No nuclear plant radiation leak after quake: Japan PM

TOKYO: No radiation leaks have been detected from Japan’s nuclear power stations after a massive 8.9 magnitude quake struck the country Friday, Prime Minister Naoto Kan said.

“I ask the people to act calmly while listening carefully to information from radio and TV,” he said.

India, France sign pact to build two nuclear power plants

India and France on Monday signed a framework agreement for construction of two 1650 MW nuclear power reactors in Maharashtra.

The Nuclear Power Corporation of India Limited (NPCIL) and French company Areva signed an agreement for building two European pressure reactors at Jaitapur in Maharashtra after talks between Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and visiting French President Nicolas Sarkozy.

Prime Minister, however, made it clear that issues related to pricing of nuclear power and other technical matters were yet to be settled.
India and France plan to jointly set up six nuclear power plants of 1650 MW each at Jaitapur at an approximate cost of 25 billion dollars.

Iran starts to fuel up first nuclear power plant

BUSHEHR: Iran began fuelling its first nuclear power plant on Saturday after decades of delay and amid international fears it is seeking an atomic bomb and not just electricity.

State television showed live pictures of Iran’s nuclear chief Ali Akbar Salehi and his Russian counterpart looking on at what appeared to be a fuel rod suspended from the ceiling.

“The beginning of the first stage of the physical start-up has taken place,” said Sergei Novikov, spokesman for Russia’s state nuclear corporation Rosatom.

Russia has built and supplied the fuel for the Bushehr plant, work on which was initially started by German company Siemens in the 1970s, before Iran’s Islamic Revolution.

Iranian officials say it will take two to three months before the plant starts producing electricity once the uranium-packed fuel rods are moved into the

BP settlements may shield top defendants

WASHINGTON: Those seeking a settlement from the BP $20 billion compensation fund may have to waive their rights to sue all major defendants involved with the Gulf of Mexico oil spill, not just BP, the New York Times reported on Friday.

Citing internal documents from lawyers handling the fund, the Times also said the payment plan stressed geographic proximity as a determining factor for claims eligibility.

Fund administrator Kenneth Feinberg declined to be interviewed about the documents but verified their authenticity, the Times said.

The fund’s protocol says workers injured or killed as a result of the April explosion on the oil rig are eligible to file claims, but a letter sent by BP’s lawyers to a lawyer representing some of those workers states otherwise, the newspaper said.

It quoted a letter from BP attorney John T. Hickey: “To be clear, it is

Iran tests new missile with sharper targeting systems

TEHRAN: Iran’s defence minister says military forces have successfully test-fired a missile with enhanced guidance systems to hit ground targets.

Gen. Ahmad Vahidi did not say when or where the test was carried out.

But Vahidi’s comments come a day before the startup operations at the Bushehr nuclear power plant in southern Iran and could raise Western fears about another advance in Iran’s missile arsenal, which already can target Israel and other parts of the region.

Vahidi told worshippers ahead of Friday prayers at Tehran University that the liquid-fueled missile, named Qiam-1, has an improved targeting system to strike with higher precision.

Vahidi’s speech was broadcast live on state radio. He did not provide further details. AGENCIES

Over 1m S.Africa state workers set to strike

JOHANNESBURG: More than one million South African state workers seeking higher wages will go on strike on Wednesday, threatening a prolonged labour action they say will bring the government to a halt, a senior labour official said.

The strike is not immediately expected to have a major impact on Africa’s largest economy but a protracted work stoppage could hurt commerce at home and trade aboard.

“We might be talking about 90 percent of the 1.3 million state workers being involved in the strike,” Mungwena Maluleke, a senior official in the country’s biggest labour group COSATU, told Reuters.

A coalition of labour groups representing state workers staged a one-day strike last week and said the action on Wednesday could be the start of the biggest civil servants’ strike in three years.

The strike increases pressure on President Jacob Zuma’s ruling

India panel suggests tougher nuclear liability bill

NEW DELHI: A parliamentary panel on Wednesday recommended changes to a bill aimed at opening up India’s $150 billion nuclear power market, which included trebling the accident compensation burden and extending the liability cover to private suppliers.

The panel, formed by the government after political opposition to the bill, presented its recommendations to parliament on Wednesday.

It suggested the bill, which will facilitate the entry of firms as U.S.-based General Electric and Westinghouse Electric, a subsidiary of Japan’s Toshiba Corp, fix the liability cap on the state-run operator at $320 million.

The recommendations, if accepted, would mean higher costs for private firms by way of higher insurance premiums, but will bring in policy clarity which will help speed up projects.

The original draft law had capped liability at about $110 million for

IBSF open unprovocative fire at Sialkot sector

LAHORE: The Indian Border Security Force (IBSF) has resorted to unprovocative firing at Bajwat Sector in Sialkot limits on Tuesday morning, rangers’ sources told Geo news.

Rangers’ officials said no causality or injury was reported in firing. In a statement from Chenab Rangers, it is claimed that IBSF opened unpovocative firing at Sialkot Sector on Monday midnight, which Pakistan Rangers retaliated in befitting manner, sending Indian funs in silence.

No loss of life or property was reported in firing, statement added.

Persons accused in murder made judges: Ramday

ISLAMABAD: The Supreme Court was hearing petitions challenging the 18th Amendment on Tuesday, Geo News reported.

A 17-judge full court headed by Chief Justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry was hearing the challenges against certain clauses in the amendment.

Justice Khalilur Rehman Ramday in his remarks said persons accused in murder were made judges in the past and century old tradition of consultation has been eliminated in the new process of judges’ appointment. It also lessens the position of chief justice, he added.

The Supreme Court Bar Association”s counsel Hamid Khan continued his arguments on Tuesday. He said 18th amendment has ended process of consultation whereas in PCO judges case, Supreme Court made consultation with chief justice mandatory.

Justice Shakirullah Jan said in old procedure, administration had begun the process of judges appointment and this was the reason of consultation but in new process, judiciary will appoint the judges.

Chief Justice in his remarks said consultations were made with prime minister and chief minister in July 31 verdict to strengthen parliamentary system. The scrutiny of judges conduct was carried out by administration and system will be collapsed if everyone eliminated from the process.

Power crisis on way to turn worse

KARACHI: Karachiites must stay ready to be hit by the worst electricity crisis of this season as 80-megawatt power supply to Karachi Electric Supply Company (KESC) from the Karachi Nuclear Power Plant (KANUPP) has been suspended on Tuesday, worsening the power crisis much thicker.

Tariq Rasheed, the spokesman to KANUPP, told Geo news the nuclear power plant has been closed down in view of repair work, which is due to take approximately 2 weeks in complete restoration.

The electricity supply of 84-megawat to KESC from Defense Desalination Plant (DDP) is already suspended for last two months, he said.

Electricity supply to areas like PECHS, Bufferzone, Shadman Town and North Karachi is cut since last night whereas many area residents in Malir locality have registered complaints of receiving low power voltage.

More than 100 feeders have gone tripped due to overnight rain, he added.

KESC officials have yet to formulate a polity to address monsoon-related problems.

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