Top News: Chinese spokesperson says U.S. should ‘stop playing dumb’ on nuclear arms agreement Fox News STATEMENT: NDS Implementation: First Year Accomplishments DoD North Korea striving to build nuclear-capable missiles that can defeat BMD systems Janes United States STATEMENT: NDS Implementation: First Year Accomplishments DoDSecretary of Defense Mark Esper 7/18/20 The work we do today will allow us to maintain and grow our competitive edge, build a stronger and more ready and resilient future force, and prevail across every domain. OPINION: U.S. continues retreat from global stage as China-Iran forge 25-year deal ForbesSuzy Taherain 7/19/20 China and Iran recently announced they are pushing ahead with a 25-year roadmap for expansion of political and economic relations. East Asia North Korea striving to build nuclear-capable missiles that can defeat BMD systems Janes7/17/20 North Korea’s recent ballistic missile tests suggest that Pyongyang is striving to build a credible nuclear warfighting capability designed to evade ballistic missile defence (BMD) systems in the region, according to a 14 July report published by the US Congressional Research Service (CRS). China and India locked in high-altitude arms race along disputed frontier Wall Street Journal7/17/20 Battle lines are hardening along the remote Himalayan frontier that separates China and India, where the two Asian giants have been engaged in a competitive military construction spree, expanding bases and building airfields to accommodate bigger and more heavily armed forces. Chinese spokesperson says U.S. should ‘stop playing dumb’ on nuclear arms agreement Fox News7/18/20 White House officials have called for a new nuclear arms agreement between Russia, China and the US. Middle East OPINION: Mysterious explosions keep happening in Iran. Israel is likely behind it. VoxAlex Ward 7/17/20 Experts say the suspected sabotage is part of Israel’s long-term efforts to delay any and all of Iran’s nuclear development. Five years after nukes deal, U.S. Iran policy at crossroads CCTV7/20/20 While Trump has not announced a more aggressive stance against Iran, Brian Hook, the State Department’s special envoy for Iran, said last month that “timidity and weakness invite more Iranian aggression.” Russia and Europe U.S. needs billions to adjust missile shield for hypersonic missiles — Russian official Tass7/16/20 In his words “hundreds of billions of dollars of US taxpayers” have already been spent to create the missile shield, and more will be needed. Putin says nuclear-powered submarines will boost Russia’s combat potential Sputnik7/20/20 Russia will continue efforts toward establishing a modern combat-effective fleet, President Vladimir Putin said on Monday in an address at a ship-laying ceremony in the coastal Black Sea city of Kerch in eastern Crimea.