Nuclear Power

A new commentary argues that artificial intelligence companies should draw safety lessons from the history of nuclear weapons, an earlier technology where catastrophic risk prompted international treaties, safeguards and institutional controls. The piece suggests parallels between how governments managed nuclear dangers and how AI development might be regulated to prevent misuse and accidents. It reflects a growing debate over how to govern powerful technologies before harm occurs.

The Nuclear Innovation Initiative-aligned group NSI is arguing that direct disposal of spent nuclear fuel, rather than interim storage or reprocessing, offers the fastest route to scaling up nuclear power. Writing in the American Nuclear Society's Nuclear Newswire, the group contends that removing the spent-fuel bottleneck would let new reactors deploy sooner, a claim likely to fuel ongoing debate over waste policy among industry and policymakers.

US senators expect a vote after the November midterms on the Trump administration's nuclear power agreement with Saudi Arabia. The pact would allow American companies to pursue nuclear cooperation with Riyadh, a deal that has drawn scrutiny from lawmakers concerned about safeguards and non-proliferation commitments. Its timing in a lame-duck session remains to be seen.

A Middle East expert argues that military conflict with Iran would backfire, strengthening rather than weakening the country's clerical leadership. The warning suggests that external attacks allow the regime to rally nationalist sentiment, silence domestic opposition and consolidate power. The remarks come amid ongoing debate over whether military action or diplomacy is the more effective path to curbing Iran's nuclear program and regional influence.

Russian President Vladimir Putin said France and the United Kingdom are nuclear powers that Russia is fully aware of, but insisted that in terms of the weapons Russia possesses, it is unparalleled. The remarks, made in a live statement, are drawing attention as debate continues over Western support for Ukraine and Russia's nuclear posture.

Analysts are questioning whether the wave of nuclear energy startups is good for the industry. The argument: dozens of small companies chasing advanced reactor designs may fragment funding, talent and regulatory attention, slowing the few projects capable of actually delivering. Critics counter that competition spurs innovation, but the concern is that too many unproven ventures could undermine confidence in nuclear power at a critical moment for its revival.

A new analysis traces the long history of civil nuclear cooperation between the United States and China, examining how the two countries have partnered on peaceful atomic energy even amid deep strategic rivalry. The piece explores what decades of shared nuclear technology and commerce reveal about the current state of the relationship and its future.

The International Atomic Energy Agency has issued its 369th regular update from Director General Rafael Grossi on the situation in Ukraine. The statement continues the agency's ongoing monitoring of nuclear safety and security at Ukrainian nuclear facilities since the start of the conflict, covering plant operations, staff safety and external power supply.

Solar power is outperforming what has long been considered nuclear energy's strongest advantage, according to a new analysis. The discussion argues that falling costs and rapid deployment are letting solar match or beat nuclear on its traditional selling points, such as reliable large-scale clean power. The comparison has drawn large audiences interested in how the two technologies stack up in the ongoing energy transition.

Discussion is focused on how soon small modular reactors could realistically be deployed. The debate centres on whether SMR technology is genuinely near commercial readiness or still years away, with questions about costs, regulatory approvals and construction timelines dominating the conversation as interest in nuclear power as a climate solution grows.

Wisconsin utility We Energies has reached an agreement to power an Oracle data center using nuclear energy. The deal reflects growing demand from technology companies for reliable, low-carbon electricity to run data centers, which are expanding rapidly due to artificial intelligence and cloud computing. Details of the agreement's terms and timeline have not been widely reported yet.

Russian President Vladimir Putin said Russia is fully aware that France and the United Kingdom are nuclear powers, but claimed that in terms of the weapons Russia possesses, it is unparalleled. The remarks, made in a recent statement, come amid ongoing tensions between Russia and Western European powers. Commenters are weighing the significance of the boast against Britain's and France's nuclear capabilities.

Reports are highlighting that Europe is moving ahead with plans to build what is described as the first real fusion power plant, a facility designed to generate electricity from nuclear fusion rather than just experimental energy gains. The project is drawing attention because fusion promises abundant clean power, and Europe's efforts are being framed as a potential milestone in bringing the technology from laboratories toward the grid.

Commentary is asking whether Amazon's push into custom chips and nuclear-powered data centre energy could change the narrative around its stock. The company's AWS unit faces soaring AI-driven computing demand, and investors are weighing whether in-house silicon and nuclear energy deals can cut costs and secure power. The debate centres on whether these moves will lift margins and growth enough to re-rate the shares.

The United States says it has reached a nuclear power agreement with Saudi Arabia. Details of the deal, including its scope, timeline and any conditions on enrichment or non-proliferation, were not immediately available. The announcement comes as Washington pursues broader economic and security arrangements with Riyadh, and as Gulf states seek civilian nuclear capacity to diversify energy sources.

Abbas Araghchi, Iran's veteran diplomat and foreign minister, is drawing renewed attention over his role in the country's nuclear diplomacy. Known for his long career negotiating on Iran's nuclear file, including the 2015 Iran nuclear deal, he is currently a central figure in Tehran's dealings with Western powers amid ongoing tensions over Iran's nuclear programme.