US/ OBAMA URGES NATION TO HEAL DIVISIONS: President Barack Obama honoured the victims of Saturday's Tucson shooting at a Memorial Service last night, urging the US to heal divisions opened by "sharply polarised" political debate. Blaming opponents for "all that ails the world" was unhelpful, he said. 6 people were killed and 13 injured in the shooting, including Democratic Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords. Giffords, who was shot in the head and has had brain surgery, opened her eyes for the first time yesterday. Obama, who visited Giffords earlier in the day, passed on the news to the crowd of more than 14,000 people gathered at the University of Arizona basketball arena in Tucson. "Gabby opened her eyes. So I can tell you she knows we are here. She knows we love her. And she knows that we are rooting for her through what is undoubtedly going to be a difficult journey," he said. Today, doctors said Giffords has been making steady progress each day. She is moving both legs and both arms, has opened both eyes and is responding to friends and family. They've helped her sit up and dangle her legs from the bed, and she is able to lift her legs on command. In his speech last night, Obama paid tribute to the 6 who died, pictured above, the survivors and those who came to their aid. "Heroism is here all around us, in the hearts of so many of our fellow citizens, just waiting to be summoned , as it was on Saturday morning," Obama said.
More than 370 people have been killed by flash flooding and mudslides in southeastern Brazil. The mountain towns of Nova Friburgo and Teresopolis have both seen more than 150 deaths and Petropolis dozens more. Officials in Brazil's civil defence department have warned there could be hundreds more bodies yet to be recovered in Teresopolis alone. Thousands of people have been made homeless by the heavy rains. The Governor of Rio de Janeiro blamed local governments for allowing poor building and illegal occupations. Heavy rain began falling again today as rescuers resumed their search and was expected to continue throughout much of the day. The collapse of electricity and communications systems, combined with the destruction of many roads and bridges, has severely hampered the rescue work.
The Australian state of Queensland is facing a reconstruction task of "post-war proportions", as floods left swathes of it under water. Powerful flood waters have surged through the state capital, Brisbane, leaving thousands of homes submerged. Water has begun to recede from Brisbane today. however the Brisbane Mayor said 11900 homes and 2500 businesses had been completely flooded, with 14700 houses and 2500 businesses partially submerged. The floods peaked at a lower level than expected but more than 30 suburbs are under water. Huge amounts of debris - cars, boats and jetties - have been floating downstream, some smashing into bridges. 1 man died when he was sucked into a storm drain and 2 more deaths elsewhere, bringing the toll from this week's flooding to 15. At least 61 people are missing, with police very concerned about 12 people in the Lockyer Valley not seen since their homes were destroyed by a wall of water on Monday. Officials say tens of thousands of homes in Queensland have been destroyed or severely damaged. "Queensland is reeling this morning from the worst natural disaster in our history and possibly in the history of our nation," State Premier Anna Bligh told reporters. "We've seen three-quarters of our state having experienced the devastation of raging flood waters and we now face a reconstruction task of post-war proportions". More rain caused by a cyclone off the Queensland coast is forecast for the region in the next few days. Forecasters say the weeks of rain have been blamed on a La Nina weather pattern in the Pacific.
They come seeking news of loved ones, appealing to their neighbours or friends for information, posting photos, and detailing their last known movements.These are not official missing-person reports but two-line messages posted to sites such as Facebook and Twitter where the power of social networks is being harnessed to locate relatives and pets caught out by rising flood waters in Queensland. A dedicated Facebook page set up by a user called Jacob has set itself the mission of tracking missing persons and animals with the simple goal of "helping people". The Queensland Police are also tapping into the power of Facebook to help account for all those still missing and have urged backpackers in the Toowoomba, Lockyer Valley and Gatton areas to make contact with family, friends or relatives to let them know they are safe.
WORLD/ MOUNT ETNA ERUPTS: Sicily's Mount Etna erupted for an hour last evening, lightning up the sky and providing vivid scenary for the village of Milo, located 12km from the volcano. The 10922 foot high Etna is Europe's tallest and most active volcano and has seen increased activity in recent months. There was a slight increase in tremors on Tuesday, and then last evening at 9:30pm, Etna roared to life, spewing lava down its sides. At present, the eruption poses no risk to nearby residents.
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