Enter Nuclear

• Europe is experiencing a "nuclear golden age" as countries like the UK, Belgium, Italy, and Switzerland revive or expand nuclear programs to meet the energy demands of the AI boom. • The UK has selected North Wales for its first Small Modular Reactor (SMR), supported by a £2.5 billion investment and the selection of Rolls-Royce SMR as a preferred technology partner in 2025. • This shift is marked by significant financial momentum, including $3 billion in announced deals and multibillion-pound international contracts for Rolls-Royce to build SMRs in Sweden.

• SoftBank plans to invest up to $87 billion to develop AI data centers in France, leveraging the country's robust nuclear energy grid. • The initial phase involves a $52 billion investment to establish 3.1 GW of capacity in the Hauts-de-France region by 2031. • This move highlights a growing global trend of AI infrastructure shifting toward regions with stable, low-carbon power, contrasting with energy shortages in the US.

The Iran conflict has entered a Cold War-like phase with financial sanctions and naval interdictions, leading to a tense stalemate. Higher energy prices are expected to persist, while the risk of escalation remains. President Trump is reportedly weighing new strikes against intensifying sanctions, aiming to force Iran into nuclear program negotiations.

Police say two people tried to enter Faslane base in Scotland, home to core of UK’s submarine fleet and Trident nuclear weaponsTwo people have been charged, one of them Iranian, after they allegedly tried to enter HM Naval Base Clyde in Scotland, which houses the UK’s nuclear Trident submarines.A 34-year-old man and a 31-year-old woman were charged after the incident at the base, which is known as Faslane. Police Scotland said inquiries were continuing and that the pair were due to appear at Dumbarton sheriff court on Monday. Continue reading...

• The Trump administration has granted Silicon Valley-based nuclear companies expedited pathways to test experimental reactor designs, with the DOE creating a new program and assigning concierge teams to help companies navigate bureaucracy. • About a dozen advanced reactor companies are currently planning to participate, with the administration targeting some reactors to achieve "critical" status—a key milestone toward functioning power plants—by July 2026. • The DOE quietly overhauled safety rules for new reactors and shared the revised regulations with companies before making them public, addressing long-standing complaints that companies lack opportunities to experiment.

Man and woman, one of whom is understood to be Iranian, held after asking to enter sensitive military siteTwo people have been arrested, one of whom is understood to be Iranian, after they tried to enter the Faslane nuclear submarine base in Scotland in what may have been an attempt at espionage.A man, 34, and a woman, 31, were detained by Police Scotland after they had asked to enter one of Britain’s most sensitive military sites late on Thursday afternoon. The base is home to the UK’s Trident submarines and not open to the public. Continue reading...