Top News Trump seeks $46 billion for nuclear weapons programs in budget request Defense News Iran satellite launch fails, in blow to space programme Phys Org Russia to arm Tu-160 strategic bombers with hypersonic missiles — source TASS United States Trump budget calls for new nuclear warheads and 2 types of missiles New York Times2/10/20 The Trump administration has begun to put a price tag on its growing arms race with Russia and China, and the early numbers indicate that restoring nuclear weapons to a central role in American military strategy will cost tens of billions of dollars over the next decade. Trump seeks $46 billion for nuclear weapons programs in budget request Defense News2/10/20 The Trump administration’s fiscal 2021 budget includes a major increase in nuclear weapons spending from both the Defense Department and the agency in charge of managing nuclear warheads. If Trump renegotiates Iran’s nuclear deal, should it be a treaty this time? The Hill2/10/20 America’s most significant foreign policy agreement of the 21st century never was sent as a treaty to the Senate for approval. East Asia Exclusive: North Korea enhanced nuclear, missile programs in 2019 in breach of sanctions – U.N. report Reuters2/10/20 North Korea continued to enhance its nuclear and ballistic missile programs last year in breach of United Nations sanctions, according to a confidential U.N. report seen by Reuters on Monday. ANALYSIS: The lesson of North Korea’s Christmas gift The DiplomatAtsuhito Isozaki 2/11/20 Late last year, North Korea issued a warning. It said that its hard-line policy toward the United States may include a “Christmas Gift” of a nuclear or ICBM test. Middle East Iran satellite launch fails, in blow to space programme Phys Org2/9/20 Iran said it “successfully” launched a satellite Sunday but failed to put it into orbit, in a blow to its space programme that the U.S. alleges is a cover for missile development. Purge of reformists in Iran election could doom nuclear deal, say diplomats The Guardian2/9/20 Iran’s clerical establishment is so determined to fix this month’s parliamentary elections that hardliners are likely to sweep to power, bringing closer the final collapse of the Iran nuclear deal, according to western diplomats. Russia/Europe Russia to arm Tu-160 strategic bombers with hypersonic missiles — source TASS 2/10/20 Russia’s top military brass plans to arm Tupolev Tu-160 supersonic strategic bombers with Kinzhal hypersonic missiles, a source in the defense industry told TASS on Monday. Multilateral Arms Control OPINION: The nuclear Cold War is alive and well InkstickWilliam Courtney, Bruce McClintock 2/10/20 For many, the Cold War ended with the fall of the Berlin Wall in 1989 or the collapse of the Soviet Union two years later. Yet Russia and the U.S. are still locked in a nuclear cold war. Thousands of nuclear weapons are deployed, some on high alert. Although the U.S. prudently withdrew from several past arms control treaties with Russia, it could be in America’s interest to extend New START.