US and others condemn North Korea’s ‘hypersonic’ launch

The US and other UN Security Council members on Monday condemned North Korea’s latest missile launch and called for a region-wide scrapping of nuclear arms, even as the body appeared unlikely to step up sanctions on Pyongyang.

Speaking on behalf of council members Albania, France, Ireland, the US, Japan and Britain, Linda Thomas-Greenfield, the US ambassador to the UN, said the missile launch on January 5 was a “clear violation” of UN resolutions.

“This launch is the latest in a series of ballistic missile launches and shows the DPRK’s determination to expand its unlawful weapons capabilities,” she said, using the formal abbreviation for North Korea.

“These actions increase the risk of miscalculation and escalation and pose a significant threat to regional stability.”

She urged Pyongyang to “refrain from further destabilising actions”, to scrap its mass-casualty weapons, to negotiate with its neighbours and to stop “pursuing new technologies, such as hypersonic gliding warheads”.

The 15-nation Security Council held emergency meetings after a flurry of North Korean weapons tests occurred last September and October, though no resolution nor a joint statement was issued after the talks.

The council can adopt binding resolutions or release statements, but permanent members Russia and China are understood to be resistant to further council action against Pyongyang, which is already under several rounds of UN sanctions.

No outcome was expected from Monday’s meeting.

North Korea’s state media described the launch of a hypersonic missile into the East Sea, marking its first major weapons test this year and the second reported test of a such a weapon by Pyongyang.

Hypersonic missiles are usually defined as highly manoeuvrable weapons that can reach speeds of at least five times the speed of sound and are much harder to detect and intercept.

South Korean military officials have, however, cast doubts on the missile’s capabilities, saying that while it reached hypersonic speeds it did not appear to demonstrate the range and manoeuvrability claimed in state media reports.

Muslim Council of Elders condemns terrorism on religious sites

The Muslim Council of Elders has strongly condemned the criminal attacks on religious sites in Britain.

It firmly rejected “acts of terrorism, which constitute a flagrant violation of the sanctity of houses of worship”.

“Attacking places of worship is a form of terrorism and extremism that threatens peace and stability within societies,” it said.

The council also warned against the rise of hate speech, racism, extremism and Islamophobia. It urged the international community to join efforts to promote tolerance and peaceful coexistence.

Ziina users can donate to relief efforts in Beirut

Ziina users will be able to use the app to help relief efforts in Beirut, which has been left reeling after an August blast caused an estimated $15 billion in damage and left thousands homeless. Ziina has partnered with the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees to raise money for the Lebanese capital, co-founder Faisal Toukan says. “As of October 1, the UNHCR has the first certified badge on Ziina and is automatically part of user's top friends' list during this campaign. Users can now donate any amount to the Beirut relief with two clicks. The money raised will go towards rebuilding houses for the families that were impacted by the explosion.”

MATCH INFO

Inter Milan 2 (Vecino 65', Barella 83')

Verona 1 (Verre 19' pen)

2025 Fifa Club World Cup groups

Group A: Palmeiras, Porto, Al Ahly, Inter Miami.

Group B: Paris Saint-Germain, Atletico Madrid, Botafogo, Seattle.

Group C: Bayern Munich, Auckland City, Boca Juniors, Benfica.

Group D: Flamengo, ES Tunis, Chelsea, (Leon banned).

Group E: River Plate, Urawa, Monterrey, Inter Milan.

Group F: Fluminense, Borussia Dortmund, Ulsan, Mamelodi Sundowns.

Group G: Manchester City, Wydad, Al Ain, Juventus.

Group H: Real Madrid, Al Hilal, Pachuca, Salzburg.

Event Horizon telescope: First ever image of a black hole revealed

Emirati astronomer collaborates with NYUAD on black holes research

Space researchers in Sharjah detect sunspot five times the size of Earth

The burning issue

The internal combustion engine is facing a watershed moment – major manufacturer Volvo is to stop producing petroleum-powered vehicles by 2021 and countries in Europe, including the UK, have vowed to ban their sale before 2040. The National takes a look at the story of one of the most successful technologies of the last 100 years and how it has impacted life in the UAE.

Read part four: an affection for classic cars lives on

Read part three: the age of the electric vehicle begins

Read part two: how climate change drove the race for an alternative

How our nine-month-old has made the Canadian winter a little bit warmer for us

Canadians rallying around a targeted Syrian restaurant is telling about attitudes to migrants

Don Cherry and the real issue with being one of 'you people'

What sanctions would be reimposed?

Under ‘snapback’, measures imposed on Iran by the UN Security Council in six resolutions would be restored, including:

An arms embargo
A ban on uranium enrichment and reprocessing
A ban on launches and other activities with ballistic missiles capable of delivering nuclear weapons, as well as ballistic missile technology transfer and technical assistance
A targeted global asset freeze and travel ban on Iranian individuals and entities
Authorisation for countries to inspect Iran Air Cargo and Islamic Republic of Iran Shipping Lines cargoes for banned goods