India
The White House is facing serious obstacles in its bid to secure legislation approving its landmark civilian nuclear energy agreement with India. Condoleezza Rice, secretary of state, this week met members of the Senate India caucus to boost support for the deal, which would allow India to receive nuclear technology and fuel for its civilian nuclear reactors. In exchange, India would place some facilities under international safeguards, and separate its civilian and military programmes.
FT 5th May 2006
Iran
The UN Security Council has begun negotiations on a draft resolution that could lead to targeted sanctions against Iran because of its suspected nuclear weapons programme.
Independent 5th May 2006
Major powers are trying to create an unnecessary crisis by pressing ahead with a UN Security Council resolution demanding that Iran curb its nuclear ambitions, Tehran’s UN envoy said on Thursday.
Reuters 5th May 2006
CoRWM
Letter from FoE Scotland: Hamish MacDonell (28 April) implies that the draft recommendations on nuclear waste from the government’s advisers, the Committee on Radioactive Waste Management, have resolved the issue of nuclear waste. Nothing could be further from the truth.
Scotsman 5th May 2006
NUCLEAR waste and other toxic materials could be buried in the Cheviots because it is considered to be one of the most suitable parts of the country for safe storage.
Berwick Advertiser 4th May 2006
Berkeley
The public are invited to get involved in the future of the former Berkeley Nuclear Power Station site. The next meeting of the Berkeley Site Stakeholder Group (SSG) will be on Wednesday, May 10, and local residents are welcome to go along.
Gloucester Citizen 4th May 2006
Trident
MSPs have passed up the chance to come out against the replacement of Britain’s Trident nuclear weapons system, it has been revealed. The Green party in the Scottish parliament had tabled a motion calling on MSPs of all parties to reject the replacement of the Faslane-based system. But MSPs backed amendments along individual party lines and in the end no motion was passed.
ICScotland 4th May 2006
New nukes
Scotland’s political parties have been urged to make public their position on nuclear power before the 2007 election. Green MSP Shiona Baird raised a motion in the Scottish Parliament which called on parties opposed to new nuclear power stations to outline their views.
BBC 4th May 2006
THORP
The HSE is bringing a criminal prosecution against British Nuclear Group Sellafield Ltd (BNGSL) in connection with an incident at the Sellafield reprocessing site. The prosecution follows a detailed investigation by HSE’s Nuclear Installations Inspectorate into a leak of 18,257 gallons (83 cubic metres) of radioactive liquor inside a heavily shielded facility at the THermal Oxide Reprocessing Plant (THORP).
Daily Express 5th May 2006
Workplace Law Magazine 4th May 2006
West Cumberland Times and Star 4th May 2006
Carlisle News and Star 4th May 2006
NDA
Undiagnosed nasties lurk in the ponds:- The NDA is spending a third of its £1bn budget this year on Sellafield, including work on the ponds and an assessment of how much they have leaked their radioactive contents into the soil around them.
Guardian 4th May 2006
Nuclear Convoys
GREEN politicians today posted a reminder to drivers on the city bypass of the dangers posed by road convoys carrying nuclear warheads between nuclear bases. Lothians MSP Mark Ballard unveiled a huge banner on a flyover at Lothianburn.
Edinburgh Evening News 4th May 2006