India is building a Top-Secret Nuclear City to Build Thermonuclear Weapons, Experts Say
Adrian Levy | Foreign Policy
Two secretive agencies are behind a project that experts say will be the subcontinent’s largest military-run complex of nuclear centrifuges, atomic-research laboratories, and weapons- and aircraft-testing facilities when it’s completed, probably sometime in 2017. Among the project’s aims: to expand the government’s nuclear research, to produce fuel for India’s nuclear reactors, and to help power the country’s fleet of new submarines. But another, more controversial ambition, according to retired Indian government officials and independent experts in London and Washington, is to give India an extra stockpile of enriched uranium fuel that could be used in new hydrogen bombs, also known as thermonuclear weapons, substantially increasing the explosive force of those in its existing nuclear arsenal.
U.S. Expresses Concern Over Pakistan's Nuclear and Missile Programmes, Calls for Restraint
FirstPost
Voicing concern over Pakistan's nuclear and missile programmes, the US has asked it to restrain them and avoid any developments that might lead to increased risk to nuclear safety and strategic stability. "I wanted to say that we do share your concerns, particularly about the development of Pakistan's nuclear arsenal. We're concerned most by the pace and the scope of the Pakistan's missile program, including its pursuit of nuclear systems," Special US Representative for Afghanistan and Pakistan Richard Olson told lawmakers during a hearing on Pakistan convened by House Foreign Affairs Committee.
India’s Nuclear Explosive Materials are Vulnerable to Theft, U.S. Officials and Experts say
Adrian Levy | Center for Public Integrity
The Kalpakkam shooting alarmed Indian and Western officials who question whether India — which is surrounded by unstable neighbors and has a history of civil tumult — has taken adequate precautions to safeguard its sensitive facilities and keep the building blocks of a devastating nuclear bomb from being stolen by insiders with grievances, ill motives, or in the worst case, connections to terrorists. Although experts say they regard the issue as urgent, Washington is not pressing India for quick reforms. The Obama administration is instead trying to avoid any dispute that might interrupt a planned expansion of U.S. military sales to Delhi, several senior U.S. officials said in interviews.
Iran Nuclear Deal: EU Aides Fear US Visa Restrictions Breach Pact
Geoff Dyer and Alex Barker | Financial Times
European diplomats involved in the Iran nuclear talks are concerned that US legislation tightening visa procedures for some visitors could breach the nuclear agreement with Iran which is due to be implemented early next year. Some European officials believe that by obliging executives who have visited Iran to apply for a visa if they want to travel to the US, the bill could breach a commitment in the nuclear deal to avoid steps that damage the “normalisation” of economic ties with Iran.
Iran to Redesign Arak Reactor Core in 2-3 Weeks: Russian Diplomat
Tehran Times
Iranian specialists will complete works on redesigning the core of the heavy water reactor in Arak in two-three weeks, Russia’s permanent representative at international organizations in Vienna told journalists on Wednesday, TASS reported. “Iranians say this work can be completed in 2-3 weeks,” Voronkov said. “They say it is attainable in the rather short timeframe,” Vladimir Voronkov said.
Chinese Nuclear Power Stocks Climb After New Reactor Approvals
Aibing Guo | Bloomberg
China has approved construction of eight reactors this year, including yesterday’s approval. China plans to build as many as eight nuclear power plants each year from 2016 to 2020 and invest 500 billion yuan ($77 billion) on next-generation nuclear reactors during the five years, according to a statement from state-owned Power Construction Corp. of China Ltd. earlier this month, citing a draft of China’s 13th five-year plan.