Press Round-Up - 29th July 2021
Posted: 29th July 2021
Please find our daily press round up below as it returns after a period of Covid-enforced sickness. Many apologies to those who have been in touch and not (yet) received a response. Thank you to all for their continued help and support.
Nuclear Weapons
American researchers claim that China is engaged in the large-scale construction of nuclear siloes, whilst Israel hints at sabotage operations in Iran.
Chinese Nuclear Weapons
China is engaged in a major expansion of its nuclear armaments capabilities by constructing a field of ground-based siloes in Xinjiang province, according to a new report by the Federation of American Scientists. Al Jazeera says that the claim is based on analysis of commercially available satellite imagery. What U.S. researchers say is a similar silo field in Gansu province was first reported on earlier this month. Previously, China operated only 20 siloes for its ground-based ICBMs. The Federation of American Scientists says that ‘The Chinese missile silo program constitutes the most extensive silo construction since the US and Soviet missile silo construction during the Cold War’. China still has far fewer nuclear weapons than the U.S. or Russia and has a stated policy of ‘minimum deterrence’.
Iran Nuclear Deal
In an interview with BBC Persia, Israeli Defence Minister Benny Gantz has said that Israel is actively involved in operations within Iran against the latter’s disputed nuclear programme. He also described Iran as an ‘existential threat’ to Israel. Gantz also criticised the JCPoA, saying it had substantial loopholes which Iran would exploit. The new Israeli Prime Minister, the far-right Naftali Bennett, is attempting to meet with Joe Biden next month to underline Israeli opposition to the negotiations in Vienna. The Times of Israel has the full story here.
Anti-war
Civilians flee intense fighting in most parts of Afghanistan, whilst the U.S. gestures at peace talks for Yemen.
War in Afghanistan
The Guardian reports on the large flows of civilian refugees moving about and beyond Afghanistan as the Taliban advances across the country. Many refugees have moved into neighbouring countries like Pakistan, Tajikistan and Iran, where they have sometimes faced a harsh welcome from authorities. Around a quarter of a million people have been displaced by the fighting since the start of this year. Afghanistan is in midst of interlocking crises, including an ongoing severe drought, the pandemic and cuts in foreign aid. The UN says Afghanistan needs $1.3 billion in aid this year; less than a quarter of that has been delivered.
War in Yemen
The Morning Star reports on U.S-led discussions on a potential ceasefire in Yemen. The U.S. Deputy Secretary of State visited Oman this week and called for ‘an immediate, comprehensive ceasefire to help bring the war in Yemen to an end’. The Saudi Arabian-led coalition’s war in Yemen is backed extensively by Britain and other Western-powers and has produced what international organisations consistently describe as the worst humanitarian crisis in the world. The talks take place against the backdrop of a continued Houthi advance in the Marib region, an important oil producing area and one of the last strongholds of the Saudi-backed regime in exile.
Nuclear Power
Two nuclear power plants become the focus of brinkmanship between politicians and subsidy-hunger nuclear power corporations.
Nuclear Power – USA
The company which controls two nuclear power plants in the state of Illinois has filed plans with federal regulators to close them early, according to the Chicago Tribune. This comes after various attempts to agree a huge financial bailout for the Commonwealth Edison-owned plants. The company is also enmired in a huge corruption scandal, after bribing legislators for subsidies over a number of years. There is some speculation that the plans to close the Byron and Dresden nuclear plants are a bluff to secure a speedy bailout. Thousands of jobs are potentially at risk were the plants to close.
With best wishes,
Michael Muir
Press and Communications Officer
Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament
American researchers claim that China is engaged in the large-scale construction of nuclear siloes, whilst Israel hints at sabotage operations in Iran.
Chinese Nuclear Weapons
China is engaged in a major expansion of its nuclear armaments capabilities by constructing a field of ground-based siloes in Xinjiang province, according to a new report by the Federation of American Scientists. Al Jazeera says that the claim is based on analysis of commercially available satellite imagery. What U.S. researchers say is a similar silo field in Gansu province was first reported on earlier this month. Previously, China operated only 20 siloes for its ground-based ICBMs. The Federation of American Scientists says that ‘The Chinese missile silo program constitutes the most extensive silo construction since the US and Soviet missile silo construction during the Cold War’. China still has far fewer nuclear weapons than the U.S. or Russia and has a stated policy of ‘minimum deterrence’.
Iran Nuclear Deal
In an interview with BBC Persia, Israeli Defence Minister Benny Gantz has said that Israel is actively involved in operations within Iran against the latter’s disputed nuclear programme. He also described Iran as an ‘existential threat’ to Israel. Gantz also criticised the JCPoA, saying it had substantial loopholes which Iran would exploit. The new Israeli Prime Minister, the far-right Naftali Bennett, is attempting to meet with Joe Biden next month to underline Israeli opposition to the negotiations in Vienna. The Times of Israel has the full story here.
Anti-war
Civilians flee intense fighting in most parts of Afghanistan, whilst the U.S. gestures at peace talks for Yemen.
War in Afghanistan
The Guardian reports on the large flows of civilian refugees moving about and beyond Afghanistan as the Taliban advances across the country. Many refugees have moved into neighbouring countries like Pakistan, Tajikistan and Iran, where they have sometimes faced a harsh welcome from authorities. Around a quarter of a million people have been displaced by the fighting since the start of this year. Afghanistan is in midst of interlocking crises, including an ongoing severe drought, the pandemic and cuts in foreign aid. The UN says Afghanistan needs $1.3 billion in aid this year; less than a quarter of that has been delivered.
War in Yemen
The Morning Star reports on U.S-led discussions on a potential ceasefire in Yemen. The U.S. Deputy Secretary of State visited Oman this week and called for ‘an immediate, comprehensive ceasefire to help bring the war in Yemen to an end’. The Saudi Arabian-led coalition’s war in Yemen is backed extensively by Britain and other Western-powers and has produced what international organisations consistently describe as the worst humanitarian crisis in the world. The talks take place against the backdrop of a continued Houthi advance in the Marib region, an important oil producing area and one of the last strongholds of the Saudi-backed regime in exile.
Nuclear Power
Two nuclear power plants become the focus of brinkmanship between politicians and subsidy-hunger nuclear power corporations.
Nuclear Power – USA
The company which controls two nuclear power plants in the state of Illinois has filed plans with federal regulators to close them early, according to the Chicago Tribune. This comes after various attempts to agree a huge financial bailout for the Commonwealth Edison-owned plants. The company is also enmired in a huge corruption scandal, after bribing legislators for subsidies over a number of years. There is some speculation that the plans to close the Byron and Dresden nuclear plants are a bluff to secure a speedy bailout. Thousands of jobs are potentially at risk were the plants to close.
With best wishes,
Michael Muir
Press and Communications Officer
Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament