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Britain says Rowhani should not doubt West's nuclear resolve

Britain on Monday warned newly-elected Iranian president Hassan Rowhani that he should be in no doubt about the West's resolve to prevent nuclear proliferation in the Middle East. Foreign Secretary William Hague told parliament he hoped Tehran would now "engage seriously" with the West on its disputed nuclear programme. Rowhani on Monday ruled out any halt to the nuclear activity that has drawn UN sanctions but said he hoped an early deal could be reached to allay the concerns of major powers.

Britain urges Iran to negotiate nuclear settlement

LONDON (Reuters) - Britain said on Monday it hoped the new Iranian government would make efforts to reach a negotiated settlement on its nuclear program following the election of Hassan Rohani. British foreign secretary William Hague said efforts to reach a settlement would be met "in good faith" by Britain, adding that Iran should not doubt British resolve to prevent nuclear proliferation. (Reporting by William James; Editing by Michael Roddy)

US says N. Korea talks must be 'real'

The United States on Sunday welcomed North Korea's proposal for high-level negotiations but said it must first curb its nuclear program and would not be able to talk its way out of global sanctions. White House Chief of Staff Denis McDonough said negotiations have always been the administration's "preferred outcome" but that such talks would have to be "real" and "based on them living up to their obligations."

Abe, E. Europe leaders agree to deepen nuclear cooperation

Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe and his counterparts from Poland, the Czech Republic, Hungary and Slovakia agreed in Warsaw on Sunday to deepen cooperation in the field of energy, including nuclear power and renewables. In a statement issued after the first-ever summit between Japan and the so-called Visegrad Group of Eastern European nations, they also agreed to strengthen national security ties by holding a seminar, possibly by year-end, and confirmed the significance of holding regular talks at the leadership and foreign ministerial levels.

N. Korea proposes high-level talks with US

North Korea on Sunday proposed high-level talks with the US on denuclearisation and easing tensions on the Korean peninsula, just days after it abruptly cancelled a rare meeting with the South. Tension has been high on the peninsula since the North's third nuclear test in February that triggered new UN sanctions which ignited an angry response from Pyongyang, including threats of nuclear attacks on Seoul and Washington.

N. Korea proposes high-level talks with US: state media

North Korea has proposed high-level talks with the US aimed at discussing nuclear weapons programmes and easing of tension on the peninsula, state media said Sunday. "We propose high-level talks between the North and the US to secure peace and stability in the region and ease tension on the Korean peninsula," the North's powerful National Defense Commission said in a statement carried by the Korean Central News Agency.

Russia's Putin says Iran nuclear push is peaceful

MOSCOW (Reuters) - Russian President Vladimir Putin said on Tuesday he has no doubt that Iran is adhering to international commitments on nuclear non-proliferation but regional and international concerns about Tehran's nuclear program could not be ignored. Putin, whose country is among six world powers seeking to ensure that Iran does not seek to develop nuclear weapons, also said Iranian threats to Israel's existence were unacceptable.

U.S., China say leaders agree North Korea must shed nuclear weapons

RANCHO MIRAGE, California (Reuters) - U.S. President Barack Obama and his Chinese counterpart, Xi Jinping, called on North Korea to get rid of its nuclear weapons and agreed not to recognize the North as a nuclear-armed state, Obama's national security adviser said on Saturday.

Nagasaki to slam gov't for not backing statement against nuke weapon use

The Nagasaki city government will condemn the central government in its annual ceremony in August for not joining a group of countries endorsing a statement against the use of nuclear weapons, its draft message said Saturday. In the message to be read Aug. 9 for the 68th anniversary of the 1945 atomic bombing of the city, Mayor Tomihisa Taue will say Tokyo's stance "even looked as if it was justifying the use of nuclear weapons," according to the draft.

China, India, Pakistan boost nuclear arsenals

Three of the world's nuclear powers -- China, India and Pakistan -- have increased their nuclear arsenals over the past year, the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute said Monday. China now has 250 nuclear warheads against 240 in 2012; Pakistan has increased its warheads by about 10 to between 100 and 120; and India has also added roughly 10 for a total of 90 to 110, SIPRI said in its annual report.
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