CND Press Roundup Thursday 24th November 2022

War in Ukraine / NATO

• Ukraine’s energy regulator said Russian airstrikes on Wednesday forced the shut down of several units at the Pivdennoukrainsk nuclear power, contributing to blackouts across the country.

• Vice takes an inside look at Russia’s nuclear-capable RS-28 Sarmat ICBM.

• The Times on the launch of Russia’s two new nuclear-powered icebreaker vessels which Vladimir Putin said would “strengthen Russia’s status as a great Arctic power.”

• A survey by the Covid States Project found that a high level of US citizens are concerned or very concerned about the war in Ukraine – with researchers surprised at the sustained level of concern ten months into the conflict. The survey also found broad support for a more aggressive response if Russia used nuclear weapons in Ukraine.

• In-Depth News runs a comment from Jonathan Power on how the invasion of Ukraine should be a prompt for global nuclear disarmament.

New Start

• The Bulletin on why resuming New Start inspections of nuclear weapons sites must be a crucial goal of the upcoming talks between Russia and the US.

(FRAC)AUKUS?

• A US senator has told a security conference in Canada that Canada and France should be part of a military pact similar to AUKUS.

Trident

• Coventry Live reports on the latest nuclear weapons convoy as it passed through Coventry and Nuneaton.

• Meanwhile, the Blackpool Gazette and Lancashire Post run commentsfrom Cumbria and Lancashire CND, expressing their concern at how the convoys were parked near a school overnight from Monday to Tuesday.

• The Guardian’s Amelia Tait explores the world of Britain’s underground bunkers – including one Essex man’s “wedding guest list” of people he’ll allow into his, in the event of a nuclear war.

• Interesting Engineering looks at Britain’s role in the development of the atomic bomb and its current nuclear weapons status.

Nuclear Test Veterans

• Powys County Times speaks to nuclear test veteran Brian Davies after the UK government announced that those who served during Britain’s nuclear weapons testing would be recognised with a medal.

Fusion

• The UK Department of Business has announced £120 million in funding “to spearhead nuclear fusion innovation.”

UK Nuclear Energy

• Rolls Royce has called on the government to enter formal negotiations over the funding for small nuclear reactors, which it is pushing to roll out across England and Wales.

Nuclear Energy

• Nuclear fuel from France has arrived in Japan following a one-year delay in delivery. 32 Mixed oxide (MOX) fuel assemblies were ordered by Kansai Electric in 2017 but a string of “defective fuel assemblies in which the plutonium and uranium were not mixed evenly were found at the French plant,” resulted in 16 shipments being delayed.

North Korea

• The Guardian looks at the recent appearance of Kim Jong Un’s daughter in a propaganda video showcasing the country’s ICBMs, and speculates about the potential fourth generation of Kim family leaders in North Korea.

CND

• CND is mentioned in this Declassified article on the US-funded British-American Project (BAP), and claims by former Labour MP Emma Dent Coad that a senior official within CND during the 1980s tried to recruit her – with Dent Coad later being told that this official “worked with the CIA.”