| Agence France-Presse
Cyclone Gene smashed into Fiji overnight, dumping heavy rain and packing wind gusts of up to 140 kilometers (85 miles) per hour, the Fiji Meteorological Service said. Interim Prime Minister Voreqe Bainimarama, who overthrew the elected government in a military coup in 2006, appealed for foreign help, saying it was too early to gauge the extent of the damage. "We hope the international community will be able to lend assistance where necessary," he told journalists. At least three people reportedly died as a result of the storm, including a young girl who drowned on Tuesday, another who could not be taken to hospital due to flooding and an elderly man who died in a house fire. Power remained cut to many parts of the country including the capital Suva, and low-lying areas were flooded, while roofs were ripped off homes, authorities said.
Cruel sea takes lifesaver's life
THE flag above Fairhaven Surf Life Saving Club flew at half-mast yesterday, limp against its mast in the still air. At the club's bar beneath, they came as they were, in boardshorts and in thongs, some still salty and wet from the beach, to toast Tim Gates, a favourite son lost too soon. On the beach outside, nippers still paddled and played, and the surf, tiny and calm, rolled in. Only the shorebreak, dumping sand-coloured water on the long straight beach gave any hint of the dangers this stretch of coast can hold. But the dangers are there. Gates, 55, died early yesterday morning, three days after a freak boarding accident left him unconscious in the water. In tricky conditions, the champion lifesaver was teaching nippers to board-paddle when a wave dumped him, his head hitting the board.
Helen Beck: Royal Caribbean invests in EMEA region
Ms. Helen Beck, Regional Sales Director International Representatives Europe, Middle East & Africa for Royal Caribbean Cruise Lines talks to TravelDailyNews about RCCL’s targets in EMEA region for this season and for the trends in the cruise industry. TravelDailyNews: What trends are going to drive the cruise market in the Mediterranean and Middle East for this season? Helen Beck: Royal Caribbean offers four- and five-night short cruises for travellers to sample cruising without having to commit a full week. There are up to 15 percent more first-time cruisers aboard our short sailings and their feedback tells us that Royal Caribbean has consistently and significantly exceeded their expectations. Whether for the first time or the fifteenth, guests will find Royal Caribbean short cruises to be a great opportunity to escape for a rejuvenating and exciting getaway.
Web scams can bring holiday headaches
Just in time for Cyber Monday and the online holiday-shopping rush, high-tech Grinches are cranking up their fraud attacks with a new round of bogus e-mail, identity-theft experts say.
Have you won $2 million in a Christmas sweepstakes held by Coca-Cola in the United Kingdom? Can you make big bucks just by cashing checks for an Irish researcher, Chinese exporter or rich oil consultant in Dubai? Is there a problem with your account at Bank of America, JPMorgan Chase, eBay or PayPal?
No. But you might think so if you fall for some of the recent e-mail scams infesting the Internet.
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Hinder Goes Triple Platinum As The Prepare Their New CD
It's been quite a rollercoaster ride. We've grown as songwriters and have learned so much." Largely viewed as stadium-rock's new standard bearers, Hinder also blazed new trails in the digital and ringtone arenas, becoming the biggest selling rock artist in the history of the mobile formats, reaching a record breaking 3 million in ringtone sales thanks to their record breaking rock anthem "Lips Of An Angel," the scorching second single from their 2006 debut effort. The multi-format smash seized the #1 spot on both the Top 40 Pop Radio Chart and the Digital Download Chart, putting the Oklahoma fivesome on the top of multiple radio, video and digital charts, including Yahoo, iTunes, Real/Rhapsody and MSN. The epic anthem has been certified by the RIAA as the first and only triple platinum Mastertone in rock music history.
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