The first week he was in New Orleans, Juan Sifford was recruited on a street corner to tear down a chain-link fence and dig up some bamboo roots. The contractor promised him and three other workers $100 each for the job.
When the work was done and the men piled back into the contractor's truck, he drove them to what Sifford calls "a really bad neighborhood. He climbs down off the truck and he gives us $120. Not individually, collectively. Then he showed me his sidearm."
Earth Changes
TOKYO An earthquake with a preliminary magnitude of 6.8 rattled a group of Japanese islands in the Pacific Ocean south of Tokyo early Tuesday, Japan's weather agency said. No tsunami warning was issued.
NEW YORK - The U.S. Northeast, the nation's top heating oil consuming region, will face colder-than-normal weather during the early winter period, private forecaster WSI Corp. predicted on Monday.
The November to January outlook, following the mildest winter on record last year, comes as U.S. energy companies built up healthy inventories of heating oil and natural gas ahead of seasonal cold weather.
The November to January outlook, following the mildest winter on record last year, comes as U.S. energy companies built up healthy inventories of heating oil and natural gas ahead of seasonal cold weather.
All Things Considered, October 23, 2006 - About 70 years ago, pioneer aerial photographer Bradford Washburn flew over Alaska's glaciers, documenting their splendor while looking for mountain-climbing routes.
Now, a Boston photojournalist is following in his footsteps with a very different purpose. He's reshooting Washburn's images to demonstrate global warming's impacts. Ed Schoenfeld of CoastAlaska News reports from Juneau.
Now, a Boston photojournalist is following in his footsteps with a very different purpose. He's reshooting Washburn's images to demonstrate global warming's impacts. Ed Schoenfeld of CoastAlaska News reports from Juneau.
MEXICO CITY - Hurricane Paul strengthened to a Category 2 storm off Mexico's western coast on Monday and was threatening southern Baja California, the U.S. National Hurricane Center in Miami said.
Paul had maximum sustained winds of 100 mph and had shifted direction, moving west-northwest at about 5 mph. The center said Paul could strengthen further and pick up speed Monday.
Paul had maximum sustained winds of 100 mph and had shifted direction, moving west-northwest at about 5 mph. The center said Paul could strengthen further and pick up speed Monday.
ATHENS - Torrential rains caused flooding in parts of southern Greece, just three days after storms triggered a state of emergency elsewhere in the region, authorities said.
Around 30 homes were flooded in the southern Peloponnese and several occupants had to be rescued by firemen. Three cars were swept away by torrents, while landslides halted road traffic in parts of the region.
Around 30 homes were flooded in the southern Peloponnese and several occupants had to be rescued by firemen. Three cars were swept away by torrents, while landslides halted road traffic in parts of the region.
WASHINGTON - The world - especially the Western United States, the Mediterranean region and Brazil - will likely suffer more extended droughts, heavy rainfalls and longer heat waves over the next century because of global warming, a new study forecasts.
But the prediction of a future of nasty extreme weather also includes fewer freezes and a longer growing season.
But the prediction of a future of nasty extreme weather also includes fewer freezes and a longer growing season.
Three moderate quakes have shaken the island of Mindoro south of the Philippine capital, but there were no reports of damage.
All three quakes had epicenters about 30 kilometers (18.6 miles) northeast of Calapan town but were also felt by residents in Manila, about 140 kilometres (88 miles) away, the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology said.
A 5.2 quake at 10:30 pm (1430 GMT) Friday was followed by another of 3.7 at 1:27 am Saturday and a third of 4.7 at 8:09 am, the institute added.
The US Geological Survey however measured the quakes at 5.8, 5.6 and 5.5.
All three quakes had epicenters about 30 kilometers (18.6 miles) northeast of Calapan town but were also felt by residents in Manila, about 140 kilometres (88 miles) away, the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology said.
A 5.2 quake at 10:30 pm (1430 GMT) Friday was followed by another of 3.7 at 1:27 am Saturday and a third of 4.7 at 8:09 am, the institute added.
The US Geological Survey however measured the quakes at 5.8, 5.6 and 5.5.
An earthquake with a magnitude of 4.5 on the Richter scale struck northern Thailand, but there were no reports of casualties or damage.
The quake hit the northern province of Chiang Rai, along the border of Myanmar and Laos, 790 kilometers (483 miles) north of Bangkok, the department said Saturday.
The epicenter was located 40 kilometers (25 miles) east of Chiang Rai, but the department did not have a figure for its depth.
The quake hit the northern province of Chiang Rai, along the border of Myanmar and Laos, 790 kilometers (483 miles) north of Bangkok, the department said Saturday.
The epicenter was located 40 kilometers (25 miles) east of Chiang Rai, but the department did not have a figure for its depth.
An earthquake measuring 4.1 on the Richter scale jolted Bangladesh's southeastern port city Chittagong and its adjoining area early Sunday.
The quake occurred at 1:03 a.m. (19:03 GMT) and the distance of the epicenter of the quake was 191 km from Chittagong Seismic Observatory.
The magnitude of the earthquake was 4.1 on the Richter scale and it lasted for 21 seconds.
The intensity was light, said a Met Office bulletin.
The quake occurred at 1:03 a.m. (19:03 GMT) and the distance of the epicenter of the quake was 191 km from Chittagong Seismic Observatory.
The magnitude of the earthquake was 4.1 on the Richter scale and it lasted for 21 seconds.
The intensity was light, said a Met Office bulletin.
Comment: "Over the next century"??