NATO report: A 2013 Russian Aerial Exercise was Actually a 'Simulated Nuclear Attack' on Sweden
Armin Rosen | Business Insider
On the night of March 29, 2013, a contingent of Russian combat aircraft flew across the Gulf of Finland and came within 18 to 24 miles of Swedish territory near Gotland Island, which is only 100 miles from Stockholm. The aircraft followed a flight path that deviated from typical Russian air force routes in the region. While Russian planes often fly between "mainland" Russia and the Baltic enclave of Kaliningrad, these aircraft made a detour that suggested they were carrying out a simulated attack of some kind.
India Joins the Convention on Supplementary Compensation for Nuclear Damage
Aabha Dixit | IAEA Office of Public Information and Communication
India today deposited its instrument of ratification of the Convention on Supplementary Compensation for Nuclear Damage (CSC), an important multilateral treaty relating to liability and compensation for damage caused by a nuclear incident. The Permanent Representative of India to the IAEA, Ambassador Rajiva Misra, delivered the instrument of ratification to Acting Director General Juan Carlos Lentijo, the Deputy Director General and Head of the Department of Nuclear Safety and Security.
German Scientists Launch Nuclear Fusion Experiment
Deutsche Welle
German Chancellor Angela Merkel switched on a Wendelstein 7-X device on Wednesday at the Max Planck Institute for Plasma Physics in Greifswald. A small amount of hydrogen was injected into the device that was then heated up by a giant microwave. The hydrogen then turned into a gas known as plasma, similar to the substance found in the sun. The plasma existed, however, for just a fraction of a second before cooling down as planned.
Pressure Mounts on North Korea to Abandon Rocket Launch
Jack Kim and Nobuhiro Kubo | Reuters
International pressure grew on North Korea to call off a planned rocket launch, seen by some governments as another missile test, while Japan put its military on alert to shoot down any rocket that threatens its territory. North Korea notified United Nations agencies on Tuesday of its plan to launch what it called an "earth observation satellite" some time between Feb. 8 and 25.
World Grows Impatient for Senate to Ratify Test-Ban Treaty
Roll Call
The international community is growing increasingly impatient for the Senate to ratify a key nonproliferation pact amid warnings that a global taboo against nuclear weapons testing may falter if momentum toward the accord’s entry into force is not seen in the next half-decade or so.
Veolia To Buy Nuclear Waste Startup Kurion
Michael Kanellos | Forbes
One of the more unusual, and successful, cleantech startups that has emerged in recent years is being acquired. Veolia–the massive French conglomerate that specializes in water, waste and other essential services (like SuperShuttle)—announced on Wednesday that it will buy nuclear waste specialist Kurion for $350 million. The acquisition is part of an overall company strategy to expand its nuclear cleanup business.