Ebola's economic toll could reach US$32.6 billion ($41.12 billion) by year's end if the disease ravaging Guinea, Liberia and Sierra Leone spreads across West Africa, says the World Bank.

A newly discovered active fault line along Wellington's harbour could result in a large quake for the city, scientists say.

MEXICO CITY (AP) The U.S. Geological Survey says a 6.2-magnitude earthquake has hit the Sea of Cortez between the southern tip of the Baja California Peninsula and mainland Mexico.

UNITED NATIONS (AP) A United Nations committee has approved $49 million in funding for the global body's unprecedented emergency mission to combat Ebola.

HAGATNA, Guam (AP) There was little damage on U.S. flagged islands in the Marianas after Typhoon Vongfong came through the area earlier this week.

WARSAW, Poland (AP) Polish officials are searching for a miner who has been missing underground following a methane explosion.

A strong quake has shaken the lower east coast of the North Island this morning.

A magnitude 5.5 earthquake struck the lower North Island around 2.30am this morning.

The world's leading expert on the poisoning of the oceans has described how he was "utterly shocked" by the true amount of plastic floating on the sea, warning that it potentially posed a bigger th

Monarch butterflies are dying off fast, with 90 per cent gone in the last 20 years, and they urgently need endangered species protection, a coalition of environmental and health groups said.