January 30, 2015

"Iran says nuclear talks with Europeans 'promising' but no progress" Reuters / January 30, 2015 Iran said talks with France, Germany and Britain on Thursday on its nuclear program were "promising" but more work was needed to settle the 12-year standoff, the official IRNA news agency reported.... View Source ›

Hemant Kumar Rout, "Canister Launch of Agni-V on Saturday" The New Indian Express / January 30, 2015 After the three-day tour of US President Barack Obama, the Defence Research Development Organisation (DRDO) here is readying for the first canister launch of India’s longest range ballistic missile Agni-V in full operational configuration. The test is likely to be carried out from the Integrated Test Range (ITR) off the Odisha coast on Saturday.... View Source ›

Terrence McCoy, "U.S. nuclear scientist who offered to help Venezuela build nuclear bombs gets 60 months" The Washington Post / January 30, 2015 In 2008, a gray-haired nuclear scientist in his 70s took a seat at a small table and laid out an elaborate plan to help Venezuela become a nuclear-armed power.... View Source ›

Timothy Cama, "Nuclear regulators say Yucca disposal site would be safe" The Hill / January 30, 2015 The Nuclear Regulatory Commission’s (NRC) staff gave a positive safety evaluation of the proposed Yucca Mountain nuclear waste site Thursday, but said it is still not ready for construction.... View Source ›

January 29, 2015

"North Korea may be trying to restart nuclear reactor: U.S. think tank" Reuters / January 29, 2015 North Korea may be trying to restart a nuclear reactor that can yield plutonium for atomic bombs, a U.S. security think tank said on Wednesday, citing new satellite imagery.... View Source ›

"U.S. envoy: Russia firm on N.K. denuclearization despite Kim's possible trip" Yonhap / January 29, 2015 A top U.S. diplomat handling North Korea said Thursday that Russia remained committed to denuclearizing the reclusive state, despite a possible visit by the North's leader Kim Jong-un in May... View Source ›

"Heysham nuclear power plant: Reactor taken offline due to water leak Heysham One nuclear plant" BBC / January 29, 2015 A reactor at a nuclear power plant in Lancashire has been taken offline due to a technical fault.... View Source ›

Marina Malenic, "USAF wants to dodge latest air defences with bomber's new secret weapon" IHS Jane's Defence Weekly / January 29, 2015 Maintaining the shroud of secrecy surrounding the US Air Force's (USAF's) new Long-Range Strike Bomber (LRS-B), the general in charge of the USAF's nuclear forces would only tell reporters that advances in air defence technology drove the development of the Long-Range Standoff (LRSO) cruise missile being designed to arm the US bomber fleet.... View Source ›

January 28, 2015

David E. Sanger, "In Reprieve to Obama, Senate Democrats Agree to Wait on Iran Sanctions" The New York Times / January 28, 2015 Ten Senate Democrats who have advocated putting more sanctions on Iran gave the White House a two-month reprieve on Tuesday, saying they would wait until after the late-March deadline for completing the outlines of a deal to restrain Tehran’s nuclear program before voting for a bill that President Obama has said would undermine any chance of reaching an agreement.... View Source ›

"U.S., Japan back Seoul's efforts for inter-Korean talks: envoy" Yonhap / January 28, 2015 The United States and Japan expressed strong support for South Korea's efforts to coax North Korea to come forward for dialogue, Seoul's top nuclear envoy said Wednesday.... View Source ›

"Pakistan Criticizes Obama's Nuclear Deals With India" Radio Free Europe / January 28, 2015 Pakistan has criticized agreements reached during President Barack Obama’s visit to New Delhi earlier this week, including a January 25 breakthrough on a deadlocked civilian nuclear power deal.... View Source ›

"US missile defense system cannot intercept Russian strategic missiles — deputy PM" ITAR-TASS / January 28, 2015 The American missile defense system is unable to counter Russia’s strategic missiles, Deputy Prime Minister Dmitry Rogozin said on Monday.... View Source ›

"German utilities seek billions in nuclear lawsuits" Reuters / January 28, 2015 Germany's big four utilities are seeking at least 18.4 billion euros ($21 billion) in various lawsuits related to the country's nuclear policy, including its programme to pull out of the technology completely by 2022.... View Source ›

January 27, 2015

Katy Daigle, "Indian nuclear deals still complicated for US firms despite claims of Obama-Modi breakthrough" Associated Press / January 27, 2015 India and America's declaration of a breakthrough in contentious nuclear energy cooperation has been met with a lukewarm response from industry and analysts. Few expect the potentially lucrative Indian market to suddenly become less complicated for U.S. nuclear companies.... View Source ›

"Agni missing as Obama witnesses India’s R-Day parade" The Hindu / January 27, 2015 Nuclear-capable Agni missiles — a highlight for the past several years — were missing as United States President Barack Obama witnessed India's military might and cultural diversity on what proved to be a rainy and cold 66th Republic Day.... View Source ›

Patricia Zengerle, "Democratic senators set resolution countering push for tougher Iran sanctions" Reuters / January 27, 2015 Democratic U.S. senators introduced a resolution on Monday opposing more sanctions on Iran unless nuclear talks fail or Tehran breaks an agreement, countering a push for tougher sanctions backed by Republicans that President Barack Obama has pledged to veto.... View Source ›

Molly O'Toole, "Iran Sanctions Showdown Is Drawing New Battlelines in Congress" Defense One / January 27, 2015 The real fight over Iran sanctions isn’t between the White House and the new Republican majority in Congress — it’s a no-holds-barred, intra-party battle that, until now, has largely been fought behind closed doors and between the lines of statements to the press in the U.S. Capitol and capitals worldwide.... View Source ›

January 26, 2015

"S. Korea, 4 nations hope for early nuke talks: official" Yonhap / January 26, 2015 the need to break the stalled process for Pyongyang's denuclearization as early as possible, a Seoul official said Monday.... View Source ›

Amir Vahdat, "Iran Foreign Minister Summoned to Explain Stroll With Kerry" Associated Press / January 26, 2015 Iran's Foreign Minister Javad Zarif has been summoned before parliament to explain his recent public stroll with U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry, according to a Sunday report by the country's official IRNA news agency.... View Source ›

"Iran lawmakers drafting law on nuclear enrichment hike" AFP / January 26, 2015 Iran's parliament has started to draft a law that would allow the country's nuclear scientists to intensify their uranium enrichment, a step that could complicate ongoing talks with world powers.... View Source ›

"Obama and Modi announce nuclear 'breakthrough' during India visit" Al Jazeera / January 26, 2015 U.S. President Barack Obama and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi unveiled a deal on Sunday aimed at unlocking billions of dollars in nuclear trade, a step that both sides hope will help establish an enduring strategic partnership.... View Source ›

"China urges India to take steps to satisfy standards of nuclear group" Reuters / January 26, 2015 China called on India on Monday to take more steps to satisfy the standards of a global organisation that controls atomic exports after U.S. President Barack Obama said the United States was in favour of India joining the group.... View Source ›

January 23, 2015

"EU court scraps sanctions on Iran bank, shipping concerns" Associated Press / January 23, 2015 A European Union high court has annulled sanctions that the 28-nation bloc imposed on an Iranian bank and a shipping line and companies linked to it, over Tehran's nuclear program.... View Source ›

Sachin Parashar, "Nuclear deal stuck on US demand ahead of Obama visit" The Times of India / January 23, 2015 Ahead of US President Barack Obama's arrival in India, a specific US demand seeking "flag rights in perpetuity" for any material or equipment used in a US-built reactor has thrown, to use an American expression, a monkey wrench into the nuclear contact group meeting underway in London.... View Source ›

"TEPCO to miss March target for Fukushima toxic water cleanup" Kyodo / January 23, 2015 Tokyo Electric Power Co. said Friday it will fail to fulfill its commitment to process by the end of March all highly radioactive water stored at the destroyed Fukushima Daiichi nuclear plant due mainly to equipment troubles, causing further delay in the decommissioning process.... View Source ›

"IAEA’s Amano Promotes Importance Of Nuclear For Development" NucNet / January 23, 2015 The International Atomic Energy Agency’s mandate, often summarised as “atoms for peace” should be expanded to “atoms for peace and development” because of the way the agency promotes development through the use of nuclear technology, director-general Yukiya Amano said.... View Source ›

January 22, 2015

Anne Gearan, "Clinton backs Obama on opposing new Iran sanctions" The Washington Post / January 22, 2015 New congressional sanctions on Iran would give Iranian allies Russia and China an excuse to to back out of international negotiations and destroy chances for a nuclear deal, former secretary of state Hillary Rodham Clinton said Wednesday.... View Source ›

Josh Rogin and Eli Lake, "Israeli Mossad Goes Rogue, Warns U.S. on Iran Sanctions" BloombergView / January 22, 2015 The Israeli intelligence agency Mossad has broken ranks with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, telling U.S. officials and lawmakers that a new Iran sanctions bill in the U.S. Congress would tank the Iran nuclear negotiations.... View Source ›

Martin Matishak , "Administration opposes up-or-down vote on Iran nuclear deal" The Hill / January 22, 2015 The State Departments’ No.2 diplomat on Wednesday signaled the administration would oppose an up-or-down vote on any nuclear agreement reached with Iran.... View Source ›

"U.S. official: negotiators look to March for agreement on 'core' Iran deal" Reuters / January 22, 2015 U.S. Deputy Secretary of State Antony Blinken said on Wednesday international negotiators hope to reach an agreement in March on all of the core elements on an agreement with Iran to curb its nuclear program.... View Source ›

Mari Iwata, "Fukushima Watch: Regulator Calls on Tepco to Discharge Tritium Water" The Wall Street Journal / January 22, 2015 Japan’s nuclear regulator has officially called on Tokyo Electric Power to work toward discharging low-level contaminated water into the ocean from the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear plant.... View Source ›

January 21, 2015

"Russia says progress on Iran nuclear talks possible by end-June" Reuters / January 21, 2015 Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said on Wednesday there had been progress in world powers' talks with Iran on its nuclear program and there were grounds to believe an agreement could be reached by an end-June deadline.... View Source ›

Thomas Grove, "Russia may send S-300 missile system to Iran - media" Reuters / January 21, 2015 Russia might deliver a long-overdue S-300 air defense missile system to Iran, honoring a contract that was canceled in 2010 following strong pressure from the West, Iranian and Russian media said on Tuesday.... View Source ›

Damien Sharkov, "Russia Orders Snap Test of Nuclear Missiles" Newsweek / January 21, 2015 Russia has ordered a snap drill of its Strategic Missile Troops (RVSN), which control the country’s 305 land-based intercontinental ballistic missiles and nuclear warheads, according to a statement issued by the unit’s high command today.... View Source ›

Deb Riechmann, "Senate opens showdown with Obama over Iran sanctions" Associated Press / January 21, 2015 Senators are pushing to have a say about the ongoing international negotiations aimed at preventing Iran from developing nuclear weapons, a move they say will further destabilize an increasingly volatile Mideast.... View Source ›

Anil Sasi, "Narendra Modi government to re-engage US on nuclear deal" The Indian Express / January 21, 2015 Ahead of US President Barack Obama’s upcoming visit, the NDA government is learnt to be working on three specific deliverables as a proof of its commitment to re-engage with the Americans in the atomic energy sector, nearly 10 years since the first announcement on the India-US civil nuclear agreement by the previous UPA administration.... View Source ›

January 20, 2015

Bryan Bender, "Russia ends US nuclear security alliance" Boston Globe / January 20, 2015 The private diplomatic meetings took place over two days in mid-December in a hotel overlooking Moscow’s Red Square.... View Source ›

Jamie Doward and Chris Sloggett, "Trident future back on election agenda as costs spiral" The Observer / January 20, 2015 MPs condemn expenditure on Trident nuclear submarine successor before parliament has approved a replacement... View Source ›

"Pakistan implements nuclear safeguards agreement: IAEA" IANS / January 20, 2015 The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) has said that Pakistan has implemented the nuclear safeguards agreement, media reported Tuesday.... View Source ›

"UAE takes part in Arab League's meet on nuclear weapons" WAM / January 20, 2015 The UAE is taking part in the 32nd meeting of the Arab League's committee of senior officials on nuclear weapons and other weapons of mass destruction (WMD) in Cairo.... View Source ›

January 19, 2015

May-e Wong, "US ex-officials conclude nuke talks with N. Korean diplomat" Associated Press / January 19, 2015 An American delegation of academics and former senior officials urged the resumption of official nuclear talks during two days of informal meetings with North Korea's top nuclear envoy, a former senior U.S. diplomat said Tuesday.... View Source ›

John Grady, "STRATCOM’s Haney: China Not Transparent with Nuclear Weapons Policy" USNI News / January 19, 2015 While Russia continues to steadily invest in strategic capabilities, the head of U.S. Strategic Command (STRATCOM) said there is some transparency in what they are spending money on because of treaty requirements. But with China the story is very different, Adm. Cecil Haney told the Atlantic Council in Washington, D.C.... View Source ›

"Senator to push for Iran sanctions _ or a say on any deal" Associated Press / January 19, 2015 A leading Republican critic of President Barack Obama's foreign policy is pushing new sanctions against Iran over its nuclear program, unswayed by a White House veto threat and lobbying by Britain's leader.... View Source ›