Zaporizhzhia: UN nuclear agency calls for Ukraine plant safety zone
Shelling of Europe's biggest nuclear power plant could lead to unlimited release of radioactive materials - and Russian military equipment on site could undermine its security, the UN's nuclear agency has warned, BBC reported.
Russia occupied the Zaporizhzhia plant at the start of its invasion of Ukraine and it has come under repeated attack.
After a visit last week, UN's nuclear watchdog has called for a safety and security protection zone.
It said shelling must end immediately.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky welcomed the report - saying it noted the "presence of Russian military hardware on the territory of the nuclear power plant, pressure on our employees there, and makes clear references to the Russian military occupation".
He added that he'd support a security zone if it was aimed at demilitarising "the territory of the nuclear power plant".The plant lies on the southern bank of the River Dnieper, across the water from Ukrainian-held towns and military positions.
Both sides have accused each other of targeting the plant, occupied by Russian forces in early March.
On Tuesday, Russia accused Kyiv of hitting the area three times in 24 hours. Ukraine says Russia forces have used it as a shield from which to fire on nearby cities, although Russia insists they are guarding the site.
However the UN's International Atomic Energy Agency is careful not to apportion blame to either side, according to BBC.
Shelling continued while a 14-strong IAEA team visited the site last week and its head Rafael Grossi warned at the time of a very real risk of nuclear disaster. Although most of the team left the plant after two days, it said two of its officials would remain there on a permanent basis.
In its report released on Tuesday, the agency highlighted the "extremely stressful conditions" facing the 907 Ukrainian staff working there under Russian military control.
The IAEA detailed the damage to the plant and said while continued shelling had not yet triggered a nuclear emergency it did present a constant threat to safety that "may lead to radiological consequences with great safety significance".
There was an urgent need for "interim measures" to prevent a nuclear accident caused by military action, it added, saying all relevant parties would have to agree to a "nuclear safety and security protection zone" being set up to avoid further damage.
Russian military, vehicles and equipment were seen around the plant and "several military trucks" were inside the turbine halls of two of the plant's six reactors, the agency said.
It warned that military equipment on site and clashes near vital areas undermined the plant's protection system and it called for the removal of vehicles that could interfere with safety systems.
The watchdog said staff had to secure permission from the Russian military to visit cooling ponds at the plant and it criticised the presence of nuclear officials from Russia's nuclear body, Rosatom. That could lead to possible friction when key decisions had to be made, it said, BBC reported.
"We regret that in your report ... the source of the shelling is not directly named," Vasily Nebenzya told a Security Council session attended virtually by Mr Grossi.
Although it has six reactors, the Zaporizhzhia plant has only had two operating since the war began and just one reactor has been working in recent days.
Three of the four lines providing power from Ukraine's grid have been put out of action during the fighting and on Saturday the UN watchdog said the last line had also been disconnected, leaving just one lower-power reserve line from a nearby thermal plant.
Ukrainian officials said on Monday that the last working reactor was disconnected from the grid after the last main power line went down, according to BBC.
Liz Truss: New prime minister installs allies in key cabinet roles
Liz Truss has rewarded her key allies with top jobs in a major reshuffle hours after succeeding Boris Johnson as prime minister, BBC reported.
Kwasi Kwarteng is made chancellor, James Cleverly becomes foreign secretary and Suella Braverman replaces Priti Patel as home secretary.
One of Ms Truss's closest friends, Therese Coffey, is appointed as health secretary and deputy PM.
Her new cabinet will meet ahead of her first Prime Minister's Questions later.
None of those who backed her defeated rival, Rishi Sunak, will remain in her full cabinet, with Dominic Raab, Grant Shapps, George Eustice and Steve Barclay all returning to the backbenches.
But Ms Truss's press secretary said the changes would "unify" the Tory Party and pointed to senior roles for five of her leadership rivals: Suella Braverman, Tom Tugendhat as security minister, Kemi Badenoch as trade secretary, Penny Mordaunt as leader of the Commons, and Nadhim Zahawi as chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster, according to BBC.
Meanwhile, the new PM made her first call to a fellow foreign leader, pledging the UK's ongoing support to Ukraine in a call with president Volodymyr Zelensky.
No 10 said Ms Truss was also "delighted" to accept an invitation to visit Ukraine.
She later spoke to US President Joe Biden, where the pair discussed the importance of the UK reaching an agreement with the EU over post-Brexit trading rules in Northern Ireland, BBC reported.
Actor Paul Shah sentenced to two-and-a-half years in jail, gets clean chit on rape case
The Nawalpur District Court sentenced actor Paul Shah to two-and-a-half years in jail for sexually abusing a minor girl. The court also slapped him with a fine of Rs 2, 5000. Actor Shah, however, got clean chit on the rape case. A single bench of Justice Yagya Prasad Acharya ordered Shah to pay Rs 1 million to the victim. Lal Bahadur Chhetri, Information Officer at the court, said that the parents have also been altered. Earlier, the high court had upheld the decision of the Tanahun District Court and Nawalparasi District Court to keep him in custody. Actor Shah had surrendered himself at the District Police Office, Tanahun on February 27 after a minor singer filed a rape case against him. Shah was sent to custody for seven days for the first time on February 27 and the remand was extended by 12 days on March 5 for the second time for investigation. Based on the complaint filed by a 17-year-old singer, the District Attorney’s Office had filed a case against Shah at Tanahun District Court seeking 14 years of imprisonment.
Later, the issue took a twist after the minor singer, who had filed a complaint accusing Shah of raping her, changed her statement at the Tanahun District Court.
The girl said that she had not been raped as claimed by her earlier. She said that the information she stated while filing the complaint was false.
Indian Army Chief Pande pays courtesy call on PM Deuba
Chief of Army Staff of Indian Army General Manoj Pande paid a courtesy call on Prime Minister Sher Bahadur Deuba in Singha Durbar on Tuesday. He was accompanied by Indian Ambassador to Nepal Naveen Srivastava and other delegation members. During the meeting, General Pande briefed Prime Minister Deuba on his engagements in Kathmandu and conveyed his personal gratitude for the warm hospitality extended by the Government of Nepal. He reaffirmed that he would work for further strengthening the defense cooperation between the two countries. Earlier in the day, General Pande had visited Nepali Army Command and Staff College at Shivapuri and addressed the students and staff there.
Nepal reports 300 new Covid-19 cases on Tuesday
Nepal reported 300 new Covid-19 cases on Tuesday. According to the Ministry of Health and Population, 1, 981 swab samples were tested in the RT-PCR method, of which 177 returned positive. Likewise, 2, 609 people underwent antigen tests, of which 123 were tested positive. The Ministry said that 124 infected people recovered from the disease in the last 24 hours. As of today, there are 2, 457 active cases in the country.
Nepse plunges by 21. 16 points on Tuesday
The Nepal Stock Exchange (NEPSE) plunged by 21. 16 points to close at 1,951.84 points on Tuesday. Similarly, the sensitive index dropped by 3. 87 points to close at 379. 08 points. A total of 3,209,983 unit shares of 227 companies were traded for Rs 1. 19 billion. Meanwhile, Unnati Sahakarya Laghubitta Bittiya Sanstha Limited was the top gainer today with its price surging by 9. 68 percent. Likewise, Sanima Mai Hydropower Limited was the top loser with its price dropped by 7. 32 percent. At the end of the day, the total market capitalization stood at Rs 2. 79 trillion.
KMC removes illegal structures of Ason (With video)
The Kathmandu Metropolitan City has started demolishing illegal structures built by encroaching roads in Ason area. The Metropolitan City has once again directed the concerned people to remove illegal structures and vacate shops. Earlier, the KMC authorities had issued a 24-hour notice to vacate shops from the illegally built structures but business operators turned a blind eye to the order. Meanwhile, the business operators stage a protest against the KMC’s move. The KMC has urged the people to remove the illegal structures from the Ason areas by Wednesday. Street vendors in Kathmandu have often encroached the footpaths, forcing people to walk on the roads.
US diplomat in Kathmandu to attend Climate Action Champions Network Conference
The United States Government’s Acting Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary for South and Central Asian Affairs Elizabeth Horst has arrived in Kathmandu. According to the US Embassy in Nepal, she arrived in Kathmandu to attend the Climate Action Champions Network Conference. Of late, the US engagements with Nepal has increased manifold.
