Top News: Energy Secretary Dan Brouillette fights to retain NNSA budget reins Aiken Standard Iran says fire at nuclear facility resulted in ‘significant’ damage after first claiming destruction was ‘limited’ CNN China ‘pulling back troops’ after deadly border clash: India Al Jazeera United States Energy Secretary Dan Brouillette fights to retain NNSA budget reins Aiken Standard7/3/20 U.S. Secretary of Energy Dan Brouillette in a Monday letter urged senators to reconsider provisions included in a version of annual defense legislation that would give the Pentagon and other defense officials significant sway over the National Nuclear Security Administration and its nuclear weapons purse. OPINION: Three arms control negotiators walk into a café… Bulletin of Atomic ScientistsSara Kutchesfahani 7/6/20 For the first time since January, representatives from the United States and Russia recently met in Vienna for the latest round of strategic security dialogues, which included a discussion on the last remaining agreement on nuclear weapons: the 2010 New Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty (New START). East Asia North Korea says it has no plans for talks with U.S. Associated Press7/4/20 North Korea on Saturday reiterated it has no immediate plans to resume nuclear negotiations with the United States unless Washington discards what it describes as “hostile” polices toward Pyongyang. Middle East Iran says fire at nuclear facility resulted in ‘significant’ damage after first claiming destruction was ‘limited’ CNN7/6/20 A fire at Iran’s Natanz nuclear facility site resulted in “significant” damage, impacting both the construction and development of the country’s advanced nuclear program, officials confirmed Sunday, contradicting previous claims that the impact from last week’s blaze had been “limited.” Iran admits serious damage to Natanz nuclear site, setting back program New York Times7/5/20 A Middle Eastern intelligence official said Israel planted a bomb in a building where advanced centrifuges were being developed. Iran says it is negotiating 25-year bilateral deal with China Radio Free Europe7/6/20 Iran has been negotiating a 25-year accord with China “with confidence and conviction,” Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif told parliament on July 5, saying its terms will be announced once the deal is struck. Russia and Europe Russia touts S-500’s ability to destroy hypersonic weapons in space Moscow Times7/3/20 Russia’s advanced S-500 air defense system is capable of destroying hypersonic weapons and satellites in near space, the head of Russia’s air and space forces has said. OPINION: Russia’s Poseidon poser for arms control and naval defence Real Clear DefenseTimothy Wright 7/6/20 As Russia continues to put significant investment into making Poseidon operational, questions remain over its performance, rationale and military utility. Nenoksa village gets evacuation advise ahead of missile launch Barents Observer7/6/20 Villagers are asked to meet at 5 am on July 7th to board busses bringing them in safe distance for the Russian navy’s test site on the coast of the White Sea in northern Russia. South Asia China ‘pulling back troops’ after deadly border clash: India Al Jazeera7/6/20 China has begun pulling back troops from along its contested border with India, Indian government sources have said, following the worst clash between the two nuclear-armed neighbours in nearly 50 years, which left 20 Indian soldiers dead.