The Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists announced its symbolic “doomsday clock” has moved forward to 100 seconds to midnight, the closest to catastrophe that the scientists have judged the world to be at any point since its creation in 1947, at the outset of the Cold War. As long as nuclear weapons are available, it is inevitable they will one day be used, “by accident, miscalculation or design,” she said. Although some thought US President Donald Trump’s unique approach might bring North Korea to the negotiating table, no real progress has ensued, she said. The warning comes as nuclear arms control is in danger of dying out altogether. The Intermediate-range Nuclear Forces (INF) treaty lapsed in August after the US accused Russia of cheating and Trump said he would leave the 1987 treaty altogether.

Source: Taipei Times January 24, 2020 15:56 UTC