Center for Strategic Communication

Diplomats: Iran Starts Upgrade of Nuclear Site

The Associated Press

In a disheartening signal to world powers at upcoming Iran talks, Tehran has started installing high-tech machines at its main uranium enrichment site that are capable of accelerating production of reactor fuel and — with further upgrading — the core of nuclear warheads, diplomats said Wednesday.

U.N. report may show slower growth in Iran nuclear stockpile

Fredrik Dahl / Reuters

A U.N. nuclear watchdog report due this week is expected to show that growth of Iran’s stockpile of higher-grade enriched uranium has slowed as it is using some of the material to make reactor fuel, diplomats said on Wednesday.

Major powers to make “substantial and serious offer” to Iran

Myra MacDonald / Reuters

Marking a shift in the US military’s cyber strategy, the US Air Force plans to invest $10 million in short-term projects aimed at boosting the US’ ability “to destroy, deny, degrade, disrupt, deceive, corrupt, or usurp” enemies’ cyber capabilities.

South Korea faces quandary over potential human rights probe of North

Chico Harlan / The Washington Post

The United Nations’ human rights chief declared recently that the time had come for a “long overdue” investigation into what she called unparalleled rights abuses in North Korea. The probe, unprecedented in scope, could help establish whether the North’s leaders are committing crimes against humanity.

Finding the Date of VOA’s First Broadcast

Roxanne Bauer / Notebook

Dr. Walter Roberts, one of Voice of America’s early staff members (now in his mid-90s and still going strong) can recall the first broadcast in VOA’s history from New York City in 1942.

Future U.S. Fusion Research Should Keep Options Open, Report Concludes

Daniel Clery / Science

The United States should embark on a coordinated national research program into inertial confinement fusion—but only after researchers successfully demonstrate the scientific basis of the technology by creating a burning plasma in the laboratory, an expert panel assembled by the U.S. National Academies recommends in a report released today.

Deal Advances Development of a Smaller Nuclear Reactor

Matthew Wald / The New York Times

The Tennessee Valley Authority will pay Babcock & Wilcox, a nuclear equipment company, to complete extensive design work and apply for permission to build a “small modular reactor,” at a site in Oak Ridge, Tennessee.

 

On Our Flashpoint Blog

ASP Statement on National Academics Report: “An Assessment of the Prospects for Inertial Fusion Energy”

The American Security Project CEO, Brigadier General Stephen Cheney, USMC (Ret.) comments on the National Academies report assessing inertial fusion energy.

The Challenges of Adapting to Climate Change in South Asia

Kaitlyn Huppmann

A recent panel at the Woodrow Wilson Center
discussed what is needed to help strengthen South Asian communities against the impacts of climate change.

Nuke Review

Read about North Korea’s nuclear test, the upcoming Iran negotiations, U.S. nuclear policy, and much more!

This Week in Public Diplomacy

This Week in Public Diplomacy read about #Alhurra, #SOTU, #CulturalDiplomacy, #NorthKorea and more!

Lockheed Martin Outlines Plans for Nuclear Fusion Reactor

Theodore MacDonald

Lockheed Martin caused quite a stir in the nuclear energy industry as it announced plans to begin work on a nuclear fusion reactor.