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Columbian rebels seek nuclear materials to make a ‘dirty’ bomb

emails found on the computers proved that since 2005 the Farc had been trying to buy nuclear material in Ukraine.

Colombia tries to stop rebels from getting nuclear arms, BBC News, 20 October 2010 Colombian police have created the first counter-nuclear arms unit in the region dealing with leftist rebels. The new Centre for Nuclear Security will try to prevent members of the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (Farc) from obtaining nuclear material to make a “dirty bomb”. Continue reading

October 20, 2010 Posted by | safety, SOUTH AMERICA | , , , , , | Leave a comment

Under Russian control Rocky Mountains uranium to Iran?

Four Republican lawmakers have sent a letter to Treasury Secretary Tim Geithner raising concerns that the deal could lead to U.S. uranium reaching Iran.

Russia seeks control of Canadian nuclear company working in U.S. TheSpec , 20 Oct 10, DENVER Russia’s government is trying to enter the U.S. nuclear industry, poised to spend $1.5 billion to acquire a controlling share of Uranium One, a Canadian company operating in the Rocky Mountain region…. Continue reading

October 20, 2010 Posted by | politics international, Uranium, USA | , , | Leave a comment

No decision on UK’s Trident nuclear weapons until after next election

“Pushing this decision back to after the next election will hopefully allow politicians to catch up with what the majority of the public and a growing number of military voices acknowledge – that nuclear weapons are a costly irrelevance to the threats Britain faces.”

Trident decision delayed until after the election – UK Politics, – The Independent, 20 Oct 10, Arguments about the need to replace the Trident nuclear weapons system will continue to rage until the next general election after the Prime Minister announced a delay of at least six years. Continue reading

October 19, 2010 Posted by | politics, UK | , , , | Leave a comment

Toxic uranium spill still affecting Navajo in New Mexico

People still remember, in part because of lingering illnesses they attribute to the spill,…People got compensated quickly at Three Mile Island – around here, I don’t think anyone got compensated for anything,

Uranium spill elicits traditional approach,  Indian Country Today By Carol Berry,  Oct 19, 2010 CHURCH ROCK, N.M. – About 10 miles north of this predominantly Navajo community, Highway 566 transects Red Water Pond Road, which is blocked at the entrance to an abandoned United Nuclear Corp. mine site from which nearly 1 million gallons of toxic wastewater spilled into the nearby Puerco River 31 years ago. Continue reading

October 19, 2010 Posted by | indigenous issues, Uranium, USA | , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Iran urges focus on Israel’s nuclear weapons, in fair nuclear talks

President Ahmadinejad also urged the P5+1 countries to announce their views about Israel’s nuclear bombs.

Iran welcomes ‘fair’ nuclear talks, Press TV, 19 Oct 10, Iranian Foreign Ministry Spokesman Ramin Mehmanparast says Tehran welcomes fair and purposeful talks with the West over its nuclear program. Continue reading

October 19, 2010 Posted by | general | , , , | Leave a comment

Taxpayer will cop the bill for UK’s nuclear reactor wastes

The industry will only invest in new reactors if the government fixes a disposal levy to cover their contribution towards disposal in such a repository. The taxpayer will be liable for any shortfall if the actual costs exceed this levy decades from now.

Taxpayer could be hit by nuclear waste bill for new reactors• Fears new disposal levy could underestimate cost• Radioactive waste ‘could be traded like commodity’  Tim Webb * guardian.co.uk,   18 October 2010 The nuclear industry could end up passing on to taxpayers the costs of disposing of waste from new reactors under government plans, according to official documents seen by the Guardian. Continue reading

October 18, 2010 Posted by | politics, UK | , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

New UK Trident nuclear submarines not ready before 2028

The decision means that the first of the new generation of nuclear submarines may not enter service until 2028 – around five years after the first Vanguard submarine is due to be withdrawn.

Trident nuclear deterrent replacement faces delay of up to five years guardian.co.uk, Wintour and Watt, 18 Oct 10, New generation of nuclear submarines may not enter service until 2028….. Continue reading

October 18, 2010 Posted by | UK, weapons and war | , , , , | Leave a comment

UK’s Ministry of Defence secretive over nuclear safety failures

The MoD has been trying since 2007 to keep the reports, which give a unique insight into the managing of Britain’s bomb, secret.

MoD papers reveal catalogue of nuclear safety failures – Herald Scotland | News Rob Edwards 17 Oct 2010 Potentially catastrophic lapses in nuclear weapons safety at the Clyde naval base have been exposed by secret Ministry of Defence reports released after a three-year freedom of information battle. Continue reading

October 18, 2010 Posted by | secrets,lies and civil liberties, UK | , , , , | Leave a comment

Rumour of USA planning to seize Pakistan’s nuclear weapons

Credible? – New War Rumors: U.S. Plans To Seize Pakistan?s  Nuclear Arsenal, strategy.com, 16 Oct 10, Quote -Two recent news items emanating from the United States have begun to reverberate in Pakistan and give rise to speculation that growing American drone strikes and NATO helicopter attacks in that country may be the harbingers of far broader actions: Nothing less than the expansion of the West?s war in Afghanistan into Pakistan with the ultimate goal of seizing the nation?s nuclear weapons.

The News International, Pakistan?s largest English-language newspaper, published a report on October 13 based on excerpts from American journalist Bob Woodward?s recently released volume ?Obama?s Wars? which stated that during a trilateral summit between the presidents of the U.S., Afghanistan and Pakistan on May 6 of 2009 Pakistani head of state Asif Ali Zardari accused Washington of being behind Taliban attacks inside his country with the intent to use them so ?the US could invade and seize its nuclear weapons.? [1]- End Quote

Credible? – New War Rumors: U.S. Plans To Seize Pakistan?s Nuclear Arsenal

October 18, 2010 Posted by | Pakistan, weapons and war | , , , | Leave a comment

Utah State must rule on vexed question of “blended” radioactive wastes

The Healthy Environment Alliance of Utah has challenged the idea of blending wastes to get around limits at the Utah site and urged state authorities to prohibit it.

Utah: NRC ruling leaves nuke waste rules to state, The Washington Post, By PAUL FOY, The Associated Press, October 15, 2010; SALT LAKE CITY — Federal regulators have put off a decision on whether blended radioactive waste can be buried in Utah.The Nuclear Regulatory Commission decided this week to develop a new set of rules assessing the dangers of blended waste based on the risks at individual disposal sites….. Continue reading

October 16, 2010 Posted by | technology, USA, wastes | , , , , , , | 1 Comment

Compensation for nuclear workers for radiation induced cancers

Former Ames Lab workers eligible for compensation – chicagotribune.com, 15 Oct 10, AMES, Iowa —Federal authorities have decided to make compensation available faster for former Ames Laboratory workers who developed cancer from radiation exposure.U.S. Sen. Tom Harkin said Thursday that the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services issued a directive stating all employees of the Department of Energy who worked at the lab from 1955 through 1960 for 250 consecutive days would be eligible for compensation.Harkin called the announcement “welcome news” for the workers and families. He says they handled “incredibly dangerous” materials in the early days of the Cold War…… Former Ames Lab workers eligible for compensation – chicagotribune.com

October 15, 2010 Posted by | health, USA | , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Pakistan wants USA to do a nuclear deal

A report in April by Harvard University’s Belfer Center for Science and International Affairs found Pakistan’s stockpiles faced “immense” threats of theft “from nuclear insiders with extremist sympathies, al Qaeda or Taliban outsider attacks, and a weak state.”

Pakistan to Push for Nuclear Deal in U.S. – WSJ.com, By TOM WRIGHT, 14 Oct 10, ISLAMABAD—Pakistan’s renewed push to clinch a civilian nuclear deal with Washington threatens to further strain relations that are already tense over Islamabad’s refusal to attack Taliban havens on its soil. Continue reading

October 15, 2010 Posted by | Pakistan, politics international | , , , | 1 Comment

USA nuclear test comes as a shock to Hiroshima mayor

The subcritical nuclear test, which took place in Nevada on Sept. 15, according to the U.S. Energy Department, clearly came as a shock to the mayor, who has supported Obama and initiated an antinuclear campaign using the president’s name.

Hiroshima mayor hits U.S. subcritical nuke test, The Japan Times Online, Kyodo News, Oct. 14, 2010 The first U.S. subcritical atomic test under President Barack Obama, who has called for a world without nuclear arms, drew harsh fire from Hiroshima Mayor Tadatoshi Akiba. Continue reading

October 14, 2010 Posted by | USA, weapons and war | , , , | Leave a comment

Obama – Nobel Peace Prize winner, but nuclear weapons tester

He was even awarded the Nobel Peace Prize. What was that all about? How will the U.S. government apologize to A-bomb survivors?”….

A-bomb survivors outraged at Obama over subcritical nuclear test – The Mainichi Daily News, 14 Oct 10, Victims of atomic bombings expressed their disappointment at U.S. President Barack Obama after his administration carried out its first subcritical nuclear test last month. Continue reading

October 14, 2010 Posted by | Japan, opposition to nuclear | , , | Leave a comment

Did Stuxnet computer worm damage Iran’s uranium enrichment facility?

A sophisticated malworm such as Stuxnet could potentially include code that would cause uranium enriching centrifuges to explode under high pressure, or at a certain date. Did it actually do it? There were reports that Iran’s uranium enrichment plant at the Natanz facility was attacked by Stuxnet and sustained damage. An earlier report suggested that in 2009 that site suffered a serious nuclear accident that reduced the number of uranium enriching centrifuges by at least 25%. Was Stuxnet the reason?

A Cyber War Against Iran: Whodunit?, THE HUFFINGTON POST, by Haggai Carmon:, 13 Oct 10, The Iranians are frantically looking for those responsible for infecting their nuclear and industrial facilities with Stuxnet, an extremely sophisticated and dangerous viral computer malworm………… Continue reading

October 14, 2010 Posted by | Iran, Uranium, weapons and war | , , , , , , | Leave a comment