A major clean-up operation is under way in several states in America's south and mid-west after tornadoes and storms left at least 20 dead.
Hardest hit was Alabama, where at least eight people died when a tornado struck a high school building on Thursday. Nine more people died in Georgia.
US President George W Bush is due to visit some affected areas on Saturday.
The tornadoes were part of a major storm system that stretched across a swathe of the United States.
Earth Changes
Scientists probing the Earth's interior have found a large reservoir of water equal to the volume of the Arctic Ocean beneath eastern Asia.
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| ©Eric Chou |
| A slice through the Earth, taken from the figure on the right, showing the attenuation anomalies within the mantle at a depth of roughly 620 miles. In both images, red shows unusually soft and weak rock believed to be saturated with water, and the blue shows unusually stiff rock (yellow and white show near-average values). |
UNITED NATIONS - UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon said on Thursday that global warming posed the same threat to humanity as war and warned of an "unconscionable legacy" being left for future generations.
In a speech to a UN International School Conference, Ban acknowledged that the "majority" of the UN's work still focuses on the prevention and resolution of conflict.
"But the danger posed by war to all of humanity -- and to our planet -- is at least matched by the climate crisis and global warming," he said.
In a speech to a UN International School Conference, Ban acknowledged that the "majority" of the UN's work still focuses on the prevention and resolution of conflict.
"But the danger posed by war to all of humanity -- and to our planet -- is at least matched by the climate crisis and global warming," he said.
Canberra was last night bracing for a second major storm as it cleaned up from Tuesday night's damaging "supercell" storm, which dropped up to 1m of hail and caused chaos in the centre of the capital.
Hailstones as large as golf balls and winds over 50kmh lashed the city for less than 30 minutes on Tuesday night but left trees defoliated and turned nature strips into mud baths.
Hailstones as large as golf balls and winds over 50kmh lashed the city for less than 30 minutes on Tuesday night but left trees defoliated and turned nature strips into mud baths.
A tornado struck an Alabama high school, Thursday killing at least eight people, believed to be students and teachers, a state official said. The storm that struck Enterprise was one of several tornadoes that ripped a swath of destruction across at least three states, including Kansas and Missouri.
WEST PLAINS, Missouri -- Storms that dumped heavy rains and tornadoes across the heartland Thursday, killing at least one person, made their afternoon trek through the Southeast and were expected to strike the region's largest metro area at rush hour, officials said.
In much of Georgia, the weather service issued a "particularly dangerous situation" watch until 9 p.m. ET as meteorologists were expecting a band of harsh storms to slam into Atlanta during its usually messy rush hour.
In much of Georgia, the weather service issued a "particularly dangerous situation" watch until 9 p.m. ET as meteorologists were expecting a band of harsh storms to slam into Atlanta during its usually messy rush hour.
Tokyo experienced the first winter without snowfall on record since 1876, the Japan Meteorological Agency said Thursday.
The agency's observatory point in Otemachi, central Tokyo, did not record any snowfall from December to February, the period defined as winter in Japan.
The agency's observatory point in Otemachi, central Tokyo, did not record any snowfall from December to February, the period defined as winter in Japan.
Mount Rainier looks constant and unchanging, an impassive landmark on the horizon. But the mountain hasn't always been so quiet.
About the time Christopher Columbus was arriving in America, a torrent of mud rolled down Rainier's western flank, burying the spot where Orting stands today. Five hundred years before that, an eruption sent a mud flow down the White River Valley to what is now Auburn.
About the time Christopher Columbus was arriving in America, a torrent of mud rolled down Rainier's western flank, burying the spot where Orting stands today. Five hundred years before that, an eruption sent a mud flow down the White River Valley to what is now Auburn.
The UK has experienced its second warmest winter on record, with a mean temperature of 5.47C (41.8F), provisional Met Office figures show.
In southern England, the winter warmth set a new high, reaching 6.53C (43.8F), beating 6.49C (43.7F) in 1989-90.
All three winter months saw above average temperatures, and January also recorded its second highest UK-wide temperature, reaching 6.0C (43F).
In southern England, the winter warmth set a new high, reaching 6.53C (43.8F), beating 6.49C (43.7F) in 1989-90.
All three winter months saw above average temperatures, and January also recorded its second highest UK-wide temperature, reaching 6.0C (43F).
PORT-OF-SPAIN, Trinidad: Two earthquakes have now been recorded in Trinidad and Tobago in the space of one week.
The lastest earthquake struck on Tuesday morning around 9:26 and was felt in several parts of the country, including areas along the Port of Spain east-west corridor and west of the capitol.
The lastest earthquake struck on Tuesday morning around 9:26 and was felt in several parts of the country, including areas along the Port of Spain east-west corridor and west of the capitol.
