Plant Security

Italy's parliament has approved a law paving the way for the country's return to nuclear power, nearly four decades after Italians voted to shut down nuclear plants following the 1987 referendum triggered by Chernobyl. The move marks a major energy policy shift as European countries reassess nuclear energy amid energy security and climate concerns. Reaction is mixed, with supporters hailing it as pragmatic and critics citing Italy's seismic risk and past referendums.

President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said Ukraine used its long-range capabilities overnight to strike two Russian defense plants, in the Tula and Voronezh regions, in response to Russian attacks on Ukrainian civilians. He also said Security Service of Ukraine units carried out effective operations over the past 24 hours, framing the actions as part of Kyiv's continuing retaliation campaign.

Ukraine's Defense Forces carried out overnight strikes deep inside Russia, hitting two defense plants in the Tula and Voronezh regions, according to Ukrainian officials. The Security Service of Ukraine also reported hitting four oil depots in Russia's Krasnodar region, including facilities linked to LUKOIL-Yugnefteprodukt, Edelweiss-95, Din-Yug-Oil and Angelinskaya, in what Kyiv describes as a campaign against Russia's military and fuel infrastructure.

Data centers, power plants and chip facilities for artificial intelligence are being built across the United States at a pace that could surpass any previous infrastructure boom in the country's history. Analysts point to massive capital commitments from tech companies racing to secure computing power, raising questions about electricity demand, grid strain and whether the investment will pay off.

Poland has offered to host a production plant for Patriot missile systems intended to support Ukraine's air defenses. The proposal would move manufacturing of the US-German made interceptors onto NATO territory close to the front line. Supporters see it as a way to secure steady supply for Ukraine despite Russian threats against Western defense sites, while critics warn it could draw retaliation.

China currently supplies up to 70% of the battery-grade lithium chemicals used in Europe, and a German recycling company has opened a new plant it hopes will help cut that dependence. The company's process recovers lithium from batteries, though significant obstacles remain before it can make a real dent in imports. The project is being watched as a test case for Europe's broader push to secure homegrown supplies of critical raw materials for the electric vehicle and battery industries.

Researchers at the New York Botanical Garden have published a series of papers in the journal Plants, People, Planet arguing that growing threats to plant diversity are narrowing the options for building healthier, more resilient food systems. The papers explain why food plant diversity matters and set out a vision for collaboration between scientists, growers and communities to protect it. The warning highlights how the loss of crop varieties and wild relatives could undermine global food security.

CGTN's RAZOR programme explores whether solar technology can play a role in protecting global water supplies. The report examines how solar power could be used to address water scarcity, from powering desalination plants to pumping and purification systems. As droughts and water shortages intensify worldwide, the intersection of renewable energy and water security is drawing renewed attention from researchers and policymakers.

Mission-K 2026 is set to take place in Kalkar, Germany, drawing Europe's space and defence community to an unusual venue. The town is known for its former nuclear power plant turned leisure complex, giving the event a striking backdrop. Organisers are positioning the gathering at the intersection of European security policy and the space industry.

A new study reports that pastoralist communities in Uganda are increasingly relying on wild plants to cope with food shortages. Researchers say the shift highlights how climate pressures and declining livestock livelihoods are pushing herders to forage for alternative food sources. The findings raise concerns about food security and nutrition in Uganda's pastoral regions, where drought and environmental change continue to disrupt traditional ways of life.

The play 'Plant Security' has opened at Buckham Alley Theatre in Flint, Michigan, according to local ABC affiliate WJRT. The production is the venue's latest staging, though details about the show's plot, cast, and run dates have not been widely reported. Local audiences following the theatre's season now have a new production to see.

Ukraine's steel industry, once among Europe's largest, has been devastated by the war, with major plants damaged or shut and output sharply reduced. Discussion is focusing on how production could be rebuilt, including repair of damaged facilities, securing energy and raw materials, and the conditions needed for plants like those in Mariupol and Kryvyi Rih to return to operation.