Latest news with #DoomsdayClock
Time of India
2 days ago
- Science
- Time of India
80 years after Hiroshima, global tensions flare - doomsday clock inches closer to midnight
The Doomsday Clock , a symbolic gauge of how close humanity is to global catastrophe , remains set at 89 seconds to midnight, the closest point in its 77-year history. Maintained by the Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists , the clock reflects mounting risks posed by nuclear tensions , climate change , and disruptive technologies. Its unchanged status in 2025 underscores the scientists' continued concern that the world remains dangerously unstable. Escalating Nuclear and Climate Concerns At the forefront of this assessment are rising geopolitical tensions . Ongoing conflicts such as the Russia-Ukraine war and strained relations between global superpowers including China and the United States have worsened the nuclear threat landscape. The erosion of key arms control agreements and a lack of new diplomatic efforts raise the risk of miscalculation or escalation. Productivity Tool Zero to Hero in Microsoft Excel: Complete Excel guide By Metla Sudha Sekhar View Program Finance Introduction to Technical Analysis & Candlestick Theory By Dinesh Nagpal View Program Finance Financial Literacy i e Lets Crack the Billionaire Code By CA Rahul Gupta View Program Digital Marketing Digital Marketing Masterclass by Neil Patel By Neil Patel View Program Finance Technical Analysis Demystified- A Complete Guide to Trading By Kunal Patel View Program Productivity Tool Excel Essentials to Expert: Your Complete Guide By Study at home View Program Artificial Intelligence AI For Business Professionals Batch 2 By Ansh Mehra View Program In parallel, the effects of climate change continue to intensify. Global temperatures have hit record highs, while wildfires, floods, and droughts disrupt economies and displace millions. Despite international agreements like the Paris Accord, scientists warn that global emissions are not decreasing fast enough to prevent irreversible damage. The Bulletin emphasizes that climate inaction by major nations is contributing to a slow-moving but devastating crisis. Technology and Global Stability at a Crossroads The rapid growth of artificial intelligence and biotechnology adds another layer of uncertainty. Concerns are mounting over the lack of regulation surrounding AI, especially in military and surveillance applications. Meanwhile, advances in synthetic biology and the risk of lab accidents or bioterrorism continue to pose threats, particularly in the aftermath of the COVID-19 pandemic. The decision to hold the clock at 89 seconds sends a clear message: the world is still in a state of emergency. The Bulletin calls on global leaders to step back from competition and commit to real cooperation, diplomacy, and science backed policymaking. As the symbolic midnight draws ever nearer, the choice to act or to ignore warning signs will determine humanity's future. Live Events FAQs: Q1. What is the Doomsday Clock? A1. The Doomsday Clock is a symbolic timepiece created by the Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists in 1947. It represents how close humanity is to global catastrophe, with "midnight" symbolizing the point of disaster. Q2. Why is it set to 89 seconds to midnight? A2. The clock remains at 89 seconds to midnight due to persistent threats such as nuclear war, climate change, and emerging technologies. This is the closest it has ever been, indicating extreme global danger.
Scotsman
2 days ago
- Politics
- Scotsman
Readers' Letters: Bridge the attainment gap with pipe bands in schools
A reader supports calls for the formation of pipe bands in schools to boost academic performance Sign up to our daily newsletter – Regular news stories and round-ups from around Scotland direct to your inbox Sign up Thank you for signing up! Did you know with a Digital Subscription to The Scotsman, you can get unlimited access to the website including our premium content, as well as benefiting from fewer ads, loyalty rewards and much more. Learn More Sorry, there seem to be some issues. Please try again later. Submitting... Professor Roderick Paisley (Scotsman, 5 August) is correct in noting the remarkable benefits offered to schools and their communities by forming pipe bands – and, of course, by sourcing serious cash for their continuing development. There are big lessons to be learned from the successes of Preston Lodge High School in East Lothian over the last decade or so, whether in terms of musical or academic performance. What has been achieved through imaginative public/private partnership deserves to be known across Scotland and beyond, as Preston Lodge proves itself to be a school well worthy of the accolade 'comprehensive' Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad Through the building up of discipline, ability, community and huge good fun the young people of Preston Lodge's bands have proved themselves willing learners to their teachers, giving so much to their fine school while enhancing so very clearly their own life prospects. Research found teenagers at Preston Lodge High who learned a traditional Scottish instrument outperformed their classmates in exams (Pictures: Jeff) If the SNP government is remotely serious about closing Scotland's dismal attainment gap in the short to medium term, it should pack its education boffins onto the Waverley to Prestonpans train and take a ride. This would prove to be a short journey of considerable discovery. Rev Dr Robin Hill, Longniddry, East Lothian Learn lesson On 1 August, five days before the 80th anniversary of America dropping the first nuclear bomb on Hiroshima (marked yesterday), in response to an ill-advised tweet by Dmitry Medvedev, Deputy Chair of the Security Council of the Russian Federation, President Trump ordered two ballistic nuclear submarines closer to Russia. A few days earlier the commander of the US Army in Europe, General Christopher Donoghue, boasted that he could 'take down' the Russian enclave of Kaliningrad in a shock and awe operation. Then Lindsey Graham, the Republican senator for South Carolina urged Trump to 'kick Putin's ass'. Not to be outdone Zelensky said 'if we don't stand firm Putin will advance further than Ukraine'. The hotline between Moscow and Washington is no longer in use, the Doomsday Clock is 89 seconds to midnight, and the Hiroshima bomb which killed hundreds of thousands is a pin-prick compared with the monstrous nuclear arsenals of Russia and America. We are in danger of sleepwalking into Armageddon. William Loneskie, Lauder, Scottish Borders Holocaust denial Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad The egregious situation unfolding in Gaza is endangering global knowledge and understanding of the Holocaust. As a long-time, proactive supporter of the rights of Palestinians to self-determination and as grandmother to two Jewish boys, I fear that Holocaust denial is likely to gather hideous momentum due to the actions of the Israeli government. The asymmetric barrage of death inflicted on Gaza – alongside our present climate of 'fake news' and binary stances invoked by social media – is on course to re-shape our understanding of history in all its diabolic manifestations. Susie Macleod, Ceres, Fife Flawed tax Replacements for the much-derided council tax seem to have been touted forever. A spokesman from the Jimmy Reid Foundation, put it well: 'We've had consultations, commissions and countless commitments, but little has changed.' (Scotsman, 6 August) Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad And meanwhile, cash-strapped councils continue to struggle to provide much needed services, not least libraries and education. Taxation based on outdated property bands is clumsy and unfair. The trouble is that no system seems foolproof. My own view is that a tax system based on land valuation is the least flawed option. Land is something we all share, however infinitesimally and releases our taxes from a base in either property or income. We can only hope that after decades of consultations, commissions and countless commitments, everything will have changed, for the better. Ian Petrie, Edinburgh Forbes' exit The valedictory praise heaped on Kate Forbes could not have been greater had politicians and journalists been writing obituaries. Certainly, Ms Forbes is a good communicator and made encouraging noises about Scotland needing to nurture private business, which generates the wealth that the financially incontinent SNP regime spends at will. However, two queries need to be addressed. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad First, what did Ms Forbes actually achieve in government, beyond making soothing comments about intent? There is nothing visible to the naked eye. Second, her words that are sensible in comparison with pretty much anything any other SNP politician says were vitiated by her clear attachment to the falsehoods that underpin what passes for SNP policy. As an example, when, a couple of years ago, Ian Blackford revived the SNP lie that HM Treasury would continue to fund pensions in an independent Scotland, Ms Forbes said that she would not presume to disagree with him. Further, she may or may not have agreed with the SNP leadership's espousal of scientifically illiterate 'gender' theory, but we shall probably never know. She managed to absent herself from public discussion of that. Perhaps that is evidence of her political astuteness, but ordinary voters can scarcely find it a credible stance for an allegedly principled politician. Jill Stephenson, Edinburgh New deputy With Kate Forbes out of the picture, John Swinney will need to have someone else for the position of deputy leader ahead of the upcoming Holyrood election. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad This person needs to have a solid track record of success. Enter Jenny Gilruth, the Education Secretary? She has decreased the attainment gap between rich and poor pupils, Nicola Sturgeon's dream. In true SNP style, this was only by a rather meagre 0.1 per cent but in SNP circles this qualifies as a huge success. Don't forget all talk of Kate Forbes being leadership material was originally only based upon her short-notice speech when she replaced Derek McKay after his enforced resignation. This sums the SNP up in one word: lightweight. Gerald Edwards, Glasgow Darien II Council chiefs in Edinburgh and Glasgow have no chance of meeting net zero targets by 2030 (Scotsman, 6 August), just as the SNP at Holyrood will fail to meet the 2045 goals. It appears not a single MSP is aware that the cost to decarbonise Scottish homes increased from the Green Party estimate of £31 billion to £130bn once Humza Yousaf dispensed with the services of Patrick Harvie as a minister. That debt is about a cost of over £50,000 for every Scottish household! Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad In addition, the total cost of meeting Scottish net zero goals will be around £1 trillion, which indicates Holyrood plans to inflict a Darien Scheme Mk2 on every Scottish taxpayer. Ian Moir, Castle Douglas, Dumfries & Galloway Bin day blunder On Sunday night, the UK was under an amber alert due to Storm Floris, with authorities urging the public to avoid unnecessary travel as train services were expected to be disrupted. Yet, come Monday morning – bin collection day – households were faced with a dilemma. With strong winds forecast for the afternoon, many were unsure whether to put their bins out or risk them becoming airborne hazard. Paper waste, collected only once a month, meant most households didn't want to miss the opportunity. Unfortunately, as predicted, the stormy winds arrived and paper bins began tipping over, sending cardboard and paper flying across streets and gardens. While such incidents aren't frequent, they're not unheard of either – especially in a country with decades-old waste collection practices and unpredictable weather. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad What's truly surprising is the lack of any clear guidance or contingency plans from the responsible authorities. In an age where weather alerts are timely and accurate, surely it's time for our waste collection services to adapt and communicate better with the public during adverse conditions. Imran M Khan, Cambuslang, South Lanarkshire Sign here In the 2024 general election, I stood as an independent candidate in the new constituency of Dunfermline and Dollar. I secured 323 votes. In good faith, I campaigned for a better Britain. In the event, Labour was gifted a parliamentary majority of 165, a totally demoralised and fragmented opposition, a lame and tame Speaker and considerable public goodwill. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad Despite such favourable political circumstances, Labour has squandered a unique opportunity. They promised so much, but have delivered little. Britain is considerably worse off at every level. Labour now stands accused of a massive electoral fraud. They must be brought to book. I owe it to 323 voters in Fife therefor to fully support the Parliamentary Petition to demand a general election now. Inevitably Starmer will remind his MP's that there are good reasons for them to protect him. He will lean on the gullible Speaker and he will brush off any petition of modest numbers. However if the petition reaches one million signatures, even Starmer, with little or no integrity, will have to acknowledge the inevitable. I urge every Scot to sign the petition, without hesitation. Graham Hadley, Dunfermline, Fife Write to The Scotsman
India.com
2 days ago
- Politics
- India.com
Doomsday clock ticks closer..., Nuclear war fears rise, three countries in spotlight, global fear grows as world edges to disaster, countries are....
Eighty years after the U.S. dropped atomic bombs on Hiroshima and Nagasaki, experts are warning that the world may once again be facing a similar danger. Tensions between the United States, Russia, and China are rising, and the 'Doomsday Clock' which is a symbol used to show how close we are to global disaster, has been moved closer to midnight. The U.S. bombed Hiroshima on August 6 and Nagasaki on August 9 in 1945. Even after the horrifying results of those attacks, the fear of nuclear war has never fully gone away. Speaking to Fox News, nuclear expert Rebeccah Heinrichs from the Hudson Institute said this is the first time the U.S. is facing two nuclear-armed rivals from Russia and China at the same time. She explained that both countries are building new nuclear weapons and are now working together against the United States. Because of this, the risk of nuclear war is higher than before. Doomsday Clock moves closer to midnight, experts warn of rising nuclear danger Nuclear expert Rebeccah Heinrichs says the current threat of nuclear war is even more serious than during the Cold War. At that time, the U.S. had only one major nuclear rival which is the the Soviet Union. But today, it faces two powerful opponents: Russia and China. Both countries are heavily investing in nuclear weapons and preparing for possible retaliation, which has made the situation more dangerous. What is the Doomsday Clock? Earlier this year, scientists moved the 'Doomsday Clock' forward, bringing it closer than ever to midnight, a symbolic time that represents global disaster, especially from nuclear war. The clock was set at just 89 seconds to midnight, the closest it has ever been in its 78-year history. This symbolic clock is maintained by a group of nuclear scientists and security experts from the Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists . Moving it forward shows that the world is facing an extreme and growing risk. Why has the Nuclear threat increased? While countries like North Korea and Iran are also causes for concern, the main nuclear threat today comes from the actions of Russia, China, and the United States. Russia has refused to follow key international nuclear agreements. China is rapidly expanding its nuclear weapons stockpile. The U.S. is also planning to grow its nuclear arsenal, which suggests that it believes small-scale nuclear weapon use can be controlled. A warning from history The Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists was founded in 1945 by scientists from the Manhattan Project, the team that developed the first nuclear bombs. They created the Doomsday Clock to warn the world about the dangers of nuclear weapons. Now, with major powers building up their arsenals and cooperation between Russia and China growing stronger, experts fear the world is heading down a very risky path, one that could lead to a nuclear disaster. What could be the solution? According to expert Rebeccah Heinrichs, the biggest danger is not how many nuclear weapons a country has, but how they choose to use them. She explained that Russia often threatens to use nuclear weapons to pressure Western countries into giving in to its demands. This kind of behavior lowers the global boundary for nuclear use and creates a serious risk for the entire world. Heinrichs believes the solution lies in clear and careful communication with Russia. She said it is important to send a strong message to Russian leaders that they will not succeed through nuclear blackmail, and that the United States has reliable and strong ways to respond if needed.
Fox News
3 days ago
- Politics
- Fox News
Fox News Politics Newsletter: Mamdani's 'Radical Positions' Alarm New Yorkers, Says Expert
Welcome to the Fox News Politics newsletter, with the latest updates on the Trump administration, Capitol Hill and more Fox News politics content. Here's what's happening… -Vance, Bondi, Patel to huddle at VP residence for Epstein strategy meeting -Russia and China tick Doomsday Clock toward midnight as Hiroshima bombing hits 80 years -Prediction market traders bet 'the Kevin's' are Trump's Fed chair picks New York City socialist mayoral candidate Zohran Mamdani's past stances on policing are a legitimate reason for New Yorkers to be concerned, despite his recent walkbacks, according to a New York City crime expert who spoke to Fox News Digital. "I think what scares a lot of New Yorkers about the policy positions taken by Zohran Mamdani over the years is that he has exhibited not just a lack of appreciation for the men and women that stand on that [police] line, but a visceral disdain for them, which has led him to push for things like defunding and dismantling the police," Rafael A. Mangual, senior fellow and head of research for policing and public safety at the Manhattan Institute, told Fox News Digital, shortly after a gunman killed four people in midtown Manhattan, including a NYPD police officer. "It's not so much as just that he said, well, I wanna allocate some of this money to other places. He has gone so far as to say that we should dismantle the entire department."…READ MORE. STAR WARS: Space-based missile-killing Golden Dome tech aims for crucial test before Trump leaves office: Lockheed Martin AIRSPACE ARMS RACE: Trump admin cuts red tape on commercial drones to compete with China's dominance of the market CHILLING POSTS: Pennsylvania man charged for allegedly threatening to kill Trump before he took office 'PATRIOTS' WANTED: Trump administration ends age cap for ICE officer positions in major recruitment drive 'WIDESPREAD ADOPTION': SCOOP: Trump admin, OpenAI partner to unleash artificial intelligence on federal government GONE WITH THE WIND: EXCLUSIVE: Trump admin nixes giant wind farm approved 'last minute' by Biden team TRUTH IS OUT THERE: Tulsi Gabbard tells podcaster aliens may be real: 'We're continuing to look for the truth' NUKES OF HAZARD: Russia and China tick Doomsday Clock toward midnight as Hiroshima bombing hits 80 years KREMLIN GAMBIT: Trump hails 'highly productive' talks with Putin despite no ceasefire, 'secondary tariffs' still on TESTING TRUMP: Russia, China practice destroying 'enemy' submarine in naval drill after Trump moves US nuclear assets 'ALARMING SIGN': NATO member scrambles jets after Russian drone attack near border, as Witkoff meets with Putin TIGHTENING CONTROLS: Italy law would regulate gender transition treatment for minors PALMETTO POLITICS: EXCLUSIVE: GOP governor nominee pushes redistricting to oust state's lone House Dem POWER PLAY POLITICS: GOP congressman vows 'all options are on the table' to stop US-wide redistricting war MIDTERM BATTLES: Senate Democrats are feverishly recruiting top candidates to win back majority in 2026 'THUGS': Trump blasts Schumer, Democrats as 'country-hating thugs' amid blockade on Senate nominees 'I DON'T CARE': MTG declares she's 'radically AMERICA FIRST,' telling those who are not, 'YOU are the enemy' LAWMAKERS LOCKED OUT: NYC Dems reportedly trapped after trying to access Brooklyn ICE facility RED FLAG DONOR: Virginia Dem gubernatorial candidate and ex-CIA officer took $50K from CCP-linked tycoon CITY HALL SHOWDOWN: Mamdani-style activist, liberal incumbent advance to Seattle mayoral runoff 'JUST CAN'T HAPPEN': NYC mayor flips script on Mamdani amid scramble to walk back anti-police rhetoric WARNING SIGNS: NYC gunman Shane Tamura seen angering police officers in bodycam video during 2023 arrest MOTOR CITY SHOWDOWN: Detroit mayoral race is set: councilmember vs. pastor SHE'S IN: Tennessee Sen. Marsha Blackburn launches campaign for governor Get the latest updates on the Trump administration and Congress, exclusive interviews and more on
India.com
3 days ago
- Politics
- India.com
World War 3: Doomsday clock inches closer to midnight as nuclear war imminent between these countries; experts says threat level for US is...
The Doomsday Clock is just 89 seconds shy of midnight. (File) The symbolic Doomsday Clock is closest to midnight–the hour when a global catastrophe such as a nuclear war could erupt on the planet– it has been since its inception about 78 years ago, after the US decimated the Japan's Hiroshima and Nagasaki with atomic bombs on August 6 and August 9, 1945, respectively– the only battlefield use of a nuclear weapon in history. How close are we to a nuclear war? Earlier, in January this year, the Bulletin of Atomic Scientists moved the Doomsday Clock, closer to midnight than its ever been in its 78-year history, signifying how close the world to a nuclear war in wake of the ongoing conflicts, especially the imminent war between the United States with China and Russia– the top three nuclear armed superpowers in the world today. The symbolic clock is just 89 seconds shy of midnight, which signifies an unprecedented threat level, higher than what was witnessed during the peak of the Cold War, when the US and USSR had nuclear weapons armed and aimed at each other. Why US faces a higher nuclear threat? According to Rebeccah Heinrichs, a nuclear expert and a senior fellow at Hudson Institute as well as the director of its Keystone Defense Initiative, the US is facing an unprecedented nuclear threat because this is the first time when its faced with two major nuclear-powered opponents, Russia and China, both of whom are rapidly developing new nuclear capabilities, and actively working together to counter Washington. 'The current nuclear threat environment is more than the pressure faced by the US during the Cold War . At that time, the US had only one nuclear rival in Soviet Union, but today China and Russia have have heavily invested in their nuclear capabilities, with the only goal being to thwart a US nuclear strike or make a preemptive one,' Heinrichs told Fox News. Which countries face the highest nuclear threat? As per experts, the US, Russia and China face the highest level of nuclear threat despite being three of biggest superpowers on the planet and the ones with largest nuclear stockpile. Smaller players like North Korea, and India and Pakistan are unlikely to resort to nuclear weapons, unless faced with an existential threat, while there are also concerns over Iran's alleged nuclear ambitions and Israel opting for the nuclear option, they say. Several western experts have blamed the increased threat level on Russia's alleged flouting of international nuclear treaties and China's insistence on expanding its nuclear arsenal, while other believe that the US under Donald Trump and his tariffs, is pushing Washington's rivals to enhance their nuclear capabilities. Despite growing nuclear threats from North Korea and concerns over the Iranian nuclear program, the threat level is limited to the three biggest players in the nuclear field: Russia, the US and China. The increased threat is attributed to Russia's refusal to abide by international nuclear treaties and China's insistence on expanding its nuclear arsenal. Is World War 3 imminent? Last month, Russia media reports, citing experts and analysts close to the Kremlin, claimed that NATO is preparing for a major conflict with Russia, amid heightened tensions between Moscow and the US-led Western powers due to the ongoing Russia-Ukraine war. Experts believe that such a conflict could potentially trigger World War 3 as Russia's allies like China would step in military, resulting in a global conflict. Its believed these reports are designed to prepare the Russian citizens for a major war with NATO, including a nuclear conflict.
