Hurricane Irene, the first major hurricane of the 2011 season, made landfall in the United States East Coast over the weekend causing at least 15 deaths, severe flooding, and widespread destruction in several U.S. states, with financial losses estimated to reach around $5-10 billion.
Hurricane Irene first made landfall over Eastern North Carolina and Southeastern Virginia on August 27 destroying buildings and leaving millions without power. It made its second landfall in New Jersey on August 28, the first hurricane to make a landfall in the Garden State in more than century. Its third landfall was in New York, where more than 370,000 residents were told to evacuate in anticipation of the hurricane.
(PHOTOS) Riots in London – August 2011
For the past three nights since August 6, London has been besieged by a series of riots and public disturbances. Described by the UK newspaper Guardian as “the worst disturbances of their kind since the 1995 Brixton riots,” the unrest has resulted to burning of cars and buildings, lootings in shops and commercial establishments, and violent clashes between rioters and police.
Below are pictures of the London riots from The Telegraph and BBC News websites.
Photos & Videos of Fake Apple Store in China
Just when we thought China has produced a fake version of almost anything — from mobile phones to designer bags to apparel and even branded cars! — here comes another one that can be added to that list: a fake Apple Store.
An American blogger, who goes by the name BirdAbroad, recently posted in her blog photos and a video of the rip-off Apple store. According to the blog entry, the store is located in the city of Kunming, capital of China’s southwestern Yunnan province.
The similarities with authorized Apple stores are uncanny, with the blogger describing in detail:
(Pictures) Flood hits Australia
We take time to share with you images of a calamity in another part of the world that is eerily familiar to most Filipinos. The land down under, Australia, is currently experiencing one of the worst floods in recent history.
(Photos) New Philippine Peso bills
The Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) unveiled yesterday the newest series of the Philippine Peso bills. The banknotes, which will be in public circulation soon, sport a more modern design with visual elements and security features that are not in the current peso bills.
Here are the new look of the latest banknote series of the Philippine Peso.
(Pics) Typhoon Ondoy in Provident Village, Marikina
Marikina City, Philippines — Provident Village is unfortunately now becoming famous for being one of the hardest-hit areas in Metro Manila by Typhoon Ondoy.
Here are some pictures of tropical storm Ondoy battering the village and its impact on the residents.
Typhoon Ondoy: Pictures, videos
Manila, Philippines — Tropical storm Ondoy (International Name: Ketsana) hit Luzon and parts of Metro Manila on Saturday, September 26 and brought flood, jammed traffic, landslides, and deaths.
Waist-deep flood waters caused cars to stall in the middle of highways. People walked due to lack of public transport and impassable traffic. Residents were forced to stay on the rooftops of their houses due to submerged first- or second-floors. The National Disaster Coordinating Council (NDCC) reported 240 deaths as of Tuesday, September 29. Many more are missing.
Here are some pics and videos we gathered online showing the impact of typhoon Ondoy in the Philippines.
See also: Bagyong Ondoy lashes the Philippines (PICTURES)