A reactor at the quake-stricken Fukushima nuclear plant in northern Japan is hit by a fresh fire amid an increased health scare.

Thirteen Somalis and a Yemeni plead not guilty to charges over the hijacking of a yacht near Oman that ended with the deaths of four US sailors.

At least two people are killed and as many as 200 injured in clashes between anti-government demonstrators and security forces in Bahrain.

Four people are shot dead by gunmen in Ivory Coast's main city, Abidjan, as violence continues to spread following disputed elections.

The cholera epidemic affecting Haiti looks set to be far worse than officials had thought, experts fear.

Colombia's armed forces kill a Farc rebel leader, Oliver Solarte, who they say was the group's main contact with Mexico's drug cartels.

A spike in radiation levels at Japan's stricken Fukushima nuclear plant forces workers to suspend their operations, a government spokesman says.

Japanese stocks are rising on Wednesday as concerns over the long- term impact of Friday's earthquake and tsunami on Japan's economy ease.