Latest news with #WorldWarIII
The Citizen
41 minutes ago
- Politics
- The Citizen
SA not ready for fallout if Israel-Iran ceasefire fails, warns UJ professor
As the ceasefire between Iran and Israel holds, the world watches with bated breath to see what will happen next between the two regional powers. To gain insight into the situation, Caxton Local Media spoke to Dr Suzy Graham, professor in the Department of Politics and International Relations at the University of Johannesburg. Discussing the ceasefire, Graham explained that although it is still early days, the truce holds real potential, though it remains inherently fragile. 'Its longevity hinges on disciplined diplomacy, credible inspections, and political will from all actors. If any of these break down, especially due to hardliners or indirect aggression via proxies, the truce could unravel quickly,' she said. For now, however, the signs are cautiously optimistic. A ceasefire on edge: What's holding it together? Graham believes the ceasefire was primarily driven by a rapid cycle of escalation and daring diplomacy aimed at avoiding further catastrophic conflict. Although the ceasefire appears to be working, she warned that initial breaches from either side could lead to its deterioration. She described the thought of a third world war as unthinkable. 'Despite social media speculation, the probability of a full-scale World War III remains low, but not zero,' Graham said. South Africa's position: Legal, vocal, and diplomatic Speaking about South Africa's stance on the Israel-Iran conflict and how it aligns with the country's broader foreign policy, Graham said South Africa will almost always call for dialogue in any conflict situation. 'The South African government has been vocal in strongly condemning the recent military strikes on Iran, describing the attacks as violations of international law. It has urged all parties, Iran, Israel, and the USA, to engage in UN-led dialogue, emphasising diplomacy, restraint, and nuclear inspection,' she explained. Regarding the potential impact on South Africa if the conflict reignites and becomes a wider regional crisis, Graham said the country would likely continue championing international law, human rights, and nuclear non-proliferation. She noted that South Africa could strengthen its moral leadership among Global South and Muslim-majority countries. 'At the same time, the country could face intense backlash from Israel and Western allies, particularly the USA, Germany, and the UK, especially if Pretoria doubles down on its International Court of Justice genocide case or calls for sanctions. 'South Africa could see reduced goodwill from Western investors or governments, especially if tensions rise over its international legal campaigns or alignment with Iran.' 'In the immediate term, South Africa would likely call for a ceasefire, condemn aggression, and activate international and legal channels. In the short term, it might push for UN and BRICS statements and engage the African Union and Global South partners. 'In the mid-term, it would need to manage economic fallout, reinforce public diplomacy, and maintain BRICS plus solidarity. In the longer term, South Africa could use the crisis to push for UN Security Council reform, nuclear disarmament, and multipolar global governance.' Graham emphasised that if South Africa is drawn into the conflict, its role would be principled, vocal, and legalistic, not military. 'It may be drawn in politically, but not militarily,' she said. 'The country's focus would remain on shaping the normative global order, not engaging in hard power projection.' What escalation could mean for South Africa Although South Africa would not be militarily involved, Graham said a wider Middle East conflict would hit its economy hard, particularly through rising fuel prices, increased trade costs, and inflation. 'An escalation in the Israel-Iran conflict could seriously disrupt global oil flows, and South Africa, as an energy-importing nation, would feel the effects quickly and deeply. 'The country's inflation rate, currency, fiscal stability, and household livelihoods would all come under pressure.' When asked if South Africa is prepared for possible knock-on effects of war, such as cyberattacks or disruptions in trade, Graham said the country is not fully ready for the complex and interconnected consequences of a major regional war involving Iran and Israel. 'While it has some institutional frameworks and economic policy tools, South Africa lacks a coordinated national resilience strategy, particularly for cyber threats and maritime trade disruptions. 'A greater focus on strategic planning, inter-agency coordination, and public-private resilience building is urgently needed.' Breaking news at your fingertips… Follow Caxton Network News on Facebook and join our WhatsApp channel. Nuus wat saakmaak. Volg Caxton Netwerk-nuus op Facebook en sluit aan by ons WhatsApp-kanaal. Read original story on At Caxton, we employ humans to generate daily fresh news, not AI intervention. Happy reading!
Daily Mail
15 hours ago
- Climate
- Daily Mail
US Doomsday prepper reveals his fallout shelter stocked with survival gear amid fears of WWIII
A professional doomsday prepper has opened the door to his fallout shelter to share how he is preparing for World War III. Derrick James, who owns and operates his own doomsday prepping company in Maine, has been interested in prepping for a world-ending catastrophe since childhood and actively stockpiling food since 2007. He's prepared for a worst-case scenario in the US, filling his shelter with months of nonperishable food, giant water tanks, walkie-talkies, gasoline, solar panels, and blankets. James's shelter is even prepared to clean his own water, keep the lights on in a blackout, and receive updates from the US government without needing to rely on the internet. The doomsday prepper also shared several tips for those hoping to survive what he believes is an imminent war, including having an emergency go-bag, securing passports, and having cash on hand. As the conflict between Israel and Iran remains in flux amid ongoing peace talks, James warned that anyone who started preparing for a nuclear war shouldn't get complacent - a new crisis could break out at any moment. 'Every event that we have lived through - whether it is COVID, the Iraq war, or hurricanes - brings in a new wave of preppers,' James said. 'Then the threat will go away and most people forget about it until another event comes along,' the 50-year-old prepper continued. 'My advice is to take a deep breath, come up with a plan that you can stick to, and don't stress yourself out. We are living in a fragile society, and things could unravel very quickly,' James explained to SWNS. The doomsday prepper's shelter included multiple radios, power packs, and emergency equipment, as James warned that getting new gear could become virtually impossible in world war. However, he noted that stocking a shelter full of food is a bigger priority than finding drinking water in an emergency. His shelter included barrels of rice, beans, wheat, berries that could feed him for months. James also had shelves full of canned meats like tuna fish, jarred foods like peanut butter, and ready-to-eat meals that were full of calories and had long shelf lives. James put building a 90-day supply of food at the top of his list because, in his view, food will be hard to gather in large quantities if a global emergency strikes. 'Anytime you get a food crisis, food is harder to come by. If you have food for 30 to 90 days, you can weather any storm that comes your way,' James said. Although fellow doomsday preppers typically cite water as the top priority, since the human body can only go three days without water, James warned that global food supply chains will collapse quickly in a world war. 'The first thing for many people, honestly, could be having a week's worth of food in their home. Many people don't even have that,' James told the Are We F#ed? Podcast. Finding and purifying water was another top tip, but people would likely nee to take different steps in securing water depending on the city or town they're living in James said stocking up on clean water and water filters is still the second most important tip for doomsday preparations. He noted that this step would look different depending on where a person was living, explaining that people in cities may have to purify water that they find by emptying pipes or toilet tanks. Once you've secured food and water, James said it's important to invest in a hand-cranked radio, ham (amateur) radios, and walkie-talkies. The prepper explained that cell towers and the internet could very likely be knocked out in a world war, meaning people will need ways of communicating and receiving information that don't rely on network signals. 'Being able to have access to an evacuation order is important, whether it is a natural disaster or a war,' James said. 'Virtually every person has a cell phone, I still see cell phones as an important survival tool - I suggest people have the means to power those when the grid goes down,' he explained. As for your fuel and energy needs, having a supply of gasoline for a vehicle, propane for heat, portable generators if there's a blackout, and even solar panels to store reserve power can all help keep your shelter running if power goes out nationwide. If you can no longer stay in the shelter you've prepared for doomsday, James had three final tips on what you'll need while fleeing the destruction of World War III. The first is a go-bag, a backpack full of emergency supplies and vital documents that can be grabbed instantly as you evacuate your home or shelter. However, one of the major issues people have while creating a go-bag is finding out that critical forms of identification, like a passport. James urged everyone to make sure passports and other travel documents are up to date, should they need to evacuate on a moment's notice. 'More people are pursuing a second passport if it is available to them, a lot of countries now offer them in terms of heritage,' James added. 'This won't be an option for some people, but it is a growing topic in the prepping community. I'm in Maine, if something happens, I'm closer to Canada, it would be faster to go to Canada than to get to any other state,' he detailed. Lastly, as more and more people strictly use credit cards and digital payment apps, James recommended having multiple forms of currency available, including paper money for more than one country. 'You need to protect your finances and make sure you have cash on hand. You need to diversify into things like silver, gold, and even crypto can be good if it is stored offline,' James explained. 'If another country is part of your plan B, make sure you have currencies in those countries. A global war could mean that banks freeze, ATMs go dark, and the dollar collapses,' the doomsday prepper warned.
New York Post
18 hours ago
- General
- New York Post
Doomsday prepper shares survival tips for WWIII — including 90-day food stockpile: ‘Things could unravel very quickly'
A Doomsday prepper has shared survival tips for World War III — including having a 90-day food supply and investing in communication gear. Derrick James, 50, who hails from rural Maine, started building his food stockpile and making emergency plans for natural disasters and war in 2007. The content creator claims current tensions between the US and Iran will inspire others to start prepping. Advertisement 'Every event that we have lived through — whether it is Covid, the Iraq war or hurricanes — brings in a new wave of preppers,' he told Southwest News Service. 'My advice is to take a deep breath, come up with a plan that you can stick to, and don't stress yourself out.' 5 Derrick James, 50, who hails from rural Maine, started building his food stockpile and making emergency plans for natural disasters and war in 2007. Derrick James / SWNS 5 'My advice is to take a deep breath, come up with a plan that you can stick to, and don't stress yourself out,' James stated. Derrick James / SWNS Advertisement '[However] We are living in a fragile society and things could unravel very quickly,' he ominously added. James believes global supply chains will collapse quickly in a war, especially if trade routes close, and suggests people should stock up on foods like rice, beans, wheat berries, canned meats and ready-to-eat meals. 'A lot of preppers will suggest starting with water and say you can live three months without food, but three days without water, which is true, but anytime you get a food crisis, food is harder to come by,' James explained. 'If you have food for 30 to 90 days, you can weather any storm that comes your way.' James says it is imperative to invest in communication gear, to make sure you can keep up to date with the latest news alerts and instructions from the government. He says investing in hand-cranked radios, ham radios, and walkie-talkies is a must, as cell towers and the internet could go down. Advertisement The prepper proclaims that it's also important to make sure your passport and other documentation are up to date. James told Southwest News Service that if you ever need to flee, you need to make sure that all your paperwork is in order before embassies shut down. 5 James believes global supply chains will collapse quickly in a war, especially if trade routes close, and suggests people should stock up on foods. He's also a avid hunter. Derrick James / SWNS 5 'You need to protect your finances and make sure you have cash on hand,' he implored. 'You need to diversify into things like silver, gold, and even crypto can be good if it is stored offline.' Derrick James / SWNS 'More people are pursuing a second passport if it is available to them, a lot of countries now offer them in terms of heritage,' he stated. 'This won't be an option for some people, but it is a growing topic in the prepping community. I'm in Maine, if something happens I'm closer to Canada, it would be faster to go to Canada than to get to any other state.' Advertisement The final tip from James is to make sure you have a stash of cash to use. In a crisis, some banks may close and limit access to your accounts. 'You need to protect your finances and make sure you have cash on hand,' he implored. 'You need to diversify into things like silver, gold, and even crypto can be good if it is stored offline.' 'If another country is part of your plan B, make sure you have currencies in those countries,' James added. 'A global war could mean that banks freeze, and ATMs go dark, and the dollar collapses.' 5 The prepper proclaims that it's also important to make sure your passport and other documentation are up to date. Derrick James / SWNS Derrick's top tips to survive a war 1 – Build a 90-day emergency food supply 2 – Stock water and have water filters 3 – Invest in communication gear like a hand-cranked radio Advertisement 4 – Address fuel and energy needs 5 – Have a bag packed ready in case you need to flee 6 – Make sure passports and documents are up to date 7 – Protect your finances
Daily Record
a day ago
- Politics
- Daily Record
What you do in 10 minutes after nuclear bomb will determine if you live
As tensions soar between Iran and Israel, fears of a global conflict that could tip into World War III are mounting. In response to the growing hostilities, the US has launched military strikes on Iranian nuclear facilities with hugely potent 30,000-pound bunker-buster bombs. This aggression, coupled with Israel's air operations targeting Tehran, have propelled regional tensions to a breaking point while global apprehension escalates. At the same time, Russia's ongoing conflict in Ukraine deepens as President Vladimir Putin calls in reinforcements from North Korea, reports the Mirror. In view of potential dangers, peace organisations are pinpointing non-belligerent countries that might act as havens due to their geopolitical stances and overall stability. Although no country is considered completely safe, New Zealand, Iceland and Switzerland are all developed nations believed to be least likely to be hit by nuclear weapons in the event of a potential groups also circulating guidelines to help people prepare for the worst-case scenario of a nuclear strike. To quote the International Commission on Radiological Protection (ICRP), "adequate preparation and appropriate response to a nuclear alert or detonation can protect you and your family's health and life.", reports the Mirror US. What is the first action to take in a nuclear attack? If you were not close enough to the explosion to immediately die, for survival in the critical moments following a nuclear blast, the ICRP stresses that "the best way to protect you and your family before, during, and after a nuclear blast is getting inside the center of a building or basement." After a blast, you should aim to find safe shelter within the first 10 minutes before the nuclear fallout begins. If you can get to a multi-storey building or basement swiftly after the explosion, do so without delay. The safest structures are made of brick or concrete. Underground car parks and tube stations also provide good protection. What happens if I've been exposed to fallout? If you suspect you've been exposed to fallout, take off outer layers of clothing and shoes that may be contaminated, and cleanse or wipe down exposed skin and hair thoroughly. If you have pets that might be contaminated, brush them in a separate room away from people and wash them too if possible. How will I know what is happening in the outside world? The ICRP also advises that within 24 hours post-detonation, tune into any accessible media, such as AM/FM stations using a battery-powered radio, for instructions on what to do next. "Stay inside unless instructed otherwise," the website states. They advise: "Remain in the most protective location (basement or centre of a large building) for the first 12 – 24 hours unless threatened by an immediate hazard (e.g., fire, gas leak, building collapse, or serious injury) or informed by authorities that it is safe to leave." Should I flee the fallout zone? Self-evacuation should only become an option once hazardous fallout zones are clearly identified and secure evacuation routes are established. In the meantime, essential workers may be allowed to leave shelter temporarily to carry out vital support and life-saving tasks. What is a nuclear explosion actually like? Knowing the dangers of a nuclear explosion can help to guide you to take swift and sensible actions for your safety. A bright flash that can be seen from 10 km away is a sign of a nuclear blast. Straight after, a fireball emits thermal pulses lasting seconds, leading to burns, injuries, and setting materials like plants and wood on fire several kilometres away from the explosion. The fireball and shock wave can wipe out city blocks and damage buildings kilometres away, with flying debris posing risks. Initial radiation may injure or kill those outdoors within a few kilometres.
Daily Mirror
a day ago
- Politics
- Daily Mirror
What you do in 10 minutes of a nuclear bomb will determine if you live or die
Amid escalating tensions and fear of World War 3 breaking out, here is what to do in the first 10 minutes of a nuclear bomb hitting, according to the International Commission on Radiological Protection (ICRP) As tensions skyrocket between Iran and Israel, fears of a global conflict that could tip into World War III are mounting. In response to the growing hostilities, the US has launched military strikes on Iranian nuclear facilities with massively potent 30,000-pound bunker-buster bombs. These aggressive moves, coupled with Israel's air operations targeting Tehran, have propelled regional tensions to a breaking point while global apprehension escalates. At the same time, Russia's ongoing conflict in Ukraine deepens as President Vladimir Putin calls in reinforcements from North Korea. In view of potential dangers, peace organisations are pinpointing certain countries that might act as havens due to their geopolitical stances, nonaligned military postures, and overall stability. Although no country is considered completely safe, New Zealand, Iceland and Switzerland are all developed nations believed to be least likely to be hit by nuclear weapons in case of WW3. They're also circulating guidelines to help people prepare for the worst-case scenario of a nuclear strike. To quote the International Commission on Radiological Protection (ICRP), "adequate preparation and appropriate response to a nuclear alert or detonation can protect you and your family's health and life.", reports the Mirror US. What is the first action to take in a nuclear attack? Assuming you were not close enough to the explosion to immediately die, for continued survival in the critical moments following a nuclear blast, the ICRP stresses that "the best way to protect you and your family before, during, and after a nuclear blast is getting inside the center of a building or basement." After a blast, you should aim to find safe shelter within 10 minutes before fallout begins. If you can get to a multi-storey building or basement swiftly after the explosion, do so without delay. The safest structures are those made of brick or concrete. Underground car parks and tube stations also provide good protection. What happens if I've been exposed to fallout? If you suspect you've been exposed to fallout, take off outer layers of clothing and shoes that may be contaminated. Cleanse or wipe down exposed skin and hair thoroughly. If you have pets that might be contaminated, brush them in a separate room away from people and wash them if possible. How will I know what is happening in the outside world? The ICRP also advises that within 24 hours post-detonation, tune into any accessible media, such as AM/FM stations using a battery-powered radio, for updated instructions and clear signals. "Stay inside unless instructed otherwise," the website states. They advise: "Remain in the most protective location (basement or centre of a large building) for the first 12 – 24 hours unless threatened by an immediate hazard (e.g., fire, gas leak, building collapse, or serious injury) or informed by authorities that it is safe to leave." Should I flee the fallout zone? Self-evacuation should only be considered once hazardous fallout zones are clearly identified and secure evacuation routes are established. In the meantime, essential workers may be allowed to leave shelter temporarily to carry out vital support and life-saving tasks. What is a nuclear explosion actually like? Knowing the dangers of a nuclear explosion can guide you to take swift and sensible actions for your safety. A bright flash that can be seen 10 km away is a sign of a nuclear blast. Straight after, a fireball emits thermal pulses lasting seconds, leading to burns, injuries, and setting materials like plants and wood on fire several kilometres from the explosion. The fireball and shock wave can wipe out city blocks and damage buildings kilometres away, with flying debris posing risks. Initial radiation may injure or kill those outdoors within a few kilometres.
