Nuclear

February 21, 2017

The awakening of a new nuclear power

In the early, halcyon days of nuclear power, British prowess in engineering enjoyed some of its finest hours. Here was a clean power and an unlimited resource that the country had the…

EU debates return to Russian gas as part of Ukraine peace deal
European officials are debating whether Russian pipeline gas sales to the EU should be restarted as part of a potential settlement to end the war against Ukraine, according to people familiar with discussions. Advocates of buying Russian gas argue it would bring down high energy prices in Europe, encourage Moscow to the negotiating table, and give both sides a reason to implement and maintain a ceasefire. But raising the idea of reopening flows of Russian gas into Europe, even in preliminary discussions, has already sparked a backlash among Ukraine’s closest allies in the EU. Three of the officials briefed on the talks said the idea had been endorsed by some German and Hungarian officials, with support from other capitals that saw it as a way to reduce European energy costs. “There is pressure from some big member states on energy prices and this is one way to bring those down, of course,” said one official. Financial Times, January 30

Far-right vote on asylum rocks German parliament
Germany's parliament descended into heckles and recriminations on Wednesday after a "firewall" against working with the far-right cracked. A non-binding motion calling for tougher border and asylum rules passed with support from the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD). During the stormy session, politicians of various parties hurled criticism and blame at each other. Conservative CDU leader Friedrich Merz, who tabled the plans, defended his actions as "necessary". But Chancellor Olaf Scholz slammed the move as an "unforgivable mistake". Merz now plans to propose actual legislation on Friday - again with possible AfD backing - aimed at curbing immigration numbers and family reunion rights. But his proposed measures are highly unlikely to come into effect this side of February's snap election and - if they did - could clash with EU law. Referring to the AfD's support for the motion, the CDU leader told the Bundestag that a policy wasn't wrong just because the "wrong people back it". "How many more children have to become victims of such acts of violence before you also believe there is a threat to public safety and order?" he asked. The CDU leader - tipped to be Germany's next chancellor because of his party's leading position in the polls - has also insisted he has neither sought nor wants AfD support. BBC news, January 29

Trump reverses order to freeze federal funds
The White House yesterday walked back President Trump’s order to freeze trillions of dollars in federal grants and loans. A federal judge had on Tuesday temporarily blocked the order after it caused mass confusion across the country. The Trump administration had struggled to explain the funding freeze, a decision that interrupted the Medicaid system, which provides health care to millions of low-income Americans. Karoline Leavitt, the White House press secretary, wrote on social media:“This is NOT a rescission of the federal funding freeze”. She said the president’s executive orders on federal funding “remain in full force and effect, and will be rigorously implemented”. The decision by the Trump administration to pull the directive was a significant reversal. New York Times, January 30

Ex-rebel leader Ahmed al-Sharaa declared president of Syria
The leader of the rebel group that deposed Bashar al-Assad’s regime in Syria has been declared the country’s interim president. Ahmed al-Sharaa, who formerly led the Islamist rebel group Hayat Tahrir al-Sham, was declared president for an unspecified transitional period on Wednesday as the constitution was suspended. Sharaa, whose nom de guerre was Abu Mohammed al-Jolani, was also empowered to form a temporary legislative council for a transitional period, according to the announcements made during a meeting of armed groups in Damascus. The Times, January 30

Passenger plane collides midair with military helicopter in Washington DC
An American Airlines plane carrying 60 passengers and four crew collided with a military helicopter during landing at Ronald Reagan National Airport near Washington on Wednesday, causing both aircraft to crash into the Potomac River. A number of professional figure skaters, including former world champions Yevgenia Shishkova and Vadim Naumov, were on board. There was no confirmed information on casualties. France 24, January 30

People in England with severe dust mite allergy to be offered daily pill on NHS
Thousands of people in England who live with severe dust mite allergy are to be offered a first-of-its-kind daily pill to treat the condition on the NHS. In final draft guidance published on Thursday, the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence has given the green light to a drug shown to reduce symptoms and improve quality of life. The tablet - 12 SQ-HDM SLIT, also known as Acarizax and made by ALK-Abelló - works by increasing the body’s resistance to house dust mites and is of particular benefit to people whose symptoms do not respond enough to treatment such as steroid nasal sprays and antihistamines. By taking a regular fixed amount of house dust mite allergy extract every day, the body can become less sensitive to the effect of dust mites, cutting the symptoms of the allergic reaction over time. The Guardian, January 30

Putin says peace talks with Ukraine possible, but not with Zelensky
Russian President Vladimir Putin said on Tuesday that his country could hold peace talks with Ukraine, but ruled out speaking directly with President Volodymyr Zelensky, whom he called "illegitimate". The Ukrainian leader responded by saying that Putin was "afraid" of negotiations and was using "cynical tricks" to prolong the nearly three-year conflict. US President Donald Trump has put pressure on both sides to end the fighting since coming into office on January 20, threatening tougher sanctions on Russia while claiming that Zelensky is ready to negotiate a "deal". "If (Zelensky) wants to participate in the negotiations, I will allocate people to take part," Putin said, calling the Ukrainian leader "illegitimate" because his presidential term expired during martial law. "If there is a desire to negotiate and find a compromise, let anyone lead the negotiations there … Naturally, we will strive for what suits us, what corresponds to our interests," he added. Zelensky said that there was a chance to achieve "real peace" but that the Kremlin chief was frustrating efforts to stop the fighting. France 24, January 28

Chaos and uncertainty after Trump freezes spending
A federal judge yesterday temporarily blocked an order by President Trump to freeze trillions of dollars in federal grants and loans. Separately, Democratic attorneys general in 22 states and the District of Columbia filed a lawsuit against the order, saying Trump had gone far beyond his legal powers. Even before 5pm, when the freeze was to take effect, a variety of systems and programs were disrupted, leaving millions unsure if they would lose access to jobs, services and health care. Trump’s order, which has led to confusion and outrage, is part of an effort to remake the government in his image, following sweeping cuts to international aid that he introduced last week and an effort to scuttle any government policy or program that he and his allies might call “woke”. The White House says government money should not “advance Marxist equity, transgenderism and Green New Deal social engineering.” New York Times, January 29

Lord Mandelson ‘to be confirmed as US ambassador despite China claims’
Lord Mandelson is expected to be confirmed as Britain’s ambassador to the US despite scrutiny over his links to China and the possibility of President Trump blocking the appointment. The Labour grandee has received “agrément” from the US government to serve as the UK’s representative in Washington, effectively an agreement in principle. It means that he is unlikely to be blocked by Trump, but his role must still be formally signed off by the US president. His appointment looked uncertain after Chris LaCivita, a senior campaign adviser to Trump, called Mandelson an “absolute moron” and questioned the decision to replace Dame Karen Pierce, who has held the role since 2020. Mandelson was critical of Trump during his first administration. The Times, January 28

Reeves expected to back Heathrow expansion plans
Rachel Reeves is set to announce a series of major infrastructure projects in a speech in which she is also expected to back plans for a third runway at Heathrow Airport. The chancellor will also outline plans to create "Europe's Silicon Valley" between Oxford and Cambridge, reaffirming support for a railway between the two university cities. The series of announcements come as the chancellor faces mounting pressure to deliver on the government's main pledge to grow the UK economy in order to boost living standards. A move to encourage a planning application for the expansion of Heathrow is likely to spark strong opposition, but Reeves will say the quest for growth "will not come without a fight". The Conservatives have criticised Labour's plans as "hastily cobbled together". On Wednesday, Reeves will declare that the UK's economy has "huge potential" but will add "for too long, that potential has been held back". BBC news, January 29

UK ministers plan to subsidise EV loans to drive sales
UK ministers are drawing up plans to subsidise electric car purchases by guaranteeing consumer loans, as they look at ways to drive up sales that remain stubbornly below official targets. The government has opened private discussions with the auto finance sector to try to increase the availability of low-interest or interest-free loans to help boost the take-up of electric vehicles, according to government and industry figures. One option being discussed is for the state to underwrite private sector loans to reduce the monthly repayments to help bring EV purchase costs to levels closer to petrol or diesel vehicles, the people said. The move would be welcomed by the car industry - which has struggled to sell EVs in volumes required by government targets -- and would be tantamount to an admission that the consumer subsidies scrapped in 2022 were phased out too early. Financial Times, January 29

Roman Abramovich may owe HMRC £1bn for unpaid taxes, analysis shows
Roman Abramovich, the billionaire Russian oligarch, may owe British tax authorities as much as £1bn, according to analysis of documents that suggests his companies failed to pay tax on profits made through an elaborate offshore investment scheme. Leaked papers and court filings shed new light on how the income from a $6bn (£4.8bn) cash pile amassed by one of the world’s richest men was managed. The former owner of Chelsea FC entrusted nearly half of his fortune to more than 200 hedge funds, including some of the world’s most prestigious money managers, using a circuitous structure routed through Cyprus and the British Virgin Islands, the files show. The structure endured until at least 2022, when Abramovich was among a group of powerful Kremlin allies hit with sanctions by western governments in response to the full-scale invasion of Ukraine. The Guardian, January 29

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Nuclear

The awakening of a new nuclear power