CND Press Digest: Wednesday 17th May 2023

• France will join Britain in sending long-range missiles to Ukraine by sending stocks of the SCALP-EG, the French version of the Storm Shadow cruise missile.
• Russia’s mass wave of missile strikes on Kyiv on Tuesday may have damaged the Patriot missile defence system based in the city, -GFSJQAOk9s5C3OzFDw/h2/Hm9PuGo6HpLHMHbnv0joVF9fHcwsCxkPwAiLAYg-HGk”>looks at what it means for Russia’s nuclear capabilities.

New START

• From Al Jazeera: The United States has announced it has 1,419 deployed nuclear warheads in its arsenal, as it urged Russia to release its data. The US Department of State said it was releasing the information publicly as part of its commitments under the New START Treaty, appearing to reverse an earlier decision not to share the data.

Nuclear Testing

• Polynesians exposed to fallout from France’s nuclear tests in the South Pacific have a slightly increased risk of developing thyroid cancer, a study CND press release AUKUS
  • Shadow Defence Minister Chris Evans has called for the UK government’s promise of a “jobs bonanza” spurred by the AUKUS submarine programme to be “underwritten by contractual guarantees.” The government said this is already in place with BAE Systems looking to recruit 6,000 more people to its workforce in Barrow-in-Furness.
  • Sydney Criminal Lawyers on the militarising of Papua New Guinea by the AUKUS powers.

  G7

  • The Guardian reports on the calls by Hibakusha to G7 leaders to unite against nuclear weapons.
  • AFP also looks at the Japanese government’s hosting of the G7 summit in Hiroshima and its hopes of pushing nuclear disarmament.

  UK Nuclear Energy

  • NFLA republishes Professor Andy Blowers’ recent piece titled ‘Siting new nuclear power stations — an unsustainable geography’.

  Fusion

  • A survey published by the Fusion Industry Association predicts that the first nuclear fusion plants will need a $7 billion supply chain.

  Iran Nuclear Deal

  • IAEA chief calls more interaction with Iran ‘important’, urges return to negotiating table.

  CND

  • Press TV report of Saturday’s Nakba demonstration with contribution from Kate.

  Best,

   

  Pádraig McCarrick

   

  Press and Communications Officer

  Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament