Federal Government Shutdown Countdown Begins, 800,000 Staff May Be Suspended

d

By ONE Liners Agency

WORLD NEWS / U.S. NEWS - Countdown has begun for government shutdown in United States after four failed talks in last three days between President Barack Obama and the Senate leaders. The shutdown will be first time in 15 years in which the budget negotiators have been able to resolved the lingering differences on Thursday night in second White House meeting. The federal shutdown could see the suspension of about 800,000 staff from work. However, efforts are being made to secure a last-minute deal at the White House meeting between Mr President and the Republican House Speaker John Boehner.
------------------------------------------------
Follow-up News: Federal Government Shutdown Averted, US Lawmakers Reach Budget Deal
------------------------------------------------
What would a federal government shutdown mean to Americans

Social Security - Of course there may be delayed for new enrollees in starting their benefits, but the existing social security checks would remain as normal and continue to be paid.

Medicare - It has been expected to flow as usual says doctors and hospitals. In the 1995 government shutdown, the Medicare payments flowed in normal way for seniors.

Postal Service - There will be no stopping in the delivery of mails and post office operations. It will be functioning usual as the postal service operates on its own funding stream.

Military and Homeland Security - People who are deemed essential for the security of the country either in Afghanistan, or US border, or at airports, would stay on the job.

Taxes - Still the tax filing date remains the same - April 18. Electronic returns will be processed said Internal Revenue Service. This means the paper returns process would be delayed by the government shutdown. The big question here is whether the department will get refunds promptly with electronic filers. Yet to find out.

Federal Government Employees - The pay of those employees whose salary is funded through annual appropriations may get furloughed. This may not be the case with those employees whose duties qualify as essential.

Federal Government Contractors - Many of the private contractors may go unpaid with this government shutdown and may be until a budget accord is reached.

What would a federal government shutdown mean to U.S. economy

According to many forecasters, the federal government shutdown would not have a big impact on the economy of the nation, if it is assumed that it does not last long. Few says it could cut down investors confidence in the economy. The investors may be more anxious whether Washington is able to manage the finances.

Martin Baily of Brookings Institution wrote recently that the shutdown could have positive impact on investors as they can see a sign "that we as a nation are going to get serious about our addiction to debt."

What other media writing on federal government shutdown

Wall Street Journal - Budget Talks Remain at Impasse
Los Angeles Times - Still no deal to avert government shutdown
USA Today - Reid blames possible shutdown on Tea Party's 'extreme social agenda'
Reuters - Reid says Republicans want shutdown to close clinics
AFP - US House speaker blasts White House on spending

Japan's Leaked Nuclear Plant Radiation Traced In China

By ONE Liners Agency

JAPAN / CHINA NEWS - Nuclear radioactive iodine traces has been detected in Chinese Heilongilang province on Saturday, said China government agency to the state-run media.

According to the Chinese authorities, the radiation iodine level was a minuscule fraction, which is one-hundred-thousandth beyond the normal levels, and it has been emanated from the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant of Japan.

The Chinese government agency has confirmed that such low level is not harmful to the public health and also said the people here do not required any extra precautions.

Earlier, such low levels radioactive iodine was also traced as far as United States and Sweden.

More to this, several nations are taking necessary steps in ensuring their citizens in Japan don't suffer due to the nuclear fall-out.

United States Embassy in Tokyo wrote on its website it would continue "to make potassium iodide tablets available to private U.S. citizens who have not been able to obtain it from their physician, employer or other sources."

Health officials said these medication can counter the radiation's harmful effects when it enters the body through contaminated water, air or other means.

Meanwhile, Japanese authorities are also distributing such pills to all close to the plant.

China, The Key To Tab Against North Korea Provocations: U.S Military

By ETHAN Markoff

CHINA NEWS - China can play a pivotal role to put restrain against provocative behavior of North Korea, the top U.S military official said Wednesday.

Adm. Mike Mullen, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff said in an interview that in a recent crisis of war between North and South Korea, China could play the key role to stop the behavior of North Korea. He further emphasis on role of China to influence North Korea to stop provocative actions.

China, Mullen said, has much at stake in stopping North Korea's leader Kim Jong Il from taking more provocative actions.

The United States is hoping China would impose or strict its economic support and trade with North Korea to exercise influence to tame the provocative actions of North Korea.

It is reported that President Obama will call Chinese President Hu Jintao in the next few days to discuss the issue over North Korea.

State Department spokesman P.J. Crowley said Tuesday that China would play a key role in moving North Korea in a different direction. The economic and trade influence could restrain North Korea to a greater degree, U.S is now hoping China to influence North Korea to reduce tensions that have risen from North Korean provocations and then secondarily to put pressure on nation to stop nuclear enrichment possibilities.

China still to condemn its neighbor for sudden attack on Korean border, however, maintaining a diplomatic pressure by emphasis on talks with Pyongyang.

After North Korea attack on South Korea, China strongly urged both sides to maintain peace and restrain, and forces them to engage in talks as quickly as possible in order to prevent similar incidents in future.

In the meanwhile President Obama has declared a joint exercise with South Korea against North Korea.