Strong cyclone hits western Australia
A powerful cyclone lashed Australia's resources-rich west coast Tuesday, bringing torrential rains and destructive gales that ripped up trees and roofs and closed major global iron ore operations.
19,000 Indonesians flee erupting volcano
More than 19,000 people have been displaced by a volcano in Indonesia that has been erupting for months and shot lava into the air nine times overnight, an official said Tuesday.
Thousands evacuated as El Salvador volcano spews ashes
Some 2,000 people were evacuated in eastern El Salvador Sunday when the Chaparrastique volcano belched and spewed a column of ashes high into the sky.
US judge rejects BP bid for extra proof in oil spill claims
A US federal judge has rejected a bid from BP to require companies prove their losses are directly linked to the 2010 massive Gulf of Mexico oil spill before getting a payout.
Christmas in mud as rain pelts Philippine disaster zone
Survivors of the Philippines' deadliest typhoon spent a gloomy Christmas Day surrounded by mud Wednesday as heavy rain drove many inside their flimsy shelters, dampening efforts to retain some holiday cheer in the deeply devout nation.
High winds, rain lash Europe, leaving two dead, one missing at sea
High winds and heavy rain battered parts of Europe on Monday, leaving at least two people dead and one man lost at sea off France, and disrupting travel two days from Christmas.
Philippines launches $8.17 bn Haiyan rebuilding plan
The Philippines launched an $8.17 billion plan on Wednesday to rebuild the lives of millions made homeless by Super Typhoon Haiyan and strengthen the disaster-prone nation's defences against future tempests.
Santa takes gourmet dinner to Japan nuclear evacuees
When Santa arrived at a school hosting children who fled Japan's nuclear disaster, he brought the usual presents, but he also bore something a little less ordinary -- a gourmet Christmas dinner.
Agonising wait for the missing in Philippine wastelands
In the grieving, grey wastelands that were once bustling towns on tropical Philippine islands, thousands of typhoon survivors are enduring an agonising wait of hope and denial for news of loved ones.
Arson version of Almaty flea market fire is ludicrous: veteran rescuer
Retired colonel Murat Zhumatayev, veteran of the Kazakhstan Ministry of Emergency Situations, has called the traders' version that the flea market was deliberately set on fire ludicrous.
Four dead as NE China hit by massive snowstorm
Northeastern China's biggest city of Harbin has been pummelled by its worst snowstorm for 50 years.
Almaty flea market was torched with Molotoff cocktails: traders
The sellers are sure that the flea market has been set on fire with incendiary compound.
Almaty flea market fire sum up
Vice-Minister of Emergency Situations of Kazakhstan Zhanbolat Smailov led the alarm response group of the Ministry of Emergency Situations that worked at the fire site.
Philippine typhoon survivors turn cave-dwellers
Victims who survived the Philippines' super typhoon by huddling in a cave as a tsunami-like wave obliterated their community have now made it their home -- reduced to Stone Age conditions with nowhere else to go.
Aid steams in to Philippines as Obama launches appeal
The United States said relief channels were belatedly opening up to the typhoon-ravaged Philippines on Thursday as President Barack Obama urged Americans to dig deep and other countries upped their aid.
More than 10,000 feared dead in typhoon-ravaged Philippines
Survivors of a super typhoon that may have killed more than 10,000 people in the Philippines were growing increasingly desperate for aid Monday, as authorities struggled to cope with potentially the country's worst recorded natural disaster.
Disaster experts warn on avoiding 2004 mistakes in Philippines
Disaster experts warned Monday that mistakes made in the relief effort after the catastrophic 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami must not be repeated with the super typhoon that has smashed the Philippines.
One of most intense typhoons ever recorded hits Philippines
One of the most intense typhoons ever recorded tore into the Philippines on Friday, triggering flash floods and ripping down buildings as millions of people huddled indoors.
Fukushima plant readies for dangerous fuel rod removal
Nuclear engineers in Japan are readying to move uranium and plutonium fuel rods at Fukushima in their most difficult and dangerous task since the plant's runaway reactors were brought under control two years ago.
Giant yellow duck victim of Taiwan quake
A giant yellow duck on display in Taiwan became a high-profile victim of Thursday's earthquake after it deflated before exploding during an attempt to reinflate it.