9am Briefing: New explosion at Japanese nuclear plant

ANOTHER explosion rocked Japan's stricken Fukushima Dai-ichi nuclear plant today, sending a massive column of smoke into the air and wounding six workers.

It was the second hydrogen explosion in the three days, but the plant's operator said radiation levels at the reactor were still within legal limits.

More than 10,000 people are now estimated to have died in the devastating earthquake and tsunami which hit Japan on Friday.

Millions of people spent a third night without water, food or heating in near-freezing temperatures.

• A RETRIEVER from South Queensferry has won the most prestigious competition in the dog calendar, Crufts.

"Jet", a flatcoated retriever, beat competition from 21,000 other dogs to take the title of Best in Show at the 120th Crufts competition.

The nine-and-a-half-year-old won the Best Gundog category before being pronounced Best in Show with breeder Jim Irvine at last night's final at the NEC in Birmingham.

• SINGER and TV star John Barrowman is set to perform at the Playhouse in October it was announced today.

The Glasgow-born singer, dancer and actor will entertain crowds in the Capital on October 27.

Tickets will go on sale on Friday at 9am and are available by calling 08444 999 990, or by visiting www.gigsinscotland.com.

• AN ELDERLY woman was assaulted and robbed as she walked home.

The 84-year-old was on Findhorn Place, in the Grange area around 3.30pm on Saturday, when a man approached her.

Following a struggle, the suspect, who was around 25-years-old, made off with her handbag and groceries.

• A MAN had to be rescued after his vehicle flipped over when he hit a parked car in Gorebridge, Midlothian.

Fire crews from Liberton and Dalkeith used cutting equipment to free the 31-year-old, who was taken to the Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh with a suspected neck injury.

The incident happened at around 2pm yesterday, on Greenhill Road.