Winnipeg Free Press - PRINT EDITION

The World

Hurricane Earl bears down on East Coast

NAGS HEAD, N.C. -- Hurricane Earl steamed towards the Eastern Seaboard on Wednesday as communities from North Carolina to New England kept a close eye on the forecast, worried that even a slight shift in the storm's predicted offshore track could put millions of people in the most densely populated part of the country in harm's way.

The governors of North Carolina, Virginia and Maryland declared states of emergency, sea turtle nests on one beach were scooped up and moved to safety, and the crew of the U.S. Navy's USS Cole rushed to get home to Norfolk, Va., on Wednesday ahead of the bad weather. The destroyer was supposed to return later this week from a seven-month assignment fighting piracy off Somalia.

Earl was expected to reach the North Carolina coast late today and wheel to the northeast, staying offshore while making its way up the Eastern Seaboard. It's expected to hit Atlantic Canada by Saturday.

Pakistan blasts kill 25, wound dozens

LAHORE, Pakistan -- Three bombs ripped through a Shiite Muslim religious procession in the eastern Pakistani city of Lahore on Wednesday, killing 25 people and wounding about 150 others, officials said.

The explosions appeared to be the latest in a string of attacks by Sunni extremists against the minority Shiites they consider infidels. Allied with al-Qaida and the Taliban, the bombers are also seeking to destabilize Pakistan's U.S.-backed government.

The blasts were the first major attacks since Pakistan was hit by devastating floods more than a month ago. Lahore, the country's political capital and home to much of its military elite, has been regularly targeted by militants over the past two years.

Ex-British PM's memoir hits bookstores

LONDON -- Tony Blair regrets banning fox hunting, but not invading Iraq. He was captivated by Princess Diana, intimidated by the Queen. He heaps praise on former U.S. president George W. Bush but calls colleague Gordon Brown a man of "zero" emotional intelligence. He acknowledges some find him delusional, and says he possibly drank too much.

Blair's long-awaited memoir hit bookstores Wednesday, and the revealing, self-justifying 700-page volume provides plenty of fodder for the former British leader's supporters -- and detractors. He was paid a US$7-million advance for A Journey, which recounts his voyage from political neophyte to youthful prime minister to admired, and then reviled, statesman.

New Yorker survives 39-storey plunge

NEW YORK -- A New York City man who plunged 39 stories from the rooftop of an apartment building has survived after crashing onto a parked car.

Witnesses and police say 22-year-old Thomas Magill jumped from the high-rise at West 63rd Street on Tuesday. He landed in the backseat area of a Dodge Charger after crashing through the windshield. He suffered broken legs.

The car's owner, Guy McCormack, told the Daily News he's convinced that rosary beads he kept inside the Dodge saved Magill's life.

-- From the news services

Republished from the Winnipeg Free Press print edition September 2, 2010 A12

You can comment on most stories on winnipegfreepress.com. You can also agree or disagree with other comments. All you need to do is register and/or login and you can join the conversation and give your feedback.

The Winnipeg Free Press does not necessarily endorse any of the views posted. By submitting your comment, you agree to our Terms and Conditions. These terms were revised effective April 16, 2010; View the changes. New to commenting? Check out our Frequently Asked Questions.

Follow

  1. WFP Hockey

    Download our new hockey app for the iPhone for Winnipeg Jets updates

  2. Editor's Bulletin

    Sign up for daily bulletins from editor Margo Goodhand

  3. Winnipeg Jets

    All things NHL on our Jets landing page

  4. Twitter

    Follow our reporters and our news feeds on Twitter

  5. News Cafe

    Check out the menu, read our blog posts or get info on coming events

  6. Facebook Fanpage

    Follow our Facebook Fanpage for story links, contests and special events

letters

Make text: Larger | Smaller

Poll

Should infants be allowed in the House of Commons?

View Results

View Related Story