Bangkok - The 2004 tsunami that devastated northern Indonesia and Thailand's Andaman coast had at least one likely precedent about 600 years ago, Nature Magazine said Wednesday.

Two groups of scientists have found sedimentary evidence for possible predecessors to the 2004 catastrophe on Phra Thong Island, Thailand and in Aceh, Indonesia, suggesting that a similar-sized tsunami occurred in 1400 AD, predating any historical records.

The December 26, 2004 tsunami, triggered by a 9.2 magnitude earthquake off the coast of Sumatra, took the region by surprise, leaving an estimated 226,000 people dead and missing from 11 countries rimming the Indian Ocean.

Washington, October 29: An international team of researchers claims that it has unearthed evidence for the movement of Asian forms of avian influenza to Alaska by northern pintail ducks.

Scientists with the U. S. Geological Survey (USGS) joined forces with researchers at the U. S. Fish and Wildlife Service in Alaska and the University of Tokyo to study the role of migratory birds in the transfer of avian influenza viruses between Asia and North America.

Hong Kong  - Asia markets rebounded as investors hunted for bargains on Tuesday, with Hong Kong making the greatest recovery of more than 14 per cent just a day after seeing their worst one-day fall for 11 years.

The blue-chip Hang Seng Index climbed 1,580.45 points, or 14.35 per cent, to close the day at 12,596.29 points, recovering all its losses from Monday in one of its biggest one-day rallies ever.

Turnover was 66 billion Hong Kong dollars (8.51 billion US dollars) and the scale of the recovery forced the stock market to issue a statement saying the "unusual" activity appeared legitimate.

Tokyo  - Asian markets plummeted to new lows Monday, with trading halted at several stock exchanges, as investors across the region stepped up panic-selling on concerns that tumbling share values would drag economies into recession.

Stocks in Tokyo nosedived, as the benchmark Nikkei 225 tumbled 486.18 points, or 6.36 per cent, to close at 7,162.9, the lowest level in 26 years. The market crisis has shaved off half the value off the Nikkei this year.

The broader Topix index of all first-section issues also lost 59.65 points, or 7.4 per cent, to 746.46.

The Bank of Japan injected 600 billion yen (6.37 billion dollars) into the money markets Monday to ease a credit crunch as stocks prices plunged.

Paris - French shares were down sharply in early trading on Monday following panic sell-offs on several Asian markets overnight.

At mid-morning, the CAC 40 index had lost 5.45 per cent, to 3,019.87, with 39 of its 40 listed stocks on the down side.

The bank Societe Generale was the biggest loser, off by 10.73 per cent, to 40.17 euros, while car maker Renault, which is drastically cutting back production, lost 7.88 per cent, to 20.45 euros.

Tokyo - Asian markets plummeted to new lows Monday, with Japan's key Nikkei index leading the plunge, as investors across the region stepped up panic-selling on concerns that tumbling share values would drag economies into recession.

Stocks in Tokyo nosedived, as the benchmark Nikkei 225 tumbled 486.18 points, or 6.36 per cent, to close at 7,162.9, the lowest level in 26 years. The market crisis has shaved off half the value off the Nikkei this year.

The broader Topix index of all first-section issues also lost 59.65 points, or 7.4 per cent, to 746.46.

The Bank of Japan injected 600 billion yen (6.37 billion dollars) into the money markets Monday to ease a credit crunch as stocks prices plunged.