STORM

Job losses and fear about what lies ahead persists on Main Street America, despite official pronouncements that the 'Great Recession' ended over a year ago, the head of a U.S. mayors group said this week. The group was in Washington to lobby President Obama and federal officials for billions of dollars in grants and investments.

Gambling group William Hill Plc said it expects net revenue for the full year to rise 7 percent on strong growth from its online business and gaming machines.

ARkStorm is a hypothetical winter storm scenario created by USGS's Multi-Hazards Demonstration Project for Southern California (MHDP) where experts have tried to forecast and assess the scientifically plausible physical event of a disastrous storm and the consequential secondary hazards as well as physical, social, and economic consequences.

The United States Geological Survey (USGS) issued a statement over the weekend saying a phenomenon called atmospheric river (AR) caused disastrous high winds and rains in northern California in October, but the information inadvertently touched a sensitive chord among anxious residents, triggering a flare-up of fears about massive natural calamities waiting in the wings.

The so-called super storm scenario prepared by the U.S. Geological Survey says such super storm has potential to move water of almost 50 Mississippi rivers into the Gulf of Mexico, causing massive floods and devastation in California.

Jay Cutler made a spectacular playoff debut by throwing for two touchdowns and running for two others as the Chicago Bears defeated the Seattle Seahawks 35-24 on Sunday to advance to the NFC championship.

RIM released its PlayBook 4G tablet at the CES 2011 to counter the barrage of Android and Windows tablets. However, RIM had a muted response to Android smartphone onslaught.

Attacks on computer systems now have the potential to cause global catastrophe, but only in combination with another disaster, the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development said in a report on Monday.

Every time you fill up your car this winter you are participating in the biggest taxpayer swindle in history. Only a policy created in Washington DC could drive up the prices of gasoline and food, with the added benefits of costing the American taxpayer billions in tax subsidies and killing people in 3rd world countries.

The storm stirred by the 13th zodiac sign, Ophicus, is the latest sensation to take over the web world. The flip-side to internet news and hoaxes is that they gain momentum in such a pace that it raises questions on people's susceptibility.

Details of yet another upcoming BlackBerry handset was acquired by Jonathan Geller, blogger with BoyGeniusReport. BlackBerry Apollo is the next generation Curve handset that will come with decent specifications for those who wish to enjoy the new BlackBerry OS 6.1 running on it.

The South African rand fell to its lowest in five weeks on Friday, as the central bank mopped up dollar supply as a measure to curb currency strength, while waning global risk appetite also weighed.

Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi faces a prostitution investigation in Milan over a teenage nightclub dancer who attended parties at his private residence, prosecutors said on Friday.

Coal freight lines could start reopening as early as Thursday in Australia's flooded Queensland coalfields as waters recede, rail officials said, prompting predictions of a faster-than-expected start to a recovery in exports.

Floods left parts of Australia's third-biggest city on Thursday looking like a war zone in need of years of reconstruction, the state premier said, while fresh threats loomed with a cyclone forecast offshore.

Sarah Palin, Republican known for fiery statements, has landed in another controversy for using blood libel while defending herself against allegations on the Tuscon shooting. The row has shed light on the increasingly caustic political rhetoric.

Flood water in Australia's third-biggest city peaked below feared catastrophic levels on Thursday but Brisbane and other devastated regions faced years of rebuilding as a fresh flood threat loomed with a cyclonic storm building off the coast.

As the New York City faces season's third winter storm in less than three weeks, here are some key facts on weather conditions, flight delays, cancellations and more.

Within weeks from a blizzard that hit New York City halting travel, city Mayor Michael Bloomberg declared a weather emergency from Tuesday evening through Wednesday afternoon in many parts of the region.

Scientists using NASA's Fermi Gamma-ray Space Telescope have detected beams of antimatter that produced above thunderstorms on Earth, something never seen before.

The number of weather-related natural calamities rose last year, showing further proof of the growing impact of climate change.