Heavy Floods Threaten Parts of Central Europe
Parts of Germany, Austria and the Czech Republic are on high flood alert as rising water levels threaten cities and drive thousands from their homes.
At least eight people were killed across the region as a result of the floods, including one who died in a landslide in Austria.
In the Czech capital, Prague, authorities were erecting protective barriers along the Vltava River, which began flooding the historic city center. Schools and metro stations were closed as authorities declared a state of emergency.
The flooding also affected southern and eastern Germany. In the city of Passau, which lies at the confluence of three rivers, water levels exceeded the record set there during flooding in 1954.
Thousands of people were evacuated from their homes as rescue workers used boats to retrieve those left stranded.
Heavy rains are expected to continue throughout late Monday.
Marking the Start of the 2013 Hurricane Season
Minister of Government Support Services, Hon. George Lightbourne
My fellow Turks and Caicos Islanders and residents alike….
The 1st of June marks the beginning of the 2013 hurricane season. In light of this fact, one of the most serious obligations we have as a Government is the protection of our people in the face of potential disasters. As Minister of Government Support Services with responsibility for Disaster Management, I have placed preparation for 2013 Hurricane Season at the top of my agenda.
I therefore urge all residents to take action to minimize their risks and vulnerability by planning ahead to reduce the chances of injury to self and damage to property, business and the environment. The Department of Disaster Management and Emergency (DDME) in keeping with its mandate and mission will collaborate with local, regional, and international agencies to provide the highest standard of assistance in the event of a hazard or natural disaster. I support the efforts of the DDME in ensuring that adequate preparedness, mitigation, response, and recovery mechanisms are established to counteract the impact of natural and man-man disasters.
This government, through the DDME will continue to work with our local and regional partners to support disaster risk reduction for our residents. We will advise you of all risks, by informing you public through radio and all available media outlets about impending storms and offer you tips on preparing.
I call on all residents to take the necessary measures to protect their homes and families in the event of a storm. These measures include updating insurance policies and developing a disaster plan. Please ensure that you have all necessary resources available including, but not limited to food, water and medications, shutters, etc. Preparations should incorporate strategic planning for the safety of the elderly, infants, disabled, and also your pets. Remove all debris and ensure that your property is free from any potential flying objects. Secure important documents. Keep important numbers readily available.
I once again appeal to you to prepare, because preparing in not an option; it is a must. And it is the only thing we can do to reduce the impact of a disaster. Do not be caught off-guard. Remember disaster is everybody’s business.
God bless you and God bless the Turks and Caicos Islands.
George Lightbourne
Minister of Government Support Services
Europe Hands 6 Nations a Deficit Reprieve
Europe is giving six of its financially struggling countries, including the major economies in France and Spain, more time to control the deficit spending of their governments.
Austerity - calling for cuts in spending and increased taxes - has been the dominant prescription in the last two years for European countries looking to rein in budget shortfalls. But with unemployment surging and the continent mired in an 18-month recession, the European Union on Wednesday softened its demands.
The EU granted the Netherlands and Portugal an extra year to cut their deficits below the mandated level of 3 percent of their economic output. France, Spain, Poland and Slovenia were given an additional two years to meet the same standard.
Meanwhile, the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development [OECD] said the economic weakness in the 17-nation euro currency union "could evolve into stagnation with negative implications for the global economy."
The Paris-based OECD, which promotes global economic well-being, said eurozone growth will shrink six-tenths of a percent this year, on top of a half-percentage point drop last year. Six months ago, the group predicted a smaller contraction, and a year ago said the eurozone economy would advance in 2013.
The OECD predicted 3.1 percent global growth this year, increasing to 4 percent next year.
But the OECD's secretary general, Angel Gurria, said unemployment across the world remains a major problem.
"The failure of the global economy to recover more strongly has posed a heavy burden on people. Unemployment remains far too high, In some countries it's already at record levels, and still rising in the case of the euro area," said Gurria. "It's still rising, it went through the 12 percent mark and moving up. The jobless, particularly youth and [the] less skilled, risk losing contact with the labor market and dropping out of the labor force all together. Even when activity eventually picks up, they will have been out of the market for so long that it will not be easy for them to hook up again."
Biden Presses Brazil on Trade
U.S. Vice President Joe Biden is pressing Brazil for closer economic ties with the United States.
On the last stop on a six-day swing through Latin America and the Caribbean, Biden on Wednesday encouraged Brazil to make trade easier. Brazil has South America's biggest economy, but some of its products are protected by relatively high tariffs.
In a speech in Rio de Janeiro, the U.S. vice president said, "Imagine what these two dynamic economies could do with greater trade and investment."
In Washington, the White House announced that Brazilian President Dilma Rousseff would make a state visit to Washington October 23.
China's growth forecast cut by IMF
The International Monetary Fund (IMF) has cuts its economic growth forecast for China, with weakness in the global economy set to hit exports.
The IMF said it now expected the world's second largest economy to grow by "around 7.75%" this year, and at about the same pace in 2014.
That is lower than the 8% forecast for 2013 the IMF made in its World Economic Outlook, published last month.
The IMF also called for a "decisive impetus to reforms" in the country.
Growth still 'robust'
Last year, China's economy grew by 7.8%, its slowest rate for 13 years. In the first three months of this year, it expanded at a lower-than-expected annual pace of 7.7%.
Last week, the release of disappointing Chinese manufacturing figures was one of the factors behind a global sell-off in shares. A survey indicated that factory activity had contracted for the first time in seven months in May.
Speaking to reporters in Beijing, IMF first deputy managing director David Lipton said: "The Chinese economy is expected to grow at around 7.75% this year and at about the same pace next year.
"Chinese export growth has been, after years and years of very rapid growth, very slow because of the state of the global economy and we now are taking our projections of the global economy into effect."
Among the measures called for by the IMF are slower growth in social financing and a relaxation of controls on interest rates and the exchange rate.
Despite the cut in the IMF's forecast, Mr Lipton noted: "Let's not lose sight of the fact that China is still growing at a very fast rate.
"We're projecting that growth will remain robust."
And he added that growth "should pick up moderately in the course of the second half of this year, as the recent credit expansion gains traction and in line with a mild pick-up in the global economy".
Source-BBC
Jaguar Land Rover roars ahead to record £1.67bn profit
Profits at Jaguar Land Rover have roared to an all-time high.
Pre-tax annual profits at the Coventry-based vehicle maker rose 11% to £1.67bn and helped temper a 36% fall in profits at the company's parent group, Tata Motors.
Total world sales at Jaguar Land Rover were up 22% to almost 375,000 vehicles.
Jaguar Land Rover chief executive Dr Ralf Speth said the numbers demonstrated a strong demand for the company's products.
"We invested significantly in the product creation process, in our advanced manufacturing sites and created more than 3,000 jobs," he said.
During the 2012-13 financial year, the company introduced the all-new Range Rover, the Jaguar XF and XJ and the XF Sportbrake.
Net profits between January and March at Jaguar's parent company Tata Motors, itself part of the Indian salt-to-steel conglomerate Tata, fell 22.89bn rupees to 39.45bn rupees ($705m; £466m) compared to the same three months in 2012.
But analysts were untroubled by the fall in the net profit figure, given that a one-off tax gain made up a significant slice of the profits in the January-to-March period in 2012.
In addition, sales revenues were 10% higher in the first quarter of this year at 560bn rupees.
Omarion Sued By Fans
Omarion Sued By Fans, "It's Omarion Fault We Got Our Asses Kicked" No Security!! -- Omarion is being sued by two male fans who got their asses kicked by random thugs at an O show ... and claim the singer's to blame 'cause he didn't provide the "tight security" he advertised. Brunel Jordonne and Kenson Sainvilus filed the lawsuit against Omarion and Ole Bar & Grill in Newburgh, NY, claiming they attended O's concert on September 21 ... and a bunch of fights broke out.
According to the lawsuit, club security tried to defuse the situation by pushing everyone out to the parking lot, but the two men wanted to stay at their VIP table ... where they felt safe. Jordonne and Sainvilus claim security forced them outside anyway -- where the two men were then attacked by a group of strangers for no reason ... and things got crazy.
According to the docs, Sainvilus was punched in the head several times and security even maced him as he tried to escape the parking lot fight. Meanwhile, Jordonne claims he was kicked in the head and had to be airlifted to a hospital with life-threatening injuries. Sainvilus says he was also hospitalized.
The irony -- the men claim Omarion advertised "tight security" on his concert poster ... and now believe he miserably failed to live up to that promise. They're now suing for unspecified damages. Calls to Omarion's camp have not been returned.
Demi Moore Missed Daughter's Graduation Ceremony
Demi Moore did not attend her daughter Scout Willis' Brown University graduation ceremony on Sunday, May 26. The 21-year-old Scout, however, still had her sisters Rumer Willis and Tallulah Willis, and father Bruce Willis to celebrate the wonderful moment. Bruce's wife Emma Heming and Rumer's boyfriend Jayson Blair joined the celebration as well.
The family members were spotted eating out at Providence Coal-Fired Pizza after the event. A source told Radar Online, "The buzz was that Demi was supposed to come in, but everyone was wondering where she was. She was nowhere to be seen all weekend, but everyone seemed to be having a perfectly good time without her."
Another source said that Bruce and Emma spent a few days in Rhode Island before the graduation ceremony. "Bruce was spotted all around town starting on Friday, shopping and eating out with Emma. Everyone was wondering where Demi was," the source said.
Demi and her daughter reportedly are not close, because the girls don't like her partying non-stop after splitting from Ashton Kutcher. However, Rumer is said trying to reconcile with her mother. "Demi and Rumer have been working on repairing their relationship. But the problem is that Demi wants to go out and party with her again and that is where all the problems started before. They're apprehensive," a source told the site.
Rumer and Demi were pictured together for the first time in months in April as they stepped out of a yoga class. "Demi's girls are really apprehensive about letting their mother back into their lives. They want her to be totally over Ashton and healthy," the source said.
Andre 3000's Mother Passes Away on His 38th Birthday
Sad news came from Andre Benjamin and his family. The OutKast member is grieving the loss of his mother, Sharon Benjamin-Hodo, a representative confirms. According to report, Sharon was found dead at her Atlanta home on Dre's 38th birthday, which was on Monday, May 27. No other details are available at the moment.
Sharon, who once worked as a real estate agent while raising Andre as a single mother, was also known for her humanitarian work. She founded The Starlight Camp for underprivileged children and operated it through the New Morning Light Missionary Baptist Church in Conley, GA, where her husband Pastor Robert Hodo preached.
Sharon also played a role in co-managing OutKast during their early career in the industry. As a duo, Andre and Antwan "Big Boi" Patton have released five multiplatinum albums. After releasing "Idlewild" in 2006, they took a break as a group and have been focusing on their respective solo projects ever since.
Prayers and condolences have been pouring in since news of Sharon's passing broke out. "My condolences go out to Dre, and the entire Benjamin-Hodo family," Jermaine Dupri tweeted. Russell Simmons added, "Prayers for Andre 3000..."
In lieu of flowers, well-wishers are respectfully asked to support The Starlight Camp, a cause close to Sharon's heart, the representative for the family tells Billboard.
Source-Aceshowbiz
Toots Returns Home For Tests Today -Head Injury Halts US Acoustic Tour
The head injury that Frederick 'Toots' Hibbert, who performs as Toots & the Maytals, suffered just over a week ago is affecting him more severely than it initially appeared. Hibbert has cut an acoustic tour of the United States (US) short and will return to Jamaica today for tests.
The tour started in New York a day after he was hit by a bottle flung by a patron at the Dominion Riverrock Outdoor Sports and Music Festival in Richmond, Virginia, on Saturday, May 18. It was slated to run until June 2.
A release from Hibbert's management team said "Toots & the Maytals' Toots Hibbert is reluc-tantly cancelling the balance of his US acoustic concert tour due to continuing medical issues stemming from the bottle-throwing incident on Saturday, May 18, 2013, at the Riverrock Concert in Richmond, Virginia, when he was struck in the head by a large vodka bottle thrown at him by an audience member while performing. The blow to his head necessitated him being rushed to a local hospital for initial evaluation and treatment. Since that time, Toots has sought additional medical treatment while trying to complete his tour, given his medical condition."
After the incident, Hibbert was treated at the VCU Medical Centre in Richmond.
The Jamaica Gleaner reported last week Monday that Hibbert had started the acoustic tour and was at the Westhampton Beach Performing Arts Centre. He was then reported to be handling the incident, "taking it in good stride - as best as one can handle such a thing". William C. Lewis, a 19-year-old of Henrico, Virginia, was charged with aggravated assault and public intoxication in relation to the incident.
There are intentions to honour the dates which Hibbert has had to miss, although a definite date cannot be set. The release said "All the concerts on this tour which have been cancelled will be rescheduled for later in the year after Toots has been given a clean bill of health from his doctors." Before this cancellation, there had already been plans for a second part of the acoustic tour. Hibbert is slated to perform in the US and Europe with his son Hopeton on bass, a pair of harmony vocalists and a percussionist.
The release ended with Hibbert expressing his disappointment. It read: "Toots regrets having to disappoint any of his fans but this serious head injury requires that he return home to attend to his medical issues." He also spoke of his appreciation for the support he has been receiving from fans.
Source-Jamaica Gleaner