“Americans occupied our country and started corruption in here and ruined whatever was left by Saddam, therefore after 7 years and based on the security agreement (between Iraq and the U.S.), all the U.S. forces should leave Iraq at the end of 2011. The extended mission of the infidel occupiers in Iraq even for one single day after the mentioned date (as cited in the security agreement) is haram (religiously forbidden).”-Senior Iraqi Shiite Grand Ayatollah Kazzem al-Hosseini al-Haeri
Ever since officials from the Obama administration made statements about staying in Iraq passed the 2011 withdrawal date, the Iraqis have been really upset. Not only protests, but attacking U.S. bases.
According to some reports a U.S. base was attacked on April 23. Three rockets hit the Echo Army base near the city of Diwaniyah, in southern Iraq. This makes the fourth time the base has been attacked in the past few weeks. On April 22, two U.S. soldiers were killed, patrolling in southern Iraq. No details were given by U.S. officials. So far for April nine U.S. personnel have been killed.
“We were told to evacuate, but we can’t. Are the moving companies just going to abandon us without offering help?”-Evacuee
People living in mandatory evac zones, in Fukushima Prefecture, have until the end of May to get out. But they are on their own when it comes to actually moving. Even moving companies are refusing their business.
Moving companies claim safety for their employees: “We don’t let our workers go in the zone where evacuations are planned, or anywhere within 30 kilometers of the plant, because of safety considerations. However, if the prefecture and local authorities combine to make a request, we’ll look at what can be done.”-Nippon Express Company
So far 6,000 people have asked for the services of moving companies. This is another example of how unprepared Japan is. How can you order a mandatory evacuation, without providing any way for the people to move? Typical of governments worldwide!
The situation around the Fukushima Daiichi nuke plant is not getting better. Radiation contamination is spreading, and increasing.
Officials say the radiation levels at the damaged nuclear plant continue to increase, making it more difficult for workers struggling to get the facility under control. Tokyo Electric Power Company says radiation levels at the nuclear reactor buildings are still to high for humans to approach.
Radiation levels are increasing outside the now mandatory evacuation zones. The Fukushima state government has issued a warning to people outside the evacuation zones, saying they should limit their time outdoors. School playgrounds and public parks are being monitored for contamination. Already five public parks, outside the evac zones, are showing contamination at, or above, the safe limits set by the prefectural government. Officials are telling residents, and visitors, to limit their time at those parks to no more than one hour per day.
The increasing radiation levels being reported by local governments contradicts the Japanese Prime Minister’s office, which said the risk of radiation leaks is receding.
New York City’s Economic Development Corporation is hosting a weeklong program, trying to sell property to Chinese companies.
It’s another sign that the economy is not recovering. Real estate agents can’t sell enough property to U.S. companies, so they’re trying to get the rich Chinese to buy it.
Several Chinese businesses have already opened New York City offices, include the apparel company Li & Wang, and several banks and investment firms.
Several banking officials in China, have stated that they Chinese government needs to “reduce” and “diversify” their foreign currency holdings.
Tang Shuangning, chairman of China Everbright Group said China must reduce its excessive foreign exchange reserves and further diversify its holdings.
Zhou Xiaochuan, governor of China’s central bank, said that China’s foreign exchange reserves “exceed our reasonable requirement”.
Xia Bin, a member of the monetary policy committee of the central bank, said China should further diversify its foreign exchange holdings.
According to western media reports, most of China’s foreign currency holdings are in U.S. dollars. This is part of why the value of the U.S. dollar hasn’t dropped as far as it should have. But if the Chinese government listens to its bankers, then the dollar could crash.
When the Chinese bankers say China must reduce its current foreign currency holdings they’re talking about U.S. dollars. They’re saying the Chinese government has too many, based on how bad the U.S. economy is.
When the Chinese bankers say they want the Chinese government to diversify foreign currency holdings, they mean they want to get rid of U.S. dollars and buy money from countries that have good economies, like Russia, India, South Africa and several South American countries.
“…it is Easter morning. Here at the Lucky Friday Mine in Northern Idaho we have been hoping for a miracle for more than a week, but have now informed Larry Marek’s family that we believe hope for his survival is gone.”-Phil Baker, Hecla CEO
Officials say they are no longer trying to rescue Larry Marek, it is now a recovery.
“Words cannot express the deep sorrow we feel at the tragic loss of our friend, colleague and 30-year veteran of the mining industry. Our thoughts and prayers are with his family, loved ones and friends.”-Hecla press release
Russian media reporting that a NATO helicopter was shot down in Kapisa Province, Afghanistan.
Zabiullah Mojahid, a Taliban representative, confirms that the helicopter was shot down with a guided missile. Mojahid claims he does not know how they got the missile.
Tokyo Electric Power Company says the spent fuel pool, located above reactor 4, is too weak to take any more water. Also, it is cause for concern with any more aftershocks. There are more than 1,000 fuel rods in the pool.
They will now try to reinforce the floor of the pool, by adding additional support pillars.
A volcano on Russia’s Kamchatka peninsula, north of Japan, has erupted. Russia has issued an orange warning, meaning hazardous to air traffic.
Witnesses say the ash cloud is at least 7.5km (4.6 miles) high. The Shiveluch volcano is one of the largest and most active volcanoes in the Kamchatka Region.