Radioactivity released by the Fukushima accident posed a low risk to Japan's population, said the World Health Organisation. It expects no observable health effect in the wider population, but raised estimations of cancer risk for two towns.
Japan's new nuclear regulations could demand that operators are prepared to avoid an accident even in the case of war or deliberate aircraft impact. Draft rules are at the first public comment stage.
_64x48.jpg "Fukushima Daiichi 4 cover, March 2013 (Tepco) 64x48")
The frame of a structure to cover Fukushima Daiichi 4 has reached the third level and is now higher than the reactor building. It will enable the removal of used reactor fuel from the storage pool.)72x48.jpg "Fukushima Daiichi 4 area and central storage facility 28-29 March 2011 (Tepco) 72x48")
Radiation levels across the Fukushima Daiichi power plant site have dropped significantly as clean-up efforts continue. Most workers receive less than 1 milliSievert of radiation per month - well within normal limits.
The latest aerial survey of the Fukushima region reveals a pattern of contamination significantly reduced in the space of a year by natural processes of radioactive decay and dispersal..jpg "Fukushima Daiichi 3 pond February 2013 a (64x48)")
A camera inspection of Fukushima Daiichi 3's used fuel pool has revealed no damage to stored fuel, but a huge amount of concrete sediment on the racks.
A remote-controlled robot that enables work to be conducted at heights up to eight metres has been developed by Mitsubishi Heavy Industries (MHI). It is the latest to be built to help clean-up work at Fukushima Daiichi.