About 170,000 people have been evacuated from the area around a quake-damaged nuclear plant in north-east Japan that was hit by an explosion, the UN atomic watchdog says.

Niger holds a peaceful presidential election a year after a military coup, with the current junta calling it an example for the rest of Africa.

Israel approves the construction of hundreds of homes for Jewish settlers in the West Bank, after the murder of five members of a settler family.

Tens of thousands of people protest in Germany against the government's plans to extend the life of its nuclear reactors.

US oil giant Chevron launches a legal appeal against an Ecuadorean court fine of $8.6bn (£5.3bn) for polluting much of the country's Amazon region.

Forces loyal to Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi reportedly seize control of the eastern town of Brega as they continue their advance on rebel strongholds.

Japan is experiencing its greatest hardships since World War II, PM Naoto Kan says, in the aftermath of the earthquake and tsunami and a growing crisis at a nuclear plant.

The Japanese government warns that the continued turmoil from Friday's earthquake and tsunami will lead to electricity shortages.