Global Nuclear Weapons Ban Begins But Without The World's Nuclear Powers

In this August 9, 1945 file photo, a mushroom cloud rises moments after the atomic bomb was dropped on Nagasaki, southern Japan. On two days in August 1945, US planes dropped two atomic bombs, one on Hiroshima, one on Nagasaki, the first and only time nuclear weapons have been used [File: AP Photo] 

The Guardian: Global nuclear weapons ban begins – without the world's nuclear powers 

Treaty signatories include Africa’s most populous country and Europe’s least populated, but Russia and Nato on the sidelines 

An international treaty banning all nuclear weapons that has been signed by 51 countries and that campaigners hope will help raise the profile of global deterrence efforts comes into force on Friday. 

Although in some respects the step is largely symbolic because the world’s nuclear powers have not signed up, the treaty will be legally binding on the smaller nations that have endorsed it, and it is backed by the UN leadership. 

The treaty on the prohibition of nuclear weapons (TPNW) outlaws the creation, ownership and deployment of nuclear weapons by signatory states and places obligations on them to assist other victims of nuclear weapons use and testing.

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 More News On Global Nuclear Weapons Ban Beginning 

First-ever treaty to ban nuclear weapons enters into force -- ABC News/AP 

United Nations' nuclear weapons ban treaty enters into force, but US, Russia and China among those who won't support it -- ABC News (Australia) 

More Than 80 Nations Sign On To A New Global Treaty To Prohibit Nuclear Weapons -- NPR 

Treaty banning nuclear weapons hailed as it takes effect without signatures from major powers -- SBS 

51 ratify the UN Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons, but not Australia -- ABC News (Australia) Treaty banning nuclear weapons takes effect without German signature -- DW 

1st treaty to ban nuclear weapons enters into force, ratified by just 61 nations -- Times of Israel