CND Press Digest: Wednesday 20th December 2023

War In Ukraine/NATO

• The Telegraph: Russia has almost upgraded its entire nuclear arsenal with its defence industry beginning to outstrip the West, Vladimir Putin said on Tuesday. The proportion of modernised weaponry available to Russia’s nuclear forces “has been brought to 95 per cent”, Putin told a defence ministry meeting in Moscow.
• The Express runs some speculation on David Cameron possibly taking over the top job at NATO.
• S-400: The Russian air defense system NATO hates keeps causing problems.
• Carnegie: To capitalize on Finland, and soon Sweden, joining NATO, it is crucial for the alliance to prioritize the coordination of robust defensive responsibilities and capabilities in Northern Europe.
• NATO partners to define next-generation rotorcraft with ‘high expectations’.

Gaza

• Coverage of a recent vigil for Gaza in Salisbury with comments from Salisbury CND.

Space

• Scientists have developed a new tool to simulate the use of a nuclear device to alter the trajectory of catastrophic asteroids and prevent them from impacting the Earth. The new study published in the Planetary Science Journal on Tuesday provides an innovative approach to model the spread of energy from a nuclear device on an asteroid’s surface.

AUKUS

• New Zealand’s new prime minister, Christopher Luxon, said on Wednesday he would look into the benefits of joining a part of the AUKUS defence pact that focuses on shared military technology amid a “more challenging” world order.
• Article on the CND website on a report warning that Australia could struggle to deliver its new fleet of nuclear-powered submarines on time.

UK Nuclear Energy

• The National (paywalled): Nuclear belongs to the past despite the promises of COP
• A bumper year for apprentices at Cumbrian nuclear site
• This year Sellafield Ltd has welcomed 325 new apprentices and graduates to work and train at the Cumbrian nuclear site. .

Nuclear Energy

• Regulators approve deal to pay for Georgia Power’s new nuclear reactors.

Iran Nuclear Deal

• Associated Press: The Western powers in the 2015 nuclear agreement with Iran accused Tehran on Monday of developing and testing ballistic missiles, transferring hundreds of drones to Russia, and enriching uranium to an unprecedented 60 percent level for a country without a nuclear weapons program — all in violation of a UN resolution endorsing the deal.

Best,

Pádraig McCarrick

Press and Communications Officer

Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament