TOP NEWS Senate confirms Dan Brouillette to lead Energy Department New York Times Russia wants deals on arms control and nuclear, says U.S. Trump Reuters North Korea says U.S. must choose “Christmas gift” as nuclear diplomacy deadline nears CBS News United States Senate confirms Dan Brouillette to lead Energy Department New York Times12/2/19 The Senate on Monday confirmed Dan Brouillette, a former lobbyist for Ford Motor Company, to be President Trump’s second secretary of energy, replacing Rick Perry, who has become embroiled in the impeachment proceedings against Mr. Trump. NNSA administrator: The U.S. and nuclear threat reduction Defense NewsLisa Gordon-Hagerty 12/2/19 The Department of Energy and the NNSA have worked diligently over the past two decades to secure radioactive and nuclear materials. Russia/Europe Russia just tested its S-500 air defense system in Syria National Interest12/2/19 The S-500 is not a successor to the S-400, but a different class of air defense system that is designed to reliably intercept the most dangerous strategic threats. Russia wants deals on arms control and nuclear, says U.S. Trump Reuters12/3/19 U.S. President Donald Trump said on Tuesday Russia wanted to agree deals on arms control and nuclear and that he was willing to bring China into those either now or later. NATO meeting overshadowed by France’s Macron Wall Street Journal12/2/19 But this time the public broadside came before the meeting from French President Emmanuel Macron, who declared that the North Atlantic Treaty Organization is experiencing “brain death.” Middle East Iran proposes Rouhani’s visit to Japan amid nuclear impasse: Kyodo Reuters12/3/19 Iran has proposed President Hassan Rouhani visit Japan, a U.S. ally which also has close relations with Tehran, to try to resolve Iran’s nuclear impasse with Washington, Kyodo news agency reported on Tuesday. ANALYSIS: Sanctions may have fueled Iran protests, but have yet to further U.S. goals New York TimesDavid E. Sanger 12/2/19 It is far from clear that what is unfolding on the streets today will make Iran more likely to renegotiate its nuclear deal or dial back its malign actions in the region, the two major American goals in dealing with the country. ANALYSIS: Trump’s Iran whisperer VoxAlex Ward 12/3/19 Hook is the one working behind the scenes to turn the president’s scattershot impulses into a meaningful strategy toward Iran. East Asia North Korea says U.S. must choose “Christmas gift” as nuclear diplomacy deadline nears CBS News12/3/19 North Korea on Tuesday repeated its assertions the Trump administration is running out of time to salvage nuclear negotiations. A statement attributed to a senior diplomat said it was entirely up to the United States to choose what “Christmas gift” it gets from the North. Japan defense minister: Managing an increasingly uncertain security environment Defense NewsTaro Kono 12/2/19 North Korea and China are serious threats. North Korea has repeated cycles of negotiation, return and breakdown, during which it has improved its nuclear and missile capabilities. Senior Chinese diplomat set for first visit to South Korea in five years amid missile defense row Reuters12/2/19 A high-ranking Chinese diplomat is visiting Seoul this week for the first time in five years as the two countries seek to improve ties amid a spat over a U.S. anti-missile system in South Korea.