Center for Strategic Communication

U.S. leads in foreign military sales

UPI

More than 75 percent of the legitimate international weapons trade came from U.S. military sales, largely to Persian Gulf allies, a report says.

Saudi Arabia claims to foil ‘al-Qaeda’ plot

AFP in Al Jazeera

Officials in Saudi Arabia have reportedly foiled a plot by “elements suspected of links to al-Qaeda.”  The plot was seeking to attacks security forces, citizens, and “public installations.”

Officials: Senior Pakistani Taliban leader killed in strike in Afghanistan

CNN

A senior Pakistani Taliban leader was killed in a NATO airstrike in Afghanistan’s volatile northern Kunar province, the NATO-led coalition said Saturday.

Iran might let diplomats visit suspected nuclear site

Reuters

Iran indicated on Monday it might allow diplomats visiting Tehran for this week’s Non-Aligned Movement (NAM) summit to inspect the Parchin military base, which U.N. nuclear experts say may have been used for nuclear-related explosives tests.

North Korea and Japan to hold first talks in four years

The Telegraph

North Korea and Japan this week hold their first direct talks in four years with attention focused on whether they can show progress in overcoming deep-rooted suspicions that have hamstrung ties.

Rebels kill 24 South Sudan soldiers, army says

Reuters

Rebels killed at least 24 soldiers when they ambushed a South Sudanese army convoy, a military spokesman said on Monday, in the latest outbreak of violence in restive Jonglei state.

Nigeria: Presidency – Talks With Boko Haram Are Indirect

Abdul-Rahman Abubakar/Daily Trust in AllAfrica

Amid reports that the government is engaged in dialogue with Boko Haram, Nigeria’s presidential spokesman has insisted that ongoing discussions are indirect and being conducted through “back channels.”

Disgraced Pakistani nuclear scientist A. Q. Kahn floats political outfit

Press Times of India

Disgraced Pakistani nuclear scientist A. Q. Kahn has floated a political forum ‘Tehrik-e-Tahaffuz Pakistan’ and said he plans to launch a countrywide youth awakening programme ahead of upcoming general election.

Energy companies evacuate oil rigs as Tropical Storm Isaac approaches Gulf

Associated Press

Oil companies scrambled out of the path of Tropical Storm Isaac, withdrawing offshore workers and cutting oil and gas production in the Gulf of Mexico. By mid-day Sunday, the U.S. government said that daily oil production in the Gulf was down 24 percent and natural gas production was off 8 percent.

China’s legislature to amend law for environmental protection

Xinhua.net

The Standing Committee of the National People’s Congress (NPC) Monday started its first reading of a draft amendment to the Environmental Protection Law. The draft highlights the government’s responsibility and liability in environmental protection as well as the improvement of environmental management regulations.

 

On Our Flashpoint Blog

 

U.S. Has Potential for 80% Renewables by 2050

Nicholas Cunningham 

A June report from the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) estimated that renewable energy could provide 80% of the nation’s electricity demand by 2050 (Check out this really cool animated map that shows how our electricity mix changes over time under this scenario).

Bipartisan Bill Pushes Supercomputers Forward

Nicholas Cunningham 

An ongoing issue of importance to ASP is the advancement of next generation science and technology. One of the advancements that underlies the great leaps in science over the past 50 years is advancements in computing power. The fact that washing machines today have more computing power than the Apollo 11 rocket to the moon shows the great advancements in this area.

 

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