Top News Saudi foreign minister, U.S. special envoy to Iran discuss nuclear talks – SPA Reuters Biden pick for China envoy raises concern over nuclear buildup The Hill Australia, UK defend AUKUS pact, say fears overhyped Associated Press United States Feds: Maryland couple charged with selling nuclear secrets were prepared to flee U.S. Politico10/20/21 The FBI discovered that a former U.S. nuclear engineer and wife, charged with selling secret nuclear technology to a foreign country, had prepared to flee the country with cash, rubber gloves, a cryptocurrency wallet, and their children’s passports. Middle East Saudi foreign minister, U.S. special envoy to Iran discuss nuclear talks – SPA Reuters10/20/21 The U.S. special envoy for Iran and Saudi foreign minister met Wednesday to discuss nuclear talks with Iran. U.S. and Iran enter ‘decisive’ period to revive nuclear accord or risk failure, U.N. watchdog chief says Washington Post10/20/21 IAEA Director General Rafael Grossi emphasized how decisive coming weeks are for reviving the nuclear deal with Iran. East Asia Biden pick for China envoy raises concern over nuclear buildup The Hill10/20/21 Nicholas Burns, President Biden’s nominee for U.S. Ambassador to China, expressed concern over China’s nuclear buildup and called for bilateral cooperation on the issue. ANALYSIS: China allegedly tested a nuclear-capable hypersonic weapon. Now what? TimeW.J. Hennigan 10/20/21 China’s nuclear-capable hypersonic weapon test in August presents several implications for the U.S. ANALYSIS: China ‘may be drawn’ into US-Russia nuclear competition South China Morning PostLiu Zhen 10/21/21 A newly released report from the China Arms Control and Disarmament Association warns that “unrestrained” nuclear competition between the U.S. and Russia may affect China’s “cognition of its own nuclear retaliatory capabilities.” ANALYSIS: How bad would a nuclear-armed South Korea be? Let us count the ways. Bulletin of Atomic ScientistsLauren Sukin 10/21/21 Despite general approval from the South Korean public, nuclear proliferation would be expensive and dangerous to South Korea’s geopolitical situation. Pacific Australia, UK defend AUKUS pact, say fears overhyped Associated Press10/21/21 Officials from Australia and the UK rejected concerns about AUKUS worsening regional stability and spurring an arms race. IAEA chief: Aukus could set precedent for pursuit of nuclear submarines The Guardian10/19/21 IAEA chief Rafael Grossi established a special team to explore the “nuclear safeguards and legal implications” of the AUKUS deal.