Nuclear

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday hailed as a "historic milestone" the Kalpakkam fast breeder reactor achieving criticality, and said Indian nuclear scientists have brought glory to the country. In his monthly radio address 'Mann Ki Baat', he said Indian scientists are advancing the civil nuclear programme and their efforts are making a significant contribution to nation-building. "Our nuclear scientists have brought glory to India through a major achievement. The fast breeder reactor at Kalpakkam in Tamil Nadu has achieved criticality," he said. Modi said this is a "historic milestone" in India's nuclear energy journey, and the remarkable thing is that the atomic reactor has been entirely built using indigenous technology. The prime minister said he had the privilege of witnessing the core loading of the reactor in Kalpakkam in March 2024. "I congratulate all those who have made invaluable contributions to India's nuclear program," he said. Modi said the efforts of the ...

A latest video released by the Chinese navy highlighting China's blue-water naval ambitions has sparked speculation that its fourth aircraft carrier currently being built will be a nuclear-powered one. The video film 'Into The Deep' was released on Wednesday to mark the 77th anniversary of the founding of the People's Liberation Army Navy showcased Chinese navy's transition from maritime ambitions and coastal defences. The video also highlighted China's "blue-water" navy capable of deep-sea operations, including footage from real-life drills in the western Pacific far from home and the use of advanced equipment. It also showed a compass being handed down through generations of naval officers named after the three aircraft carriers Liao Ning, Shan Dong, and Fu Jian currently in operation. But a fourth character was named He Jian, hinting that it could be a nuclear-powered ship because "He" sounds like the Chinese word for "nuclear" and "Jian" is the word for a "ship", the Hong ...

Little is known about Pickaxe Mountain, but some experts say it illustrates the impossibility of relying on force alone to prevent Iran from acquiring a nuclear bomb

On contaminated land that is too dangerous for human life, the world's wildest horses roam free. Across the Chernobyl exclusion zone, Przewalski's horses - stocky, sand-colored and almost toy-like in appearance - graze in a radioactive landscape larger than Luxembourg. On April 26, 1986, an explosion at the nuclear power plant in Ukraine sent radiation across Europe and forced the evacuation of entire towns, displacing tens of thousands. It was the worst nuclear disaster in history. Four decades on, Chernobyl - which is transliterated as "Chornobyl" in Ukraine - remains too dangerous for humans. But the wildlife has moved back in. Wolves now prowl the vast no-man's-land spanning Ukraine and Belarus, and brown bears have returned after more than a century. Populations of lynx, moose, red deer and even free-roaming packs of dogs have rebounded. Przewalski's horses, native to Mongolia and once on the brink of extinction, were introduced here in 1998 as an experiment. Known as "takhi

US President Donald Trump on Friday again claimed that Iran has agreed to hand over enriched uranium "The U.S.A. will get all Nuclear Dust,' created by our great B2 Bombers - No money will exchange hands in any way, shape, or form," Trump said in a social media post. "Nuclear dust" is shorthand that Trump frequently uses to refer to the highly-enriched uranium believed to be buried under nuclear sites that the US bombed during last year's 12-day war between Israel and Iran. If true, it would be a major concession from Iran and would lock in a key US demand to end the conflict. But neither Iran nor countries acting as intermediaries in the conflict have said that Tehran has made such an agreement. Trump on Thursday also asserted that Iran has "agreed to give us back the nuclear dust".

Proposed policy approved by Atomic Energy Commission moves to consultations stage as India looks to open nuclear power sector to private participation

Trump asserted that Iran does not possess a nuclear weapon and has "agreed to that very powerfully". He added that Tehran had also agreed to hand over enriched uranium

L&T's long-term outlook for the Middle East business remains robust with no news of project cancellations or payment delays, says brokerage firm JM Financial.

India has hit a major nuclear milestone. At Kalpakkam, the Prototype Fast Breeder Reactor (PFBR) has attained criticality — a key step before full power generation. But why does this matter?

Smart pumps power India's nuclear leap as Kalpakkam Fast Breeder Reactor achieves criticality, marking a milestone in clean energy ambitions

India on Friday commissioned its new indigenously-built nuclear-powered ballistic missile submarine INS Aridaman into service, further strengthening the naval component of nuclear triad, authoritative sources said. India's nuclear-powered ballistic missile submarine (SSBN) programme is a closely guarded project. INS Arihant was the first boat under the SSBN project that was followed by another boat, INS Arighat. India is among a select group of countries that possess nuclear-powered submarines. The countries that have such assets are the US, Russia, the UK, France and China. INS Arihant is India's first home-made nuclear submarine. It was launched in July 2009 and was quietly commissioned in 2016. The navy commissioned its second indigenous SSBN, INS Arighaat, in August 2024 The SSBN stands for ship submersible ballistic nuclear or nuclear-powered ballistic missile submarines. INS Aridaman has been commissioned after months of sea trials. It is learnt that Defence Minister Rajnath

Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz also said the country's military would escalate its assault on the Islamic Republic in response to the targeting of civilians

As the West Asia war enters its fourth week, the US has proposed a 15-point ceasefire framework to Iran. The plan focuses on dismantling Tehran’s nuclear and missile capabilities

French President Emmanuel Macron announced Monday that France will increase its number of nuclear warheads from the current level of below 300, but did not give a figure for the increase. It will be the first time France increases its nuclear arsenal since at least 1992. "I have decided to increase the numbers of warheads of our arsenal," Macron said at a military base at L'Ile Longue in northwestern France that hosts the country's ballistic missile submarines. Macron's speech was aimed at spelling out how French nuclear weapons fit into Europe's security amid concerns raised on the continent by recurring tensions with US President Donald Trump.

Iran's nuclear programme has been among the reasons Israel and the US have given for the attacks, alleging Iran was getting too close to being able to eventually make an atom bomb

Trump said on February 19 that Iran must make a deal in 10 to 15 days, warning that "really bad things" would otherwise happen

Iran and the US prepared to meet Thursday in Geneva for nuclear negotiations, talks viewed as a last chance for diplomacy as America has gathered a fleet of aircraft and warships to the Middle East to pressure Tehran into a deal. US President Donald Trump wants a deal to constrain Iran's nuclear programme, and he sees an opportunity while the country is struggling at home with growing dissent following nationwide protests last month. Iran meanwhile has maintained it wants to continue to enrich uranium even as its program sits in ruins following Trump ordering an attack in June on three of the Islamic Republic's nuclear sites. If an American attack happens, Iran has said all US military bases in the Mideast would be considered legitimate targets, putting at risk tens of thousands of American service members. Iran has also threatened to attack Israel following a bruising 12-day war last year, meaning a regional war again could erupt across the Middle East. "There would be no victory

This comes amidst Beijing's stating that it has scrupulously observed an international accord banning all nuclear detonations

Satellite imagery of secretive nuclear facilities reveals Beijing's efforts to expand its arsenal, just as the last global guardrails on nuclear weapons vanish