5.1 Magnitude Earthquake SANTA CRUZ ISLANDS REGION - 6th February 2013

Magnitude
5.1
Date-Time
Wednesday, February 06, 2013 at 04:34:50 UTC
Wednesday, February 06, 2013 at 03:34:50 PM at epicenter
Location
11.396°S, 164.847°E
Depth
35.2 km (21.9 miles)
Region
SANTA CRUZ ISLANDS REGION
Distances
335 km (208 miles) ESE (109°) from Kira Kira, Solomon Islands

5.2 Magnitude Earthquake SANTA CRUZ ISLANDS REGION - 6th February 2013

Magnitude
5.2
Date-Time
Wednesday, February 06, 2013 at 04:20:54 UTC
Wednesday, February 06, 2013 at 03:20:54 PM at epicenter
Time of Earthquake in other Time Zones
Location
10.910°S, 165.571°E
Depth
34.9 km (21.7 miles)
Region
SANTA CRUZ ISLANDS
Distances
35 km (21 miles) SW of Lata, Solomon Islands

5.0 Magnitude Earthquake SANTA CRUZ ISLANDS REGION - 6th February 2013

Magnitude
5.0
Date-Time
Wednesday, February 06, 2013 at 04:16:29 UTC
Wednesday, February 06, 2013 at 03:16:29 PM at epicenter
Location
11.092°S, 164.904°E
Depth
10.7 km (6.6 miles)
Region
SANTA CRUZ ISLANDS REGION
Distances
332 km (206 miles) ESE (103°) from Kira Kira, Solomon Islands

5.6 Magnitude Earthquake SANTA CRUZ ISLANDS REGION - 6th February 2013

Magnitude
5.6
Date-Time
Wednesday, February 06, 2013 at 03:49:46 UTC
Wednesday, February 06, 2013 at 02:49:46 PM at epicenter
Time of Earthquake in other Time Zones
Location
10.893°S, 165.474°E
Depth
18.3 km (11.4 miles)
Region
SANTA CRUZ ISLANDS
Distances
44 km (27 miles) WSW of Lata, Solomon Islands

5.3 Magnitude Earthquake SANTA CRUZ ISLANDS REGION - 6th February 2013

Magnitude
5.3
Date-Time
Wednesday, February 06, 2013 at 03:45:10 UTC
Wednesday, February 06, 2013 at 02:45:10 PM at epicenter
Time of Earthquake in other Time Zones
Location
10.669°S, 165.312°E
Depth
33.4 km (20.8 miles)
Region
SANTA CRUZ ISLANDS
Distances
57 km (35 miles) W of Lata, Solomon Islands

5.2 Magnitude Earthquake SANTA CRUZ ISLANDS REGION - 6th February 2013

Magnitude
5.2
Date-Time
Wednesday, February 06, 2013 at 03:38:55 UTC
Wednesday, February 06, 2013 at 02:38:55 PM at epicenter
Time of Earthquake in other Time Zones
Location
10.890°S, 165.268°E
Depth
12.1 km (7.5 miles)
Region
SANTA CRUZ ISLANDS
Distances
64 km (39 miles) WSW of Lata, Solomon Islands

5.3 Magnitude Earthquake SANTA CRUZ ISLANDS REGION - 6th February 2013

Magnitude
5.3
Date-Time
Wednesday, February 06, 2013 at 03:28:54 UTC
Wednesday, February 06, 2013 at 02:28:54 PM at epicenter
Time of Earthquake in other Time Zones
Location
11.053°S, 165.446°E
Depth
22.8 km (14.2 miles)
Region
SANTA CRUZ ISLANDS
Distances
55 km (34 miles) SW of Lata, Solomon Islands

5.1 Magnitude Earthquake SANTA CRUZ ISLANDS REGION - 6th February 2013

Magnitude
5.1
Date-Time
Wednesday, February 06, 2013 at 03:25:18 UTC
Wednesday, February 06, 2013 at 02:25:18 PM at epicenter
Time of Earthquake in other Time Zones
Location
11.130°S, 165.806°E
Depth
9.9 km (6.2 miles)
Region
SANTA CRUZ ISLANDS
Distances
45 km (27 miles) S of Lata, Solomon Islands

5.3 Magnitude Earthquake SANTA CRUZ ISLANDS REGION - 6th February 2013

Magnitude
5.3
Date-Time
Wednesday, February 06, 2013 at 03:19:05 UTC
Wednesday, February 06, 2013 at 02:19:05 PM at epicenter
Time of Earthquake in other Time Zones
Location
10.896°S, 165.216°E
Depth
14.9 km (9.3 miles)
Region
SANTA CRUZ ISLANDS
Distances
70 km (43 miles) WSW of Lata, Solomon Islands

5.1 Magnitude Earthquake SANTA CRUZ ISLANDS REGION - 6th February 2013

Magnitude
5.1
Date-Time
Wednesday, February 06, 2013 at 03:06:34 UTC
Wednesday, February 06, 2013 at 02:06:34 PM at epicenter
Time of Earthquake in other Time Zones
Location
11.513°S, 165.326°E
Depth
10 km (6.2 miles)
Region
SANTA CRUZ ISLANDS
Distances
103 km (64 miles) SSW of Lata, Solomon Islands

5.6 Magnitude Earthquake SANTA CRUZ ISLANDS REGION - 6th February 2013

Magnitude
5.6
Date-Time
Wednesday, February 06, 2013 at 03:01:03 UTC
Wednesday, February 06, 2013 at 02:01:03 PM at epicenter
Time of Earthquake in other Time Zones
Location
11.032°S, 165.106°E
Depth
20.4 km (12.7 miles)
Region
SANTA CRUZ ISLANDS
Distances
86 km (53 miles) WSW of Lata, Solomon Islands

5.5 Magnitude Earthquake SANTA CRUZ ISLANDS REGION - 6th February 2013

Magnitude
5.5
Date-Time
Wednesday, February 06, 2013 at 02:58:22 UTC
Wednesday, February 06, 2013 at 01:58:22 PM at epicenter
Time of Earthquake in other Time Zones
Location
10.663°S, 165.128°E
Depth
16.9 km (10.5 miles)
Region
SANTA CRUZ ISLANDS
Distances
77 km (47 miles) W of Lata, Solomon Islands

5.1 Magnitude Earthquake SANTA CRUZ ISLANDS REGION - 6th February 2013

Magnitude
5.1
Date-Time
Wednesday, February 06, 2013 at 02:57:44 UTC
Wednesday, February 06, 2013 at 01:57:44 PM at epicenter
Time of Earthquake in other Time Zones
Location
10.755°S, 165.026°E
Depth
38.1 km (23.7 miles)
Region
SANTA CRUZ ISLANDS
Distances
87 km (54 miles) W of Lata, Solomon Islands

4.9 Magnitude Earthquake SANTA CRUZ ISLANDS REGION - 6th February 2013

Magnitude
4.9
Date-Time
Wednesday, February 06, 2013 at 02:44:26 UTC
Wednesday, February 06, 2013 at 01:44:26 PM at epicenter
Time of Earthquake in other Time Zones
Location
11.295°S, 165.111°E
Depth
38.4 km (23.9 miles)
Region
SANTA CRUZ ISLANDS
Distances
101 km (62 miles) SW of Lata, Solomon Islands

5.6 Magnitude Earthquake SANTA CRUZ ISLANDS REGION - 6th February 2013

Magnitude
5.6
Date-Time
Wednesday, February 06, 2013 at 02:30:49 UTC
Wednesday, February 06, 2013 at 01:30:49 PM at epicenter
Time of Earthquake in other Time Zones
Location
10.822°S, 164.980°E
Depth
32.5 km (20.2 miles)
Region
SANTA CRUZ ISLANDS REGION
Distances
93 km (57 miles) W of Lata, Solomon Islands

5.3 Magnitude Earthquake SANTA CRUZ ISLANDS REGION - 6th February 2013

Magnitude
5.3
Date-Time
Wednesday, February 06, 2013 at 02:23:11 UTC
Wednesday, February 06, 2013 at 01:23:11 PM at epicenter
Time of Earthquake in other Time Zones
Location
10.963°S, 165.402°E
Depth
28.3 km (17.6 miles)
Region
SANTA CRUZ ISLANDS
Distances
54 km (33 miles) WSW of Lata, Solomon Islands

5.2 Magnitude Earthquake SANTA CRUZ ISLANDS REGION - 6th February 2013

Magnitude
5.2
Date-Time
Wednesday, February 06, 2013 at 02:18:14 UTC
Wednesday, February 06, 2013 at 01:18:14 PM at epicenter
Time of Earthquake in other Time Zones
Location
11.468°S, 165.614°E
Depth
34.4 km (21.4 miles)
Region
SANTA CRUZ ISLANDS
Distances
86 km (53 miles) SSW of Lata, Solomon Islands

5.2 Magnitude Earthquake SANTA CRUZ ISLANDS REGION - 6th February 2013

Magnitude
5.2
Date-Time
Wednesday, February 06, 2013 at 02:06:21 UTC
Wednesday, February 06, 2013 at 01:06:21 PM at epicenter
Time of Earthquake in other Time Zones
Location
10.597°S, 165.363°E
Depth
10 km (6.2 miles)
Region
SANTA CRUZ ISLANDS
Distances
53 km (32 miles) WNW of Lata, Solomon Islands

5.7 Magnitude Earthquake SANTA CRUZ ISLANDS REGION - 6th February 2013

Magnitude
5.7
Date-Time
Wednesday, February 06, 2013 at 01:48:42 UTC
Wednesday, February 06, 2013 at 12:48:42 PM at epicenter
Time of Earthquake in other Time Zones
Location
11.628°S, 165.937°E
Depth
10 km (6.2 miles)
Region
SANTA CRUZ ISLANDS
Distances
101 km (62 miles) S of Lata, Solomon Islands

5.6 Magnitude Earthquake SANTA CRUZ ISLANDS REGION - 6th February 2013

Magnitude
5.6
Date-Time
Wednesday, February 06, 2013 at 01:33:37 UTC
Wednesday, February 06, 2013 at 12:33:37 PM at epicenter
Time of Earthquake in other Time Zones
Location
10.922°S, 165.085°E
Depth
10 km (6.2 miles)
Region
SANTA CRUZ ISLANDS
Distances
84 km (52 miles) WSW of Lata, Solomon Islands

5.6 Magnitude Earthquake SANTA CRUZ ISLANDS REGION - 6th February 2013

Magnitude
5.6
Date-Time
Wednesday, February 06, 2013 at 01:22:12 UTC
Wednesday, February 06, 2013 at 12:22:12 PM at epicenter
Time of Earthquake in other Time Zones
Location
11.366°S, 165.768°E
Depth
10.1 km (6.3 miles)
Region
SANTA CRUZ ISLANDS
Distances
72 km (44 miles) S of Lata, Solomon Islands

4.6 Magnitude Earthquake NEAR THE SOUTH COAST OF PAPUA, INDONESIA - 6th February 2013

Magnitude
4.6
Date-Time
Wednesday, February 06, 2013 at 01:00:47 UTC
Wednesday, February 06, 2013 at 10:00:47 AM at epicenter
Time of Earthquake in other Time Zones
Location
4.352°S, 134.710°E
Depth
32.8 km (20.4 miles)
Region
NEAR THE SOUTH COAST OF PAPUA, INDONESIA
Distances
138 km (85 miles) SW of Nabire, Indonesia

5.3 Magnitude Earthquake SANTA CRUZ ISLANDS REGION - 6th February 2013

Magnitude
5.3
Date-Time
Wednesday, February 06, 2013 at 00:46:01 UTC
Wednesday, February 06, 2013 at 11:46:01 AM at epicenter
Time of Earthquake in other Time Zones
Location
10.871°S, 165.029°E
Depth
9.5 km (5.9 miles)
Region
SANTA CRUZ ISLANDS
Distances
89 km (55 miles) W of Lata, Solomon Islands

'Car Sleepers': US Middle Class Hit By Crisis

The shocking reality of the true cost of the financial crisis on middle-class Americans could sweep thousands of regular families into an 'epidemic' of homelessness.

Charities say the crisis is being ignored as more and more ordinary Americans face losing their homes and being forced to seek emergency shelter.

Amid all the talk of the strength of the US economic recovery, it is those who have traditionally formed the backbone of working America who have been hardest hit.

And many of those middle-class Americans have taken the desperate step of living in their vehicles.

http://news.sky.com/story/1048135/car-sleepers-us-middle-class-hit-by-crisis

INCOMING REPORTS THAT TSUNAMI WAVED MEASURES THREE FEET TALL; SOLOMON ISLANDERS SEEM TO BE ALRIGHT AND MADE IT TO HIGHER GROUND IN TIME

8.0 Pacific quake: Are scientists underestimating 'superquakes'?

The 8.0 Pacific quake that hit the Solomon Islands tonight should be about most powerful earthquake possible, according to seismologists' theories of earthquake cycles. And the earthquakes that rocked Tohoku, Japan in 2011, Sumatra in 2004, and Chile in 1960 — all of magnitude 9.0 or greater — should not have happened. That might mean earthquake prediction needs an overhaul, some researchers say.

All these earthquakes struck along subduction zones, where two of Earth's tectonic plates collide and one dives beneath the other. Earlier earthquakes had released the pent-up strain along Chile's master fault, meaning no big quakes were coming, scientists had thought. Japan and Sumatra both sat above on old oceanic crust, thought to be too stiff for superquakes.

And records of past quakes, combined with measurements of the speed of Earth's tectonic plates, suggested the Tohoku and Sumatra-Andaman regions couldn't make quakes larger than 8.4, almost nine times smaller than a magnitude 9.0 temblor.

"These areas had been written off as places incapable of producing a great earthquake," said Chris Goldfinger, a marine geologist at Oregon State University in Corvallis.

http://www.csmonitor.com/Science/2013/0205/8.0-Pacific-quake-Are-scientists-underestimating-superquakes

TSUNAMI WAVE VERIFIED, SOLOMON ISLANDS STRUCK, ALERT EXTENDED TO: Vanuatu, Nauru, Papua New Guinea, Tuvalu, New Caledonia, Kosrae, Fiji, Kiribati, Wallis and Futuna (Australia and New Zealand under less serious alert level, should be fine, but stay alert anyway)

China aims weapon system at Japanese warship as tensions ratchet in the Pacific

Japan on Tuesday accused Chinese navy vessels of locking a weapons-targeting radar on a Japanese destroyer and helicopter amid escalating territorial disputes between the Asian powers.

Japanese Defense Minister Itsunori Onodera accused Chinese navy vessels of using the weapons radar in two incidents last month, on Jan. 19 and Jan. 30. He said it happened in the East China Sea, suggesting it was near disputed islands controlled by Japan but also claimed by China. He did not give an exact location.

Onodera said the action could have led to a dangerous situation. Shots were not fired on either occasion.

http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/A/AS_ASIA_DISPUTED_ISLANDS?SITE=AP&SECTION=HOME&TEMPLATE=DEFAULT&CTIME=2013-02-05-09-22-53

Several villages "destroyed" by Solomon Islands 8.0 Earthquake

TSUNAMI ALERT ISSUED FOR AMERICAN SAMOA, AUSTRALIA, NEW ZEALAND AND EASTERN INDONESIA

IF YOU ARE IN THE AFFECTED AREAS, DO NOT PACK, DO NOT PAUSE TO THINK. HEAD IMMEDIATELY FOR HIGHER GROUND.

Magnitude 6.6 Earthquake - SANTA CRUZ ISLANDS

Earthquake Details

• This event has been reviewed by a seismologist.

Magnitude	6.6
Date-Time	Wednesday, February 06, 2013 at 01:54:15 UTC Wednesday, February 06, 2013 at 12:54:15 PM at epicenter Time of Earthquake in other Time Zones
Location	10.514°S, 165.733°E
Depth	10.2 km (6.3 miles)
Region	SANTA CRUZ ISLANDS
Distances	25 km (15 miles) NNW of Lata, Solomon Islands 577 km (358 miles) NNW of Luganville, Vanuatu 644 km (400 miles) E of Honiara, Solomon Islands 846 km (525 miles) NNW of Port-Vila, Vanuatu
Location Uncertainty	horizontal +/- 15.6 km (9.7 miles); depth +/- 4 km (2.5 miles)
Parameters	NST=106, Nph=110, Dmin=645.7 km, Rmss=1.07 sec, Gp= 76°, M-type=body wave magnitude (Mb), Version=5
Source	Magnitude: USGS NEIC (WDCS-D) Location: USGS NEIC (WDCS-D)
Event ID	usc000f1ts

Magnitude 6.4 Earthquake - SANTA CRUZ ISLANDS REGION

Earthquake Details

• This event has been reviewed by a seismologist.

Magnitude	6.4
Date-Time	Wednesday, February 06, 2013 at 01:23:19 UTC Wednesday, February 06, 2013 at 12:23:19 PM at epicenter Time of Earthquake in other Time Zones
Location	11.232°S, 164.921°E
Depth	10.1 km (6.3 miles)
Region	SANTA CRUZ ISLANDS REGION
Distances	114 km (70 miles) WSW of Lata, Solomon Islands 534 km (331 miles) NNW of Luganville, Vanuatu 579 km (359 miles) ESE of Honiara, Solomon Islands 807 km (501 miles) NNW of Port-Vila, Vanuatu
Location Uncertainty	horizontal +/- 15.6 km (9.7 miles); depth +/- 4 km (2.5 miles)
Parameters	NST=350, Nph=352, Dmin=580 km, Rmss=1.38 sec, Gp= 40°, M-type=body wave magnitude (Mb), Version=8
Source	Magnitude: USGS NEIC (WDCS-D) Location: USGS NEIC (WDCS-D)
Event ID	usc000f1se

Magnitude 8.0 Earthquake - SANTA CRUZ ISLANDS

Earthquake Details

• This event has been reviewed by a seismologist.

Magnitude	8.0
Date-Time	Wednesday, February 06, 2013 at 01:12:27 UTC Wednesday, February 06, 2013 at 12:12:27 PM at epicenter Time of Earthquake in other Time Zones
Location	10.738°S, 165.138°E
Depth	28.7 km (17.8 miles)
Region	SANTA CRUZ ISLANDS
Distances	81 km (50 miles) W of Lata, Solomon Islands 575 km (357 miles) NNW of Luganville, Vanuatu 581 km (361 miles) ESE of Honiara, Solomon Islands 847 km (526 miles) NNW of Port-Vila, Vanuatu
Location Uncertainty	horizontal +/- 14.2 km (8.8 miles); depth +/- 5.2 km (3.2 miles)
Parameters	NST=347, Nph=351, Dmin=586.7 km, Rmss=1.28 sec, Gp= 18°, M-type=(unknown type), Version=B
Source	Magnitude: USGS NEIC (WDCS-D) Location: USGS NEIC (WDCS-D)
Event ID	usc000f1s0

Magnitude 6.3 Earthquake - SANTA CRUZ ISLANDS

• This event has been reviewed by a seismologist.

Magnitude	6.3
Date-Time	Wednesday, February 06, 2013 at 00:07:22 UTC Wednesday, February 06, 2013 at 11:07:22 AM at epicenter Time of Earthquake in other Time Zones
Location	10.858°S, 165.206°E
Depth	10 km (6.2 miles)
Region	SANTA CRUZ ISLANDS
Distances	69 km (42 miles) WSW of Lata, Solomon Islands 558 km (346 miles) NNW of Luganville, Vanuatu 597 km (370 miles) ESE of Honiara, Solomon Islands 831 km (516 miles) NNW of Port-Vila, Vanuatu
Location Uncertainty	horizontal +/- 18.3 km (11.4 miles); depth +/- 2.8 km (1.7 miles)
Parameters	NST=199, Nph=199, Dmin=597.8 km, Rmss=0.77 sec, Gp= 97°, M-type=regional moment magnitude (Mw), Version=6
Source	Magnitude: USGS NEIC (WDCS-D) Location: USGS NEIC (WDCS-D)
Event ID	usc000f1r5

Obama murders American man, and then when his son returns to his native country to find out more, Obama kills him too

Of the scores of people dubbed terrorists and taken out by American military drone strikes, three men -- all killed in the fall of 2011 -- were U.S. citizens.

And their lives illustrate the complexity of the issue, recently brought to light amid a newly discovered government memo that provides the legal reasoning behind drone strikes on Americans.

Anwar al-Awlaki and Samir Khan were killed by a missile strike in Yemen on Sept. 30, 2011, while al-Awlaki’s son, Abdulrahman, was killed in the country just weeks later.

Since the attacks, family members have called the deaths unjust and sued the U.S. government, calling the killings unconstitutional.

Matt's thoughts:
How long will it be before drone strikes are carried out on American soil against "terrorists" spouting "fiery rhetoric"?

4.7 Magnitude Earthquake JUJUY, ARGENTINA - 5th February 2013

Magnitude
4.7
Date-Time
Tuesday, February 05, 2013 at 20:15:10 UTC
Tuesday, February 05, 2013 at 05:15:10 PM at epicenter
Location
23.609°S, 66.720°W
Depth
204.9 km (127.3 miles)
Region
JUJUY, ARGENTINA
Distances
78 km (48 miles) NNW of San Antonio de los Cobres, Argentina

5.1 Magnitude Earthquake SANTA CRUZ ISLANDS REGION - 5th February 2013

Magnitude
5.1
Date-Time
Tuesday, February 05, 2013 at 19:39:39 UTC
Wednesday, February 06, 2013 at 06:39:39 AM at epicenter
Time of Earthquake in other Time Zones
Location
10.753°S, 164.986°E
Depth
46 km (28.6 miles)
Region
SANTA CRUZ ISLANDS REGION
Distances
92 km (57 miles) W of Lata, Solomon Islands

Charlottesville, Virginia Becomes First to Pass Anti-Drone Legislation, Banning All Drones from the Sky

Charlottesville, Va., has become the first city in the United States to formally pass an anti-drone resolution.

The resolution, passed Monday, "calls on the United States Congress and the General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Virginia to adopt legislation prohibiting information obtained from the domestic use of drones from being introduced into a Federal or State court," and "pledges to abstain from similar uses with city-owned, leased, or borrowed drones."

The resolution passed by a 3-2 vote and was brought to the city council by activist David Swanson and the Rutherford Institute, a progressive civil liberties group based in the city. The measure also endorses a proposed two-year moratorium on drones in Virginia.

Councilmember Dede Smith, who voted in favor of the bill, says that drones are "pretty clearly a threat to our constitutional right to privacy."

http://www.usnews.com/news/articles/2013/02/05/city-in-virginia-becomes-first-to-pass-anti-drone-legislation-

Robot Wars? UK to test supersonic stealth drone 'Taranis'

Kingdoms of Loathing: Kuwait & Bahrain step up crackdown on opposition

Israel will 'regret aggression against Syria': Iran

US President Barack Obama 'can order cyber attacks'

A SECRET legal review has concluded that the American president has the power to order pre-emptive cyber strikes if the US discovers credible evidence of a major digital attack against it is in the offing, The New York Times reported yesterday.

Citing unnamed officials, the newspaper said the new policy would also govern how the intelligence agencies could carry out searches of overseas computer networks for signs of potential attacks on the US and, if the president approved, attack foes with a destructive code - even if there was no declared war.

The review came as the US Department of Defence approved a five-fold expansion of its cyber security force in a bid to increase its ability to defend critical computer networks.

http://www.theaustralian.com.au/news/world/us-president-barack-obama-can-order-cyber-attacks/story-e6frg6so-1226570308420

Egyptian Revolution: Is Egypt Now Headed For Civil War?

In the wake of the second anniversary of Egypt’s January 25 revolution, divisions between opposition groups and the country’s Islamist-led government have left hundreds wounded and several dead. Meanwhile, a controversial court verdict in Port Said sent thousands to the streets and led President Morsi to place the area under a state of emergency. The increasing violence has raised questions over whether the divide between the government and opposition forces will continue to fissure to the point of civil war. While the situation in Egypt is dire and increasing violence remains a looming threat, the situation will not escalate to the point of civil war but the potential for continuing violence and economic and political instability remains a real concern.

Violence between opposition groups and the government has become frighteningly more frequent in Egypt, especially in the wake of the passage of the country’s new constitution in December.

http://www.policymic.com/articles/24863/egyptian-revolution-is-egypt-now-headed-for-civil-war

The US interest in an Asian island dispute

The tension in the East China Sea between China and Japan is America’s problem. Sure, there are all sorts of reasons war will “never” break out — from “it just wouldn’t make sense” to “everybody is making too much money to fight.” But given the history of the region and the lack of rules for handling such crises, the reality is that one stupid mistake could start a war. Since the United States is obligated by treaty to defend Japan if it is attacked, it falls to Washington to make sure a conflict does not erupt.

Over the past several months, Tokyo and Beijing have played a game of chicken, in the streets, on the seas, in the air and through the airwaves over a cluster of three uninhabited islands and two big rocks called the Senkakus by the Japanese and the Diaoyu Islands by the Chinese. Japan seized them in January 1895, during its first modern war with China (which Japan won). Tensions began escalating last year and have grown from anti-Japanese protests in Chinese cities to a war of words to the present situation, in which an increasing number of Chinese and Japanese ships and planes are frequenting a very small area in the East China Sea. The Japanese government announced Tuesday that twice in the past three weeks Chinese warships have upped the ante even further by “painting” a Japanese warship and helicopter with the same type of radar used to aim missiles.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/japan-and-chinas-island-argument-is-a-us-concern/2013/02/05/fbc7ed62-6999-11e2-af53-7b2b2a7510a8_story.html

4.8 Magnitude Earthquake HINDU KUSH REGION, AFGHANISTAN - 5th February 2013

Magnitude
4.8
Date-Time
Tuesday, February 05, 2013 at 18:18:31 UTC
Tuesday, February 05, 2013 at 10:48:31 PM at epicenter
Location
36.483°N, 70.577°E
Depth
214.9 km (133.5 miles)
Region
HINDU KUSH REGION, AFGHANISTAN
Distances
69 km (43 miles) S (179°) from Feyzabad, Afghanistan

Bulgaria Bus Bomb: EU Pressed Over Hizbollah

The European Union has been urged to act against Lebanon's Hizbollah movement after Bulgaria blamed it for an attack on a busload of Israeli tourists last year.

Five Israelis and their Bulgarian driver were killed as they travelled from the airport to their hotel in the Black sea resort of Burgas on July 18.

http://news.sky.com/story/1047945/bulgaria-bus-bomb-eu-pressed-over-hizbollah

4.4 Magnitude Earthquake ANTOFAGASTA, CHILE - 5th February 2013

Magnitude
4.4
Date-Time
Tuesday, February 05, 2013 at 17:30:49 UTC
Tuesday, February 05, 2013 at 02:30:49 PM at epicenter
Location
22.682°S, 68.968°W
Depth
84.1 km (52.3 miles)
Region
ANTOFAGASTA, CHILE
Distances
21 km (13 miles) SSW (194°) from Calama, Chile

4.7 Magnitude Earthquake REYKJANES RIDGE - 5th February 2013

Magnitude Mw 4.7
Region REYKJANES RIDGE
Date time 2013-02-05 16:38:26.0 UTC
Location 56.04 N ; 35.01 W
Depth 200 km
Distances 1145 km SW Hafnarfjörður

Alexander Crispin Killed by the Bengal tiger he was Training in front of a live audience

Daniel Carter who kidnapped ten-year-old girl snatched a 16-year-old just one week after being released EARLY from prison

A thug carried out a terrifying attack on a 16-year-old girl in an alleyway just a week after being released early from prison for abducting a 10-year-old girl.

Daniel Carter, 19, grabbed the teenager and threatened to kill her unless she handed over her mobile phone.

The attack happened just 30 minutes after Carter, of Newcastle-under-Lyme, Staffordshire, had met with his probation officer to discuss the terms of his early release from prison.

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2273797/Newcastle-Lyme-thug-Daniel-Carter-kidnapped-year-old-girl-snatched-16-year-old-just-week-released-EARLY-prison.html#axzz2K2tWmO00

Hollande warns Cameron he cannot secure cut in EU budget without giving up Britain's rebate

French President Francois Hollande today blasted David Cameron for demanding cuts in the European Union’s budget.

Mr Hollande warned Britain could not continue to threaten to veto deals on Brussels spending and raised the prospect of taking the axe to the rebate secured by Margaret Thatcher.

Ahead of a crunch summit this week, the Frenchman warned Mr Cameron he could not demand cuts to the budget while refusing to cut the money Britain receives.

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2273878/Hollande-warns-Cameron-secure-cut-EU-budget-giving-Britains-rebate.html#axzz2K2tWmO00

EU may go for imperfect budget deal rather than accept failure

European Union leaders are expected to reach a deal on the bloc's next seven-year budget at a summit beginning on Thursday, overcoming divisions over spending and Britain's rebate rather than accepting failure.

With nearly 1 trillion euros (861 billion pounds) in spending across 28 countries weighing in the balance, the alternative to a deal would be to throw future EU finances into chaos and delay much-needed investment in new infrastructure, research and technology.

http://uk.reuters.com/article/2013/02/05/uk-eu-budget-idUKBRE9140PI20130205

North Korea video shows American city getting blown up

Family of Delhi rape victim demand death penalty

U.S. seeks more that $5 billion from lawsuit against S&P over mortgage-backed securities

Tia Sharp: Neighbour Paul Meehan Charged Over Murder Hunt

A neighbour of the grandmother of murdered schoolgirl Tia Sharp has been charged with wasting police time.

Paul Meehan, 40, from Croydon, south London, will appear at Croydon Magistrates' Court on February 28.

http://news.sky.com/story/1047887/tia-sharp-neighbour-charged-over-murder-hunt

5.1 Magnitude Earthquake RYUKYU ISLANDS, JAPAN - 5th February 2013

Magnitude
5.1
Date-Time
Tuesday, February 05, 2013 at 16:15:30 UTC
Wednesday, February 06, 2013 at 01:15:30 AM at epicenter
Location
28.759°N, 128.577°E
Depth
42.7 km (26.5 miles)
Region
RYUKYU ISLANDS, JAPAN
Distances
302 km (188 miles) NNE (17°) from Naha, Okinawa, Japan

5.0 Magnitude Earthquake SOUTH SANDWICH ISLANDS REGION - 5th February 2013

Magnitude
5.0
Date-Time
Tuesday, February 05, 2013 at 15:40:05 UTC
Tuesday, February 05, 2013 at 01:40:05 PM at epicenter
Location
56.135°S, 25.134°W
Depth
24.1 km (15.0 miles)
Region
SOUTH SANDWICH ISLANDS REGION
Distances
142 km (88 miles) ENE of Visokoi Island,

4.8 Magnitude Earthquake NEAR THE EAST COAST OF HONSHU, JAPAN - 5th February 2013

Magnitude
4.8
Date-Time
Tuesday, February 05, 2013 at 13:31:03 UTC
Tuesday, February 05, 2013 at 10:31:03 PM at epicenter
Time of Earthquake in other Time Zones
Location
38.701°N, 142.000°E
Depth
51.4 km (31.9 miles)
Region
NEAR THE EAST COAST OF HONSHU, JAPAN
Distances
48 km (29 miles) SSE of Ofunato, Japan

4.1 Magnitude Earthquake NORTHERN QINGHAI, CHINA - 5th February 2013

Magnitude
4.1
Date-Time
Tuesday, February 05, 2013 at 13:13:48 UTC
Tuesday, February 05, 2013 at 09:13:48 PM at epicenter
Time of Earthquake in other Time Zones
Location
38.916°N, 99.914°E
Depth
6.3 km (3.9 miles) (poorly constrained)
Region
NORTHERN QINGHAI, CHINA
Distances
46 km (28 miles) W of Zhangye, China

More espionage now than during the Cold War

The Canadian government has done everything it can to play down the espionage damage done to this country and our allies by naval Sub-Lt. Jeffrey Delisle.

But the case continues to rumble through the Western intelligence world as one of the biggest spying debacles possibly in decades.

It also says a lot about the bizarre nature of global espionage today when the victims play down their defeats in order to avoid harming relations with those who would filch secrets.

Ottawa barely whispered its discontent to Moscow after Delisle was arrested near the end of 2011.

http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/story/2013/01/31/f-vp-stewart-espionage.html

North Korea threatens "stronger" measures than nuclear test

North Korea stepped up its bellicose rhetoric on Tuesday threatening to go beyond carrying out a promised third nuclear test in response to what it believes are "hostile" sanctions imposed after a December rocket launch.

The North frequently employs fiery rhetoric aimed at South Korea and the United States and in 2010 was blamed for sinking a South Korean naval vessel. It also shelled a South Korean island in the same year, killing civilians.

http://www.reuters.com/article/2013/02/05/us-korea-north-idUSBRE9140K720130205

4.4 Magnitude Earthquake IZU ISLANDS, JAPAN REGION - 5th February 2013

Magnitude
4.4
Date-Time
Tuesday, February 05, 2013 at 12:43:20 UTC
Tuesday, February 05, 2013 at 09:43:20 PM at epicenter
Time of Earthquake in other Time Zones
Location
33.107°N, 140.579°E
Depth
79.2 km (49.2 miles)
Region
IZU ISLANDS, JAPAN REGION
Distances
72 km (44 miles) E of Hachijo-jima, Japan

Jodi Arias Admits In Court She Killed Boyfriend

The woman at the centre of a sensational murder trial in Arizona has made a surprise appearance in the witness box.

Jodi Arias is charged with stabbing and shooting dead her on-off boyfriend in June 2008, in what prosecutors describe as a jealous rage.

She took the stand in a Phoenix courtroom for the first time on Monday, and quickly admitted she killed Travis Alexander in self-defence.

http://news.sky.com/story/1047727/jodi-arias-admits-in-court-she-killed-boyfriend

Nigel Farage: The EU is Increasingly About War

Calls for EU states to cough up 2 Billion Euros in science funding

A revolutionary new material called graphene and the world's biggest brain simulator have been awarded 2 billion euros in research funding. But the details are far from straight forward.

Research and development is often the first victim of tough times. And times couldn't be tougher in Europe.

But that trend was bucked last week by the massive 2 billion euro in awards announced by the European Union. Two large, Europe-based research initiatives now face a real challenge to achieve some ambitious scientific goals.

http://www.dw.de/calls-for-eu-states-to-cough-up-science-funding/a-16576144

European Commission worried about bank 'ring-fencing'

The European Union’s executive arm sent a letter to national supervisors in the EU states reminding them capital controls were forbidden.

The European Commission was made aware that national bank supervisors imposed “allegedly disproportionate prudential measures” on subsidiaries of cross-border EU banks “on several occasions,” it said in a statement.

The Commission requested all national bank supervisors in the EU to give information about their current practices by the end of February, “in order to have a full and complete picture of the measures which have been taken, and the procedures followed.”

“The Commission will carefully consider this information and determine any possible further steps as appropriate,” it said.

http://www.emergingmarkets.org/Article/3150917/Economics-and-Policy/European-Commission-worried-about-bank-ring-fencing.html

Cash & Kerry: Obama's million-dollar donors land top diplomat jobs in Europe

New EU power must be subject of UK referendum - Stuart Agnew MEP

British fishing industry more than halved by EU's CFP - John Bufton MEP.....In another failed EU experiment

Obama injects new urgency in push for gun laws

France's Hollande rejects 'a la carte' attitude to EU

French President Francois Hollande has told the European Parliament there can be no "a la carte" attitude to the EU, as tough budget talks approach.

He called for a "multi-faceted Europe which would be neither a two-speed Europe not an a la carte Europe".

National interests, he said in Strasbourg, risked taking precedence over the interests of the EU.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-21336397

S Korea leader warns of 'multiple' N Korea nuclear tests

South Korea's outgoing leader, Lee Myung-bak, has warned that North Korea could be planning more than one nuclear test, even as the US spoke of consequences if it went ahead.

Lee Myung-bak, who leaves office this month, told Choson Ilbo newspaper that Pyongyang could be planning "multiple nuclear tests at two places or more".

North Korea said in January it was planning a "high-level nuclear test".

It has conducted two nuclear tests before, in 2006 and 2009.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-21332624

Iran's Ahmadinejad makes historic visit to Cairo to meet with President Morsi

Egypt's Islamist President Mohamed Morsi welcomed Mr Ahmadinejad at Cairo airport as he disembarked from the plane, television footage showed.

Mr Ahmadinejad, who is on a three-day visit, will attend an Organisation of Islamic Cooperation conference in Cairo and will hold talks with Egyptian officials, Iranian media said ahead of the trip.

Before leaving Tehran, Mr Ahmadinejad told reporters that during his visit he would work towards strengthening bilateral ties with Cairo.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/middleeast/iran/9849332/Irans-Ahmadinejad-makes-historic-visit-to-Cairo.html

France arrests suspected Islamists in Mali rebels probe near Paris

French police arrested four suspected Islamist militants near Paris on Tuesday as part of an investigation into the recruitment of volunteers by al Qaeda insurgents in Mali, Interior Minister Manuel Valls said.

The arrests came as France's intervention in Mali to rid its former colony of Islamist fighters has prompted the authorities to increase security measures against possible reprisal attacks on its interests in mainland France and abroad.

http://www.reuters.com/article/2013/02/05/us-mali-rebels-france-security-idUSBRE9140G720130205

Euro zone economy shows signs of recovery...But France's services PMI is Lower than Spain and Italy

The euro zone's battered economy is probably recovering but the gulf between its two biggest members is widening, according to a survey on Tuesday that showed business optimism in the bloc at an eight-month high.

Markit's Eurozone Composite PMI, based on business activity across thousands of companies, and a good gauge of economic growth, rose in January to a 10-month high of 48.6 from 47.2 in December - an improvement on the preliminary reading of 48.2.

While still below the 50 mark that divides growth and contraction, where it has been since February last year, it has risen for the third straight month.

http://www.reuters.com/article/2013/02/05/us-pmi-services-europe-idUSBRE9140GI20130205

Under Obama, coal country fights for its way of life

Leon Lieser has been a coal miner 49 years, his bent fingers testament to his first job, loading coal by hand into a bucket. Mining also led to a hip replacement and a knee replacement. He loves his job and his industry, despite what it has done to his body.

"It's a way of life. It's a proud life," said Lieser, 66.

It may also be doomed. Lieser's boss, Robert Murray, chief executive of Murray Energy Corp, said he fears for the end of coal, prodded by a U.S. president who has promoted wind and solar power while cracking down on emissions from coal-fired power plants.

http://www.reuters.com/article/2013/02/05/us-usa-coal-miners-idUSBRE9140A320130205