Ferrari Testa Rossa

 

Price paid: $16.4 million

Engine: 3.0-liter V-12

That price was not only the highest price paid for a car at this year's Pebble Beach auctions, it was the highest price paid for any car at auction in history.
This multi million dollar car deal took place in California that weekend.
The annual Pebble Beach Concours d'Elegance is the premier classic car competition in the world.
With throngs of well-heeled car buffs gathered there, the area around the Concours has become the site of a number of auctions that often garner multi-million dollar sales.
Top 10 highest-priced auction sales are took place at this year's event, as compiled by the collector car insurance company Hagerty Insurance. These prices don't include any additional post-auction deals that may have been made, but they do include the auctioneers' commissions, which usually run around 10%.

Hurricane Irene makes US landfall as millions flee

Hurricane Irene has made landfall on the US east coast, bringing  heavy winds of more than 85 mph (140km/h), as it hit North Carolina.

People of effected areas have been ordered to leave their homes ahead of the massive category one storm. More than 2 million will effect with this Hurricane Irene.

A quarter of a million people in New York living in low-lying areas have been told to leave in an unprecedented mandatory evacuation.

The city mayor warned it was "foolish" and "dangerous" to ignore the order.

Irene is a "life-threatening storm" for New Yorkers, Michael Bloomberg told a news conference early on Saturday.

Emergency has been declared in New York State. US President Barack Obama has warned Irene could be "a historic hurricane".

He has asked people in the projected path of Hurricane Irene - the first hurricane of the Atlantic season - to take precautions.

"Don't wait, don't delay. All of us have to take this storm seriously," he said on Friday, before cutting short his holiday in Martha's Vineyard on the Massachusetts coast, to head back to Washington.

Google pays $500m to settle drug advertising case

Internet giant Google has commited  to pay $500m (£306m) for publishing online advertisement from Canadian pharmacies selling illegal drugs to US customers.

By reaching a settlement, Google will avoid criminal prosecution in the US for profiting from the adverts.

The $500m represents the firm's profit from the adverts and the profit generated from the sale of the drugs, federal investigators said.

Google said it should it not have allowed the adverts.

The company said in a short statement "We banned the advertising of prescription drugs in the US by Canadian pharmacies some time ago,"

"However, it's obvious with hindsight that we should not have allowed these ads on Google in the first place."

The US Justice Department said controls over selling the drugs were inadequate.

"While Canada has its own regulatory rules for prescription drugs, Canadian pharmacies that ship prescription drugs to US residents are not subject to Canadian regulatory authority, and many sell drugs obtained from countries other than Canada which lack adequate pharmacy regulations,".

It added that the price of the drugs reflected the fact that some  drugs could be bought without a doctor's prescription.

Steve Jobs quits as Apple CEO

Steve Jobs has resigned as chief executive of Apple and will be replaced by chief operating officer Tim Cook.

Mr Jobs, who underwent a liver transplant following pancreatic cancer, said he can not meet his chief executive's duties and expectations.
The Silicon Valley legend will become new chairman of the firm.
The 56-year-old has been on medical leave for an undisclosed condition since 17 January.
Mr Jobs wrote: "I have always said if there ever came a day when I could not meet my duties and expectations as Apple's chief executive, I would be the first to let you know.
That day has come. I hereby resign as chief executive of Apple.
"I believe Apple's brightest and most innovative days are ahead of it. And I look forward to watching and contributing to its success in a new role.
"I have made some of the best friends of my life at Apple, and I thank you all for the many years of being able to work alongside you."
Apple board member Art Levinson paid tribute to Mr Jobs' contribution to the company: "Steve's extraordinary vision and leadership saved Apple and guided it to its position as the world's most innovative and valuable technology company."

Rebels overrun Gaddafi compound

Libyan rebels have full control of Col Muammar Gaddafi's Bab al-Aziziya compound in Tripoli, one  areas that remained under his control.

TV footage showed Libyan rebels breaking off the head of a statue of the Libyan leader Col Muammar Gaddafi's and kicking it along the ground. They also seized all items from his home.
It is not confirm if Col Gaddafi or any of his family are inside the compound.
Rebel leaders say they are in control of almost all of the capital, though there are still pockets of resistance.
Libyan rebels had streamed into the capital on Tuesday morning in dozens of pick-up trucks to take part in the attack on Bab al-Aziziya.

S&P boss steps down, weeks after unprecedented US downgrade

The president ratings agency Standard & Poor’s is to resign from his post within a month, after coming under  international pressure for his firm’s decision to strip the United States of its triple-A credit rating.
A statement from S&P, published earlier today, published that its current president Deven Sharma, 55, could be taking up a new assignment “working on the company’s strategic portfolio review until the end of the year”, after which he would be leaving.
The statement comes less than three weeks after his ratings agency – which ranks Ireland only one notch above the ‘junk’ threshold – decided to downgrade its rating of US goverment, for the first time in that government’s history.
The decision was not liked by many investors and commentators around the world, with large numbers criticising S&P for overlooking the US’s ability to print enough cash to clear its debts.

American hikers sentenced in Iran share love of travel

Josh Fattal and Shane Bauer two American hikers, according to a state TV report Saturday were sentenced to eight years in jail in Iran, are a pair of friends who love to travel and be immersed in other cultures, according to their friends.

Josh Fattal and Shane Bauer have been in Iranian custody for two years since they and a third hiker, Sarah Shourd, were detained on spying charges. They had been hiking in the Iraqi Kurdish region and allegedly entered into Iran illegally.

Shourd, Bauer's fiancee, was released last year because of medical baises, but Fattal and Bauer face an extended prison sentence.

Bauer was performing as a freelance journalist and had been undertaking a yearlong visit to the Middle East at the time of their arrest.

Iran 'jails US hikers for eight years for spying'

Tehran court has passed order jail for eight years of two US hikers accused of spying and illegally entering Iran.
Iranian state TV's website said Shane Bauer and Josh Fattal each received three years for illegally entering Iran and five years for spying.
The two men not accept the charges, saying they unknowingly entered into the country while hiking in July 2009.
Last year bail of their fellow hiker Sarah Shourd was freed on $500,000 (£314,386).
She was freed on humanitarian and medical grounds in September 2010 and flew back to the US. She did not return to face trial, saying in May she had suffered from post-traumatic stress and would find a return "too traumatic".
The trial started in February 2011 and Mr Bauer and Mr Fattal, both 28, pleaded not guilty. Ms Shourd - Mr Bauer's fiancee - pleaded not guilty in absentia. The trial closed on 31 July, on the second anniversary of their arrest.
"In connection with illegal entry into Iranian territory, each was given three years in jail and in connection with the charge of co-operating with American intelligence service, each was given five years in jail," the website reported, quoting an informed judiciary source.
The report said "the case of Sarah Shourd, who has been freed on bail, is still open," AFP news agency says.
The men are said to have 20 days in which to appeal against the sentence. Their lawyer, Masoud Shafii, has told news media that he has not been informed of any verdict.
The trio - all graduates of the University of California, Berkeley - said they had been hiking in Iraqi Kurdistan and did not intentionally stray over the border with Iran, where they were arrested by soldiers.
Ms Shourd said they had visited the tourist village of Ahmed Awa, and hiked along a trail local peoples had recommended.

Syria protests: Deaths in anti-Assad demonstrations

At least 20 people are  killed and dozens injured in Syria when army and police opened fire on anti-government protesters.Most of the deaths were in southern Deraa province, but there were also reports of shootings in Homs.

On Thursday, the US led and European leaders unprecedented calls for Syrian President Bashar al-Assad to step down.

Earlier, Mr Assad told the United Nations that police and army operations against civilians had stoped.

Russia rejected the US calls for President Assad to go, saying he should be given more time to enact reforms.

And Syria's UN envoy accused the US of trying to instigate insurrection.

Gay man, transsexual woman marry in Cuba

The bride pulls up in a vintage American convertible and steps out in her frilly, rented gown. The crowds cheer as they throw rice in her direction.

"It's the happiest and memorable day of my life," she gushes.

But Wendy Iriepa is not your average bride. She is a transsexual women. Her groom, Ignacio Estrada, is not a man, he is gay man who is a gay rights activist and outspoken dissident.

They are celebrating this the first gay wedding in Communist Cuba.

"It's a step forward for the gay community," Estrada told the throngs of foreign journalists and curious onlookers who crowded the steps to the local Marriage Palace.

The couple held the wedding on Fidel Castro's birthday as a way to get awareness about gay rights.

"We want August 13th to be more than our wedding date," Estrada said. "It's also a song of freedom. It could mark a new tradition for the gay community."

At the start of Fidel Castro's revolution, gays and transsexuals were locked up or sent to labor camps.

Now it's Fidel's niece Mariela Castro, the daughter of current President Raul Castro, who is leading the battle against homophobia.

As head of the National Sexual Education Center, she has worked from within the system to educate police and party members, promoting discussions and a colorful but very short parade every year.

With her help, Cuba has been offering free sex changes since 2007.

Wendy Iriepa was one of  them who get benifit. Which is why, technically, her wedding is legal.

On the other side efforts by Mariela Castro, gay unions are illegal.

Prominent dissident Yoani Sanchez was the maid of honor at Saturday's ceremony, which was attended by a couple dozen family and friends, many of them from the opposition and gay communities.

Iriepa once worked for Mariela Castro, but they became estranged when she fell in love with Estrada earlier this year.

He argues gays may be allowed to marry and have the right to congregate and march without getting state approval.

But for now, the married couple plans to put politics behind them and enjoy their honeymoon in private.

Michael Vaughan and Alec Stewart predict England dominance

Former captains Michael Vaughan and Alec Stewart said England will rule Test cricket for years to come.

Andrew Strauss's side became number one in the world rankings after beating Indiaby an inning and 242 runs  to take a 3-0 lead in forth match test series on Saturday.

Vaughan and Stewart believe England have the weight of talent and mental strength to establish an era of supremacy in the manner of the great West Indies and Australia sides of the past.

Vaughan, who won a record 26 tests as England captain told BBC Sport: "I really think this side are going to rule Test cricket for a period because of their strength in depth, fitness levels, determination and the real hunger they display.

"It is not just this 11, the depth of the 24 or 25 players England have to choose from is fantastic - there is some great talent out there."

Strauss's men have now won eight of their last nine Test series, including Ashes triumphs at home and away.

England snatch top test ranking from India by beating last test match.

Stewart, England most successful cricketer told to news reporters "As an ex-player and a fan, I am happy that England are number one.

"But the important thing is that this is not just for six weeks or the next six months, it's got to be for the next six years.

"I believe they can go on and rule for some time now. To win a game you have to take 20 wickets, and our bowling attack is in position to doing that in any conditions.

"The strength in depth is there and plenty of healthy competition for places.

"The standard of county cricket is going up as well because they know that if they want to be part of the England set-up they have got to work hard."

Next summer features home Test series against West Indies and South Africa, the team Vaughan rates as the most capable of ousting England.

"In Dale Steyn and Morne Morkel, South Africa have two match-winning bowlers," he said. "But I'm not sure if they have the depth that England have.

"For years Australia had that real depth in their squad. England have that now and they will take some catching."

Chinese authorities find 22 fake Apple stores

A total of 22 fake Apple stores have been discovered in one Chinese city.

Authorities in Kunming start searching out the copycats after pictures of one convincing replica were circulated on the web.

An early search found five fake stores was found, two of which were closed for trading without a licence.

Now, according to Chinese trade officials, 22 have been discovered illegal using Apple's brand and logo.

The investigation into illegal  Apple stores in Kunming was brought about when an American living in the city published a blog post describing a visit to one such shop.

Describing it as a "beautiful ripoff", BirdAbroad revealed how far the owners had gone to copy the decor and ambience of a real Apple store.

Staff also wore the same colour T-shirts as real Apple staffers, and sported lanyards of the same design.

The blog post was widely shared around the world and prompted Chinese trade officials in Kunming to take action against these fake stores.

The Administration for Industry and Commerce in Kunming said its officals had unveiled a slew of stores violating Apple's registered trademarks. 

The shops have been told to stop using the logos as Chinese laws prohibit copying the "look and feel" of another company without permission.

It is not clear whether the shops being reprimanded were selling products sourced from Apple distributers in the country or grey market imports.

The Kunming retail watchdog said it would step up its monitoring efforts and set up a hotline through which the public can report illegal Apple shops they find.

Jani Lane, of Warrant, dies; 'hair metal' generation recalls icon

Jani Lane, the famous singer for Hollywood metal band Warrant, was found dead in a Woodland Hills hotel on Thursday evening, and with the news, a whole young generation is reliving some classics of the so-called "hair metal" era.

Warrant's biggest hits, "Cherry Pie," "Heaven" and "Sometimes She Cries," displayed the yin and yang of teenage desire: In "Cherry Pie," the group celebrated (objectified?) the women form by comparing it with a scrumptious desert, and the result was a scream-along anthem tailor-made for testosterone-fueled pop metal heads and the female who loved them.

Like any self-respecting metal band, though, Warrant and the bleached-blond Lane had a softer side, one that you can see on full display in the video for "Heaven," in which the people is treated to a love ballad and slow-motion images of Lane and the band enjoying their rock-star lives. We see Lane showing off his tattoo, swinging around on a band member's back, performing at massive concerts, dancing in the back of a limousine, signing ecstatic fans' T-shirts and twirling in face of the mike stand, his perfectly coiffed hair shining like a lion's mane.

Lane and Warrant gets popularity on the Sunset Strip circuit in the mid-1980s alongside kindred spirits Guns N' Roses, but, ironically, one of their early fans was funk singer Prince, who tried to sign the band to his Paisley Park imprint. The band at the end signed with Columbia Records, and the label delivered.

They rode a wave of success through the early '90s. Lane parted ways with the band in 1993; grunge had replaced metal on the rock charts, and the band's hits stopped coming. But he and Warrant reconciled a few times over the years for concerts. They last they performed together in 2004. A cause of death is not yet known, but Lane had tried with addiction for much of his adult life.

Do you have good memories of Warrant on the Sunset Strip? Feel free to share them in the comment section below.

Further riots in London as violence spreads across England

Rioting has spread across London on a third night of violence, with unrest flaring in other English cities.

More than1,700 police officers were deployed in London, where shops were looted and buildings were set alight. Birmingham, Liverpool, Nottingham and Bristol also saw violence.
The prime minister has come back early from his holiday to discuss the unrest, which first flared on Saturday after a peaceful protest in Tottenham over the fatal shooting of a man by police.
At least 400 people have been arrested following a wave of "copycat criminal activity" across London over the past three days, the Met Police said. More than 69 people have been charged with various offences.
Three people are being annoyed on suspicion of attempted murder after a police officer was injured by a car in Wembley, north-west London, while trying to stop suspected looters.
Met Deputy Assistant Commissioner Steven Kavanagh said it was a bad morning for London to wake up to".
"The Met was stretched beyond belief in a way that it has never experienced.
On twitter, Scotland Yard official said: "comming 24 hours there will be 13,000 police officers on duty in London."

US special forces Afghan helicopter 'downed' by Taliban

In Kabul a US helicopter carrying US and Afghan special forces has crashed in Afghanistan, killing 38 people.

Taliban hit  the Chinook helicopter.  US military sources say 31 Americans who died were from the Navy Seal unit which killed Osama Bin Laden, but are "unlikely" to be the same personnel.

The US officials has not confirmed the number of dead, which would be the largest single US loss of life in the Afghan conflict.

The Chinook was targeted overnight in Wardak province, said a statement from President Hamid Karzai's office, giving the numbers of those killed.

The Chinook was returning from an operation against the Taliban in which eight insurgents are believed to have been killed.

A senior official of  Obama's administration said the helicopter was apparently shot down, Associated Press news agency said.

An official with the Nato-led coalition in Afghanistan told the helicopter was shot down with a rocket-propelled grenade.

Harry Potter hit by hi-tech conmen

Cyber conmen are cashing in on interest surrounding the Pottermore website.

Pottermore, JK Rowling going to release more stories and background from the world of Harry Potter.

Pottermore will officially opens in October, and scammers are selling fake accounts for the site that claim to give fans early access.

Search engine poisoning to direct Potter fans to sites that are fully loaded with viruses and other malicious programs.

Mubarak trial: Egypt's ex-president denies all charges

Egypt's ex-President Hosni Mubarak has not admitted charges of corruption and ordering the killing of protesters during protest, on the opening day of his trial in Cairo.

He was on wheeled on a hospital bed into a cage in court to the surprised of onlookers outside.
The 83-year-old is being tried with his sons, who also not accept charges against them, ex-Interior Minister Habib al-Adly and six other former officials.
Former president Mr Mubarak was forced from office by mass demonstrations in February.
The charge of ordering the killing of protesters during protest carries the death penalty.

Some 3,000 soldiers and police were drafted in to maintain order at the police academy for the first day of the trial of Mr Mubarak and his sons, which has now been adjourned until 15 August.

US to avoid default as Senate backs debt ceiling rise

The US Senate has vote the deal  between Republicans, Democrats and President Barack Obama to raise the US debt ceiling and avert a default.

The bill passed the Senate by 74 votes to 26. Mr Obama is due to speak shortly and then sign the deal into law.

The bill increase the debt limit by up to $2.4tn (£1.5tn) from $14.3tn, and must achieve the saving at least $2.1tn in 10 years.

The deal was struck after months of fierce negotiations between the White House and lawmakers of both parties.

The vote came roughly 12 hours before Washington was due to run out of time. Without a deal to increase the debt ceiling the US would be unable to meet all its bills, according to the US treasury department.

"The push-and-pull people saw in Washington this week was not gridlock, it was the will of the people working itself out," Mr McConnell said.

"Together, we have a different new way and ideas of doing business in Washington," he added.

Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid spoke after Mr McConnell, saying that though debt deal was not correct, the US needed to avert the financial disaster that would have been caused by a default.

3D sales boost UK cinema despite drop in ticket numbers

Last year there is decline in the number of cinema visits. There is increase in box office receipts can be explained by the impact of 3D premium ticket pricing.

According to British Film Institute report Box office receipts reached £988m in 2010.This year sale is increased 5% from last years sale.

But cinema admissions were down 2% on the previous year, with a figure of 169.2 million.

UK films, including co-productions, accounted for 24% of the market. The top film at the UK box office last year was Toy Story 3, grossing £73.7m.

The top 100 films earned 90% of the gross box office.

Kings of Leon cancel US tour amid 'problems'

Due to some problem within the band, Kings of Leon have cancelled their US tour.

The cancellation comes three days after frontman Caleb Followill left the stage during a show in Dallas, Texas.

He said due to "heat exhaustion and dehydration", he can not sing.

On the hand his brother, bassist Jared Followill, said in a tweet that the band has "internal sicknesses & problems" that go beyond dehydration.

"I can't lie," he wrote. "There are problems in our band bigger than not drinking enough Gatorade."

Drummer Nathan Followill added in a separate Twitter message: "Not so good morning 4 me today. Ashamed & embarrassed by last night's fiasco."

The cancellation of the US tour was declared in a statement by the Nashville-based band on Monday.

It said the band members were "devastated, but in order to give their fans the shows they deserve, they need to take rest".

Show will not rescheduled .The band are to return to the road in Vancouver, Canada, on 28 September.

"Thanks to all our true fans for understanding and helping us through this hard time," Caleb Followill said on Twitter.

Kings of Leon, who are all family members and originally from Tennessee, have had huge global success with their singles including Use Somebody and Sex on Fire.

They have released five studio albums, the fourth of which - Only by the Night - had record selling.

The band won two Brit awards in 2009 as well as two Grammys in the same year plus another Grammy in 2008.