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Uranium sale to India will make world safer:
Australia
N-cooperation
Mush, PM warm up to CJ
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US parries query on Manmohan’s N-remarks
Bridge in China collapses, 22 killed
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Uranium sale to India will make world safer: Australia
Melbourne, August 14 "I don't think there is a risk. I think the reverse in fact is the case - that the more you can get the Indian civil nuclear programme under UN protocols of the International Atomic Energy Agency, the better," he told a local radio channel. "I think that creates a safer and more secure environment for those power stations. That India has got nuclear weapons already, that is a done deal. They don't need Australian uranium for that - they've done it already," he said. Downer's remarks came ahead of the consideration of the issue of selling uranium to India by the Australian Cabinet's powerful national security committee later today. The committee is due to consider a submission from Downer recommending that Australia sell uranium to the subcontinent to provide fuel for India's expanding nuclear power industry. It is expected to give the green light, which would herald a radical shift in Australia's foreign policy, which prevents uranium sales to countries that have not signed the nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty, 'The Age' daily said. Downer, however, said Australia would negotiate a nuclear safeguards agreement with India before any sales proceeded. "We certainly wouldn't export uranium without having our normal and very rigorous nuclear safeguards agreements in place," he told the radio channel. "Any uranium that would be exported to India would have to be subject to International Atomic Energy Agency monitoring and so would the nuclear power plants that the uranium was used for," The Australian foreign minister said. Downer said selling uranium to other countries would also bring environmental benefits, by reducing their reliance on coal for energy generation. "The other thing is the climate change issue. Australia exports uranium to many countries, such as China, the United States and so on. This goes into nuclear power plants. They are obviously, in terms of carbon-di-oxide emissions, a big improvement on coal fired power stations." he said. Australian Prime Minister John Howard, who heads the national security committee, has said he supports uranium sales to India in order to enhance the relationship. But this view is rejected by some experts on proliferation and by the Federal Opposition, which says it will not support uranium sales to countries outside the NPT. Liberal Senator Russell Trood, who previously expressed concerns about uranium sales to India, said last night that he remained "uneasy" about the idea. But he told the paper that he had been reassured by the level of nuclear safeguards that the US had managed to negotiate with India in its recent cooperation agreement.
— PTI
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India gets Russian backing
Moscow, August 14 Prime Minister's special envoy Shyam Saran, who is on the first leg of his four-nation tour to apprise India's partners on the 123 nuclear deal with the US yesterday, had a meeting with Russian foreign minister Sergei Lavrov to brief him on the pact. Saran told mediapersons at the end of his visit that his 30-minute meeting with Lavrov was very positive and fruitful and that he expressed Russia's "firm support for India in the NSG." He also said the Indo-US nuke deal is not an arms control pact. "Moscow is the first capital I am visiting, as Russia is our time-tested strategic partner and is already working on the ground in nuclear cooperation," Saran said before leaving for Berlin, after which he will also travel to Brazil and Argentina for interactions with the 45 members of the NSG in the backdrop of 123 deal. "We are hoping Russia’s strong backing in the NSG, although the decisions are taken on the basis of consensus," Saran said. Addressing a meeting with top experts of Russian think tanks, Saran brushed aside the critics of 123 deal saying, "From the point of view of India, we have got a very good deal, as it ensures uninterrupted supply of nuclear fuel and keeps our strategic nuclear programme away from the safeguards." — PTI
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Mush, PM warm up to CJ
Lt-Gen Hamid Javaid (retd), chief of staff to the President, has met Chief Justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry at the latter's official residence in an apparent gesture by President Musharraf to make peace with the CJ. According to sources, the unscheduled visit of the presidential top aide was a goodwill gesture aimed at assuring the country's top judge that the President had wholeheartedly accepted his restoration. This has been the first-ever, high-level contact between the Presidency and Justice Iftikhar after the latter's historic return as the Chief Justice. Within days of the Chaudhry's restoration, Musharraf had publicly desired to re-discover his past family ties with him. General Hamid reportedly conveyed Musharraf's intention to arrange a family reunion. "The Chief Justice was also told that the President has no ill-will against him," the source said. The CJ reciprocated these feelings. A source in the Prime Minister House said the PM also plans to reach out to the Chief Justice. He may either call on him in his chamber or at his residence any day. The top judge of the country, however, made it clear that he would now avoid meeting key members of the executive. He felt that the executive will have to solely depend on traditional channels for interaction with the higher levels of the judiciary. Pak Independence Day
Pakistan marked the 60th anniversary of its independence amid a heightened security alert with the country's top leadership pledging to establish political stability and not allow any nation violate its sovereignty. Celebrating the milestone, President Pervez Musharraf and Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz praised Pakistan's emergence as an independent nation, but warned the people they must not succumb to extremism. Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz hoisted the national flag at an auditorium here in which only select guests were allowed. Security in Islamabad was beefed up due to threats of suicide attacks by suspected pro-Taliban militants. Musharraf and Aziz sent Independence Day greetings to Indian President Pratibha Patil and Prime Minister Manmohan Singh hoping for an amicable resolution to all disputes.
— PTI
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US parries query on Manmohan’s N-remarks
Washington, August 14 On Dr Singh's statement that they are free to test a nuclear weapon under the negotiations, McCormack said, ''I hadn't seen the comments. We'll get you an answer.'' The Prime Minister reportedly told the Lok Sabha yesterday that the Indo-US nuclear agreement did not in any way inhibit, restrict or curtail ''our'' strategic autonomy or capabilities. Dr Singh also said, ''The agreement does not affect India's right to undertake future nuclear tests, if it is necessary in the country's national interest.
— UNI
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Bridge in China collapses, 22 killed
Beijing, August 14 At least 39 people were missing after the 320-metre bridge spanning the Tuo river in Fenghuang county, in the southeastern province of Hunan, collapsed yesterday during the evening rush hour, even as workers were stripping it of the scaffolding, Xinhua news agency
said today. Some 400 police had been sent to the scene to keep order and more
than 1,000 rescue workers were searching for the missing, Xinhua said. —
Reuters
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