Citibank said it expects the euro-zone economy to contract for the next six quarters.

WSJ: Euro Maintains $1.30 Level

Brazilian investment bank Itau BBA calculated this week that the euro zone economies would contract by nearly 5% in such a worst case scenario, not 0.3%.

FORBES: Global Economic Fundamentals Not-So-Sound

The 17-nation euro-zone economy is expected to contract in 2013 for the third time in five years.

WSJ: Pose Counterweight to Voters' Wishes

Many are not salaried Tepco staff but low-paid contract workers lodging in Iwaki, just south of the exclusion zone.

ECONOMIST: Cleaning up Japan��s nuclear mess

In the former Canal Zone, meanwhile, another diplomatic tiff concerned Panama's decision to award a contract to run the ports of Cristobal and Balboa to Hong Kong's Hutchison Whampoa Ltd. in a deal that Ambassdor Hughes said was unfair to American bidders.

CNN: The Canal Cronies