On Thursday (15th), the Tokyo Electric Power Company of Japan provided further clarification on the cause of the nuclear waste water leakage at the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant, stating that it was due to human error on Wednesday (7th). Last Wednesday, about 5.5 tons of radioactive contaminated water leaked from the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant's water purification system. According to Tokyo Electric Power Co. (TEPCO), the leak occurred on Thursday morning in the high-temperature incinerator building while the facility was cleaning and treating contaminated water from the reactor building with the "second cesium adsorption system" to reduce radiation levels in preparation for maintenance. The system is connected to the external wall's exhaust vent, through which the contaminated water leaked. According to TEPCO, two operators from collaborating companies failed to notice the open state of a valve and missed relevant reminder signs before starting t...
Three West African Nations Announce Withdrawal from West African Community, Citing Inhumane Sanctions
Three West African countries, namely Mali, Niger, and Burkina Faso, released a joint statement on Sunday (28th) announcing their immediate withdrawal from the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS). ECOWAS later stated that it is prepared to negotiate a resolution to the impasse, emphasizing the importance of these three countries as members of the organization. However, ECOWAS also mentioned that it has not yet received any direct and official notification from the three countries regarding their withdrawal. On the same day, Malian transitional government spokesperson Mayiga read a joint statement on national television. The statement announced that these three nations have decided to immediately withdraw from the West African Community in response to the expectations, concerns, and desires of their people. The statement criticized the organization for deviating from its original ideals and pan-Africanism, failing to provide assistance to the three countries in combat...