Iran
A rain of missiles could degrade Iran’s nuclear programme and set it back years, a German weekly quoted Israel’s prime minister as saying, sparking a warning from Tehran that such a strike would be a dangerous “error”.
Africaasia 28th April 2007
Terror
AL QAEDA is planning nuclear attacks on Western cities, the former head of the CIA has warned. The chilling warning was delivered by George Tenet in a hard-hitting book. It also exposes damaging details about preparations for the war in Iraq that are highly embarrassing for Tony Blair. Centre Of The Storm, published tomorrow, reinforces warnings from British intelligence chiefs, like outgoing MI5 director general Dame Eliza Manningham-Buller, who has said terrorists are trying to build a “dirty bomb”.
Sunday Express 29th April 2007
A former employee at America’s biggest nuclear power plant was charged with taking access codes and layout plans to Iran. Mohammed Alavi, 49, a US citizen, is accused of downloading sensitive information about Palo Verde Nuclear Generation Station while on a visit to Teheran. He denies wrongdoing but could face up to two years in prison if convicted.
Sunday Telegraph 29th April 2007
Thorium fuel
A cleaner and safer fuel for nuclear power stations will be available within two years, raising the prospect of the Government approving plans to build the next generation of power plants. Scientists claim it could help overcome many of the objections to nuclear energy by producing less radioactive waste. Unlike the current fuel, which harnesses the decay of enriched uranium into the plutonium used in nuclear weapons, the new material uses the heavy metal thorium which does not produce plutonium.It is hoped this will allay fears over the security of nuclear waste should it fall into the wrong hands. The waste from the thorium fuel is also less radioactive, meaning it will be safer and easier to dispose of.
Sunday Telegraph 29th April 2007
New nukes
British Energy has told rivals wanting to use its sites to build a new generation of nuclear reactors to submit expressions of interest by the end of the month. The Government is set to publish its long-delayed energy White Paper in the middle of next month. It is expected to sanction new reactors to replace the UK’s ageing plants. British Energy, in which the Government has a 65 per cent stake, owns the sites which are most suitable for development, making them hugely valuable. Once the Government gives the green light, British Energy wants to press ahead as quickly as possible with plans to be part of a new-build programme. It has been in informal talks with European rivals EDF, RWE and E.ON over the past six months about forming consortiums to carry out the work. So far, no tie-ups have been formed, but British Energy has told the trio to come up with concrete plans for how they would use the sites – and what they propose to give the nuclear generator in return for providing the land. The Government could force British Energy to sell the sites to the highest bidder. The preferred option for the company, which the Government rescued from collapse five years ago, is for it to be given part-ownership of the new reactors in return for access to the sites. The generator would also like a role in operating the reactors.
Independent on Sunday 29th April 2007
