North America

Shutdown At Reactor Could Affect Isotope Supply
16 February 2009

CANWEST NEWS SERVICE(OTTAWA) - A spokesman for Atomic Energy of Canada Limited said a shutdown at Chalk River Laboratories could result in a shortage of medical isotopes. This shutdown came Sunday afternoon when a problem was discovered with the mechanism used to extract the rods containing the radioactive isotopes. MDS Nortan expects a 50 per cent shortage of isotopes from the reactor this week. Source: http://www2.canada.com/nanaimodailynews/news/story.html?id=1295672 (Reliability: Low - 32.04)

North America

AECL Turns To Ottawa To Cover $100-Million Overrun
13 February 2009

GLOBAL ENERGY REPORTER(OTTAWA) - A cash shortfall forced Ottawa to give $100 million to AECL, Ltd. An AECL spokes woman said the work of retooling a nuclear reactor is "highly complex," and the company ran into "unforseen technical challenges" but is working to get back on track. The money comes in addition to $351 million allocated by the federal budget to continue design work and maintenance on the Chalk River facility. Critics believe, because of this, the Ontario government should be weary of purchasing a new reactor from AECL. Source: http://www.theglobeandmail.com/servlet/story/LAC.20090213.RAECL13/TPStory/Business (Reliability: Moderate - 39.74)

Africa, Australia, And South America

Uranium's Next Frontier: Niger
9 February 2009

THE GLOBE AND MAIL (NIAMEY, NIGER)-Niger, the poorest country in the world by some measures, is potentially the next big frontier for uranium. Canadian mining companies, together owning 40 per cent of Niger's mining exploration permits, are exploring for uranium in the famed Arlit uranium belt in northern Niger despite rebel unrest, controversey over 'slave wages,' and safety fears. Cameco Corp. the world's largest uranium producer, is among the Canadian companies in Niger searching for uranium. Last month, Niger signed a deal with Areva, the French nuclear giant, to develop one of the biggest uranium mines in the world. The $1.5-billion deal will make Niger the second-biggest uranium producer in the world. Source: http://business.theglobeandmail.com/servlet/story/RTGAM.20090209.wrniger09/BNStory/Business/home (Reliability: Moderate - 44.26)

Eastern Europe

Europe Steps Towards Shared Repository Concept
12 February 2009

WORLD NUCLEAR NEWS (LONDON)--After seven years of preliminary studies, fourteen European countries voted unanimously in support of a proposal to develop a European Repository Development Organization (ERDO). The vote occurred at a symposium on European Regional Repositories in Brussels on 27 Jan 09. The purpose of the ERDO is to promote shared regional nuclear waste storage and disposal facilities for small-scale users of nuclear materials. Membership to the ERDO is conceptualized as voluntary and open to countries with nascent, limited applications of nuclear technology. Delegates also discussed concerns regarding potential ERDO legal issues, economic impacts, safety and security considerations and public attitudes towards multinational nuclear waste depositories. The International Atomic Energy Agency advocates regional cooperation for shared repositories, such as that exemplified in the proposed ERDO, to store and dispose of high-level, long-lived nuclear wastes. Source:
http://www.world-nuclear-news.org/newsarticle.aspx?id=24640 (Reliabiltiy: High - 47.94)

Middle East

Computer Model Says Iran Won't Build Nuclear Bombs
7 February 2009

AFP (LONG BEACH, CALIFORNIA)--A new projection based on a gaming and computer model predicted that Iran will not build a nuclear weapon. The model, created by Bruce Bueno de Mesquita, a political scientist and an adviser to the Central Intelligence Agency and the Department of Defense, estimated that by the end of next year, Iran will stabilize its nuclear program at the point where the country makes enough weapons-grade fuel to build national pride but not enough to produce a nuclear weapon. Reports indicate that CIA officials find Bueno de Mesquita's computer models accurate 90 percent of the time. Source: http://www.google.com/hostednews/afp/article/ALeqM5jlj9r48mmKlzVyN1bvwtS-WrgcaA (Reliability--Moderate 41.40)

Former Soviet Union

Russia, India Sign $700 Mln In Nuclear Fuel Deals
11 February 2009

REUTERS (MOSCOW)-Russia signed more than $700 million in deals on Wednesday to supply India's nuclear reactors with fuel pellets. Russia's state-owned nuclear company, Atomenergoprom, said its nuclear fuel unit, TVEL, and Indian nuclear officials signed the deals in Mumbai. Russia is building two 1000 megawatt reactors at Kudankulam in southern India and intends to build four more reactors at the site. Typical Russian reactors cost $2 billion, however Russia is expected to give a considerable discount in order to secure cooperation. Russia also plans to cement economic relations with India by doubling trade to $10 billion by 2010. Source: http://in.reuters.com/article/topNews/idINIndia-37956420090211 (Reliability: High - 47.94)

Asia

Image via Wikipedia

North Korea Might Be Making Missile Preparations
10 February 2009

A U.S. spy satellite snapped an image within the last several days of preparations at a North Korean missile site. The photograph shows North Korea assembling telemetry equipment at the site -- equipment that would be needed for a launch to take place, but so far, there is no direct evidence of a missile being moved to the launch pad. Defense Secretary Robert Gates said: "I'm not going to get into intelligence reports, but it would be nice if North Korea would focus on getting positive messages across to the -- to its negotiating partners about verification and moving forward with the denuclearization." Tension between South Korea and North Korea has increased in recent weeks, with North Korea announcing it will scrap peace agreements with the South, warning of a war on the Korean peninsula and threatening to test a missile capable of hitting the Western United States. http://www.cnn.com/2009/WORLD/asiapcf/02/10/north.korea.missile/index.html?eref=rss_world (Source Reliability: High -- 47.94)

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• North Korea Gearing up to Fire Missile? (abcnews.go.com)

Western Europe

France's Areva, India Sign Nuclear Reactor Deal

4 February 2009

ASSOCIATED PRESS (PARIS) - French nuclear giant, Areva, signed a preliminary deal to provide India with up to six new-generation reactors, a move hailed in India as ending its nuclear isolation and transforming the country into "a responsible nuclear state." The signed deal with Indian electric utility, Nuclear Power Corporation of India Ltd. paves the way for technical cooperation on at least two and as many as six of Areva's Evolutionary Power Reactors, at the Jaitapur site in the western state of Maharashtra. This deal marks the start of a wide-ranging future collaboration on nuclear issues between the two countries. Source: http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5j0Fpi3q7JjbNd9MwNYJgdztj7mUgD964Q88O0google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5j0Fpi3q7JjbNd9MwNYJgdztj7mUgD964Q88O0 (Reliability: Moderate - 44.49)

Eastern Europe

Romania Not To Use CANDU Technology For New Nuclear Power Plant, Evaluates Five Others
03 February 2009

SEENEWS (BUCHAREST)--The Romanian government is evaluating five types of reactors for Romania's second nuclear power plant and the CANDU reactor, a pressurized heavy water reactor designed and manufactured by Atomic Energy of Canada, Inc., is not under consideration. Romania's only operational nuclear power plant, Cernavoda, utilizes two CANDU reactors to produce 1400 MW, or 18%, of Romania's total energy needs. Teodor Chiraca, the CEO of Romania's state-owned nuclear utility, Nuclearelectrica, stated Romania needs to augment its nuclear power capacity by 2,400 MW by 2020 in order to ensure economic stability and energy independence. The Romanian government is considering advanced pressurized heavy water and advanced boiling water reactors designed by Germany, France and the Republic of Korea. Source:
http://seenews.com/news/latestnews/romanianottousecandutechnologyfornewn-plant_evaluatesfiveothers-media-133124/ (Reliability: Medium - 39.50)

North America

Obama May Embrace Emirates Deal As Model For Nuclear Agreements
3 February 2009

BLOOMBERG(WASHINGTON) - During the last few days of the Bush administration an agreement, signed between the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and the United States, allows for the UAE to purchase nuclear technology and fuel from the US in exchange for not exercising their rights to enrich Uranium or to reprocess Plutonium to make their own fuel. The Obama administration is likely to approve this agreement, which will leave the Senate approval as the final hurdle before it can go into effect. Source: http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=20601087&sid=atsBGDBkc.ls&refer=home (Reliability: Moderate - 43.3)

Comment: The word "likely" does not appear to be a word of estimated probability the intelligence community usually associates with its usage. It appears instead just to be a word chosen by the author to convey the expectancy that Obama will approve this agreement.

Africa, Australia, And South America

Australian Uranium Production Down 2% In 2008
02 February 2009

WORLD NUCLEAR NEWS (LONDON)--Production of uranium oxide (U308), or yellowcake, declined in 2008 from Australia's three operational uranium mines. The 2008 production total of 9941 tonnes of U3O8 is 2% lower than the 10,145 tonnes of U3O8 produced in 2007. Energy Resources Australia (ERA) reported that output at its Ranger mine in Northern Territory was 5339 tonnes, compared with production of 5412 tonnes in 2007. Uranium production at BHP Billiton's Olympic Dam operation in South Australia in 2008 totalled 3943 tonnes, down from its output of 3985 tonnes in 2007. Meanwhile, Heathgate's Beverley in-situ leach (ISL) mine, also in South Australia, produced 659 tonnes in 2008, down from the 748 tonnes of U3O8 it produced in 2007. Source: http://www.world-nuclear-news.org/newsarticle.aspx?id=24576 (Reliability: Moderate – 39.50)

Middle East

Pakistani Court Frees Nuclear Scientist A.Q. Khan

6 February 2009

BLOOMBERG.COM (NEW DELHI)--A Pakistani court freed A.Q. Khan from house arrest, five years after he admitted selling atomic bomb technology to Iran, Libya, and North Korea. Opinion polls in Pakistan name Khan as one of Pakistan's most popular figures for his leading role in the country's development of atomic weapons. Hours after his release, the US State Department declared that Khan "remains a serious proliferation risk." Pakistan continues to refuse requests from the US and IAEA to question Khan about the extent of his activities and how he evaded international controls. Source:

http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=20601080&sid=a4a7jM8BiksY&refer=asia# (Reliability--Moderate 42.84)

Asia

Japan To Launch Energy Talks?
5 February 2009

STRAITS TIMES (TOKYO)-- Japan will launch talks with South Korea and Vietnam on cooperation in developing nuclear energy, with its sights set on growing demand in emerging economies. The talks on nuclear power accords with South Korea and Vietnam will start as early as this spring. Japan has already concluded bilateral nuclear cooperation accords with six nations. Talks are also underway with Russia and Kazakhstan. Japan is also considering entering similar arrangements with Indonesia, Thailand and the United Arab Emirates, Nikkei business daily said.Source: http://www.straitstimes.com/Breaking%2BNews/Asia/Story/STIStory_332957.html. (Reliability: Moderate -- 44.88)

Former Soviet Union

President Obama Seeks Russia Deal To Slash Nuclear Weapons
5 February 2009

TIMES ONLINE (WASHINGTON, D.C.)-President Obama will convene arms reduction talks with Russia, aiming to slash each country’s stockpile of nuclear weapons by 80 per cent. The treaty would cut the number of nuclear warheads to 1,000 each. Key to the initiative is a review of the plan for a US missile defense shield in Eastern Europe. Delaying the placement of US missiles in Poland and a radar station in the Czech Republic removes what has been a major impediment to Russian co-operation on arms reduction. The reduction plan is complicated by the nuclear ambitions of Iran, which launched its first satellite into space yesterday. Mr Obama views US and Russian reduction of arms as critical to efforts to persuade countries such as Iran not to develop the Bomb. Source: http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/world/us_and_americas/article5654836.ece (Reliability: Moderate - 39.52)

Black Widows (Черные Вдовы)

Not necessarily nuclear related but I came across this while researching the threat of Islamic terrorists obtaining nuclear materials. The video is about the "Black Widows," a female, primarily-Chechen group of suicide bombers. The video is in Russian and is produced by Russian media, but there are a number of interesting clips. The woman featured is Zarema Muzhakoyeva. She attempted to detonate a bomb in front of a Moscow cafe in 2004 but was stopped by a security guard. The subsequent failure to disarm the bomb can be seen starting at 1:33 into the video.