Iran parliament approves nuclear deal bill in victory for Rouhani
Sam Wilkin and Bozorgmehr Sharafedin | Reuters
Iran's conservative-dominated parliament passed a bill on Tuesday approving its nuclear deal with world powers, signaling victory for the government over hardline opponents who worry the accord opens a door to wider rapprochement with the West. Many conservative lawmakers opposed the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) that President Hassan Rouhani's government agreed with the six powers on July 14, and the vote -- which followed a bad-tempered, rowdy debate on Sunday -- lifts a significant hurdle to putting the deal into effect.
North Korea shows off 'long range' nukes, but experts divided over authenticity of claim
Japan Times
North Korea on Saturday showed off what it said were long-range ballistic missiles carrying miniaturized nuclear warheads, its latest claim to the sophisticated technology, but analysts remain divided over whether Pyongyang had mastered the process.
Iran Tests Long-Range Missile, Possibly Violating Nuclear Accord
Thomas Erdbrink | New York Times
Iran tested a new guided long-range ballistic missile on Sunday, hours before Parliament, in a rowdy session, approved the generalities of the nuclear agreement reached in July between Iran and world powers, the state news agency IRNA reported.
Britain backs return of 'Cold War' nuclear drills as Nato hardens against Russia
Matthew Holehouse and Peter Foster | Telegraph
Nato is to beef up its posture towards Moscow after condemning a "troubling escalation" in Russia's air-campaign in Syria, provocative Russian incursions into Turkish airspace and the continued menacing of the Baltic states, defence ministers said on Thursday night. Announcing plans to double Nato's rapid-Response Force to 40,000 troops after a meeting in Brussels, Britain called for a return to Cold War-style planning exercises to test Nato readiness to escalate from conventional to nuclear war.
Obama adviser raises concerns about Japan's plutonium stockpile
Takashi Oshima and Tetsu Kobayashi | Asahi Shimbun
An adviser to U.S. President Barack Obama expressed concerns about Japan's plan to reprocess its spent nuclear fuel, citing the ever-increasing plutonium stockpile already in the nation's possession. "In the case of Japan, where there is already a sizable stockpile of separated plutonium, we would prefer not to see it grow," John Holdren said in an interview with The Asahi Shimbun in Tokyo.
Pilgrim nuclear power plant to close in Plymouth
David Abel | Boston Globe
The company that owns Pilgrim Nuclear Power Station said Tuesday that it plans to close the 43-year-old plant in Plymouth. Entergy, a Louisiana-based energy conglomerate that has owned Pilgrim since 1999, said it will close the plant no later than June 2019.