CND Press Digest: Thursday 4th April 2024

NATO / Europe

• Grant Shapps tells the Telegraph’s readers that the US should pay less for NATO – but Britain has already done enough for the bloc so other members need to pay up!
• BBC: Russia’s neighbours urge NATO allies to bring back military service.
• Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has signed into law a bill lowering the military mobilisation age by two years from 27 to 25.
• BBC: David Cameron rules out Western boots on the ground in Ukraine.
• Reuters: NATO marks 75 years anniversary with show of unity as Ukraine war grinds on.
• Russia says NATO, at 75, has returned to Cold War mindset.
• UK’s Cameron NATO spending amid Ukraine conflict.
• UnHerd: It’s time to send NATO troops to Ukraine After 75 years, the alliance is locked in the nuclear age

Middle East & North Africa

• Former supreme court judges say UK arming Israel breaches international law.Three former supreme court justices, including the court’s former president Lady Hale, are among more than 600 lawyers, academics and retired senior judges warning that the UK government is breaching international law by continuing to arm Israel.
• Israel’s Gaza action has bordered on reckless, says ex-MI6 chief. Alex Younger’s claim that insufficient care is being paid to collateral risks comes as UK is urged to suspend arms sales to Israel.
• Aid groups demand Israel improve measures to keep their workers safe. Humanitarian organisations working in Gaza say Israeli forces must stick to deconfliction procedures.
• The Guardian: Majority of voters in UK back banning arms sales to Israel, poll finds. YouGov survey indicates loss of support among people in Britain for Israel’s war in Gaza.

AUKUS / Indo-Pacific

• North Korea says it tested a new hypersonic intermediate-range missile that’s easier to hide.
• ABC and Reuters report on comments from the US deputy secretary of state that AUKUS submarines could be used in a fight against China over Taiwan.

Global Nukes

• Atlantic Council: The US is building a nuclear sea-launched cruise missile.Congress must make sure it’s built right.
• Holy See: ‘Nuclear deterrence is an illusion’.
• Wilson Center: Putin and Kim’s nuclear axis.
• TRENDS research and advisory: The case for nuclear diplomacy. 

Nukes in Britain

• Four American multirole aircraft Lockheed Martin F-35A Lightning II from the 48th Fighter Wing of the USAF based at RAF Lakenheath have been transferred to the 32nd Tactical Air Base in Łask, replacing the previously deployed F-16s there.

UK Nuclear Energy

• The Engineer: Sarah Williamson is leading the civils programme at Sizewell C, having held a similar role at Hinkley Point C. She spoke with Andrew Wade about some of the lessons learned.

Nuclear Energy

• Lawsuit challenges $1 billion in federal funding to sustain California’s last nuclear power plant. An environmental group is challenging the US Energy Department’s decision to award over $1 billion to help keep California’s last nuclear power plant running beyond 2025.
• Russian ship carrying nuclear fuel for US nuclear power plant detained in German port. The vessel Atlantic Navigator II has been held in dock at the seaport of Rostock (Germany) for three weeks after enriched uranium was found on board.

• BBC: A company says it has reached a “major milestone” in its quest to design a power plant capable of producing energy from nuclear fusion. First Light Fusion, in Yarnton, Oxfordshire, has increased the distance a projectile is fired into the fuel by more than ten times.

• Al Jazeera opinion: Nuclear energy cannot lead the global energy transition.
• The Japan Times: Climate change and nuclear waste are a toxic stew.

Best,

Pádraig McCarrick

Press and Communications Officer

Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament