As darkness fell amid scenes of chaos and anguished cries from victims, residents desperately tried to dig out survivors or searched for missing relatives in debris-strewn streets.

The presidential palace was among the buildings damaged, Haiti’s ambassador to the United States, Raymond Alcide Joseph, told CNN.

Haiti is the poorest country in the Western Hemisphere and has a history of destructive natural disasters. Some 9,000 U.N. police and troops are stationed there to maintain order.

The major quake, followed by several aftershocks, prompted a tsunami watch for parts the Caribbean but this was later cancelled.

A payday loan has many names. Some call it a cash advance loan. Some call it a check advance loan. Another name is a post-dated check loan. Payday loans are popular for a number of reasons.

First, put yourself in the shoes of the person who needs some quick cash loan. Perhaps you’ve just been put in the unenviable position of unexpectedly needing some cash and being “caught short”. You might have had an unexpected medical bill or car repair bill, or you might have to travel unexpectedly, like in the case of a death in the family. Others who need quick cash use it to pay their everyday expenses, like rent, groceries, utilities, etc. Whatever the reason, you need that cash and you just don’t have it.

Is a payday loan your last resort? Do you have other alternatives you could explore first? Well, what are the benefits of payday loans? Let’s see:

* You won’t have to go through the hassle of a credit check.

* You can apply in person, on the phone or on the Internet.

* The process takes less than 20 minutes.

* The loan proceeds are automatically deposited into your bank account within 24 hours.

* It’s affordable, at least immediately – you don’t have any up-front costs.

* It’s discreet – nobody else is involved.

* It’s secure – your financial information isn’t shared with others.

You need a quick relief form unexpected financial problems? Shortage of expenses is creating a dreadful situation to live with? The paper works at times can be frustrating and if there is any further delay in availing the funds, you may be in a lot of trouble. However, no fax loans also a good option; you can very well secure the much needed financial assistance within a short span of time.

We take this time to wish all our readers a Very Merry Christmas and Prosperous New Year.

Born in 1952 in Chidambaram and a senior scientist at the MRC Laboratory of Molecular Biology at Cambridge, Ramakrishnan shared the Nobel prize with Thomas E Steitz (US) and Ada E Yonath (Israel) for their “studies of the structure and function of the ribosome”.

“This year’s Nobel Prize in Chemistry awards Venkatraman Ramakrishnan, Thomas A Steitz and Ada E Yonath for having showed what the ribosome looks like and how it functions at atomic level,” the Nobel committee had said in its citation.

Then, watch every inch of you and especially your face start to look younger, less stressed, more alive. Each step chips away at the non-stop pressure and tension that can age you by six years or more.

1. Practice deep breathing
Shift your body’s balance of oxygen versus carbon dioxide in favour of energizing, stress-squashing oxygen by doing slow, controlled breathing exercises.

2. Get active
Release the repressed anxiety trapped inside you by putting your body in motion for 30 minutes or more.

3. Beat the foods That beat you
Reduce the allure of sugary, fatty foods, which are as bad for your skin as they are for the rest of you, by eating more lean protein: fish, eggs, poultry, low-fat dairy foods, and even walnuts. Also, try to be more aware of what you reach for - and how much you consume - when you’re stressed. Get some pointers on mindful eating.

4. Focus on the Good Things
Pick up a notebook you particularly like, and at the end of each day, make a list of things for which you are truly grateful. Or write down three things that went well, and why.

5. Stretch Out Your Sleep
Make it a goal to sleep as many hours as you need to feel alive and productive the next day - all day.

6. Take a Time-Out
For most of us, life is so hyperscheduled and speedy that we never do absolutely nothing. It’s rare to set aside time to simply be – no agenda, no demands, no plan. Find a comfortable, quiet spot to sit for 10 to 15 minutes every day, stop all your hustling and bustling . . . and simply, by yourself, be still.