Aug 28 (Reuters) - Gaston strengthened into the first major Atlantic hurricane of the season on Sunday, packing maximum sustained winds of 115 miles per hour (185 kph) with more powerful gusts but posing no threat to any land mass.

(Reuters) - Hurricane Gaston is producing maximum sustained winds of 105 miles per hour (165 km per hour) and stronger gusts as it churns through the Atlantic Ocean, the U.S. National Hurricane Center (NHC) said in an advisory.

(Reuters) - The Kansas City area was flooded late Friday after a three-day downpour, forcing emergency services to conduct about 10 water rescues in Missouri's largest city, officials said.

ASCOLI PICENO, Italy (Reuters) - Weeping relatives hugged each other and reached out to touch the simple wooden coffins at a state funeral on Saturday for some of the 291 people killed in an earthquake this week.

(Reuters) - Tropical Storm Gaston is expected to become a hurricane in the Atlantic Ocean on Saturday, the U.S. National Hurricane Center (NHC) said in an advisory.

(Reuters) - Tropical storm Madeline has formed in the northern Pacific ocean, well east-southeast of the Hawaiian Islands, the National Hurricane Center (NHC) said in an advisory on Friday.

(Reuters) - Tropical Storm Lester has developed an eye and is now a hurricane as it moved west in the Pacific Ocean away from the mainland of Mexico, the National Hurricane Center (NHC) said in an advisory on Friday.

HOUSTON, Aug 26 (Reuters) - Oil giants BP and Royal Dutch Shell said on Friday they have started securing facilities and evacuating non-essential personnel from their drilling rigs and platforms in U.S. Gulf of Mexico as a precaution against a storm threat.

PESCARA DEL TRONTO, Italy (Reuters) - Hopes of finding more survivors from Italy's powerful earthquake faded on Friday, with the death toll rising to 281 and the rescue operation in some of the stricken areas called off.