The Saharan duststorms help sustain life over large regions of the North Atlantic Ocean, according to a latest study.

Liverpool University researchers found that plants are able to grow in these regions because of their ability to take advantage of iron minerals in Saharan duststorms.

This allows them to use organic or recycled material from dead or decaying plants when nutrients such as phosphorous, which is an essential component of DNA in the ocean are low.

A 5-year-old was killed when strong winds blew over a row of tents at an Alabama air show during storms that stretched across the South on Sunday while severe weather caused airport delays in the East, officials said. The winds that toppled the tents and canceled the air show in Huntsville came during an isolated strong thunderstorm that developed just west of the airport with gusts of 48 mph, said Tim Troutman of the National Weather Service. Witnesses told The Huntsville Times that a generator fell on the child Sunday. The death was confirmed by the Madison County coroner's office.

BY PAUL ALEXANDER Rescuers considered boring a hole in an overturned ferry on Monday in a desperate attempt to find survivors among more than 800 missing passengers and crew, after Typhoon Fengshen carved its deadly swath through the Philippines. Hopes dwindled by the hour that large groups of survivors might be found in areas where communications were cut off by the weekend storm that left at least 163 people dead in flooded communities.

BY PAUL ALEXANDER Two men who struggled to shore after a passenger ferry capsized in the Philippines during Typhoon Fengshen said on Sunday that hundreds of people may have died when they were trapped inside.

At least 229 people are confirmed dead and at least six missing after Typhoon Fengshen ravaged the central and southern Philippines, Red Cross and civil defence officials said on Sunday. The toll does not include those dead or missing from a ferry that sank in the central Philippines with about 747 people aboard. Four people have been confirmed dead and there are four survivors from that accident. The rest are unaccounted for.

The dust that originates in the Sahara Desert, is lofted by windstorms which carries it west over the Atlantic. High levels of airborne dust reduce the amount of sunlight that reaches the ocean, lowering sea surface temperatures and, generally, hurricane probability.

It would be a sad census in any case, but the tally of trees lost in Central Park to high winds during the storm on June 10 comes with particular ill grace in the middle of the Million Trees NYC campaign. Skip to next paragraph Leave a Comment on City Room "You felt it was like a tornado,' said Douglas Blonsky, president of the Central Park Conservancy and the administrator of Central Park. According to the conservancy's survey, 33 trees were significantly damaged, 24 of which have already been removed.

Dust storm followed by rain paralysed life in Khairpur city and other parts of the district on Wednesday night. In Khairpur city, dust storm followed by rain continued for more than one hour and broke heat spell. Youngsters and other people came out on roads and streets and enjoyed the change in the weather. However, vehicular traffic was affected on the National Highway and other roads. Signboards of shops and offices were uprooted. Telephone and electricity systems remained disturbed in the district.

Dust storms and rains hit some parts of interior Sindh on Tuesday, killing six persons, injuring dozens and damaging property worth millions of rupees, besides causing suspension of electricity supply to many areas. The Met Office had forecast dust storm and rains in Sindh, particularly over coastal areas including Karachi, Badin and Thatta. The rains turned the weather pleasant; however, at some areas, dust storm resulted in some casualties and damage to properties.