CND Press Digest: Tuesday 17th October 2023

War In Ukraine/NATO

• The UN’s nuclear watchdog said it has been informed that a second reactor at the Russian-occupied Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant in Ukraine is being brought into hot shutdown in order to provide hot water and district heating over the coming winter.

Nuclear Testing

• Russia is revoking ratification of the Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban Treaty because of the irresponsible attitude of the United States to global security, the speaker of the lower house of the Russian parliament said on Tuesday. https://www.reuters.com/world/europe/russia-is-revoking-ratification-nuclear-test-ban-treaty-parliam…
• CND has a news item on NATO’s Steadfast Noon nuclear exercises and Russian plans to revoke its ratification of the CTBT.
• What is the nuclear test ban treaty and why is Russia changing its position? https://www.reuters.com/world/europe/what-is-nuclear-test-ban-treaty-why-is-russia-changing-its-posi…

UK Nuclear Energy

• Sky news reports that Rolls-Royce is planning to cut more than 2,500 jobs as part of a cost-cutting drive.

Nuclear Energy

• Small modular nuclear reactors: Unlikely, unaffordable, dirty and dangerous.
• The Indian Point nuclear power plant in Buchanan, New York, has transferred all spent nuclear fuel to dry cask storage in a move towards decommissioning the plant, the New York State Department of Public Service and Indian Point Closure Task Force said on Monday.

Fusion

• Speaking at the IAEA Fusion Energy Conference on Monday, Nuclear Minister Andrew Bowie said the new £650m Fusion Futures Programme would include the creation of more than 2,200 training places across the country, a new fuel cycle testing facility to focus on commercialising the technology, and funding to develop infrastructure for private fusion companies.

Fukushima

• Japan criticised Russia’s announcement that it’s joining China in banning the imports of Japanese seafood in response to the release of treated radioactive wastewater from the wrecked Fukushima nuclear power plant.

Radiation

• The risks of radiation exposure are better understood today thanks to researchers dedicated to working with the victims of exposure, understanding their symptoms, identifying treatments and developing safety protocols. This article looks at the work of one such researcher, Dr. Masaharu Hoshi.

Iran Nuclear Deal

• The world must not fail in Iran as it did in North Korea, which kicked out International Atomic Energy Agency inspectors and developed nuclear weapons, the UN nuclear watchdog’s chief Rafael Grossi said on Monday.

North Korea

• North Korea’s nuclear programme is a self-defensive move to head off a nuclear war in the face of the US pursuit of “nuclear supremacy,” state media KCNA said on Tuesday.

Best,

Pádraig McCarrick

Press and Communications Officer

Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament