TOP NEWS Trump administration has gutted programs aimed at detecting weapons of mass destruction Los Angeles Times Russia throws weight behind EU effort to boost Iran trade Financial Times NATO chief calls on Russia to save INF nuclear missile treaty BBC News U.S. Nuclear Policy Trump administration has gutted programs aimed at detecting weapons of mass destruction Los Angeles Times7/18/2019 The Trump administration has quietly dismantled or cut back multiple programs that were created after the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks to help detect and prevent terrorism involving weapons of mass destruction, a Times investigation has found. Nuclear industry push for reduced oversight gaining traction Associated Press7/17/2019 The Nuclear Regulatory Commission’s plans to lower safety standards were spearheaded by the nuclear industry as a cost saving measure, saying the safety culture of the U.S. nuclear industry is “exceptional” already. Bill would expand radiation compensation to NM residents Albuquerque Journal7/16/2019 U.S. Rep. Ben Ray Luján introduced legislation Tuesday that would expand compensation for individuals exposed to radiation from the Trinity Site atomic blast in 1945 and for those exposed while working in or living near uranium mines in New Mexico. Marshall Islands, where U.S. ran 67 nuclear weapon tests, more contaminated than Fukushima and Chernobyl Newsweek7/16/2019 Some of the Marshall Islands, where the U.S. conducted dozens of nuclear tests in the mid-century, have radiation levels higher than Fukushima and Chernobyl, according to scientists. Middle East The U.S. ‘Shot itself in the foot’ by pulling out of the nuclear deal, Iranian foreign minister says Time7/17/2019 The U.S. “shot itself in the foot” by pulling out of the nuclear accord with Iran, Foreign Minister Javad Zarif said, offering a grim outlook for the chance of opening talks with President Donald Trump. Russia throws weight behind EU effort to boost Iran trade Financial Times7/18/2019 Russia has signaled its willingness to join an EU payments channel designed to circumvent US sanctions banning trade with Iran and has called on Brussels to expand the new mechanism to cover oil exports. Iran rejects Pompeo’s suggestion it is willing to negotiate over missile program New York Times7/16/2019 Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said on Tuesday that Iran appeared willing to negotiate its missile program “for the first time,” an idea shot down by Iranian officials hours later. Europe Another three Russian nuclear reactors offline after short-circuit malfunction at power plant Newsweek7/18/2019 Three reactors at a Russian nuclear power plant have been taken offline following a short circuit, in what is the second operating incident affecting the national nuclear grid in one week. NATO chief calls on Russia to save INF nuclear missile treaty BBC News7/18/2019 NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg pledged a “measured, defensive” response if Russia did not come back into compliance with the deal by the August deadline. South Asia No need to change Indian nuclear policy of ‘No First Use’: Former AEC chief Dr. R. Chidambaram New Indian Express7/18/19 Affirming India’s public posture of ‘No First Use’ nuclear weapon policy yet again, former Atomic Energy Commission chairman Dr. R. Chidambaram on Wednesday said that there was no need to change the ongoing nuclear policy. Commentary Trump’s better deal with Iran looks a lot like Obama’s PoliticoNahal Toosi 7/17/19 Trump has repeatedly urged Iran to negotiate, saying that Tehran’s nuclear ambitions are his chief concern, talking points that experts say echo the 2015 deal. Trump is running out of time to denuclearize North Korea The AtlanticUri Friedman 7/18/19 With time running out in his first term, Trump might have to settle for keeping the North Korean nuclear arsenal from getting much worse—or maybe, if there’s a diplomatic breakthrough, scaling it back.