Here's a relatively optimistic update from TEPCO:

"TOKYO (Dow Jones)--The roadmap for bringing Japan's Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant to a safe condition and stopping all radiation releases is proceeding as planned, with no change in the overall timetable, plant operator Tokyo Electric Power Co. (9501) said Friday.

In releasing its latest update to the plan, Tepco said it was still confident it could meet its target of achieving a "cold shutdown" of the three most-damaged reactors within its six-to-nine month schedule, which would mean completion by mid-January.

Tepco also said that it hopes to achieve stable cooling of the spent fuel pools at all six reactors within the next month. The pools are where fuel is stored when it is removed from the main reactor units. The fuel must be covered with water and kept below boiling point over an extended period.

The utility also said that radiation levels at the plant in northern Japan are continuing to fall steadily, reducing the risk of radiation exposure to the region and making it less hazardous for workers at the site as they try to bring the plant under control."

Charley Noble