31.   Floods, caused by torrential rain, also hit the capital late Friday, notably the south and central districts of the city.

32.   A senior French government official called on the population to stay in their homes after dark following anti-nuclear riots that hit the capital Papeete for the second day Thursday.

33.   Beijing was shrouded in a thick layer of yellow dust Wednesday as the most intense sandstorm to hit the capital this year bathed it in a ghostly light.

34.   On Saturday, newspapers published simulations of what would happen in Tokyo if a quake similar to the Kobe temblor hit the capital.

35.   Prime Minister Tomiichi Murayama ordered increased security in Tokyo as public fears mounted that a catastrophe predicted by the sect would hit the capital.

36.   Prime Minister Tomiichi Murayama ordered increased security in Tokyo on Friday as public fears mounted that a catastrophe predicted by the Aum Supreme Truth sect would hit the capital.

37.   Rioting and looting hit the capital of the French territory in South America early last month, compelling Paris to dispatch police reinforcements.

38.   Snow falls are not unusual in Lebanon, which has several skiing resorts, but over the past few days they hit the capital with a rare intensity.

39.   The capital Dhaka was hit by a thunder storm on Saturday, flooding streets and causing traffic jams.

40.   The Bangladeshi capital Dhaka was hit by torrential monsoon rains Tuesday with thunder bolts jolting buildings, streets flooded and commuters stranded.