Shops across Tokyo began rationing goods including milk, toilet paper, rice and water today as a run on bottled water coupled with delivery disruptions left shelves bare, nearly two weeks after the earthquake and tsunami.

Honda is today extending its suspension of car and motorcycle production in Japan until Sunday amid a shortage of parts following the colossal earthquake and tsunami earlier this month.

Sony said today that it is suspending production at some plants in Japan which make popular consumer electronics like digital cameras and televisions due to shortages of parts and raw materials following the calamitous earthquake earlier this month.

A RADIATION cloud drifted from an earthquake-stricken nuclear power plant toward Tokyo yesterday sparking panic in one of the world’s biggest and most densely populated cities.

JAPAN continues to grapple with a potential nuclear catastrophe after a fire continued to blaze at the stricken Fukushima plant last night.

TWO Japanese students studying English here were trying desperately to contact their loved ones last night.

Barcelona forward Lionel Messi stepped up his recovery from an ankle injury today by undertaking an individual training programme.

A STRONG earthquake shook Japan’s capital and surrounding areas yesterday, halting trains and a professional baseball game, but there were no immediate reports of damage or casualties.

The Japan Meteorological Agency said an earthquake with a preliminary magnitude of 6.9 shook the Japanese capital of Tokyo and surrounding areas today.

Edwin van der Sar has no intention of abandoning the habits of a lifetime in an attempt to make up for a couple of notable errors.

Manchester United manager Alex Ferguson is optimistic Carlos Tevez will soon arrive at Old Trafford although he shed no new light on the club’s protracted attempts to sign the player.

Up to 77 people in Japan – most of them chicken farmworkers – may have been infected with a mild form of bird flu, health officials said today.

Manchester United chief excutive David Gill insists the club will stand firm in the face of a two-pronged attack from their own supporters.

Carlos Queiroz has claimed he is “unaware” of an alleged abusive gesture by Rio Ferdinand towards Manchester United fans after Thursday’s 2-1 defeat to Kashima Antlers.

THE Kerry Centre, Manchester United’s five star hotel in Beijing, Monday afternoon.

Jens Jeremies is set to be given the job of trying to fill the chasm left in the Germany side by Michael Ballack’s suspension in Sunday’s World Cup final against Brazil.

Brazil 1 Turkey 0

Brazil 1 Turkey 0

Brazil and Turkey are goalless after 25 minutes of their World Cup semi-final at Saitama today.

Brazil defender Roberto Carlos insists that he will not allow any fears of joining Michael Ballack in being suspended for the World Cup final to cloud his mind in today’s semi-final against Turkey.

Brazil's Rivaldo has warned Turkey not to seek revenge against him for play-acting in their stormy first-round clash when rivalries are renewed in World Cup semi-final.

IRELAND’S Damien Duff and Robbie Keane have been bizarrely excluded by a FIFA panel of so-called experts in a 33-strong short-list for its all-star team of the tournament.

Ronaldo has admitted his World Cup exertions have caught up with him.

Turkey reached the World Cup semi-finals for the first time in their history as Ilhan Mansiz scored four minutes into golden goal extra time to secure a 1-0 win over Senegal.

Turkey reached the World Cup semi-finals for the first time in their history as Ilhan Mansiz scored four minutes into golden goal extra time to secure a 1-0 win over Senegal.

Sven-Goran Eriksson brought Nicky Butt into the England side to face Argentina as he opted for a safety-first strategy amid an intensifying World Cup qualification struggle.

Ashley Cole revealed that Sven-Goran Eriksson’s attempts to lift his squad ahead of tomorrow’s crunch game against Argentina are working as he insisted that England can still top their World Cup group.

Irish players have stressed their determination to ‘‘finish the job’’ next Tuesday and qualify for the second round of the World Cup finals.

A second-half Samuel Eto’o goal gave Cameroon all three points against minnows Saudi Arabia in their Group E clash in Saitama.

Half-time: Cameroon 0 Saudi Arabia 0

Cameroon are being held scoreless by Group E outisders Saudi Arabia in the 30th minute.

Arsenal star Lauren has 'done a Roy Keane' and blasted Cameroon's World Cup preparations.

ARSENAL star Lauren has blasted Cameroon’s World Cup preparations. Lauren says the travel chaos that delayed the Indomitable Lions arrival in Japan by five days has hampered their chances of making progress.

DAVID BECKHAM has insisted England must start to match Argentina’s capacity for ‘cunning’, which led to the 1998 World Cup red card.

England captain David Beckham insists he is now mature enough to walk away from any Argentinean provocation in Friday’s World Cup rematch of the darkest moment of his career.

Japan coach Philippe Troussier saluted his side’s ‘‘wonderful’’ fightback against Belgium but admitted he was ‘‘frustrated’’ that they had not been able to hold on for a memorable win.

Japan coach Philippe Troussier saluted his side’s ‘‘wonderful’’ fightback against Belgium but admitted he was ‘‘frustrated’’ that they had not been able to hold on for a memorable win.

Belgium were given a real fright by World Cup co-hosts Japan before fighting back to earn a 2-2 draw in their Group H opener at Saitama Stadium.

Belgium were given a real fright by World Cup co-hosts Japan before fighting back to earn a 2-2 draw in their Group H opener at Saitama Stadium.

Belgium and Japan share points following thrilling second-half in Saitama.

Belgium and Japan share points following thrilling second-half in Saitama.