Fuzzy Math on Indian Nuclear Weapons
Elizabeth Whitfield | Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists
How many nuclear weapons can India make with its existing fissile material stockpile? Recently, two different sources have produced wildly divergent estimates. In September 2015, the Pakistani newspaper Dawn reported that India possessed “enough fissile material … for more than 2,000 warheads.” In contrast, a report released by the Institute for Science and International Security (ISIS) in November 2015 concluded that India’s stockpile of fissile material was only sufficient to make approximately 100 nuclear weapons. What accounts for the order-of-magnitude difference between these estimates?
After Missile Failure, Higher Possibility of North Korea Nuclear Test
Jack Kim and David Brunnstrom | Reuters
The likelihood of North Korea conducting a fifth nuclear test, possibly within weeks, has increased because of a failed missile launch on Friday that was an embarrassing setback for leader Kim Jong Un, South Korean officials and international experts said. North Korea holds a ruling Workers Party congress in early May, at which Kim is likely to trumpet his achievements in building up Pyongyang's weapons prowess. South Korean officials and experts say he will be keen to go into the congress with a show of strength, and not a failed rocket launch.
U.S. Ratchets Up Cyber Attacks on ISIS
Shane Harris and Nancy A. Youssef | Daily Beast
President Obama confirmed for the first time last week that the U.S. is conducting “cyber operations” against ISIS, in order to disrupt the group’s “command-and-control and communications.” But the American military’s campaign of cyber attacks against ISIS is far more serious than what the president laid out in his bland description. Three U.S. officials told The Daily Beast that those operations have moved beyond mere disruption and are entering a new, more aggressive phase that is targeted at individuals and is gleaning intelligence that could help capture and kill more ISIS fighters.
Indian Navy Goes Nuclear: Country's First Nuke Sub Undergoing Sea Tests
Sputnik
India's first indigenous armed nuclear submarine, INS Arihant, is undergoing sea acceptance trials and will be inducted into the Indian Navy after that. Arihant is the country's first indigenous nuclear-powered ballistic submarine and the lead ship of India's newest Arihant class submarines. It was built under the Advanced Technology Vessel Project at the Ship Building Centre in Visakhapatnam, one of 13 major ports in India. Consultancy for this project was provided by Russia.
Iran Has Seen Only $3 Bn Returned Since Nuke Deal: Kerry
Agence France Presse
Iran has so far seen only around $3 billion in previously frozen assets returned since it struck a nuclear deal with world powers, US Secretary of State John Kerry said. The extent to which Tehran stands to gain from the agreement to place its nuclear program under tight controls has been a matter of fierce debate since Iran signed the accord last year. In the United States, Republican opponents of the deal have alleged that it will allow Iran to get its hands on more than $100 billion with which it could fund "terrorism" against American allies.
Russia, Jordan to Cooperate on Nuclear Regulation
World Nuclear News
Russia's nuclear regulator and Jordan's Energy and Minerals Regulatory Commission (EMRC) recently signed an agreement to cooperate in the field of nuclear and radiation safety regulation. The agreement was signed through correspondence, with EMRC chairman Farouq Al-Hyari signing the document in Amman on 30 March and Alexey Aleshin - chairman of Russia's Federal Environmental, Industrial and Nuclear Supervision Service (Rostechnadzor) - signing it in Moscow on 6 April.