nuclear energy

Italy's parliament has approved a return to nuclear power, decades after the country shut down its reactors following referendums in the wake of the Chernobyl disaster. The move marks a major shift in Italy's energy policy and reflects a broader European reassessment of nuclear energy amid energy security concerns and climate targets. Details of timelines, technology and public reaction remain to be seen.

Iran has put forward a seven-day plan to reopen the Strait of Hormuz, the key shipping route for global oil supplies, alongside a proposal to resume nuclear talks within the same week. The offer, reported by Al Jazeera, is drawing attention from governments and observers watching tensions in the Gulf. Details of conditions or responses from other parties remain unclear.

The US dollar is trading near its strongest level in two months. A deadlock in US-Iran nuclear talks has pushed up oil prices, adding to inflationary pressure, while traders increasingly expect the Federal Reserve to keep raising interest rates. Higher rate expectations typically strengthen the dollar, and rising energy costs reinforce those bets, keeping the currency firm against major peers.

Mike Waltz says the United States offered to sell Iran uranium for its civilian nuclear programme. The disclosure sheds light on negotiations aimed at curbing Tehran's nuclear activities in exchange for energy-related supplies. The offer suggests Washington was willing to accommodate Iran's stated need for civilian nuclear fuel while seeking limits on enrichment. Reactions to the reported proposal are not yet detailed.

Italy has approved a law allowing the country to produce nuclear energy again, nearly four decades after nuclear power was banned in a 1987 referendum. The move marks a major shift in Italian energy policy, reopening the door to nuclear plants as the government seeks low-carbon sources and greater energy independence.

Reference materials and explainers are laying out how a hypothetical 2026 Iran war could unfold, covering the roles of the United States and Israel, the Strait of Hormuz, global oil flows, and maps of the potential conflict zone. The content frames the scenario as a geopolitical and energy-security question, walking through what an escalation involving Iran would mean for markets and the region.

JP Morgan says Europe's push to expand data centre capacity for AI is driving fresh investment in nuclear energy across the EU. The bloc is betting on nuclear power to meet surging electricity demand from data centres while pursuing decarbonisation and energy security goals, with the bank expecting the trend to trigger a wider nuclear energy boom.

Qatar has launched a program to train nuclear engineers, drawing concern from the Middle East Media Research Institute, which flagged the initiative. The program's scope, partners and intended civilian applications have not been detailed publicly, prompting questions about the Gulf state's nuclear ambitions at a time of heightened regional scrutiny of nuclear development.

The US Nuclear Regulatory Commission has completed its environmental review for the planned restart of the Crane Clean Energy Center, the former Three Mile Island Unit 1 reactor in Pennsylvania. The review is a key regulatory step toward restarting the plant, which is slated to supply power to Microsoft under an agreement with owner Constellation Energy.

Politico examines whether the fast-moving, iterative development approach that made SpaceX dominant in rockets could be applied to nuclear power, an industry long slowed by regulation and cost overruns. The piece weighs SpaceX-style rapid prototyping against the safety demands of reactors, as new nuclear startups and government support for advanced reactors draw renewed attention in the United States.

French technology group Thales, computer maker Bull and the Alternative Energies and Atomic Energy Commission (CEA) are working together on software for quantum computers intended for use by the French armed forces. The collaboration links France's leading defence electronics firm, its flagship computing company and its national nuclear research body around military applications of quantum technology.

Jaguar Uranium announced it will take part in Roth Capital Partners' Emerging Nuclear Technology Conference in New York. The event brings together companies and investors focused on nuclear energy and advanced reactor technology. Interest in uranium and nuclear-related firms has been growing as governments and markets look for low-carbon baseload power and as nuclear power regains policy support in several countries.