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Thursday, March 22, 2012
Investigators say they've found key clue to fate of Amelia Earhart
Investigators think they've uncovered a key clue that will lead them to solve the mystery of what happened to legendary aviator Amelia Earhart, who disappeared on a trans-Pacific flight 75 years ago.Ric Gillespie, executive director of The International Group for Historic Aircraft Recovery (TIGHAR), said a new enhanced analysis of a photo taken on the Pacific atoll of Nikumaroro, formerly Gardner Island, three months after Earhart and navigator Fred Noonan disappeared, may show the landing gear of her Lockheed Electra protruding from a reef.
“We found some really fascinating and compelling evidence," Gillespie said at a news conference in Washington on Tuesday.
“Finding the airplane would be the thing that would make it conclusive,” he said.
Gillespie said the photo was taken by a British survey team in October 1937 and had been seen by Earhart researchers many times. But investigators took a new look at it in 2010 and, when their suspicions were triggered, had the photo checked by U.S. State Department experts. In a blind review, they determined the component in the picture is the landing gear of a Lockheed Electra.
"This is where the airplane went into the drink," Gillespie said. more
Coroner: Drowning, heart disease, cocaine use killed Houston
The cause of singer Whitney Houston's death was drowning and the "effects of atherosclerotic heart disease and cocaine use," the Los Angeles County coroner's office said Thursday.She was found dead last month in the bathtub of her hotel room in Beverly Hills, California.
The manner of death was listed as an "accident."
Cocaine and metabolites were identified and contributory to her death, the report said.
Other drugs identified in Houston's body were marijuana, alprazolam (Xanax), cyclobenzaprine (Flexeril) and diphenhydramine (Benadryl), but they "did not contribute to the death," the report said. Flexeril is a muscle relaxant, and Benadryl is an allergy medicine.
No trauma or foul play is suspected, the report said. The final coroner's report will be available within two weeks, the coroner's office said. source
5.0 Magnitude Earthquake KERMADEC ISLANDS REGION - 22nd Mar 2012
A magnitude 5.0 earthquake has struck the Kermadec Islands Region at a depth of 274 km (169.88 miles), the quake hit at 18:40:17 UTC Thursday 22nd March 2012The epicenter was 740 km (458.8 miles) South of Nuku'alofa, Tonga
No Tsunami Warning Issued - No Reports of Damage or Injuries at this time
4.9 Magnitude Earthquake PAGAN REGION, NORTHERN MARIANA ISLANDS - 22nd Mar 2012
A magnitude 4.9 earthquake has struck the Pagan Region, Northern Mariana Islands at a depth of 204 km (126.8 miles), the quake hit at 18:22:24 UTC Thursday 22nd March 2012The epicenter was 35 km (21 miles) SSE of Agrihan, Northern Mariana Islands
No Tsunami Warning Issued - No Reports of Damage or Injuries at this time
Deadly bat disease spreads into 2 popular national parks
SUMMIT COUNTY —A devastating disease that’s wiping out bat populations across the country has spread into two popular national parks: Acadia National Park in Maine and Great Smoky Mountains National Park in Tennessee and North Carolina. Together these two parks host more than 11 million visitors each year.“Discovery of white-nose syndrome at two of our leading national parks is particularly troubling because of the vital role these parks play in safeguarding wildlife and plant populations,” said Mollie Matteson, a bat specialist at the Center for Biological Diversity.
White-nose syndrome has killed almost 7 million bats in North America. The disease has previously been documented at smaller Park Service units, including Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area in New Jersey, in 2009, and Russell Cave National Monument in Alabama, where the disease was confirmed just last week. Read More
Small fire breaks out at lawned area of Fukushima Daiichi plant
TOKYO (Kyodo) -- A small fire broke out on the premises of the crippled Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant on Wednesday, plant operator Tokyo Electric Power Co. said, adding that the stable condition of the stricken nuclear reactors is maintained.The incident occurred at around 11:20 a.m. when workers were trying to weld pipes at a lawned area near a light oil tank, located close to the Nos. 5 and 6 reactor buildings, the company's spokesman Junichi Matsumoto said.
They used a fireproof sheet to cover the work area, but it was blown by the wind and fire sparks flew to the grass. Portions of a 3-meter-square area burned, but workers were able to extinguish the fire by themselves about five minutes later.
Matsumoto said the company will examine whether there was anything insufficient in the work process and would consider whether it is better to spray water beforehand as a preventive measure. Read More
Spring snow storm hits Corvallis, Oregon
CORVALLIS, OR (KPTV) -
It's a spring snowstorm that packed a punch for areas from Salem south through the Willamette Valley.
Corvallis was one place you could see snow fall all day Wednesday.
It may look like the dead of winter, but snow was falling at a good clip just two days into spring.
Throughout the day in Corvallis, the snow kept falling and many tried to find ways to deal with it.
One group of friends took time out from studying for finals to have a little fun.
"People are attempting to study for finals but there's this big distraction outside and they keep looking out the window and everybody is just so excited about this late snow," said Brendan Pavelek. Read More
5.2 Magnitude Earthquake OAXACA, MEXICO - 22nd Mar 2012
A magnitude 5.2 earthquake has struck Oaxaca, Mexico at a depth of 12.2 km (7.6 miles), the quake hit at 16:46:46 UTC Thursday 22nd March 2012The epicenter was 29 km (18 miles) SSE from Ometepec, Guerrero, Mexico
No Reports of Damage or Injuries at this time
Clintonville Mysterious booms Continue to plague Wisconsin town as Reports are coming In from Montello, 80 Miles South of Clintonville
According to the Appleton (Wis.) Post-Crescent, a Wisconsin city has hired seismologists to determine the cause of mysterious loud booms that have occurred over the past several days.The firm will place seismometers around the city of Clintonville in an effort to locate where the sounds are coming from, according to the Post-Crescent. The noises have been described as sounding like thunder, according to the report. Source
Rajasthan sandstorm haze hits Mumbai
When Mumbaikars woke up to a hazy Wednesday morning, they thought it was normal and the air would clear by afternoon. But it didn't and the haziness lingered until evening. Weathermen have blamed it on the sandstorm in Rajasthan.In an isolated and uncommon phenomenon, north-easterly wind brought dust from Rajasthan to Mumbai and Dahanu, said officials of meteorological department.
"Dust storms have been reported in Jaipur and other areas over the past two days. Wind flowing via some parts of Gujarat carried the dust particles to Mumbai, especially the western suburbs of the city," said VK Rajeev, director, meteorological department (Mumbai).
Sources claimed the hazy day in Mumbai was because of the storm from the Middle East countries to Rajasthan. The meteorological department, however, disagreed.
"The Middle East case has nothing to do with Mumbai's curtain of haze," Rajeev said. Read More
Joshua Tree National Park, California: Suspected hazmat situation sickens 11 at park
The administrative center of Joshua Tree National Park closed Wednesday after 11 employees in the center’s mailroom were sickened in a suspected hazardous-materials situation.The National Park Service evacuated the building after those affected displayed symptoms including skin irritation, respiratory distress, nausea and eye irritation, the Park Service said in a news release.
Joshua Tree’s administrators became suspicious of a package that had been delivered by a commercial carrier earlier in the day to the center in the 74400 block of National Park Drive in Twentynine Palms, the Park Service said.
Paramedics treated the 11 people under decontamination procedures. Park Service officials did not report that any were taken to a hospital. Read More
Tornado alerts follow flooding in southern states
A storm system that dumped up to a foot of rain in parts of Louisiana, causing isolated flash flooding, is now threatening to spawn tornadoes there and in Mississippi, the National Weather Service warned.Large hail and wind gusts up to 70 mph were also possible in parts of both states through Wednesday night.
Flash floods were reported earlier in Louisiana, Arkansas and eastern Texas in the wake of "widespread heavy rain" on Tuesday and overnight.
"Some roads are already flooded and closed ... and additional heavy rainfall will continue to produce more flash flooding" in northwest Louisiana, the National Weather Service stated. "This is an extremely dangerous situation." Read More
Dog mauls five police officers during arrest in east London
Four police officers were seriously wounded after being attacked by a pit bull-type dog during a raid in east London, with a fifth escaping with minor injuries.The Metropolitan police said the officers were attacked after trying to execute an arrest warrant.
The dog, which police described as a 'pit bull-type animal' was later contained and shot dead.
The four officers seriously injured are described as being in a serious but stable condition.
'Police attended an address in Albert Square to execute an arrest warrant at approximately 9am. While officers from Newham attempted to arrest a male suspect, they were attacked by a pitbull-type dog,' Scotland Yard said.
'A dog unit was called to the scene and CO19 Specialist Firearms Command also attended. The dog was contained and subsequently shot dead.'
Pictures from the scene showed bloodstains on the street outside the address where the arrest eventually took place.
The arrested man, in his 20s, is still in custody. Source
Tornado Watch for FAR SOUTHEASTERN MISSISSIPPI AND COASTAL WATERS
TORNADO WATCH NUMBER 99NWS STORM PREDICTION CENTER NORMAN OK
715 AM CDT THU MAR 22 2012
THE NWS STORM PREDICTION CENTER HAS ISSUED A
TORNADO WATCH FOR PORTIONS OF
FAR SOUTHEASTERN MISSISSIPPI
COASTAL WATERS
EFFECTIVE THIS THURSDAY MORNING FROM 715 AM UNTIL NOON CDT.
TORNADOES...HAIL TO 0.5 INCH IN DIAMETER...THUNDERSTORM WIND
GUSTS TO 70 MPH...AND DANGEROUS LIGHTNING ARE POSSIBLE IN THESE
AREAS.
THE TORNADO WATCH AREA IS APPROXIMATELY ALONG AND 35 STATUTE
MILES EAST AND WEST OF A LINE FROM 35 MILES NORTHWEST OF MOBILE
ALABAMA TO 40 MILES SOUTH SOUTHEAST OF GULFPORT MISSISSIPPI. FOR
A COMPLETE DEPICTION OF THE WATCH SEE THE ASSOCIATED WATCH
OUTLINE UPDATE (WOUS64 KWNS WOU9).
REMEMBER...A TORNADO WATCH MEANS CONDITIONS ARE FAVORABLE FOR
TORNADOES AND SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS IN AND CLOSE TO THE WATCH
AREA. PERSONS IN THESE AREAS SHOULD BE ON THE LOOKOUT FOR
THREATENING WEATHER CONDITIONS AND LISTEN FOR LATER STATEMENTS
AND POSSIBLE WARNINGS.
DISCUSSION...N-S BAND OF TSTMS /WITH EMBEDDED SUPERCELL STRUCTURES/
IS EXPECTED TO PERSIST THIS MORNING AS REGION IS GLANCED BY A
MIDLEVEL IMPULSE LIFTING NEWD THROUGH THE SABINE RIVER VALLEY.
AMBIENT INFLOW AIR MASS REMAINS MOIST AND MODERATELY UNSTABLE...AND
MOB VAD DATA CONTINUE TO INDICATE STRONGER LOW-LEVEL FLOW /AND
RESULTING SHEAR/ THAN NUMERICAL FORECASTS. AS SUCH...A RISK FOR
BRIEF TORNADOES AND/OR LOCALLY DAMAGING WIND GUSTS WILL PERSIST
THROUGH THIS MORNING.
AVIATION...TORNADOES AND A FEW SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS WITH HAIL
SURFACE AND ALOFT TO 0.5 INCH. EXTREME TURBULENCE AND SURFACE
WIND GUSTS TO 60 KNOTS. A FEW CUMULONIMBI WITH MAXIMUM TOPS TO
450. MEAN STORM MOTION VECTOR 20025. Source
China's factory slowdown deepen
China's manufacturing activity in 5th successive drop, with the contraction deepening and inflation risks lingering.
South Korea simulates toxic gas attack
Mar 22 - South Korean security forces conduct an exercise at a subway station simulating a toxic gas attack, as security tightens in preparation for the upcoming nuclear summit in Seoul. Simon Hanna reports.
Portuguese workers strike over austerity
Mar 22 - Portuguese strikers paralyse most public transport in protest at austerity measures and labour reforms imposed as a condition of a 78-billion-euro (65 billion pounds) EU-IMF bailout.. Nick Rowlands reports.
Robert Bales did not pay fraud judgment...and won't have to as long as he remains in the military
(Reuters) - The U.S. soldier accused of killing 16 civilians in Afghanistan left for war without paying a $1.5 million judgment for defrauding an elderly client in a stock scheme, and remains shielded from the obligation as long as he remains in the military, legal experts said.Before beginning his military career in November, 2001, Robert Bales worked almost five-and-a-half years at a series of largely intertwined brokerages that received repeated regulatory censures, according to regulatory records.
Bales joined the Army 18 months after an Ohio investor filed an arbitration complaint alleging unauthorized trading, breach of contract and other abuses against him, his securities firm and the firm's owner. In 2003, the arbitration panel ordered them to pay the investor $1.2 million, including $637,000 in punitive damages for willful or malicious conduct and $216,500 in attorneys' fees.
Bales never appeared before the panel and did not hire a lawyer to represent him. Read More
As sanctions pinch, Chinese company helps Iran spy
(Reuters) - A Chinese telecommunications equipment company has sold Iran's largest telecom firm a powerful surveillance system capable of monitoring landline, mobile and internet communications, interviews and contract documents show.The system was part of a 98.6 million euro ($130.6 million) contract for networking equipment supplied by Shenzhen, China-based ZTE Corp to the Telecommunication Co of Iran (TCI), according to the documents. Government-controlled TCI has a near monopoly on Iran's landline telephone services and much of Iran's internet traffic is required to flow through its network.
The ZTE-TCI deal, signed in December 2010, illustrates how despite tightening global sanctions, Iran still manages to obtain sophisticated technology, including systems that can be used to crack down on dissidents. Read More
4.9 Magnitude Earthquake TONGA - 22nd Mar 2012
A magnitude 4.9 earthquake has struck Tonga at a depth of 10 km (6.2 miles), the quake hit at 14:35:13 UTC Thursday 22nd March 2012The epicenter was 82 km (51 miles) ESE from NUKU'ALOFA, Tonga
No Tsunami Warning Issued - No Reports of Damage or Injuries at this time
Protest over fuel hike in Indonesia
Jakarta, Indonesia (CNN) -- Thousands of protesters marched along Jakarta's main thoroughfare to the presidential palace Wednesday, opposing government plans to increase subsidized fuel prices by 33%.According to police estimates, between 3,000 and 5,000 protestors participated in the largely peaceful march to reject the price hike, which is expected to take effect April 1.
The fuel price hikes have triggered nationwide protests, mostly organized by student organizations and labor unions, the Jakarta Globe reported. In Makasser, capital of South Sulawesi and the largest city in east Indonesia, students clashed with anti-riot police and set a vehicle alight.
More protests are expected in the days to come. Read More
COMING CRISIS ALERT: Possible "coup" underway in Beijing, China -- March 22, 2012
UPDATE: No new developments have occurred, and the situation seems sufficiently stable that the alert may be lifted. We will keep a close eye on events in China.
UPDATE: Sources are confirming that Bo Xilai's name has been removed from Chinese search engines and is no longer a searchable phrase. "Coup" has also been removed. Chinese reporters have reported sightings of military vehicles driving around in Beijing.
UPDATE: No new information has emerged on this situation. Major western media outlets are dismissing the story as just rumour, yet also suggest that the entire story isn't yet known. All online statements regarding this situation remain censored in China. We will keep tabs.
Interestingly, the Wall Street Journal had this to say: "Rumors of a coup in Beijing ricocheted around the Chinese Internet on Tuesday and even caused the cost of credit default swaps on Chinese debt to rise slightly. That's remarkable considering there wasn't one iota of evidence that shots were fired at the Diaoyutai State Guest House or tanks were taking to the streets, as viral microblog posts had it." One must wonder, however, how difficult it would be to acquire such evidence in a nation that censors anything threatening the status quo.
The Washington Times and several other media outlets are reporting that some sort of military coup is underway in Beijing after Chinese bloggers reported "gunfire" and the movement of tanks through the Capital following the ousting of Bo Xilai. These citizen reports have since been censored and immediately deleted.
The Coming Crisis examined this situation further and have discovered that Bo Xilai may indeed been at odds with the Communist Party, and may possibly have been preparing his own private army to back his political faction.
We will continue following this story as its develops to determine its authenticity and possible fall out. So far, it seems legitimate. If you are in China or near Beijing, please email us immediately with any further information on this situation.
From the Washington Times:
U.S. intelligence agencies monitoring China’s Internet say that from March 14 to Wednesday bloggers circulated alarming reports of tanks entering Beijing and shots being fired in the city as part of what is said to have been a high-level political battle among party leaders - and even a possible military coup.
The Internet discussions included photos posted online of tanks and other military vehicles moving around Beijing.
The reports followed the ouster last week of senior Politburo member and Chongqing Party Secretary Bo Xilai, who was linked to corruption, but who is said to remain close to China’s increasingly nationalistic military.
Chinese microblogging sites Sina Weibo, QQ Weibo, and the bulletin board of the search engine Baidu all reported “abnormalities” in Beijing on the night of March 19.
The comments included rumors of the downfall of the Shanghai leadership faction and a possible “military coup,” along with reports of gunfire on Beijing’s Changan Street. The reports were quickly removed by Chinese censors shortly after postings and could no longer be accessed by Wednesday. more
From NTDTV:
UPDATE: Sources are confirming that Bo Xilai's name has been removed from Chinese search engines and is no longer a searchable phrase. "Coup" has also been removed. Chinese reporters have reported sightings of military vehicles driving around in Beijing.
UPDATE: No new information has emerged on this situation. Major western media outlets are dismissing the story as just rumour, yet also suggest that the entire story isn't yet known. All online statements regarding this situation remain censored in China. We will keep tabs.
Interestingly, the Wall Street Journal had this to say: "Rumors of a coup in Beijing ricocheted around the Chinese Internet on Tuesday and even caused the cost of credit default swaps on Chinese debt to rise slightly. That's remarkable considering there wasn't one iota of evidence that shots were fired at the Diaoyutai State Guest House or tanks were taking to the streets, as viral microblog posts had it." One must wonder, however, how difficult it would be to acquire such evidence in a nation that censors anything threatening the status quo.
The Washington Times and several other media outlets are reporting that some sort of military coup is underway in Beijing after Chinese bloggers reported "gunfire" and the movement of tanks through the Capital following the ousting of Bo Xilai. These citizen reports have since been censored and immediately deleted.
The Coming Crisis examined this situation further and have discovered that Bo Xilai may indeed been at odds with the Communist Party, and may possibly have been preparing his own private army to back his political faction.
We will continue following this story as its develops to determine its authenticity and possible fall out. So far, it seems legitimate. If you are in China or near Beijing, please email us immediately with any further information on this situation.
From the Washington Times:
U.S. intelligence agencies monitoring China’s Internet say that from March 14 to Wednesday bloggers circulated alarming reports of tanks entering Beijing and shots being fired in the city as part of what is said to have been a high-level political battle among party leaders - and even a possible military coup.
The Internet discussions included photos posted online of tanks and other military vehicles moving around Beijing.
The reports followed the ouster last week of senior Politburo member and Chongqing Party Secretary Bo Xilai, who was linked to corruption, but who is said to remain close to China’s increasingly nationalistic military.
Chinese microblogging sites Sina Weibo, QQ Weibo, and the bulletin board of the search engine Baidu all reported “abnormalities” in Beijing on the night of March 19.
The comments included rumors of the downfall of the Shanghai leadership faction and a possible “military coup,” along with reports of gunfire on Beijing’s Changan Street. The reports were quickly removed by Chinese censors shortly after postings and could no longer be accessed by Wednesday. more
From NTDTV:
Indian footballer Drops Dead During Match
(CNN) -- A footballer in India has collapsed and died during a match after apparently suffering a cardiac arrest.
The news comes days after a young footballer experienced a similar attack during an FA Cup match in England.
Bolton Wanderers midfielder Fabrice Muamba remains in critical condition in a London hospital after effectively dying for 78 minutes when his heart stopped during the game against Tottenham Hotspur.
'Muamba dead for 78 minutes'
According to the All India Football Federation (AIFF), Bangalore Mars Football Club striker Venkatesh collapsed towards the end of a game Wednesday against South Western Railway in the Bangalore District Football Association 'A' Division after coming on as a substitute. He was 27.
With no doctor or ambulance nearby, teammates and the club's physio attended to the player, who was by now having fits, fellow player Janardhan said, according to a report in the Times of India. Read More
Al Qaeda leader: Afghans must rise up
(CNN) -- Al Qaeda leader Ayman al-Zawahiri calls on Afghans to rise up against Western troops -- especially American forces -- in their country and back the Taliban, according to a recent audio message posted on jihadist web forums Wednesday.The message, running more than 11 minutes in length, condemns the values of "crusader secular Western civilization" and follows a series of acts by American soldiers in Afghanistan that have been heavily publicized, including U.S. Marines urinating on the bodies of slain insurgents.
"This act represents their values," al-Zawahiri says,"and this is their view toward other people in general and the Muslims in particular, and this is their way of treating us." Read More
Chinese manufacturing weakens again
NEW YORK (CNNMoney) -- Chinese manufacturing weakened in March, with an initial reading of a key index hitting a four-month low.The weakness in the world's second-largest economy put a damper on worldwide stock markets concerned about global growth.
The purchasing managers' index that tracks Chinese manufacturing fell to 48.1 from 49.6 the prior month, according to global banking concern HSBC.
"Weakening domestic demand continued to weigh on growth," said the report, written by HSBC China economist Xiaoping Ma and chief economist for greater China Hongbin Qu. "With new export orders sluggish and domestic demand still softening, China's slowdown has yet to finish."
Any reading below the benchmark of 50 indicates contraction, while anything above 50 means growth. Read More
Renegade soldiers seize power in Mali
(CNN) -- Renegade soldiers in Mali declared Thursday that they have seized power in the West African nation and dissolved public institutions because of the government's handling of an insurgency.Soldiers wearing fatigues said on state media that they have suspended the constitution, closed the borders and imposed a curfew in the country, which U.S. officials have previously described as "one of the strongest democracies on the continent."
"Considering the incapacity of the regime in effectively fighting against terrorism and restoring dignity to the Malian people, using its constitutional rights, the armed forces of Mali, along with other security forces, have decided to take on their responsibilities to put an end to this incompetent regime of President Amadou Toumani Toure," said Amadou Konare, the spokesman for the soldiers.
Toure's whereabouts were unclear. Hours before the military announcement, the president's official government Twitter feed denied reports of an attempted coup. Read More
Free Syrian Army Torture Government suspect accused of Lying and hang another from a Tree...What makes them any Better?
Note: There have been loads of these videos for months and months and went ignored by main stream media, what has changed?
Death penalty for Staff Sgt. Bales? Not likely.....Would he have been shown this Leniency if he shot down 9 american children?
WASHINGTON (AP) -- Defense Secretary Leon Panetta says the death penalty is possible if a U.S. military court finds an Army staff sergeant guilty of gunning down Afghan children and family members. But it is not likely.History shows that the U.S. military system is slow to convict Americans, particularly service members, of alleged war crimes. And when a punishment is imposed, it can range anywhere from life in prison all the way down to house arrest. Other factors can seem to play more of a role than the crime itself.
In the case of Army Staff Sgt. Robert Bales, the suspect in the March 11 Kandahar shootings, legal experts say the 38-year-old married father of two young children could face a lengthy prison sentence if convicted of the crime, which has threatened U.S.-Afghan relations.
But on his fourth combat tour and with a head injury on his record -- the sergeant remembers little about that night, Bales' lawyer says -- he might well be shown some leniency by the military jury, even if convicted. Read More
Clinton: US still open to Taliban talks
WASHINGTON (AP) -- The Obama administration still welcomes peace talks with the Taliban despite the militants' angry claims that the United States double-crossed them in preliminary discussions, Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton said Wednesday.The Afghan insurgent group announced last week it was pulling out in frustration and accused the United States of changing the terms of the discussions. The Obama administration is trying to foster talks between the Taliban and the U.S.-backed government of Afghan President Hamid Karzai that could broker an end to the insurgency.
"The Taliban have their own choice to make, but let there be no doubt that the United States is prepared to work with all Afghans who are committed to an inclusive reconciliation process that leads toward lasting security," Clinton said. Read More
US suspends recovery of troop remains in North Korea...Relationship over already?
WASHINGTON (AP) -- The United States said Wednesday it is suspending efforts to recover remains of thousands of fallen service members in North Korea, the latest sign that a recent thaw in relations is over.The U.S. was in the process of resuming the hunt for remains missing from the 1950-53 Korean War that had been on hold since 2005, the only form of cooperation between the two militaries.
But North Korea announced plans last week to launch a satellite into space by rocket -- a step the U.S. says would violate a U.N. ban. That knocked back recent progress in negotiations on the North's nuclear program, and has jeopardized a Feb. 29 agreement in which the U.S. was to provide food aid in exchange for a nuclear freeze.
The U.S. left open the door to resuming remains recovery if the situation improves. Read More
Chloride ion detected at radioactive waste disposal site in Chiba Prefecture, Japan
KIMITSU, Chiba -- Highly concentrated chloride ion was detected in a water well at a disposal site for radioactive waste from areas affected by last year's March 11 disasters here, suggesting that water stored at the site may have leaked, it has been learned.While chloride ion is not particularly harmful, the Chiba Prefectural Government is moving quickly to perform an analysis of the situation, not excluding the possibility that radioactive cesium in the disposed materials may have also leaked.
The Chiba Prefectural Government became aware of the incident in January of this year when it detected doses of 250 to 580 milligrams of chloride ion per liter of water stored at an examination well at a radioactive disposal site in the prefectural city of Kimitsu. The doses far exceeded the 26 to 31 milligrams per liter estimated by the site's operating company Arax Group last December.
The disposal site, which is the prefecture's biggest, is used to store radioactive materials, including drain mud and ash from regions affected by the March 11, 2011 disasters. According to the prefectural government, the bottom of the site is covered with water-blocking sheets that are preventing any potential leaks to the exterior of the facility. Read More
