Iran opens nuclear generator

Iran opened a heavy-water nuclear production plant Saturday raising the possibility of United Nations sanctions.

President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad inaugurated the generator declaring that his nations was only interested in peaceful energy production.


Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, left, inaugurates a heavy-water nuclear generator in Arak, Saturday, Aug. 26, 2006. Tehran says the plant is for peaceful purposes but Western countries fear it could eventually be used to develop a nuclear bomb. AP Photo/ ISNA, Arash Khamoushi via Yahoo News.

"There is no discussion of nuclear weapons," he said. "We are not a threat to anybody even the Zionist regime, which is a definite enemy for the people of the region."

Israeli legislator Ephraim Sneh of the Labor Party said in response to the Iranian move that Israel should "prepare itself militarily."

Japan and U.S. to help with Philippine oil disaster

Japanese and U.S. experts are assisting efforts to contain the Philippines' worst oil spill and the "worst environmental disaster" already in the country's history.

A Japanese salvage ship with a remotely-piloted vehicle departed from Okinawa and is expected to arrive in the affected area off Guimaras island in about three days, the Petron Corp. said. A four-member assessment team from the United States coastguard and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Agency arrived in Manila Tuesday.

Coastguard and private volunteer boats are using boons and spraying dispersants to help contain the massive oil spill.


A local resident, hired by Petron, wipes oil from the mangroves in Nueva Valencia on Guimaras island. The Petron Corp. tanker Solar I sank in 3,000 feet of water with 450,000 gallons of oil on board. AFP/Joel Nito photo via Yahoo News.

Malaysia wants faster moves toward ASEAN single market

Malaysian Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi on Tuesday called for speeding up plans to create a single ASEAN market by 2015, five years ahead of the original target date.

Badawi said the accelarated timetable was necessary for ASEAN to attract foreign investors.


Malaysia Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi is seen with ASEAN Economic Ministers at the opening of the 38th ASEAN Economic Ministers (AEM) Meeting in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, Tuesday, Aug. 22, 2006. AP Photo/Andy Wong via Yahoo News.

"If we do not hasten the creation of that regional single market, ASEAN may run the risk of losing its position as an important investment destination," Badawi said.

ASEAN currently handles more than US$1 trillion in foreign trade and is home to about 600 million people.