The Obama administration pledged on Wednesday to increase its investment in Central America security to nearly $300 million this year to thwart the expanding activities of drugs cartels threatening to destabilize the entire region.

Chilean experts warned on Wednesday that a "cork" of lava could lead to another explosion at the Puyehue volcano, which has caused major flight disruptions from Argentina to Australia.

Japan issued a tsunami warning Thursday after a magnitude-6.7 earthquake struck in the northeast of the country, rattling the areas hardest hit by the March 11 quake and tsunami disasters.

The United Nations unanimously elected Ban Ki-moon to a second term as its leader with the major powers hailing his work in turbulent times.

The Chinese Communist Party said on Wednesday that it plans more inspections and supervision of officials as it battles corruption, a deep-rooted problem that has worsened and could threaten political stability.

India and Pakistan begin peace talks on Thursday, an important safety valve between two nuclear-armed countries which the United States hopes will help stabilize the region as it prepares to withdraw troops from Afghanistan.

Rockets have landed in rebel-held Misrata for the first time in several weeks, signaling that the coastal city remains within range of Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi's artillery fire.

The U.S. Senate has confirmed Leon Panetta as defense secretary by a unanimous vote of 100 to nothing. The current director of the Central Intelligence Agency, Panetta will shift to the Pentagon, replacing outgoing Defense Secretary Robert Gates.

Two bombs killed at least 25 people at a checkpoint outside a provincial Iraqi governor's house on Tuesday in the latest in a series of attacks against local government and security forces.

Nato has lost a helicopter drone involved in the Libyan campaign, a spokesman has said.