News reports say Japan has decided to raise the severity level of the crisis at its stricken nuclear power plant to 7 - the highest level and equal to the 1986 disaster at Chernobyl in the former Soviet Union.

The reports came as a strong earthquake with a preliminary magnitude of 6.3 jolted the Tokyo area and its surrounding areas. Japan's Meteorological Agency said the quake struck at 8:08am local time [23:08 GMT] on Tuesday.

There were no initial reports of injuries or damage in the Tokyo prefecture. No tsunami warning was issued. But the Tokyo Electric Power Co (TEPCO), the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear plant's operator, said a fire had briefly broken out at No. 4 reactor.

Posted: 8:39:31 AM  

Old newspapers, council documents and annual plans were today emptied from three time capsules discovered after February's earthquake.

Posted: 8:36:13 AM  

Mankind 'can't influence' climate

Dientamoeba fragilis

Posted: 8:15:03 AM