5.2 Magnitude Earthquake SOUTH SANDWICH ISLANDS REGION - 15th Dec 2011

A magnitude 5.2 earthquake has struck the South Sandwich Islands Region at a depth of 35 km (21.7 miles), the quake hit at 02:59:14 UTC Thursday 15th December 2011.
The epicenter was 168 km (104 miles) NNW of Visokoi Island, South Sandwich Islands
No Tsunami Warning Issued - No Reports of Injuries or Damage at this time

5.1 Magnitude Earthquake OFF THE EAST COAST OF HONSHU, JAPAN - 15th Dec 2011

A magnitude 5.1 earthquake has struck off the East Coast of Honshu, Japan at a depth of 30.6 km (19 miles), the quake hit at 02:49:23 UTC Thursday 15th December 2011.
The epicenter was 220 km (136 miles) East of Sendai, Honshu, Japan
No Tsunami warning Issued - No Reports of Injuries or Damage at this time

4.7 Magnitude Earthquake SOUTHERN SUMATRA, INDONESIA - 15th Dec 2011

A magnitude 4.7 earthquake has struck Southern Sumatra, Indonesia at a depth of 61 km (37.9 miles), the quake hit at 02:25:11 UTC Thursday 15th December 2011.
The epicenter was 149 km (92 miles) SSE of Bengkulu, Sumatra, Indonesia
No Tsunami Warning Issued - No Reports of Injuries or Damage at this time

4.3 Magnitude Earthquake NORTHERN COLOMBIA - 15th Dec 2011

A magnitude 4.3 earthquake has struck Northern Columbia at a depth of 160.6 km (99.8 miles), the quake hit at 01:53:03 UTC Thursday 15th December 2011.
The epicenter was 46 km (28 miles) SSE of Bucaramanga, Columbia
No Reports of Injuries or Damage at this time

4.8 Magnitude Earthquake ANDREANOF ISLANDS, ALEUTIAN ISLANDS, ALASKA - 15th Dec 2011

A magnitude 4.8 earthquake has struck the Andreanof Islands, Aleutian Islands, Alaska at a depth of 34 km (21.1 miles), the quake hit at 00:44:56 UTC Thursday 15th December 2011.
The epicenter was 181 km (112 miles) South of Adak, Alaska
No Tsunami Warning Issued - No Reports of Injuries or Damage at this time

4.3 Magnitude Earthquake TAIWAN - 15th Dec 2011

A magnitude 4.3 earthquake has struck Taiwan at a depth of 30.3 km (18.8 miles), the quake hit at 00:35:40 UTC Thursday 15th December 2011.
The epicenter was 38 km (23 miles) Southeast of Hualien, Taiwan
No Tsunami Warning Issued - No Reports of Injuries or Damage at this time

4.8 Magnitude Earthquake OFFSHORE BIO-BIO, CHILE - 14th Dec 2011

A magnitude 4.8 earthquake has struck offshore Bio-Bio, Chile at a depth of 34.8 km (21.6 miles), the quake hit at 23:20:00 UTC Wednesday 14th December 2011.
The epicenter was 82 km (50 miles) West of Cauquenes, Maule, Chile
No Tsunami Warning Issued - No Reports of Injuries or Damage at this time

Jayce Robinson was captured riding the largest wave recorded off Ireland's shores on Tuesday 13th Dec 2011

A surfer has been pictured riding one of the biggest recorded waves ever to hit Irish shores.

Jayce Robinson was photographed catching the major Atlantic swell at Mullaghmore Head, which produced waves of up to 67ft.

The daredevil dislocated his knee - and his board snapped in half - during his efforts on Tuesday.

But Mr Robinson, from St Ives, is no rookie to the surf. He is the former top Association of Surfing Professionals (ASP) European junior - and hits the waves in international surfing competitions as much as possible.

The 22-year-old, who has been surfing since he was just seven, told Sky News Online: "It was definitely the biggest barrell I've ever surfed. Read More

Should the world intervene in Syria? - 14th Dec 2011

Pressure is growing for world leaders to respond to Syria's brutal crackdown on anti-regime protests.

Earlier this week, the United Nations' Commissioner for Human Rights, Navi Pillay, said more than 5,000 people had been killed in Syria since the uprising began in March.

The Syrian government has issued activists in the restive city of Homs an ultimatum: Cease their protests, or face bombardment, prompting fears of an increase in hostilities.

Human rights activists have called for an international response to the violence -- but some diplomats have warned that any intervention could make the situation worse. Read More

Anthrax hits Luangwa, Zambia - 14th Dec 2011

Anthrax has broken out in Luangwa district with the lower Zambezi national park being the hardest hit.

Many animals especially Hippos have already died.

Luangwa acting district commissioner Musole Siachisa has appealed to people in the district not to eat and touch carcasses found floating in the river.

Mr Siachisa also appealed to members of the public not to buy Hippo meat from traders crossing the borders from neighbouring countries.

He says there is need for members of the public to cooperate with medical personnel and government to ensure that the disease is brought under control.

Anthrax is an infectious disease that affects humans and animals.

Infection in humans most often involves the skin, stomach, intestines, or lungs. Source

Hailstorm leaves hundreds homeless, injures 11, Malawi - 14th Dec 2011

A heavy downpour accompanied by strong storm that hit Nkhata Bay district on Tuesday morning has left 11 people seriously injured and hundreds of others dispossessed in the area of T/A Mankhambira.

The injured people are currently receiving treatment at Nkhata Bay District Hospital and Chilambwe Health Center, according to Police.

The hailstorm which took some hours has also completely destroyed 50 houses of which five belong to teachers at Msumba Primary School. A school block at Msumba has been demolished.

District Education Manager for Nkhata Bay, Mzondi Moyo said the five affected teachers and their families are currently seeking shelter in classrooms.

T/A Mankhambira told a local radio, hundreds of his subjects were counting losses of their property after the heavy rains and hailstorms hit the area.

“The houses have completely been damaged and my people are now hopeless, all their property has been lost in the incident,” said Mankhambira whose house has also been reportedly destroyed.

The traditional leader has since sent an SOS to government to immediately provide them with relief food and other items such as tents for shelter and basic utensils. Read More

South Korean Nuclear Reactor: The Unit-3 reactor at Kori Nuclear Power Plant Shut Down due to Generator Glitch - 14th Dec 2011

South Korea shut down a nuclear reactor Wednesday for what appeared to be problems in an electric generator connected to the reactor, plant operators said.

The Unit-3 reactor at Kori Nuclear Power Plant was shut down at 8:36 a.m., according to an official from the Korea Hydro & Nuclear Power Co.

"A problem was detected in the generator, but it will take some time before we learn exactly what the problem is," the official said.

"There is no radiation leak or any safety threat." The reactor, located 410 kilometers southeast of capital Seoul, went into operation in September 1985. It has a capacity of 950,000 kilowatts.

The shutdown came one day after a 1-million kilowatt reactor at a nearby plant in Uljin, 330 kilometers southeast of Seoul, stopped operation for unknown reasons.

The stoppage of two nuclear reactors could lower the country's electricity reserve rate to dangerous levels, especially during the winter peak season.

The official from the state-run nuclear power company, however, said there were no immediate dangers of a nationwide blackout due to the shutdown of the reactors. Source

3.5 Magnitude Earthquake WESTERN MONTANA - 14th Dec 2011

A magnitude 3.5 earthquake has struck Western Montana at a depth of 12.2 km (7.6 miles), the quake hit at 16:56:22 UTC Wednesday 14th December 2011.
The epicenter was 22 km (14 miles) Southeast of Clinton, Montana
No Reports of Injuries or Damage at this time

Central African Republic Mortality Rate Reaches Emergency Levels - 13th Dec 2011

The Central African Republic (CAR) is in the grips of a chronic medical emergency, according to a report released today by the international medical humanitarian organization Doctors Without Borders/Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) .

Four mortality studies carried out by MSF over the past 18 months reveal crude mortality rates in some regions of CAR at three times the emergency threshold of one death per 10,000 people per day, which, according to the World Health Organization, is considered a humanitarian crisis. These rates constitute an “out of control” situation, even though the areas with the highest mortality rates are not affected by conflict or a high number of displaced people.

The MSF report, “Central African Republic: State of Silent Crisis,” concludes that existing levels of medical assistance are not enough to meet the scale of CAR's medical needs. The report outlines the need for more actors to conduct larger medical operations that reach more of the population and devise new models of care. Read More