Dear all,

I hope everyone had a pleasant Easter break. Here are some of the top stories in the news from the last week. Thanks for your support.

Britain

• ITV News ran a news report on the start of the peace camp at RAF Lakenheath. You can watch the report here.
• The Canary and Cambridge Independent with previews of the upcoming Lakenheath blockade on Saturday.
• Just two weeks after CND’s unvealing of the US military’s exemption from UK nuclear safety regulations, the BBC reports that the MoD and USAF conducted joint drills to simulate a response to a nuclear accident at RAF Lakenheath. Sophie responded to the news, calling the drills a PR exercise. https://www.eadt.co.uk/news/25107833.lakenheath-weapons-concern-raf-honington-drill-held/?link_id=4&...;
• Meanwhile the MoD has finally admitted after 70 years that nuclear test veterans “may have been used” in radiation experiments during Britain’s nuclear weapons testing programme.
• The FT has an TPNW
  • ICAN’s Melissa Parke writes on the role of the TPNW in a fracturing global landscape.

  Gaza

  • Reuters reports on the growing levels of unexploded bombs littering Gaza as clean-up efforts stall.

  Iran

  • Iran is prepared to discuss its nuclear programme with European leaders as talks with the US proceed but Al Jazeera programme on what’s at stake in the Iran-US nuclear talks.

  AUKUS / Asia-Pacific

  • China has reportedly tested a new weapon of mass destrcution that uses hydrogen fuel but isn’t nuclear.
  • CounterPunch reviews Australia’s AUKUS programme.
  • The US Army has held its first-ever nuclear response drill in South Korea.

  NATO / Europe

  • Russia’s former defence minister has told an interview with TASS that Russia reserves the right to use nuclear weapons in the event of “unfriendly actions” from “foerign states”.
  • The Independent on the dangers posed by Russia’s occupation of the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant in Ukraine.
  • Sky News on the implications of the US walking away from talks over a peace deal between Ukraine and Russia.
  • Trump issues rare rebuke to Putin after an overnight airstrike on Kyiv kills 12.

  Kashmir

  • The Guardian has an explainer on the current tensions between India and Pakistanfollowing a gun attack by Kashmiri militants on tourists in Indian-controlled Kashmir.
  • The Metro looks at the impact of a nuclear war between India and Pakistan.

  UK Nuclear Energy

  • UNITE’s Sharon Graham is calling on the government to make a final investment decision on Sizewell C.

  Best,

   

  Pádraig McCarrick

   

  Press and Communications Officer

  Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament