TOPIC

International Atomic Energy Agency

The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA): A prominent Vienna, Austria-based intergovernmental organisation within the United Nations system, the IAEA is dedicated to promoting the peaceful use of nuclear energy and preventing its diversion for military purposes. Its main areas of focus include implementing safeguards, fostering nuclear safety and security standards, and providing technical cooperation for peaceful applications in areas like medicine, agriculture, and energy. Recognised for its crucial role in global non-proliferation efforts, the IAEA was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 2005.

An unarmed US Minuteman III missile inside a silo. The US and Russia hold nearly 90 per cent of nuclear weapons globally. Photo: 90th Missile Wing

United Nations

Landmark UN nuclear summit opens as world’s warhead count grows

UN chief urges world to ‘breathe life’ into a landmark non-proliferation treaty as nations gather in New York.

28 Apr 2026 - 12:35PM

Ukraine war

Strikes in Ukraine and Russia kill at least 16 on Chernobyl disaster anniversary

27 Apr 2026 - 10:15AM

European Union

Ukrainians gather to remember Chernobyl disaster despite Russia’s war

26 Apr 2026 - 6:44PMvideocam

South Korea

Will South Korea or Japan develop a nuclear deterrent of their own?

Seven in 10 South Koreans tell pollsters they want the bomb. Japan’s PM refuses to rule it out. Is ‘friendly proliferation’ next?

26 Apr 2026 - 8:00AMvideocam

An nuclear-capable Minuteman III ICBM sits inside a silo at an air force base in the US last year. Photo: US Air Force/Handout

North Korea

North Korea launches ballistic missile as UN warns of nuclear advances

The two short-range missiles fired from the Sinpo of North Korea flew about 140 kilometres (87 miles) each towards the country’s eastern waters.

19 Apr 2026 - 9:54PM

North Korea

UN watchdog warns North Korea is boosting nuclear weapons capacity

IAEA chief Rafael Grossi confirms a rapid rise in activity at North Korea’s Yongbyon nuclear complex.

15 Apr 2026 - 9:15PM

China’s military drills

PLA troops facing Taiwan Strait and Japan simulate response to nuclear attack

Eastern Theatre Command, which has several nuclear power plants within its geographic coverage, holds decontamination drill.

8 Apr 2026 - 7:00PMvideocam

An Eastern Theatre Command exercise has tested responses to a nuclear contamination incident. Photo: CCTV

US, Israel war on Iran

1 dead in strike near Iran’s Bushehr nuclear plant: IAEA

It is the fourth such incident in recent weeks involving Bushehr, which is closer to Kuwait, Bahrain and Qatar than it is to Iran’s capital.

4 Apr 2026 - 10:26PMvideocam

US, Israel war on Iran

Mystery projectile hits Iran nuclear power complex, highlighting war risks

IAEA chief renews calls for restraint as incident raises specter of a radiological disaster.

18 Mar 2026 - 6:09PM

US, Israel war on Iran

Iran damage report: who and what has been targeted in US-Israel strikes?

The US says it has hit more than 2,000 targets in less than a week, while Israel says it has hit hundreds of sites across the country.

6 Mar 2026 - 10:36AM

A capsized ship at the Konarak Naval Base in Iran. Photo: Vantor via Reuters

Middle East

Trump says ‘not happy’ with Iran talks, US staff leave Israel over war risks

Other countries, including China, Germany and the UK, have issued warnings or relocated their citizens.

28 Feb 2026 - 5:07AM

The USS Gerald R. Ford aircraft carrier leaves Souda Bay on the island of Crete on Thursday. Photo: AFP

Middle East

US and Iran wrap up talks without a deal as war risks persist

Oman’s mediator cites ‘significant progress’ in Geneva, but a massive US naval build-up keeps the Middle East on edge.

27 Feb 2026 - 4:24PM

US-Iran tensions

Iran’s foreign minister in Geneva for second round of talks with US

Talks will centre on Iran’s controversial nuclear programme, as the US deploys a second aircraft carrier to the region.

16 Feb 2026 - 2:42PM

Middle East

Iran’s revolution anniversary marred by protests, nuclear tensions

Iran’s 47th Revolution anniversary sees pro-regime rallies amid public anger over crackdowns and heightened US nuclear tensions.

11 Feb 2026 - 7:30PMvideocam

Iranians take part in celebrations of the 47th anniversary of the Islamic Revolution in Tehran on Wednesday. Photo: EPA

Vietnam

Opinion | Vietnam’s renewed nuclear power push faces formidable hurdles

Money, corruption, a lack of skilled staff and other factors may derail Hanoi’s goal of building its first nuclear power plant by 2031.

8 Feb 2026 - 11:30AM

A nuclear power plant operating at night. Russia’s state-owned energy company Rosatom has been contracted to build Vietnam’s first nuclear power plant. Photo: Shutterstock

Middle East

US ‘armada’ heading towards Iran as tensions remain high

USS Abraham Lincoln and other warships move from the Asia-Pacific even as Iran protests seem to dwindle.

23 Jan 2026 - 6:00PM

Ukraine war

Inside Chernobyl: Ukraine races to repair radiation shield as war drags on

While engineers scramble to patch drone damage at Chernobyl, Ukraine’s president holds ‘substantive’ talks with US envoys.

26 Dec 2025 - 2:32PM

Ukraine war

Chernobyl safety shield damaged, UN confirms. Ukraine blames Russian drones

Despite the loss of ‘confinement capability’ at the notorious nuclear plant, IAEA officials report no radiation leaks.

6 Dec 2025 - 10:45AMvideocam

The damaged safety shield at the Chernobyl nuclear plant is seen in February. Photo: Ukrainian Emergency Service/AP

China-France relations

China and France agree to work together on nuclear issues as Macron visit ends

The two sides express support for non-proliferation and efforts to bring about peace in Ukraine and Gaza.

5 Dec 2025 - 10:06PM

Ukraine war

Ukraine faces blackout crisis after Russian missile barrage on power grids

State utility firm Centrenergo said the attacks brought the country’s capacity to generate power to ‘zero’.

9 Nov 2025 - 5:29PMvideocam

Singapore

Atomic ambitions: Singapore eyes the nuclear option for a net-zero future

The city state has released a paper on nuclear energy covering new reactor technology and high-profile accidents.

1 Nov 2025 - 12:39PMvideocam

Cooling towers of a nuclear power plant. Photo: Getty Images

South Korea

Doubts surface over Trump’s South Korea nuclear submarine plan

Construction of the US-built submarines is likely to run into cost and feasibility issues and nuclear proliferation worries, experts say.

30 Oct 2025 - 4:50PMvideocam

The first of South Korea’s Changbogo-III Batch-II class submersibles is unveiled at the Hanwha Ocean dockyard in Geoje, South Korea, on October 22. Photo: Yonhap/EPA

Middle East

Iran says no longer bound by ‘restrictions’ on nuclear programme as deal ends

The 2015 deal signed with world powers began to fall apart years ago after the US unilaterally withdrew and reinstated sanctions.

18 Oct 2025 - 5:15PMvideocam

Middle East

Iran puts nuclear talks on hold as European sanctions bite

Tehran is refusing talks ‘at this stage’ as it examines the implications of the reimposed sanctions via the UN snapback mechanism.

6 Oct 2025 - 7:43PM

Indonesia

Indonesia races to contain fallout from radiation scare over food exports

Measures including health checks and tightened port inspections have been rolled out to reassure buyers Indonesian exports remain safe.

2 Oct 2025 - 5:23PMvideocam

A truck drives near stacks of containers at Tanjung Priok Port in Jakarta, Indonesia, in February. Photo: Reuters

Ukraine war

Ukraine warns of critical situation at Zaporizhzhia nuclear plant

President Zelensky says Russian shelling is preventing the restoration of power needed to cool the reactors and prevent a meltdown.

1 Oct 2025 - 4:00PM

A Russian service member stands guard at a checkpoint near the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant in June 2023. Photo: Reuters

Middle East

Iran braced for UN ‘snapback’ sanctions amid food pressures, war concerns

Iranians struggling with economic hardship say the country has never faced such a challenging time.

27 Sep 2025 - 8:08PMvideocam

Middle East

UN Security Council rejects China and Russia’s bid to delay Iran sanctions

European leaders have triggered a ‘snapback’ mechanism after failing to reach a deal on Tehran’s nuclear programme following weeks of talks.

27 Sep 2025 - 4:55AMvideocam

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International Atomic Energy Agency

Landmark UN nuclear summit opens as world’s warhead count grows

UN chief urges world to ‘breathe life’ into a landmark non-proliferation treaty as nations gather in New York.

Strikes in Ukraine and Russia kill at least 16 on Chernobyl disaster anniversary

Ukrainians gather to remember Chernobyl disaster despite Russia’s war

Will South Korea or Japan develop a nuclear deterrent of their own?

Seven in 10 South Koreans tell pollsters they want the bomb. Japan’s PM refuses to rule it out. Is ‘friendly proliferation’ next?

North Korea launches ballistic missile as UN warns of nuclear advances

The two short-range missiles fired from the Sinpo of North Korea flew about 140 kilometres (87 miles) each towards the country’s eastern waters.

UN watchdog warns North Korea is boosting nuclear weapons capacity

IAEA chief Rafael Grossi confirms a rapid rise in activity at North Korea’s Yongbyon nuclear complex.

PLA troops facing Taiwan Strait and Japan simulate response to nuclear attack

Eastern Theatre Command, which has several nuclear power plants within its geographic coverage, holds decontamination drill.

1 dead in strike near Iran’s Bushehr nuclear plant: IAEA

It is the fourth such incident in recent weeks involving Bushehr, which is closer to Kuwait, Bahrain and Qatar than it is to Iran’s capital.

Mystery projectile hits Iran nuclear power complex, highlighting war risks

IAEA chief renews calls for restraint as incident raises specter of a radiological disaster.

Iran damage report: who and what has been targeted in US-Israel strikes?

The US says it has hit more than 2,000 targets in less than a week, while Israel says it has hit hundreds of sites across the country.

Trump says ‘not happy’ with Iran talks, US staff leave Israel over war risks

Other countries, including China, Germany and the UK, have issued warnings or relocated their citizens.

US and Iran wrap up talks without a deal as war risks persist

Oman’s mediator cites ‘significant progress’ in Geneva, but a massive US naval build-up keeps the Middle East on edge.

Iran’s foreign minister in Geneva for second round of talks with US

Talks will centre on Iran’s controversial nuclear programme, as the US deploys a second aircraft carrier to the region.

Iran’s revolution anniversary marred by protests, nuclear tensions

Iran’s 47th Revolution anniversary sees pro-regime rallies amid public anger over crackdowns and heightened US nuclear tensions.

.css-1pcrwvc{color:#2aa191;}Opinion | Vietnam’s renewed nuclear power push faces formidable hurdles

Money, corruption, a lack of skilled staff and other factors may derail Hanoi’s goal of building its first nuclear power plant by 2031.

US ‘armada’ heading towards Iran as tensions remain high

USS Abraham Lincoln and other warships move from the Asia-Pacific even as Iran protests seem to dwindle.

Inside Chernobyl: Ukraine races to repair radiation shield as war drags on

While engineers scramble to patch drone damage at Chernobyl, Ukraine’s president holds ‘substantive’ talks with US envoys.

Chernobyl safety shield damaged, UN confirms. Ukraine blames Russian drones

Despite the loss of ‘confinement capability’ at the notorious nuclear plant, IAEA officials report no radiation leaks.

China and France agree to work together on nuclear issues as Macron visit ends

The two sides express support for non-proliferation and efforts to bring about peace in Ukraine and Gaza.

Ukraine faces blackout crisis after Russian missile barrage on power grids

State utility firm Centrenergo said the attacks brought the country’s capacity to generate power to ‘zero’.

Atomic ambitions: Singapore eyes the nuclear option for a net-zero future

The city state has released a paper on nuclear energy covering new reactor technology and high-profile accidents.

Doubts surface over Trump’s South Korea nuclear submarine plan

Construction of the US-built submarines is likely to run into cost and feasibility issues and nuclear proliferation worries, experts say.

Iran says no longer bound by ‘restrictions’ on nuclear programme as deal ends

The 2015 deal signed with world powers began to fall apart years ago after the US unilaterally withdrew and reinstated sanctions.

Iran puts nuclear talks on hold as European sanctions bite

Tehran is refusing talks ‘at this stage’ as it examines the implications of the reimposed sanctions via the UN snapback mechanism.

Indonesia races to contain fallout from radiation scare over food exports

Measures including health checks and tightened port inspections have been rolled out to reassure buyers Indonesian exports remain safe.

Ukraine warns of critical situation at Zaporizhzhia nuclear plant

President Zelensky says Russian shelling is preventing the restoration of power needed to cool the reactors and prevent a meltdown.

Iran braced for UN ‘snapback’ sanctions amid food pressures, war concerns

Iranians struggling with economic hardship say the country has never faced such a challenging time.

UN Security Council rejects China and Russia’s bid to delay Iran sanctions

European leaders have triggered a ‘snapback’ mechanism after failing to reach a deal on Tehran’s nuclear programme following weeks of talks.

Opinion | Vietnam’s renewed nuclear power push faces formidable hurdles