41.   -- A moderate earthquake hit wide areas of central and western Japan shortly after midnight Thursday, but no damage was reported.

42.   A bigger landslide hit the area last week, killing seven villagers and injuring four.

43.   A hailstorm and lightning also hit the area, a local official said.

44.   A pair of moderate earthquakes hit an area northeast of Tokyo Sunday, but there were no reports of injuries or damage.

45.   A strong earthquake late Thursday hit an area northwest of the Croatian port city of Dubrovnik on the Adriatic coast, the Serbian Seismological Institute reported.

46.   A strong quake shook western Turkey on Wednesday, hitting an area devastated by a massive quake last year.

47.   Abdel-Khaliq said at least two residential areas were hit and that several people were killed and others wounded.

48.   According to provincial officials, a water shortage has already hit some areas in the Central region.

49.   After a week of perfect weather that produced ideal practice conditions, a blinding snowstorm hit the area less than two hours before the start of competition.

50.   Aid workers and residents have disputed the official figures, saying hundreds of people were swept away when a tidal wave hit the area.