Top News: Iran says 1,044 centrifuges now active at underground plant Times of Israel Military must continue progress to deter competitors Department of Defense News U.S. Prosecutors Step Up Pressure on North Korea Wall Street Journal United States Military must continue progress to deter competitors Department of Defense News9/11/20 The U.S. military has seen tremendous progress in readiness, equipment, processes and personnel over the past five years, and the United States must continue on that road in order to deter Russia and China, a top Defense Department official said. Active COVID-19 cases in NNSA complex increased by six last week Exchange Monitor9/11/20 Confirmed active cases of COVID-19 among National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA) employees rose by six this week, the semi-autonomous Department of Energy nuclear-weapons agency said Friday. OPINION: Trump’s talk of secret new weapon fits a pattern of puzzles Associated PressRobert Burns 9/11/20 President Donald Trump is expanding his arsenal of spectacular, but hard to explain, claims about U.S. military might. East Asia U.S. Prosecutors Step Up Pressure on North Korea Wall Street Journal9/14/20 Federal prosecutors stepped up a campaign against North Korea on Friday, unsealing two cases involving alleged sanctions violations as officials warn Pyongyang remains a significant threat to national security and the global financial system. U.S. reviewed plans to use nuclear weapons on North Korea, strike leadership NK News9/14/20 The United States reviewed plans to strike North Korea with as many as 80 nuclear weapons and updated leadership strike plans during the first year of Trump’s presidency, according to veteran journalist Bob Woodward’s new book, “Rage.” Middle East Iran says 1,044 centrifuges now active at underground plant Times of Israel9/13/20 The head of Iran’s atomic agency said Sunday that 1,044 centrifuges were active at the Fordo uranium enrichment plant, in line with steps to reduce its commitments to the nuclear deal. OPINION: Iran’s expansion of uranium stockpile is troubling but manageable Atlantic CouncilKelsey Davenport 9/14/20 The most recent report by the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) on Iran’s nuclear program demonstrates that the main result of the Trump administration’s “maximum pressure” campaign has been the fraying of US alliances and the steady expansion of Iran’s enriched uranium stockpile. Russia and Europe U.K. ‘could face threat of Russian nuclear-powered missile that can fly around the Earth for years’ Sky News9/14/20 The UK could face the threat of a ready-for-action Russian nuclear-powered missile that can fly around the Earth for years in the coming decades, the chief of defence intelligence has warned. South Asia ANALYSIS: Can India transcend its two-front challenge? War on the RocksSushant Singh 9/14/20 For more than five decades, the Indian military has feared one thing above all else — a two-front war with China and Pakistan. OPINION: India’s hegemonic design for Indian ocean region Modern DiplomacyKinza Shaheen 9/14/20 The Indian Ocean Region has become a hub of trade and economic activities over the decades because the major maritime trade route passes through it.