CND Press Digest: Friday 15th March 2024

NATO / Europe

• Reuters: The Russian-controlled management of the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant, the largest in Europe, said on Thursday that the Ukrainian army had shelled a critical infrastructure facility at the plant.
• Pictured: HMS Prince of Wales full steam ahead in NATO training exercise.
• NATO chief: Ukrainians are short on ammunition, not courage. Jens Stoltenberg, who is stepping down as the alliance’s secretary-general this summer, called on member states to ‘dig deep and deliver quickly.’
• Letters: Europe can’t keep ignoring Putin’s nuclear threats.
• Reuters: How many nuclear weapons does Russia have and who controls them?
• NATO should not appoint Mark Rutte without broader discussion, says Latvia. Foreign minister says candid talk has been lacking over secretary general’s post, as newer members feel they are being railroaded.
• A lengthy piece in Foreign Policy with comments from Poland’s, Lithuania’s, and Estonia’s defence ministers, on Russia’s deployment of nuclear weapons to Belarus.
• Comments come as the Federation of American Scientists report that the construction of a depot at a Belarusian base possibly suggests a storage site for Russian nuclear warheads.

Middle East & North Africa

• Palestine march coalition statement on Michael Gove’s extremism definition.
• Hamas presents ceasefire proposal detailing exchange of hostages, prisoners.

AUKUS / Indo-Pacific

• Nuclear safeguards: AUKUS statement to the IAEA Board of Governors. UK Deputy Representative Nicola Murray gave a statement on behalf of Australia, the UK and the US about AUKUS safeguards under the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty.
• Strategic Myopia: The proposed first use of tactical nuclear weapons to defend Taiwan.

Global Nukes

• The Bulletin: Germany debates nuclear weapons, again. But now it’s different.

Space

• EU Observer: Scepticism surrounds Russian space nuke allegations.

Nukes in Britain

• Armed forces minister to quit role and stand down as MP at next election. James Heappey, Tory MP for Wells in Somerset, is stepping down to prioritise his family and pursue a different career.

• RAF Lakenheath’s 48th Fighter Wing gets new commander.

UK Nuclear Energy

• Bloomberg: HSBC is in talks with investment funds about loans to help to finance the construction of Sizewell C, as the government steps up efforts to get a key energy project off the drawing board this year.
• City AM: HSBC leads Sizewell C investment push as time ticks on final investment decision.

Nuclear Energy

• Bloomberg: Japan’s government is ramping up an effort to secure local approval to resume operations at Kashiwazaki-Kariwa, the world’s biggest nuclear power plant, amid a wider push by the nation to restart its idled fleet of reactors.
• CSIRO chief warns against ‘disparaging science’ after Peter Dutton criticises nuclear energy costings. Douglas Hilton says he will ‘staunchly defend’ scientists as opposition leader repeats incorrect claim that CSIRO report does not accurately represent cost of renewables.

CND

• Salisbury Journal: About 70 people participated in the fourteenth candlelight vigilfor permanent ceasefire in Gaza, Israel and the West Bank Palestinian Territories on March 9. Organised by Salisbury Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament (CND), in collaboration with Sarum Concern for Israel & Palestine and Salisbury Amnesty International, the vigil marked the local groups’ contribution to a national campaign.

Best,

Pádraig McCarrick

Press and Communications Officer

Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament