Armageddon too close for comfort

EARTH is closer than it's ever been to destruction as Russia, China, the US and other countries become “increasingly aggressive, adversarial, and nationalistic" with the 'Doomsday Clock' advanced to 85 seconds till midnight.

- BY DANNY DE VAAL

The Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists cited risks of nuclear war, climate change, potential misuse of biotechnology and the increasing use of artificial intelligence without adequate controls as it made the annual announcement, which rates how close humanity is from ending.

Last year, the clock advanced to 89 seconds to midnight.

Since then, “hard-won global understandings are collapsing, accelerating a winner-takes-all great power competition and undermining the international cooperation” needed to reduce existential risks, the group said.

They worry about the threat of escalating conflicts involving nuclear-armed countries, citing the Russia-Ukraine war,

May's conflict between India and Pakistan and whether Iran is capable of developing nuclear weapons after strikes last summer by the US and Israel.