Syrian police launched a relentless assault on a neighbourhood sheltering anti-government protesters, fatally shooting at least 15 in a pre-dawn operation, witnesses said.

The question of exactly who's in charge of the Libyan operation has divided the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation (NATO).

Serious fractures emerged in the international community yesterday over military intervention in Libya.

A best-case scenario in Libya would see the quick dissolution of Gaddafi's forces.

Sarkozy and Cameron lead drive for UN-backed intervention in Libya as Gaddafi's tanks roll

For a brief, happy period on Saturday, it seemed the United Nations Security Council resolution adopted in New York the previous day had stopped Muammar Gaddafi in his tracks.

Bombing continued on Libya's eastern front line, just over two hours after the regime in Tripoli had officially declared a ceasefire after the UN resolution authorising military action in Libya.

Libyan dictator Muammar Gaddafi has threatened retaliatory attacks against passenger aircraft in the Mediterranean if foreign countries made air strikes against his country.

A third explosion in four days has rocked the earthquake-damaged Fukushima Dai-ichi nuclear plant in Japan. Today's blast at Dai-ichi Unit 2 follows two hydrogen explosions at the plant - at Unit 1 and Unit 3...

Negotiations are continuing for the release of the sister of an Auckland man and her partner who were taken hostage by Somali pirates, with a friend of the couple hopeful a resolution will be reached soon.

Sick and disabled NZers are taking legal action against the Australian Government over what they call a "discriminatory" law denying them medical care and other state support.