NOBEL WINNER: END NUKES OR THEY WILL END US
» As long as atomic bombs OSLO exist, a disaster is inevitable, the head of the International Campaign to Abolish Nuclear Weapons, the winner of this year’s Nobel Peace Prize, said Saturday.
“We are facing a clear choice right now: The end of nuclear weapons or the end of us,” Beatrice Fihn told a news conference at the Norwegian Nobel Committee.
“An impulsive tantrum, a calculated military escalation, a terrorist or cyberattack or a complete accident — we will see the use of nuclear weapons unless they are eliminated,” she warned.
ICAN, which brings together more than 450 organizations, was a driving force behind an international treaty on banning nuclear weapons that was passed this year. So far, 53 countries have signed up, but only three have ratified it — the treaty needs ratification by 50 to go into effect. No nuclear power has signed the treaty.
Man killed in fall off Mount Olympus. »
THESSALONIKI, GREECE Police say one man has died and another was slightly injured as they attempted to climb Mount Olympus, Greece’s highest mountain.
The accident happened Saturday afternoon about 6,580 feet high. The two men were headed for a refuge slightly higher up the 9,570-foot mountain when both slipped and fell down a ravine.
Israelis march against Netanyahu.
TEL AVIV, ISRAEL Thousands of Israelis have poured into the streets of Tel Aviv for an anti-corruption rally calling on Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to resign.
Local media estimated that more than 10,000 turned out Saturday for the weekly demonstration. Smaller demonstrations were taking place in other Israeli cities as well. Turnout has been growing dramatically in recent weeks as increasing corruption charges have been linked to Netanyahu and his political allies. Organizers hope the grassroots movement will pressure authorities to press charges that eventually force Netanyahu from office.
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U.K.’S Johnson in Iran for talks.
IRAN» British Foreign
TEHRAN,
Secretary Boris Johnson arrived in Tehran on Saturday, where he is was expected to discuss the fate of detained dual nationals, including a woman serving a five-year prison sentence for allegedly plotting to overthrow Iran’s government.
Iran’s semi-official ISNA news agency reported that Johnson met with Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif and they discussed boosting economic ties and Iran’s nuclear deal with world powers. Johnson said the U.K. would keep its commitment for full implementation of the nuclear deal.
Egypt hopes tombs aid tourism.
Egypt on Saturday announced the discovery of two small ancient tombs in the southern city Luxor dating back some 3,500 years and hoped it will help the country’s efforts to revive its ailing tourism sector.
The tombs, located on the west bank of the river Nile in a cemetery for noblemen and top officials, are the latest discovery in the city famed for its temples and tombs spanning different dynasties of ancient Egyptian history.
Parties jockey for position in Mexico. The head
MEXICO of Mexico’s conservative National Action Party presented his resignation Saturday, positioning himself to run for president as the candidate of a left-right coalition in an increasingly crowded field.
Ricardo Anaya is poised to become the standard-bearer of the Forward for Mexico coalition comprising the National Action, Democratic Revolution and Citizens’ Movement parties. An agreement between the parties stipulates that National Action gets to pick the presidential candidate while Democratic Revolution, or PRD, will run one of its own for Mexico City mayor.