The risk of a nuclear weapon being used is higher than at any time since the Cold War, a UN official warned on Friday.
Izumi Nakamitsu, the UN's high representative for disarmament, said the absence of dialogue and the weakening of arms control measures are driving risk.
Speaking at a UN Security Council session on Russia's plans to station nuclear weapons in Belarus, Ms Nakamitsu urged Washington and Moscow to avoid any actions that could lead to “escalation, mistake or miscalculation”.
"The risk of a nuclear weapon being used is currently higher than at any time since the depths of the Cold War," she said.
"The war in Ukraine represents the most acute example of some of that risk."
She called on both nations to return to full implementation of the New Start Treaty, after President Vladimir Putin suspended Russian participation in the last remaining nuclear arms control deal with the US.
Signed in 2011, New Start limits each country to no more than 1,550 deployed nuclear warheads and 700 deployed missiles and bombers.
Deputy US Ambassador to the UN, Robert Wood, accused Moscow of “escalating Russia's dangerous and destabilising behaviour” with its threat to send nuclear weapons to Belarus.
"No other country has raised the prospect of potential nuclear use in connection with the war in Ukraine. No other country's increasing nuclear deployments in Europe are issuing implied threats of use,” said Mr Wood.
The US diplomat also called on the Lukashenko regime to “cease its complicity” in Russia's war against Ukraine.
Poland’s UN Ambassador, Krzysztof Szczerski, deplored Minsk’s role as “enabler” and said Moscow's plans to deploy tactical nuclear weapons to Belarus would constitute an “irresponsible escalation” and pose a major risk to the global non-proliferation system.
Russia’s top UN envoy, Vasily Nebenzya, told the Security Council that the Kremlin was not violating its international obligations.
He said the Kremlin “was clear about the fact that we are not transferring nuclear weapons, we're talking about the transfer to Belarus of operational tactical missile complexes.”
In an annual address to government officials on Friday, Belarus President Alexander Lukashenko said Moscow's plans would help protect Belarus, which he alleged was under threat from the West.
On Sunday, Nato called Russia’s nuclear plan “dangerous and irresponsible”.
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Most sought after workplace benefits in the UAE
- Flexible work arrangements
- Pension support
- Mental well-being assistance
- Insurance coverage for optical, dental, alternative medicine, cancer screening
- Financial well-being incentives
Red flags
- Promises of high, fixed or 'guaranteed' returns.
- Unregulated structured products or complex investments often used to bypass traditional safeguards.
- Lack of clear information, vague language, no access to audited financials.
- Overseas companies targeting investors in other jurisdictions - this can make legal recovery difficult.
- Hard-selling tactics - creating urgency, offering 'exclusive' deals.
Courtesy: Carol Glynn, founder of Conscious Finance Coaching
What the law says
Micro-retirement is not a recognised concept or employment status under Federal Decree Law No. 33 of 2021 on the Regulation of Labour Relations (as amended) (UAE Labour Law). As such, it reflects a voluntary work-life balance practice, rather than a recognised legal employment category, according to Dilini Loku, senior associate for law firm Gateley Middle East.
“Some companies may offer formal sabbatical policies or career break programmes; however, beyond such arrangements, there is no automatic right or statutory entitlement to extended breaks,” she explains.
“Any leave taken beyond statutory entitlements, such as annual leave, is typically regarded as unpaid leave in accordance with Article 33 of the UAE Labour Law. While employees may legally take unpaid leave, such requests are subject to the employer’s discretion and require approval.”
If an employee resigns to pursue micro-retirement, the employment contract is terminated, and the employer is under no legal obligation to rehire the employee in the future unless specific contractual agreements are in place (such as return-to-work arrangements), which are generally uncommon, Ms Loku adds.
Netherlands v UAE, Twenty20 International series
Saturday, August 3 - First T20i, Amstelveen
Monday, August 5 – Second T20i, Amstelveen
Tuesday, August 6 – Third T20i, Voorburg
Thursday, August 8 – Fourth T20i, Vooryburg
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
About Proto21
Date started: May 2018
Founder: Pir Arkam
Based: Dubai
Sector: Additive manufacturing (aka, 3D printing)
Staff: 18
Funding: Invested, supported and partnered by Joseph Group
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
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
HIJRA
Starring: Lamar Faden, Khairiah Nathmy, Nawaf Al-Dhufairy
Director: Shahad Ameen
Rating: 3/5
War 2
Director: Ayan Mukerji
Stars: Hrithik Roshan, NTR, Kiara Advani, Ashutosh Rana
Rating: 2/5
Why are asylum seekers being housed in hotels?
The number of asylum applications in the UK has reached a new record high, driven by those illegally entering the country in small boats crossing the English Channel.
A total of 111,084 people applied for asylum in the UK in the year to June 2025, the highest number for any 12-month period since current records began in 2001.
Asylum seekers and their families can be housed in temporary accommodation while their claim is assessed.
The Home Office provides the accommodation, meaning asylum seekers cannot choose where they live.
When there is not enough housing, the Home Office can move people to hotels or large sites like former military bases.
