‘Oppenheimer’ finally premieres in Japan to mixed reactions and high emotions

TOKYO — TOKYO (AP) — “Oppenheimer” finally premiered Friday in the nation where two cities were obliterated 79 years ago by the nuclear weapons invented by the American scientist who was the subject of the Oscar-winning film. Japanese filmgoers’ reactions understandably were mixed and highly emotional. Toshiyuki Mimaki, who survived the bombing of Hiroshima when … Read more

Putin says Russia is ready to use nuclear weapons if its sovereignty threatened

President Vladimir Putin said that Russia is ready to use nuclear weapons if there is a threat to its statehood, sovereignty or independence, voicing hope that the U.S. 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 this week in … Read more

Putin says Russia has no intention of putting nuclear weapons in space

MOSCOW — Russian President Vladimir Putin declared Tuesday that Moscow has no intention of deploying nuclear weapons in space, claiming that the country has only developed space capabilities similar to those of the U.S. Putin’s statement follows the White House confirmation last week that Russia has obtained a “troubling” anti-satellite weapon capability, although such a … Read more

Iran launches 3 satellites into space that are part of a Western-criticized program

JERUSALEM — Iran said Sunday it successfully launched three satellites into space with a rocket that had multiple failures in the past, the latest for a program that the West says improves Tehran’s ballistic missiles. The launch comes as heightened tensions grip the wider Middle East over Israel’s continued war on Hamas in the Gaza … Read more

Iran launches satellite that is part of a Western-criticized program as regional tensions spike

JERUSALEM — Iran said Saturday it had conducted a successful satellite launch into its highest orbit yet, the latest for a program the West fears improves Tehran’s ballistic missiles. The announcement comes as heightened tensions grip the wider Middle East over Israel’s continued war on Hamas in the Gaza Strip, and just days after Iran … Read more

North Korea’s Kim says he’ll launch 3 more spy satellites and build more nuclear weapons in 2024

SEOUL, South Korea — North Korean leader Kim Jong Un said his country will launch three additional military spy satellites, build more nuclear weapons and introduce modern unmanned combat equipment in 2024, as he called for “overwhelming” war readiness to cope with U.S.-led confrontational moves, state media reported Sunday. Kim’s comments, made during a key … Read more

North Korea’s new reactor likely to be operational next summer, Seoul says

SEOUL, South Korea — A light-water reactor at North Korea’s main nuclear complex will likely be formally operational by next summer, South Korea’s defense minister said, amid suspicions that the North may use it as a new source of fissile materials for nuclear weapons. Concerns about North Korea’s nuclear program deepened recently as the U.N. … Read more

North Korea appears to be looking to make more bomb fuels at its main nuclear facility, experts say

SEOUL, South Korea — SEOUL, South Korea (AP) — North Korea appears to have started operating a light-water reactor at its main nuclear complex in a possible attempt to establish a new facility to produce bomb fuels, the U.N. atomic agency and outside experts said. If correct, the assessment would show that North Korea has … Read more

National Geographic’s Pictures of the Year

Some 165 photographers working on assignment for National Geographic shot more than 2.1 million images in 2023. Now, 29 are featured in its annual “Pictures of the Year” retrospective. The feature — published in the magazine’s December issue and online in November — contains “stunning photographs that unearth remarkable, rarely seen moments,” according to National … Read more

Putin signs bill revoking Russia’s ratification of a global nuclear test ban treaty

President Vladimir Putin has signed a bill revoking Russia’s ratification of a global nuclear test ban ByThe Associated Press November 2, 2023, 6:18 AM Russian President Vladimir Putin chairs a meeting on economic issues via videoconference at the Novo-Ogaryovo state residence outside Moscow, Russia, Wednesday, Nov. 1, 2023. Russian Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin is seen … Read more