Top News Pantex moves closer to ‘rate production’ of sub-launched warhead Exchange Monitor OPINION: China has no reason to make a deal on nuclear weapons Bloomberg Russia slams US arguments for low-yield nukes Associated Press United States Pantex moves closer to ‘rate production’ of sub-launched warhead Exchange Monitor4/29/20 The National Nuclear Security Administration’s (NNSA) Pantex Plant in Texas said Monday it assembled the “first production capability unit” of the W88 Alt-370 submarine-launched nuclear warhead. The Space Force’s next missile warning satellite is one step closer to a 2021 launch C4IRS4/29/20 With thermal vacuum testing having begun April 16, the next space-based missile warning satellite has reached a major milestone, the Space and Missile Systems Center announced April 24. ANALYSIS: Trump fixates on China as nuclear arms pact nears expiration Foreign PolicyRobbie Gramer, Jack Detsch 4/29/20 The administration insists any future START treaty has to include Beijing as well as Moscow, but experts say there is almost no chance China will agree. OPINION: How many intensive care beds will a nuclear weapon explosion require? Bulletin of Atomic ScientistsTom Sauer, Ramesh Thakur 4/28/20 A novel coronavirus emerged in Wuhan, China late last year, hopping in one way or another from other animals to humans. East Asia OPINION: China has no reason to make a deal on nuclear weapons BloombergHal Brands 4/29/20 The Trump administration is right that dealing only with Russia makes no sense. Russia and Europe Russia slams US arguments for low-yield nukes Associated Press4/29/20 The Russian Foreign Ministry on Wednesday rejected U.S. arguments for fielding low-yield nuclear warheads, warning that an attempt to use such weapons against Russia would trigger an all-out nuclear retaliation. DoD’s border wall funding shift hits Russia deterrence efforts Defense News4/29/20 The Pentagon is moving to scuttle nearly 19 more military construction projects ― including $274 million worth in Europe to deter Russia ― as a means to backfill a number of building projects at home that were deferred to pay for President Donald Trump’s border wall. Multilateral Arms Control Postponement of NPT conference an ‘opportunity’ NHK4/29/20 The president-designate of a conference on a global nuclear non-proliferation treaty says the meeting’s postponement is unfortunate but it can also be an opportunity. ONLINE COURSE: Missiles UNODA4/28/20 Missiles pose a variety of distinct concerns for international peace and security. In particular, they pose challenges for stability, crisis management, the protection of civilians and the achievement of broader disarmament objectives.