Korea
South Korea’s president has opened the door to possible nuclear talks with North Korea and warned the neighbouring country to avoid any provocations, saying the Korean peninsula is at a crucial turning point.
Daily Mirror 2nd Jan 2012 more >>
Newcastle Journal 2nd Jan 2012 more >>
London Evening Standard 2nd Jan 2012 more >>
Iran
Iranian scientists have produced the nation’s first nuclear fuel rod, a feat of engineering the West has doubted Tehran capable of, the country’s nuclear agency said today. The announcement marks another step in Tehran’s efforts to achieve proficiency in the entire nuclear fuel cycle – from exploring uranium ore to producing nuclear fuel. This is despite U.N. sanctions and measures by the U.S. and others to get it to halt aspects of its atomic work that could provide a possible pathway to weapons production.
Daily Mail 1st Jan 2012 more >>
Iran raised the stakes in an increasingly heated confrontation with the West on Sunday, test-firing a missile it said could not be detected by radar and claiming an unexpected breakthrough in its nuclear programme.
Telegraph 1st Jan 2012 more >>
Iran has successfully produced and tested fuel rods for use in its nuclear power plants, state television reported on Sunday, in a snub to international demands that it halt sensitive nuclear work.
IB Times 1st Jan 2012 more >>
Iran has claimed to have successfully tested a new medium-range ground to air missile during naval exercises in the Gulf, amid rising tensions over the country’s nuclear programme.
Guardian 1st Jan 2012 more >>
Energy Efficiency
A new energy efficiency programme will raise bills for the poorest families and push more people into fuel poverty, a leading campaign group has warned. From 2013, energy companies will be forced to spend up to £3.1 billion a year on installing loft insulation and other measures to cut domestic electricity and gas consumption. The costs will be passed on to consumers through higher bills, working out at up to £125 per household annually. According to the fuel poverty charity National Energy Action, the new programme will help mainly middle-class families. Because all households will fund the programme, regardless of whether they benefit, more low-income consumers will be pushed into fuel poverty as a result, it argues. Luciana Berger, the Shadow Climate Change Minster, said: This is yet further evidence that the Government is failing to support people who struggle to heat their homes. Rather than directing help to the fuel-poor, three times as much government subsidy will be available to households who are already able to pay for [home] improvements.
Times 2nd Jan 2011 more >>
