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tv   [untitled]    March 18, 2011 10:00am-10:30am EDT

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live. bringing you the latest in science and technology from around. the future. japan's in a race against time to prevent a nuclear disaster as a team of workers risked their lives to save the country from a radiation leak and possible meltdown of the paralyzed power plant. engineers desperately trying to restore power to the cooling systems and the head of the u.n. nuclear watchdog says japan must. closely. meanwhile beyond japan's shores panic is spreading faster than radiation people and rushers are used to stock up on preventive medicine and needlessly putting their health at risk. and g seven countries join efforts to stabilize the currency markets and bring the yen
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down from the highs not seen since world war two find out more around twenty minutes time on business. and in other news this hour libya's government declares an end to military operations just hours after the u.n. backs and british french sponsored resolution to impose a no fly zone. confusion in libya as the international community is bracing as intervention by the libyan government says it's agreed to a cease fire join me in a few moments from tripoli for more. global news twenty four seven this is r.t. live from moscow but the u.n. nuclear agency has warned of the battle to stabilize japan's crippled fukushima nuclear plant it's a race against the clock there are continuing efforts to try to cool the
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overheating reactors at the facility it was struck by a massive earthquake and tsunami a week ago on a seven stage international scale measuring the severity of the situation the emergency has been moved from four to five just two levels behind the one nine hundred eighty six chan noble disaster about it as well. right now they're still trying to reconnect power to the site so they can get those cooling systems up and running and bring the temperature down inside the reactor span seems like the only way they're now going to prevent or could be a real nuclear disaster and now focusing on reactor number two because this morning that they actually saw smoke rising from the reactor they don't know what the cause was about i don't think it was an explosion because that wasn't heard clearly the temperature inside is very hot so what they've already managed to do was to lay a power cable from the main bridge a kilometer long cable to try and restore power but they haven't managed to connect that up yet the radiation is very high still and also the. casing of the reactor
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the containment vessel was badly damaged in the explosion that happened earlier this week now in the meantime they are trying everything they can to try and keep the temperature down trying to cool the reactors there off of the first thought actually had explosions since the earthquake for example yesterday at reactor number three they doused in sixty four tons of water from a copter from above and water cannons from below and earlier this morning the tokyo fire department they sent thirty fire engines so the throwing everything they got at least the head of the u.n. nuclear watchdog the international atomic energy agency who's in tokyo right now meeting with the japanese prime minister he came out and said that to prevent this turning into a full scale nuclear disaster they're going to have to cooperate with the international help that government spokesman mr dunn who is the chief cabinet secretary has come out and said that although there are very high radiation readings in some places he says that it doesn't pose
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a direct negative effect to one's health because in these places it's not coming into direct human contact however a number of countries actually don't believe this and what they are doing is actually wanting their citizens not to go within fifty kilometers of a nuclear power plant whereas the japanese government has imposed an exclusion zone of twenty kilometers tell. residents who in thirty can stay away and yes i'm with something coast a little bit from the east coast who was fukushima we think i'd count on to see what residents the. this is a town of o.-r. i-a around halfway between tokyo and fukushima i'm still a hundred fifty kilometers south of the nuclear power plant but already the radiation levels here over double that of those in tokyo the geiger counter i've got just started beating wildly and shots up to no point five microsleep it's per hour it's not harmful to one's health especially just yet but it is certainly a concern so much so that the army has started to hand out these face masks here
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that people are wearing you know that they're not going to hear their well very afraid of the radiation but who can do very much vaunted all we can do is follow the media and trust the government is. this is normally did actually come in this far inland but the town escaped most of the damage however since the earthquake they've been without drinking water here in the residents have to come and fill up the water they need from points like this in the town that have been set up by the army further up the coast it's a similar story we've been travelling along this road for the last ten fifteen kilometers looking for a place to have lunch but none of the restaurants are open all of the. truth seeking of the week until we can loop and we have electricity because we can't do anything without water. this is the start of japan's ravaged east coast norene life by the day every just lies strewn all over the place here so walls collapsed over here thousands of fallen down such as the force of the tsunami this is also the point where we're going to turn back because big oil account is reading the highest
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it has done all day one point zero four might receive its place how important my fear is that i won't be able to live here anymore and this is my home obviously i feel for my health with the radiation but it's not just about that i'm afraid i will be able to come back here we're only around a hundred and twenty kilometers south of fukushima power plant now if the wind blows this way and even worse if the rain comes in the radiation will shortz arrive to inform us that he's our better reporter right that the fate of millions of japanese now lies in the hands of just a few dozen men known as the faceless fifty a team of workers putting their lives on the line to stop a nuclear disaster from a planet for on this we cannot talk to alex care who is an american writer and an expert on japanese culture. so you're an expert on the culture of japan you've been there for more than what thirty five years now can you talk to me about the
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mindset of the faceless fifty those emergency workers who are ultimately risking their lives to save the country. i don't think there's any other words he has for them and said heroes of course they come out of the japanese tradition of government which needs to persevere be strong don't give up think of world war two japanese fox. bravely until the end i think that that strong mindset of keeping us. in face of all difficulties is still here when we talk about our strong mindset and you mentioned world war two we get it we saw it not because i just decimated and yet japan went on to become arguably one of the most advanced countries on the planet but we're going to see the same mindset again they're going to recover and move forward with strength. though and much i think the economy will certainly be found i'm not sure that it will rebound in the same way as it did after the war and i think it's because this time we have
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a background of twenty years of stagnation and so to me we found that probably that state if that holds in the fridge so i left a little bit that's a cost i mean the government interest for a moment if i may as a japanese government insists that it's not withholding any information about the radiation levels or how dangerous it is although the threat level has been raised to five out of seven just are not far behind that of the category which noble others suggest though it's. being less than truthful what's your take on that it become an imposing a policy of science. well i don't think that it's a clear cut policy but there is a long tradition within the nuclear industry and town. of hating or at least. twisting or misinterpreting the evidence one example is raising it's a five it's been four for a long time which was the level of three mile island there where there was nuclear radiation but no nuclear material released into the environment this one is at mass
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amounts of nuclear materials huge radiation and only now wrenchingly is appraised five in it of course most people believe it should be six so there is still an attempt to play it down kids are newspaper yesterday had an article in which they pointed to the plume of white smoke coming out of one of the reactors and they said the government is saying it's a plume of white smoke but they really mean is explosions. all right now and you talk about radioactive contamination into the atmosphere and into the water you jest that there is a sudden method by the government here to play down what could potentially be an absolute catastrophe do you see the situation escalated into a total meltdown and. i think that's completely unpredictable i think what we can be sure of is that this mess will take weeks maybe months to clear up it's
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it's really very serious much more than in the government is that it's. all right alex curran expert on japanese culture thank you very much for your time thank you . russia may be willing to help japanese citizens who have been left without employment following last week's earthquake and tsunami president dmitri but he says they could be considered for a job vacancies in russia's far east let's get some details now on this from r.t. to you got a person who is a standing by so you go to tell us more about the president's offer what you. call the president has offered or wide range of assistance to japan which includes sending medical food and water supplies also experts in nuclear technology to help deal with the crisis around the fukushima nuclear power plants affected by this horrific disaster the president also said there to those in need of other help will be able to undergo rehabilitation courses in various parts of russia and also said
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that the people that lost their jobs in this disaster may be able to find them also here in russia because russia. we have to think about the labor potential of our neighbors if need be especially in the sparsely populated areas of siberia and the far east it would make sense for us and could be a way out for those affected by the disaster. is safe to say that many countries and dean times international community is now monitoring the situation in japan many countries sending their help to help the japanese cope with his disaster previously russia's emergencies ministry also sent several teams of rescuers and specialists who are still clearly working there on the spot in some of the affected areas and pretty much this disaster really affected the entire
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northern pacific region and russia as. russia suffering region in the far east is still on a high alert especially with the threat of nuclear contamination. remaining the media also ordered a local authorities to continue monitoring the situation and inform the local population of any developments because as my colleague here reports sometimes can be more dangerous than the threat itself. in the news arriving from japan is very worrying and we are closing nuclear plants the other day missions of disaster and difficulties it's hard not to be gripped by panic when the world's high and mighty are sounding the alarm the clue so you are typical shima the bigger your chances of peaking out the panic virus which is spreading more so they are not a physicist or a doctor people in russia's far is divided from japan by
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a strip of water four hundred miles across but the quickest to react. but my friend called me and said that she's leaving the city i'm not in such panic yet but i'm already taking iodine just in case. but radiation levels remain completely normal and doctors are forced into sounding a different kind of alarm is that the president says that if anything really serious happens there things like consuming large amounts of oil going all red wine that's what people often say they're going to do such things won't help quite the reverse they may seriously damage their health because i don't function and it may well happen and probably will as well everything in japan goes back to normal many of our people will have problems with their thawing plans. everyone wants to be on top of official reports preparing for the unknown many go even further buying
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personal radiation meters geiger counters price is no object. in the last three days we sold out there a monthly stock of geiger counters we now have to turn to our suppliers for an additional shipment of taking reasonable precautions there's no better think at all unless panic threatens to become worse than the catastrophe itself that was the case with the outbreak of the h one n one swine flu virus which helped drugs companies earn billions today in russia spar is the transport companies and pharmacies are cashing in on the pike but at stake is the region's largest business fishing. it accounts for eighty percent of little stocks a corner me russia's largest city on the pacific ocean local restaurants offering fresh seafood from the waters off japan are already losing clients customers are afraid of radioactive fish even histeria continues wholesale fish markets could be
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next to suffer meaning no silver lining to a radioactive clouds that may never arrive exit integrator r.t.d. got stuck. we can always follow the latest news from japan on our twitter and facebook pages because it links to our video coverage on a minute by minute updates. if. you are with r.t. about the rapidly developing situation in libya right now it's the government says it's declaring ceasefire and an end to all military operations that comes as france
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the u.k. and other countries prepared to enforce a no fly zone over libya after receiving backing the u.n. security council out its policy has more from the capital tripoli libya is a fully fledged member of the united nations and as such it is obliged to accept all u.n. resolutions not a prime minister a reform a statement he was fierce to take questions from any of the supporters who were there but he did state that the country was offering all humanitarian aid and he said it was obliged to protect foreigners and foreign assets interests he also again urged for dialogue he said it was important that all lines of communication were open and he again urged the international community to stay in fact finding missions here from the foreign minister in size in that when these international missions can they will be able to establish for themselves the facts on the ground and understand the libyan opposition better what this means though for the international community we haven't yet heard in the sponsor but certainly no on
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this morning statement that the situation here in tripoli has been tense because this has been concerned in terms of what it means if in the coming hours a no fly zone is implemented in benghazi itself. the the celebrations there have continued since they saw late last night when every citizen was announced with a fire where they could use a visit you find in celebration people they very satisfied that the international community is finally coming to the suspense of the real fight is over many fearing that it might be a little bit too late you know in tripoli so you very different situation people are angry people are cautious and it is interesting that the foreign minister has now stepped forward and core for a cease fire because it flies in the face of what we're hearing from the duffy and his sons themselves that they would say that they will be acts with me they will be immediately and they will retaliate to these international calls for a no fly zone question in france has been at the first month of question for it because there's some both governments think that they won't be able to deploy the forces in really coming out with what is one of the expectations on the ground is
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that we could see a no fly zone being implemented as soon as today but it remains to be seen what happens now in light of the foreign minister's comments that it was five countries at the u.n. that abstained from enforcing this no fly zone among them was russia the russian ambassador to the u.n. explaining the russian position but it wasn't just the images of the a whole range of questions raised by the russian federation and other security council members remain questions which were both concrete and legitimate questions regarding how the no fly zone would be enforced would the rules of engagement would be limits to the use of force visions were introduced into the text potentially opening the door to a large scale military intervention responsibility for the inevitable humanitarian consequences of the excessive use of outside force in libya is willful fair and square on the shoulders of those who might undertake such actions if this happens then not only the civilian population it. holding peace and security throughout the whole region of north africa and the middle east will suffer there's
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a need to avoid such destabilizing develop an institution because of course we haven't yet seen any differences on terms of the realities here on the ground since the announcement of the no fly zone late last night as. since this recent announcement by the foreign minister of a cease fire fighting does continue in misrata which is the third largest city here we continue to hear reports there was people being killed at the same time the town of bin garvey remains on high alert the last word from the government specifically related to benghazi was that it was nothing but that its troops were going to circle the town and it was then going to stand police and special units specifically and to tour with sweets inside to deal with the situation so really it remains to be seen what actually develops in the coming always. reporting researching that libyan civilians are pissed of a priority for the international community including the u.s. but the weeks long are. receiving equal attention with authorities severely
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crackdown on anti-government protests reported preventing demonstrators from receiving medical help. expose the difference and. god is great. the final words of this purported peaceful protesters in bahrain. before he appears to be shot allegedly by bus trainee security forces since martial law was declared this week the bahraini government has crackdown on pro-democracy protesters clearing them out of pearl square where they've been demonstrating. and birol videos the details can't be confirmed have been surfacing on the internet appearing to show police shooting protesters. point blank it's reminiscent of another uprising against an autocrat i want to address the situation in libya when images in reports of violence against protesters they could daughtry's hands in libya reach the u.s. we saw the president take
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a stand. margaret i think has lost legitimacy to lead and you must leave early on president obama called for plans for a no fly zone over libya now here at the united nations the security council has since taken the lead on that but meanwhile the united states has already sent warships along with humanitarian aid in libya so actually it's levied tough economic sanctions on the country essentially freezing it out of the u.s. banking system and reports suggest the u.s. has also played a more cofer role in the north african conflict an opposition that the cia has. thirty here use right now. the city of benghazi according to people in direct. untacked with activists on the ground in bahrain they too are begging for help from the u.s. .
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the u.s. has a military base in the island country the navy's powerful fifth fleet and six thousand troops are stationed there and in response to the brutal crackdown the u.s. president has wielded his authority to pick up the phone and call the king of bahrain the president expressed his deep concern over the violence in bahrain and stressed the need for maximum restraint words the forces on the ground now backed by one thousand saudi arabian troops don't appear to be listening to critics say the talk doesn't amount to any help for the bahraini people it amounts to this absolutely there's a double standard in the way the u.s. deals with friend versus foe unlike libya the brain is a strong u.s. ally in the oil rich persian gulf it's all about oil it's also all about geo political military strategy of the us has a lot of military assets in the persian gulf right now and we want to make sure
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they stay there u.s. interests coming at the cost of people's lives and if the cost of the values of human rights and democracy the u.s. claims to care so much about all of the blood is worthless and blood is more important it's just critical of. course it goes against everything we believe in this fantasy but you're looking at american. gunships. and protesters in the girl and that is where the united states stands on the issue tacitly behind autocrats. or against depending on the threat to us to interests not to lives lauren mr r.t. new york. continuing our coverage of unrest across the arab world and at least thirty have died in the capital of yemen after security forces opened fire on government protesters scores more were wounded as police attempted to prevent demonstrators leaving some now is the main square protesters have been demanding
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that president ali abdullah saleh a stand down in a number of rallies over recent weeks usually met with the police response so. i've ricos where i would use is have reported tanks and troops destroying cars i'm buildings in the capital your problems are deadly mortar attack thirty people will die the attack happened in a district held by fighters opposed to a disputed president both is opponent us and you know what is the internationally recognized winner of last november's elections. and sounds of foreign office has launched a strong protest with the american ambassador to the country after a botched drone attack killed forty four civilians the ministry called the attack on it sceptical and a violation of humanitarian. most of the elders and policeman taking part in an open meeting but as a whole series of drone attacks leading to civilian casualties in the country. are
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now tied for the business news with them for trying. you know what your business is good to have your company finance ministers from the g. seven a group of the world's richest nations have agreed to step into currency markets and try to control japan's currency is the first time in a decade of the g seven have jointly intervened in the money markets on wednesday the yen hit its highest level against the dollar since world war two strengthening to seventy six and a quarter in u.s. trading but it fell back in later sessions currently trading at around eighty two dollars and the say coordinated effort by the world's biggest economies would have a bigger impact than the japanese central bank acting alone meanwhile the bank of japan injected another thirty seven billion dollars into the markets on friday to try and shore up confidence and surely the pan central bank has already injected hundreds of billions of dollars into the country's financial sector. to get the
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market's reaction to start with asia traditionally this week a reaction to the g seven intervention to curb the yen so japanese shares jumped nearly three percent while the currency itself tumbled investors were also showing some optimism but further radiation leak which could be contained at the publisher even nuclear plant stock markets elsewhere in asia also rose in the g seven to stabilize global markets on aung sang saying put out just point one percent u.s. markets are up for a third straight session as tensions in libya seem to me down is a broad positive movement but industrial companies so the biggest gain is this hour with caterpillar and general electric putting on more than two percent in europe similar picture markets are on the rise investors appreciating improvements in world stocks and commodity markets utilities and miners are leading the way in london while it's up to half a cent on the dax here russia's stock markets are in for another fifteen minutes of trading or slightly retreating from earlier games in the morning out of the r.t.s. is getting hard percent down by just an oil related stocks and leading the upward
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trend as commodity prices are still high. i think a lot of those banks are also. top gainers burbank up one half percent lukoil up point six percent you can see that on the night gazprom is retreating however one percent bucking the general trend. crude prices are retreating at the moment from early gains brant is down eighty cents light sweet forty six this is libya's foreign minister declared a cease fire so the government would stop military operations situation is the plan is also in the spotlight as reconstruction the quake hit one tree is also likely to swirl demand given the extent of damages energy analysts working on prepared says the upward trend is not a. good possibility that. he's going to resume normality in the next week i don't think it's possible so we need to continue to count production out of the world's supply situation. if
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hangs on for a long time and then the currency would prevent a lot of that oil moving so that creates a situation to the upside and we shouldn't forget as well that the situation in the middle east is kind of very unstable rain mail and we have seen for instance troops coming in into bahrain so all these things will continue to create a situation for the upside in markets it's all business news we have for you this hour join me again next hour for an update rory is next with headlines.
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most of the cooling in new the latest in science technology from around russia. we've dumped the future of coverage in the czech republic and he's available in generally hotel and science central hotel premier of the new sun most regal full stop by you to which i am a taste in bosnia and herzegovina available in hotel business and the children of each hotel kubic but you know to put you know so tell be.

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