UN nuclear watchdog chief to step down next year
AFP, Vienna
The head of the UN’s nuclear watchdog Yukiya Amano will step down in March for health reasons, diplomatic sources said Wednesday, as the agency navigates verification of the increasingly fragile Iran nuclear deal.
“An official statement about his departure is expected next week,” a diplomat, who spoke on condition of anonymity, told AFP. Amano has been director-general of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) since 2009 and his latest mandate had been due to run until 2021.
Norway holds Muslim cleric for 4 weeks after Italy trial
AP, Copenhagen
An Iraqi-born Muslim cleric has been ordered held in custody for four weeks after he was sentenced to 12 years in prison in Italy for terror offenses. The Oslo District Court said Wednesday there is a risk that Mullah Krekar could flee.
Norwegian broadcaster NRK said an Italian extradition request is expected soon. Krekar, who earlier refused to travel to Italy, fearing extradition to Iraq, was Monday found guilty in Bolzano of attempting to overthrow the Kurdish government in northern Iraq and create an Islamic caliphate.
14 migrants killed in road crash in Turkey
AP, Ankara
Turkey’s state-run news agency says a van carrying migrants has crashed in eastern Turkey, killing at least four people. Private NTV television said as many as 14 migrants were killed in the accident.
Anadolu Agency said the van rolled into a roadside ditch on a highway near the town of Ozalp, close to Turkey’s border with Iran, after the driver lost control of the vehicle. It said several other migrants were injured in the accident.
Russian nuclear power plant down after malfunction
AFP, Moscow
A Russian nuclear power plant unplugged three of its four units after a short circuit on Thursday but radiation levels remain normal, a subsidiary of the Rosatom nuclear company said.
The Kalinin nuclear power plant’s first, second and fourth reactors were taken offline, Rosenergoatom said in a statement.
The plant is located some 350 kilometres (about 200 miles) northwest of Moscow, in the Tver region.
