from which a country has benefited.**
Sun Tzu
LARGEST QUAKES -
This morning -
5.2 NEW BRITAIN REGION, P.N.G.
5.3 EASTERN NEW GUINEA REG., P.N.G.
Yesterday -
6/9/11 -
5.4 KERMADEC ISLANDS, NEW ZEALAND
5.0 NEAR EAST COAST OF HONSHU, JAPAN
5.4 NEAR EAST COAST OF HONSHU, JAPAN
5.2 OFF EAST COAST OF HONSHU, JAPAN
TROPICAL STORMS -
-TROPICAL STORM 05W (SARIKA) was LOCATED APPROXIMATELY 280 NM SOUTHEAST OF HONG KONG, CHINA.
-A cyclone formation alert has been issued in the Arabian Sea.
-Hurricane Adrian, the first of the 2011 Pacific season, became a Category 4 storm on Thursday as it moved farther out to sea to the northwest, away from Mexico's coastline.
Six dead as storm exits Philippines - Six people were killed and 27 fishermen were missing at sea as Tropical Storm Sarika headed out of Philippine waters, after causing chest-high flooding. Many communities are still flooded. Four people drowned in the major southern island of Mindanao earlier this week.
Coastal red alert for cyclone in Arabian Sea - The Pakistan Meteorological Department has warned that a low air pressure 600-kilometre away from Karachi in the Arabian Sea is building up into a cyclone which is only now 160 kilometer away from the coastline and could hit the coastal areas this evening, causing heavy rains in the coastal areas. The next 24 hours are very crucial. Emergency has been declared in City government and all concerned organisations as a preventive measure ahead of forecast of heavy rains and tropical cyclone in Karachi. Leaves of all officers and staff were cancelled and they have been directed to remain present on their duties. An emergency control and information center has been set up in the DCO Camp office to start relief work without delay in any emergency situation. All necessary arrangements were made for shifting of affectees to safe places especially those residing in islands and on coastal belt.
Authorities were forcefully migrating a large number of people who were living around the coastal areas to safer places after the PMD warned tropical hurricane will hit coastal areas. Emergency relief camps have been established with all necessities of life including food and medicines. Makeshift relief camps have been set up in different areas to provide shelter to residents of coastal areas and islands.
Sindh's Health Minister has imposed emergency in the Costal Districts of Sindh, following the threats of cyclone emerging in the Arabian Sea. Emergency Response Plan Cell has been activated in EDO Health Offices especially in Karachi, Badin and Thatta. The department has put all health facilities on red alert.
The PMD has advised fishermen out in the open sea to come back as waves of 4 to 6 feet of height might be generated by the storm. The police in Karachi have warned people not to swim in the water. Heavy rains are also expected in coastal areas of Balochistan and Sindh. Another report said that 500 fishermen and 50 boats are missing. People in Badin alleged that the missing fishermen had no information about the cyclone.
EXTREME HEAT & DROUGHT / WILDFIRES / CLIMATE CHANGE -
Parts of England officially facing drought conditions - Parts of England are officially in a drought following the dry spring. Areas of East Anglia are in drought, with parts of the south-west and south-east of England, the Midlands and Wales in a "near-drought" state. In the drought-affected areas, Anglian Water and Cambridge Water say there is no threat to public water supplies.
But there may be restrictions if rainfall stays low. Both the south-east and central-southern regions of England have had their DRIEST SPRING ON RECORD. Across England and Wales as a whole it has been THE DRIEST SPRING SINCE 1990. Low levels of water are causing considerable problems for farmers, with crop yields being hit. In parts of the Fens, some farmers and growers have volunteered to irrigate only at night to reduce evaporation, and co-operatives have formed to share limited amounts of water available.
ARIZONA - Crews battling one of the worst wildfires in Arizona could get their biggest break yet today when the high winds driving the flames are expected to weaken.
HEALTH THREATS -
Protection Against Radiation - In the midst of ongoing concerns about radiation exposure from the Fukushima nuclear power plant in Japan, scientists are reporting that a substance similar to resveratrol - an antioxidant found in red wine, grapes and nuts - could protect against radiation sickness. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration is currently evaluating a drug for its ability to protect against radiation sickness, but it is difficult to make in large amounts, and the drug has side-effects that prevent its use for cancer patients. To overcome these disadvantages, the researchers studied whether resveratrol - a natural and healthful antioxidant found in many foods - could protect against radiation injuries. They found that resveratrol protected cells in flasks but did not protect mice (stand-ins for humans in the laboratory) from radiation damage. However, the similar natural product called acetyl resveratrol did protect the irradiated mice. It also can be produced easily in large quantities and given orally. The authors caution that it has not yet been determined whether acetyl resveratrol is effective when orally administered. A previous study showed that it needed to be administered BEFORE radiation exposure.
