Iran
Iran’s president on Saturday told major powers considering United Nations sanctions they could “issue resolutions until you get tired”, making clear the country would press ahead with its disputed nuclear programme.
Reuters 5th May 2007
A former top Iranian nuclear negotiator arrested on Monday is to be charged with spying, Iran’s conservative Fars news agency has suggested.
BBC 5th May 2007
North Korea
Six-party talks on ending North Korea’s nuclear programme could resume as early as next week as the United States expected a resolution of a row involving North Korean funds, Japan’s foreign minister was quoted as saying. North Korea had refused to implement the February 13 agreement to shut down its nuclear reactor unless it had access to about $25 million of its funds that had been frozen at a Macau Bank.
Reuters 5th May 2007
Hinkley
Hinkley Point nuclear power station could continue in operation for another 10 years, it was revealed this week – and Stop Hinkley campaigners are furious.They have branded the life extension from industry regulator the Nuclear Installations Inspectorate as ‘outrageous’ and questioned if political motives were at play.
Bridgwater Times 5th May 2007
New nukes
Anti-nuclear activists have been demonstrating outside and inside the annual meeting of stockholders of one of Germany’s electricity giants, the transnational EON. A coalition of environmental groups protested in Essen against EON’s plans to expand nuclear power production. Some of the countries where EON is planning new nukes are Finland, Great Britain, Slovakia, Romania and Bulgaria.
Indymedia 4th May 2007
AUSTRALIA has weighed into an international stoush over nuclear power, in a fierce debate expected to dominate the final night of a major climate change summit. Disputes also resurfaced over how much it could cost to significantly slow global warming and how urgently action is needed. Delegates from more than 120 governments have been meeting behind closed doors in Bangkok this week to finalise the third and most contentious volume of the latest Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change report, looking at solutions to slow global warming. The debate was due to finish late last night, with an official summary of the panel’s key conclusions due today. According to one delegate who spoke to The Age on condition of anonymity, one of the final sticking points in approving the summary was expected to involve a push led by Britain, the US and Canada to talk up the benefits of nuclear power generation.
The Age 4th May 2007
Submarines
BABCOCK INTERNATIONAL, owner of the Rosyth and Faslane shipyards, will ready itself for a £350 million bid for the Devonport submarines operation on Thursday when it is expected to announce soaring profits and a fat increase in dividend.
Sunday Herald 6th May 2007
Dounreay
CRUCIAL equipment is being installed in preparation for the removal of the radioactive elements from the Dounreay Fast Reactor. A large metal-clad structure adjacent to the famous Dounreay dome is a hive of activity as work progresses on what is one of the most challenging jobs to be undertaken as part of the site clean-up.
John O Groat Journal 4th May 2007
Iraq
THE government has been told to release a key document concerning Iraq’s weapons of mass destruction. The Information Commissioner has ruled the government must publish a draft of the 2002 dossier on WMDs which a campaigner claims may contain the first reference to Saddam Hussein having WMDs that could be used in 45 minutes.
Scotland on Sunday 6th May 2007
