LA Times News

LA Times News

Fire reignites at Japan nuclear reactor

Posted: 15 Mar 2011 08:15 PM PDT

Japanese officials face another setback in their struggle to contain the Fukushima nuclear reactor crisis. Meanwhile, Japanese cope with food shortages and bitter cold.

Fresh setbacks, including another blaze at a crippled reactor, bedeviled Japanese authorities Wednesday as they struggled to contain the world's worst nuclear crisis in a quarter of a century, and survivors of the devastating earthquake and tsunami suffered through shortages, bitter cold and overnight snowfall.

Rare survivors in Japanese village that was mostly sucked out to sea

Posted: 15 Mar 2011 08:00 PM PDT

One woman was able to stay in her vehicle as it rode atop the waves in Minamisanriku. Two others made it to higher ground and clung to a tree with all their strength. Thousands of others apparently were not so lucky.

Looking back, Emiko Chiba has no idea how long her silver Suzuki rode the waves of a giant tsunami or even whether she had trouble breathing inside of it. What's clear is that she ranks among the very lucky in what may be Japan's most unfortunate town.

Egypt protesters find unity difficult to maintain

Posted: 15 Mar 2011 08:13 PM PDT

A crisis center helps the injured find doctors and the worried find the missing. The volunteers bonded quickly, but now find that they have different goals, a reflection of the splintering across Egypt.

The twentysomethings answering the phones and offering advice to Egyptians waking up in a new world couldn't settle on a name for themselves.

Rare survivors in Japanese village that was mostly sucked out to sea

Posted: 15 Mar 2011 06:11 PM PDT

One woman was able to stay in her vehicle as it rode atop the waves in Minamisanriku. Two others made it to higher ground and clung to a tree with all their strength. Thousands of others apparently were not so lucky.

Looking back, Emiko Chiba has no idea how long her silver Suzuki rode the waves of a giant tsunami or even whether she had trouble breathing inside of it. What's clear is that she ranks among the very lucky in what may be Japan's most unfortunate town.

Radiation exposure and the effects on human health

Posted: 15 Mar 2011 07:47 PM PDT

A look at what could happen to people who are exposed to radiation in the Japanese nuclear crisis.

As engineers have fought to avert a meltdown at the earthquake- and tsunami-crippled Fukushima No. 1 (Daiichi) power plant, nuclear authorities have reported that spikes of radiation have escaped from the facility at levels that can be dangerous to human health. Authorities have evacuated more than 170,000 people within 12 miles of the plant and have warned those within 20 miles to stay indoors and close off ventilation systems. They have also issued iodine tablets to those who have remained in the area and those at evacuation centers. At least 200 people have been exposed to radiation. Here's a look at the potential radiation exposures and effects on human health.

Fire erupts again at Fukushima Daiichi's No. 4 reactor; nuclear fuel rods damaged at other reactors

Posted: 15 Mar 2011 07:25 PM PDT

Fire breaks out for the second time at the No. 4 reactor of the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear complex. Meanwhile, a report says about 70% of the nuclear fuel rods at the No. 1 reactor have been damaged, along with 33% of the rods at the No. 2 reactor.

Another fire at Japan's stricken Fukushima No. 1 (Daiichi) nuclear power complex broke out early Wednesday and authorities said about 70% of another reactor's fuel rods had been damaged by the spate of accidents and breakdowns since Friday's earthquake and tsunami.

Japanese weigh the nuclear risk of staying put

Posted: 15 Mar 2011 04:22 PM PDT

Japanese citizens' distrust of their government is high, and even without evacuation orders, some well removed from the Fukushima nuclear plant have decided to flee.

To stay or go. To trust government reassurances or heed more alarmist warnings on the Internet of radioactive clouds wafting over Tokyo. These are among the potentially life-altering questions being pondered by millions of Japanese in range of the crippled nuclear reactors at Fukushima.

Libyan held in uprising denies Al Qaeda link

Posted: 15 Mar 2011 03:13 PM PDT

The captive, accused by Moammar Kadafi's regime of being behind Libya's uprising, denies being a militant. He tells foreign reporters he no longer backs the revolt.

It was to be a face-to-face encounter with one of the captured Al Qaeda militants accused by Libyan leader Moammar Kadafi and his associates of being behind the uprising in this North African nation.

Palestinians demonstrate in support of unity

Posted: 15 Mar 2011 01:32 PM PDT

Thousands of protesters call for an end to the fracture between Fatah in the West Bank and Hamas in the Gaza Strip. The protests in the West Bank are peaceful. However, injuries are reported in Gaza.

Thousands of Palestinians took to the streets Tuesday in the largest popular demonstrations in years, calling for an end to the political fracture between the two dominant factions, Fatah in the West Bank and Hamas in the Gaza Strip.

Radiation exposure: Nuclear experts criticize, advise Japan

Posted: 15 Mar 2011 01:09 PM PDT

International experts weigh in as Japanese authorities downplay the threat of radiation exposure -- although they are beginning to acknowledge the situation to be more menacing than originally believed.

International nuclear experts are keeping a close eye on Japan as the island nation, ravaged by a record earthquake and the tsunami it created, struggles to contain a nuclear crisis threatening to spiral into catastrophe.

Japan imposes limited blackouts to offset power shortage

Posted: 15 Mar 2011 11:15 AM PDT

Japanese authorities begin sporadically cutting power nationwide to make up for production losses caused by the earthquake and tsunami and the resulting damage to nuclear plants.

Japanese authorities have begun imposing sporadic power cuts nationwide to make up for production losses and a nuclear power crisis brought on by last week's devastating earthquake and tsunami.

Libyan government forces overwhelm rebels in Ajdabiya

Posted: 15 Mar 2011 10:57 AM PDT

Libyan troops loyal to Moammar Kadafi mount a punishing assault to capture the last obstacle on the coastal highway to Benghazi, sending opposition fighters who had vowed to fight to the death fleeing.

Moammar Kadafi's forces pushed to within striking distance of Libyan rebels' de facto capital after a swift advance up the Mediterranean coast, putting themselves in position to bombard or besiege the country's second-largest city and its passionate, poorly armed defenders.

New reactor fire as Japan works to contain threat

Posted: 15 Mar 2011 03:54 PM PDT

A new fire broke out a day after the power plant emitted a burst of radiation that panicked an already edgy Japan and left the government struggling to contain a spiraling crisis caused by last week's earthquake and tsunami.

Another fire at Japan's stricken Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power complex broke out early Wednesday, compounding the spree of disasters expected to take historic peacetime tolls on the nation's people and economy.

London's Olympics countdown clock stops running

Posted: 15 Mar 2011 10:25 AM PDT

Less than 24 hours after a spectacular unveiling in London's Trafalgar Square, a giant electronic timer counting down to the 2012 Summer Olympics stalls, embarrassing officials. Ticket sales also stumble after a glitch.

On your mark – get set – stop!

Bahrain declares state of emergency

Posted: 15 Mar 2011 08:18 AM PDT

The move by King Hamed ibn Isa Khalifa to quell a growing uprising is akin to three months of martial law for Bahrain. With hundreds of foreign military and police in the nation to support the government, protesters and their foes set up rival checkpoints.

Bahrain's king declared a three-month state of emergency Tuesday in an effort to quell a month-old uprising as rival groups of protesters and gangs set up more checkpoints around the capital.

Israel says weapons on seized ship were bound for Gaza

Posted: 15 Mar 2011 08:12 AM PDT

Israel's navy intercepts a cargo ship 200 miles off the coast in what is believed to be the largest such arms seizure since November 2009.

The Israeli navy on Tuesday intercepted a Liberian-flagged cargo ship in the Mediterranean Sea that it said was carrying weapons destined for Palestinian militants in the Gaza Strip.

Gen. David Petraeus reports 'important but hard-fought progress in Afghanistan'

Posted: 15 Mar 2011 08:27 AM PDT

Testifying before the Senate Armed Services Committee, Gen. David Petraeus says the U.S. has stopped the Taliban's momentum in Afghanistan, but he warns that the gains are 'fragile and reversible' and that hard fighting still lies ahead. Key senators express confidence in the war effort.

The U.S. has stopped the Taliban's momentum in Afghanistan, the general leading that war told Congress on Tuesday morning, and key senators agreed that the goal of handing off security responsibilities to Afghan forces by 2014 is achievable.

Saudi soldier shot dead in Bahrain, official says

Posted: 15 Mar 2011 05:43 AM PDT

Bahrain also declares a state of emergency, handing authority to security forces.

A security official says a Saudi soldier who was part of the troops deployed to Bahrain to help the tiny island nation deal with the Shiite-led opposition uprising has been shot dead by a protester in the capital, Manama.

You're being exposed to radiation -- but it's the amount that counts

Posted: 15 Mar 2011 04:50 AM PDT

Everyone gets some radiation from a variety of sources like these. It's the level of exposure that matters to your health.

Everyone is exposed to some radiation. It's the level of exposure that determines whether there's any harmful effect.

Japan fears a nuclear disaster after reactor breach

Posted: 15 Mar 2011 06:26 AM PDT

Officials warn of health risks, telling people in a 20-mile area to stay indoors as dangerous levels of radiation leak into the air after a third explosion and fire at the Fukushima No. 1 (Daiichi) plant.

Dangerous levels of radiation escaped a quake-stricken nuclear power plant after one reactor's steel containment structure was apparently breached by an explosion, and a different reactor building in the same complex caught fire after another explosion, Japan's leaders told a frightened population. Authorities warned that people within 20 miles of the crippled reactors should stay indoors to avoid being sickened by radiation.