On April 5th in Prague, Mr Obama reiterated a campaign promise to hold talks with Russia to reduce both American and Russian nuclear stockpiles, to push for a global nuclear test ban and to set up an international nuclear fuel bank to help with peaceful nuclear-energy programmes.

ECONOMIST: Barack Obama's foreign policy

In 2009 President Nursultan Nazarbayev offered to host a nuclear fuel bank under the International Atomic Energy Agency's jurisdiction.

BBC: Banking on nuclear peace in Kazakhstan

And with your Nuclear Threat Initiative, you helped us ratify the New START treaty, rally the world to secure nuclear materials, strengthen the global nonproliferation regime, and create an international fuel bank for peaceful nuclear power.

WHITEHOUSE: The White House

The intelligence Armitage shared with Musharraf, officials say, included details of Khan's overseas travel, meetings with intermediaries, nuclear technology transfers and bank accounts.

CNN: CIA 'sparked Pakistan nuke probe'

But President Kuchma is also due to discuss how to secure funding to complete the controversial construction of two new nuclear reactors when he meets the World Bank officials.

BBC: Chernobyl still haunts hill farms

Finally, to ensure the peaceful use of nuclear energy, the United States seeks a new framework for civil nuclear cooperation among nations, including an international fuel bank and the necessary resources and authority to strengthen the International Atomic Energy Agency.

WHITEHOUSE: The White House

Israel and Egypt are the biggest recipients of U.S. aid in the package, which provides funds for multinational organizations like the World Bank and a raft of overseas policy initiatives from nuclear nonproliferation to family planning.

CNN: Clinton to sign bill reducing Third World debt

Mike Fitzpatrick, vice president of energy at MF Global, attributed the sell-off to a series of rumors, including the liquidation by a large bank, a cap on commodities, and Iran making a nuclear deal.

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