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Russia-Ukraine War pushes ‘Doomsday Clock’ closest point to midnight in history, scientists say

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Russia-Ukraine War pushes ‘Doomsday Clock’ closest point to midnight in history, scientists say

The continued warfare between Ukraine and Russia has pushed the “Doomsday Clock” as much as simply 90 seconds earlier than midnight – the closest level to cataclysm in historical past. 

The Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists, which unveiled the up to date clock on Tuesday, mentioned the Russia-Ukraine Struggle has performed an important position in upending world stability. 

“Russia’s thinly veiled threats to make use of nuclear weapons remind the world that escalation of the battle – accidentally, intention, or miscalculation – is a horrible danger,” the Bulletin mentioned in a press release that “the likelihood that the battle may spin out of anybody’s management stays excessive.” 

“We’re actually nearer to that doomsday,” former Mongolian president Elbegdorj Tsakhia mentioned Tuesday on the Bulletin of Atomic Scientists annual announcement score. He and former Eire President Mary Robinson joined scientists to underscore what they think about a gathering of a number of existential threats, with Russian chief Vladimir Putin’s actions and phrases chief amongst them.

RUSSIA’S NUCLEAR AGENCY HELPS MILITARY SIDESTEP SANCTIONS: REPORT

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“Individuals and scientists are warning us and we’ve to get up now,” he mentioned.

The Doomsday Clock is a logo created firstly of the Chilly Struggle in 1947 to characterize the specter of nuclear weapons, which, the Bulletin says have the potential to destroy civilization as we all know it.

The Bulletin has moved the clock 10 seconds nearer than final yr, making it the closest it has ever been to placing 12. It has been as a lot as 17 minutes from midnight after the tip of the Chilly Struggle however previously few years, the group has modified from counting down the minutes to midnight to counting down the seconds.

Final August, U.N. Secretary-Normal Antonio Guterres warned that the world as entered “a time of nuclear hazard not seen for the reason that peak of the Chilly Struggle.” 

Siegfried Hecker, from left, Daniel Holz, Sharon Squassoni, Mary Robinson and Elbegdorj Tsakhia with the Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists, take away a material protecting the Doomsday Clock earlier than a digital information convention on the Nationwide Press Membership in Washington, Tuesday, Jan. 24, 2023.
(AP Photograph/Patrick Semansky)

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“We’re sending a message that the scenario is changing into extra pressing,” Bulletin President Rachel Bronson mentioned on the on-line announcement. “Crises usually tend to occur and have broader penalties and longer standing results.”

Underscoring the outsized position Russia’s invasion of Ukraine has had on shifting nearer to theoretical doomsday, the Bulletin mentioned it was additionally saying the clock motion within the Russian and Ukrainian languages for the primary time.

Scientists and activists on the Bulletin announcement additionally talked about nuclear weapon proliferation in China, Iran growing its uranium enrichment, missile assessments in North Korea, future pandemics from animal illnesses, pathogens from lab errors, “disruptive applied sciences” and worsening local weather change as different existential threats to humanity.

The Bulletin referred to as on the U.S., its NATO allies, and Ukraine, to discover all choices to cut back the battle with Russia. 

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“Discovering a path to severe peace negotiations may go a good distance towards decreasing the chance of escalation,” the Bulletin mentioned. “On this time of unprecedented world hazard, concerted motion is required, and each second counts.” 

The Related Press contributed to this report.  

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Cambodia's prime minister bans musical horns on vehicles to curb dangerous street dancing

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Cambodia's prime minister bans musical horns on vehicles to curb dangerous street dancing
  • Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Mane has issued a ban on musical horns after videos on social media depicted people dancing on roadsides.
  • Mane instructed the Ministry of Public Works and Transportation and police nationwide to remove tune-playing horns from vehicles.
  • The ban has already been put into effect by provincial authorities, and Hun Manet voiced its nationwide enforcement.

Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Mane has ordered a ban on musical horns, after videos posted on social media showed people dancing on roads and roadsides as passing trucks blasted rhythmic little tunes.

Hun Manet, who last year took over the wheel of government from his father, Hun Sen — who led Cambodia for 38 years — called on the Ministry of Public Works and Transportation and police across the country to immediately take action against any vehicle whose normal horn has been replaced by a tune-playing one by ripping it out and restoring the standard honking type. 

He said the measure has already been implemented by provincial authorities, but he wanted to announce it publicly to make sure it was enforced nationwide.

CAMBODIA’S PIONEERING POST-KHMER ROUGE ERA PHNOM PENH POST NEWSPAPER WILL STOP PRINT PUBLICATION

He commented on his Facebook page on Monday that recent social media posts had shown “inappropriate activity committed by some people, especially youth and children, dancing on the roadside to the musical sounds from trucks’ horns.”

Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Manet greets garment workers on Aug. 29, 2023, at Prey Speu village outside Phnom Penh, Cambodia. Mane has ordered a ban on musical horns, after videos posted on social media showed people dancing on roads and roadsides as passing trucks blasted rhythmic little tunes. (AP Photo/Heng Sinith, File)

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Hun Manet said such dancing affects public order and poses a traffic hazard that is a threat to life and limb, not least of all to the dancers themselves. 

2 ANTI-GOVERNMENT ACTIVISTS IN CAMBODIA CHARGED WITH INSULTING KING ON SOCIAL MEDIA

One video shows three young people dancing in the middle of a road while a large trailer truck coming their way lays down a beat.

For Cambodians, there will be no more dancing in the street.

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Biotech strategy launch, Newsletter

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Biotech strategy launch, Newsletter

Key diary dates

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Tuesday 19 March: European Parliament’s committee vote on the reform of EU pharmaceutical rules.

Wednesday 20 March: Presentation of the European Commission‘s first ‘EU Biotech and Biomanufacturing Initiative’.

Tuesday 19-Friday 22 March: European Commission organises Digital Markets Act workshops with gatekeepers.

In spotlight

This Wednesday (20 March) the European Commission is expected to unveil a new ‘EU Biotech and Biomanufacturing Initiative’ .

Despite half-hearted attempts at regulatory simplification in the sector in the past, life science technologies are increasingly drawing attention from policymakers.

Last month Euronews first reported on the health component of this initiative based on a leaked draft document that highlighted a focus on the vibrant biopharmaceutical sector – responsible for providing breakthrough messenger RNA (mRNA) molecules playing an essential role in COVID-19 vaccines.

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But biotech applications are not limited to the health sector, ranging from sustainable sourcing of advanced materials to climate-smart production and other components essential to a fossil-free and circular economy.

A ‘blue’ biotech is also emerging, with new research on aquatic organisms and microalgae fermentation ready for commercial exploitation – not to mention the potential of new genomic techniques (NGTs) for food production, already under discussion by EU lawmakers.

The main goals of this initiative will be to survey the status quo and track future challenges facing the biotech sector to orientate policy efforts in readiness for the next legislative mandate.

Some policy ideas are likely to be proffered, such as a one-stop shop to permit and authorise biotech manufacturing – while a controversial proposal for an R&I tax credit for biotech companies is rumoured to have been shelved for the moment.

This first dedicated attempt to address the sector won’t be the last, with economic security and strategic autonomy likely to be key buzzwords for the next commission.

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Biotech is expected to be a new beat to keep a close eye on and it has already been listed as a critical technology for the continent, together with semiconductors and artificial intelligence.

The defence imperative dominating current commission thinking involves European independence from military aircraft to sourcing these critical new technologies.

Policy newsmakers

@Hahn                                                                                                                   @Wiewiórowski

Commission under data notice

The European Commission was ordered last week to bring its use of Microsoft 365 office programs in line with its own rulebook, after European Data Protection Supervisor (EDPS) Wojciech Wiewiórowski found following an investigation that the commission breached EU rules on transfers of personal data outside the EU. The commission now needs to suspend all data flows resulting from its use of Microsoft 365 to Microsoft and to its affiliates and sub-processors located in countries outside the EU/EEA that are not covered by a data transfer agreement. The commissioner responsible for admin, Johannes Hahn, will have to demonstrate compliance with the orders by 9 December 2024.

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Subscribe here to see the results of last week’s poll and stay informed on the latest EU policy developments with our weekly newsletter, “The Policy Briefing”. Your weekly insight on European rulemaking, policy issues, key events, and data trends.

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Reuters Institute: Research shows women only make 24% of news top editors / FIP

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Reuters Institute: Research shows women only make 24% of news top editors / FIP

New research by the Reuters Institute analyses the gender representation of senior editors in major news outlets across five continents, recording that women fill only 24% of senior editorial roles in the markets surveyed. The findings highlight how gender inequalities can reinforce misperceptions, imbalances, and perceived differences both within journalism and as covered by journalists.

The research “Women and leadership in the news media 2024: Evidence from 12 markets” took examples from five continents, and analysed the gender breakdown of editorial leaders.  Two hundred and forty major online and offline news outlets provided data. 

According to the factsheet, among the 33 news top editors appointed across brands covered this year and last, 24% are women. In some of these countries, however, women outnumber men among working journalists.

Reuters contrasts its new findings with data from the past five years. The proportion of women among the top editors has increased by only 2% since 2020, going from 23% to 25% in 2024. The Institute’s analysis anticipates that, at this pace, gender parity will be reached in such positions only by the year 2074.

Change is not consistent throughout countries, however. If the percentage has increased relative to 2020 in six countries (name them all), it has decreased in Germany by 2% and it has highly decreased in South Africa, from 47% to 29%. 

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Reuters Institute makes clear that “top editorial leadership matters both in terms of how journalism is practised and how it appears in society,” insisting on  how top editors represent the wider public “in all its difference and diversity.”

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