Inspectors Denied Access to Parts of Ukraine Nuclear Plant -IAEA
Reuters
The head of the U.N. nuclear power watchdog said on Wednesday his inspectors had been denied access to parts of Ukraine's Russian-occupied Zaporizhzhia nuclear power station and had yet to receive 2024 maintenance plans for the facility. The plant was seized by Russia in the days following Moscow's 2022 invasion of Ukraine. Each side has accused the other of shelling around the station, Europe's largest, though its six reactors now produce no electricity.
Sister of North Korean Leader Derides South Korea’s President but Praises his Predecessor
HYUNG-JIN KIM | Associated Press
Kim Yo Jong said that Yoon’s “foolishly brave” stance and “fanatical military confrontation posture” have led to North Korea beefing up its military programs. She said Yoon’s New Year’s Day speech once again provided North Korea with a justification to obtain ”more overwhelming nuclear fighting capability.”
Indian PM Dedicates Demonstration Reprocessing Plant
World Nuclear News
Prime Minister Narendra Modi ceremonially dedicated the DFRP, at the Indira Gandhi Centre for Atomic Research (IGCAR) in Kalpakkam, to the nation on 2 January. The facility - which has cost INR400 crore (about USD48 million - 1 crore is 10 million) to develop - is the first industrial-scale plant in the world that is capable of handling both carbide and oxide spent fuels from fast reactors, according to India's Department of Atomic Energy. The Indian-designed facility will serve as a precursor to large-scale commercial fast reactor fuel reprocessing plants.
Even More US-Australia Submarine Collaboration on the Horizon
Megan Eckstein | Defense News
The U.S. and Australian navies will see their submarine-specific partnerships grow in multiple ways throughout 2024. The Navy plans to conduct its first-ever submarine maintenance work in Australia this summer using the sub tender Emory S. Land, with 30 Australian sailors embarked to learn how to repair the Virginia class of submarine. This step will help establish a nuclear-powered attack submarine maintenance capability at the HMAS Stirling naval base in Western Australia in the next few years as part of the trilateral AUKUS arrangement.
China Approves Construction of Four New Reactors
World Nuclear News
The construction of two Hualong One reactors at each of the Taipingling and Jinqimen sites was approved by China's State Council at a 29 December meeting. Meanwhile, various milestones have been reached in the construction of other Chinese units.
We’re Gradually Losing that Amazing Generation of Women who Went First
Megan McArdle | Washington Post
The Cosmos Club is an elite private club, the kind of place where important people host fancy lunches to hash out the issues of the day. Until 1988, however, the club was all male. It is a measure of Catherine McArdle Kelleher’s brilliance that she was nevertheless invited to give a talk there. This probably seemed quite the honor, until she presented herself at the entrance and was told that, of course, no woman could be seen in the club’s public spaces. However, as a special concession to her illustrious host, she would be smuggled in a side door.