Iran and U.S. Agree on Path Back to Nuclear Deal
Steven Erlanger | New York Times
The United States and Iran agreed through intermediaries on Tuesday to establish two working groups to try to get both countries back into compliance with the 2015 Iran nuclear deal. In a meeting of the current members of the deal in Vienna, all parties agreed to establish one working group to focus on how to get the United States back to the deal by lifting harsh economic sanctions imposed or reimposed after President Donald J. Trump pulled out of the accord in May 2018. The other working group will focus on how to get Iran back into compliance with the accord’s limitations on nuclear enrichment and stockpiles of enriched uranium. The two groups have already begun their efforts, according to Mikhail Ulyanov, the Russian representative who is ambassador to international organizations in Vienna.
South Korea Talks With China, Japan, and U.S. in Flurry of Diplomacy
Mitch Shin | The Diplomat
After North Korea launched both ballistic missiles and short-range cruise missiles, South Korea held high-level meetings with officials from China, Japan, and the United States. Seoul’s National Security Chief Suh Hoon was at the U.S. Naval Academy near Washington, D.C. on April 2 to discuss North Korea issues with his Japanese and U.S. counterparts. The meeting was held after North Korea tested missiles in violation of United Nations Security Council resolutions.
Satellite Images Show Huge Russian Military Buildup in the Arctic
Nick Paton Walsh | CNN
Russia is amassing unprecedented military might in the Arctic and testing its newest weapons in a region freshly ice-free due to the climate emergency, in a bid to secure its northern coast and open up a key shipping route from Asia to Europe. Weapons experts and Western officials have expressed particular concern about one Russian ‘super-weapon,’ the Poseidon 2M39 torpedo. Development of the torpedo is moving fast with Russian President Vladimir Putin requesting an update on a “key stage” of the tests in February from his defense minister Sergei Shoigu, with further tests planned this year, according to multiple reports in state media.
First Flight Test for U.S. Air Force’s Air-Launched Hypersonic Booster Didn’t Go as Planned
Valerie Insinna | Defense News
The first rocket booster test of the U.S. Air Force’s hypersonic AGM-183A Air-launched Rapid Response Weapon failed when the vehicle did not launch during an April 5 flight. During tests over Point Mugu Sea Range off the coast of California, a B-52 Stratofortress bomber attempted to launch the ARRW booster vehicle. However, “the test missile was not able to complete its launch sequence” and the bomber returned to Edwards Air Force Base, California, with the test vehicle, the Air Force said in a statement. The service plans to study the missile to understand why it didn’t launch, then make alterations and attempt to fire it in a future test, the service said.
UAE's First Nuclear Power Plant Begins Commercial Operations
Reuters
The United Arab Emirates’ first nuclear power plant started commercial operations on Tuesday, the Gulf Arab state’s leaders announced on Twitter. The Barakah nuclear power plant in the Abu Dhabi emirate is the first nuclear power station in the Arab world and part of the oil producing state’s efforts to diversify its energy mix. “The first megawatt from the first Arab nuclear plant has entered the national power grid,” Vice President Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid al-Maktoum said on Twitter.
White House Wants Nuclear in Clean Energy Mandate, McCarthy Says
Ari Natter | Bloomberg
Nuclear energy should be one of the power sources eligible for a national clean energy mandate sought by the White House as part of its infrastructure plan, presidential climate adviser Gina McCarthy told reporters. McCarthy’s remarks on Thursday came amid concern about the carbon-free fuel source from progressives and some environmentalists who have qualms about radioactive waste and uranium mining for reactor fuel.