The Japanese government has ordered the operator of the nuclear plant damaged by last month's quake and tsunami to pay compensation to affected families.

• April 15, 2011

China on Thursday joined Russia in vaguely backing India's quest for a permanent Security Council seat but there was no promise that Beijing would vote for New Delhi's inclusion on UN high table.

• April 15, 2011

Foreign ministers from Nato countries are meeting in Berlin, amid differences among members over the air campaign to protect civilians in Libya.

• April 14, 2011

Parliament has given the green light for police to use tear gas as long as they take certain precautions, a move that comes following strong criticism of officers’ use of the substance at recent protests.

• April 13, 2011

Egypt's prosecutor general has ordered the detention of former President Hosni Mubarak, ahead of an investigation into corruption and abuse allegations.

• April 13, 2011

The war in Afghanistan is in danger of becoming a forgotten conflict because of events in Libya and across the Middle East, David Miliband has warned.

• April 13, 2011

Belarus on Tuesday sought to identify the perpetrators behind the bombing on the Minsk metro that killed 12 and wounded 150, the first major apparent act of terror in its post-Soviet history.

• April 12, 2011

Japanese authorities have raised the severity rating of their nuclear crisis to the highest level, seven.

• April 12, 2011