Japan Reactor Cooling Pumps Still Not In Operation
Electricity was flowing throughout the Fukushima nuclear power plant on Tuesday for the first time since Japan's magnitude-9.0 earthquake struck.
Though the accomplishment was a major victory for engineers battling steady radiation leakage from the plant's reactors, they still have the tough task of getting the cooling systems up and running. Because of damage that may have been incurred in the aftermath of the earthquake, it's unclear how much repair might be needed to restore normal cooling operations to all six reactors.
Without proper cooling, workers can't get close enough to the reactors to repair breaks in the casing for the reactors and the pools that hold spent nuclear fuel rods.
With more than 10,000 people dead, there's a huge demand for those who can perform Japan's burial rituals. Law requires bodies to be cremated, but the law is being sidestepped by mortuaries because of fuel shortages.
Japan may form a reconstruction agency to oversee the post-earthquake recovery efforts.
American pop-artist Ke$ha announced Tuesday that she was cancelling concerts scheduled for early April in Japan. Meanwhile, the country's professional baseball leagues were deciding if they should delay the start of their regular seasons even further. Japanese officials have asked them not to play any night games in an effort to conserve electricity.
Reach deputy editor Paresh Dave here. Follow him on Twitter: @peard33.