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Toll from deadly Guatemala landslides rises to 44

SOLOLA, Guatemala (AFP) – The death toll from multiple landslides in Guatemala rose to 44, officials said Monday as rescuers took advantage of a brief window of good weather to search for victims and survivors.

At least 16 people were still missing after a series of landslides, mudslides and wall collapses that followed weeks of heavy rain in the impoverished and mountainous Central American nation, emergency officials said.

There are "43,043 people at risk, 11,495 have been evacuated, 9,160 are in shelters and 56 people have been injured," a statement from Guatemala's National Coordination for Disaster Reduction (Conared) said.

"It's a national tragedy," President Alvaro Colom said as he visited a site where up to 40 people were thought to have been buried alive in a mudslide.

"This weekend alone we have seen damage comparable to what we experienced with Agatha," he added, referring to a tropical storm in May that killed 165 Guatemalans and left thousands homeless.

After a pause overnight as new rains rolled in, rescue crews resumed work at 6:00 am local time (1200 GMT), said Cesar Aguirre, a spokesman for emergency services.

"We hope that the rains let up a bit, and allow us to work," he told AFP.

The rescue effort has been hampered by continuing bad weather associated with the region's rainy season, with operations halting during downpours to ensure workers are not at risk from new landslides.

"It is a very painful thing that poor people end up being the ones hurt by natural disasters," Colom added, urging people only to use the main highway if they had no other option "because there are landslides all over the place."

Conared chief Alejandro Maldonado said that the torrential rains had flooded many homes and left infrastructure including key roads unusable.

And the threat posed by the landslides was not over, with forecasters predicting more rain later Monday.

Late Sunday, a fresh mudslide in northern Guatemala killed one person and injured eight, including two children.

"Top priority at present is dealing with this emergency," Colom said as he toured the devastation and put damages, in one of the poorest countries in the Americas, as high as 500 million dollars.

On Sunday, rescuers dug nine bodies out of a 300-meter (1,000-foot) deep ravine off the main Pan-American Highway, west of the capital Guatemala City.

Fire service spokesman Cecilio Chacaj told AFP some 40 people were believed to have buried there as they tried to help the occupants of five vehicles and a bus swept into the abyss by a previous landslide.

Ten people were killed in a separate incident on Saturday when a bus on the main highway was buried near the town of Chimaltenango. Rescuers managed to unearth 20 survivors.

A landslide also buried a family of four inside their house in the western region of Quetzaltenango, while 13 more people were killed in separate incidents around the country.

In Nahuala municipality, rescuers in bright orange uniforms used shovels, hoes and their hands to unearth the corpses of victims. Among the dead was Manuel Sohon, whose uncle Manuel Ajtzalam wept as he identified him.

Conared said the torrential downpours had caused almost 200 landslides, wall collapses and mudslides across the country.

Three regions in the country's south, Escuintla, Retalhuleu and Suchitepequez, were placed on red alert.

With more heavy rain forecast, authorities have closed part of the Pan-American Highway.

Colom warned he had little funds left to cope with the disaster as the country was still struggling to recover from tropical storm Agatha, which hit the nation in May.

Central America has been lashed by an unusually fierce rainy season this year. The recent bad weather has killed 55 people in Honduras, at least 40 in Nicaragua, nine in El Salvador and three in Costa Rica.

The downpours have come ahead of what is traditionally the worst part of the rainy season, which lasts until October 30.

Basel committee seeks 9 percent Tier 1 capital: report

FRANKFURT (Reuters) – Global banks will be required to hold Tier 1 capital of nine percent including a 3 percent so-called "conservation buffer," German weekly Die Zeit reported, quoting a draft proposal from the Basel Committee, the body tasked with drawing up global banking rules.

Die Zeit's online edition also said regulators can demand banks accumulate a so-called "anti-cyclical buffer" of 3 percent so that Tier 1 capital requirements can rise to 12 percent in boom times.

Previously regulators required a Tier 1 ratio of no less than 4 percent.

The Basel committee was set to discuss the proposal on Tuesday and aims to finalize Basel III by agreeing how much extra capital banks will have to hold and the length of time they have to weed out lower quality capital from core capital.

Germany's Bafin could not be reached for comment, while the Bundesbank declined to comment on the report. The two bodies represent Germany in the Basel Committee.

Banks will be required hold common equity -- which consists of pure equity plus retained earnings -- of five percent "after deductions," Die Zeit said, adding the requirement will come into force in 2013.

As part of Core Tier 1 capital requirements, which are more stringent that Tier 1 requirements, the conservation buffer and anticyclical buffer will be 2.5 percent each, the paper said.

The introduction of a conservation buffer will be staggered between 2014 and 2018, the paper said.

Furthermore, capital requirements can rise to 16 percent, if Tier 2 requirements are included, the paper said. This figure includes a 6 percent Tier 1 capital buffer, 4 percent of Tier 2 capital, the 3 percent conservation buffer, and the 3 percent anticyclical buffer. Banking regulators and central bank officials from across the world meet on Tuesday to finalize their Basel III package of tougher bank capital and liquidity rules.

It seeks to apply lessons from the financial crisis so that states are less likely to have to rescue banks again in the next crisis. Regulators and bankers disagree over how much the new rules will impact the economy.

(Reporting by Edward Taylor and Alexander Huebner; Editing by Dan Lalor)

Lots of choices at '2010 teen choice awards': complete winner's list

Monday night on FOX it was time for the 2010 Teen Choice Awards. Hosted by Katy Perry along with the male cast members from the hit show Glee, the show featured some of the hottest stars in teendom today.

Accepting their cool surfboard shaped awards, teen faves like Justin Bieber and Selena Gomez graced the stage. While the vampire movie Twilightand its stars took the bulk of the awards, there was plenty left for everyone else in a show that doled out more awards than any awards show I've ever seen. They must have bought those surfboard awards in bulk from Oriental Trading.

Singer Jason Derulo performed on the show, as did Puff Daddy/P Diddy/Diddy/ Hey Diddle Diddle. And if you were in a high school musical mood, fear not- the entire show had a high school theme, with Perry donning everything from cheerleader pompoms to a prom queen crown.

A hilarious segment featured the Kardashian sisters joined by their "shy" sister, Cougar (played by George Lopez dressed in drag). Funny stuff. Equally funny, the hip Betty White, who interrupted Blind Side co-star Sandra Bullock's winner's speech.

Best of all, they kept things fairly clean on the Teen Choice Awards. Very refreshing after the bleep-laden MTV Movie Awards last month. Mom approves.

2010 Teen Choice Awards Complete Winner's List:

Choice Movie: Action Adventure- "Sherlock Holmes"

Choice Movie Actor: Action Adventure- Channing Tatum, "G.I. Joe: The Rise of Cobra"

Choice Movie Actress: Action Adventure- Rachel McAdams, "Sherlock Holmes"

Choice Movie: Sci-Fi- "Avatar"

Choice Movie: Liplock- Robert Pattinson and Kristen Stewart, "The Twilight Saga: New Moon"

Choice Movie: Fight- Mia Wasikowska vs. the Jabberwocky, "Alice in Wonderland"

Choice Movie: Hissy Fit- Miley Cyrus, "The Last Song"

Choice Movie: Chemistry- Kristen Stewart and Robert Pattinson, "The Twilight Saga: New Moon"

Choice Movie: Male Breakout- Liam Hemsworth, "The Last Song"

Choice Movie: Female Breakout- Taylor Swift, "Valentine's Day"

Choice Movie: Male Scene Stealer- Kellan Lutz, "The Twilight Saga: New Moon"

Choice Movie: Female Scene Stealer- Ashley Greene, "The Twilight Saga: New Moon"

Choice Movie Actor: Sci-Fi- Sam Worthington, "Avatar"

Choice Movie Actress: Sci-Fi- Zoe Saldana, "Avatar"

Choice Movie: Fantasy- "The Twilight Saga: New Moon"

Choice Movie Actor: Fantasy- Taylor Lautner, "The Twilight Saga: New Moon"

Choice Movie Actress: Fantasy- Kristen Stewart, "The Twilight Saga: New Moon"

Choice Movie: Drama- "The Blind Side"

Choice Movie Actor: Drama- Robert Pattinson, "Remember Me"

Choice Movie Actress: Drama- Sandra Bullock, "The Blind Side"

Choice Movie: Romantic Comedy- "Valentine's Day"

Choice Movie Actor: Romantic Comedy- Ashton Kutcher, "Valentine's Day"

Choice Movie Actress: Romantic Comedy- Sandra Bullock, "The Proposal"

Choice Movie: Comedy- "Date Night"

Choice Movie Actor: Comedy- Ashton Kutcher, "Killers"

Choice Movie Actress: Comedy- Tina Fey, "Date Night"

Choice Movie: Horror/Thriller- "Paranormal Activity"

Choice Movie Actor: Horror/Thriller- Leonardo DiCaprio, "Shutter Island"

Choice Movie Actress: Horror/Thriller- Megan Fox, "Jennifer's Body"

Choice Movie: Animated- "Toy Story 3"

oice Movie: Villain- Rachelle Lefevre, "The Twilight Saga: New Moon"

Choice Movie: Dance- Sandra Bullock and Betty White, "The Proposal"

Choice Summer Movie- "The Twilight Saga: Eclipse"

Choice Summer Movie Star: Male- Robert Pattinson, "The Twilight Saga: Eclipse"

Choice Summer Movie Star: Female- Kristen Stewart, "The Twilight Saga: Eclipse"

Choice TV Show: Drama- "Gossip Girl"

Choice TV Actor: Drama- Chace Crawford, "Gossip Girl"

Choice TV Actress: Drama- Leighton Meester, "Gossip Girl"

Choice TV Show: Fantasy/Sci-Fi- "The Vampire Diaries"

Choice TV Actor: Fantasy/Sci-Fi- Paul Wesley, "The Vampire Diaries"

Choice TV Actress: Fantasy/Sci-Fi- Nina Dobrev, "The Vampire Diaries"

Choice TV Show: Action- "NCIS: Los Angeles"

Choice TV Actor: Action- Zachary Levi, "Chuck"

Choice TV Actress: Action- Yvonne Strahovski, "Chuck"

Choice TV Show: Comedy- "Glee"

Choice TV Actor: Comedy- Jonas Brothers, "JONAS"

Choice TV Actress: Comedy- Selena Gomez, "Wizards of Waverly Place"

Choice TV: Animated Show- "Family Guy"

Choice TV: Reality Show- "Keeping Up With the Kardashians"

Choice TV: Reality Competition Show- "American Idol"

Choice TV: Male Reality/Variety Star- Lee DeWyze, "American Idol"

Choice TV: Female Reality/Variety Star- The Kardashians, "Keeping Up With the Kardashians"

Choice TV: Villain- Ian Somerhalder, "The Vampire Diaries"

Choice TV: Personality- Ryan Seacrest

Choice TV: Breakout Show- "The Vampire Diaries"

Choice TV: Female Scene Stealer- Hilary Duff, "Gossip Girl"

Choice TV: Male Scene Stealer- Chris Colfer, "Glee"

Choice TV: Female Breakout Star- Nina Dobrev, "The Vampire Diaries"

Choice TV: Male Breakout Star- Paul Wesley, "The Vampire Diaries"

Choice TV: Parental Unit- Mike O'Malley, "Glee"

Choice Summer TV Show- "Pretty Little Liars"

Choice Summer TV Star: Male- Ian Harding, "Pretty Little Liars"

Choice Summer TV Star: Female- Lucy Hale, "Pretty Little Liars"

Choice Music: Male Artist- Justin Bieber

Choice Music: Female Artist- Lady Gaga

Choice Music: Group- Selena Gomez & the Scene

Choice Music: Rap Artist- Eminem

Choice Music: R&B Artist- Beyoncé

Choice Music: Rock Group- Paramore

Choice Music: Male Country Artist- Keith Urban

Choice Music: Female Country Artist- Taylor Swift

Choice Music: Country Group- Lady Antebellum

Choice Music: Single- "California Gurls," Katy Perry

Choice Music: Hook Up- "Airplanes," B.o.B (featuring Hayley Williams)

Choice Music: Breakout Artist - Male- Justin Bieber

Choice Music: Breakout Artist - Female- Selena Gomez & the Scene

Choice Music: Love Song- "When I Look at You," Miley Cyrus

Choice Music: R&B Track- "OMG," Usher

Choice Music: Rap/Hip-Hop Track- "Love the Way You Lie," Eminem (featuring Rihanna)

Choice Music: Rock Track- "Ignorance," Paramore

Choice Music: Country Song- "Fifteen," Taylor Swift

Choice Music: Album - Pop- My World 2.0, Justin Bieber

Choice Music: Album - Rock- Brand New Eyes, Paramore

Choice Music: Album - R&B- Jason Derülo, Jason Derülo

Choice Music: Album - Rap- Relapse, Eminem

Choice Music: Album - Country- Fearless, Taylor Swift

Choice Summer Music Star: Male- Justin Bieber

Choice Summer Music Star: Female- Lady Gaga

Choice Summer Music: Song- "California Gurls," Katy Perry (featuring Snoop Dogg)

Choice Athlete: Male- David Beckham

Choice Athlete: Female- Serena Williams

Choice Action Sports Athlete: Male- Ryan Sheckler

Choice Action Sports Athlete: Female- Maya Gabeira

Choice Male Hottie- Taylor Lautner

Choice Female Hottie- Megan Fox

Choice Red-Carpet Fashion Icon: Female- Selena Gomez

Choice Red-Carpet Fashion Icon: Male- Taylor Lautner

Choice Celebrity Fashion Line- Miley and Max, Miley Cyrus and Max Azria

Choice Comedian- Ellen DeGeneres

Choice Twit- Ellen DeGeneres

Choice Web Star- Shane Dawson

Choice Videogame- "The Sims 3"

Choice Smile- Taylor Lautner

Choice Activist- Shakira

Choice "American Idol" Alum- David Archuleta

Most Fanatic Fans- "Twilight" cast

*****

Sources:

Teen Choice Awards, August 9, 2010, FOX TV

Kylie Minogue voted most inspirational breast cancer star

SYDNEY (Reuters Life!) – Pop star Kylie Minogue has been voted the most inspirational breast cancer star for her willingness to speak openly and honestly about dealing with the disease.

The Australian singer, 42, was diagnosed with breast cancer in 2005 and underwent surgery and hair-losing chemotherapy.

But Minogue, whose career began on the TV soap opera "Neighbours," returned to the stage within a year and continues to perform. She toured 21 countries last year, and just released her 11th studio album, "Aphrodite."

Minogue topped an online poll of 1,000 participants by British-based mastectomy-wear specialist Amoena, coming ahead of other celebrities affected by breast cancer like the late Linda McCartney and singer Olivia Newton-John.

"Kylie inspired many women to be more direct about their own fears, encouraging them to believe they would get through their ordeal," Amoena spokeswoman Rhoda White said in a statement.

"Undergoing a mastectomy can badly damage a woman's body confidence and self-image, and celebrities like Kylie play a vital role in raising public awareness."

According to the American Cancer Society and the International Agency for Research on Cancer, 1.3 million new breast cancer cases are diagnosed around the world every year and it kills 465,000 women annually, making it the leading global cancer killer of women.

Other celebrities to publicly battle breast cancer include singer Sheryl Crow who campaigns for women to have regular mammograms, and British actress Lynn Redgrave who died of the disease earlier this year after writing a book about her battle.

The list also includes actresses Maggie Smith, Christine Applegate, Maura Tierney, Cynthia Nixon, Edie Falco, Jaclyn Smith, Kate Jackson, Sally Whittaker, singers Melissa Etheridge and Carly Simon, and U.S. TV anchorwoman Robin Roberts.

White said women facing breast cancer were inspired by well-known women sharing their experiences with the disease but they also looked close to home for help.

"Many women said support from family, friends and other women who had been through breast cancer treatment, was the biggest motivator," she said.

(Reporting by Belinda Goldsmith, Editing by Dean Goodman)