Since the end of the cold war, the United Nations has logged more than 800 incidents in which radioactive material has gone missing, often from poorly guarded sites. Who is taking it - and should we be worried? Julian Borger investigates.
Proliferation
The time bomb
Wednesday, August 27, 2008
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CIA used Swiss to thwart foreign nuclear programs: report
Monday, August 25, 2008WASHINGTON (AFP) — The US Central Intelligence Agency recruited a family of Swiss engineers to help it thwart the Libyan and Iranian nuclear programs as well as an underground supply network of Pakistani nuclear scientist Abdul Qadeer Khan, The New York Times reported on its website late Sunday.
The newspaper said the operation involved Friedrich Tinner and his two sons, who have been accused in Switzerland of dealing with rogue nations seeking nuclear equipment and expertise.
Uranium mining, nuclear power and 'ethical' investment
Wednesday, August 20, 2008A recent Corporate Watch Australia survey reveals that many so-called ethical investment funds invest in uranium mining.
The number has risen significantly in recent years. Some fund managers justify investment in uranium with questionable arguments about nuclear power and climate change, but the primary reason for the shift is probably BHP Billiton's entry into the uranium industry with its 2005 acquisition of WMC Resources, which owns the Olympic Dam uranium mine in South Australia.
Engineers to remain in jail over nuclear probe
Saturday, August 9, 2008The two Swiss engineers, Urs and Marco Tinner, suspected of involvement in an international nuclear smuggling network have been refused bail.
The Swiss Federal Court upheld a ruling by the Criminal Court earlier this year which ordered the Tinners to remain in custody pending the outcome of an investigation.
US, Armenia to upgrade Armenian capabilities against nuclear smuggling
Wednesday, July 16, 2008The United States and Armenia have agreed to cooperate against the smuggling of nuclear and radioactive materials.
US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice and Armenian Foreign Minister Edward Nalbandian signed the agreement in what is called a "joint action plan" that makes the cooperation activities official.
France signs Algeria nuclear deal
Saturday, June 21, 2008France and Algeria have signed an agreement on civil nuclear co-operation during a visit to Algiers by the French Prime Minister, Francois Fillon.
Mr Fillon described the agreement as a sign of a "transformation" in the countries' ties.
Relations were very bad for years after the Algerian war of independence forced France to abandon its treasured colony.
Disgraced atomic scientist disowns confession
Friday, May 30, 2008For four years Abdul Qadeer Khan, the father of Pakistan's nuclear bomb, has lived in the shadows, confined to his Islamabad home since a tearful televised confession in which he admitted selling nuclear technology to Iran, North Korea and Libya. But yesterday the 76-year-old scientist returned to the spotlight with a bold new twist: that he had not meant a word of his earlier admission.
Papers on nuclear smuggling ring shredded
Wednesday, May 21, 2008The government ordered the destruction of documents on an alleged international nuclear smuggling network involving three Swiss engineers, it has been confirmed.
The head of a parliamentary control committee said the material was shredded last November.
Chain reaction
Wednesday, April 30, 2008Is nuclear power the answer to the energy crisis? Ian Sample explains how it works - and how we get the awful side-effects of bombs and waste.
Bulgaria, U.S. sign agreement on nuclear non-proliferation assistance
Wednesday, March 26, 2008SOFIA, March 25 (Xinhua) -- Bulgaria and the United States have signed an intergovernmental agreement on assistance in nuclear non-proliferation, the local Bulgarian news agency reported Tuesday.
