A strong earthquake struck off the Pacific island nation of Tonga on early Friday afternoon, seismologists said, but there were no immediate reports of damage or casualties.

The 6.4-magnitude earthquake at 12.07 p.m. local time (2300 GMT Thursday) was centered about 50 kilometers (31 miles) northeast of Niuafo'ou, a volcanic rim island with a population of around 600 people. It struck about 9.8 kilometers (6.1 miles) deep, making it a shallow earthquake, according to the United States Geological Survey (USGS).
There were no immediate reports of damage or casualties, but the USGS estimated that people on Niuafo'ou may have felt moderate shaking which could potentially result in light damage. Some 55,000 people on islands farther away may have felt light shaking.
As earthquakes below magnitude 7 do usually not generate tsunamis, no tsunami warning was issued by the Pacific Tsunami Warning Center.
Tonga is on the so-called 'Pacific Ring of Fire', an arc of fault lines circling the Pacific Basin that is prone to frequent and large earthquakes. Volcanic eruptions also occur frequently in the region, which is one of the most geologically active parts in the world.
Tonga, with a population of around 104,000 people, is made up of 169 islands sprinkled over the Pacific Ocean about one-third of the way from New Zealand to Hawaii. Only thirty-nine of the islands are inhabited.
On September 29, 2009, an 8.1-magnitude earthquake struck 185 kilometers (115 miles) east-northeast of Hihifo on Tonga, unleashing giant tsunamis that killed nearly 200 people and injured hundreds more on Tonga, American Samoa, Samoa, and other nearby islands.

About a billion people worldwide were undernourished in 2010, primarily due to poverty and 'failure' of global food system, says the 'World Disasters Report 2011' released by the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) on Thursday in New Delhi.

'World Disasters Report 2011' highlights the alarming levels of malnutrition in Asia, resulting to possible instability in many countries. The report also mentions that while 15% of world's proportion sleeps hungry every night, 30% of all food crops get wasted annually.The report also mentions that the United States of America has the highest prevalence of obesity- 26.7 per cent of the adult population....

Deceased pop king Michael Jackson's daughter Paris sleeps with one of her dad's jackets on her pillow, as she never wants the smell of her dad to go away.

Michael's mother Katherine, who is also the guardian for the late singer's three kids has revealed that Paris insisted on one clothing item worn by her dad as she does not want to let go off his scent to ever.

"She took a pillow and one of his jackets, and said, 'I don't want a jacket that's been cleaned. I want something with his scent on it.' She put the jacket over the pillow and she breathes it. It's still there," Contactmusic quoted the late pop legend's mother as saying.

"I don't ever want it cleaned. He's worn it and it smells of him and I don't ever want the smell to go away," Katherine quoted Paris as saying.

Katherine believes that Michael's kids would turn out to be "just like him", especially Paris who wants her wall filled up with her dad's pictures.

Jamey Rodemeyer, a 14-year-old boy from Williamsville, NY, took his life Sunday after what his parents claim was years of bullying because of struggles with his sexuality.

His parents, Tracy and Tim Rodemeyer, say that Jamey faced bullies for years, though things intensified in middle school, according to NBC 2. Jamey recently became a freshman at Williamsville North High School.

In the wake of their loss, the Rodemeyers hope to carry on a message of anti-bullying and acceptance. "To the kids who are bullying they have to realize that words are very powerful and what you think is just fun and games isn't to some people, and you are destroying a lot of lives," Jamey's father told WIVB.

Tracy Rodemeyer misses her son, but hopes the loss can still be used to teach a message of tolerance. "It took him away from our family way too early and we're just convinced that he had a purpose on this planet and it was to touch as many people as he could," she told NBC 2.

According to NBC, the Rodemeyers had gone to the school about the problem in the past. Jamey even sought counseling to learn to deal with the problem, but it seems it wasn't enough.

While they say their son seemed happy in the days leading up to the tragedy, his "It Gets Better" YouTube posting from May includes details about how intense the bullying was.

Through it all, Jamey remained outwardly optimistic. “That's all you have to do. Just love yourself and you're set. And I promise you, it'll get better,” he said in the video, which you can see in full below.

Gay bullying has been gaining increasing attention in the media, as a number of tragedies has brought the issue into the spotlight. Earlier this month the California State Senate passed "Seth's Law" a measure designed to curb anti-gay bullying in schools.

Although we wish this was a movie still from a horror film, it's actually a bald Ashton Kutcher from his high school days. In the vintage shot from Snakkle, a high school junior Kutcher shows off his muscles and a killer farmer's tan. It's hard to believe that this class clown has gone from skinhead to "Two and a Half Men" star -- but we have a feeling his ghoulish but good-looking ways had something to do with it.

Check out more "before they were stars" shots of the "Two and a Half Men" cast by clicking over to Snakkle.

R and B star Beyonce Knowles admits that there is ''nothing more empowering'' than her pregnancy, and it has made her stronger as a woman.

Beyonce, 30, is expecting her first child with husband, rapper Jay-Z.

"It is the most powerful creation for you to be able to have life growing inside of you. There is no bigger gift, nothing more empowering," Contactmusic quoted her as saying.

"You can have goals and dreams and you can grow and be strong and have your strong opinions, and all of these things bring that out in you," she added.

The former Destiny's Child member has also admitted feeling more confident and stronger in presence of her mother, Tina and sister, Solange, who according to her are the best examples of a mother and sister, and hopes that she has the same incredible bond with her child that she shares with her mother and sister.

She also stated that despite her busy work schedule she will devote her time to her child and they will be inseparable.

John Travolta has revealed that he recently bought a Bombardier Challenger 601 jet, which he will use to fly his family around the globe.

Travolta, 57, who is the newly announced Bombardier brand ambassador, said that his family loves to travel and whenever he sets out, they tag along.

"My family fortunately loves travelling," People magazine quoted him as saying.

"Whenever I say, 'I have to go to Australia or Paris,' they say, 'When are we going? I'm there'," he revealed.

The Challenger is the latest - and largest - in a line of aircrafts purchased by Travolta, who started taking lessons when he was just 15 years old. He had his license by 23.

A young British singer has become a YouTube sensation and she is even more popular than bands Coldplay and Radiohead.

Kate McGill's song videos have been viewed a staggering 22 million times, and she has 130,000 followers who have subscribed to her uploads, more than the two hit British rock bands.

Her music has caused such a stir all over the world that she has now recorded an album, working with songwriter Ted Bruner, who has had hits with pop stars Katy Perry, 26, and Miley Cyrus, 18.

"I don't think it will ever sink in how insane it's all been. Now I have a crazy following all over the world. Originally I had no intention of becoming a singer, I wanted to be a professional dancer," the Daily Star quoted McGill, 22, from Plymouth, Devon, as saying.

"I always enjoyed singing but I never thought myself to be good enough," she stated.

The singer-songwriter, who plays the guitar and piano, has uploaded more than 100 videos onto YouTube, and the video of her debut single, 'Replaced', has already been viewed more than 81,000 times.

She has more than 43,000 Facebook fans, and over 15,000 Twitter followers, and she said that the support she was getting was one of the reasons she has continued to upload her videos.

"Without the online thing I would be nowhere. I think the online world is such a big part of this generation and it can only grow," she added.

Corruption crusader Anna Hazare on Friday said Union Home Minister P Chidambaram would have been in jail in the 2G scam had there been a Jan Lokpal Bill.

"He would have been behind the bars if there were a Jan Lokpal Bill," said Anna from his native Ralegan Siddhi village in Maharashtra amid an Opposition clamour for resignation of Chidambaram in the 2G scam.

While the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on Friday alleged that the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) was stonewalling the probe against Union Home Minister P Chidambaram on the 2G scam despite evidence, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh said he fully backed Chidambaram on the 2G issue.

The latest controversy was over the publication of a controversial note of the finance ministry that said that Chidambaram could have prevented the scam if he had acted as the then finance minister in 2008 to stop former telecom minister A Raja from issuing 2G licences at throwaway prices.

Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on Thursday said there was no discord in the union cabinet over the 2G controversy after Chidambaram's name was dragged into the turmoil following the publication of the adverse note okayed by Union Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee.

Michaele Salahi enjoyed a makeout session with her new boyfriend, Journey guitarist Neal Schon, backstage at his concert Wednesday night, and Rumor Fix has exclusive photos.

Michaele, former White House party crasher and Housewife of DC, ran off with Neal last week. Her husband, Tareq, initially reported that she had been kidnapped. Friday he filed for divorce.