A 5.8 magnitude earthquake has rocked the East coast of the United States, with transport connections across the region disrupted. The epicentre of the quake was registered was just a few miles from the two-reactor North Anna nuclear power plant in Mineral, Virginia, 80 miles south-west of Washington.

A tsunami alert for the coastal region of north-eastern Japan has been lifted following an earthquake of magnitude of 7.1. Workers at the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear plant, devastated in last month’s quake and tsunami, were evacuated. But officials at the plant said there was no detectable effect there or at other nuclear plants in the region.

The British government is chartering planes to fly Britons who want to leave Tokyo back to the UK. The FCO has advised its nationals in Tokyo and in north eastern Japan to consider leaving due to radiation fears after explosions at a nuclear power station in Fukushima Daiichi.

Cuba’s Fidel Castro has issued a statement about the Japanese earthquake.

Japan Airlines is offering to fly rescue workers free of charge to help relief efforts following Friday’s devastating earthquake and tsunami. The move came as a third explosion occurred at the Fukushima nuclear plant about 250km north-east of Tokyo on Tuesday, which caused radiation levels to rise in the surrounding area.

The ongoing process of recovery on the Caribbean island of Haiti has been given a boost following the unveiling of plans for a new hotel. Sponsored by Argentine entrepreneur Rolando Gonzalez-Bunster, the project was praised by former US president Bill Clinton who said a hotel network was “crucial” to the rebuilding process.