UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres addresses the General Assembly in New York. Reuters
UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres addresses the General Assembly in New York. Reuters
UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres addresses the General Assembly in New York. Reuters
UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres addresses the General Assembly in New York. Reuters

Stop the 'madness' of new nuclear arms race, UN chief Guterres says


Adla Massoud
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UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres on Tuesday warned of a new nuclear race that poses the threat of “annihilation” as nuclear-armed nations modernise their arsenals with faster, more accurate and stealthier bombs.

Speaking on the International Day for the Total Elimination of Nuclear Weapons, which the UN General Assembly has marked since 2013, Mr Guterres said the world must reverse course as countries look to develop or expand nuclear capabilities.

“Any use of a nuclear weapon – any time, anywhere and in any context – would unleash a humanitarian catastrophe of epic proportions,” he said.

“Nuclear sabres are again being rattled. This is madness.”

The UN chief said the number of nuclear weapons on the planet could rise for the first time in decades, warning the shadow of “annihilation” is hanging over the world.

In June, the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (Sipri) reported that the world's nuclear powers, China in particular, increased investment in their arsenals for a third consecutive year in 2022.

While the total number of nuclear warheads held by Britain, China, France, India, Israel, North Korea, Pakistan, Russia and the US had fallen about 1.6 per cent to 12,512 over the previous year, Sipri said the declining trend was on the cusp of a reversal.

US and Russia nuclear missiles – in pictures

  • A rocket launches from a missile system as part of a ground-based intercontinental ballistic missile test in December launched from the Plesetsk facility in northwestern Russia. AP
    A rocket launches from a missile system as part of a ground-based intercontinental ballistic missile test in December launched from the Plesetsk facility in northwestern Russia. AP
  • Russia published a revamped national security concept in January that states Moscow has lowered the threshold for using nuclear weapons to counter what it sees as a growing military threat. Reuters
    Russia published a revamped national security concept in January that states Moscow has lowered the threshold for using nuclear weapons to counter what it sees as a growing military threat. Reuters
  • Russia said on October 1 it had launched a new hypersonic cruise missile from a submarine, the latest test of emerging weapons President Vladimir Putin has dubbed 'invincible'. AFP
    Russia said on October 1 it had launched a new hypersonic cruise missile from a submarine, the latest test of emerging weapons President Vladimir Putin has dubbed 'invincible'. AFP
  • A Russian Topol-M intercontinental ballistic missile drives through Red Square in Moscow in May 2009. AFP
    A Russian Topol-M intercontinental ballistic missile drives through Red Square in Moscow in May 2009. AFP
  • A nuclear missile silo is opened for inspection by Russian rocket forces at a site 70 kilometres from Saratov on November 12, 1994.
    A nuclear missile silo is opened for inspection by Russian rocket forces at a site 70 kilometres from Saratov on November 12, 1994.
  • Master Sgt Tad Wagner looks over an inert Minuteman 3 missile in a US training launch tube at Minot Air Force Base, North Dakota. AP
    Master Sgt Tad Wagner looks over an inert Minuteman 3 missile in a US training launch tube at Minot Air Force Base, North Dakota. AP
  • An unarmed Minuteman III intercontinental ballistic missile launches during a developmental test on February 5, 2020, at Vandenberg Air Force Base, California. AFP
    An unarmed Minuteman III intercontinental ballistic missile launches during a developmental test on February 5, 2020, at Vandenberg Air Force Base, California. AFP
  • A deactivated Titan II nuclear ICMB is seen in a silo at the Titan Missile Museum in Green Valley, Arizona, on May 12, 2015. AFP
    A deactivated Titan II nuclear ICMB is seen in a silo at the Titan Missile Museum in Green Valley, Arizona, on May 12, 2015. AFP
  • A Russian strategic nuclear forces officer inspects a launching tube in Drovjanaja, Siberia, in 1992. AFP
    A Russian strategic nuclear forces officer inspects a launching tube in Drovjanaja, Siberia, in 1992. AFP

The UN chief's comments came on the final day of this year's UNGA in New York, where world leaders have been gathered for the past week.

Mr Guterres also called for introduction of the Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban Treaty, adopted by the General Assembly in 1996 but still not in force because several key countries have not joined in.

The treaty has 196 member states. Of these, 186 have signed it and 178 have ratified it. The pact has not taken effect because it still needs ratification by eight nations – the US, China, Egypt, Iran, Israel, North Korea, India and Pakistan – that had nuclear power or research reactors.

The UN says frustration is growing from member states over the perceived slow pace of nuclear disarmament. Concerns are being raised about the catastrophic humanitarian fallout of deploying even a single nuclear weapon, let alone a regional or global nuclear conflict.

Russia has made threats it could use tactical nuclear bombs in the war in Ukraine and President Vladimir Putin has sent such weapons to Belarus, escalating geopolitical tensions.

Iran is widely believed to be developing the potential to build its own weapons. Tehran has long denied this and says its nuclear programme is peaceful.

Mr Guterres said the framework for stopping nuclear proliferation and advancing disarmament has eroded.

To get back on the track towards a reduction of nuclear weapons, he called for countries to commit to never using atom bombs “under any circumstances”.

“The world has spent too long under the shadow of nuclear weapons. Let's step back from the edge of disaster,” he said.

Key findings of Jenkins report
  • Founder of the Muslim Brotherhood, Hassan al Banna, "accepted the political utility of violence"
  • Views of key Muslim Brotherhood ideologue, Sayyid Qutb, have “consistently been understood” as permitting “the use of extreme violence in the pursuit of the perfect Islamic society” and “never been institutionally disowned” by the movement.
  • Muslim Brotherhood at all levels has repeatedly defended Hamas attacks against Israel, including the use of suicide bombers and the killing of civilians.
  • Laying out the report in the House of Commons, David Cameron told MPs: "The main findings of the review support the conclusion that membership of, association with, or influence by the Muslim Brotherhood should be considered as a possible indicator of extremism."

Padmaavat

Director: Sanjay Leela Bhansali

Starring: Ranveer Singh, Deepika Padukone, Shahid Kapoor, Jim Sarbh

3.5/5

Results

Ashraf Ghani 50.64 per cent

Abdullah Abdullah 39.52 per cent

Gulbuddin Hekmatyar 3.85 per cent

Rahmatullah Nabil 1.8 per cent

Groom and Two Brides

Director: Elie Semaan

Starring: Abdullah Boushehri, Laila Abdallah, Lulwa Almulla

Rating: 3/5

MATCH INFO

Asian Champions League, last 16, first leg:

Al Ain 2 Al Duhail 4

Second leg:

Tuesday, Abdullah bin Khalifa Stadium, Doha. Kick off 7.30pm

Libya's Gold

UN Panel of Experts found regime secretly sold a fifth of the country's gold reserves. 

The panel’s 2017 report followed a trail to West Africa where large sums of cash and gold were hidden by Abdullah Al Senussi, Qaddafi’s former intelligence chief, in 2011.

Cases filled with cash that was said to amount to $560m in 100 dollar notes, that was kept by a group of Libyans in Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso.

A second stash was said to have been held in Accra, Ghana, inside boxes at the local offices of an international human rights organisation based in France.

Electric scooters: some rules to remember
  • Riders must be 14-years-old or over
  • Wear a protective helmet
  • Park the electric scooter in designated parking lots (if any)
  • Do not leave electric scooter in locations that obstruct traffic or pedestrians
  • Solo riders only, no passengers allowed
  • Do not drive outside designated lanes
STAY%2C%20DAUGHTER
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2025 Fifa Club World Cup groups

Group A: Palmeiras, Porto, Al Ahly, Inter Miami.

Group B: Paris Saint-Germain, Atletico Madrid, Botafogo, Seattle.

Group C: Bayern Munich, Auckland City, Boca Juniors, Benfica.

Group D: Flamengo, ES Tunis, Chelsea, (Leon banned).

Group E: River Plate, Urawa, Monterrey, Inter Milan.

Group F: Fluminense, Borussia Dortmund, Ulsan, Mamelodi Sundowns.

Group G: Manchester City, Wydad, Al Ain, Juventus.

Group H: Real Madrid, Al Hilal, Pachuca, Salzburg.

The specs

Engine: 4.0-litre V8 twin-turbocharged and three electric motors

Power: Combined output 920hp

Torque: 730Nm at 4,000-7,000rpm

Transmission: 8-speed dual-clutch automatic

Fuel consumption: 11.2L/100km

On sale: Now, deliveries expected later in 2025

Price: expected to start at Dh1,432,000

WITHIN%20SAND
%3Cp%3EDirector%3A%20Moe%20Alatawi%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3EStarring%3A%20Ra%E2%80%99ed%20Alshammari%2C%20Adwa%20Fahd%2C%20Muhand%20Alsaleh%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3ERating%3A%203%2F5%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
CREW
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EDirector%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3ERajesh%20A%20Krishnan%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EStarring%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3ETabu%2C%20Kareena%20Kapoor%20Khan%2C%20Kriti%20Sanon%26nbsp%3B%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3ERating%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%203.5%2F5%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
Gothia Cup 2025

4,872 matches 

1,942 teams

116 pitches

76 nations

26 UAE teams

15 Lebanese teams

2 Kuwaiti teams

Name: Peter Dicce

Title: Assistant dean of students and director of athletics

Favourite sport: soccer

Favourite team: Bayern Munich

Favourite player: Franz Beckenbauer

Favourite activity in Abu Dhabi: scuba diving in the Northern Emirates 

 

Results

2.30pm: Expo 2020 Dubai – Conditions (PA) Dh80,000 (Dirt) 1,600m; Winner: Barakka, Ray Dawson (jockey), Ahmad bin Harmash (trainer)

3.05pm: Now Or Never – Maiden (TB) Dh82,500 (Turf) 1,600m; Winner: One Idea, Andrea Atzeni, Doug Watson

3.40pm: This Is Our Time – Handicap (TB) Dh82,500 (D) 1,600m; Winner: Perfect Balance, Tadhg O’Shea, Bhupat Seemar

4.15pm: Visit Expo 2020 – Handicap (TB) Dh87,500 (T) 1,600m; Winner: Kaheall, Richard Mullen, Salem bin Ghadayer

4.50pm: The World In One Place – Handicap (TB) Dh95,000 (T) 1.900m; Winner: Castlebar, Adrie de Vries, Helal Al Alawi

5.25pm: Vision – Handicap (TB) Dh95,000 (D) 1,200m; Winner: Shanty Star, Richard Mullen, Rashed Bouresly

6pm: Al Wasl Plaza – Handicap (TB) Dh95,000 (T) 1,200m; Winner: Jadwal, Dane O’Neill, Doug Watson

Updated: September 26, 2023, 4:13 PM