Japan Has Interceptors Stand Down as North Korea Missile Threat Abates
Japan Times
Japan has canceled an order issued in March to the Self-Defense Forces to intercept incoming North Korean missiles, government sources said. In response, the SDF began pulling out interceptors, including the Patriot Advanced Capability-3 surface-to-air guided interceptors deployed on the premises of the Defense Ministry headquarters in central Tokyo, they said.
Ban Hopes Obama’s Hiroshima Visit Gets Wheels Rolling on Nuclear Disarmament
Japan Times
The United Nations hopes that U.S. President Barack Obama’s visit to Hiroshima will highlight the need to abolish all nuclear weapons, a spokesman said Tuesday. U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon “very much welcomes” Obama’s decision to visit the atomic bomb-struck Japanese city on May 27, Stephane Dujarric said.
China Building Missiles to Strike Guam
Bill Gertz | Washington Free Beacon
China is building up intermediate-range ballistic and cruise missiles that pose a growing threat to Guam, the strategic Pacific island that is central to the U.S. military pivot to Asia, according to a congressional report made public Tuesday. Six different missiles capable of reaching Guam from China are deployed or in late stages of development, says the report by the U.S.-China Economic and Security Review Commission.
Senate Rejects Amendment That Inflamed Tensions Over Iran Nuclear Deal
Karoun Demirjian | Washington Post
The Senate on Wednesday rejected a Republican amendment that had renewed tensions over the Iran nuclear deal and threatened to derail chamber leaders’ efforts to pass spending bills this year. Democrats were blocking consideration of the annual energy and water appropriations bill to protest Sen. Tom Cotton’s (R-Ark.) proposal to prevent the United States from using federal funds to purchase heavy water, which is used in some nuclear fuel reactors, from Iran.
U.S. Gears Up Missile Defense System in Europe to Russia's Ire
Vanesa Gera | Reuters
A U.S. missile defense system aimed at protecting Europe from ballistic missile threats is moving into higher gear this week, with a site in Romania becoming operational on Thursday and officials breaking ground at another site in Poland a day later. The system has been under development for years and is, NATO and U.S. officials say, aimed against potential long-range threats from the Middle East, mainly with Iran in mind.
South Africa Targets More Renewable Power, Nuclear Expansion To Go Ahead
Wendell Roelf | Reuters
South Africa will have connected 7,000 megawatts (MW) of renewable power to its grid by July, the energy minister said on Wednesday, and still plans to go ahead with a nuclear expansion plan. Africa's most industrialised country has turned to solar and wind power to diversify its energy mix and help plug electricity shortages. The first 47 renewable energy independent power producers are due to be fully operational by July.