31/10/2012 Newsround

It's 5.00pm. We're live. We have a action-packed show. Here is what is

coming up: after the effects of Superstorm Sandy, New York starts

to clean-up. Within a matter of minutes, I think the basement got

completely flooded. Also on the way: why Star Wars is making a

return with a Mickey Mouse makeover? And And we're getting all

spooky with your devilishly designed pumpkins. This is

First, what do you do when you have been hit by one of the biggest

storms in living memory? Somehow you have to start to clean up.

Superstorm Sandy lived up to its name and caused widespread damage

with flding, fires and power cuts across massive parts of America. --

flooding. Although the wost of the weather has passed those, affected

have to slowly start rebuilding. was a superstorm of extreme

proportions. This was a devastating storm. Maybe the worst he have ever

experienceed. This week people on America's East Coast have witnessed

scenes you only normally expect to see in the movies. Oh, oh.

But after two days of being battered, the US is taking stock of

the damage caused by Sandy. Within a matter of minutes, I think the

basement got flooded, there was apartment that was destroyed.

Lights went out at 8.30 and they are still in the dark. The humane

finance cost to the worst-hit areas are starting to become clear. --

the human cost. More than 40 people have died in the US and around 70

people were killed when the storm hit the car bone earlier in the

week. The bill for repair and storm damage has been estimated at

between �30-40 billion. The recovery is even more difficult

because around 8 million people still don't have electricity. For

hundreds of thousands of families, just going back home is a major

operation. I'd like to stay here but apparently the water, if it

damages the whole building, and everything, probably it takes

months to dry, I think. So a lot of mould and everything, and it would

take a very long time to get it fixed. The transport system is

still struggling. Although buses are beginning to run again and

airports are slowly reopening, it'll take days for the subway to

be safe to use again. There are signs of a recovery. The

stock exchange re-opened for business earlier. But with a clean-

up only just beginning, it will be a long time before things will be

back to normal. In the last hour, President Obama

has arrived in New Jersey to see some of the worst areas of the

storm. He's called off his campaigning for next week's

Presidental elections to make the visit, as people outside of New

York come to terms with what has happened. Now, from a natural

disaster to a scientific discovery. NASA's Curiosity Rover's latest

mission has found soil on the red planet is similar it that found on

the American island Hawaii. special X-ray machine examined the

samples. Scientists think it could show that Mars was once volcanic.

And from science fact, to science- fiction. That's how it works. Swipe

your lightsaber and feel the force within you, because Star Wars is

coming back it the screen. It's been five years since the last film

but today the man behind it announced he is handing the reins,

for a brand new trilogy, over to Disney. A long time ago in a galaxy

far, far away, for a decade people thought it was over. George Lucas

said Star Wars was finished on the big screen but now a new trilogy is

upon us, the year bb 2015. But the future might look different. The

previous owner and creator of the films, a gi called George Lucas has

sold the rights to the same people who made Pirates of the Caribbean,

Walt Disney, all for a mere �2.5 billion. He may get a few holidays

to Disney for that amount, but George can't relax as he is still

going to have creative input in the films and get a smaller share of

their profits. Film number 7 is set to be released in 2015 where

they'll continue the story of Luke Skywalker and Princess Lela. And

Disney know taking over the franchise is a big responsibility.

We understand the responsibility it. Comes with being the caretakers of

such iconic characters that are beloved by hundreds of millions all

over the world. Good news for space fans. Disney say they plan to bring

out a new Star Wars every two to four years, so may the force be

with us once again. Now you probably don't need me to tell that

you tonight is Hallowe'en. Is it? It really is. What? Listen. I have

been busy practising my scariest face for trick or treat but have

you ever wondered what it takes it make a truly award-winning pumpkin?

Often. We wanted to get last-minute tips from experts, young farmer's

kids, Max, Lucy and George have been giving us their tips. I'm Max.

I'm Lucy. I'm George. If there is one thing we know... It's pumpkins.

I grew this a 12 stone beast. as good as mine, a whopping 13

stone six. Sorry, guys, we all know mine's the biggest Annoying but

true, he grew a 15 stone pumpkin. That's if you are times his body

weight. It's not just a coincidence. Max has a little secret to his

success. Every evening he tucked his pumpkin in to keep it warm at

night. That's right. And what makes his pumpkin even more special is

that it has been a terrible year for the crop.

It's been a really difficult year for growing crops. We have had a

lot of cold temperatures and they are all fairly small, compared with

what they normally Rthe kids have done fairly well. They've actually

looked after them a bit more and also grown them in a greenhouse.

Obviously they've got more heat bus the heat hasn't been there all

summer, as we all know. But that hasn't stopped our Max and his mega

pumpkin. We'd loved to carve it out, but that means pumpkin soup until

Christmas. Nightmare!

Those three have set a high bar when it comes to pumpkins but some

of you have been giving them a run for their money. We have been

asking to you send in your best pictures. We've had some beauties.

All right. Elizabeth who is seven frain Maidstone sent in this one,

she said she made this one with her dad, Tiana from Princess and The

Frog. Not to be outdone, Sadie from Bradford sent in this, it is Lorax

from Dr Seuss. And Prune, from Windsor sent us her best effort.

That's it. Not sure what that is. Modern art. On top of that, we want

you to send pictures of your Hallowe'en costumes. We'll show you

some of the best ones on Newsround tomorrow. E-mail in with your

parents name and number so we can contact them. I think I've decided

on my trick or treat outfit but only if there was a way of wanting

what the weather will be like. Fancy that. Your wish is my command,

I've got BBC weather man, Simon I've got BBC weather man, Simon

King to do this. Hello the whre forecast for Hallowe'en is looking

frightful. If you are heading out trick or treating you might need a

water-proof and hold on to your hats. We have wet and windy weather.

You can see from the charts, the blue is all of the rain. Further

north across Scotland and Northern Ireland, not too much rain here but,

quite cold. So you might need an extra layer or a ware wolf outfit

wouldn't go a miss. Further south, across England and Wales, you can

see the wet weather, so you might need to water-proof your skeleton

outits fits and on top of that we have a howling wind from the south

and west. For the rest of the evening, it is looking gruesome.

This area of rain is gradually moving eastwards.