Hypersonic Weapons Threat Looms Large at Missile Defense Symposium
Jen Judson | Defense News
How to deal with hypersonic glider weapons is posing a major challenge for defense officials tasked with ensuring the US is safe from missile attacks. The question of what to do about it loomed large at the Space and Missile Defense Symposium. The threat came up in almost every speech from the Missile Defense Agency director to the Army’s acquisition chief to the US Strategic Command commander over the course of the first two days of the show.
U.N. Panel Seeks Push Toward Nuclear Disarmament
Jamey Keaten | Associated Press
A majority of countries on a U.N.-mandated panel on Friday called on the U.N. General Assembly to consider launching multilateral negotiations on nuclear disarmament, voting in a process that has been boycotted by the world's nuclear-armed powers. Thai ambassador Thani Thongthakdi, who chaired the Open-Ended Working Group on Nuclear Disarmament, hailed a "strong signal" but said many countries would have preferred consensus among voting members on an agreement that will have little impact unless nuclear powers are also on board.
German Exports to Iran Soar After Removal of Sanctions
Michael Nienaber | Reuters
German exports to Iran, mostly machines and equipment, jumped in the first half of the year following the removal of international sanctions against the Islamic Republic, official trade data showed on Monday. Exports to Iran surged by 15 percent year-on-year in the first six months of 2016 to 1.13 billion euros ($1.3 billion), the Federal Statistics Office said.
S. Korea, U.S. Start Joint Military Drills Despite N. Korea's Nuclear Threat
Hyung-Jin Kim | Associated Press
South Korea and the United States began annual military drills Monday despite North Korea's threat of nuclear strikes in response to the exercises that it calls an invasion rehearsal. Such fiery rhetoric by Pyongyang is not unusual. But the latest warning comes at a time of more tension following the defection of a senior North Korean diplomat and a U.S. plan to place a high-tech missile defense system in South Korea.
Abe Denies Conveying Concern to U.S. Commander Over ‘No First Use’ Nuke Policy
Japan Times
Prime Minister Shinzo Abe has denied conveying to the head of the U.S. Pacific Command concerns about the United States adopting a “no first use” policy for its nuclear arsenal, as reported by The Washington Post last week. “We had no exchange whatsoever about no first use of nuclear weapons,” Abe told reporters Saturday in Tokyo before boarding a plane to go to Brazil to attend the Rio Olympics closing ceremony. “I have no idea why it was reported that way.”
BWXT Subsidiary to Acquire GE Hitachi Nuclear Energy Canada
Energy Business Review
GE and Hitachi have entered into an agreement to sell GE Hitachi Nuclear Energy Canada (GEH-C) to BWXT Canada, a subsidiary of BWX Technologies, for undisclosed sum. GEH-C has over 60 years of experience in the supply of nuclear fuel and fuel channel components, services, equipment and parts for the CANDU nuclear power industry.