The angry earth

Ashes test for aircraft as Russian volcano erupts

The Karymsky volcano, erupting on Kamchatka Peninsula, in the Russian far east, spewed columns of ash and gas to a height of over 4km, causing aircraft to avoid the area. Karymsky, which reaches 1,536m, is one of the most active volcanoes on Kamchatka.

A series of tornadoes in the south and mid-western US killed six people, injured several others and caused power failures for thousands in the region.

Three residents of the small town of Cincinnati in Arkansas were killed by a twister.

The New Zealand Earthquake Commission received more than 1,500 claims following Christchurch's St Stephen's Day aftershocks. Thirty-seven homes were reported as no longer being weatherproof and 10 as being uninhabitable.

The latest damage brings the total number of claims following September's initial earthquake to more than 161,000.

An Englishman died after being caught in an avalanche while skiing in France. David Robinson (67) from Southampton, was in Val d'Isère with his wife, Christine Hughes, when the avalanche struck. Hughes managed to activate a safety airbag and was dug out by the couple's ski guide, but Robinson died in hospital.

A snowmobiler was killed in an avalanche in Western Canada, the third to die on such vehicles last week. Mike Buckles was riding a trail north of Hope when an avalanche struck.?He was hit by the avalanche, which swept him down the mountain and buried him.

Go figure

1.3% - Percentage increase in the minimum wage in the supposedly financially beleagured Spain

4,000 - Violent deaths in Iraq in 2010, the lowest annual total since the conflict began, and 15% down on 2009

87% - approval rating of Brazilian president Lula da Silva, who retired from office yesterday

On this day in 1860

Vulcan, the planet that never was, discovered 150 years ago

NINETEENTH century astronomers were puzzled by some eccentric patterns in Mercury's orbit. In 1842, the director of the Paris Observatory, François Arago, suggested that the celebrated mathematician Urbain Jean Joseph Le Verrier study the subject in the context of Sir Isaac Newton's laws of motion and gravitation.

Le Verrier published his provisional theory on the subject, which would be tested during a transit of Mercury across the face of the sun in 1843. As it turned out, there was not a close match between his theory and the observations.

In 1859, and having discovered the planet Neptune, he returned to the subject and published a study of Mercury's motion, suggesting that the mystery could be explained by the presence of a small planet inside the orbit of Mercury, and he proposed the name 'Vulcan' for this object. In Roman mythology, Vulcan was the god of fire.

He died in 1877, still convinced he had discovered another planet. Einstein's theory of general relativity later explained the anomalies and Vulcan is now best known as the home planet of Spock, a character in the 1960s' TV series Star Trek. Vulcan also appears as a colony of earth in the BBC series Doctor Who.

Le Verrier announced the discovery of Vulcan to a meeting of the Académie des Sciences in Paris 150 years ago, on this day.

The week in laughs

Christians were deeply offended by the BBC show Top Gear where it was suggested that the new Stig was born in Israel.

The Stig is a fictional character dressed in white, who no one has ever seen, and whose entire history is nothing more than a load of ridiculous, made-up stories. Whereas Jesus...

(Sickipedia)

President Obama signed into law the repeal of 'Don't Ask, Don't Tell'. What does it say about us that we think gay men can handle armed combat, but can't handle marriage?

(Jay Leno)

Hugh Hefner (84) is getting married to his Playmate girlfriend Crystal Harris (24). Actually, there's some debate about her age. USA Today says she's 23. There's also debate about Hefner's age. We're not sure if it's Bronze or Stone.

(Laughs Today)

News hound - What it says in the international press

Illawarra Mercury - Men died trying to save wives on sandbar

The two Indian men who drowned near Penguin Island were trying to save their wives by holding them up to keep their heads above the treacherous surf when they died. "They tried to save their wives by pushing them up and they drowned," said a witness.

Las Vegas Sun - $25,000 chips to go in bid to beat thieves

Las Vegas casino bosses are serving notice to the bandit who made off with $1.5m in chips from the Bellagio: try to redeem those worth $25,000 soon or they'll be worthless. The hotel is discontinuing its standard grey and red chip valued at $25,000 on 22 April.

North Devon Journal - '80s band reforms not 'just a shadow'

A COLLEGE lecturer from Barnstaple is back on tour with 1980s' rock legends Big Country. Tony Butler (53) used to play bass in the band, which became popular with songs such as Fields Of Fire. He said: "Dates have been arranged around the academic year."

Mail & Guardian - 'Sugar cane' serial killer found guilty

The sugar-cane serial killer was found guilty in Durban. Thozamile Taki was found guilty on all 26 charges relating to killing 13 women.

Their bodies were found in sugar-cane plantations in 2007. Taki lured the women by promising them jobs.

Checking out - The people we said goodbye to last week

Legendary Tipperary hurlers Jimmy Coffey, 101 and John Doyle, 80

Avi Cohen, 54, footballer with Liverpool and Israel; injuries from motorbike accident

Agathe von Trapp, 97, Austrian singer, member of Von Trapp family (The Sound of Music)

Kevin Boyle, 67, Newry-born civil rights activist, cancer

Teena Marie, 54, American Motown singer; cancer

Bernard Wilson, 64, US singer (Harold Melvin & Blue Notes); stroke

Bud Greenspan, 84, US Olympic film maker; Parkinson's disease

Bobby Farrell, 61, Aruba-born singer with pop group Boney M