A round-up of today's news in brief
Japanese nuclear plant told to close
KARIWA- A Japanese nuclear power plant was ordered to stay closed until safety was assured after an earthquake caused radiation leaks, prompting the UN nuclear watchdog to say the operator had misjudged the risks.
Just hours after the order yesterday, Tokyo Electric Power Co (TEPCO) revised upward the level of radiation it said had leaked into the ocean, one of about 50 problems it reported at the world's biggest nuclear plant after Monday's tremor. "It's clear that this earthquake, as TEPCO, the operating company, indicated, was stronger than what the reactor was designed for," International Atomic Energy Agency head Mohamed ElBaradei told reporters in Kuala Lumpur. - (Reuters)
EU may block Polish motorway
BRUSSELS- The European Commission is ready to block the construction of a Polish motorway through a protected wildlife area if the country resumes the work next month, the EU's executive said yesterday.
Poland wants to build a section of a highway linking Warsaw to Helsinki via the Baltic states through the northeastern Rospuda Valley, one of Europe's unique peat lands, home to rare plants and animals. - (Reuters)
Police hold man in Berezovsky plot
LONDON- British police said yesterday they arrested a man last month in connection with an alleged plot to murder exiled Russian businessman Boris Berezovsky. "A male was arrested in central London on suspicion of conspiracy to murder," a spokeswoman said, noting that it was in connection with the alleged plot. Mr Berezovsky, a fierce critic of Russian president Vladimir Putin, said yesterday he left Britain on June 16th for a week, until police advised him the plot had been foiled. - (Reuters)
Men get six years for incitement
LONDON- Three men were each sentenced to six years in jail yesterday for soliciting murder during a demonstration against an anti-Islamic cartoon.
Mizanur Rahman, Umran Javed, and Abdul Muhid were convicted during separate Old Bailey trials.
Judge Brian Barker said their words had been designed to encourage murder and terrorism. -
(PA)
Migrants' boats sink off Italy
PALERMO- At least four people died when two boats carrying migrants from Africa sank off the south of the Italian island of Lampedusa yesterday, the Italian coast guard said.
Another 13 people were missing after a total of 36 people were rescued by an Italian fishing vessel, some from the sea after their boat had sunk, others from a sinking boat. - (Reuters)