nuclear weapons

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Putin Makes Ominous Move on Nuclear Doctrine

He lowers threshold for use after US allows Ukraine to fire longer-range American missiles

(Newser) - Russia just loosened its rules on when it can unleash nuclear weapons, and Reuters sees the timing as a clear warning to the US. On Tuesday, Vladimir Putin formally changed Moscow's nuclear doctrine by lowering the threshold for when it can use nukes against its enemies. The move follows...

US Accuses China, Russia of Shielding North Korea

Hours later, North Korea launches more missiles

(Newser) - North Korea says it's speeding up the building of its nuclear weapons arsenal to counter threats from "hostile nuclear weapons states," like the United States. "The nuclear threat of United States against [North Korea] has already reached critical point in terms of its scale and danger,...

Atomic Bomb Survivors Win Nobel Peace Prize

Japanese organization Nihon Hidankyo advocates against use of nuclear weapons

(Newser) - This year's Nobel Peace Prize was awarded Friday to Nihon Hidankyo, a Japanese organization of survivors of the atomic bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki, for its activism against nuclear weapons. Jørgen Watne Frydnes, chair of the Norwegian Nobel Committee, said the award was made as the "taboo...

Putin Says Russia Might Loosen Its Nuclear Doctrine

Announcement is seen as a threat against the West

(Newser) - In what multiple news outlets are painting as an apparent threat to use nuclear weapons against Ukraine, Russian President Vladimir Putin on Wednesday announced proposed changes to Russia's nuclear doctrine. He highlighted one in particular, NBC News reports: "It is proposed that aggression against Russia by any non-nuclear...

China's 'Routine' Test Launch Was Anything But

Nation test-fired intercontinental ballistic missile into international waters for first time since 1980

(Newser) - China hasn't test-fired an intercontinental ballistic missile into international waters in more than four decades—until now. The AP reports that China launched an ICBM with a dummy warhead on Wednesday, and that the missile fell into the Pacific Ocean as it was intended to, according to the nation'...

Looks Like Launch of 'Satan II' Didn't Go So Well

Russia's Sarmat nuclear missile launch deemed a 'catastrophic failure,' based on launch site pics

(Newser) - Earlier this month, a launch silo at Russia's Plesetsk Cosmodrome looked unmarred and ready for its next mission. Now, satellite images show a whole new picture of the site, suggesting that a recent test of its RS-28 Sarmat intercontinental ballistic missile went awry, reports Reuters . In fact, arms experts...

Putin Says US Forced His Hand on Nuclear Missile Plan

Russian president says missiles banned in late-'80s US-Russia treaty to go into production again

(Newser) - A decades-long halt on Russia's production of shorter- and intermediate-range nuclear-capable missiles has come to an end. Vladimir Putin on Friday called for his country to resume the manufacture of ground-based missiles with a range of between 310 and 3,410 miles, which had been banned in the Intermediate-Range...

Images May Reveal Putin's Nuclear Depot in Belarus

'New York Times' analyzes satellite photos

(Newser) - In the past week, Russia and Belarus have announced measures that could be interpreted as readying nuclear weapons. Russia said that President Vladimir Putin had ordered drills near Ukraine to simulate the use of tactical nuclear weapons. And Belarus' defense minister said that his country's forces, including a unit...

The Possibility of Nuclear War Should Inform Your Vote

George F. Will on what Annie Jacobsen's new book teaches us

(Newser) - George F. Will has read Annie Jacobsen's new book— Nuclear War: A Scenario —so you don't have to. But his top-level summary of it does leave you with an ask: Think carefully about who you vote to put in the White House this November. (You might also...

Ahead of Russian Election, a Stark Warning From Putin

Leader says if Russia's statehood is threatened, it's ready to use nuclear weapons

(Newser) - President Vladimir Putin said that Russia is ready to use nuclear weapons if there's a threat against it, voicing hope that the United States would refrain from actions that could trigger a nuclear conflict. Putin's statement was another blunt warning to the West ahead of a presidential vote...

In New Russia-Nuke Question, a Wrinkle Emerges
In New Russia-Nuke Question,
a Wrinkle Emerges
the rundown
Feb 21, 2024 1:45 PM CST

In New Russia-Nuke Question, a Wrinkle Emerges

US tells allies that Putin might launch a dummy warhead into space to throw everybody off

(Newser) - The US is pretty sure Russia is developing a nuclear weapon that could be deployed in space to take out satellites. Vladimir Putin, of course, denies it . Here's a look at coverage with more details on what's going on:
  • Soon? US intelligence agencies are warning allies that Russia
...

Off the Coast of Florida, UK Suffers Missile 'Anomaly'

Submarine has a 'highly embarrassing' 2nd misfire of Trident missile

(Newser) - A Trident missile shot off a British nuclear submarine in a test launch last month didn't fare well: It misfired and crashed into the waters off of Florida. Per Sky News , the UK Defense Ministry confirmed on Tuesday that an "anomaly" had taken place during the Jan. 30...

Report: Hamas Missile Hit Base That Has Nuclear Weaponry

'New York Times' says the warheads themselves were not struck in Israel

(Newser) - The New York Times has a disturbing report out of Israel, where it says a Hamas missile struck a military base that houses nuclear weaponry. However, none of Israel's nuclear warheads were hit, according to the story by investigative reporter Riley Mellen. The Oct. 7 rocket struck the Sdot...

Israeli Official Suspended After Talk of Nuclear Attack

Netanyahu, defense minister denounce the comment

(Newser) - Israel's heritage minister has been suspended from office indefinitely after suggesting in an interview that Israel could drop a nuclear bomb on Gaza. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu took the action after Amichai Eliyahu's radio interview aired Sunday, Politico reports. Reasoning that there are "no non-combatants in Gaza,...

Putin Move Raises Fears of More Nuclear Tests

Russian leader signs bill revoking ratification of test ban treaty

(Newser) - 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...

China Preps for Assault With Tips Learned From Russia

Government looks to limit the effect of potential sanctions as it builds up military capability

(Newser) - A Pentagon report on China's military power says Beijing is exceeding previous projections of how quickly it is building up its nuclear weapons arsenal and is "almost certainly" learning lessons from Russia's war in Ukraine about what a conflict over Taiwan might look like, per the AP...

Soldiers' Tricky Mission: Tend Aging Nuclear Arsenal of US

The AP is given a look at the delicate process

(Newser) - In an ultra-sterile room at a secure factory in Kansas City, US government technicians refurbish the nation's nuclear warheads. The job is exacting: Each warhead has thousands of springs, gears, and copper contacts that must work in conjunction to set off a nuclear explosion. Eight hundred miles away in...

As N. Korea Displays Nukes, a Message From Putin

Russian leader thanked North for its 'firm support' amid Victory Day celebrations in Pyongyang

(Newser) - Pyongyang hosted quite a military parade Thursday evening, complete with tens of thousands of spectators, a display of North Korea's nuclear weaponry , and delegates from Russia and China . The event, marking the 70th anniversary of the armistice that stopped the fighting in the Korean War, also saw a special...

We Got Atomic Bombs. St. Louis Paid a Price

A joint investigation finds health risks, spills to the St. Louis area were ignored

(Newser) - The federal government and companies responsible for nuclear bomb production and atomic waste storage sites in the St. Louis area in the mid-20th century were aware of health risks, spills, improperly stored contaminants, and other problems—but often ignored them, finds an investigation done in collaboration by the AP , the...

Think Tank Issues Dire Warning About World's Nukes

'We are drifting into one of the most dangerous periods in human history,' says group after count goes up

(Newser) - A Swedish think tank that keeps tabs on nuclear weapons around the world issued quite a statement Monday to describe the state of things: "We are drifting into one of the most dangerous periods in human history," said Dan Smith of the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute, per...

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