CND Press Digest: Wednesday 19th April 2023

War In Ukraine/NATO

• Beyond Nuclear on Britain’s decision to send depleted uranium ammunition for use in tanks donated to Ukraine.
• British officials have told media that leaders are preparing for Vladimir Putin to use “whatever tools he’s got left” including nuclear threats and cyber-attacks in response to an expected Ukrainian counter-offensive.
• That’s as US officials warned that Russia may use a nuclear weapon in a “managed” escalation of the war in Ukraine.
• Poland has made proposals for further EU sanctions against Russia - which includes ending imports of diamonds, natural gas, and curb nuclear energy cooperation.
• Russia MoD footage shows nuclear submarines deployed as part of naval drills in the Pacific Ocean. The exercises also saw strategic bombers take part.

AUKUS

• An ABC podcast on the difficulties of nuclear waste storage and how it might impact Australia’s purchase of nuclear-powered submarines under AUKUS.
• AUKUS plan details: a triumph of hope over experience. Nuclear Information Service on the unaddressed issue of AUKUS.

Nuclear Proliferation

• The New York Times on China’s expansion of its nuclear arsenal and the challenges posed by having three nuclear superpowers.

Nuclear Energy

• A pro-nuclear opinion piece in the i newspaper on Germany ending its relationship with nuclear power and why Britain shouldn’t follow suit. 
• Reuters with a different take on Germany’s nuclear shutdown and how Berlin is now going all in with its energy transition.  
• The IAEA has commended Kazakhstan’s role in nuclear non-proliferation as the UN’s nuclear watchdog signed a 5-year cooperation deal with its Energy Ministry.

Israel

• Declassified UK with a story on UK government knowledge of Israel’s nuclear arsenal but failing to admit so publicly.

Best,

Pádraig McCarrick

Press and Communications Officer

Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament