CND Press Digest: Wednesday 2nd August 2023

War In Ukraine/NATO

• Time magazine on Ukrainian fears that Russia will sabotage the occupied Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant.
• Tensions are mounting on the Polish-Belarus border amid reports that Wagner mercenaries have been deployed there. Warsaw has also sent their own troops to the border after accusing Minsk of violating its airspace with military helicopters.

Nuclear Proliferation

• A former deputy head of Israel’s Atomic Energy Commission has warned that the normalisation of relations with Saudi Arabia, which includes Riyadh’s demand to allow it develop a nuclear power programme, could lead to a nuclear arms race in the Middle East.

British Nuclear Weapons

• The Spectator has a piece on the UK’s decision to award a medal to its nuclear test veterans and looks at some of the remaining legacy issues such as compensation.
• The Doncaster Free Press reports on a local nuclear test veteran who will be in line for a medal.

AUKUS

• Defense One reports on comments from a top Pentagon official about AUKUS. Mara E. Karlin, assistant defense secretary for strategies, plans, and capabilities said Tuesday that for the programme to be successful, the US needs to shore up its industrial base in order to supply Australia with Virginia-class submarines on time. Karlin also noted that Washington will need to reform its export-control laws so the second pillar of the AUKUS pact – which includes technologies like AI and hypersonic missiles – could reach its full potential.

UK Nuclear Energy

• Rolls-Royce has commented on a recent report by MPs which called for more detail from the government on its nuclear power strategy. The firm echoed the report’s findings and called for a more fast-paced rollout of a fleet of small modular reactors - from which it hopes to secure a multi-billion pound contracts.  
• The New Statesman has republished a piece from Paul Dorfman on why renewables – and not nuclear power – remains the most important technology for reaching net zero.  

North Korea

• Peace group Korea Peace Now! has called for the US government to help formally end the Korean war in order to help avert a nuclear catastrophe. The demand was made at a recent event at George Washington University in Washington DC.

CND

• Carol Turner appeared on Talk TV on behalf of CND last night for a debate about nuclear weapons. You can watch back here.  

Best,

Pádraig McCarrick

Press and Communications Officer

Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament