Rocking: March 2011

Tuesday, March 29, 2011

Friendship

"Friend" redirects here. For other uses, see Friend (disambiguation).

For other uses, see Friendship (disambiguation).

Friends at ease

Friendship is a form of interpersonal relationship generally considered to be closer than association, although there is a range of degrees of intimacy in both friendships and associations. Friendship and association can be thought of as spanning across the same continuum. The study of friendship is included in the fields of sociology, social psychology, anthropology, philosophy, and zoology. Various academic theories of friendship have been proposed, among which are social exchange theory, equity theory, relational dialectics, and attachment styles.

Wednesday, March 16, 2011

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wonders

Colosseum in Rome Italy

The Colosseum, or the Coliseum, originally the Flavian Amphitheatre (Latin: Amphitheatrum Flavium, Italian Anfiteatro Flavio or Colosseo), is an elliptical amphitheatre in the centre of the city of Rome, Italy, the largest ever built in the Roman Empire. It is considered one of the greatest works of Roman architecture and Roman engineering.
Occupying a site just east of the Roman Forum, its construction started in 72 AD^[1] under the emperor Vespasian and was completed in 80 AD under Titus,^[2] with further modifications being made during Domitian's reign (81–96).^[3] The name "Amphitheatrum Flavium" derives from both Vespasian's and Titus's family name (Flavius, from the gens Flavia).
Capable of seating 50,000 spectators,^[4]^[5] the Colosseum was used for gladiatorial contests and public spectacles such as mock sea battles, animal hunts, executions, re-enactments of famous battles, and dramas based on Classical mythology. The building ceased to be used for entertainment in the early medieval era. It was later reused for such purposes as housing, workshops, quarters for a religious order, a fortress, a quarry, and a Christian shrine.

Although in the 21st century it stays partially ruined because of damage caused by devastating earthquakes and stone-robbers, the Colosseum is an iconic symbol of Imperial Rome. It is one of Rome's most popular tourist attractions and still has close connections with the Roman Catholic Church, as each Good Friday the Pope leads a torchlit "Way of the Cross" procession that starts in the area around the Colosseum.^[6]

The Great Wall of China

The Great Wall of China is a series of stone and earthen fortifications in northern China, built originally to protect the northern borders of the Chinese Empire against intrusions by various nomadic groups. Several walls have been built since the 5th century BC that are referred to collectively as the Great Wall, which has been rebuilt and maintained from the 5th century BC through the 16th century. One of the most famous is the wall built between 220–206 BC by the first Emperor of China, Qin Shi Huang. Little of that wall remains; the majority of the existing wall was built during the Ming Dynasty.

The Great Wall stretches from Shanhaiguan in the east, to Lop Nur in the west, along an arc that roughly delineates the southern edge of Inner Mongolia. The most comprehensive archaeological survey, using advanced technologies, has concluded that the entire Great Wall, with all of its branches, stretches for 8,851.8 km (5,500.3 mi). This is made up of 6,259.6 km (3,889.5 mi) sections of actual wall, 359.7 km (223.5 mi) of trenches and 2,232.5 km (1,387.2 mi) of natural defensive barriers such as hills and rivers.^[2]^[3]^[4]

Petra

This article is about the Jordanian site of Petra. For other uses, see Petra (disambiguation).

Petra
The Treasury at Petra
Location:	Ma'an Governorate, Jordan
Coordinates:	30°19′43″N 35°26′31″E / 30.32861°N 35.44194°E / 30.32861; 35.44194Coordinates: 30°19′43″N 35°26′31″E / 30.32861°N 35.44194°E / 30.32861; 35.44194
Elevation:	810 m (2,657 ft)
Settled:	7000 BC^[1]
Built:	1200 BC^[1]
Visitation:	580,000 (in 2007)
Governing body:	Petra Region Authority
UNESCO World Heritage Site
Type:	Cultural
Criteria:	i, iii, iv
Designated:	1985 (9th session)
Reference #:	326
State Party:	Jordan
Region:	Arab States
website:	http://www.petrapark.com/
Location of Petra in Jordan

Petra (Greek "πέτρα" (petra), meaning rock; Arabic: البتراء, Al-Batrāʾ) is a historical and archaeological city in the Jordanian governorate of Ma'an that is known for its rock cut architecture and water conduits system. Established sometime around the 6th century BC as the capital city of the Nabataeans,^[2] it is a symbol of Jordan as well as its most visited tourism attraction.^[2] It lies on the slope of Mount Hor^[3] in a basin among the mountains which form the eastern flank of Arabah (Wadi Araba), the large valley running from the Dead Sea to the Gulf of Aqaba. Petra has been a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1985.

The site remained unknown to the Western world until 1812, when it was introduced by Swiss explorer Johann Ludwig Burckhardt. It was described as "a rose-red city half as old as time" in a Newdigate Prize-winning sonnet by John William Burgon. UNESCO has described it as "one of the most precious cultural properties of man's cultural heritage."^[4] Petra was chosen by the BBC as one of "the 40 places you have to see before you die".^[5]

Machu Picchu Mayan Ruins in Peru

Machu Picchu (Quechua: Machu Pikchu [ˈmɑtʃu ˈpixtʃu], "Old Peaks") is a pre-Columbian 15th-century Inca site located 2,430 metres (7,970 ft) above sea level.^[1]^[2] It is situated on a mountain ridge above the Urubamba Valley in Peru, which is 80 kilometres (50 mi) northwest of Cusco and through which the Urubamba River flows. Most archaeologists believe that Machu Picchu was built as an estate for the Inca emperor Pachacuti (1438–1472). Often referred to as "The Lost City of the Incas", it is perhaps the most familiar icon of the Inca World.
The Incas started building the "estate" around AD 1400 but abandoned it as an official site for the Inca rulers a century later at the time of the Spanish Conquest. Although known locally, it was unknown to the outside world before being brought to international attention in 1911 by the American historian Hiram Bingham. Since then, Machu Picchu has become an important tourist attraction.
Since the site was never known to the Spanish during their conquest, it is highly significant as a relatively intact cultural site. Machu Picchu was declared a Peruvian Historical Sanctuary in 1981 and a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1983.^[2] In 2007, Machu Picchu was voted one of the New Seven Wonders of the World in a worldwide Internet poll.
Machu Picchu was built in the classical Inca style, with polished dry-stone walls. Its three primary buildings are the Intihuatana, the Temple of the Sun, and the Room of the Three Windows. These are located in what is known by archaeologists as the Sacred District of Machu Picchu. In September 2007, Peru and Yale University almost reached an agreement regarding the return of artifacts which Yale has held since Hiram Bingham removed them from Machu Picchu in the early 20th century. In November 2010, a Yale University representative agreed to return the artifacts to a Peruvian university.[3

The Taj Mahal Palace in India

The Taj Mahal (

/ˈtɑːdʒ məˈhɑːl/;^[1] Hindi: ताज महल, from Persian/Urdu: تاج محل "crown of buildings", pronounced [ˈt̪aːdʒ mɛˈɦɛl]; also "the Taj"^[2]) is a mausoleum located in Agra, India. It is one of the most recognizable structures in the world.^{[citation needed]} It was built by Mughal emperor Shah Jahan in memory of his third wife, Mumtaz Mahal. It is widely considered as one of the most beautiful buildings in the world and stands as a symbol of eternal love.
Taj Mahal is the finest example of Mughal architecture, a style that combines elements from Persian, Islamic and Indian architectural styles.^[3]^[4]

In 1983, the Taj Mahal became a UNESCO World Heritage Site. While the white domed marble mausoleum is the most familiar component of the Taj Mahal, it is actually an integrated complex of structures. The construction began around 1632 and was completed around 1653, employing thousands of artisans and craftsmen.^[5] The construction of the Taj Mahal was entrusted to a board of architects under imperial supervision, including Abd ul-Karim Ma'mur Khan, Makramat Khan, and Ustad Ahmad Lahauri.^[6]^[7] Lahauri^[8] is generally considered to be the principal designer.^[9]

Chichen Itza Mayan Ruins in Yucatan Peninsula Mexico

Chichen Itza (pronounced /tʃiːˈtʃɛn iːˈtsɑː/;^[1] from Yucatec Maya: Chi'ch'èen Ìitsha',^[2] "at the mouth of the well of the Itza") is a large pre-Columbian archaeological site built by the Maya civilization located in the northern center of the Yucatán Peninsula, in the Yucatán state, present-day Mexico.
Chichen Itza was a major focal point in the northern Maya lowlands from the Late Classic through the Terminal Classic and into the early portion of the Early Postclassic period. The site exhibits a multitude of architectural styles, from what is called “Mexicanized” and reminiscent of styles seen in central Mexico to the Puuc style found among the Puuc Maya of the northern lowlands. The presence of central Mexican styles was once thought to have been representative of direct migration or even conquest from central Mexico, but most contemporary interpretations view the presence of these non-Maya styles more as the result of cultural diffusion.

The ruins of Chichen Itza are federal property, and the site’s stewardship is maintained by Mexico’s Instituto Nacional de Antropología e Historia (National Institute of Anthropology and History, INAH). The land under the monuments had been privately-owned until March 29, 2010, when it was purchased by the state of Yucatan.^[3]

Christ the Redeemer Statue in Rio de Janeiro Brazil

Christ the Redeemer (Portuguese: Cristo Redentor) is a statue of Jesus Christ in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil; considered the second largest Art Deco statue in the world.^[1]^[2] The statue is 39.6 metres (130 ft) tall, including its 9.5 meter (31 feet) pedestal, and 30 metres (98 ft) wide. It weighs 635 tonnes (700 short tons), and is located at the peak of the 700-metre (2,300 ft) Corcovado mountain in the Tijuca Forest National Park overlooking the city. A symbol of Christianity, the statue has become an icon of Rio and Brazil.^[3] It is made of reinforced concrete and soapstone, and was constructed between 1922 and 1931.^[1]^[4]^[5]

Mausoleum of Halicarnassus located in Turkey Mausoleum of Halicarnassus

The Mausoleum at Halicarnassus or Tomb of Mausolus^[1] (in Greek, Μαυσωλεῖον τῆς Ἁλικαρνασσοῦ) was a tomb built between 353 and 350 BC at Halicarnassus (present Bodrum, Turkey) for Mausolus, a satrap in the Persian Empire, and Artemisia II of Caria, his wife and sister. The structure was designed by the Greek architects Satyros and Pythis.^[2]^[3] It stood approximately 45 m (148 ft) in height, and each of the four sides was adorned with sculptural reliefs created by each one of four Greek sculptors — Leochares, Bryaxis, Scopas of Paros and Timotheus.^[4] The finished structure was considered to be such an aesthetic triumph that Antipater of Sidon identified it as one of his Seven Wonders of the Ancient World.

The word mausoleum has now come to be used generically for any grand tomb.

Lighthouse of Alexandria in Greece

The Lighthouse of Alexandria, also known as the Pharos of Alexandria, was a tower built between 280 and 247 BC on the island of Pharos at Alexandria, Egypt. Its purpose was to guide sailors into the harbour at night time.
With a height variously estimated at between 393 and 450 ft (120 and 140 m), it was for many centuries among the tallest manmade structures on Earth. It was one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World.

Colossus of Rhodes in Rhodes Greece

This article is about the statue. For the film by Sergio Leone, see Il Colosso di Rodi. For the children's novel, see The Colossus of Rhodes (novel). For the basketball club, see Kolossos Rodou BC.

Drawing of Colossus of Rhodes, illustrated in the Grolier Society's 1911 Book of Knowledge..

Colossus of Rhodes, imagined in a 16th-century engraving by Martin Heemskerck, part of his series of the Seven Wonders of the World.

The Colossus of Rhodes was a statue of the Greek god Helios, erected in the city of Rhodes on the Greek island of Rhodes by Chares of Lindos between 292 and 280 BC. It is considered one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World. It was constructed to celebrate Rhodes' victory over the ruler of Cyprus, Antigonus I Monophthalmus, who unsuccessfully besieged Rhodes in 305 BC. Before its destruction, the Colossus of Rhodes stood over 30 meters (107 ft) high, making it one of the tallest statues of the ancient world.^[1]

Statue of Zeus in Olympia Greece Statue of Zeus at Olympia

The seated statue, some 12 metres (43 feet) tall, occupied half of the width of the aisle of the temple built to house it. "It seems that if Zeus were to stand up," the geographer Strabo noted early in the 1st century BC, "he would unroof the temple."^[2] The Zeus was a chryselephantine sculpture, made of ivory and gold-plated bronze. No copy in marble or bronze has survived, though there are recognizable but approximate versions on coins of nearby Elis and on Roman coins and engraved gems.^[3] A very detailed description of the sculpture and its throne was recorded by the traveler Pausanias, in the 2nd century AD. The sculpture was wreathed with shoots of olive worked in gold and seated on a magnificent throne of cedarwood, inlaid with ivory, gold, ebony and precious stones. In Zeus' right hand there was a small statue of crowned Nike, goddess of victory, also chryselephantine, and in his left hand, a sceptre inlaid with gold, on which an eagle perched.^[4] Plutarch, in his Life of the Roman general Aemilius Paulus, records that the victor over Macedon, when he beheld the statue, “was moved to his soul, as if he had seen the god in person,” while the 1st century AD Greek orator Dio Chrysostom declared that a single glimpse of the statue would make a man forget all his earthly troubles.^[5]

Roman Seated Zeus, marble and bronze (restored), following the type established by Phidias (Hermitage Museum)

The date of the statue, in the third quarter of the 5th century BC, long a subject of debate, was confirmed archaeologically by the rediscovery and excavation of Phidias' workshop.
According to a legend, when Phidias was asked what inspired him—whether he climbed Mount Olympus to see Zeus, or whether Zeus came down from Olympus so that Pheidias could see him—the artist answered that he portrayed Zeus according to Book One, verses 528 – 530 of Homer's Iliad: ^[6]

Coin of Elis illustrating the Olympian Zeus (Nordisk familjebok)

ἦ καὶ κυανέῃσιν ἐπ' ὀφρύσι νεῦσε Κρονίων

ἀμβρόσιαι δ' ἄρα χαῖται ἐπερρώσαντο ἄνακτος

κρατὸς ἀπ' ἀθανάτοιο μέγαν δ' ἐλέλιξεν Ὄλυμπον.

He spoke, the son of Kronos, and nodded his head with the dark brows,

and the immortally anointed hair of the great god

swept from his divine head, and all Olympos was shaken.^[7]

The sculptor also was reputed to have immortalised his eromenos, Pantarkes, by carving "Pantarkes kalos" into the god's little finger, and placing a relief of the boy crowning himself at the feet of the statue.^[8]

Temple of Artemis in Turkey

The Temple of Artemis (Greek: Ἀρτεμίσιον, or Artemision), also known less precisely as the Temple of Diana, was a Greek temple dedicated to a goddess Greeks identified as Artemis. It was sited at Ephesus (the modern town of Selçuk in present-day Turkey), and was completely rebuilt three times before its eventual destruction in 401 by St John Chrysostom, archbishop of Ephesus, who incited a mob of Christians to completely destroy the temple.^[1] Only foundations and sculptural fragments of the latest of the temples at the site remain.
The first sanctuary (temenos) antedated the Ionic immigration by many years, and dates to the Bronze Age. Callimachus, in his Hymn to Artemis, attributed it to the Amazons. In the seventh century the old temple was destroyed by a flood. Its reconstruction began around 550 BC, under the Cretan architect Chersiphron and his son Metagenes, at the expense of Croesus of Lydia: the project took some 120 years to complete, only to be destroyed in an act of arson by the infamous Herostratus. It was again rebuilt, and became one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World

Antipater of Sidon, who compiled the list of the Seven Wonders, describes the finished temple:

Hanging Gardens of Babylon in Iraq

The Hanging Gardens of Babylon are considered to be one of the original Seven Wonders of the Ancient World. They were built in the ancient city-state of Babylon, near present-day Al Hillah, Babil, in Iraq. They are sometimes called the Hanging Gardens of Semiramis (in reference to the legendary Queen Semiramis).
The gardens were supposedly built by the Babylonian king Nebuchadnezzar II around 600 BC. He is reported to have constructed the gardens to please his homesick wife, Amytis of Media, who longed for the trees and fragrant plants of her homeland.^[1] The gardens were destroyed by several earthquakes after the 2nd century BC.

The lush Hanging Gardens are extensively documented by Greek historians such as Strabo and Diodorus Siculus. Through the ages, the location may have been confused with gardens that existed at Nineveh, since tablets from there clearly show gardens. Writings on these tablets describe the possible use of something similar to an Archimedes screw as a process of raising the water to the required height.^[2] Nebuchadnezzar II also used massive slabs of stone, which was unheard of in Babylon, to prevent the water from eroding the ground.

Great Pyramid of Giza

The Great Pyramid of Giza (also called the Pyramid of Khufu and the Pyramid of Cheops) is the oldest and largest of the three pyramids in the Giza Necropolis bordering what is now El Giza, Egypt. It is the oldest of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World, and the only one to remain largely intact. Egyptologists believe that the pyramid was built as a tomb for fourth dynasty Egyptian Pharaoh Khufu^[1] (Cheops in Greek) and constructed over a 14 to 20-year period concluding around 2560 BC. Initially at 146.5 metres (480.6 ft), the Great Pyramid was the tallest man-made structure in the world for over 3,800 years, the longest period of time ever held for such a record. Originally, the Great Pyramid was covered by casing stones that formed a smooth outer surface; what is seen today is the underlying core structure. Some of the casing stones that once covered the structure can still be seen around the base. There have been varying scientific and alternative theories about the Great Pyramid's construction techniques. Most accepted construction hypotheses are based on the idea that it was built by moving huge stones from a quarry and dragging and lifting them into place.

Ocean thrust under UN flag

OUR SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT

New Delhi, March 16: The defence ministry has proposed an aggressive counter-piracy role for navies under the UN flag because an increase in the number of attacks on merchant vessels “in the Indian Ocean Region is an issue of serious concern”.

The ministry’s annual report, tabled in Parliament today, gives its assessment of India’s security environment. Since its overview in the last report, the defence ministry has identified the presence of Somali pirates around India’s western island territories (Lakshadweep and Minicoy) as “an unwelcome development which requires heightened vigil”.

The cabinet committee on security has met twice since last week to assign a pro- active counter-piracy role for the navy and approve standard operating procedures and rules of engagement for the task.

“India is in favour of strengthening multilateral co-operation under a UN framework to meet the complex challenges to maritime security,” says the report for 2010-2011.

“The threat of piracy emerging from Somali waters continues to endanger the safety of the sea lanes and is a matter of concern for the international community,” the ministry said.

“The spread of piracy to areas close to our western seaboard has made this a cause of great concern,” it emphasised.

The navy has been on a counter-piracy patrol in the Gulf of Aden since October 2008. Since November last year, the navy has also deployed additional vessels around the Lakshadweep and has leased equipment to arrange for co-ordinated patrolling in waters around the Seychelles islands.

The Indian Navy also co-ordinates counter-piracy patrols with European, Nato and US-led coalition forces.

“India’s economic development is crucially dependent on the sea because of the criticality of sea-borne trade in an increasingly inter-linked world, as well as because of the potential of vast economic resources of the oceans…. India’s maritime interest involve safeguarding of our coastline and island territories, as also our interests in our exclusive economic zone, as well as in maintaining open and secure sea lines of communication,” the report said.

As in previous years, the current report also registers the growth of China’s armed forces. It says that while India is “watchful of the implications of China’s evolving military profile” in the neighbour hood, it will continue a respectful engagement with Beijing.

The defence ministry says that the upheavals in North Africa and West Asia — meaning, largely, Tunisia, Libya, Egypt, Yemen and Bahrain — could have an impact on the security situation in the region and on the security of global energy supplies. It notes that India has historical ties with many countries in Africa.

The defence ministry welcomed the creation of the “ASEAN Defence Ministers Meeting plus forum of ten” and said it was an effort for an “open and inclusive security architecture for the region”.

On the situation in Jammu and Kashmir, the report implicates Pakistan “due to undiminished activities of terrorist organisations from its territory.” Left-wing militants, and insurgency in Kashmir and the North East were the major internal security challenges, it said.

western seaboard

2011-03-16 14:00:00

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The Ministry of Defence's (MOD) Annual Report for 2010-11 has expressed serious concern over the increased incidence of piracy in the Indian Ocean Region (IOR) .
The MOD report laid before the Parliament today said: "The threat of piracy and terrorism to international trade and safety of the sea lanes of communication has emerged as a major problem. The threat of piracy emerging from Somalian waters continues to endanger the safety of the sea lanes and is a matter of concern for the international community."
The Defence Ministry has proposed a proactive role under the United Nations flag to tackle the threat to maritime traffic from piracy.
"India is in favour of strengthening multilateral cooperation under a UN framework to meet the complex challenges of maritime security," the report said.
The report further said the presence of Somali pirates in the waters around our western island territories has been an unwelcome development, which requires heightened vigil... The linkages between terrorists based in Somalia and transnational organized crime is also a cause of major concern globally."
The report says New Delhi is engaged in enhancing cooperative interactions and exchanges with various countries in the IOR to tackle common security challenges.
Dwelling on the security scenario in the immediate neighbourhood, the report says our relations with China are of "crucial importance."
"India is conscious and watchful of the implications of China's evolving military profile in the immediate and extended neighbourhood. India's policy is to engage with China on the principles of mutual trust and respect and sensitivity for each other's concerns."
The report takes note of the recent political developments in West Asia and North Africa. "The impact of these developments on the security situation in the region and on the security of energy supplies is of global concern."
Underscoring India's vibrant ties with all countries in the region, the report said that New Delhi would continue to engage with them on the basis of mutuality of respect and interests.
"India has also been actively involved in peacekeeping operations in Africa under the UN mandate and seeks to consolidate its relations with many countries in the region with which we have historical linkages," it added.
The report said that the ASEAN Defence Ministers Meeting Plus forum of ten ASEAN and eight non-ASEAN countries, including India, is an effort to establish an open and inclusive security architecture for the region.
"India's policy is to encourage and participate in cooperative approaches which would enable all countries in the region to counter traditional and no-traditional security challenges and to ensure that the critical sea lanes in the region are kept open, secure and free for navigation and trade," it added
On the situation in Jammu and Kashmir, the report implicates Pakistan "due to undiminished activities of terrorist organizations from its territory."
"The continued infiltrations across the LoC and the existence of terrorist camps across the India-Pak border demonstrate the continuing ambivalence of Pakistan in its attitude and approach to terrorist organisations, even though such organizations pose a danger to Pakistan's own social and political fabric."
On Myanmar, the report said India continues to engage with its eastern neighbor and cooperation in security matters is being enhanced.
"The Government of Myanmar has reciprocated India's gestures of goodwill and friendship," it added.

Corruption becoming threat to India's economic development: Survey

Increasing cases of corruption in India are becoming a threat to the country's economy and will affect the nation's aim to gain over 9 percent growth, says a survey.
A consultancy firm KMPG conducted the survey by questioning 100 top domestic and foreign businesses. It pointed out that corruption has increased to such an extend that that foreign investors are being deterred from the country.
According to The BBC, the report pointed that Corruption poses a risk to India's projected 9 percent GDP growth and would result in a volatile political and economic environment.
The reports said: "Today India is faced with a different kind of challenge", "It is not about petty bribes any more, but scams to the tune of thousands of crores that highlight a political/industry nexus which, if not checked, could have a far reaching impact."
However, over 80 percent of respondents disagreed that corruption had reduced their ability to access domestic or foreign funds, while 55 percent disagreed that corruption had affected their business
The report was commissioned in response to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh's efforts to fight increasing corruption in India that have struck the roots of governance.
The worst-hit areas were real estate and construction. Delhi government has planned to spend huge amount of money for its improvement.
India has been facing "season of scams" since the beginning of 2010. Corruption doesn't seem to be stopping India's growth. But there is no doubt that the country can perform better if an evil like corruption is eliminated from its roots. (ANI)

Japan quake: live report

March 17, 2011 - 3:04PM

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0355 GMT: Our Seoul bureau reports that scientists at the Korea Astronomy and Space Science Institute have said the massive earthquake tin Japan has shifted the country more than two metres away from the neighbouring Korean peninsula.
- The Korea Astronomy and Space Science Institute (KASSI) said the Korean peninsula moved east up to five centimetres (two inches) while Japan shifted some 2.4 metres (7.92 feet) east.
0350 GMT: Shares in China's nuclear energy firms have extended their losses after Beijing suspended approval of new projects in response to Japan's atomic crisis.
- Shenzhen-listed SUFA Technology Industry Co, a unit of state-owned China National Nuclear Corp, dropped 7.4 percent to 32.3 yuan ($4.9) mid-morning after falling the ten percent daily trading limit a day earlier.
0253 GMT: US President Barack Obama has offered to give Japan any support that it needs as it grapples with a nuclear crisis following a quake and tsunami, Japanese government spokesman Yukio Edano has said.
0250 GMT: Hideo Chiba, a baker in the devastated Japanese port town of Kesennuma, told our correspondent Hiroshi Hiyama: "Whatever will be, will be." He firmly believes that hard work can be uplifting, so the 70-year-old has busied himself with a smile, cleaning up his house and shop ravaged by the killer tsunami.
"People say 'How can you smile like that?' I just tell them, 'None of my relatives died.'"But he added: "We don't know when we will receive power and water and telephone service. It's hard for me to decide when or whether I will be able to reopen."
"I don't have fresh water to clean my hands. But I will go on."
0235 GMT: Nariman Behravesh, an economist at US-based IHS has told AFP that a the disaster will have a "large, but -- probably -- temporary impact on the Japanese economy," and a "small impact on the rest of the world".
- The tens of billions of US dollars that will be spent rebuilding homes, factories and infrastructure could spark a recovery boom.
- With 11 nuclear plants shuttered and blackouts predicted until the end of April, a slowdown in Japanese production could quickly turn into a manufacturing bottleneck. "People will be surprised by how fast prices will rise," Jesse Toprak, an auto analyst with TrueCar.com told AFP.
Experts are cautiously optimistic that the still-brittle global economy can absorb the shock of Japan's triple disaster, but major risks still loom as the crisis unfolds.
0230 GMT: US officials have warned citizens living within 50 miles (80 kilometers) of a crippled Japanese nuclear plant to evacuate or seek shelter. The evacuation order came as the chairman of the US Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) warned there was no water left in the spent fuel pool of reactor 4 at the Fukushima nuclear plant, resulting in "extremely high" radiation levels.