CND Press Roundup Friday 7th October 2022

War in Ukraine / NATO

• The Conversation has a piece on China’s attitudes to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and the possibility Beijing will start to pressure Moscow to end the conflict the longer it drags on.

• US President Joe Biden told a Democratic party fundraiser that the world faces Armageddon if Vladimir Putin uses nuclear weapons in Ukraine. “We’ve got a guy I know fairly well,” Biden said, referring to the Russian president. “He’s not joking when he talks about potential use of tactical nuclear weapons or biological or chemical weapons because his military is, you might say, significantly underperforming.”

• The NYT runs an opinion on what the global response should be to a Russian nuclear attack.

• The head of the UN nuclear watchdog, Rafael Grossi insisted the Zaporizhzhia nuclear plant is Ukrainian – after Putin ordered the plant to be formally put under Russian control. The plant has been operated by Ukranian staff since it was seized by Russian troops at the start of the conflict.

• Russia’s Interfax news agency reports on comments made by Grossi that progress had been made on establishing a safe zone around Zaporizhzhia after a meeting with Ukraine’s Zelensky.

• Foreign Affairs argues that Russia’s formal annexation of four Ukrainian regions coupled with its mobilisation of troops means nuclear war is more likely.

• A poll has found that nearly three quarters of Americans back US support for Ukraine despite Russia’s nuclear threats.

• The Mirror reports on the rush by thousands of Brits to buy up defunct nuclear bunkers since Russia invaded Ukraine. One estate agent said he had received at least three calls a day from prospective bunker purchasers.

Trident

• UK Defence Journal covers the visit of a US Virginia-class nuclear sub to Faslane.

• This piece in Nouse asks if Britain is prepared for nuclear war. The Express meanwhile has a look at the UK’s nuclear arsenal in this story titled “UK’s weapons of mass destruction: How Britain became a nuclear power with 215 warheads.”

Nuclear Energy

• Over 8 in 10 economists polled are in favour of Germany expanding the lifetime of the country’s nuclear plants in order to ensure electricity supply this winter, according to IFO.

Iran Nuclear Deal

• The US announced fresh sanctions on Iran on Thursday in response to the government’s crackdown on protests gripping the country. Human rights groups in the country have warned against sanctions relief under a reviving nuclear deal – which they say would give the Iranian government breathing room.

• AP also looks at the question of sanctions on Iran as the US juggles nuclear diplomacy, the ongoing protests in Iran, and a US midterm election.

• Al Monitor reports on Iran’s shifting attitudes to the IAEA over nuclear inspections at Iranian nuclear sites which could break the deadlock on reaching a revived deal.

Fukushima

• Parties from across the political divide in South Korea are calling for a response to Japan’s plan to release millions of tonnes of radioactive water from Fukushima into the sea.

Rings of Power

• Some references to CND and the atomic bomb in this review of the latest episode in the Rings of Power series