VeriTainer

Arab States Demand Israeli Nuclear Transparency

August 8, 2010 – Tel Aviv, Israel. The United States and other Israeli partner states should press Jerusalem to permit U.N. scrutiny of its nuclear activities, the 22-nation Arab League told the world powers in a letter today. The letter, signed by Arab League head Amr Moussa, calls on world powers to endorse a draft resolution noting "concern" over Israeli nuclear activities and pressing the nation to join the Nuclear Nonproliferation Treaty and allow International Atomic Energy Agency audits. The Arab countries are expected to present the proposed resolution, titled "Israeli nuclear capabilities," at next month's IAEA General Conference meeting. The letter was submitted to top diplomatic officials in China, France, Russia the United Kingdom and the United States, said diplomats affiliated with the U.N. nuclear watchdog. An attached document requests that the Belgian Embassy in Egypt forward the letter to Belgian Foreign Minister Steven Vanackere, current president of the European Union.

Israel is the only Middle Eastern state believed to hold nuclear weapons, though it refuses to confirm or deny the existence of its atomic stockpile. Jerusalem has linked willingness to join the Nuclear Nonproliferation Treaty or to consider a nuclear weapon-free zone to success in the Middle East peace process. President Obama and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu last month indicated they would "work together to oppose efforts to single out Israel" at next month's IAEA meeting. "Any efforts to single out Israel will make the prospects of convening [a regional nuclear weapon-free] zone conference unlikely," the leaders added in a statement. The Arab League countered: “Singling out a state assumes that there are a number of states in the same position and only one state was singled out," the organization's letter states. "The fact is that all the states in the region have acceded to the NPT except Israel."

VERITAINER RECEIVES NOTICE OF GRANTED PATENT
ON FUNDAMENTAL CRANE-MOUNTED SCANNING IN INDONESIA

July 12, 2010 – Fremont, California. Silicon Valley based VeriTainer Corporation, the world leader in crane-mounted maritime security solutions, has received notice of granted patent from the Indonesian Directorate General of Intellectual Property Rights for the fundamental crane-mounted scanning patent for Indonesia.

Because Indonesia is surrounded by water, it relies heavily on maritime trade for economic stability, making it an influential entity in the maritime industry. This patent adds to an already impressive list of international patents obtained by VeriTainer, positioning the company as a dominating force in maritime nuclear detection technology.

“We are extremely pleased to have the fundamental CMS patent in a jurisdiction as important as Indonesia” said John Alioto, CEO of VeriTainer. “Along with Singapore, Taiwan and New Zealand, this marks the 4th international issuance of this patent VeriTainer has received. Office actions from around the globe indicate that VeriTainer will have the fundamental CMS patent in a great number of other key geographies,” Alioto continued.

Along with Indonesia, VeriTainer holds the fundamental CMS patent in Taiwan, New Zealand and Singapore. Two other key patents on VeriTainer’s technology, the Company’s 4th and 5th evolving out of VeriTainer’s Oakland trials in 2007 and 2008, were issued in the United States earlier this year. Those patents have also been filed internationally. Additionally, VeriTainer has several other unique innovations in its patent program pipeline.

“It has been a very strong 12 months for VeriTainer and our CMS technology”, Alioto added. “In addition to our numerous patent wins, we entered into a Cooperative Research and Development Agreement with Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory to optimize our CMS technology as we prepare to roll out globally.”

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About VeriTainer

VeriTainer Corporation is a venture-backed leader in crane-based radiation detection technology for scanning of shipping containers to ensure that the world's ports are free from nuclear terrorism. VeriTainer's patented technology enables scanning of 100 percent of shipping containers, addressing a principal vulnerability of the world's population centers and allowing for rapid scanning of containers entering and exiting ports without disrupting the flow of commerce.

VeriTainer Corporation:
Seth Jacobson (310) 317-1966 (seth@jcipr.com)
Lawrence Alioto (415) 339 2102 (lawrencealioto@veritainer.com )

Iran Wants "Clear View" of Israel's Nukes

July 6, 2010 – Tehran, Iran. Iran's top nuclear negotiator today said his nation is willing to join new nuclear negotiations as soon as September 1st if six world powers will meet its demands. Senior Iranian nuclear negotiator Saeed Jalili demanded that the powers provide a "clear view" on Israel's "nuclear arsenal." Israel is widely believed to possess the only nuclear stockpile in the Middle East, but Jerusalem has neither confirmed nor denied that assumption. Jalili told Germany and the five permanent Security Council members — China, France, Russia the United Kingdom and the United States — "Your response to the above questions can pave the way for forming talks to allay common global concerns for peace and justice with the presence of other interested countries from Sept. 1." He also asked the six powers to address whether new negotiations would entail "engagement and cooperation or continued confrontation and hostility towards Iranians." "Will you be committed to the logic of talks which calls for avoiding threats and pressure?" Jalili asked." The six nations have previously demanded that future talks focus exclusively on Iran's nuclear work.

Myanmar Begins a Nuclear Weapons Program

June 4, 2010 – Washington, D.C. The Global Security Newswire reports that there is new evidence that Myanmar, formerly known as Burma, has begun a nuclear weapons program. The military junta that rules Myanmar has started to covertly obtain the necessary equipment for building a nuclear arms program, according to a report that relied on photographs and documents smuggled out of the country by defector and ex- Burmese military officer Sai Thein Win. Win said he had traveled to sites involved with the nascent nuclear program and attended briefings where the nuclear technology was displayed. The documents demonstrate that the junta has started down the path of acquiring a nuclear weapons capability, a study of the situation by an independent nuclear expert and produced by the opposition group Democratic Voice of Burma found. The analysis concludes, though, that large amounts of missing Burmese nuclear knowledge show the nation has years to go before it could build a warhead, the Washington Post reported. The study found with "high confidence" that Myanmar was pursuing nuclear components and that "this technology is only for nuclear weapons and not for civilian use or nuclear power." "The intent is clear, and that is a very disturbing matter for international agreements," according to the report, which was co-written by Robert Kelley, a former ranking nuclear inspector with the International Atomic Energy Agency.

LAWRENCE LIVERMORE NATIONAL LAB AND VERITAINER CORP. SIGN COOPERATIVE RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT AGREEMENT

Agreement will lead to enhanced nuclear detection capabilities for ports

May 10, 2010 – Livermore, California. Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory (LLNL) and VeriTainer Corporation have entered into a Cooperative Research and Development Agreement (CRADA). The CRADA will be used to refine and enhance VeriTainer's patented crane mounted scanning (CMS) technology.

The CRADA will be in place for three-and-a-half years and require approximately $4 million in funding. LLNL will work in cooperation with VeriTainer's scientists and engineers to enhance both gamma and neutron sensitivity, while maintaining the capabilities of VeriTainer's CMS. The system has been operated for the past four years in field tests run at three ports and in five different terminals.

"This agreement with an entity as accomplished and respected as Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory is obviously a big step forward for our firm, the CMS technology and the overall security of the global supply chain," said John Alioto, CEO of VeriTainer. "Together, we will optimize the existing technology and continue to develop the overall CMS solution."

Steven Kreek, the leader of LLNL's Nuclear Detection and Countermeasures Research Program, stated that under the CRADA the Laboratory will use its expertise not only to optimize the sensitivity of the CMS, but also to leverage the platform to deliver an effective counterterrorism system.

"This technology occupies a unique security niche in that it will be used to scan cargo that is passed between ships, known as transshipment, that doesn't actually enter a country until reaching its final destination. This technology will help ensure that cargo containers are not used for transporting radiological or nuclear threats," Kreek added.

Founded in 1952, Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory is a national security laboratory that develops science and engineering technology and provides innovative solutions to our nation's most important challenges. Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory is managed by Lawrence Livermore National Security, LLC for the U.S. Department of Energy's National Nuclear Security Administration.

Obama: "Nuclear Terrorism Is 'The Single Biggest Threat'"

April 11, 2010 – Washington, D.C. On the eve of the Global Nuclear Summit, a Washington, D.C. conference attended by the leaders of nearly 50 nations, President Obama declared that nuclear terrorism is the "single biggest threat" to world peace and stability. "If there was ever a detonation in New York City, or London, or Johannesburg, the ramifications economically, politically and from a security perspective would be devastating," Obama said. Al-Qaeda and other terrorist organizations are seeking a nuclear device, "a weapon of mass destruction that they have no compunction at using." Obama is seeking global cooperation on isolating non-secure nuclear materials that could be used to make a weapon. According to a White House press release, "The Summit would allow discussion on the nature of the threat and develop steps that can be taken together to secure vulnerable materials, combat nuclear smuggling and deter, detect and disrupt attempts at nuclear terrorism."