TOP NEWS U.S. officials expecting Iran to launch rocket in coming days CNN North Korea launches 2 projectiles, South Korea experts blame Trump New York Times Indian defense chief says ‘no first use’ of nuclear weapons depends on situation Japan Times Middle East U.S. officials expecting Iran to launch rocket in coming days CNN8/16/19 The U.S. government is in possession of classified imagery that shows Iran is getting ready to launch a rocket as soon as next week that the Iranians claim will put a peaceful satellite into orbit, but that the US sees as furthering Tehran’s missile development. Iranian supertanker freed by Gibraltar despite U.S. effort to seize it Time8/15/19 Gibraltar on Thursday allowed a detained Iranian supertanker to leave the British overseas territory after a last-minute U.S. attempt to seize the vessel, potentially defusing tensions between London and Tehran as a British-flagged tanker remains held by the Islamic Republic. East Asia North Korea launches 2 projectiles, South Korea experts blame Trump New York Times8/15/19 North Korea launched two projectiles yet again off its east coast on Friday, as South Korean analysts said President Trump’s repeated downplaying of the North’s weapons tests had given it a free hand to conduct them. U.S.’s North Korea envoy to visit Japan, South Korea next week Reuters8/16/19 The U.S. special envoy for North Korea will travel to Japan and South Korea next week to coordinate efforts to secure the denuclearization of North Korea, the State Department said on Friday. U.S. Government to proceed with F-16 fighter jets sale to Taiwan Air Force Technology8/19/19 The U.S. Government has decided to proceed with an $8bn sale of 66 F-16 fighter jets to Taiwan. South Asia World must ‘seriously consider’ safety of India’s nuclear arsenal under Modi government: Imran Khan Asian News International8/18/19 Khan’s statement comes on the heels of Defense Rajnath Singh’s statement on the possible change in India’s “no first use” policy of nuclear weapons depending on future circumstances. Indian defense chief says ‘no first use’ of nuclear weapons depends on situation Japan Times8/17/19 Defense Minister Rajnath Singh warned Friday that India’s continued adherence to its “no first use” policy for nuclear weapons will depend on the situation, a comment that is likely to fuel tensions with Pakistan over their territorial dispute. Europe/Russia Russian nuclear monitoring stations went silent after missile blast Wall Street Journal8/18/19 Two Russian monitoring stations designed to detect nuclear radiation went silent soon after the explosion at a missile test site this month, spurring concerns among observers that the Russian government is trying to restrict evidence of the accident. Norway finds minor radioactive substances in air near border to Russia Barents Observer8/15/19 The findings are not necessary connected with the recent accident at the nuclear weapons test site in northern Russia, Norwegian radiation control authorities makes clear. Opinion/Analysis/Commentary What’s the best way for the Pentagon to invest in artificial intelligence? C4ISR NetAdam Stone 8/17/19 The Department of Defense is poised to spend nearly $1 billion on artificial intelligence in the next year. The real stakes in the new space race War on the RocksLet. Gen. Steve Kwast 8/19/19 Space will be a multi-trillion-dollar market that will disproportionately benefit the first great power that builds a vibrant infrastructure there. The nuclear arms race is back … and ever more dangerous now The GuardianSimon Tisdall 8/17/19 Donald Trump has increased spending on America’s arsenal while ripping up cold war treaties. Russia and China are following suit. Special Interest The U.S. needs a new ICBM now National Institute for Public PolicyGen. C. Robert Kehler 8/16/19 Delaying or deferring ICBM modernization threatens the enduring value of the triad and risks compromising the foundation of U.S. strategic deterrence and allied assurance.