Iran
Iran Feels Pinch Of New EU Oil Sanctions
NPR – July 2, 2012
As new European Union sanctions targeting Iran’s vital oil industry took effect Sunday, Tehran acknowledged the measures aimed at reining in its disputed nuclear program were taking a toll. The vice president said authorities had stockpiled imported goods and hard currency to help cushion the blow to the economy.
North Korea
SKorea puts off Japan military pact at last minute
AP – June 29, 2012
Japan and South Korea put on hold an intelligence sharing pact less than an hour before it was to be formally signed Friday, in a major embarrassment for both countries forced by a political outcry in Seoul.
Kim Jong-Il ordered uranium bombs: reports
AFP – July 2, 2012
The late North Korean leader Kim Jong-Il ordered his scientists to produce “a massive amount” of uranium bombs, according to internal regime documents, reports in Japan said on Monday.
Afghanistan
As U.S. leaves, a struggle to train Afghan army
John Bentley , CBS News – July 1, 2012
Sentences
Defense Spending
NSC’s Holgate: House Vote Shows “Fundamental Misunderstanding” Of Threat Reduction
Lee Michael Katz, Global Security Newswire – June 29, 2012
Congressional attempts to link Cooperative Threat Reduction program funding to behavior by Russia over Syria and other issues are “a fundamental misunderstanding” of the program, a White House official dealing with the issue told Global Security Newswire.
Arms Control
China to lead talks on nuclear definitions
Arshad Mohammed, Reuters – June 29, 2012
China will lead talks among the five original nuclear-armed states to define arms control terms, the group said on Friday, a first for Beijing and a step that might ultimately bring greater clarity about its nuclear arsenal and strategy.
