Happenings Globally
Radioactive water runs out of Fukushima
Radioactive water from Fukushima Leak caused by overflow: Contaminated groundwater accumulating under the crippled Fukushima nuclear power plant has risen 60cm above the protective barrier, and is now freely leaking into the Pacific Ocean, the plant’s operator TEPCO has admitted. Tokyo Electric Power Company (TEPCO) – the operator of the crippled Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant – has started pumping out contaminated groundwater from under the facility. Having admitted that the groundwater has been mixing with radioactive substances seeping out of the plant, and then flowing out into the Pacific Ocean, TEPCO now hopes the pumping will reduce the leakage. While on Friday the company managed to pump out 13 tons of water in six hours, it plans to boost the amount to some 100 tons a day with the help of a special system, which will be completed by Mid-August. Japan’s Ministry of Industry has recently estimated that some 300 tons of contaminated groundwater have been flowing into the ocean daily ever since the March 2011 earthquake and tsunami that triggered the disaster.
NZ dairy giant’s Fonterra products recalled from Sri Lanka
New Zealand dairy company Fonterra has recalled two batches of milk powder under Sri Lankan government orders after allegations it contained traces of a farm chemical dicyandiamide(DCD), AFP reports. Sri Lanka's Health Ministry said it considers DCD to be a "toxic chemical", however Fonterra has denied its products contain it. Sri Lanka's Court of Appeal has temporary banned Fonterra advertising in the country until August 21, when test reports from foreign laboratories are expected, a court official said. This comes after Fonterra sent out an alert to its clients saying some of its products produced in May last year could be contaminated with bacteria that can trigger botulism.
Shipwreck on Italian coast
A fishing boat carrying 120 migrants has run aground just off the Sicilian coast, leaving six African asylum seekers dead, said the coastguard. Most of the stowaways managed to get to shore, but the six who drowned were unable to swim. Most of the migrants came from Egypt and Syria and were all under the age of 30.
India launches own nuclear sub’s reactor
India on Saturday activated the atomic reactor onboard INS Arihant – the first nuclear submarine solely designed and built by the country. Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh said the development is a giant stride in the progress of India’s own technological capability. It also effectively means India will soon achieve the missing third leg of the nuclear weapons triad, and have the capability of firing nukes from the land, air and sea. INS Arihant, which is the first ballistic missile submarine built outside the five recognized nuclear powers (the US, Russia, France, Britain and China), will now head for sea trials, which will last for at least 18 months. While India plans to deploy the locally-built sub to its navy within two years, it also acquired a Russian Nerpa nuclear submarine for its navy on a 10-year lease from Russia last year.
Indonesian volcanic eruption
At least six people have been killed on the Indonesian island of Palue after Mount Rokatenda erupted, throwing a shower of hot ash and rocks high into the air. The victims were caught in a rain of ash on a nearby beach. The volcano had been showing signs of a large eruption since last year, causing the evacuation of thousands of people as a precautionary measure.
Israeli drone for deadly Sinai strike
An Israeli drone was behind the airstrike that killed four Islamist militants in Sinai, Egypt on Friday, an Al-Qaeda inspired group active in the area has claimed. Ansar Jerusalem said in a statement posted on a militant website that a drone had crossed into Egyptian territory to carry out the attack. Israel has thus far refrained from commenting on the attack.
Clashes in Northern Ireland
On Friday riot police dispersed a rally of Protestant loyalists protesting against an Irish Republican Catholic parade through Belfast, leaving 56 officers injured and 2 civilians. While preventing possible clashes between loyalist Protestants and Republicans, police officers encountered a barrage of bricks and bottles in the Royal Avenue shopping district, where Protestants blocked the route planned for the march by Catholic Republicans. The clashes eventually put five law enforcement officials into hospital, while 21 more were treated on site. The parade had to be redirected to West Belfast. The last time Protestants clashed with riot police was less than a month ago.
US border agent who gunned down Mexican
The US agent who shot dead a Mexican teenager on the Arizona US-Mexico border in 2011 will not be charged because the fatal injury did not occur on American soil, the Justice Department has decided. Ramses Barron was shot dead by a police patrol through a border fence in Nogales, Arizona, after he pelted officers with rocks. A US investigation claims that Barron paid no heed to commands in Spanish to stop throwing stones. The Mexican government condemns the US’ use of lethal force on the border, which is currently under investigation.
Media agencies
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