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Daily News: 08/2012

August 31, 2012

"Iran rejects IAEA nuclear report as 'political move' " Reuters / August 31, 2012 Iranian lawmaker says UN watchdog report revealing doubled nuclear capacity at the underground Fordow facility is nothing but a "political move" aimed at overshadowing Non-Aligned Movement conference in Tehran. ... View Source ›

"US warns Iran after IAEA nuclear report" Agence France-Presse / August 30, 2012 WASHINGTON — The United States warned Iran on Thursday its window for opening serious talks is limited, after the UN nuclear watchdog said Iran had doubled enrichment capacity at its underground facility at Fordo.... View Source ›

David Alexander, "After early successes, Obama struggles to implement disarmament vision" Reuters / August 31, 2012 (Reuters) - Less than three months after his inauguration, President Barack Obama stood before a cheering throng in Prague's historic Hradcany Square and outlined an ambitious vision of a world without nuclear arms.... View Source ›

"UN nuclear watchdog has 'serious concern' over NKorea" Agence France-Presse / August 30, 2012 VIENNA — North Korea's nuclear programme is a matter of "serious concern," the UN atomic agency IAEA said in a report released Thursday, referring in particular to two sites Pyongyang has stopped it from visiting.... View Source ›

Nasser Karimi, "Iran's Khamenei Calls Nuclear Arms Use a 'Big Sin'" Associated Press / August 30, 2012 Iran's supreme leader said Thursday that the pursuit of nuclear weapons is a "big and unforgiveable sin" but he insisted Tehran will not abandon its "peaceful" atomic program.... View Source ›

Jay Solomon, "Iran's Nuclear-Arms Guru Resurfaces " Wall Street Journal / August 30, 2012 VIENNA—The Iranian scientist considered Tehran's atomic-weapons guru until he was apparently sidelined several years ago is back at work, according to United Nations investigators and U.S. and Israeli officials, sparking fresh concerns about the status of Iran's nuclear program.... View Source ›

"Japan moves towards a strategy" World Nuclear News / August 30, 2012 Analysis of opinion polls confirms public pressure to use as little nuclear energy as possible, while previous communication failures have all but eliminated power companies and the government from the debate.... View Source ›

August 30, 2012

Florian Neuhof, "Hans Blix calls for a nuclear-free zone in the Middle East" The National / August 30, 2012 A former head of the United Nations nuclear watchdog has urged Middle East leaders to strive for a region free not only of nuclear weapons but the capacity to enrich uranium, too.... View Source ›

"Arabs may not press Israel resolution at IAEA meeting" Reuters / August 29, 2012 VIENNA, Aug 29 (Reuters) - Arab states may decide against targeting Israel over its assumed nuclear arsenal at the U.N. atomic agency's annual conference so as not to imperil wider efforts for a nuclear weapons-free Middle East, diplomats say.... View Source ›

"Iran increases underground nuclear capacity sharply-diplomats" Reuters / August 30, 2012 VIENNA, Aug 30 (Reuters) - A U.N. watchdog report is expected to show that Iran has expanded its potential capacity to refine uranium in an underground site by at least 30 percent since May, diplomats say, adding to Western worries over Tehran's nuclear aims.... View Source ›

"U.S. Hails Russia’s Readiness for Nuclear Cuts" RIA Novosti / August 29, 2012 The United States welcomes Moscow’s willingness to further reduce nuclear weapons and reiterates that American missile shield in Europe is not aimed against Russia, a spokeswoman for the U.S. Department of State said.... View Source ›

"Iran leader rules out nuclear bomb, will pursue energy" Reuters / August 30, 2012 (Reuters) - Iran has no interest in nuclear weapons but will keep pursuing peaceful nuclear energy, Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei told heads of state from developing countries in Tehran.... View Source ›

"Lugar, Nunn honored for nuclear security efforts" Associated Press / August 29, 2012 THE HAGUE, Netherlands (AP) — U.S. Sen. Richard Lugar and former Sen. Sam Nunn were honored Wednesday for their role in helping ex-Soviet states secure and dismantle huge stocks of nuclear, chemical and biological weapons. ... View Source ›

Kim Eun-jung, "S. Korea to upgrade preparedness against North's cyber, nuclear attacks " Yonhap / August 29, 2012 SEOUL, Aug. 29 (Yonhap) -- South Korea will develop a variety of offensive and defensive cyberwarfare weapons and reinforce manpower at the military cyber command, as part of its bid to enhance preparedness against threats of cyberattacks from North Korea's military, the defense ministry said Wednesday.... View Source ›

August 29, 2012

"UN nuclear watchdog sets up 'Iran Task Force' " Reuters & Jerusalem Post / August 29, 2012 Task force to streamline IAEA's work; upcoming nuclear report to confirm 350 new centrifuges in Fordow underground facility, AFP reports; West urges Arabs not to target Israel's nukes. ... View Source ›

George Jahn, "Arab states lead call to censure Israel’s own nuclear program" Associated Press / August 28, 2012 VIENNA, Austria — Muslim nations and Israel are heading for a confrontation at a 154-nation nuclear meeting next month over an Arab initiative to criticize Israel’s secretive atomic program.... View Source ›

"Nuclear Regulatory Commission keeping close eye on Hurricane Isaac" Associated Press / August 28, 2012 WASHINGTON — The Nuclear Regulatory Commission says it is monitoring Hurricane Isaac as it approaches the Gulf Coast.... View Source ›

"Vietnam seeks nuclear power infrastructure from IAEA" Vietnam News Service / August 29, 2012 Vietnam News Service reported that Viet Nam is seeking more support from the International Atomic Energy Agency and countries with advanced nuclear power industries to develop the infrastructure for its nuclear power program.... View Source ›

Brian Murphy, "Iran agenda faces 'realities' at world gathering" Associated Press / August 28, 2012 DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (AP) — Iranian officials have made no secret about their massive ambitions for this week's nonaligned nations' gathering, with a guest list including leaders such as Egypt's president and U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon.... View Source ›

"UN leader to press Iran on nuclear drive, rights" Agence France-Presse / August 28, 2012 UNITED NATIONS — UN leader Ban Ki-moon will stress to Iranian leaders this week that they must take "urgent" action on the country's nuclear drive and human rights, a UN spokesman said.... View Source ›

"Safety checks on reactor vessels" World Nuclear News / August 28, 2012 While investigations continue into possible manufacturing defects in the reactor pressure vessel of unit 3 of Belgium's Doel nuclear power plant, nuclear safety authorities in other countries are assessing vessels of plants supplied by the same manufacturer for similar flaws.... View Source ›

August 28, 2012

Alister Doyle & Fredrik Dahl, "Big radiation risk unlikely if Israel strikes Iran: experts" Reuters / August 28, 2012 (Reuters) - Any Israeli attacks on Iran's nuclear facilities are unlikely to cause a Fukushima-scale disaster unless a Russian-built reactor is destroyed, experts say.... View Source ›

"NAM summit: Senior North Korean official heads to Iran" Agence France-Presse / August 28, 2012 SEOUL: North Korea's ceremonial head of state Kim Yong-Nam left on Tuesday to attend a summit of the Non-Aligned Movement in Tehran, the official news agency said. ... View Source ›

"Belgian nuclear reactor shut at least until year-end" Reuters / August 27, 2012 Aug 27 (Reuters) - Belgium will not reopen a nuclear power reactor which was closed over safety concerns until at least the end of the year, the government said on Monday.... View Source ›

Saeed Shah, "Pakistan nuclear scientist AQ Khan launches political movement" The Guardian / August 27, 2012 AQ Khan, the renegade Pakistani nuclear scientist, has launched his own political movement targeting the youth vote as the country gears up for an election.... View Source ›

"Iran denies plans to show nuclear sites to diplomats" Reuters / August 28, 2012 (Reuters) - Iran said on Tuesday it has no plans to show its nuclear sites to diplomats visiting Tehran for this week's Non-Aligned Movement (NAM) summit, despite an earlier offer by a deputy foreign minister. ... View Source ›

"France says Nuclear to Represent 50% of Capacity for Decades" Dow Jones Newswires / August 28, 2012 French Labor Minister Michel Sapin Tuesday said nuclear energy will represent half of the country's capacity to generate electricity for decades, after an industry minister clashed with the ecologist party, the government's junior partner, over what importance to give to the industry.... View Source ›

"Iran can aid 'peaceful' nuclear research" UPI / August 27, 2012 TEHRAN, Aug. 27 (UPI) -- Iran may be able to help members of the Non-Aligned Movement gain access to peaceful nuclear technology, a lawmaker said Monday.... View Source ›

August 27, 2012

Fredrik Dahl, "IAEA gets no deal with Iran on bomb research suspicions" Reuters / August 25, 2012 VIENNA, Aug 24 (Reuters) - The U.N. nuclear watchdog and Iran failed on Friday to strike a deal aimed at allaying concerns about suspected nuclear weapons research by Tehran, a setback in efforts to resolve the stand-off diplomatically before any Israeli or U.S. military action.... View Source ›

"Iran official: Egypt's Morsi to visit Bushehr nuclear plant on sidelines of Tehran summit" Haaretz/Reuters / August 26, 2012 Egypt's recently elected Presdient Mohamed Morsi will be one of the head of states scheduled to visit one of Iran's central nuclear facilities on the sidelines of the Non-Aligned Movement conference in Tehran, an Iranian official indicated on Sunday. ... View Source ›

Simon Sturdee , "IAEA may say 'pointless' to inspect Iran nuke site" Agence France-Presse / August 25, 2012 VIENNA — Iran has "sanitized" to such an extent a military base where nuclear weapons research allegedly took place that the UN atomic watchdog may say next week there is now little point inspecting it, Western diplomats told AFP.... View Source ›

"Don't drop ball on nuclear safety-IAEA chief" Reuters / August 27, 2012 VIENNA, Aug 27 (Reuters) - Improving global nuclear safety after last year's Fukushima disaster must remain an urgent concern, despite improvements already made, the U.N. atomic agency chief said on Monday.... View Source ›

"North Korea and Japan to hold first talks in four years" The Telegraph / August 27, 2012 North Korea and Japan this week hold their first direct talks in four years with attention focused on whether they can show progress in overcoming deep-rooted suspicions that have hamstrung ties. ... View Source ›

"Iran may grant access to suspected nuclear site " Reuters / August 27, 2012 DUBAI, Aug 27 (Reuters) - Iran indicated on Monday it might allow diplomats visiting Tehran for this week's Non-Aligned Movement (NAM) summit to inspect the Parchin military base, which UN nuclear experts say may have been used for nuclear-related explosives tests.... View Source ›

"Iran opens nonaligned summit with nuclear appeals" Associated Press / August 26, 2012 TEHRAN, Iran -- Iran opened a world gathering of self-described nonaligned nations Sunday with a slap at the U.N. Security Council and an appeal to rid the world of nuclear weapons, even as Tehran faces Western suspicions that it is seeking its own atomic bombs.... View Source ›

August 24, 2012

"U.S. Urges North Korean Leader Kim Jong-un to Return to Six-Party Talks" Arirang / August 23, 2012 The United States is urging North Korea to return to the six-party talks amid concerns that North Korea has finished constructing the dome of its Yongbyon nuclear facility.... View Source ›

"Iran envoy optimistic as U.N. nuclear talks resume" Reuters / August 24, 2012 (Reuters) - A senior Iranian envoy, speaking on Friday shortly before talks resumed with the U.N. nuclear watchdog about the Islamic state's atomic activities, said he expected progress.... View Source ›

David E. Sanger, "Signs Suggest Iran Is Speeding Up Work on Nuclear Program" New York Times / August 23, 2012 WASHINGTON — International nuclear inspectors will soon report that Iran has installed hundreds of new centrifuges in recent months and may also be speeding up production of nuclear fuel while negotiations with the United States and its allies have ground to a near halt, according to diplomats and experts briefed on the findings. ... View Source ›

Benjamin Kang Lim, "North Korean leader seeks trip to China for economic help" Reuters / August 24, 2012 (Reuters) - North Korea's young leader wants a state visit to China in the latest move in his push to lift the isolated state out of decades of poverty, but risks further fraying ties with his only powerful ally by sticking to the threat of a new nuclear test.... View Source ›

"U.S. General Discounts Projections of Massive Chinese Nuke Stockpile" Global Security Newswire / August 23, 2012 The head of U.S. Strategic Command earlier this month said he does not believe that China has surreptitiously massively expanded its nuclear arsenal, as has been speculated by some experts.... View Source ›

Fredrik Dahl, "U.N. atom watchdog pushes Iran to open up military site" Reuters / August 24, 2012 (Reuters) - The U.N. nuclear watchdog pressed Iran on Friday to address suspicions about nuclear bomb research in the Islamic state, pursuing diplomatic efforts to resolve the dispute before any possible military action by Israel or the United States.... View Source ›

Douglas P. Guarino, "Russian Approval of Key Weapons Security Agreement Uncertain, Lugar Says" Global Security Newswire / August 23, 2012 WASHINGTON – The Obama administration has drafted a proposal that would extend a key weapons security agreement between the United States and Russia but it is uncertain whether Moscow will approve draft deal, Senator Richard Lugar (R-Ind.) said on Thursday.... View Source ›

August 23, 2012

Santanu Choudhury, "India Auditor Warns on Weak Nuclear Regulator " Wall Street Journal / August 23, 2012 NEW DELHI--India's federal auditor has raised an alarm over the nation's nuclear safety, saying in a report that a weak regulator and very low level of fines – just $9 – for safety violators pose grave risks for the country.... View Source ›

"Iran calls Israeli military threats propaganda" Reuters / August 22, 2012 (Reuters) - Iran considers threats by Israel to bomb its nuclear installations more a propaganda drive than a genuine signal of imminent attack, Foreign Minister Ali Akbar Salehi said on Wednesday.... View Source ›

"Nuclear Concealment at Iranian Base Nearly Complete, Envoys Say" Global Security Newswire / August 22, 2012 Iran is close to wrapping up an apparent effort to conceal incriminating material at a site suspected by U.N. auditors to have hosted nuclear weapon-relevant research, two high-level envoys told the Associated Press on Tuesday.... View Source ›

"Iran’s Bank Mellat loses lawsuit in Korea over financial sanctions" Korea Herald / August 23, 2012 An Iranian bank has lost a legal battle with Korea’s Finance Ministry to cancel a 2010 decision that suspended the bank’s local branch, a measure following international sanctions over Tehran’s suspected nuclear weapons program, court officials said Thursday. ... View Source ›

"U.K. Studying Whether to Use Fast Reactors to Destroy Plutonium" Global Security Newswire / August 22, 2012 The United Kingdom is weighing whether to take up a proposal by GE Hitachi Nuclear Energy to use experimental fast reactors to destroy the nation's massive stockpile of plutonium, which is viewed as a nuclear security risk, the London Independent reported on Monday.... View Source ›

"New Mexico Plutonium Storage Opposed By Nuclear Watchdogs " Associated Press / August 22, 2012 LOS ALAMOS, New Mexico (AP) — Nuclear watchdogs are fighting a proposal to ship tons of plutonium to New Mexico, including the cores of nuclear warheads that would be dismantled at an aging and structurally questionable lab atop an earthquake fault zone.... View Source ›

"IAEA head "not optimistic" on access to Iran military site" Reuters / August 22, 2012 HELSINKI/VIENNA, Aug 22 (Reuters) - The U.N. nuclear watchdog chief played down chances of a breakthrough when talks with Iran resume on Friday but said the agency would pursue access to a military site that diplomats say may have been cleansed of evidence of illicit nuclear activity.... View Source ›

August 22, 2012

"CTBT Chief Looks to U.S. Movement on Treaty After Election" Global Security Newswire / August 22, 2012 The United States could take up the debate over ratifying the Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty after the November presidential election, Kyodo News on Tuesday quoted the head of the international body formed to manage the accord regime as saying.... View Source ›

Choe Sang-hun, "Progress Is Cited on New Reactor in North Korea" New York Times / August 21, 2012 SEOUL, South Korea — While the region’s attention has remained focused on whether the new North Korean leader, Kim Jong-un, can consolidate his power, his country has been making significant progress in the construction of a new reactor widely seen as a cover for making more fuel for nuclear weapons, analysts say, citing satellite imagery of the building site. ... View Source ›

"Government Watchdog Seeks Update on Y-12 Plant Hazards" Global Security Newswire / August 22, 2012 A U.S. government watchdog is expected at an October meeting to examine what steps are being taken to help prevent accidents in aging manufacturing sites at the Y-12 National Security Complex in Tennessee, the Knoxville News Sentinel reported.... View Source ›

"U.N. nuclear watchdog confirms new Iran talks this week" Reuters / August 21, 2012 (Reuters) - The United Nations nuclear watchdog said on Tuesday it would hold a new round of talks with Iran in Vienna later this week about a long-stalled investigation into suspected nuclear weapons research in the Islamic state.... View Source ›

"India not to give up nuclear arms till universal disarmament " PTI / August 21, 2012 New Delhi: Making it clear it will not give up nuclear arms until universal disarmament is achieved, India on Tuesday said the weapons had ended attempts by global powers to blackmail it to toe a particular line. ... View Source ›

Fredrik Dahl, "U.N. atomic watchdog in new bid to unblock Iran probe" Reuters / August 21, 2012 (Reuters) - The U.N. nuclear watchdog will try to persuade Iran to address questions about its suspected nuclear weapons research at a meeting on Friday, more than two months after previous talks ended in failure.... View Source ›

"Iran Unveils Plans For New Airbase To Defend Nuclear Sites" Business Insider / August 22, 2012 President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad presided over the annual ceremony marking the Iranian defence industry's "national day", which is often used to highlight advances in military technology and to persuade the world that the sanctions deployed against the country have failed to stop them.... View Source ›

August 21, 2012

"Iran looks to Armenia to skirt bank sanctions" Reuters / August 21, 2012 (Reuters) - With international sanctions squeezing Iran, the Islamic Republic is seeking to expand its banking foothold in the Caucasus nation of Armenia to make up for difficulties in countries it used to rely on to do business, according to diplomats and documents.... View Source ›

"Korea & U.S. to Hold Nuclear Cooperation Meeting Next Month" Arirang / August 21, 2012 Korea and the United States will hold a working-level meeting on nuclear energy cooperation some time next month in Washington. The meeting is expected to center on revisions of the current nuclear energy pact signed between Korea and the U.S. back in 1974. ... View Source ›

"Iran war could cost Israel economy $42 billion: report" Reuters / August 21, 2012 (Reuters) - Israel's economy would incur damages of as much as 167 billion shekels ($42 billion) should Israel attack Iran over its nuclear program, business information group BDI-Coface has projected.... View Source ›

"Iran Rolls Out Upgraded Ballistic Missile" Global Security Newswire / August 21, 2012 Iran on Tuesday rolled out the fourth iteration of its Fateh 110 short-range ballistic missile, among other updated arms systems, Reuters reported.... View Source ›

"UK nuclear policy looks to China" Financial Times / August 20, 2012 One of the aspirations of the UK government’s energy policy is that a certain proportion of the country’s power should come from nuclear sources. However, this goal has been threatened by the reluctance of investors to build new reactors. Only one European venture, EDF Energy, has put forward a firm proposal to do so.... View Source ›

"IAEA Outlines 2011 Atomic Protection Steps" Global Security Newswire / August 20, 2012 The International Atomic Energy Agency last week released a report detailing its efforts in 2011 to advance the protection of nuclear substances.... View Source ›

"Cross-strait nuclear cooperation gets under way" Taiwan Today / August 21, 2012 Representatives of Taipei and Beijing attended a nuclear safety working group meeting Aug. 14-16 in the mainland Chinese city of Changchun, Jilin province, according to the ROC Atomic Energy Council Aug. 20. ... View Source ›

August 20, 2012

"S.Korea to resume Iran oil imports from Sept " Reuters / August 20, 2012 Aug 20 (Reuters) - South Korean refiners will resume imports of up to 200,000 barrels per day of Iranian crude from September, economy ministry sources said on Monday, ending a two-month gap due to a European Union ban on insurance cover for Iranian oil. ... View Source ›

Chris Schneidmiller, "IAEA Security Official Seeks More Money to Prevent Nuclear Terrorism" Global Security Newswire / August 20, 2012 WASHINGTON – The International Atomic Energy Agency’s top nuclear security official said his operation must have more money and people if it is to meet nations’ growing demand for help in ensuring their atomic facilities are protected against terrorism.... View Source ›

"Israel strike on Iran would be disaster - Netanyahu's ex-deputy" Reuters / August 17, 2012 Aug 17 (Reuters) - A former deputy of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said on Friday a pre-emptive military strike against Iran over its nuclear programme could embroil Israel in a "disastrous war"... View Source ›

"U.S. Says Iraqis Are Helping Iran to Skirt Sanctions" New York Times / August 18, 2012 WASHINGTON — When President Obama announced last month that he was barring a Baghdad bank from any dealings with the American banking system, it was a rare acknowledgment of a delicate problem facing the administration in a country that American troops just left: for months, Iraq has been helping Iran skirt economic sanctions imposed on Tehran because of its nuclear program. ... View Source ›

"India Preparing Trial Launch of Nuclear-Capable Agni 3 Missile" Global Security Newswire / August 20, 2012 The planned trial launch next month of India's nuclear-capable Agni 3 ballistic missile could lead to the weapon's induction into the military, the New Indian Express reported on Sunday. ... View Source ›

"IAEA: Fukushima slowed nuke growth" UPI / August 20, 2012 VIENNA, Aug. 20 (UPI) -- The Fukushima Daiichi disaster slowed but didn't reverse the expansion of nuclear power in 2011, the International Atomic Energy Agency said in Vienna.... View Source ›

"S. Korea, US start major annual military drill" Agence France-Presse / August 19, 2012 SEOUL — The South Korean and US militaries Monday began an annual major joint exercise to test defences against North Korea, a drill denounced by Pyongyang which vowed to strengthen its nuclear deterrent.... View Source ›