CND Press Digest: Thursday 18th July 2024

Nukes in Britain

• The Sctosman: Behind the bright colours of a map lies the horrific reality of the impact of a nuclear strike on Scotland. Produced by CND activists at the height of the Cold War, the map details the destruction of people and place on an unprecedented scale as the country stared into the abyss of nuclear war. It serves as a stark reminder of the very real fear felt by many as the nuclear stand off between East and West trickled into homes across the land.
• BBC Look East: Recording of Tuesday evening’s BBC Look East report on the peace camp at RAF Lakenheath.
• The Telegraph’s Con Coughlin argues that Donald Trump back in the White House would force Starmer’s Labour government to stop delaying on increasing military spending.

Global Nukes

• The Guardian, Reuters, and Al Jazeera on China’s decision to suspend nuclear arms control talks with the US, over Washington’s continued arms sales to Taiwan.
• Reuters: How dangerous is the new US-Russia missile race?
• Newsweek: Russian TV airs map of possible nuclear strikes on NATO capitals.

UK Nuclear Power

• Northern Echo: Kevin Donald talks to Carol Tansley - the woman behind a bold bid to put 12 nuclear reactors in Hartlepool.

Nuclear Energy

• Oil Price: Ghana’s plans to build its first nuclear power plant have attracted bids from major nuclear energy players, including Russia, China, the US, France, and South Korea.
• Reuters: The Czech government on Wednesday picked South Korea’s KHNP to build two new nuclear power units, with the possibility of more, after a lengthy tender aimed at keeping a big role for nuclear power in the country’s energy mix for decades. France’s EDF lost out .
• The Guardian: Renewables caught in misinformation crossfire from Australia’s nuclear cheerleaders.

Fusion

• World Nuclear News: The Global Fusion Industry in 2024 report says that more than USD900 million has been invested in the fusion industry in the past year, and more than 1000 jobs created.

NATO / Europe

• Politico: NATO’s false promises are encouraging misplaced Ukrainian hopes. The alliance’s irresponsible policy toward Ukraine continues, providing false hope, making peace less likely and the war more dangerous.
• Reuters: NATO appoints new top official for Ukraine.
• Euronews: NATO launches Ukraine command centre in Germany.
• The Hill: What opponents of Ukraine joining NATO fail to understand.

Iran Nuclear Deal 

• Axios: The Biden administration sent a private warning to Iran last month expressing serious concerns about Iranian research and development activities that could be used for the production of a nuclear weapon, three US and Israeli officials told Axios.

AUKUS / Asia-Pacific

• Euronews: China and Russia start joint naval drills after NATO calls Beijing Ukraine war ‘enabler’. The exercise began in the Guangdong province on Sunday and is expected to last until mid-July.
• RUSI: As discussions loom on expanding AUKUS’s Pillar 2 to include additional close US allies in the region, strong leadership and a clear vision are critical for building a more cohesive and resilient alliance structure in the Indo-Pacific.

Best,

Pádraig McCarrick

Press and Communications Officer

Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament