CNewsworld's Blog

Delhi’s worry: More radioactive material out there?

Delhi’s radioactive crisis could be deepening. Officials may have traced the Cobalt-60 to Delhi University but paradoxically, that has led to a much bigger concern. New details have emerged about how there could be more lethal toxic pieces from Delhi University’s Gamma Irradiator which are still missing. (Delhi University admits fault for radiation leak)
The officials are now searching for missing toxic pieces which could harm more people.
“There is every possibility that there is still more radioactivity out there in Delhi”, Dr SS Bajaj, Chairman, Atomic Energy Regulatory Board confirmed to NDTV.
The Delhi University’s machine possibly had 54 slots for cobalt pencils. The big worry is that till date, the Atomic Energy Regulatory Board has confiscated only five radioactive pencils. (Radiation leak source traced to Delhi University Chemistry lab)
It could be that 49 slots were unused or empty. But, officials suspect that given the sort of work done by the lab, there could be at least three missing radioactive pencils.
On its part the authorities have combed the Mayapuri scrap market and declared it clean.
Now, the search for the remaining killer cobalt rests on the police, and their interrogation of the scrap dealers.
How to handle radioactive Cobalt-60

At the cobalt processing center, special robotic arms handle the hot Cobalt-60. You can view the radioactive cobalt, but only through thick glass. This glass wall, two meters thick, is impregnated with lead to block any radioactive leaks.
Delhi’s worry: More radioactive material out there?

Experts say that some toxic pieces from Delhi University’s radioactive machine could still be missing.

No late parties for Team India at World T20

Photographs of them mingling with models and celebrities have led many to dub Indian cricketers the country s 24-Hour-Party-People. That s over.
First, the Indian Premier League (IPL) said it s ending the post-match parties that the league had become notorious for. Now, the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has said it s lights out at 9.30 pm for the Indian team playing the T20 World Cup in West Indies. Anyone who misses the curfew has to pay 100 dollars.
Skipping practice sessions or arriving late for physical training will set players back by another 100 dollars. On the plus side, the daily allowance for each team member has been raised from 75 to 100 dollars.
Gifts from strangers have to be turned down. The lucky few who are offered presents need to report details to the team management that will investigate the background of the generous sponsor.
Sticking to the official diet is also mandatory.
So any celebrations will be hard-earned. Go Team!

It will be lights out at 9:30 pm for the Indian team playing in the West Indies. Anyone who misses the curfew has to pay a 100-dollar fine.

Iftikhar advises against doing politics on Hazara issue

GEO 436 PESHAWAR: Mian Iftikhar Hussain, the Information Minister of Khyber Pukhtoonkhwa, has said that the Hazara province matter should not be turned into a 'Pakhtun or non-Pakhtun' issue. Addressing a news conference here on Thursday, he said nobody should try to do politics in the name of Hazara province. The brothers of Hazara would be warmly welcomed, Hussain said, adding they would be offered more than their due share. On the other hand, Tehrik Hazara Province (THP) leaders said the establishment of a separate province was not practically impossible. They said more than 10 countries, including Israel, are smaller than Hazara division, the argued.

Harris as Leeâ€™s replacement in Aussie team approved

GEO 436 DUBAI: The ICC has confirmed the event technical committee of the ICC World Twenty20 2010 has approved Ryan Harris as a replacement player for the injured Brett Lee in the Australia squad for the tournament, which runs from 30 April to 16 May in the West Indies. The confirmation was conveyed to Cricket Australia on behalf of the event technical committee on Wednesday. Harris will replace Lee, who is suffering from an arm injury. Lee was declared unfit by his board and, as a result, CA chose to seek a replacement for the entire event. The 30-year-old Harris from New South Wales has previously played two Tests, 12 ODIs and two T20Is. Any injury-based replacement requires a written submission to the event technical committee along with a diagnosis from a medical practitioner as to the extent of the injury. Once replaced, a player cannot return to the squad. As with all players in the tournament, the eligibility of a replacement player is subject to approval by the ICC before that player can be officially added to the squad. The event technical committee of the ICC World Twenty20 2010 consists of David Richardson (ICC, chairman), Robert Bryan (Tournament Director), Campbell Jamieson (IDI representative), Tony Howard (WICB representative), Alan Wilkins (independent nomination) and Sanjay Manjrekar (independent nomination). Australia opens its campaign against defending champion Pakistan in St Lucia on May 2 and then takes on Bangladesh in Barbados on May 5.

KESC gets 3-day ultimatum to restart Bin Qasim plant

GEO 436 KARACHI: Pakistan Electric Power Company (PEPCO) has warned Karachi Electric Supply Compnay (KESC) that power supply to the latter will be reduced if it failed to restart its Bin Qasim power plant. Director General PEPCO Engineer Muhammad Khalid talking to Geo News said that KESC, while keeping its plants shut, is getting electricity from PEPCO. As a result PEPCO is facing power shortage, he added. "Although KESC has capacity to generate power, it is deliberately keeping its Bin Qasim plant idle, increasing, as a result, PEPCO's burden by 350 MW electricity," he said. According to Engineer Khalid, KESC has been served a number of notices.

Junior officers targeted in BB probe: Nisar

GEO 436 ISLAMABAD: Leader of the Opposition in the National Assembly Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan said Thursday that mostly junior officers were being targeted by the government in the light of UN report on the assassination of Benazir Bhutto. Real culprits were behind the curtain, he said and announced to take up this matter in the next session of National Assembly. Speaking to media outside the Parliament House, he said legislation was the prerogative of the Parliament, but he was quick to add the constitution also gives court the right to interpret law. The opposition leader opined that the Supreme Court should be given the time to discharge its responsibilities. The members of parliament may have any differences with the apex court on any issue, but it could not be described as confrontation, he said. The PML-N leader further said that his party would not hesitate to accept any decision of the top court.

Thursday, April 29, 2010