"The Kanazawa District Court on Friday ordered Hokuriku Electric Power Co. to shut down the country's second-largest nuclear reactor, accepting the plaintiffs' argument that they could be exposed to intolerable levels of radiation in the event of an accident triggered by a major temblor.
The Toyama-based utility company said it will file an appeal with a higher court and continue operating the No. 2 reactor at the Shika nuclear power plant in Ishikawa Prefecture as the three-judge panel did not issue a provisional execution order allowing its decision to come into immediate effect."
"Japan's new N-plant ordered to shut
Mar 25 2006
Gareth Morgan, Western Mail
THE EU and US are to impose sanctions against Belarus over an election that gave President Alexander Lukashenko a landslide victory and third term.
The White House has joined EU leaders in condemning a crackdown against opposition protesters in Minsk.
Belarus officials insist that last Sunday's vote was democratic.
But around 500 people were reportedly detained after riot police broke up a five-day long protest against the poll.
Opponents have accused the government of vote rigging and international observers said the poll was unreliable.
White House press spokesman Scott McClellan said the Bush administration will apply "targeted sanctions" against some government officials in Belarus.
A COURT has ordered Japan's newest nuclear reactor to be shut down over fears about its safety in the event of an earthquake.
Residents filed a lawsuit saying the Shika reactor, north west of Tokyo, could leak radiation during a quake.
The plant, which only began operating last week, will stay open until an appeal filed by the company is heard.
Japan is heavily reliant on nuclear power but confidence has been hit by a series of incidents.
Earlier this week a fire broke out at another nuclear plant, Ohi, in western Japan, which injured two people.
In 2004, five workers were killed at the Mihama reactor, when a corroded pipe split and sprayed workers with steam and boiling water.
MISSING Commonwealth Games athletes have been told they will need a "bona fide" reason not to go home from Australia.
Another four athletes from Sierra Leone have disappeared since Thursday taking the total to have fled to 11.
Australian Prime Minister John Howard said each case would be handled individually if anybody sought asylum.
"We don't give blanket asylum to people who leave sporting teams in this country," Howard told Australian radio.
"I don't want any other athletes to imagine all they have to do is stay behind and we will keep you."
There dont need more radiation in their body lol