TOP NEWS NATO chief urges improved dialogue with Russia: ‘it’s possible to make deals’ Newsweek IAEA warns against intimidation after Iran incident Agence France-Presse Iran, China & Russia to conduct joint war games in ‘message to the world’ American Military News Russia/Europe Nuclear-capable air-launched ballistic missile tested over the Barents Sea Barents Observer12/1/19 The missile changes the military power-balance in the north due to its range, speed and ability to overcome any known missile defense systems. NATO chief urges improved dialogue with Russia: ‘it’s possible to make deals’ Newsweek12/3/19 NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg urged member states Tuesday to believe in the possibility of improved dialogue with Russia, as the transatlantic alliance’s leaders gather in London for a meeting on Wednesday. ANALYSIS: UK parliamentary debates, some Brits throw nuclear deterrence under the coach Bulletin of the Atomic ScientistsJohn Krzyzaniak 12/4/19 The debate moderator posed a seemingly straightforward question about nuclear policy, asking, “If our country was under nuclear attack, would you (or the leader of your party) use our nuclear weapons to defend our country?” Four participants said yes—but three said no. Middle East IAEA warns against intimidation after Iran incident Agence France-Presse12/3/19 The new head of the UN nuclear watchdog warned Tuesday against intimidating its inspectors after one of them had their accreditation revoked by Iran over an incident at a nuclear facility. Iran, cut off from vital cash reserves, faces deeper economic peril, U.S. says Wall Street Journal12/3/19 While Iran’s sanction-battered economy has sparked protests across the nation, U.S. officials cite new intelligence suggesting Tehran’s finances are more dire than previously thought and bringing it closer to a financial crisis. Iran, China & Russia to conduct joint war games in ‘message to the world’ American Military News12/4/19 Iran, Russia, and China are joining together in a war games simulation as a “message to the world,” Iranian navy commander Rear Adm. Hossein Khanzadi said in a statement on Wednesday. East Asia Biegun says U.S. won’t give up on nuclear talks with N. Korea Yonhap News Agency12/4/19 U.S. Special Representative for North Korea Stephen Biegun said Tuesday that the United States will not give up on negotiating with North Korea to dismantle its nuclear weapons program, apparently responding to Pyongyang’s demands that Washington meet an end-of-year deadline. ANALYSIS: As nuclear talks falter, next move for North Korea’s Kim may be missile test over Japan Japan Times12/4/19 And one option for Kim’s “Christmas present” could be firing a nuclear-capable intermediate-range ballistic missile over Japan. South Asia India test fires Prithvi-II short-range nuclear-capable ballistic missile The Diplomat12/4/19 India’s Strategic Forces Command (SFC) test launched a short-range nuclear capable ballistic missiles at night as part of its annual training cycle to validate the combat readiness of the Indian Army’s missile forces. Multilateral Arms Control Senate Democrats fear New START treaty could ‘blow up’ Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty12/3/19 Senate Democrats warned that failing to extend the last remaining nuclear-arms treaty with Russia would hurt U.S. national security and lead to an arms race that could widen the already large federal deficit.