Page 2 - Nuclear Treaty

Embracing nuclear power

India must follow the opportunity

Putin signs bill revoking ratification of global nuclear test ban treaty

President Vladimir Putin on Thursday signed a bill revoking Russia's ratification of a global nuclear test ban, a move that Moscow said was needed to establish parity with the United States. Putin has said that rescinding the ratification of the Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban Treaty, also known as the CTBT, would mirror the stand taken by the U.S., which has signed but not ratified the nuclear test ban. Both houses of the Russian parliament voted last month to revoke Moscow's ratification of the bill. The CTBT, adopted in 1996, bans all nuclear explosions anywhere in the world, but the treaty was never fully implemented. In addition to the U.S., it has yet to be ratified by China, India, Pakistan, North Korea, Israel, Iran and Egypt. There are widespread concerns that Russia may resume nuclear tests to try to discourage the West from continuing to offer military support to Ukraine. Many Russian hawks have spoken in favour of a resumption of the tests. Putin has noted that some exp

Russia's Lower House votes to revoke nuclear test ban ratification

The lower house of Russia's parliament on Wednesday gave its final approval to a bill revoking the ratification of a global nuclear test ban treaty, a move Moscow described as putting it on par with the United States. The State Duma lawmakers voted unanimously to revoke the ratification of the Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban Treaty in the third and final reading on Wednesday. The bill will now go to the upper house, the Federation Council, which will consider it next week. Federation Council lawmakers have already said they will support the bill. The legislation was introduced to parliament following a statement from Russian President Vladimir Putin, who warned earlier this month that Moscow could revoke its 2000 decision to ratify the treaty to mirror the stand taken by the United States, which has signed but not ratified the nuclear test ban. The treaty, adopted in 1996, bans all nuclear explosions anywhere in the world, although it has never fully entered into force. In addition t

Global distrust, improving nukes are 'recipe for annihilation': UN Chief

An alarming rise in global distrust and division coupled with efforts by countries to improve the accuracy and destructive power of nuclear weapons is "a recipe for annihilation," the United Nations chief warned Tuesday. In a statement marking the International Day Against Nuclear Tests, Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said that with nearly 13,000 nuclear weapons stockpiled around the world, "a legally binding prohibition on nuclear tests is a fundamental step in our quest for a world free of nuclear weapons." The Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban Treaty has 196 member states 186 have signed it and 178 have ratified it, including eight in the last 18 months. But the pact has taken effect because it needs ratification by the eight nations that had nuclear power reactors or research reactors when the UN General Assembly adopted the treaty in 1996. At a high-level meeting of the 193-member assembly to observe the day there was no indication that those eight countries the United State

In Japan's neighbours, fear, frustation over radioactive water release

Seoul office worker Kim Mijeong says she intends to stop eating seafood, as she deeply mistrusts the safety of Japan's release of treated radioactive wastewater into the sea from its crippled nuclear power plant. We should absolutely cut back on our consumption of seafood. Actually, we can't eat it, Kim said. I can't accept the Japanese plan because it's too unilateral and is proceeding without countermeasures. The International Atomic Energy Agency and many foreign experts already assessed the water discharge will cause negligible impact on the environment and human health. But ahead of the discharge of the wastewater starting Thursday, public fears and frustrations were being shared in its Asian neighbors, where many still bear strong resentment against Japan's wartime aggression. China summoned Japan's ambassador in Beijing earlier this week to register its complaints, and a government spokesperson called the discharge plan extremely selfish and irresponsible. Hong Kong and Macau

What is Barbieheimer, the viral trend that is taking the internet by storm

Greta Gerwig's 'Barbie' and Christopher Nolan's 'Oppenheimer' has led to a viral phenomenon on the internet, termed as 'Barbieheimer'

US revokes nuclear inspectors visas to suspend Russia from New START treaty

The Biden administration is retaliating for Russia's suspension of the New START nuclear treaty, announcing on Thursday it is revoking the visas of Russian nuclear inspectors, denying pending applications for new monitors and cancelling standard clearances for Russian aircraft to enter US airspace. The State Department said it was taking those steps and others in response to Russia's ongoing violations of New START, the last arms control treaty remaining between the two countries, which are currently at severe odds over the Russian invasion of Ukraine. The United States is committed to full and mutual implementation of the New START treaty, it said. Consistent with that commitment, the United States has adopted lawful countermeasures in response to the Russian Federation's ongoing violations of the New START treaty. The department said the visa revocations and application denials, as well as a US decision to stop sharing information on the status or locations of missiles and telemet

Iran-IAEA cooperation continuing, no 'plunge' in inspections: Nuclear chief

Eslami said that relations between Iran and the IAEA are continuing on the basis of the safeguards agreements and the Non-Proliferation Treaty, adding no disruption has occurred

Russia cannot ignore NATO's nuclear capability: Putin on exiting New START

Russian President Vladimir Putin said in an interview broadcast Sunday that Russia has no choice but to take into account NATO's nuclear capabilities, in remarks justifying Russia's recent suspension of its participation in the New START treaty. As he has done repeatedly during the Ukraine war, Putin claimed that Russia faces an existential threat because, in his view, NATO members are seeking the country's strategic defeat. He said on Russian state TV that the suspension of New START stemmed from the need to ensure security, strategic stability for Russia. When all the leading NATO countries have declared their main goal as inflicting a strategic defeat on us (...) how can we ignore their nuclear capabilities in these conditions? Putin said. Putin's overarching goal in invading Ukraine a year ago was to reduce what he perceived as threats to Russia's security, and at times he has used that as justification for threats to use nuclear weapons in the conflict. Putin declared Tuesday

Putin walks out of nuclear pact, says US and Ukraine were ready to attack

'West intends to transform a local conflict into a phase of global confrontation

Exchange of messages on revival of 2015 nuclear deal continues: Iran

Exchange of messages among different parties to revive a 2015 nuclear deal continues through different channels, the Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman said

Ready to conclude Vienna nuclear deal on basis of final draft, says Iran

The Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian has said that Iran was ready to conclude the Vienna talks on the revival of a 2015 nuclear deal on the basis of the final draft

Iran to send delegation to Vienna for talks with IAEA, says FM Abdollahian

He expressed hope for progress to be made in the talks as long as the IAEA sticks to a technical approach

UN Chief Guterres urges world to put nuclear test ban treaty into force

The resolution was initiated to commemorate the closure of the Semipalatinsk nuclear test site in Kazakhstan on August 29, 1991

US response to EU's proposals on nuke deal likely lead to new talks: Iran

A senior Iranian lawmaker has said that Iran and the parties to the Vienna talks are close to a deal, but it may require a new round of meetings, a news website reported

Russia blocks final document at nuclear treaty conference with UN

Russia late Friday blocked agreement on the final document of a four-week review of the UN treaty considered the cornerstone of nuclear disarmament which criticized its military takeover of Europe's largest nuclear plant soon after Russian troops invaded Ukraine, an act that has raised fears of a nuclear accident. Igor Vishnevetsky, deputy director of the Russian Foreign Ministry's Non-Proliferation and Arms Control Department, told the delayed final meeting of the conference reviewing the 50-year-old Nuclear Nonproliferation Treaty that "unfortunately there is no consensus on this document." He insisted that many countries not just Russia didn't agree with "a whole host of issues" in the 36-page last draft. The document needed approval by all 191 countries that are parties to the treaty aimed at curbing the spread of nuclear weapons and ultimately achieving a world without them. Argentine Ambassador Gustavo Zlauvinen, president of the conference, said the final draft represented

UN nuclear treaty conference ends with Ukraine's nuclear plant in spotlight

As 191 countries approach Friday's end to a four-week conference to review the landmark U.N. treaty aimed at curbing the spread of nuclear weapons, Russia's invasion of Ukraine and takeover of Europe's largest nuclear power plant and rivalries between the West and China were posing key obstacles to agreement on a final document. Argentine Ambassador Gustavo Zlauvinen, president of the conference reviewing the 50-year-old Nuclear Nonproliferation Treaty, which is considered the cornerstone of nuclear disarmament, circulated a 35-page draft final document on Thursday. After listening to objections from countries at a closed-door session, diplomats said he was planning to revise the document for a final closed-door discussion Friday morning, ahead of an open meeting in the afternoon to end the conference. Any document must be approved by all parties to the treaty and it's uncertain whether an agreement will be reached before the conference ends. There is a possibility that only a brief

Nuclear talks with Iran resume in Vienna after a five-month hiatus

A new round of talks on the revival of a 2015 nuclear deal between Iran and world powers has began in Vienna after a 150-day hiatus, according to Iran's official news agency

Politicians warn of heightened threat at nuclear arms conference in US

Politicians from around the world have gathered in New York for the 10th Review Conference of the Treaty on NPT amid heightened tensions over nuclear arms in Russia and Iran

Iran govt vows to continue nuclear talks until interests protected

Iran insists on securing guarantees that the US government would not abandon the deal again and lifting the sanctions in a verifiable manner