MEXICO CITY - Hurricane Paul strengthened to a Category 2 storm off Mexico's western coast on Monday and was threatening southern Baja California, the U.S. National Hurricane Center in Miami said.
Paul had maximum sustained winds of 100 mph and had shifted direction, moving west-northwest at about 5 mph. The center said Paul could strengthen further and pick up speed Monday.
Earth Changes
ATHENS - Torrential rains caused flooding in parts of southern Greece, just three days after storms triggered a state of emergency elsewhere in the region, authorities said.
Around 30 homes were flooded in the southern Peloponnese and several occupants had to be rescued by firemen. Three cars were swept away by torrents, while landslides halted road traffic in parts of the region.
Around 30 homes were flooded in the southern Peloponnese and several occupants had to be rescued by firemen. Three cars were swept away by torrents, while landslides halted road traffic in parts of the region.
WASHINGTON - The world - especially the Western United States, the Mediterranean region and Brazil - will likely suffer more extended droughts, heavy rainfalls and longer heat waves over the next century because of global warming, a new study forecasts.
But the prediction of a future of nasty extreme weather also includes fewer freezes and a longer growing season.
But the prediction of a future of nasty extreme weather also includes fewer freezes and a longer growing season.
Three moderate quakes have shaken the island of Mindoro south of the Philippine capital, but there were no reports of damage.
All three quakes had epicenters about 30 kilometers (18.6 miles) northeast of Calapan town but were also felt by residents in Manila, about 140 kilometres (88 miles) away, the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology said.
A 5.2 quake at 10:30 pm (1430 GMT) Friday was followed by another of 3.7 at 1:27 am Saturday and a third of 4.7 at 8:09 am, the institute added.
The US Geological Survey however measured the quakes at 5.8, 5.6 and 5.5.
All three quakes had epicenters about 30 kilometers (18.6 miles) northeast of Calapan town but were also felt by residents in Manila, about 140 kilometres (88 miles) away, the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology said.
A 5.2 quake at 10:30 pm (1430 GMT) Friday was followed by another of 3.7 at 1:27 am Saturday and a third of 4.7 at 8:09 am, the institute added.
The US Geological Survey however measured the quakes at 5.8, 5.6 and 5.5.
An earthquake with a magnitude of 4.5 on the Richter scale struck northern Thailand, but there were no reports of casualties or damage.
The quake hit the northern province of Chiang Rai, along the border of Myanmar and Laos, 790 kilometers (483 miles) north of Bangkok, the department said Saturday.
The epicenter was located 40 kilometers (25 miles) east of Chiang Rai, but the department did not have a figure for its depth.
The quake hit the northern province of Chiang Rai, along the border of Myanmar and Laos, 790 kilometers (483 miles) north of Bangkok, the department said Saturday.
The epicenter was located 40 kilometers (25 miles) east of Chiang Rai, but the department did not have a figure for its depth.
An earthquake measuring 4.1 on the Richter scale jolted Bangladesh's southeastern port city Chittagong and its adjoining area early Sunday.
The quake occurred at 1:03 a.m. (19:03 GMT) and the distance of the epicenter of the quake was 191 km from Chittagong Seismic Observatory.
The magnitude of the earthquake was 4.1 on the Richter scale and it lasted for 21 seconds.
The intensity was light, said a Met Office bulletin.
The quake occurred at 1:03 a.m. (19:03 GMT) and the distance of the epicenter of the quake was 191 km from Chittagong Seismic Observatory.
The magnitude of the earthquake was 4.1 on the Richter scale and it lasted for 21 seconds.
The intensity was light, said a Met Office bulletin.
MOSCOW -- An earthquake measured at 6.3 on the Richter Scale rolled through the remote Kuril Range in far eastern Russia Saturday, the U.S. Geological Survey said.
The powerful quake caused no major problems despite being classified as a "strong" event by international seismologists.
The U.S. Geological Survey fixed the epicenter at about 270 miles east northeast of the Kuril Islands, nearly in the same spot as an earthquake registering 5.2 that occurred on Friday.
Russia's Itar-Tass news service said that the Kurils have been shaking on a regular basis in recent weeks with a 6.9 earthquake recorded on Oct. 1.
The powerful quake caused no major problems despite being classified as a "strong" event by international seismologists.
The U.S. Geological Survey fixed the epicenter at about 270 miles east northeast of the Kuril Islands, nearly in the same spot as an earthquake registering 5.2 that occurred on Friday.
Russia's Itar-Tass news service said that the Kurils have been shaking on a regular basis in recent weeks with a 6.9 earthquake recorded on Oct. 1.
When the strongest earthquake to hit Hawaii in 20 years jolted people awake Sunday morning, causing untold damage to roads and buildings, it turned a paradise dream vacation for many into a nightmare.
In Waikiki, worried visitors began lining up to buy food, water and other supplies.
The quake - estimated to be between magnitude 6.5 and 6.6 - hit at 12:07 p.m. St. Louis time, 10 miles north-northwest of Kailua Kona, a town on the west coast of Hawaii Island, also known as the Big Island, said Don Blakeman, a geophysicist at the National Earthquake Information Center.
It sent rocks tumbling onto highways, crashed the ceiling of a hospital and caused untold damage to buildings and bridges. Aftershocks - one as strong as magnitude 5.8 - continued all day. Hotels reported some minor injuries, but Gov. Linda Lingle said there were no fatalities.
Officials said there was no danger of a tsunami.
In Waikiki, worried visitors began lining up to buy food, water and other supplies.
The quake - estimated to be between magnitude 6.5 and 6.6 - hit at 12:07 p.m. St. Louis time, 10 miles north-northwest of Kailua Kona, a town on the west coast of Hawaii Island, also known as the Big Island, said Don Blakeman, a geophysicist at the National Earthquake Information Center.
It sent rocks tumbling onto highways, crashed the ceiling of a hospital and caused untold damage to buildings and bridges. Aftershocks - one as strong as magnitude 5.8 - continued all day. Hotels reported some minor injuries, but Gov. Linda Lingle said there were no fatalities.
Officials said there was no danger of a tsunami.
WE ARE consuming the Earth's resources faster than they can be replenished, at least according to US think tank Global Footprint Network. It declared 9 October "overshoot day" - the point in each year when our ecological allowance for that year is spent.
Sitting at the crossroads of Europe and Asia, the ancient city of Istanbul has seen thousands of years of trade, battles and invasions. Now it is the scene of one of the most audacious engineering projects in the world.
The Marmaray Rail Tube Tunnel, due to open in 2010, will not only be the deepest underwater tunnel ever constructed. It willalso pass within 16 kilometres of one of the most active geological faults in the world. A major earthquake is not only expected, but imminent. No wonder the Turkish government is calling it the project of the century.
The Marmaray Rail Tube Tunnel, due to open in 2010, will not only be the deepest underwater tunnel ever constructed. It willalso pass within 16 kilometres of one of the most active geological faults in the world. A major earthquake is not only expected, but imminent. No wonder the Turkish government is calling it the project of the century.
Comment: "Over the next century"??