Russian stocks climbed on Monday, opening the week with growth in the banking sector, while shares among oil firms fell. The MICEX added 0.4 percent to close at 1406.86, while RTS advanced 0.8 percent to 1417.05 points. VTB and Sberbank were the biggest gainers in the banking sector. Shares of Russian gas giant Gazprom also grew, adding 0.7 percent. Other oil firms saw a minor selloff on Monday: Lukoil shares dropped, along with Tatneft and Surgutneftegaz. E.On Russian also fell on Monday following Friday’s climb, on news of upcoming dividends that will include 100 percent of the company’s net profit.European stock markets opened the week with gains on Monday. Automakers led the growth in Europe after Morgan Stanley revised its estimate on the sector to ‘overweight’ from ‘equalweight.’ The benchmark Stoxx Europe 600 index rose 0.3 percent to close at 309.77. The UK’s FTSE 100 jumped to its highest close since September 2000, having advanced 0.5 percent to 6755.63. Germany’s DAX added 0.7 percent to 8455.83, and France’s CAC-40 grew by 0.5 percent to close at 4022.85.US stocks closed slightly lower on May 20 after a Federal Reserve official hinted that the central bank will soon draw down its $85-billion-a-month bond-buying stimulus program. Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago President Charles Evans said earlier that the stimulus program would continue until the labor market demonstrates significant improvement. Later, however, he downplayed his remarks.The Dow Jones Industrial Average closed 0.12 percent lower to 15,336.05, while the broad-market S&P 500 index ended down 0.07 percent at 1,666.26. The Nasdaq Composite index also fell 0.07 percent to close at 3,496.43. Investors are eagerly anticipating Wednesday testimony by Federal Reserve Chair Ben Bernanke on whether the US central bank intends to end its stimulus program soon.Asian stocks fell Tuesday. Japan’s Nikkei 225 index lost 0.1 percent to 15,341.85. Hong Kong’s Hang Seng declined 0.6 percent to 23,364.36. Australia’s S&P/ASX 200 lost 0.6 percent to 5,176.70. Indices in Mainland China were mixed. South Korea’s Kospi dropped 0.1 percent to 1,979.93. Benchmarks in Singapore, Indonesia and New Zealand fell, while the Philippines advanced. Oil is currently trading mixed, with Brent down 0.01 percent and WTI adding a mere 0.05 percent. … Read More
US: Major disaster declared in Oklahoma after tornado leaves 91 dead
Related
At least 91 dead after tornado tears through Oklahoma 21/05/2013 04:04 CET
Oklahoma tornado survivors speak 21/05/2013 05:54 CET
Tornadoes rip through central US 20/05/2013 08:44 CET
Christmas day tornados kill three in US 26/12/2012 19:33 CET
Tornadoes tear through Texas killing 6 16/05/2013 10:04 CET
A powerful tornado has torn through a suburb of Oklahoma city in the US, leaving at least 91 people dead – including 20 children.
The three kilometre wide twister, with winds of up to 320 kilometres per hour, flattened large swathes of Moore – destroying everything in its path.
Search and rescue operations are continuing in the worst affected areas.
The Plaza Towers Elementary School took a direct hit. Its roof was ripped off and its walls collapsed. Emergency crews have been searching for two dozen children, thought to be buried in the rubble.
“The whole city looks like a debris field,” the mayor of Moore, Glenn Lewis told NBC. “It looks like we have lost our hospital. I drove by there a while ago and it’s pretty much destroyed.”
Another school and a hospital were among the other buildings levelled in Moore, which is home to around 50-thousand people.
The area was given a 16 minute warning before the tornado touched down on Monday afternoon.
US President Barack Obama has declared a major disaster in Oklahoma. He has offered federal aid to boost state and local recovery efforts.
Monday’s tornado follows others at the weekend,which injured nearly 40 people in Oklahoma.
American flag
An American flag lies on top of an overturned car after a tornado struck Moore, Oklahoma. A 3-km-wide tornado tore through the Oklahoma City suburb of Moore on Monday, killing at least 91 people while destroying entire tracts of homes, piling cars atop one another, and trapping two dozen school children beneath rubble. REUTERS/Gene Blevins
Children with dog
Abby Madi (L) and Peterson Zatterlee comforts Zaterlee’s dog Rippy, after a tornado struck Moore, Oklahoma. A 3-km-wide tornado tore through the Oklahoma City suburb of Moore on Monday, killing at least 91 people while destroying entire tracts of homes, piling cars atop one another, and trapping two dozen school children beneath rubble. REUTERS/Gene Blevins
Destroyed cars
Destroyed cars are seen along Interstate 35 after a tornado struck Moore, Oklahoma. A 3-km-wide tornado tore through the Oklahoma City suburb of Moore on Monday, killing at least 91 people while destroying entire tracts of homes, piling cars atop one another, and trapping two dozen school children beneath rubble. REUTERS/Gene Blevins
Gas pumps missing
Gas pumps islands are seen without pumps after a tornado struck Moore, Oklahoma. A 3-km-wide tornado tore through the Oklahoma City suburb of Moore on Monday, killing at least 91 people while destroying entire tracts of homes, piling cars atop one another, and trapping two dozen school children beneath rubble. REUTERS/Gene Blevins
Two girls
Two girls stand in rubble after a tornado struck Moore, Oklahoma. A 3-km-wide tornado tore through the Oklahoma City suburb of Moore on Monday, killing at least 91 people while destroying entire tracts of homes, piling cars atop one another, and trapping two dozen school children beneath rubble. REUTERS/Gene Blevins
USA Deadliest Tornados
Where:“Tri-State” (Missouri, Illinois and Indiana)
When: March 18, 1925
Casualties: 695
Where: Natchez, Mississippi
When: May 7, 1840
Casualties: 317
Where: St. Louis, Missouri and East St. Louis, Illinois
When: May 27, 1896
Casualties: 255
Where: Tupelo, Mississippi
When: April 5, 1936
Casualties: 216
Where: Gainesville, Georgia
When: April 5, 1936
Casualties: 203
Where: Woodward, Oklahoma
When: April 9, 1947
Casualties: 181
Where: Joplin, Missouri
When: May 22, 2011
Casualties: 158
Where: Amite, Louisiana and Purvis, Mississippi
When: April 24, 1908
Casualties: 143
Where: New Richmond, Wisconsin
When: June 12, 1899
Casualties: 117
Where: Flint, Michigan
When: June 8, 1953
Casualties: 116
More about: Natural catastrophe, Oklahoma City, Tornado, USA
Copyright © 2013 euronews
JavaScript is required in order to view this article’s accompanying video
Metro: Last Light Tested, Benchmarked
When the Metro 2033 was released in 2010 it contributed to raise the PC graphics bar making good use of the latest DirectX 11 rendering technologies. Metro: Last Light follows its predecessor roots by using a heavily customized and improved version of the 4A Engine. … Read More
5 Overlooked Lessons From the AP Subpoenas and Other Leak Investigations
The journalism world has been rightly outraged by the Justice Department dragging the Associated Press (and now a Fox News reporter) into one of its sprawling leak investigations. … Read More
‘Cooperation in Iran’s interest to clarify peaceful nuclear intent’ – IAEA chief
The urgency of which to reach an agreement appears to be increasing, as Washington and Tel-Aviv threaten a possible military response if diplomacy and sanctions fail to make Tehran restrain its nuclear program. With an Iranian election set for next month, Tehran is looking increasingly unlikely to back down over its controversial nuclear program. Negotiations held last week failed to bring about any major shift or concession from either party. Over the past few months, the IAEA and Tehran have held several talks in an effort to develop a structured approach to addressing the Iranian nuclear issue.“What we can say about the nuclear activity of Iran is that Iran is conducting nuclear activities in a quite steady manner,” Yukiya Amano, Director General of the IAEA told RT.The watchdog, based in Vienna, has on various occasions expressed concerns that Iranian authorities have denied its inspectors access to Iran’s nuclear facility in Parchin. The IAEA says it needs such access to allay international concerns about Iran’s nuclear program. Tehran maintains that its nuclear research is conducted for peaceful purpose only.“We are not saying that Iran has nuclear weapons or that Iran has decided to develop nuclear weapons but we have pieces of information that indicate that Iran was involved in activities relevant to the development of nuclear explosive devises,” Amano stressed.The head of the nuclear watchdog added “We do not draw conclusions but we put questions and we tell our Iranian friends that they need to clarify the issues.”Though closely linked, the talks between the IAEA and Iran remain separate from discussions that Tehran is holding with six world powers, the five permanent members of the UN Security Council, plus Germany.Last week Iran’s chief nuclear negotiator said that Tehran and the six world powers will resume talks on its nuclear program “in the near future,” most likely some time before the Iranian elections on June 14.But in the meantime, Amano underlined that “Cooperating with IAEA fully should be in the interest of Iran. They say all of their activities are for peaceful purposes and we would like to help Iran to clarify the issue.”The IAEA chief also stresses that a repeat of the Iraq scenario, where failure to cooperate was used as a pretext to invasion, is unlikely to happen with Iran. Asked about Israel’s double standards in regards to the alleged possession of nuclear weapons and Iran’s push for nuclear development, Amano said that international law applies differently to Israel as it is not a member of the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty.“Israel is not a member of the NPT so what IAEA can do is vary the activities in the facility which Israel decided to place under our safeguard, we do not have the authority to go beyond that.” The issue of Israel’s possession of nuclear weapons, which has not yet been officially acknowledged by Tel Aviv, is crucial to an international effort to create a region nuclear free zone. A conference on the introduction of a Middle East free of weapons of mass destruction was called for at a May 2010 conference to review the 1970 Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty. The idea has failed to materialize, as Israel said it would not attend the international conference. “Many countries of the international community want Israel to attend a Nuclear Weapons Free Zone Conference and the NPT. My role is to maintain the channel and share the information and advice,” Amano said.In regards to the use of nuclear power after the Fukushima disaster, the watchdog’s head said“Our safety features have been strengthened,” adding that the“Fukushima accident was a huge wake-up call for all the countries to enhance safety.” Despite the Fukushima accident, the use of nuclear power will continue and expand, Amano explained. … Read More
Oklahoma tornado survivors speak
Related
At least 91 dead after tornado tears through Oklahoma 21/05/2013 04:04 CET
Tornadoes rip through central US 20/05/2013 08:44 CET
Christmas day tornados kill three in US 26/12/2012 19:33 CET
Tornadoes tear through Texas killing 6 16/05/2013 10:04 CET
Florida sinkhole search called off, man presumed dead 03/03/2013 08:56 CET
Disaster is always difficult to take in, but the Oklahoma tornado is all the harder because it was so sudden.
The US National Weather Service had classed the twister with a preliminary ranking of EF4, putting it in the second most powerful category of storm.
Survivor Ricky Stove: “We thought we died because we were inside the cellar door, we locked the cellar door once we saw it coming, it got louder and next thing you know is you see the latching coming undone and we couldn’t reach for it and it ripped open the door and just glass and debris started slamming on us and we thought we were dead to be honest”
The tornado reduced robust buildings to rubble, picking up and tossing aside cars as though they were toys.
Survivor Lando Hite: “When they started flying I just dove in a stall and that’s about the last, I got covered up with some debris and it pushed me in the shed. I was pretty lucky I suppose.”
Hospitals say they are treating almost 60 injured, including a dozen children.
The massive twister struck at the height of tornado season, and more are forecast.
More about: Natural catastrophe, Oklahoma City, Tornado, USA
Copyright © 2013 euronews
JavaScript is required in order to view this article’s accompanying video
Oklahoma tornado aftermath: LIVE UPDATES
4:03 GMT:Twenty four children remain unaccounted for after the devastating Oklahoma tornado, CNN reports.3:59 GMT:All public schools in Moore, Oklahoma will remain closed on Tuesday. 3:54 GMT:Officials at two Oklahoma hospitals have revised the number of patients they have been treating. Since a massive tornado hit suburban Oklahoma City a total of 120 patients, including about 50 children, wereadmitted to hospitals, officials said. 3:43 GMT:US President Obama has signed a major disaster declaration following a devastating tornado in Oklahoma, making federal funding available in Cleveland, Lincoln, McClain, Oklahoma and Pottawatomie.3:17 GMT: Some of Oklahoma children earlier reported as missing have been found in local churches, CNN reports.2:45 GMT: As of 9:45 pm central time Oklahoma medical examiner’s office has confirmed 51 deaths and 233 injuries.2:35 GMT: Medical examiner’s office says that at least 20 children were among those 51 confirmed dead after Oklahoma tornado.2:23 GMT: Two Oklahoma hospitals are treating more than 140 people, including about 70 kids, after massive tornado hit Oklahoma. … Read More
