A group of scientists that tracks the likelihood of a global cataclysm says the world is moving closer to doomsday.
The Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists announced in Washington today that it has moved its "Doomsday Clock" to five minutes to midnight.
The group says inadequate progress on stopping the spread of nuclear weapons and continuing inaction on climate change are the reasons for the move.
The clock had been set at six minutes to midnight for the past two years. It previously was set at five minutes to midnight from 2007-2010.
The group says in a statement that two years ago, there was reason for optimism "that world leaders might address the truly global threats we face. In many cases, that trend has not continued or been reversed."
Subscribe to Independent Premium to bookmark this article
Want to bookmark your favourite articles and stories to read or reference later? Start your Independent Premium subscription today.
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies