JAPAN - The powerful earthquake that unleashed a devastating tsunami Friday appears to have moved the main island of Japan by 8 feet (2.4 meters) and shifted the Earth on its axis. "At this point, we know that one GPS station moved (8 feet), and we have seen a map from GSI (Geospatial Information Authority) in Japan showing the pattern of shift over a large area is consistent with about that much shift of the land mass," said Kenneth Hudnut, a geophysicist with the US Geological Survey (USGS).
UK - The first baby with three biological parents could be conceived next year after the Government announced a major review of Britain's fertility laws. The move would allow doctors to use a revolutionary IVF technique that prevents incurable, deadly genetic illnesses being passed down from mothers to their children.
LOS ANGELES, USA - The millions of sardines that were found floating dead in a Southern California marina this week tested positive for a powerful neurotoxin, researchers said Friday. High levels of domoic acid were found in the sardines, which may have distressed them off the Los Angeles coastline and caused them to swim into the Redondo Beach marina, University of Southern California biologist David Caron wrote in a summary of his laboratory's findings.
USA - Harbors and marinas in California and Oregon bore the brunt of the damage, estimated by authorities to be in the millions of dollars. Boats crashed into each other, some vessels were pulled out to sea and docks were ripped out. Rescue crews searched for a man who was swept out to sea while taking pictures.
JAPAN - Following are main developments after an 8.9 magnitude earthquake that struck northeast Japan Friday and set off a tsunami.
JAPAN - A massive explosion has struck a Japanese nuclear power plant after Friday's devastating earthquake. A huge pall of smoke was seen coming from the plant at Fukushima and several workers were injured. Japanese officials fear a meltdown at one of the plant's reactors after radioactive material was detected outside it.
JAKARTA, INDONESIA - One of Indonesia's most active volcanos has erupted, sending lava and searing gas clouds tumbling down its slopes. Volcanology official Agus Budianto said Friday that authorities were still trying to evacuate residents living along the slopes of Mount Karangetang.
RIYADH, SAUDI ARABIA - Hundreds of police deployed in the Saudi capital Friday and prevented protests calling for democratic reforms inspired by the wave of unrest sweeping the Arab world. Police blocked roads and set up random checkpoints in Riyadh, searching residents and vehicles around a central mosque as large numbers of people gathered for Friday prayers.
HAWAII - A 4.5 magnitude earthquake strikes Hawaii ahead of waves. Hawaii was hit this morning by a tsunami as waves were unleashed by the enormous earthquake that struck off the coast of Japan. The first waves hit the island of Kauai at around 3.15am local time as the repercussions of the earthquake ripped through the ocean.
EUROPE - The future architecture of Europe's common currency is starting to take shape. On Friday, leaders of the 17 euro-zone countries are meeting in Brussels to hammer out details of a plan to ensure the stability of the beleaguered euro. German Chancellor Angela Merkel remains under tremendous domestic political pressure to remain tough, but concessions are expected.
JAPAN - The most powerful earthquake to hit Japan since records began has hit the country's north-east and triggered a devastating tsunami. Japanese TV showed cars, ships and buildings swept away by a vast wall of water after the 8.9 magnitude quake.
JAPAN - A massive 8.8 magnitude quake hit the northeast coast of Japan on Friday, shaking buildings in the capital Tokyo, causing "many injuries," at least one fire and triggering a four-metre (13-ft) tsunami, NHK television and witnesses reported. There was also a warning of a 10-metre tsunami following the quake, Japan's biggest in 7 years.
SAUDI ARABIA - Saudi police opened fire Thursday to disperse a protest in the mainly Shiite east, leaving at least one man injured, as the government struggled to prevent a wave of unrest sweeping the Arab world from reaching the kingdom.
SPAIN - Moody's downgraded Spain's sovereign debt rating by one notch on Thursday and warned of further cuts to come as it expects bank restructuring will cost more than twice what the government expects. "Moody's believes there is a meaningful risk that the eventual cost of the recapitalisation effort could considerably exceed the government's current projections," the ratings agency said in a statement.
VATICAN CITY - Pope Benedict XVI rejects the idea of Jesus as a political revolutionary and insists that violent revolution must never be carried out in God's name in a new book being released Thursday amid great fanfare at the start of Lent.