nuclear power

Italy's parliament has approved a move toward restarting nuclear power, reversing a stance the country has held since abandoning nuclear energy after referendums following the Chernobyl disaster. The vote opens the way for new nuclear technology, including small modular reactors, as Italy seeks stable low-carbon energy supplies. Supporters frame it as energy security and climate policy; critics recall Italy's long-standing public opposition to nuclear power.

Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian says Iran will never seek to build a nuclear bomb, ahead of the 81st session of the UN General Assembly. The pledge is drawing wide attention as Tehran's nuclear program remains a central point of tension with Western powers, and observers watch for how the statement will land in New York diplomacy.

Iran says it is prepared for both diplomacy and war as talks with world powers remain deadlocked, according to a report by Telesur English. The statement signals Tehran's hardening position amid stalled negotiations, with Iranian officials insisting the country will not concede under pressure while keeping the door open to a negotiated settlement.

A senior North Korean diplomat said the country's nuclear status can never be reversed 'in any circumstances', ruling out denuclearisation talks in the strongest terms yet. The statement, reported by South Korean media, underscores Pyongyang's insistence on being recognised as a nuclear power and comes despite ongoing international sanctions and diplomatic pressure.

Iran has announced that it is ready for diplomacy, according to a statement reported by news outlets. The declaration comes amid ongoing international tensions over Iran's nuclear program and regional conflicts. Officials and observers are watching closely to see whether the offer leads to renewed negotiations with Western powers.

Italy has approved a law allowing the country to produce nuclear energy again, reversing a ban in place for nearly four decades. The move ends a prohibition dating back to referendums after the 1987 vote, and opens the way for new reactors as Italy seeks reliable, low-carbon power and reduced dependence on imported energy.

The Pentagon is reportedly weighing a new nuclear strategy aimed at deterring regional conflicts rather than solely major-power war. The reported shift would adjust how US nuclear weapons fit into plans for limited, regional contingencies. The Globe Post reported the story, but no further details on the proposals, their scope, or official confirmation have emerged so far, and reaction from lawmakers, allies, or arms-control groups has not been recorded.

A senior Iranian official has stated that Iran will make no concessions in negotiations over its nuclear programme. The declaration signals a hardening of Tehran's position amid ongoing international pressure over its nuclear activities. The remarks come as diplomatic efforts to reach an agreement over Iran's nuclear activities remain deadlocked, with Western powers calling for limits on enrichment and verification measures.

Saudi Arabia has signalled it would be open to developing nuclear weapons, according to reports carried by major US outlets including The New York Times and The Seattle Times. The remarks raise fresh questions about nuclear proliferation in the Middle East and about Riyadh's nuclear ambitions at a time of ongoing regional tensions and talks over normalisation and security guarantees with Washington.

The United States has accused China of conducting secret nuclear weapons tests, raising fears of a new nuclear arms race between the two powers. The claim intensifies tensions in an already fraught strategic relationship, with concerns growing that both countries could resume explosive testing or expand arsenals. Arms control advocates warn the standoff undermines global non-proliferation efforts.

China and the United States have reportedly reached an understanding on Iran, agreeing that Tehran should not develop nuclear weapons and that no toll should be imposed on shipping through the Strait of Hormuz, a critical global oil transit route. The reported convergence between the two powers on Iran policy is drawing attention amid ongoing tensions in the region.

Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev has called for renewed negotiations among nuclear-weapon states as Kazakhstan marks 35 years since the closure of the Semipalatinsk nuclear test site. He warned that global arms-control safeguards are weakening and urged world powers to re-engage in disarmament efforts. The appeal comes amid rising international tensions and growing concern over the erosion of nuclear arms-control frameworks.

The Trump administration is moving forward with a plan to supply plutonium from dismantled Cold War-era nuclear warheads to companies seeking to convert the material into fuel for nuclear power plants. The proposal has sparked debate and unease among experts and officials, who question the safety and wisdom of handling such dangerous material commercially.

A foreign and security policy analysis argues that living with nuclear weapons is once again a central challenge for international politics. Amid renewed great-power rivalry, eroding arms control treaties and ongoing conflicts involving nuclear-armed states, policymakers and commentators are debating how deterrence, disarmament and civilian protection can coexist in a more dangerous world.

Bill Gates says reaching an international agreement on artificial intelligence could prove more difficult than the nuclear arms control negotiations of the Cold War. His remarks add to a growing debate among tech leaders and governments over how to regulate advanced AI globally, at a time when major powers are struggling to agree on common safety rules.

China and the United States have reached an eight-point consensus that includes opposition to Iran acquiring nuclear weapons and to tolls on key waterways. The rare alignment between the two powers signals shared concern over regional stability and freedom of navigation, and is drawing attention to how far Beijing and Washington can cooperate on Middle East security issues.

Cyprus Mail reports that Turkey is discussing nuclear deterrence as the war involving Iran continues. The debate touches on whether Ankara should consider its own nuclear options or security guarantees at a time of heightened regional instability. Details of who is backing the discussion and what concrete steps may follow remain limited, but the topic signals how the Iran conflict is reshaping security thinking in the region.

A senior Iranian official has stated that Iran will make no concessions in nuclear negotiations, according to Asia News coverage carried by AsiaOne. The declaration signals Tehran's firm stance amid ongoing international pressure over its nuclear programme, with talks with world powers remaining deadlocked. Observers see the statement as a defiant message to Western negotiators demanding limits on uranium enrichment and greater inspection access.

Bill Gates said creating a global framework for artificial intelligence would be more difficult than negotiating the nuclear arms limitations of the Cold War era. He argued that AI's rapid spread among companies and governments, and the difficulty of verifying its development, make international agreement far harder than the nuclear treaties that shaped the 20th century. His remarks add to a growing debate over how the world should govern increasingly powerful AI systems.

The Middle East Institute examines whether Ankara could pursue nuclear weapons in the wake of the war involving Iran. The piece explores how a weakened Iranian deterrence and regional insecurity may reshape Turkey's strategic calculus, long balancing between NATO membership and indigenous defence ambitions, and what that would mean for non-proliferation efforts.

Defence analysts argue that a Chinese attempt to seize Taiwan could prompt Japan to abandon its non-nuclear posture and develop nuclear weapons. Commentary published by RealClearDefense and ASPI's Strategist suggests such a move would be, as the headline puts it, 'revolting for the CCP', since a nuclear-armed Japan would fundamentally alter Beijing's security calculations and regional power balance.

The U.S. Navy is moving forward with development of the W93, a new nuclear warhead intended for submarine-launched ballistic missiles. The programme, run with the Department of Energy's nuclear weapons complex, is part of efforts to modernise the sea-based leg of the U.S. nuclear triad, replacing warheads carried on Trident II D5 missiles aboard ballistic missile submarines.

France has carried out a simulation of a nuclear strike, according to a report by Militarnyi. The exercise tested the country's nuclear deterrent capabilities, though details on the scenario, timing and forces involved remain limited. Nuclear drill preparations by France draw attention amid heightened global tensions and renewed focus on nuclear deterrence in Europe.

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.

A new commentary argues that AI companies could learn from how nuclear weapons programs developed safety protocols, international treaties and control regimes after 1945. The author suggests parallels between managing dangerous emerging technologies and today's race to build powerful artificial intelligence, warning that safety measures should not be an afterthought as capabilities advance.

Researchers have published a ranking of the risks posed by increasingly capable smart systems, placing potential catastrophes such as nuclear war, bioweapons development, and loss of control over advanced AI among the most severe threats. The work compares how experts weigh these scenarios and is drawing attention to how the field prioritises safety research as systems grow more powerful.

Bill Gates has said that establishing global safeguards for artificial intelligence will be more difficult than the arms control negotiations of the Cold War era. The remarks, reported across roughly 15 outlets, highlight the challenge of getting rival powers to agree on rules for a fast-moving technology with no clear equivalent of verifiable weapons inspections, reigniting debate over how AI should be regulated internationally.

Donald Trump has advocated for trilateral arms control negotiations between the United States, Russia, and China. The proposal is outlined in background materials summarizing the Chinese leader's visit to the United States on September 23–25. The call for talks between the three nuclear powers is drawing attention as part of discussions around the visit.

Global spending on nuclear arsenals is accelerating, with major powers investing heavily in modernising warheads, delivery systems and command infrastructure. Reporting highlights a quiet but broad competition, as states upgrade legacy systems and develop new capabilities largely outside public debate. Analysts warn the trend raises arms-race risks at a time of strained arms-control frameworks and heightened geopolitical tension.

Politico reports on a nuclear power startup taking a page from SpaceX: moving fast, iterating on hardware, and pursuing rapid test cycles in an industry long defined by slow regulation and massive upfront costs. The piece highlights how Silicon Valley-style engineering culture is being imported into nuclear energy as demand for clean, always-on power surges.

Southeast Asia is turning to small modular reactors as demand for reliable electricity surges alongside its growing semiconductor and artificial intelligence industries. Thailand is among the countries weighing the technology, with chip manufacturing requiring stable power supplies that renewable sources alone have struggled to guarantee, prompting a regional rethink on nuclear energy.

The US Nuclear Regulatory Commission has completed its environmental review for the proposed restart of the Crane Clean Energy Center in Pennsylvania, the former Three Mile Island Unit 1 reactor. The review is a key step toward restarting the plant, which is being pursued 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.

Scientists are highlighting a proposal to use particle accelerators to transmute long-lived radioactive waste from nuclear energy, potentially reducing its hazardous lifespan from around 100,000 years to just a few centuries. The idea, known as accelerator-driven transmutation, is being discussed as a way to ease one of nuclear power's biggest drawbacks: the need to store spent fuel safely for many millennia.

The first commercial nuclear-powered satellite has been launched aboard a SpaceX mission, according to the American Nuclear Society's Nuclear Newswire. The milestone marks the first time a nuclear-powered spacecraft has flown on a commercial basis, combining private spaceflight with nuclear energy technology in orbit. Details about the satellite's operator, reactor design and mission goals remain limited in the available reporting.

Armenia is drawing attention on two fronts. Deputy Speaker of Parliament Rubinyan-era figure Arpine Hovhannisyan outlined two key remarks from the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe regarding elections in Armenia, renewing debate over electoral standards. Meanwhile, Rosatom, following a proposal by Alexey Likhachev, offered to build new nuclear power units, including a VVER-1000 block, at Armenia's nuclear plant, prompting discussion about the country's energy future and its ties with Russia.