Nuclear Policy

Nobel for atomic bombing survivors shows need for peace: Japan's Empress

Japanese Empress Masako said the Nobel Peace Prize awarded to Nihon Hidankyo, an organisation of survivors of the US atomic bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki, was a key event of this year that impressed and reminded her of the importance of global peace efforts. Masako, the wife of Emperor Naruhito, said she thought of the pain and suffering of the survivors and struggles of those who have long led the nuclear disarmament effort. She felt anew the importance for the people of the world to strive for mutual understanding and work together in order to build a peaceful world, Masako said in a statement released by the Imperial Household Agency for her 61st birthday Monday. Her comment comes one day before a group of 30 atomic bombing survivors will attend Tuesday's Nobel prize award ceremony in Oslo. Hidankyo was awarded for its decadeslong activism against nuclear weapons. The 30 survivors, known as hibakusha, see the prize and the international attention as a last chance to get the

UN nuclear agency's board condemns Iran again for failing to cooperate

The UN nuclear watchdog's board on Thursday condemned Iran for failing to cooperate fully with the agency, the second time it has done so in just five months. The International Atomic Energy Agency also called on Tehran to provide answers in a long-running investigation into uranium particles found at two locations that Tehran has failed to declare as nuclear sites. Nineteen members of the IAEA broad voted for the resolution, while Russia, China and Burkina Faso opposed it, and 12 abstained and one did not vote, according to diplomats who spoke on condition of anonymity to describe the outcome of the closed-doors vote. The resolution was put forward by France, Germany and Britain, supported by the United States. It comes at a critical time, ahead of Donald Trump's return to the White House. Trump's first term in office was marked by a particularly tense period with Iran, when the US president pursued a policy of maximum pressure against Tehran. In 2018, Trump unilaterally withdrew

Russia revises nuclear policy, is it likely to use its atomic weapons now?

The 4-year-old document has a bland, bureaucratic title Basic Principles of State Policy on Nuclear Deterrence but its contents are chilling, especially with its newest revisions. Better known as Russia's nuclear doctrine, the revamped version that was signed Tuesday by President Vladimir Putin spells out the circumstances that allow him to use Moscow's atomic arsenal, the world's largest. This new version lowers the bar, giving him that option in response to even a conventional attack backed by a nuclear power. That possibly could include the use of U.S.-supplied ATACMS missiles by Ukraine to hit Russian territory which Moscow says happened Tuesday when six missiles hit the Bryansk region. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov emphasized that such strikes could potentially be a trigger for a nuclear response under the revised document. What is Russia's nuclear doctrine? Its first iteration was signed by Putin in 2020, and he approved latest version Tuesday, according to the Kremlin.

Safe-haven currencies strengthen after Russia updates nuclear doctrine

Putin approved the change days after two US officials said that US President Joe Biden's administration would allow Ukraine to use US-made weapons

Putin signs new doctrine that lowers threshold for using nuclear weapons

Russian President Vladimir Putin on Tuesday signed a revised nuclear doctrine declaring that a conventional attack on Russia by any nation that is supported by a nuclear power will be considered a joint attack on his country. Putin's endorsement of the new nuclear deterrent policy comes on the 1,000th day after he sent troops into Ukraine on Feb 24, 2022. It follows US President Joe Biden's decision to let Ukraine strike targets inside Russia with US-supplied longer-range missiles. The signing of the doctrine, which says that any massive aerial attack on Russia could trigger a nuclear response, reflects Putin's readiness to threaten use of the country's nuclear arsenal to force the West to back down as Moscow presses a slow-moving offensive in Ukraine.

Enabling conditions for nuclear energy: Five key tasks for policymakers

Indian energy policy should create conditions where private firms may consider whether it is optimal for them to buy such equipment

Joe Biden juggles nuclear talks as Iran escalates repression of protestors

President Joe Biden has hit back at Iran over the government's brutal crackdown on anti-government protests. He's praised the brave women of Iran for demanding basic rights and signalled that he'll announce more sanctions against those responsible for violence against protesters in the coming days. The outpouring of anger largely led by young women and directed at the government's male leadership has created a seminal moment for the country, spurring some of the largest and boldest protests against the country's Islamic leadership seen in years. And while the Biden administration says it is dedicated to standing by the women of Iran, the president faces a tough question: Can he credibly side with the protest movement while also trying to salvage the languishing 2015 Iran nuclear deal that would pump billions into Tehran's treasury? The risk of a nuclear Iran is terrifying on all levels, Marjan Keypour Greenblatt, director of a network of activists that promotes human rights in Ir

Iran removing 27 surveillance cameras from sites, says UN nuclear watchdog

The head of the UN's nuclear watchdog agency said Thursday that Iran is removing 27 surveillance cameras from nuclear sites in the country. Rafael Mariano Grossi, the director-general of the International Atomic Energy Agency, made the comments at a suddenly called news conference in Vienna. Grossi said the move poses a serious challenge to its efforts. Iran did not immediately acknowledge it. Grossi said that would leave 40-something cameras still in Iran. The sites that would see cameras removed include its underground Natanz nuclear enrichment facility, as well as its facility in Isfahan, Grossi said. On Wednesday, Iran said it shut off two devices the IAEA uses to monitor enrichment at Natanz. Iranian officials also threatened to take more steps amid a yearslong crisis that threatens to widen into further attacks. That came ahead of a vote before the IAEA's board censuring Iran over what the agency calls Iran's failure to provide credible information over man-made nuclear mate

TN flags concern over spent nuclear fuel storage at Kudankulam site

The Tamil Nadu government on Friday opposed the Nuclear Power Corporation of India Limited's proposal to store spent nuclear fuel (SNF) at the Kudankulam Nuclear Power Plant (KNPP) site and suggested it be sent back to Russia, according to an earlier agreement or store it in an uninhabited area. Chief Minister M K Stalin flagged the issue with Prime Minister Narendra Modi in a letter about the issue pertaining to the power plant located in Tamil Nadu's Tirunelveli district. Six nuclear power reactors of 1000 MW each are envisaged in this project. Out of the six, units 1 & 2 have already been commissioned, while 3 & 4 are under construction and units 5 & 6 are yet to be established, Stalin said. "The Nuclear Power Corporation of India Ltd. proposes to construct Away from Reactor (AFR) facilities in the nuclear power plant site itself for the storage of the SNF generated from all six reactors," the Chief Minister said. "In this regard, I wish to inform that when the Ministry

Germany's power supply secure despite nuclear phase-out: Minister

The power supply in Germany is secure despite the country pushing ahead with its nuclear phase-out, Minister for Economic Affairs and Climate Action Robert Habeck said.

India's nuclear power capacity to be hiked to 22,480 MW by 2031: Govt

Minister of State in the Department of Space and Department of Atomic Energy Jitendra Singh said the present installed nuclear power capacity in the country is 6,780 MW

Best of BS Opinion: India's future urbanisation, nuclear fusion and more

Here is the best of Business Standard's opinion pieces for Saturday

Low expectations on nuclear talks as Iran creates facts on the ground

Tehran is insisting all US and EU sanctions imposed since 2017, including those unrelated to its nuclear programme, be dropped

Biden administration implores Iran to return to nuke talks without delay

The Biden administration is imploring Iran to quickly return to talks on its nuclear programme after a three-month hiatus caused by its government transition

Iran's sole nuclear power plant up and running after emergency shutdown

Iran's sole nuclear power plant is back online following an emergency shutdown two weeks ago

Putin demands higher survivability of Russian nuke control systems

Russian President Vladimir Putin ordered boosting the survivability of the country's nuclear forces control systems

India, EU agree on civil nuclear pact, to unveil roadmap for boosting ties

The EU officials said an announcement on firming up of the civil nuclear cooperation agreement will be made during the summit on Wednesday

Towards global no-first use

Why the maturation of India's strategic deterrent calls for a new approach to nuclear policy

Speculation in Washington about nuclear doctrinal changes by India

Will India strike first if it feels Pakistan is about to cross the nuclear threshold?

Will India abandon 'no first use' nuclear policy?

An expert says India might do it fearing that Islamabad is most likely to use nuclear weapons first