May 31, 2012

John Irish, "Ahmadinejad sees no breakthrough at Moscow talks" Reuters / May 31, 2012 (Reuters) - Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad said on Wednesday he did not expect talks next month with six world powers in Moscow on Iran's nuclear programme to yield any major breakthroughs, but hoped to improve confidence between the two sides.... View Source ›

"China nukes no 'direct threat,' says US commander" Agence France-Presse / May 30, 2012 WASHINGTON — China's nuclear weapons do not pose a "direct threat" to the United States, the man in charge of America's arsenal said Wednesday in calling for greater dialogue with the Chinese.... View Source ›

Park Chan-Kyong , "New N. Korea constitution proclaims nuclear status" Agence France-Presse / May 30, 2012 SEOUL — North Korea's new constitution proclaims its status as a nuclear-armed nation, complicating international efforts to persuade Pyongyang to abandon atomic weapons, analysts said Thursday.... View Source ›

Melissa Eddy, "German Plan to Abandon Its Nuclear Energy Lags" New York Times / May 30, 2012 BERLIN — More than a year after pledging to drop nuclear power, Chancellor Angela Merkel has acknowledged that her ambition for a Germany that runs on renewable energy is falling behind schedule and faces a range of obstacles, not least the revamping of the energy grid at a cost of billions of euros. ... View Source ›

"King Says Saudi Arabia Would Need Nukes to Counter Iran Arsenal: Ross" Global Security Newswire / May 30, 2012 King Says Saudi Arabia Would Need Nukes to Counter Iran Arsenal: Ross... View Source ›

"China cabinet approves nuclear safety plan" Reuters / May 31, 2012 May 31 (Reuters) - China has approved a nuclear safety plan and says its nuclear power plants meet the latest international safety standards, though some plants need to improve their ability to cope with flooding and earthquakes, state media said on Thursday.... View Source ›

"South Korea Rejects North's Nuclear Status Claim" Global Security Newswire / May 31, 2012 South Korea on Thursday rejected North Korea's effort to declare itself a nuclear-armed nation through a constitutional amendment, the Yonhap News Agency reported (see GSN, May 30).... View Source ›

May 30, 2012

Thomas Erdbrink, "Iran Confirms Attack by Virus That Collects Information" New York Times / May 29, 2012 TEHRAN — The computers of high-ranking Iranian officials appear to have been penetrated by a data-mining virus called Flame, in what may be the most destructive cyberattack on Iran since the notorious Stuxnet virus, an Iranian cyberdefense organization confirmed on Tuesday. ... View Source ›

Kentaro Hamada & Linda Sieg, "Japan PM says safe reactor restarts needed" Reuters / May 30, 2012 TOKYO (Reuters) - Japanese Prime Minister Yoshihiko Noda, keen to restart idled nuclear reactors to avoid a summer power crunch, said on Wednesday it was necessary to start those whose safety has been confirmed, adding he was winning understanding from local authorities.... View Source ›

"Nuclear Iran could pose threat to Europe, German President says " Agence France-Presse / May 30, 2012 JERUSALEM (AFP)---Germany is "very concerned" about Iran's nuclear programme which not only threatens the Middle East but could also pose a threat to Europe, German President Joachim Gauck said in Jerusalem on Tuesday. ... View Source ›

"Kazakhstan To Open International Nuclear Fuel Bank Next Year " Radio Free Europe / May 30, 2012 The chairman of Kazakhstan’s Atomic Energy Agency has told journalists that Kazakhstan will have an international nuclear fuel bank in 2013, putting it on the front line of the international nonproliferation effort. ... View Source ›

"Iran's nuclear plant launch delayed " IANS / May 30, 2012 Moscow: The full capacity launch of Iran's Bushehr nuclear power plant, the first in the country, may be rescheduled to June from May, a Russian official said. ... View Source ›

"Nuclear manufacturing research centre opened" World Nuclear News / May 29, 2012 Britain's Nuclear Advanced Manufacturing Research Centre (NAMRC) was officially opened yesterday by the Duke of York in his fifth supportive visit to the supply chain initiative.... View Source ›

"Pakistan tests nuclear-capable missile " Agence France-Presse / May 29, 2012 Pakistan said Tuesday it had successfully test fired a short-range nuclear-capable ballistic missile.... View Source ›

May 29, 2012

Dan Williams, "Israel pours cold water on big-power talks with Iran" Reuters / May 29, 2012 (Reuters) - International nuclear talks with Iran have achieved nothing, a senior Israeli official said on Tuesday, suggesting that some Western nations were happy to see the negotiations drag on. ... View Source ›

Thomas Erdbrink, "After Talks Falter, Iran Says It Won’t Halt Uranium Work" New York Times / May 28, 2012 TEHRAN — Iran’s nuclear chief, reversing the country’s previous statements, said on state television on Sunday that the country would not halt its production of higher-grade uranium, suggesting that the Iranian government was veering back to a much harder line after talks in Baghdad with the West last week ended badly. ... View Source ›

Mari Yamaguchi, "Japan's ex-PM Naoto Kan: I was frightened by nuclear crisis" Associated Press / May 29, 2012 Japan's leader felt fearful and helpless during last year's nuclear disaster and lacked experts capable of giving him guidance, he testified this week in his first response to a public investigative inquiry on the crisis.... View Source ›

"Iran to launch new nuclear plant project: state TV" Agence France-Presse / May 27, 2012 Iran is to build a new nuclear power plant, alongside its sole existing one in the southern city of Bushehr, by early 2014, state television reported on Sunday, quoting the head of the country's Atomic Energy Organisation.... View Source ›

"Lithuania blasts Russia, Belarus atomic energy plans" Agence France-Presse / May 29, 2012 Lithuania on Monday blasted plans by Russia and Belarus to build nuclear power plants close to its borders, accusing both of lax safety and environmental standards.... View Source ›

"Obama picks new US nuclear chief" Agence France-Presse / May 24, 2012 US President Barack Obama on Thursday nominated a new chairman of the Nuclear Regulatory Commission, after the former head Gregory Jaczko resigned after months of personnel controversy.... View Source ›

Beth Reinhard, "Panetta: U.S. is Ready to Stop Iran From Creating Nuclear Weapons" Global Security Newswire / May 29, 2012 WASHINGTON -- U.S. Defense Secretary Leon Panetta on Sunday indirectly confirmed recent remarks by the ambassador to Israel that the U.S. is “ready from a military perspective’’ to stop Iran from making a nuclear weapon if international pressure fails (see GSN, May 25).... View Source ›

May 25, 2012

"Iran nuclear traces higher at Fordo site " Associated Press / May 25, 2012 VIENNA (AP) - The U.N. atomic agency has found evidence at an underground bunker in Iran that could mean the country has moved closer to producing the uranium threshold needed to arm nuclear missiles, diplomats said Friday.... View Source ›

Ali Akbar Dareini, "Next round of Iran nuclear talks set for Moscow " Associated Press / May 24, 2012 BAGHDAD (AP) — Tough negotiations between Iran and world powers over Tehran's nuclear program ended Thursday with a plan to meet next month for another round of talks but agreement on little else. ... View Source ›

"Moldova: 3 Sentenced in Nuclear Case" Reuters / May 24, 2012 A Moldovan court sentenced three people on Thursday for their part in illegal trafficking of uranium-235, which can be used in making nuclear weapons. The three were part of a five-member group seized by the police in June during what was said to be an exchange of a cylinder containing the radioactive material for cash. Intelligence services from several other countries, principally the United States, Germany and Ukraine, were involved in the case, the justice authorities in Moldova said. According to the general prosecutor’s office, a Russian woman was sentenced to three years in prison, and her accomplice got five years. A third person was fined $1,200. The group had been trying to sell about two pounds of uranium-235 for $38 million, the prosecution said. It was not clear to what degree the uranium was enriched.... View Source ›

"Russian Leaders Highlight Value, Threat of Nuclear Weapons " Global Security Newswire / May 25, 2012 Russian leaders in recent comments have cited the strategic value and the potential danger that arise from the nation's nuclear arsenal, the Financial Times reported on Thursday (see GSN, Feb. 27).... View Source ›

"Chinese man arrested in US for illegal nuclear-related exports" PTI / May 24, 2012 Washington, May 24 (PTI) A Chinese national has been arrested and charged with illegally exporting to China American-origin parts used to produce weapons-grade uranium in violation of export laws, the Justice Department said today.... View Source ›

"Russia Joins International Nuclear-Power Agency " Radio Free Europe / May 23, 2012 Russia's accession to the Nuclear Energy Agency (NEA) has been finalized at a ceremony at the organization's Paris headquarters. ... View Source ›

"Internal Split Holds Up Australian Uranium Exports to India " Global Security Newswire / May 25, 2012 Disagreement has persisted among Australian officials on implementing a decision by the nation's ruling political party to permit uranium transfers to India, The Australian reported on Friday (see GSN, Jan. 26, 2012).... View Source ›

May 24, 2012

"Iran rejects West’s plan to curb nuclear program without cuts in sanctions against Tehran" Associated Press / May 24, 2012 Iranian negotiators on Thursday rejected proposals by six world powers to curb Tehran’s nuclear program, and demanded answers to their own counteroffer meant to alleviate concerns about the Islamic Republic’s ability to build atomic weapons.... View Source ›

Fredrik Dahl, "Iran may prepare to boost nuclear work: diplomats" Reuters / May 24, 2012 A U.N. watchdog report is expected to show that Iran has installed more uranium enrichment centrifuges at an underground site, potentially boosting the output capacity of nuclear work major powers want it to stop, Western diplomatic sources say.... View Source ›

JAY SOLOMON, "Iran Seeks Sanctions Relief in Nuclear Talks " Wall Street Journal / May 24, 2012 Negotiations between global powers and Iran stretched into a second day, with Tehran demanding greater relief from economic sanctions in order to push forward with another round of diplomacy aimed at curbing its nuclear program, according to officials involved in the talks.... View Source ›

"US officals 'flew to N.Korea' before rocket launch" Agence France Presse / May 24, 2012 Two senior US officials made a secret visit to North Korea in an apparent attempt to persuade it to cancel last month's long-range rocket launch, a South Korean report said Thursday.... View Source ›

"North Korea Has Placed Nuclear Device in Tunnel, South Says" Nuclear Threat Initiative / May 24, 2012 North Korea appears to have placed an atomic device inside the new tunnel excavated at the country's nuclear test site, which means a detonation could be imminent, the South Korean Defense Ministry said on Thursday... View Source ›

"Iran: P5+1 making 'difficult atmosphere' at talks" Reuters / May 24, 2012 Tehran accuses US of causing impasse at Baghdad nuclear talks, says world powers don't have "clear mandate" to act.... View Source ›

May 23, 2012

Justyna Pawlak & Patrick Markey, "Powers, Iran discuss detail of possible nuclear deal" Reuters / May 23, 2012 (Reuters) - World powers and Iran held unusually detailed talks on Wednesday about how it could show its nuclear work is not a disguised quest for atom bombs, in a Baghdad meeting aimed at halting a slide toward a new Middle East war.... View Source ›

"NKorea threatens to keep building nuclear program" Associated Press / May 22, 2012 PYONGYANG, North Korea (AP) — North Korea is warning that it will keep developing its nuclear program if the United States continues to "stifle" the country. ... View Source ›

"Iran says supplies home-made fuel to nuclear reactor" Reuters / May 23, 2012 DUBAI (Reuters) - Iran said on Tuesday it had delivered two batches of domestically made nuclear fuel to a research reactor in an apparent attempt to trumpet nuclear advances before negotiations with six world powers on Wednesday.... View Source ›

"Armenia to Get U.S. Aid Against WMD Smuggling" Global Security Newswire / May 23, 2012 A bilateral deal finalized on Tuesday provides for U.S. assistance to efforts by Armenia to curb smuggling of weapons of mass destruction and related materials through its territory, the ARMINFO News Agency reported (see GSN, April 30, 2009).... View Source ›

Stephen Castle, "Britain Charts Way to Wider Nuclear Investment" New York Times / May 22, 2012 LONDON — Britain announced plans Tuesday to finance a new generation of nuclear power plants and renewable energy facilities in a move that illustrates divergent energy policies within the European Union as it grapples with the challenge of reconciling economic and environmental objectives. ... View Source ›

Steve Gutterman, "Russia says Iran ready to discuss nuclear gestures" Reuters / May 23, 2012 (Reuters) - Russia said on Wednesday Iran appears ready to agree specific steps to end a standoff over its nuclear program but warned that additional U.S. sanctions would undermine efforts to ensure Tehran does not develop atomic weapons.... View Source ›

"Russia joins NEA membership" World Nuclear News / May 23, 2012 Russia will become the 31st member of the OECD Nuclear Energy Agency (NEA) following its formal accession to the agency today.... View Source ›

May 22, 2012

Alan Cowell, Thomas Erdbrink, & Jodi Rudoren, "U.N. Nuclear Monitor Says Deal With Iran Is Near" New York Times / May 22, 2012 PARIS — In an apparent breakthrough that could play into the broader confrontation over Iran’s disputed nuclear ambitions, the leader of the United Nations nuclear monitoring arm said on Tuesday that, despite unspecified differences, he expected to sign a deal with Tehran “quite soon” on arrangements for an investigation into potential military applications of the program.... View Source ›

Choe Sang-hun, "North Korea Urged to Back Down on Nuclear Test" New York Times / May 21, 2012 SEOUL, South Korea — Senior American, Japanese and South Korean diplomats warned on Monday that North Korea would face more sanctions if it conducted a nuclear test after its failed rocket launching last month. But, in their first meeting since the launching, they also urged the North to back down.... View Source ›

Rachel Oswald, "Arms Control Groups Accuse NATO of Keeping Nuclear Status Quo" Global Security Newswire / May 22, 2012 CHICAGO -- Nuclear disarmament advocates on Monday voiced frustration with what they saw as a missed opportunity for NATO to use its summit here to declare it would reduce the role that nuclear weapons play in the defense of the military bloc’s membership (see GSN, May 21).... View Source ›

"Japan to control up to 76% of TEPCO voting rights" Agence France-Presse / May 21, 2012 TEPCO said Monday the Japanese government will control up to three-quarters of the voting rights at the embattled nuclear plant operator after a massive injection of public funds.... View Source ›

"Images show more North Korean work at nuclear test site" Associated Press / May 22, 2012 SEOUL, South Korea – North Korea has ramped up work at its nuclear test site, according to an analysis of satellite images released Tuesday, a day after a senior U.S. envoy warned the North that an atomic test would unify the world in seeking swift, tough punishment.... View Source ›

"U.K. to Unveil $553.4M in Ballistic Missile Submarine Planning Deals" Global Security Newswire / May 21, 2012 Roughly $553.4 million in work proposals slated to be unveiled by the United Kingdom this week would enable the preliminary planning of a successor to the nation's existing line of ballistic missile submarines, the London Guardian reported on Sunday (see GSN, May 15).... View Source ›

"UK draft energy reform bill unveiled" World Nuclear News / May 22, 2012 Draft legislation to reform the UK's electricity market to ensure secure, clean and affordable energy endeavours to secure the necessary investment for a low-carbon energy mix including new nuclear.... View Source ›

May 21, 2012

John M. Broder & Matthew L. Wald, "N.R.C. Chairman to Resign After Stormy Tenure" New York Times / May 21, 2012 WASHINGTON — Gregory B. Jaczko, whose tenure as chairman of the Nuclear Regulatory Commission has been marked by bitter battles with colleagues and with Congress, announced Monday that he would step down as soon as a successor was confirmed. ... View Source ›

Fredrik Dahl & Marcus George, "U.N. nuclear chief holds talks in Tehran, hopes for deal" Reuters / May 21, 2012 (Reuters) - The U.N. nuclear watchdog chief held rare talks in Tehran on Monday after voicing hope for a deal to investigate suspected atomic bomb research - a gesture Iran might make to try to get international sanctions relaxed and deflect threats of war.... View Source ›

Steve Herman, "North Korea Warned of Deeper Isolation Should Provocations Continue " Voice of America / May 21, 2012 SEOUL - A high-level U.S. delegation focused on North Korean matters met with South Korean and Japanese diplomats in Seoul Monday. The group had words of warning for North Korea. ... View Source ›

Rachel Morison , "Spanish Planned Nuclear Power Plant Shutdowns for 2012" Bloomberg / May 21, 2012 Following is a table of shutdowns at nuclear power plants in Spain for 2012, according to data from Madrid-based utilities lobby Unesa. ... View Source ›

Alexandra Jaffe, "Iran's Economic Minister Says Sanctions are a Two-Edged Sword" Global Security Newswire / May 21, 2012 WASHINGTON -- Iran’s economic minister said on Sunday that, despite increasing sanctions, Iran will not give up its nuclear program and warned that the upcoming EU embargo on Iranian oil will have an adverse effect globally. He said oil could reach $160 a barrel this summer (see GSN, May 18).... View Source ›

Helene Fouquet , "France and the U.K. will get NATO’s assurance that the European missile defense shield isn’t intended to take the place of their" Bloomberg / May 20, 2012 France and the U.K. will get NATO’s assurance that the European missile defense shield isn’t intended to take the place of their nuclear weapons, according to a European official with knowledge of the discussions. ... View Source ›

"Ahead of nuclear talks, Iranian lawmakers urge P5+1 to respect Iran's "rights"" Xinhua / May 20, 2012 TEHRAN, May 20 (Xinhua) -- Three days ahead of the start of new round of talks between the Islamic republic and the world powers, Iranian lawmakers issued a statement on Sunday urging the five permanent UN Security Council members plus Germany (P5+1) to respect Iran's nuclear rights.... View Source ›

May 18, 2012

"Iran hopes for compromise at nuclear talks: Envoy" Agence France-Presse / May 18, 2012 PARIS: Iran wants France to help reach a compromise at crunch multilateral talks on its controversial nuclear programme next week in Baghdad, the Islamic republic’s Paris envoy has said.... View Source ›

Fredrik Dahl, "Iran may seek "tactical gain" with U.N. nuclear deal" Reuters / May 18, 2012 (Reuters) - Iran and the U.N. nuclear watchdog are making headway towards a framework deal on how to tackle concerns about its atomic activity, diplomats say, a potential bargaining chip for Tehran in next week's negotiations with world powers. ... View Source ›

"House Backs Amendment on Maintaining WMD Response Teams" Global Security Newswire / May 18, 2012 The U.S. House of Representatives on Thursday approved without dissent an amendment to its fiscal 2013 defense authorization bill aimed at preventing the elimination of two National Guard Weapons of Mass Destruction Civil Support Teams, one lawmaker announced (see GSN, May 15).... View Source ›

Hiroyuki Kachi & Mitsuru Obe , "Japan Urges Power Usage Cuts As Nuclear Plants Still Offline" Wall Street Journal / May 18, 2012 TOKYO (Dow Jones)--The Japanese government on Friday asked households and business across most of the country to conserve electricity this summer on the assumption that all of the nation's nuclear plants will remain offline, a move welcomed by the business community for reducing uncertainty over power supply. ... View Source ›

"Top Air Force Officer Rejects Advice on Nuclear Arms Cuts " Global Security Newswire / May 18, 2012 A new analysis backed by a former top U.S. nuclear commander is incorrect in calling for sharp curbs to the nation's strategic forces, Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. Norton Schwartz said in Wednesday comments reported by Defense News (see GSN, May 16).... View Source ›

Gleb Bryanski, "Russia says action on Syria, Iran may go nuclear" Reuters / May 17, 2012 (Reuters) - Russian Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev warned on Thursday that military action against sovereign states could lead to a regional nuclear war, starkly voicing Moscow's opposition to Western intervention ahead of a G8 summit at which Syria and Iran will be discussed.... View Source ›

Tovah Lazaroff, "PM: No evidence Iran will end nuke program " Jerusalem Post / May 18, 2012 Speaking in Prague, Netanyahu says goal of upcoming negotiations should be freeze, removal of Iranian enrichment. ... View Source ›

May 17, 2012

"China May Approve Nuclear Plan Next Month, Official Says" Bloomberg / May 17, 2012 China’s state council, or Cabinet, will probably hold a meeting before the end of June to approve safety and development plans for the nuclear industry, according to Xu Yuming, the vice secretary general of the China Nuclear Energy Association. ... View Source ›

"Jalili: Pressure won't bear fruit in nuclear talks" Jerusalem Post / May 17, 2012 Iran's chief nuclear negotiator Saeed Jalili warned Thursday that applying pressure on the Islamic Republic in upcoming nuclear talks would not impede Iran's nuclear progress, but rather it would serve to encourage Tehran to localize nuclear technology.... View Source ›

Ariel Zirulnick, "Report: North Korea resumes construction on nuclear reactor" Christian Science Monitor / May 17, 2012 North Korea has resumed work on an experimental light water reactor (EWLR) after several months of inactivity, which could expand its capacity for producing nuclear weapon material, according to a report from the North Korea analysis website 38 North.... View Source ›

Roberta Rampton, "Senate to consider new Iran sanctions on Thursday" Reuters / May 16, 2012 (Reuters) - Senate Democratic leader Harry Reid will ask the chamber to approve a new package of oil and economic sanctions on Thursday aimed at further pressuring Iran to abandon its nuclear program, a Democratic leadership aide told Reuters.... View Source ›

"Libya: IAEA ready to help Libya in nuclear security " Pana / May 16, 2012 Nuclear security - The Director of the nuclear security department at the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), Mr M'rabit Khammar, on Tuesday declared the organization's readiness to help Libya in the field of nuclear security.... View Source ›

Fredrik Dahl, "Iran nuclear output seen steady before Baghdad talks" Reuters / May 16, 2012 VIENNA (Reuters) - Iran is installing more centrifuges in an underground plant but does not yet appear to be using them to expand higher-grade uranium enrichment that could take it closer to producing atom bomb material, Western diplomats say.... View Source ›

"Fukushima hospital finds 99 percent of young children below minimum cesium level" Mainichi / May 16, 2012 Tests in Minamisoma, Fukushima Prefecture, have shown that 99.2 percent of tested children junior-high school age or younger and 90.1 percent of tested people high school age or older were below the minimum level for radioactive cesium.... View Source ›