Free Republic

A reactor at Taishan Nuclear Power Plant in southern China's Guangdong province has been shut down because of fuel rod damages, the company that runs the plant said in a statement on Friday. State-owned China General Nuclear Power Group (CGN) said in the statement that "a small amount of fuel damage" had occurred during operation, but it's still "within the limits allowed by the technical specifications." It added that "after thorough discussions between French and Chinese technicians, Taishan Nuclear Power Plant decided to shut down Unit 1 reactor for maintenance, and to examine the reasons of fuel damage ....

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Sometimes strained ties between China and the United States gave way Tuesday to a new detente: the playful giant panda cub born at the National Zoo will be allowed to stay in the U.S. capital two more years. While Beijing and Washington have been at odds over issues such as the value of the Chinese currency and movie piracy, the two sides reached the agreement allowing the zoo to preserve one of its primary tourist attractions. The 125-pound (56 kg) cub Tai Shan, whose name means "peaceful mountain," has drawn about 2.25 million visitors and was to...