Dungeness A
For more than 40 years one of the UK’s first generation of nuclear power stations has had an ominous presence on the Kent coast. While members of the anti-nuclear lobby have spoken of getting “bad vibes” from Dungeness A, many residents who live in its shadow have praised its impact on the local economy. But now the plant’s two reactors are due to be shut down on New Year’s Eve.
BBC 22nd Dec 2006
North Korea
A week of diplomatic negotiations aimed at persuading North Korea to scrap its nuclear weapons ended with no progress on Friday, with envoys failing even to set a firm date to meet again.
Reuters 22nd Dec 2006
Telegraph 23rd Dec 2006
North Korea is blaming the United States for the failure of talks.
Belfast Telegraph 23rd Dec 2006
Iran
Key UN nations will vote today on a resolution that would impose sanctions on Iran for its nuclear programme.
Belfast Telegraph 23rd Dec 2006
Yucca Mountain
The state of Nevada on Friday asked the Nuclear Regulatory Commission to reject the U.S. government’s plan to store thousands of tons of nuclear waste temporarily above ground at a mountain located about 90 miles from Las Vegas. The Energy Department is set to file an application with the NRC in mid 2008 for a license to operate the Yucca Mountain permanent nuclear storage repository in Nevada, which would hold radioactive waste underground from more than 100 nuclear power plants, along with the tons of leftovers from the U.S. nuclear weapons program. The permanent storage site is years behind schedule and until it is ready, the department wants to place the nuclear waste temporarily above ground.
Scientific American 22nd Dec 2006
Las Vegas Review-Journal 22nd Dec 2006