Consumer Finance Association Says Payday Lenders Are Safe ...

San Francisco, CA- The payday lending sector is under scrutiny after giving unaffordable loans to people who couldn?t pay them back, which in turn cost people a lot of money after interest rates were tacked on.

Unfortunately, the legal business of these payday lenders has become subject of questions after it was seen that a lot of people were losing money after borrowing it. The Consumer Finance Association said that these questions were unfair and that payday lenders could not be compared to ?loan sharks,? who can charge up to millions of dollars of interest and subsequently use intimidation methods if they do not receive their money.

The CFA said that payday lenders are having reputation problems, but that the public should be able to trust them because it is a reputable organization, unlike many of the illegal organizations that run similar businesses.

CFA chief executive Russell Hamblin-Boone said that the payday lenders are working on bettering their system so as to not come across as loan sharks. They have committed to developing a better process that would take a closer look at who is getting loans, and whether or not these people can afford to pay them back in the future.

A new code is already in place to better the process, but the CFA has demanded that it be under further review over the next year after findings that more than 2000 people were currently struggling to pay back five or more payday loans.

Hamblin-Boone wanted to make sure that people do not misinterpret the investigation as one of illegality. He was quick to point out that payday lenders are a great way for people who can afford it to finance their futures. He made clear that it is plain wrong to put loan sharks and payday lenders in the same sentence and that the compliance review was merely a way to better the system for both the payday lenders and for the people who use them.

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Source: http://www.briefingwire.com/pr/consumer-finance-association-says-payday-lenders-are-safe-reports-paydayloan90com

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Acer unveils C7 Chromebook, portable cloud computing for just $199

Acer unveils C7 Chromebook, portable cloud computing for just $199

We found ourselves quite enamored with Samsung's latest entry into the Chromebook line, mostly thanks to its incredibly low price of $250. Now Acer's done gone even lower: $199 for its new C7 Chromebook. It's an 11.6-inch (1,366 x 768) machine with a 320GB HDD and an Intel processor, rated for 3.5 hours of battery life -- just about half that of Samsung's ARM-powered entry. It still manages to be under an inch thick and packs a full-size Ethernet port, plus 802.11a/b/g/n WiFi, three USB 2.0 ports and both HDMI and VGA output. (Cellular connectivity does not appear to be an option.) The C7 is available starting tomorrow at the link below, and while we know many of you still aren't sold on the Chromebook idea, at a buck less than $200 maybe it's time to start pondering more seriously.

Continue reading Acer unveils C7 Chromebook, portable cloud computing for just $199

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13-inch Retina MacBook Pro Review: So Good, But So Not Worth It

As soon as Apple announced the 15-inch Retina MacBook Pro, the countdown started for the 13-inch version. Well, here it is. A slim, trim, portable little MacBook with a gorgeous retina screen and a gut-punch cost. And another reminder that sometimes wonderful things don't live up to their price tag. More »

Source: http://feeds.gawker.com/~r/gizmodo/full/~3/gKFU-F8Js0Q/13+inch-retina-macbook-pro-review-so-good-but-so-not-worth-it

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Are You Losing Ground In Internet Promotion ... - Easy Business Today

You will have a successful online business if you do not use efficient Internet marketing techniques. There is not any way out of it. Internet marketing may make or break your business. The following tips can ensure that you get the most out of the efforts you devote to Website marketing.

A good marketing tool to get your customers involved is to have an area where your sites visitors can provide feedback on the products. If customers review your niche on your site, this will drum up new sales and also increase your Internet presence with more keywords.

Don?t cope other people if you truly want to succeed by marketing over the Internet. Search engines are very good at identifying duplicate content, so copying will just hurt you in the long run. Stay inventive if you intend to stay on top of the marketing game.

Coming up with a viral video and then uploading it to a popular site will provide a tremendous boon to your marketing efforts. You should also add a link to your site in the video?s description. This will give a huge boost to the amount of traffic you get coming back to your site.

As a small seller, you may find yourself overwhelmed by the large, competitive Internet marketplace. To counter this, make sure your prices are competitive. If you are charging significantly more than other websites, you will not be making many sales. If all of your products are in one place, your customers will rejoice that they do not have to jump around all over the site.

Make a video demonstration showing how to use your product and showcasing its advantages. By doing this, your customers will know that you use the products yourself. You can show all the features of the product, particularly the benefits that cannot easily be described. You can post these videos on a personal blog or a video hosting site such as YouTube.

Product Descriptions

Having a user-friendly 500 error page is a very helpful tool. This page will popup whenever something on your site doesn?t work. A typical error page tells the viewer that the connection has simply timed out. There are much better methods to make your customers aware of the fact that you are working on the problem.

A vital part of Online marketing is ensuring that your website is setup for SEO purposes correctly, and the site contains engaging content that will keep customers interested. This is true for any online retailer that sells similar products with similar product descriptions. By writing your own unique product descriptions, while using important keywords, you will be able to blow away the competition.

Look around to discover who your target audience is, and what sorts of things they respond well to. When you have a target audience in mind, deciding on content becomes much simpler.

In order to increase your credibility and cement your business standing, aim to give large companies a chance to advertise on your website. People tend to trust you more when you associate yourself with well known companies. This can also boost your traffic and make it appear a more useful business site.

The key to any Internet marketing campaign is knowing what works and doesn?t work for your competition. If you are aware of what they are selling and know you can do something a bit better, then you can be very profitable and surpass them in sales. This is an essential part of Internet marketing.

Try offering free services on your web site. You can increase the chance that a potential customer will investigate your site further once you have caught their eye with a free offer. Something like a calculator for tax returns might catch their eye.

It may sound tempting to maintain a profile on every possible social networking site, but remember that each profile will need all of your attention to make it worthwhile. When profiles are not updated regularly, people start to view them as being spam.

Prepare yourself for any questions you may be asked. When a visitor comes to your site, they may have questions; you need to be willing and able to answer them. Providing detailed information satisfied their curiosity as well as increasing the likelihood they will purchase something from your site.

If you want your customers to trust you, back up any claims with actual proof. Be believable in your claims and try to demonstrate the benefits of what you are promoting with a video, so that customers can see for themselves. This is an excellent example of why selling products you have, in fact, used is always a good idea.

Do not go over budget when paying for advertising. You don?t want to spend any money on advertising that won?t help out your business. Ensure you know exactly what you are getting for your money when you invest it in your business. For this reason, advertising using banner ads can be a smart investment.

Find ways to allow customers to interact with each other on your website. Your website can turn into a social destination as well as a convenient place to find your products. As Facebook and Twitter prove, most people love the social aspect of the Internet. If you can add some social context to your business, people will want to drop by.

Having fantastic content can really help you improve your Internet promotion. Review your content prior to posting to ensure your customers get the right message. It is a smart idea to have a second person preview your content. A fresh pair of eyes makes a huge difference. Lastly, be sure to check your spelling and grammar for any errors.

Find a program that will help track the number of site visitors compared to the number of purchases made to find out if your marketing is working. Many companies have tools that you can install on your web server to track visitor behavior.

If you want to carry good SEO strategies into your future, you must keep track of how people perceive you, the events you propose, and the activities you provide online. This will help you tailor the things you offer in the future for maximum popularity. Look out for public opinions about your promotions and events on forums, blogs, etc. Once you see the feedback, use it to tweak your promotions and give the customers what they want.

People are skeptical of anything written on the Internet. This is not surprising, given that they?ve been dealing with deceptive advertising for years or even decades now. You need to backup your ad copy with evidence. Offer plenty of product reviews, along with testimonials and test reports. Do not make claims that you can?t back up with proof. Don?t mistake your customers for naive or ill-informed people. Avoid deceptive marketing at all costs. You will get a great reputation and gain customers to do business with for a long time.

Online marketing is not a luxury these days; it is a necessity. If you are doing business, then it is something you cannot afford to not pay attention to. Try using these tips to keep a viable Internet business that will succeed and earn you profits.

Use polls on your websites to see what your users think of your content. This will make readers feel included, and it will also help you maintain popular content on your site.

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Source: http://easybusinesstoday.com/workathome/are-you-losing-ground-in-internet-promotion-make-it-up-with-these-tips/

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Jackson Rathbone Talked Fatherhood at 'Breaking... | Gather

Jackson Rathbone, best known for his role as Jasper Hale in The Twilight Saga, dished about fatherhood on the red carpet at the L.A. premiere of Breaking Dawn Part 2. Looking especially dapper at the star-studded event, he also dished about what he learned as a Twilight actor.

Streamed live on Yahoo!, the Breaking Dawn Part 2 red carpet event hosts asked actors a variety of questions as they walked the carpet (which actually was black instead of red) after chatting with fans and signing autographs.

Jackson Rathbone (Twilight Saga Jasper Hale) - Forks, WAJackson was asked about fatherhood and if it found its way into his character. He said he definitely identified with the protective element of the Cullen family toward Renesmee?Edward Cullen and Bella Swan's daughter in the film.

Rathbone's answer about what he learned from filming The Twilight Saga was insightful.

"Don't take life so hard," he said.

Jackson Rathbone showed a humorous side, too, as he joked when asked if he believed there would ever be another Twilight film.

"Get Bruce Willis," he joked. "We'll do 'Twihard or Die Twying.'"

Say that one five times fast!

Jackson was handsome and cordial, thanking fans in a special "fan cam" for all their years of devotion before ending his Breaking Dawn Part 2 red carpet interview.

Photo Source: Facebook

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Source: http://celebs.gather.com/viewArticle.action?articleId=281474981754588

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Dominican Republic: Bankrupt and Near Revolution | Don't Tread ...

By Silver Shield, on November 13th, 2012

By DAMIEN CAVE

MEXICO CITY ? A medical student was fatally shot on Thursday on the campus of the Dominican Republic?s largest public university during a violent confrontation between the police and protesters angry about a new law that will significantly raise sales taxes and a proposal to privatize the school.

Witnesses said the student ? identified by the authorities as William Florian Ram?rez, 21 ? was not taking part in the protest on the campus of the school, the Autonomous University of Santo Domingo, which has about 180,000 students, but he seemed to have simply been caught nearby. The demonstration, involving hundreds of people, had suddenly turned more hostile when young men in masks began throwing rocks at the police.

?He was shot in the back,? said Daphne Valera, who said she saw the shooting. ?It was around 1 p.m. He was just standing there in the street on campus.?

A police spokesman in Santo Domingo said the shooting was under investigation. By early afternoon, classes had been suspended. Student leaders condemned both the rock throwing and the police response, but they said that they did not expect public anger to subside. An array of civic groups took part in protests all over the country, expressing outrage about the tax increases that they said were the product of corruption by the country?s former president, Leonel Fern?ndez, and his party, which controls both houses of the legislature.

?This country is on the verge of bankruptcy because they took every penny,? said Jorgy Cruz Soto, the owner of a production company in Santo Domingo, adding, ?We are very close to a civil revolution.?

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Sons of Liberty Academy Testimonial

Hey Chris, Just wanted to take a moment out of my life to thank you for all the life changing decisions/events that have occurred because of the information you've brought to the forefront when I discovered you, DTOM, & the SOL academy. I shunned the psychopaths in my life, closed my facebook, took every hour of free time to see the academy and read A LOT (a first for me), learned that I have a deep innate thirst for knowledge and teaching, jumped head first on topics I would have NEVER taken an interest in if not for waking up (finance, economics, politics, psychology, to name a few), and view everything in a completely different, but forward thinking and more intricate way. What you say is so true ... "once your eyes are open, you can never close them again" - EVER. The magnitude of all the changes that I've made in my life because of the SOL academy are so huge that I can't even begin to put a word on it. It's like a golden seed of life, love & truth, planted in my mind that is making me realize what does matter, what is real, and what I want be at the end of the day to myself, loved ones, and the world. Hope you're having a well-deserved and wonderful time with your family. A toast to you, the individuals in our group, and all the great and positive things to come despite such times. Peace. - Irving A.

Sons of Liberty Academy Testimonial

You really need to sign up at the Sons Of Liberty Academy! I have been researching, as Chris has, for the last 5 years and have found out many things that have really changed my way of thinking! After signing up with Chris I have learned a lot more and he has vilified that which I have already learned!

Check it out!

He will BLOW your mind and secure your future! Chris Duane ROCKS!!!

-Dennis S.

Sons of Liberty Academy Testimonial

I just finished the 10 modules of the Sons of Liberty Academy. I have never been so educated and aware, in such a short time.

I now have a game plan and see my role more clearly. It all makes sense.

It is very important to understand what is going on in our world and how to fight against it most effectively.

45 hours of video is a lot of information (I spend 3 weeks day and night, going through the course).

I would look for information on my own and it would take me a lot of time but to have it done and just to be able to build on that is great.

I do appreciate it to be free otherwise I would not be able to take it.

Thanks;
Raj

Sons Of Liberty Academy Testimonial

I just wanted to drop you a note and thank you. I've been studying the Academy, about to start module 5.

The information I've observed to this point has opened my mind to new ideas, and also reaffirmed some beliefs I've always had. I feel a tremendous sense of confidence now, the fear is subsiding, and I'm excited to complete the Academy and find the direction I can take with my future, as well as my friends and family.

As Bill Hicks said, the next revolution will be a revolution of ideas. I'm glad to be a part of this program.

Many thanks,
Michael
Naples, Florida

Sons of Liberty Academy Tesimonial

"Silver Shield,

The Sons of Liberty Academy is really fantastic! I highly recommend the Academy and the hard work and dedication to the truth that Silver Shield has put forth for defenders of Freedom and Liberty.

The betrayal of the Tea Party loyalist is becoming evident. A rebellion is brewing day by day, and the Power Elite have every right to be very worried.

Awaken People don't be fooled again! Join the Academy.."
-Ray

Sons Of Liberty Academy Testimonial

My only regret is that I did not have this knowledge 20 years ago. The Sons of Liberty Academy is truly life changing.

If anyone is on the fence about joining the Academy, I will tell them they are doing themselves, their family and the country a injustice by not taking it.

Don?t let the money stand in the way, the course is invaluable and will pay for it self many times over with the finance info within the course.

I have two masters degrees and the Sons of Liberty Academy has been of greater benefit than all the ?formal? education I have received.

Thanks Chris! You are a true Patriot and hero! -Randy H.

Sons of Liberty Academy Testimonial

"I am very excited about what I've learned so far! I have 3 more modules to complete. I've gone through a few of them twice, especially when there is history discussed. I find that very interesting. I am going to run through the entire Academy again, and review all the additional materials linked below the videos. There is so, so much information. Thank you for your hard work putting this together.

I am spreading the word."
- Michael L.

Sons of Liberty Academy Testimonial

"I have just finished watching Module Six and continue to be amazed at the deception perpetrated on the American people.

I applaud your work and thank you sincerely for these eye-opening truths you have laid out.

I never had an interest in politics or our monetary system because it seemed too confusing, however, the simple way it is taught in the Academy has far surpassed any education I have received in my 35 years on this earth."

- Sean A.

Sons of Liberty Academy Testimonial

"In just a few short months, I've gone from being a skeptic to being a believer.

I'm a born-again Christian, a veteran, and a patriot, but I'm also a realist.

I now prep and am protecting my assets.

DTOM has played a big part in my new education.

Heck, I love the T-shirts, too!

Thanks for doing a great job. Now I Get It!!!!"

Harry S.

Thank you for giving me the wisdom of awareness.

I have been sharing it with others, but there are so many more to reach. I am not afraid of the changes we will soon see, but confident that I am prepared to handle them. We are building a strong group here in my area and have shared your website with several key people of influence here.

Thank God I found you and took the time to go through the Academy. At the risk of sounding overly dramatic, my life will never be the same, and for that I am very grateful.

Thanks again, live free,
Mike

Source: http://dont-tread-on.me/?p=24734

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Inflation shows biggest jump in over a year in October

LONDON (Reuters) - Inflation hit a five-month high in October after a rise in university fees and food prices, dampening the chances that the Bank of England will flag more stimulus when it presents new forecasts on Wednesday.

Annual consumer price inflation jumped to 2.7 percent from 2.2 percent in September - the biggest increase in more than a year - the Office for National Statistics said on Tuesday.

The figures raise the probability the Bank will have to increase its short-term inflation forecasts.

October's figure was the highest since May, and well above economists' average forecast of an increase to 2.3 percent.

Sterling rose and British government bonds dropped after the data was released.

"Where do we go from here? Onwards and upwards," said Scotiabank economist Alan Clarke. "Utility bill increases are on their way. We've also got the effect of the U.S. drought and increased food prices to factor in. I don't think we're going to get anything like the 2 percent inflation target."

Inflation hit its lowest level since November 2009 in September, but the central bank had already expected that decline to stall and currently does not forecast inflation will drop below its 2 percent target until the second half of 2013.

Last week the central bank decided not to extend its 375 billion pound programme of bond purchases as Britain's economy has moved out of recession, though underlying growth remains weak.

Some central bankers have voiced inflation concerns as well as doubts about whether further purchases of government debt can boost growth at a time when major headwinds include ongoing worries about the euro zone and a lack of bank credit.

The main driver for October's rise in inflation was an increase in maximum university tuition fees to 9,000 pounds a year from just over 3,000 pounds previously, adding 0.3 percentage points to the inflation rate.

Britain's finance ministry said the rise in inflation was "disappointing".

Also pushing up inflation were higher food prices, in part due to bad weather raising the cost of potatoes, as well as higher transport costs due to higher second-hand car prices.

Planned rises in gas and electricity prices later this year are likely to push up inflation in future months.

On Wednesday, the Bank will publish a quarterly update to its forecasts. Economists polled by Reuters had expected the Bank to predict inflation at 1.8 percent and growth at 2.0 percent in two years time - close to previous estimates.

Separate figures published by the ONS on Tuesday showed that factory gate inflation held steady at 2.5 percent. But input cost inflation unexpectedly rose an annual 0.1 percent compared to a forecast 0.5 percent decline.

House price data released alongside these figures showed property prices were 1.7 percent up on the year in September. A survey from industry association RICS released overnight pointed to a bottoming out in price falls reported by its members.

(Reporting by David Milliken and Sven Egenter; Editing by Hugh Lawson)

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/instant-view-inflation-higher-forecast-october-094306624--business.html

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Iterations: Putting Entrepreneurial Risk In Perspective

armyIn today?s world of popularized tech entrepreneurship, especially the consumer-facing variety, the constant (social) media attention maintains a fever pitch. In this current lifestyle wave, the plethora of online publishing and distribution tools means that folks with knowledge can openly share it with others, and one of the most popular topics people in this ecosystem enjoy creating, sharing, and reading about concerns--broadly--the ?struggle and risk" startup founders face in building the next thing on the web or mobile. Yes, founding any kind of startup is hard work. It?s risky. It?s lonely. It?s emotional. The odds of success at inception make nearly everyone appear foolish. People found startups nowadays fueled by a range of motivations, none of them bad, yet important to distinguish. Some are compelled to change the world, some are determined to build something new, others simply don?t want to work at a big company, while others see arbitrage to exploit, some want to strike out (or hit it big) on their own. Whatever the catalyst, the struggles of tech entrepreneurship make for good reading material, a break from the stress to commiserate with brethren and know others are going through hell, or ?eating glass.?

Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/Techcrunch/~3/MftvFIKfDu4/

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Fiscal cliff blues may lead to correction

2 hrs.

Wall Street's post-election sell-off may gather steam in the coming weeks as worries mount about the looming fiscal cliff and technical weakness suggests a possible correction ahead.

The benchmark Standard & Poor's 500 closed below its 200-day moving average - a measure of the market's long-term trend - on Thursday for the first time in five months, and ended below it again on Friday. More than half of the Dow components are trading below key technical levels.

"I don't think you have to panic here, but I think you really want to be looking for the market to move lower for the next couple of months," said Frank Gretz, market analyst and technician for Wellington Shields & Co., a brokerage in New York. "I think the next rally is the rally you want to sell."

At the heart of the market's worry is whether U.S. leaders can come to agreement on some $600 billion in spending cuts and tax increases that are due to kick in early next year. Some fear dramatic cutbacks could send the U.S. economy into another recession.

The prospect of higher tax rates in 2013 is driving investors to sell shares as they seek to decrease the tax impact from their positions this year and next.

"You would have thought the fiscal cliff scenarios would have been already mulled over and priced in, but they weren't. It's almost like the market has ADD and can only focus on one thing at a time," said Natalie Trunow, chief investment officer of equities at Calvert Investment Management in Bethesda, Maryland, whose firm manages about $13 billion in assets.

The S&P 500 fell 2.4 percent for the week, its worst weekly percentage drop since June. The index is now down 6.4 percent from its intraday high for the year of 1,474.51 reached on September 14. That drop puts the benchmark index below its 50-day moving average, but not yet into correction territory, defined as a 10 percent drop from a peak.?

Reading the technical signs?
The S&P 500 has been trading in a range between the 50-day moving average of 1,433.50 and the 200-day moving average of 1,380.98 for about two weeks. A significant break below that lower level could be a precursor to further weakness, analysts said.

"There's a technical breakdown in the market that indicates further losses," said Adam Sarhan, chief executive of Sarhan Capital in New York. "A 10 percent drop is the next big line in the sand."

The primary driver of stock prices in coming weeks looks likely to be investor concern about the U.S. fiscal situation.

In a sign of the risks involved, comments by President Barack Obama on Friday about the upcoming negotiations caused stocks to sharply cut their gains.

The president, who defeated Republican candidate Mitt Romney in Tuesday's U.S. election, outlined a position for the fiscal issues on Friday that is far apart from that of his political opponents, suggesting a long battle is to come.

"If the market anticipates a resolution to the fiscal cliff or Europe or any of the other bricks in the wall of worry, we could easily take off," Sarhan said.

Seventeen of the Dow's 30 components are trading below both their 50-day and 200-day moving averages, while another eight are under their 50-day levels, but not their 200. Only five components - Bank of America, JPMorgan Chase, Home Depot, Johnson & Johnson and Travelers - are above both support levels.

Another big negative for the market has been heavy selling of Apple shares. The stock of the world's biggest company, ranked by market capitalization, lost 5.2 percent this week, weighing heavily on both the S&P 500 and the Nasdaq. The stock is down 22.4 percent from its September 21 all-time intraday high of $705.07.

Big retailers' report cards?
The election and fiscal cliff concerns, which came on the heels of Superstorm Sandy and its devastating effects on many parts of the U.S. Northeast, have captured so much attention that they've overshadowed weakness coming from third-quarter earnings.

With results in from 449 of the S&P 500 companies, third-quarter earnings now are estimated to have declined 0.3 percent from a year ago, which is slightly better than the forecast at the start of the reporting period. Results have been especially weak on the revenue side, however, with just 38 percent of companies beating on sales, Thomson Reuters data showed.

But recent stronger economic data, including a report on Friday showing consumer sentiment at more than a five-year high in early November, suggests that retailers, many of which have yet to report, could be among the stronger performers this earnings period.

Next week, results are expected from such big names as Target, Wal-Mart and Home Depot.

Consumer discretionary companies have outperformed the broader S&P 500 in earnings, with 72 percent of the companies in that sector beating analysts' expectations, compared with 63 percent for the S&P 500 as a whole.

Investors will be paying close attention to those results with the holiday shopping period around the corner, said Rick Meckler, president of LibertyView Capital Management in Jersey City, New Jersey, which oversees about $1 billion in assets.

"It's really the beginning of the Christmas sell season, and I think there's going to be a lot of interest with the outlook for that season and how promotional companies are going to be," Meckler said.

Source: http://www.nbcnews.com/business/fiscal-cliff-blues-may-lead-market-correction-1C6980996

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Tourists swim in Venice square as heavy rain pounds Italy

VENICE, Italy (Reuters) - Nearly three quarters of Venice was flooded on Monday and tourists swam in St Mark's Square as a wave of bad weather swept through northern and central Italy, forcing the evacuation of 200 people from their homes in Tuscany.

Shops, homes and historic palaces filled with water in Venice and authorities said 70 percent of the lagoon city was flooded.

High water in Venice reached 149 cm (5ft), the sixth highest level since records began in 1872, forcing residents to wade through waist-deep water. Tourists in swimming costumes sat at cafe tables under the water.

There was no immediate estimate of damage to the beautiful northeastern city.

In Tuscany, 23 centimetres (9 inches) of rain fell in four hours, causing the Ricortola and Parmignola rivers to flood, according to the regional government.

"It has been devastating," said Roberto Pucci, the mayor of Massa Carrara in Tuscany, one of the worst hit areas.

"I saw at least six bridges destroyed in the hills, floods, landslides, vineyards and olive groves swept away. If there hasn't been a death it's a miracle," he told Corriere della Sera newspaper.

Local media said dozens of people took refuge on their roofs after rivers burst their banks in central Italy.

Environment Minister Corrado Clini called for more funding to shore up Italy's weather defences. Bad weather with torrential rain was due to continue through Tuesday, forecasters said.

It was the fourth time since 2000 that Venice had been hit by record high water, and the city's environment officer said the latest flooding was the result of global climate change.

A barrier to protect the city from repeated winter flooding, which has been planned for decades, is due to be finished by 2015.

(Reporting by Steve Scherer and Naomi O'Leary; editing by Barry Moody)

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/tourists-swim-venice-square-heavy-rain-pounds-italy-104459072.html

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