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ASP: In case you missed it ….31 January 2013
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Iran ‘plans to upgrade enrichment equipment’
BBC
Iran has told the UN nuclear agency it plans to upgrade uranium enrichment centrifuges at its Natanz plant, reports citing diplomats say.
Egypt politicians renounce violence at crisis talks
Reuters
Egypt’s feuding politicians renounced violence on Thursday after being summoned by the country’s most influential Muslim scholar to talks to end the deadliest unrest since President Mohamed Mursi took power.
Iran is Said to Be Set to Accelerate Uranium Enrichment
Alan Cowell, New York Times
Iran has told the United Nations nuclear supervisory body that it plans to install more sophisticated equipment at its principal nuclear enrichment plant, a diplomat said on Thursday, enabling it to greatly accelerate its processing of uranium in a move likely to alarm the United States, Israel and the West
Nuclear Test Could Open Window on North Korea
David Sanger and William Broad, New York Times
The world is warning North Korea against going ahead with its third nuclear test, but inside the American intelligence community, some officials are quietly hoping it happens. A test could give them their first real view in years into whether the North has made significant progress toward a weapon that could threaten the United States or its allies.
New Mileage Standards Would Double Fuel Efficiency
Tom Krisher and Matthew Daly / Associated Press
The Obama administration is set to announce new regulations that would force the average gas mileage of new cars and trucks to nearly double in the next 13 years.
Beijing Takes Steps to Fight Pollution as Problem Worsens
Edward Wong / The New York Times
Due to epic smog in the Chinese capital, the government is taking measures to reduce smog, including temporarily shutting down more than 100 factories and ordering one-third of government vehicles off the streets, according to official news reports.
Westinghouse CEO Expects Japan to Restart Most Nuclear Reactors
Ladka Bauerova / Bloomberg
Westinghouse CEO expects Japan to restart most of its nuclear reactors within “several years” after taking steps to improve safety.
Russia concern at Israeli ‘air strike’ on Syria
BBC
Russia has expressed concern at an alleged Israeli attack on Syria, saying such a strike would be an unacceptable violation of the UN Charter.
Mali militants in disarray’ after French air strikes
BBC
Three weeks of French targeted air strikes in northern Mali have left Islamist militants “in disarray”, France’s defence minister has said.
ASP Recently Published Reports
WHITE PAPER: Advanced Biofuels and National Security
Andrew Holland
ASP’s White Paper report, “Advanced Biofuels and National Security” builds on ASP’s long history of demonstrating the importance of reducing oil use for national security and highlighting the work of the Department of Defense in promoting alternative fuels.
On Our Flashpoint Blog
New Report Outlines Climate Threat to Coastal Communities
Danielle Parillo
U.S. Global Change Research Program released a new study on Jan. 28th examing the dangers coastal communities will continue to face due to climate change.
Event Review: Energy Innovation 2013
Theodore MacDonald
On January 29 the Information Technology and Innovative Foundation, along with the Breakthrough Institute, hosted an event entitled Energy Innovation 2013. The purpose of the event was to present the current state of clean energy technology and to discuss the policies that need to be implemented in order to move these technologies forward.
Brazil Advances Efforts to Strengthen International Brand
Lívia Pontes Fialho
For some time now, Brazil has been enjoying a wave of good publicity across the globe. Seen as one of the next major economic players, its economic and social advances have made it a popular discussion topic in the media.
Fiona Cotton
This Week in Public Diplomacy read about #SoftPower, #Afghanistan, #Korea, #OpenBookProject, #Gastrodiplomacy, #SecretaryClinton, #StateDept, #ArtDiplomacy, and more!
About the American Security Project: The American Security Project is a non-profit, non-partisan public policy and research organization dedicated to fostering knowledge and understanding of a range of national security issues, promoting debate about the appropriate use of American power, and cultivating strategic responses to 21st century challenges.
For more information, visit www.americansecurityproject.org. info@americansecurityproject.org
