Obama Agrees to Keep Israel's Nukes Secret

Obama Agrees to Keep Israel's Nukes Secret

http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2009/oct/02/president-obama-has-reaffirmed-a-4-decade-old-secr/

Iran Agrees to Send Enriched Uranium to Russia

Iran Agrees to Send Enriched Uranium to Russia
By STEVEN ERLANGER and MARK LANDLER
Published: October 1, 2009

GENEVA — Iran agreed on Thursday in talks with the United States and other major powers to open its newly revealed uranium enrichment plant near Qum to international inspection in the next two weeks and to send most of its openly declared enriched uranium to Russia to be turned into fuel for a small reactor that produces medical isotopes, senior American and other Western officials said.

Iran’s agreement in principle to export most of its enriched uranium for processing — if it happens — would represent a major accomplishment for the West, reducing Iran’s ability to make a nuclear weapon quickly and buying more time for negotiations to bear fruit.

If Iran has secret stockpiles of enriched uranium, however, the accomplishment would be hollow, a senior American official conceded.

The officials described the long day of talks here with Iran, the first such discussions in which the United States has participated fully, as a modest success on a long and complicated road. Iran had at least finally engaged with the big powers on its nuclear program after more than a year, and had agreed to some tangible, confidence-building steps before another meeting with the same participants before the end of this month.

More…
http://www.nytimes.com/2009/10/02/world/middleeast/02nuke.html?_r=2&emc=na

October surprise in US-Iran relations

October surprise in US-Iran relations
The meeting on Thursday between Iran and the six countries dealing with its nuclear case resulted in agreement for a follow-up encounter, in itself an important development, given the heated atmosphere in the lead-up to the talks. As significant, the United States and Iran made an initial direct contact, raising hopes of a real breakthrough. - Kaveh L Afrasiabi (Oct 2, '09)

http://www.atimes.com/atimes/Middle_East/KJ03Ak01.html

Problems With Obama's Missile Defense - Bulletin of Atomic Scientists

Problems With Obama's Missile Defense - Bulletin of Atomic Scientists

http://www.thebulletin.org/web-edition/op-eds/technical-flaws-the-obama-missile-defense-plan


Article Highlights

* The Obama administration should be commended for changing course on the Bush administration's plan to deploy missile defense installations in Eastern Europe.
* However, its alternative--using the existing ship-based Aegis defense system to protect Europe from a possible Iranian missile strike--also uses technology that's unproven.
* Additionally, like the Bush plan, the Obama missile defense strategy could potentially embolden hawks in both Russia and China.

Fresh South Korea Nuclear Proposal "Ridiculous": North Jack Kim, Reuters

Fresh South Korea Nuclear Proposal "Ridiculous": North
Jack Kim, Reuters
North Korea Wednesday rejected a proposal by South Korea's president for a fresh deal to end its nuclear arms program in return for massive aid, which he has said was possibly Pyongyang's last chance at survival.
Full Article

http://www.reuters.com/article/worldNews/idUSTRE58T1RS20090930

Oil, Ideology Keep China from Joining Push against Iran

Oil, Ideology Keep China from Joining Push against Iran
John Pomfret, The Washington Post
In its effort to muster support for sterner action against Iran, the Obama administration will have to overcome China's reluctance to punish a country that is one of its top oil suppliers and a major beneficiary of its energy-related investments.
Full Article

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/09/29/AR2009092903697.html

Global Nuclear Power Industry Outlook To 2010

Global Nuclear Power Industry Outlook To 2010
Dublin, Ireland (SPX) Sep 23, 2009 - "Global Nuclear Power Industry Outlook to 2010" is a new report published by Global Markets Direct in association with ICD Research that analyzes how nuclear power generation companies spend, procurement strategies and practices and business are being affected by the recession. In an uncertain economic climate this report gives you access to the category-level spending outlooks, buyer ... more

http://www.nuclearpowerdaily.com/reports/Global_Nuclear_Power_Industry_Outlook_To_2010_999.html

Canada, Kazakhstan to cooperate on nuclear energy

Canada, Kazakhstan to cooperate on nuclear energy
Ottawa (AFP) Sept 24, 2009 - Canada's Trade Minister Stockwell Day and Kazakhstan's Energy Minister Sauat Mynbaev jointly announced Thursday the conclusion of negotiations for a bilateral nuclear cooperation agreement. Their respective governments, however, must still finalize the legal text prior to signing and implementing the pact. "This agreement will open up the civil nuclear market to Canadian companies, who ... more

http://www.nuclearpowerdaily.com/reports/Canada_Kazakhstan_to_cooperate_on_nuclear_energy_999.html

China approves building of coastal nuclear plant

China approves building of coastal nuclear plant
Beijing (AFP) Sept 28, 2009 - China has approved the construction of a new nuclear plant in its eastern coastal region, in the latest step in Beijing's plan to include more clean energy in the country's consumption mix. The State Council, or cabinet, issued a licence last week for the building of the first phase of the Haiyang nuclear power station in Shandong province, the State-owned Assets Supervision and ... more

http://www.nuclearpowerdaily.com/reports/China_approves_building_of_coastal_nuclear_plant_999.html

Lithuania says nuclear deal due in 2010

Lithuania says nuclear deal due in 2010
Vilnius (AFP) Sept 30, 2009 - Lithuania said Wednesday it aimed in the first six months of 2010 to sign a key investment deal in a four-nation nuclear power project to replace a Soviet-era plant set to shut down within months. "The plan is to sign a contract with the strategic investor in the first half of 2010," Energy Minister Arvydas Sekmokas told reporters, referring to the as-yet unchosen player that will steer the ... more

http://www.nuclearpowerdaily.com/reports/Lithuania_says_nuclear_deal_due_in_2010_999.html

Germany eyes nuclear revival

Germany eyes nuclear revival
Berlin (UPI) Sep 28, 2009 - Nuclear energy is set to be revived in Germany as Chancellor Angela Merkel can form her coalition of choice after this Sunday's elections. Merkel's center-right Christian Democratic Union and the pro-business Free Democratic Party were in coalition negotiations Monday; a government will be formed within the next four weeks, the chancellor said. With the CDU and the FDP both ... more

http://www.nuclearpowerdaily.com/reports/Germany_eyes_nuclear_revival_999.html

India plans massive nuclear energy boost

India plans massive nuclear energy boost
New Delhi (UPI) Sep 30, 2009 - India aims to boost its nuclear energy capacity by 12,000 percent by 2050. Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, in making the announcement Tuesday at a New Delhi conference on peaceful uses of nuclear power, predicted that India could produce 470 gigawatts of nuclear power. That would make India the largest nuclear energy producer in the world, surpassing the United States, which now ... more

http://www.nuclearpowerdaily.com/reports/India_plans_massive_nuclear_energy_boost_999.html

Iran to propose third-party uranium enrichment: Ahmadinejad

Iran to propose third-party uranium enrichment: Ahmadinejad
Tehran (AFP) Sept 30, 2009 - Iran will propose that it is prepared to buy from a third party uranium enriched to the grade it requires for its Tehran reactor rather than carry out the enrichment itself, President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad said on Wednesday. His remarks, ahead of Thursday talks in Geneva with six major world powers about Iran's nuclear programme, represent the first time Tehran has agreed to discuss specifics ... more

http://www.spacewar.com/reports/Iran_to_propose_third-party_uranium_enrichment_Ahmadinejad_999.html

# India targets major increase in nuclear energy capacity by 2050

# India targets major increase in nuclear energy capacity by 2050
India's development plan for nuclear energy is aimed at raising the country's atomic capacity by 12,000% by 2050, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh said. The target is nearly five times the capacity of the U.S., the largest nuclear producer in the world, according to the International Atomic Energy Agency. Such an expansion will provide "huge opportunities for the global nuclear industry," Singh said during a conference in Delhi. The Times (London)
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/world/asia/article6854501.ece

Republicans call for more nuclear energy in Senate climate bill

Republicans call for more nuclear energy in Senate climate bill
A climate-change bill set to be unveiled today by Sens. Barbara Boxer, D-Calif., and John Kerry, D-Mass., seeks a greater cut in carbon emissions than does the House-approved legislation. Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., said he would not back the bill because it does not help the nuclear energy sector. Republicans want to encourage the construction of nuclear plants by including more government assistance in the measure, contending that the resource is key to expanding "clean energy." Reuters

http://www.reuters.com/article/environmentNews/idUSTRE58S5X320090929

Sources: U.S.-UAE nuclear agreement to take effect next month

Sources: U.S.-UAE nuclear agreement to take effect next month
A nuclear-cooperation pact between the U.S. and the United Arab Emirates is reportedly expected to be implemented next month. Energy firms General Electric and Toshiba unit Westinghouse Electric might benefit from the deal, which President Obama cleared in May. The UAE was among major oil exporters as of 2007, but it plans to construct several nuclear reactors to meet a projected extra demand for 40,000 megawatts of electricity. Reuters
http://www.reuters.com/article/rbssIndustryMaterialsUtilitiesNews/idUSN2917079920090929

Is the Media Exaggerating the Iranian Nuke Threat? by Juan Cole

Is the Media Exaggerating the Iranian Nuke Threat? by Juan Cole

http://www.salon.com/opinion/feature/2009/09/29/cole/

A MANUFACTURED CRISIS, Part 2 It's sanctions or bust

A MANUFACTURED CRISIS, Part 2
It's sanctions or bust
Something about the claims by the United States and its allies that Iran's nuclear program is intended to create nuclear weapons just doesn't smell right; there's obviously more than meets the eye. Whatever it is, the Barack Obama administration - of all the options on the table - wants at a minimum to impose stringent sanctions on Iran. - Jack A Smith (Sep 30, '09)

http://www.atimes.com/atimes/Middle_East/KJ01Ak03.html

This is the second article in a three-part report.
PART 1: The facts of the matter
http://atimes.com/atimes/Middle_East/KI30Ak01.html

Venezuela Exploring Uranium Deposits with Russia Fabiola Sanchez, Associated Press

Venezuela Exploring Uranium Deposits with Russia
Fabiola Sanchez, Associated Press
Venezuela's science and technology minister said his country is working with Russia to detect deposits of uranium but withdrew an earlier denial that the country was also working with Iran.
Full Article
http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5hMt4kLz-pHgt5p-bk-ZORH-w68AAD9AVGR800

* Why We Should Be Concerned About Venezuela's Nuclear Ambitions
http://www.carnegieendowment.org/publications/index.cfm?fa=view&id=23878&prog=zgp&proj=znpp

Brazil VP Says Country Should Build Nuclear Arms Marco Sibaja, Associated Press

Brazil VP Says Country Should Build Nuclear Arms
Marco Sibaja, Associated Press
Brazil's vice president says in an interview published Friday that his country should develop nuclear weapons. Other officials stressed that his comments were not government policy.
Full Article
http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5gisOuvIjL6Ewq0QTTmNLA9oBt25wD9AUDRO00