CND Press Digest: Thursday 22nd February 2024

NATO / Europe

• A letter to the Guardian claims NATO offers protection not provocation.
• Mark Rutte in pole position to be next NATO boss.
• ‘Not in Russia’s interest’ to start war with a NATO country, says Norway’s PM.
• Swedish PM to visit Hungary before ratification of NATO bid.
• The National: As the war in Ukraine approaches its second anniversary, Scottish CND national executive member Bill Ramsay writes on the dangers posed by the Zaporizhzhia nuclear plant.

Middle East & North Africa

• Iran dismisses plan by UN nuclear watchdog head to visit next month.
• ‘Thousands’ rally outside Parliament urging MPs to vote for Gaza ceasefire.
• An attempt by UK lawmakers to vote on a cease-fire in Gaza descended into chaos.
• The Daily Mail claims that ‘from the river to the sea’ was projected onto Big Ben during last night’s rally. However, none of the footage or photos in the article show it. Why? It wasn’t among the slogans projected!
• The Guardian: While people die in Gaza, the UK parliament goes to war over the ceasefire.
• Biden can end the bombing of Gaza right now. Here’s how.
• The Guardian view on the Israel-Gaza war: politicians must be clear that a ceasefire is needed.

AUKUS / Indo-Pacific

• AUKUS SSN. A change of plan is needed to the so-called ‘optimal pathway’.

• Boss of Japan crime syndicate conspired to traffic nuclear material, say US prosecutors. Takeshi Ebisawa is being charged over a conspiracy to traffic uranium and plutonium from Myanmar, believing Iran would use it to make weapons.

Space

• NYT: US warns allies Russia could put a nuclear weapon into orbit this year. The American assessments are divided, however, and President Vladimir Putin denied having such an intention, saying that Russia was “categorically against” it.
• Nukes in space: What have Russia and the United States said?

Nukes in Britain

• The Sun brought us the exclusive yesterday that the Royal Navy’s recent Trident test – its first in eight years – ended in failure. If you don’t want to read the Sun, you can read a summary on the CND website.
• From the BBC’s coverage of the test: The Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament (CND) described it as an expensive failure following a reported £500m refit. ”We need to stop wasting our money on this,” said the group, which campaigns to get rid of nuclear weapons globally and in Britain.
• CND also mentioned in this article on the test by Army Technology.
• The Morning Star: Trident damned as ‘colossal waste of money’ after second missile failure in a row
• Sky News brings up CND’s £205 billion for replacing Trident - but says the figure should come with caveats due to our anti-nuclear stance.
• More coverage from the Guardian, Independent, Telegraph, Sky News, Politico, Financial Times, Reuters, and New York Times.
• The Times view on Trident missile tests: Damp Squib.
• RUSI: What went wrong with the Trident missile test launch, in one graphic.
• The Times: What went wrong with the Trident missile test launch? A visual guide.
• Trident is dependable, Grant Shapps insists after failed missile test.
• Sky News analysis: Trident missile malfunction sends wrong kind of message and is more than just an embarrassing blow for UK’s nuclear deterrent.
• Let’s be realistic: Britain still needs Trident, writes Iain Martin in the Times.
• Britain is increasingly defenceless – and Putin knows it, writes Hamish de Bretton-Gordon in the aftermath of the failed Trident test.

UK Nuclear Energy

• NYT: Why Britain is struggling with nuclear power. The government wants more nuclear plants to help tackle climate change, but delays and soaring costs are complicating the effort.
• The Guardian: Armed with a Geiger counter, Michael Collins was given access to multiple power stations across the UK – he found them tranquil, beautiful and sinister.

Nuclear Energy

• Reuters: India seeks $26 billion of private nuclear power investments.

Best,

Pádraig McCarrick

Press and Communications Officer

Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament