The recent destruction in the US of its last remaining declared chemical weapons stockpile is a “historic” milestone, a State Department official said on Tuesday, as Washington gears up to supply Ukraine with controversial cluster munitions.
Bonnie Jenkins, undersecretary for arms control and international security, said the move signified the US commitment to ridding the world of chemical weapons, which were banned under the Chemical Weapons Convention of 1997.
“We are a step closer to a world free from the horrors of chemical weapons,” Ms Jenkins told journalists during an online briefing.
“Not only is this moment historic, but it is an amazing accomplishment by the United States government and all the dedicated individuals who, for many decades, worked to demilitarise and destroy the stockpile.”
On Friday, the White House announced that it had eliminated the last its chemical weapons stockpile at a military base in Richmond, Kentucky, closing a decades-long chapter of global warfare.
The US was facing a September 30 deadline to destroy its remaining chemical weapons under the treaty.
The Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons, headquartered in The Hague, the Netherlands, confirmed that the stockpile had been “irreversibly destroyed”.
The munitions were the last of the 51,000 M55 rockets containing the GB nerve agent, also known as sarin, a deadly toxin. The weapons had been stored at the depot since the Cold War.
The use of chemical weapons in warfare dates back to the First World War. They are estimated to have killed at least 100,000 people during the war and over the following decades.
But the announcement came as the administration of US President Joe Biden decided to provide cluster munitions to Ukraine, a weapon banned in many countries due to its propensity to cause civilian casualties long after a conflict ends. Unexploded cluster bomb rounds can kill and main civilians, usually children, even after hostilities have ceased.
On Tuesday, Ms Jenkins defended the Biden administration's decision, arguing the two issues are not related and saying that Ukraine would use the weapons responsibly.
“The destruction and elimination of chemical weapons that we're talking about today is separate from the issue of cluster munitions,” Ms Jenkins said.
“We recognise, of course, that these munitions create a risk of severe harm from some unexploded ordinances, but this is the reason why we have differed for so long, making such a decision.”
On Sunday Mr Biden said the “difficult decision” to send the cluster munitions was made after receiving written assurances from Kyiv.
“Ukraine would not be using these munitions in some foreign land – this is their country that they're defending, these are their citizens that they're protecting and they are motivated to use weapons that will help them achieve their goals but also minimise risks to their citizens,” Ms Jenkins said.
More than 120 countries, including Nato members, have banned the weapons under the Convention on Cluster Munitions. The US, Ukraine, Russia and dozens of other countries are not signatories.
Infiniti QX80 specs
Engine: twin-turbocharged 3.5-liter V6
Power: 450hp
Torque: 700Nm
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Brief scoreline:
Al Wahda 2
Al Menhali 27', Tagliabue 79'
Al Nassr 3
Hamdallah 41', Giuliano 45 1', 62'
Results
2.30pm: Park Avenue – Conditions (PA) Dh80,000 (Dirt) 2,000m; Winner: Rb Seqondtonone, Abdul Aziz Al Balushi (jockey), Helal Al Alawi (trainer)
3.05pm: Al Furjan – Maiden (TB) Dh82,500 (Turf) 1,200m; Winner: Bosphorus, Dane O’Neill, Bhupat Seemar
3.40pm: Mina – Rated Condition (TB) Dh105,000 (D) 1,600m; Winner: Royal Mews, Tadhg O’Shea, Bhupat Seemar
4.15pm: Aliyah – Handicap (TB) Dh87,500 (T) 1,900m; Winner: Ursa Minor, Ray Dawson, Ahmad bin Harmash
4.50pm: Riviera Beach – Rated Conditions (TB) Dh95,000 (D) 2,200m; Winner: Woodditton, Saif Al Balushi, Ahmad bin Harmash
5.25pm: Riviera – Handicap (TB) Dh2,000 (T) 2,000m; Winner: Al Madhar, Antonio Fresu, Musabah Al Muhairi
6pm: Creek Views – Handicap (TB) Dh95,000 (T) 1,400m; Winner: Al Salt, Dane O’Neill, Erwan Charpy
The Settlers
Director: Louis Theroux
Starring: Daniella Weiss, Ari Abramowitz
Rating: 5/5
If you go:
The flights: Etihad, Emirates, British Airways and Virgin all fly from the UAE to London from Dh2,700 return, including taxes
The tours: The Tour for Muggles usually runs several times a day, lasts about two-and-a-half hours and costs £14 (Dh67)
Harry Potter and the Cursed Child is on now at the Palace Theatre. Tickets need booking significantly in advance
Entrance to the Harry Potter exhibition at the House of MinaLima is free
The hotel: The grand, 1909-built Strand Palace Hotel is in a handy location near the Theatre District and several of the key Harry Potter filming and inspiration sites. The family rooms are spacious, with sofa beds that can accommodate children, and wooden shutters that keep out the light at night. Rooms cost from £170 (Dh808).
MATCH INFO
Group B
Bayern Munich v Tottenham, midnight (Thursday)
Global state-owned investor ranking by size
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United States
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China
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UAE
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Japan
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Norway
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Canada
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Singapore
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Australia
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Saudi Arabia
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South Korea
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UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
ATP RANKINGS (NOVEMBER 4)
1. Rafael Nadal (ESP) 9,585 pts ( 1)
2. Novak Djokovic (SRB) 8,945 (-1)
3. Roger Federer (SUI) 6,190
4. Daniil Medvedev (RUS) 5,705
5. Dominic Thiem (AUT) 5,025
6. Stefanos Tsitsipas (GRE) 4,000 ( 1)
7. Alexander Zverev (GER) 2,945 (-1)
8. Matteo Berrettini (ITA) 2,670 ( 1)
9. Roberto Bautista (ESP) 2,540 ( 1)
10. Gaël Monfils (FRA) 2,530 ( 3)
11. David Goffin (BEL) 2,335 ( 3)
12. Fabio Fognini (ITA) 2,290
13. Kei Nishikori (JPN) 2,180 (-2)
14. Diego Schwartzman (ARG) 2,125 ( 1)
15. Denis Shapovalov (CAN) 2,050 ( 13)
16. Stan Wawrinka (SUI) 2,000
17. Karen Khachanov (RUS) 1,840 (-9)
18. Alex De Minaur (AUS) 1,775
19. John Isner (USA) 1,770 (-2)
20. Grigor Dimitrov (BUL) 1,747 ( 7)
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MATCH INFO
Leeds United 0
Brighton 1 (Maupay 17')
Man of the match: Ben White (Brighton)
Learn more about Qasr Al Hosn
In 2013, The National's History Project went beyond the walls to see what life was like living in Abu Dhabi's fabled fort:
Abu Dhabi Card
5pm: Maiden (PA) Dh 80,000 1,400m
National selection: AF Mohanak
5.30pm: Handicap (PA) Dh 90,000 1,400m
National selection: Jayide Al Boraq
6pm: Handicap (TB) Dh 100,000 1,400m
National selection: Rocket Power
6.30pm: Abu Dhabi Championship Listed (PA) Dh 180,000 1,600m
National selection: Ihtesham
7pm: Wathba Stallions Cup Handicap (PA) Dh 70,000 1,600m
National selection: Noof KB
7.30pm: Maiden (PA) Dh 80,000 2.200m
National selection: EL Faust
Tuesday results:
- Singapore bt Malaysia by 29 runs
- UAE bt Oman by 13 runs
- Hong Kong bt Nepal by 3 wickets
Final:
Thursday, UAE v Hong Kong
