A rocket launches from missile system as part of drills at the Plesetsk facility in north-western Russia, December 9, 2020. Russian Defense Ministry Press Service via AP
A rocket launches from missile system as part of drills at the Plesetsk facility in north-western Russia, December 9, 2020. Russian Defense Ministry Press Service via AP
A rocket launches from missile system as part of drills at the Plesetsk facility in north-western Russia, December 9, 2020. Russian Defense Ministry Press Service via AP
A rocket launches from missile system as part of drills at the Plesetsk facility in north-western Russia, December 9, 2020. Russian Defense Ministry Press Service via AP

Pope Francis and UN chief talk up long-shot nuclear treaty


James Reinl
  • English
  • Arabic

Pope Francis and UN chief Antonio Guterres talked up a global treaty against nuclear weapons that came into force on Friday, although it appears unlikely to spur a quick reduction in stockpiles of doomsday weapons.

Campaigners against nuclear arms celebrated as the 2017 Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons (TPNW) came into effect. Mr Guterres hailed it as an "important step" after Pope Francis called on more governments to sign the accord.

The treaty has been signed by 86 countries, but the United States, Russia, China and other nuclear-armed powers have not taken part and show no signs of scrapping their atomic arsenals any time soon.

“The TPNW is an important step towards the goal of a world free of nuclear weapons and a strong demonstration of support for multilateral approaches to nuclear disarmament,” Mr Guterres said.

“Nuclear weapons pose growing dangers and the world needs urgent action to ensure their elimination and prevent the catastrophic human and environmental consequences any use would cause.”

Pope Francis voiced support for the treaty on Wednesday, calling on countries to sign up and show determination to achieve the nuclear-free, peaceful world that “humanity needs so very much today”.

Anti-nuclear activists around the world marked the treaty coming into force, including members of the International Campaign to Abolish Nuclear Weapons, which won the Nobel Peace Prize in 2017.

A petition from survivors of the 1945 atomic bombings of Japanese cities Hiroshima and Nagasaki gathered nearly 14 million signatures in support of the new treaty this month, according to The Asahi Shimbun.

The treaty came into force 90 days after it was ratified by Honduras, the 50th country to do so. It prohibits the development, manufacture, possession and use of nuclear arms – effectively banning the weapons.

But the treaty has not been signed by – and does not apply to – any of the states that already have nuclear arms: the US, Russia, China, Britain, France, India, Pakistan and North Korea.

Officials in the new US administration of President Joe Biden say they aim to extend the New Start arms control treaty with Russia, which limits nuclear warhead deployments by the world’s top two nuclear powers and which expires on February 4.

But the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute, an arms watchdog, said in its latest annual report that Russia, the US and other nuclear powers all “continue to modernise their nuclear arsenals”.

Marathon results

Men:

 1. Titus Ekiru(KEN) 2:06:13 

2. Alphonce Simbu(TAN) 2:07:50 

3. Reuben Kipyego(KEN) 2:08:25 

4. Abel Kirui(KEN) 2:08:46 

5. Felix Kemutai(KEN) 2:10:48  

Women:

1. Judith Korir(KEN) 2:22:30 

2. Eunice Chumba(BHR) 2:26:01 

3. Immaculate Chemutai(UGA) 2:28:30 

4. Abebech Bekele(ETH) 2:29:43 

5. Aleksandra Morozova(RUS) 2:33:01  

Non-oil%20trade
%3Cp%3ENon-oil%20trade%20between%20the%20UAE%20and%20Japan%20grew%20by%2034%20per%20cent%20over%20the%20past%20two%20years%2C%20according%20to%20data%20from%20the%20Federal%20Competitiveness%20and%20Statistics%20Centre.%C2%A0%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3EIn%2010%20years%2C%20it%20has%20reached%20a%20total%20of%20Dh524.4%20billion.%C2%A0%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3ECars%20topped%20the%20list%20of%20the%20top%20five%20commodities%20re-exported%20to%20Japan%20in%202022%2C%20with%20a%20value%20of%20Dh1.3%20billion.%C2%A0%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3EJewellery%20and%20ornaments%20amounted%20to%20Dh150%20million%20while%20precious%20metal%20scraps%20amounted%20to%20Dh105%20million.%C2%A0%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3ERaw%20aluminium%20was%20ranked%20first%20among%20the%20top%20five%20commodities%20exported%20to%20Japan.%C2%A0%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3ETop%20of%20the%20list%20of%20commodities%20imported%20from%20Japan%20in%202022%20was%20cars%2C%20with%20a%20value%20of%20Dh20.08%20billion.%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
Scores in brief:

Day 1

New Zealand (1st innings) 153 all out (66.3 overs) - Williamson 63, Nicholls 28, Yasir 3-54, Haris 2-11, Abbas 2-13, Hasan 2-38

Pakistan (1st innings) 59-2 (23 overs)

The specs: 2018 Volkswagen Teramont

Price, base / as tested Dh137,000 / Dh189,950

Engine 3.6-litre V6

Gearbox Eight-speed automatic

Power 280hp @ 6,200rpm

Torque 360Nm @ 2,750rpm

Fuel economy, combined 11.7L / 100km

Our legal consultant

Name: Dr Hassan Mohsen Elhais

Position: legal consultant with Al Rowaad Advocates and Legal Consultants.

RACE CARD AND SELECTIONS

5pm: Maiden (PA) Dh80,000 1,200m

5,30pm: Wathba Stallions Cup Handicap (PA) Dh70,000 1,200m

6pm: The President’s Cup Listed (TB) Dh380,000 1,400m

6.30pm: The President’s Cup Group One (PA) Dh2,500,000 2,200m

7pm: Arabian Triple Crown Listed (PA) Dh230,000 1,600m

7.30pm: Handicap (PA) Dh80,000 1,400m

 

The National selections

5pm: RB Hot Spot

5.30pm: Dahess D’Arabie

6pm: Taamol

6.30pm: Rmmas

7pm: RB Seqondtonone

7.30pm: AF Mouthirah

Blackpink World Tour [Born Pink] In Cinemas

Starring: Rose, Jisoo, Jennie, Lisa

Directors: Min Geun, Oh Yoon-Dong

Rating: 3/5

UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
While you're here
Fifa Club World Cup quarter-final

Kashima Antlers 3 (Nagaki 49’, Serginho 69’, Abe 84’)
Guadalajara 2 (Zaldivar 03’, Pulido 90')

The National's picks

4.35pm: Tilal Al Khalediah
5.10pm: Continous
5.45pm: Raging Torrent
6.20pm: West Acre
7pm: Flood Zone
7.40pm: Straight No Chaser
8.15pm: Romantic Warrior
8.50pm: Calandogan
9.30pm: Forever Young

The specs
 
Engine: 3.0-litre six-cylinder turbo
Power: 398hp from 5,250rpm
Torque: 580Nm at 1,900-4,800rpm
Transmission: Eight-speed auto
Fuel economy, combined: 6.5L/100km
On sale: December
Price: From Dh330,000 (estimate)