Top News: Iran’s nuclear activity is concerning, says Saudi official Reuters U.S. Air Force detonates hypersonic missile warhead in test UPI Chinese nuclear scientists urge readiness for electromagnetic pulse attack South China Morning Post United States U.S. Air Force detonates hypersonic missile warhead in test UPI7/9/21 The U.S. Air Force successfully detonated a hypersonic missile warhead for the first time this week, Eglin Air Force Base, Fla., announced. Northrop to continue as Minuteman III ground subsystems support contractor Air Force Technology7/9/21 The company will now continue to provide engineering and field services to sustain Minuteman III throughout its service life. ANALYSIS: How do hypersonic weapons work? Union of Concerned ScientistsCameron Tracy 7/9/21 Hypersonic weapons—missiles that fly low-altitude trajectories at more than five times the speed of sound—are the focus of a burgeoning arms race between the United States, Russia, and China. OPINION: Biden’s disappointing first nuclear weapons budget Arms Control Association7/9/21 As the Biden administration prepares to initiate a review of U.S. nuclear weapons policy, its first budget request proposes to continue every part of the unnecessary and unsustainable nuclear weapons spending plans it inherited from the Trump administration East Asia Chinese nuclear scientists urge readiness for electromagnetic pulse attack South China Morning Post7/12/21 U.S. enhancing its capability and by 2032 will be able to protect vital infrastructure, tipping balance in its favour, the researchers say. China, North Korea reaffirm ties on defence treaty anniversary South China Morning Post7/11/21 On 60th anniversary of mutual assistance agreement, Kim Jong-un takes aim at ‘hostile forces’ as both countries face uncertainty in relations with the US North Korean leader Kim Jong Un reshuffled his senior leadership after blaming officials for creating an unexplained ‘great crisis’ Yahoo News7/9/21 Kim Jong Un appears to have reshuffled North Korean leadership. Middle East Several matters yet to be settled at talks on future of Iran nuclear deal – diplomat TASS7/11/21 Russia’s Permanent Representative to the Vienna-based international organizations Mikhail Ulyanov said that he could not disclose details of the talks but one of the topics is possible recurrence of the situation that emerged under the US President Donald Trump administration. Biden admin won’t accept ‘partial deal’ with Iran on release of American prisoners, U.S. envoy says NBC7/11/21 “We’re saying all of them have to come home. We don’t want to do a partial deal,” Robert Malley said. Iran’s nuclear activity is concerning, says Saudi official Reuters7/9/21 Saudi Arabia is concerned about increased nuclear activities by Iran which threaten regional security, a Saudi foreign ministry official said, after Tehran started the process of producing enriched uranium metal.