World Briefs

CHARLOTTE AMALIE, U. S. Virgin Islands - Omar strengthened into a hurricane late Tuesday and drenched islands in the southeastern Caribbean, downing trees and blowing off a school's roof as it menaced U. S. islands.

Authorities issued a hurricane warning for the U.S. Virgin islands as well as Puerto Rico's Vieques and Culebra islands. Hurricane warnings were also in place for St. Martin, the British Virgin Islands, St. Kitts and Nevis and other islands.Officials in Puerto Rico, already soaked from several days of rain, warned residents to prepare for a lot more and medical authorities appealed for blood donations for possible casualties.Omar was a Category 1 hurricane with 75 mph (120 kph) winds, and the U.S. National Hurricane Center in Miami projected it to continue to gain strength.

W DELHI - Leaders from emerging economic powers India, South Africa and Brazil Wednesday slammed rich nations over what they said is a self-made financial crisis.

Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva said many developing countries had become "victims of the global financial crisis generated by the rich countries."

He said it was unfair that poorer nations had "to pay for the irresponsibility of speculators who have transformed the world into a gigantic casino."

Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh is hosting Lula and South African President Kgalema Motlanthe for the third annual India-Brazil-South Africa (IBSA) conference.

Motlanthe was equally damning, saying the "ill-conceived decisions of a few have brought the international financial system to the brink of collapse."

LONDON - British newspapers say Madonna and Guy Ritchie are splitting up.

The Sun reports the American pop star and British movie director want a divorce finalized by Christmas.

The Daily Mail says a statement on the couple's future will soon be released. The newspapers cited unnamed sources.

Madonna has been linked to the recent breakup of New York Yankees baseball star Alex Rodriquez and his wife, Cynthia Rodriquez. Over the summer the pop star denied rumors of a romance with Rodriquez and denied her own marriage was on the rocks.

Madonna is in the middle of her latest world tour, "Sticky & Sweet."

There has been problems within the marriage for some time, because of Ritchie behavior towards Madonna.

The couple has three children, one from a former relationship of Madonna, one together and one adopted girl.