Once again, the US risks nuclear proliferation in a volatile region. The US was inadvertently involved in proliferation when supplying heavy water for India's supposedly 'peaceful' plutonium-producing reactor which turned out to produce enough weapons-grade material for 2 bombs per year.

On 23rd July, Scottish CND and CND UK hosted University College Dublin researcher Hugh Irving to present his research on the impacts of a nuclear strike on Faslane. The results of Irving's simulation were highly concerning. Read more in The National, 25th July edition.

French nuclear weapons around Europe could cause down-the-line problems for future arms control negotiations in Europe. It would also create a new frontier for nuclear escalation in northern Europe, next to Russian borders. Read more at https://ow.ly/gS3I50Zrq1f

Japan's long-standing convention against nuclear weapons is codified in the 1967 "non-nuclear principles." Polling shows the principles retain majority support. The huge civic opposition to nuclear weapons in Japan is due to its history as the only country subjected to wartime nuclear weapons use.

Pope Leo XIV has published a new book "Disarmed and Disarming: Peace is a Gift," a compilation of his addresses and writings on peace, including discussions about nuclear weapons and disarmament. The book is soon to be published in English.

Space is increasingly the connective tissue of military systems worldwide, with satellite technology indispensible to communications, surveillance and targeting. The increasing militarisation of space creates novel risks, sometimes relating to nuclear weapons uses.

Some information about commemorations on the 81st year since the atomic bombings of Hiroshima & Nagasaki. Scottish CND encourages all supporters to join vigils taking place across the country, organised by our local groups. Contact us if you would like for more information!

Healey has spent the last 2 years lobbying for steep hikes to military spending. In fact, he resigned as Defence Secretary over a quarrel over money with the treasury. Now he runs the treasury. War austerity incoming? There's good reason to expect it.

Campaigners have urged the Australian Prime Minister to make good on his 2018 pledge to sign the UN Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons. The Treaty fully bans nuclear weapons on the territories of signatory states, is signed by half of UN members and continues to gather momentum.

Today marks 81 years since the Trinity Test explosion in New Mexico, recognised as the first nuclear weapons test. Trinity set the stage for the atomic bombings of Hiroshima & Nagasaki and foreshadowed the disastrous worldwide nuclear testing regime.

An essay signed by several experts dissembled the UK government's insistence on new nuclear plants in Scotland, against the Scottish parliament's wishes. It highlighted the inflexibility of nuclear plants and increasing susceptibility climactic changes. Read more in The National 07.07.2026

Nuclear blackmail has often proven ineffective. But the more nuclear threats are made and ignored, the more leaders may feel compelled towards actual use to restore their nuclear "credibility". Read more on these themes from Jack Kennedy in Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists, 7th July 2026.

China tested a submarine-launched ballistic missile last week, prompting international controversy. The missile landed within the Pacific nuclear weapons free zone, to which China is part-signatory. Despite no legal violation, Pacific neighbours have expressed concern.

Is combination of technological revolution AND a deteriorating arms-control framework behind the collapse of "deterrence" as traditionally understood? Great-power conflict is increasingly normalised. Red lines become blurred and crossed. The nuclear taboo is being tested.

What would be the effects of a nuclear attack on a British nuclear base? In this webinar organised by CND and @scottishcnd.bsky.social, we'll hear from Hugh Irving about his new study looking at the impacts of a nuclear strike on Faslane. 📅 23 July, 7pm Register: cnduk.org/events/effec...

Indiscriminate weapons of mass destruction cannot be seriously considered guarantors of national security in a world where cheap weapons, disruptive technology and autonomous systems can cause outsized damage between adversaries. Read in full at Foreign Affairs (12th June 2026)

SHOCKING revelations in The Guardian today. US nuclear-certified airman accused of sexual assault and battery given only 6-month penalty by jury of 8 US air force officers:

The Guardian@theguardian.com · last mo.

A US fighter pilot strangled a woman in England. Why did it end in a ‘degrading’ military trial?

'Despite the decline of living standards, intensifying strain on public services and crumbling of the British public sphere, nuclear militarism in particular has been a priority for the Government.' Samuel Rafanell-Williams of @scottishcnd.bsky.social, via The National archive.is/8qoHc

Finland's government passed legislation last week lifting a ban on nuclear weapons on its territory, despite maintaining it has no plans to host them. The new legislation follows news that both the US and France are in talks to proliferate nuclear weapons across Europe.

The nobel-prize winning group of atomic bomb survivors, Nihon Hidankyo, held a general meeting last week. This is the 70th year since their founding. Leadership figures expressed frustration at the NPT failure in May, and said the horrors of nuclear weapons are not fully known.

Scottish CND's column in The National newspaper last weekend discussed several reasons why the UK's nuclear weapons spending is spiralling out of control. This includes costs of building new submarines, repairing existing submarines, upgrading dock infrastructure, new nuclear warheads.

A reminder that military spending generates WOEFUL returns on investment of public money compared to spending on energy and transport infrastructure. The opportunity costs of a war economy are enormous - remember this when "defence spending" is erroneously presented as an engine for growth.

All five currently commissioned Royal Navy Astute nuclear-powered submarines are berthed awaiting maintenance, meaning none cna be deployed. Each Astute submarine has a price tag of over £1.5bn, and maintenance costs are likely to rise given the poor condition of the fleet. Value for money?

Recently published figures show that the UK is now the third highest spender on nuclear weapons in the world, surpassing Russia. The UK already spends more than China on a per-capita basis, surpassed only by the US. The UK nuclear weapons bill increased by 17% just last year.

All the #G7 states , gathering today in Evian-les-Bains have nuclear weapons in their security policies (either as nuclear-armed states or as host or umbrella states). So from just across the Geneva Lake, we sent our message: #NuclearBan.

The US is reportedly in confidential talks with additional EU countries to expand nuclear sharing on the continent. Proliferation of US nuclear weapons across Europe would create new frontiers for nuclear conflict, with new risks of escalation and accidents.

Military attacks on nuclear facilities are a disturbing new theme of conflicts worldwide. The environmental risks of these attacks are enormous, and the security liability of these facilities is poorly acknowledged in the debate on nuclear power.

A recent Nuclear Information Service report scrutinises the UK government's proposals to introduce nuclear-capable jets into the RAF. Far from improving security prospects, this expansion of nuclear capabilities creates risks not fully acknowledged by the UK government: https://ow.ly/YSSe50Z73Uz

2/ The vast majority of states, however, engaged vigorously throughout the month, calling for urgent action to reduce nuclear risks. Read more here: www.icanw.org/npt_review_c...

NPT Review Conference ends with no plan for disarmament

The 11th NPT Review Conference exposed deep divides on nuclear disarmament, with nuclear-armed states resisting action while most countries demanded urgent risk reduction and abolition. ICAN warns gro...

icanw.org

🧵1/ Nuclear armed states, and those who support the use of nuclear weapons in their security strategies, once again resist efforts to advance nuclear disarmament at the #NPTRevCon. The meeting ends with no real plan. Read ICAN's team analysis here: www.icanw.org/npt_review_c...