WEST PALM BEACH, Florida (Reuters) – A former Swiss banker pleaded guilty on Tuesday to helping Americans hide millions of dollars from U.S. tax authorities, and a judge noted the banker has aided investigators in a broad U.S. probe of tax evasion that has put Swiss banks on the defensive.

Christos Bagios, formerly employed by Swiss financial giants UBS AG and Credit Suisse Group AG, changed his earlier plea from not guilty in the U.S. District Court for Southern Florida. The change of plea had been expected.

MIAMI (Reuters) – Tropical cyclone Sandy revved back up to hurricane strength on Saturday as it churned toward the U.S. northeast coast where it threatens to become one of the worst storms in decades.

The late-season storm has been dubbed “Frankenstorm” by some weather watchers because it will combine elements of a tropical cyclone and a winter storm and is forecast to reach the U.S. coast close to Halloween.

MIAMI (Reuters) – Hurricane Sandy pulled away from the Bahamas on Saturday after killing at least 41 people in the Caribbean, beginning a slow march toward the U.S. East Coast where it threatens to hit as one of the worst storms in decades.

The late-season storm has been dubbed “Frankenstorm” by some weather watchers because it will combine elements of a tropical cyclone and a winter storm. Forecast models show it will have all the ingredients to morph into a massive and potentially catastrophic “super storm.”

MIAMI, Oct 27 (Reuters) – Hurricane Sandy pulled away from
the Bahamas on Saturday after killing at least 41 people in the
Caribbean, beginning a slow march toward the U.S. East Coast
where it threatens to hit as one of the worst storms in decades.

The late-season storm has been dubbed “Frankenstorm” by some
weather watchers because it will combine elements of a tropical
cyclone and a winter storm. Forecast models show it will have
all of the ingredients to morph into a massive and potentially
catastrophic “super storm.”

MIAMI (Reuters) – Hurricane Sandy pulled away from the Bahamas on Saturday after killing at least 41 people in the Caribbean, beginning a slow march toward the U.S. East Coast where it threatens to hit as one of the worst storms in decades.

The late-season storm has been dubbed “Frankenstorm” by some weather watchers because it will combine elements of a tropical cyclone and a winter storm. Forecast models show it will have all of the ingredients to morph into a massive and potentially catastrophic “super storm.”

WEST PALM BEACH, Florida (Reuters) – When Allen West showed up recently to inaugurate a Republican campaign office in West Palm Beach, a local party official enthusiastically introduced the Florida congressman as “Public Enemy No. 1.”

That prompted cheers from supporters of the firebrand Republican, whose provocative partisan rhetoric has made him a hero among conservatives but also a top Democratic target in this year’s congressional races.

Oct 17 (Reuters) – A former Swiss banker accused of helping
rich Americans dodge taxes may be cooperating with a broad U.S.
government investigation of Swiss banks for providing tax
evasion services, lawyers said on Wednesday.

Speculation that Christos Bagios is working with the United
States arose after the ex-employee of Swiss banks Credit Suisse
AG and UBS AG arranged a change-of-plea
hearing following his pleading not-guilty in a U.S. federal
court to new charges of aiding tax evasion.

FORT LAUDERDALE, Florida (Reuters) – A former Swiss private banker pleaded not guilty in a U.S. federal court on Wednesday to new charges that he helped wealthy U.S. clients evade taxes when he worked at UBS AG.

Christos Bagios, a Greek citizen and Swiss resident, was a senior banker at Swiss bank Credit Suisse AG, a rival of UBS, at the time of his arrest by U.S. authorities in January 2011.

MIAMI (Reuters) – Thousands of Venezuelan expatriates living in the United States are so eager to see President Hugo Chavez ousted from power that they plan to travel to New Orleans this week to vote against him.

“It’s a small price to pay,” said Jesus Lopez, a Venezuelan financial adviser who lives in Miami and says he will pay more than $500 to go and vote. “If I had to sell my watch, even the shirt off my back, to make this trip, I wouldn’t think twice.”

MIAMI (Reuters) – The Florida man charged with second-degree murder in the killing of unarmed black teenager Trayvon Martin asked for a new judge in his case on Friday, accusing the current judge of bias.

Lawyers for George Zimmerman filed a motion requesting that Circuit Judge Kenneth Lester withdraw from the trial.