New Nukes
Many scientists and environmentalists still distrust nuclear power in any form, arguing that it can never escape its cost, safety and waste problems. What’s more, critics say, trying to solve the problems in one area, such as safety, inevitably lead to more problems in another area, such as costs. Here’s a closer look at how the industry says it’s addressing its longstanding problems and where skeptics say nuclear energy is still coming up short.
Wall Street Journal 8th September 2009 more >>
Companies
The Barrow-based James Fisher group has bought nuclear and space engineering company MB Faber Ltd, of Leyland, in a cash deal worth up to £5.25m.
NW Evening Mail 7th Sept 2009 more >>
Uranium
Chinese state-owned power producer China Guangdong Nuclear Power Holding Co. Ltd has agreed a takeover bid for Australian uranium explorer Energy Metals , the Australian company said on Tuesday.
Interactive Investor 8th September 2009 more >>
Iran
Iran’s confrontation with the international community over its nuclear programme has reached a “stalemate”, the head of the International Atomic Energy Agency said on Monday.
Telegraph 8th Sept 2009 more >>
President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad said yesterday that Iran will neither halt uranium enrichment nor negotiate over its nuclear rights, but is ready to sit and talk with world powers over “global challenges”.
Independent 8th Sept 2009 more >>
FT 8th Sept 2009 more >>
Times 8th Sept 2009 more >>
A new round of international sanctions against Iran looked almost inevitable today after the head of the UN’s nuclear watchdog, Mohamed ElBaradei, said talks with the Islamic republic were at a “stalemate”, and the Iranian president appeared to rule out a compromise.
Guardian 8th Sept 2009 more >>
Brazil
France’s partially state-owned electric and gas utility GDF Suez said Monday it has signed a nuclear cooperation agreement with Brazilian companies Eletrobras and Eletronuclear.
MSN Money 7th Sept 2009 more >>
Germany
German leader’s party plans to keep nuclear power stations open beyond 2020. An estimated 50,000 protesters took to the streets of Berlin at the weekend to demonstrate against plans to extend the life of nuclear power plants. According to a Greenpeace study released at the weekend, 59 percent of Germans are opposed to extending the life of the nuclear plants.
The Ecologist 7th Sept 2009 more >>
Pictures
Climate
The spectre of a 4C warmer world, with alligators basking off the coast of Sweden, a vast desert surrounding the Mediterranean and a largely uninhabitable mainland Europe, is to be presented to European Union countries by the foreign secretary, David Miliband. As part of a diplomatic push by Britain to persuade rich countries to put climate change at the top of their agendas, Miliband will address EU, French, Swedish and Danish foreign ministries in the next 48 hours. He then travels to New York where he will meet foreign ministers from other rich countries next week to hammer out details of a major treaty on global warming ahead of UN talks in Thailand, which will conclude at a crucial summit in December in Copenhagen.
Guardian 8th Sept 2009 more >>
Submarines
The Ministry of Defence has awarded a £1.2m contract to Fujitsu Technology Solutions to build the IT for the Naval Nuclear Propulsion Programme (NNPP).
V3 7th Sept 2009 more >>
Nuclear Weapons
How many are there and who has them?
Guardian 7th Sept 2009 more >>
Trident
By a margin of 58 to 35 per cent, people believe that the £25bn renewal of the Trident programme should be abandoned because of the state of the public finances. The finding will strengthen the hand of ministers who are pressing Gordon Brown to cancel or delay the scheme as Labour prepares to unveil public spending cuts.
Independent 8th Sept 2009 more >>