Russian parliament's upper house rescinds ratification of global nuclear test ban

The upper house of the Russian parliament has revoked the country's ratification of a global nuclear test ban. Moscow has described it as a move to put itself on par with the United States. The Federation Council voted on Wednesday to endorse a bill rescinding the ratification of the Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban Treaty, also known as the CTBT. This bill will now be sent to President Vladimir Putin for final approval. The lower house approved the bill last week. The vote follows a statement from Putin, who warned earlier this month that Moscow could revoke its 2000 decision to ratify the bill to “mirror” the stand taken by the U.S., which has signed but not ratified the ban.