The nuclear ban treaty has been signed by 122 countries but is strongly opposed by the US, Russia, and other states with nuclear arms. Photo: Getty ImagesThe risk of nuclear weapons being used is at its highest since World War 2, a senior UN security expert says, calling it an "urgent" issue that the world should take more seriously. It is strongly opposed by the United States, Russia, and other states with nuclear arms. Cuba also ratified the treaty in 2018, 56 years after the Cuban missile crisis, a 13-day Cold War face-off between Moscow and Washington that marked the closest the world had ever come to nuclear war. Dwan said the world should not ignore the danger of nuclear weapons.

Source: Otago Daily Times May 21, 2019 22:30 UTC