DefenseNews: Russian parliament makes moves against global nuclear test ban

MOSCOW — The lower house of the Russian parliament on Tuesday gave preliminary approval to a bill revoking the ratification of a global nuclear test ban in what Moscow has described as a move to put itself on par with the United States. The State Duma voted unanimously to rescind the ratification of the Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban Treaty known as the CTBT, in the first of three required readings. The final vote is scheduled for later this week. The vote follows a statement from Russian President Vladimir Putin, who warned earlier this month…