The Reminder is making its archives back to 2003 available on our website. Please note that, due to technical limitations, archive articles are presented without the usual formatting.
Havana - Cuba is moving to end circulation of the widely used U.S. dollar, a response to tighter American sanctions on the Caribbean island. A decree issued by Cuba's Central Bank says all cash purchases must be made using convertible pesos after Nov. 8. Cubans and tourists wishing to exchange American dollars will have to pay a 10 per cent commission charge. The exchange charge will not apply to other currencies, including the Canadian dollar. Baghdad - Insurgents in Iraq warn that a U.S.-led invasion of Fallujah will spark a response like nothing the coalition forces have seen. U.S. officials believe Abu Musab al-Zarqawi, the Jordanian-born leader of an al-Qaeda-linked group, is hiding out in the city. His group is blamed for attacks on coalition forces, as well as several kidnappings and beheadings. Many have fled from the city, fearing an invasion by U.S.-led forces. Tokyo - Regions of northern Japan still recovering from earthquakes on the weekend are bracing for more landslides as heavy rains fall, and the death toll continues to rise. Emergency officials in Niigata province warned that even light rain could set off new landslides because the soil has been loosened by tremors and rain. About 100,000 people are living in emergency shelters since a 6.8-magnitude quake rocked northern Japan on Saturday evening. Hundreds of aftershocks have followed.
