SOMA, Japan (AP) - Radiation leaked from a crippled nuclear plant in tsunami-ravaged northeastern Japan after a third reactor was rocked by an explosion Tuesday and a fourth caught fire in a dramatic escalation of the 4-day-old catastrophe. The government warned anyone nearby to stay indoors to avoid exposure. Tokyo also reported slightly elevated radiation levels but officials said the increase was too small to threaten anyone in the capital.
Third explosion rocks Japanese nuclear plant
SOMA, Japan (AP) — Japan's nuclear crisis deepened dramatically Tuesday. As safety officials sought desperately to avert catastrophe, the government said radioactive material leaking from reactors was enough to "impact human health" and the risk of more leaks was "very high." In a nationally televised statement, Prime Minister Naoto Kan said that radiation has spread from four reactors of the Fukushima Dai-ichi nuclear plant in Fukushima province that was one of the hardest-hit in Friday's 9.0-magnitude earthquake and the ensuing tsunami.
Japan's blasts cast doubt on nuclear renaissance
PARIS (AP) - Switzerland freezes plans to build new nuclear plants, Germany raises questions about its nuclear future, and opposition to atomic reactor construction mounts from Turkey to South Africa. Will explosions and other worries at a tsunami-stricken Japanese nuclear plant halt what has come to be known as the nuclear renaissance?
AP sources: Bus driver in NYC crash stopped before
ALBANY, N.Y. (AP) - The driver of a bus in a horrific weekend crash that killed 15 people in New York City should not have been able to get behind the wheel because of a driving suspension and several traffic violations, two state officials familiar with the accident probe told The Associated Press on Monday. Ophadell Williams was ticketed in 1995 for speeding and twice for driving without a license, giving police the alias of Erik Williams, the officials said. Williams' driving privileges were suspended - meaning he couldn't legally drive in the state - after he failed to address the charges.
Nuclear crisis whacks stocks in Japan, across Asia
BANGKOK (AP) — Japan's Nikkei stock index nose-dived more than 12 percent Tuesday as the earthquake-shattered country faced an unfolding nuclear crisis after a radiation leak was detected at a crippled power plant. Other Asian markets also tumbled. The benchmark Nikkei 225 stock average sank a staggering 1,201.2 points, or 12.5 percent, to 8,422.21 in afternoon trading, extending losses of 6 percent Monday — the first trading day since a devastating earthquake and tsunami struck the northeastern coast, washing away towns and killing more than 10,000 people.
GOP conservatives balk at stopgap spending bill
WASHINGTON (AP) - Conservative Republicans on Capitol Hill began Monday to come out against a measure to keep the government running for three more weeks while the White House and Republican lawmakers seek a longer-term agreement on spending cuts. Rep. Jim Jordan, R-Ohio, who chairs the Republican Study Committee, which makes up a sizable majority of House Republicans, said the measure should include a ban on federal funding for Planned Parenthood and that Congress needs to do better than cutting spending a few billion dollars at a time.
Air and ground: Gadhafi, rebels each claim control
TOBRUK, Libya (AP) - Moammar Gadhafi's warplanes, artillery and mortar shells can control huge swaths of territory by day, including oil ports, rebel supply routes and even hostile towns. Rebels say anti-government forces can still return in darkness to take advantage of Gadhafi's own thin supply lines and overstretched ground troops. The eastern port city of Brega has gone back and forth with the setting of the sun in recent days and is key to the battle for Libya's oil centers - so key that both sides claimed control of it nearly simultaneously on Monday. The regime offensive appears to be hampered by a lack of manpower: They can drive out rebels with barrages, but not necessarily hold the territory.
Fed meets as economic risks widen
WASHINGTON (AP) — The Federal Reserve meets Tuesday at a time of widening economic risks: higher oil and food prices; unemployment near 9 percent; crises in the Middle East and Japan. Threats at home and abroad have the potential to slow the U.S. economy, or heat up inflation. Or both.
Eva Longoria talks divorce with Allure magazine
Eva Longoria is opening up about her divorce from basketball player Tony Parker in the April issue of Allure magazine. The "Desperate Housewives" star says talking about the breakup from the San Antonio Spurs player makes her "want to cry" but she's trying to make the transition "as gracefully as possible" and "without any drama."
Bosh scores 30, Heat roll Spurs 110-80
MIAMI (AP) - For the Miami Heat, there was symmetry in the turnabout. Lose by 30 in San Antonio, win by 30 in Miami.
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