Newsline 16 July: Russia is under pressure from the West to solve the murder of a prominent human rights activist in the turbulent North Caucasus region; nationalists and far right wingers are wasting no time making their views heard in Brussels and medical experts raise the alarm about a looming shortage of radioactive isotopes

 

Listen to today's edition of Newsline

 
Russia under pressure
The murder of human rights activist Natalya Estemirova has been widely condemend in the West - and Russia is under pressure to solve the killing fast. She was active in the North Caucasus, highly critical of both the Kremlin and the Chechen government and her murder is the latest in a string of killings of government critics.
 
New MEPs flex their muscles in Brussels
Nationalist newcomers to the European Parliament have been quick to make themselves heard. The Dutch Freedom Party is calling for Islamic Turkey to be kept out of the EU and the British National Party wants boats carrying illegal immigrants to be sunk before they can reach Europe. There's been a lot of media attention for these extremist politicians - but how seriously should they be taken? Listen to report by Brussels correspondent Vanessa Mock.
 
Medical isotope shortage looms
A Dutch nuclear reactor that supplies radioactive isotopes to the medical profession is about to shut down for routine maintenance. Normally that wouldn't be a problem - but it comes as another supplier in Canada has had to indefinitely close its reactor. And doctors there are warning that cancer patients could be at risk. Listen to report by Dan Karpenchuck.