President Barack Obama has nominated Maj. Gen. Marshall Webb for a third star and for assignment as commander of NATO Special Operations Headquarters in Mons, Belgium. Webb current is serving as commander of Special Operations Command Europe and director of special operations for US European Command in Stuttgart-Vaihingen, Germany. He will replace Vice Adm. Sean Pybus who has served in the position since 2013. (DOD release.)
Earlier this week, the People’s Republic of China confirmed it is halting its nuclear arms control talks with the U.S., in retaliation for the U.S. continuing to sell arms to Taiwan. The move reinforces a “pattern of behavior” from Beijing, experts say.