Snapshot - Japan's nuclear crisis

- Japanese military helicopters spray water on the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear reactors to try and cool fuel rods after a failed attempt the previous day because of high radiation levels. NHK says 11 water cannon trucks on their way to the facility.

- Plant operator says getting water to No.3 reactor priority because of smoke/steam escaping, indicating water evaporating from the cooling pool.

- The head of the U.N. nuclear watchdog says core damage at reactors 1, 2 and 3 of the plant is confirmed, but reactor vessels seem intact. Says the situation is "very serious".

- Top U.S. nuclear regulator says no water left in No. 4 reactor cooling pool, radiation levels extremely high. Latest images from the plant show severe damage to some of the buildings after several blasts.

- Japan nuclear agency says radioactivity levels continue to fall at the plant. Eight staff members taking readings in shifts.

- Yen surges to a record high against the dollar, Japan's Nikkei down nearly 3 percent. Officials blames yen spike on speculators.

- Mizhuo Bank says all its automated teller machines have stopped working across Japan.

- Australia again urges citizens in Tokyo and eight effected prefectures to consider pulling out of the country. But it said the warning was because of infrastructural problems, not the fear of radiation.

- Tokyo is safe for international travellers, the Japanese Red Cross says.

- Nuclear crisis diverts attention from the tens of thousands affected by Friday's earthquake and tsunami. About 850,000 households in the north without electricity in near-freezing weather. Death toll is expected to exceed 10,000.

(Tokyo bureau; Compiled by World Desk Asia)