Despite the ongoing crisis in Japan the yen briefly passes its previous US dollar high of April 1995.

The International Committee of the Red Cross pulls out of the Libyan rebel stronghold of Benghazi fearing an imminent attack.

UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon, on a visit to Guatemala, promises to support Central America in its fight against insecurity and violence.

The US military lacks people and resources to defend adequately against concerted cyber attacks, the head of the Pentagon's cyber command says.

Prince William begins a tour of disaster-stricken areas of New Zealand and Australia, beginning with a visit to the quake-hit city of Christchurch.

The US says the UN should consider more than just a no-fly zone over Libya, amid Security Council division on a draft resolution.

Japan is stepping up efforts to cool reactors at the tsunami-hit Fukushima Daiichi nuclear plant, amid increasing US alarm at radiation leaks.

Bahrain's authorities arrest at least five key opposition figures, a day after a crackdown on anti-government protesters, reports say.