Archive for August, 2008
US braces for major storm hit on New Orleans (AFP)
AFP - The United States girded for disaster Sunday as Hurricane Gustav plowed toward Louisiana, with over a million people fleeing the Gulf Coast and oil production all but shut off in the Gulf of Mexico.
Nearly two million flee Hurricane Gustav (Reuters)
Reuters - Nearly two million people fled the
Louisiana coast on Sunday as Hurricane Gustav moved within
hours of striking land, possibly with a weaker punch than
2005’s devastating Hurricane Katrina.
Gustav disrupts McCain’s Republican convention (Reuters)
Reuters - Republican John McCain on Sunday
ordered political speeches canceled for his Republican
nominating convention on Monday to avoid a festive atmosphere
while Americans cope with Hurricane Gustav.
Gustav’s possible economic hit is widespread (AP)
AP - Although attention is focused on the petroleum industry as Hurricane Gustav takes aim at the Gulf Coast, billions of dollars are at stake in other economic sectors: New Orleans’ trademark tourism industry, the shipping business, sugar harvesting ? and even such niche products as red-hot Tabasco sauce.
Gustav sends oil prices soaring
The world oil market’s reaction to the gathering threat of Hurricane Gustav will be tested in an extended trading session on Sunday afternoon.
AP Exclusive: Incremental Anbar drawdown expected (AP)
AP - The drawdown of Marines from the former Sunni insurgent stronghold of Anbar will take time because there is still much work to be done, a top U.S. commander said Sunday on the eve of the once violent province’s transfer to Iraqi security control.
TV networks shifting from politics to storm (AP)
AP - Television networks rapidly shifted focus and personnel away from the Republican national convention to Gulf Coast communities in the path of Hurricane Gustav on Sunday, wondering how much of their political planning will be for naught.
Gustav no longer expected to reach Category 4 (Reuters)
Reuters - Hurricane Gustav was no longer expected
to reach Category 4 strength before hitting the U.S. Gulf
Coast, the U.S. National Hurricane Center said on Sunday.
Russia promises military aid to South Ossetia (AP)
AP - Russia’s president said Sunday his country will give military aid to the two separatist regions at the center of the war with Georgia ? signaling Moscow has no intention of backing down in the face of Western pressure.
Russia warns it will respond to “aggression” (Reuters)
Reuters - Russia does not want confrontation with
the West but will hit back if attacked, Kremlin leader Dmitry
Medvedev said on Sunday, a day before EU leaders meet to draft
a response to Moscow’s actions in Georgia.