EARTHQUAKE

Following similar reports from the Oklahoma Geological Survey and the British Geological Survey, Ohio officials are investigating the possibility that wastewater injection wells associated with oil and gas drilling may have set off a series of seismic events in 2011.

Ohio has experienced a total of 11 earthquakes in the last year, the most recent on Dec. 31 coming in at a 4.0 on the Richter scale.

Buildings reportedly swayed from the jolt in Tokyo, but the Daily Mail reported that the quake did not disrupt the final of the Emperor's Cup football tournament being played at the National Stadium.

A strong earthquake with a magnitude of 6.8 shook Japan off the country's coast on Sunday, the first day of the new year, according to the U.S. Geological Survey. The USGS said the earthquake struck 495 kilometers (307 miles) south-southwest of Tokyo.

A magnitude-6.8 earthquake shook eastern and northeastern Japan on Sunday. With a depth of nearly 217 miles, its epicenter was southwest of the country's Izu islands, and it occurred at about 2:28 p.m. local time (5:28 GMT), the U.S. Geological Survey reported.

A strong earthquake with a magnitude of 6.8 jolted eastern and northeastern Japan on Sunday, according to the U.S. Geolegical Survey. However, there were no immediate reports of injuries or damages, and no tsunami warning was issued.

A magnitude-4.0 earthquake shook eastern Ohio at 3:05 p.m. on Saturday, the U.S. Geological Survey reported. The recent quake was the 11th during the last eight months in Mahoning County.

Celebrities may resist the urge to send a stream of consciousness on Twitter in the new year, after famous people tweeted their way into trouble on everything from boxer briefs to breast-feeding in 2011.

Stocks were nearly unchanged on Friday, the last trading day of a turbulent year, but the S&P 500 looked set to end with a slight gain.

Japan's leading share average ended higher on Friday but marked a 17 percent loss for 2011, a tumultuous year in which massive natural disasters triggered a nuclear crisis and Europe's debt turmoil drained volumes, leaving investors uncertain of a turnaround next year.

For the first time, two German auto manufacturers, BMW and Mercedes-Benz are competing head on for the coveted title of the No.1 selling luxury car in the United States.

Asian stocks nudged higher and the euro clung to overnight gains Friday, the last trading day of 2011, as positive data from the United States helped allay concerns on the global economy, while year-end short covering lifted crude prices.

Couture designer Paul Smith has reported an increase in pre-tax profits of 31 percent despite the economic downturn. As per the accounts filed in the Company House, the pre-tax profits rose from £20.9 million a year previously to a current £27.4 million.

Japan's benchmark Nikkei slipped on Thursday ahead of an Italian debt sale that could prove challenging in thin volumes, while the euro's tumble against the yen to a 10-year low pressured exporters. Meanwhile, most other Southeast Asian bourses edged higher on Thursday, helped by late bargain-hunting in big caps and dividend-yielding stocks

A large part of Jesse Toprak's job as the chief automotive industry analyst for TrueCar.com is to advise consumers on which cars to target -- and the clunkers to avoid. In 2011, though, something changed within the United States automotive industry. There are very few, if any, clunkers.

China launched Beidou on Tuesday, which is the country's response to the U.S. GPS platform. The satellite navigation system will help China become more independent, in addition to providing the country with location-based needs.

Cuban immigration officials eventually send illegal Haiti migrants back to their home country.

A girl who was swept away during the 2004 Indonesian tsunami has been found.

A series of strong earthquakes hit the New Zealand city of Christchurch on Friday causing damage and disruption.

Japan has cut its forecast regrading economic growth for 2012 as a cumulative effect of a rising yen, natural disasters and the eurozone debt crisis.

A series of strong earthquakes hit the New Zealand city of Christchurch Friday, sending goods toppling from shelves, causing rockfalls and driving terrified residents from buildings 10 months after a quake killed almost 200 people in the city.