Top News: UK to lift nuclear stockpile cap; looks to Asia post-Brexit Associated Press UN atomic watchdog: Return to Iran nuclear deal possible ABC News Russia warns UK nuclear arsenal plan harms global security DW United States TESTIMONY: General Glen Vanherck, U.S. Northern Command Senate Armed Services Committee3/16/21 USNORTHCOM is focused on developing and fielding advanced sensors capable of tracking potential missile threats and providing improved discrimination capability to our warfighters and assessors. Biden admin review muzzles Pentagon head of nuke matters Exchange Monitor3/16/21 A Pentagon official pulled out of a scheduled public briefing about plutonium pit production at the Savannah River Site on Monday because of a gag order imposed by a Biden Administration review. East Asia U.S. general says North Korea might flight test new ICBM design ‘in the near future’ Reuters3/16/21 North Korea might begin flight testing an improved design for its inter-continental ballistic missiles “in the near future,” the head of the U.S. military’s Northern Command said on Tuesday, a move that would sharply increase tensions between Pyongyang and Washington. North Korea could soon test new intercontinental missile, U.S. general testifies NBC3/16/21 “Now they’re up to three missiles that we assess could strike our homeland,” head of U.S. Northern Command says, but, “I think we have a good posture for deterrence.” Middle East UN atomic watchdog: Return to Iran nuclear deal possible ABC News3/16/21 The head of the United Nations’ nuclear watchdog says a U.S. return to the 2015 nuclear deal with Iran remains possible, but suggested to European Parliamentarians both sides need to be prepared to negotiate Iran’s Zarif slams UK ‘hypocrisy’ over nuclear warhead plan Al Jazeera3/17/21 Iranian FM slams UK PM who expressed concern about Iran’s nuclear programme after announcing boost to its nuclear stockpiles. Russia and Europe UK to lift nuclear stockpile cap; looks to Asia post-Brexit Associated Press3/16/21 Britain’s government said Tuesday the U.K. will prioritize diplomatic engagement with Asian countries in the coming decade and lift its own cap on the size of its nuclear stockpile, as Prime Minister Boris Johnson unveiled a major shift in the country’s foreign policy and defense priorities after Brexit. UK labels Russia top security threat, issues warning on China, and promises to build more nuclear warheads CNN3/16/21 Russia is Britain’s top security challenge, the UK will build more nuclear weapons and London will expand its presence in the high-tech realms of space and cyberspace, Prime Minister Boris Johnson announced Tuesday in a sweeping review of British military and foreign policy. Russia warns UK nuclear arsenal plan harms global security DW3/16/21 The Kremlin has said the UK’s decision to increase its nuclear arsenal represents a serious blow to arms control. ANALYSIS: The UK says it could now use nuclear weapons against threats from “emerging technologies” The DriveThomas Newdick 3/16/21 The British government has announced it will change the terms of when it might use its submarine-based nuclear weapons.