Nuclear watchdog chief raises concerns after Putin's hint on Russian tests

The head of an international watchdog on nuclear tests has raised concern about Russian intentions following remarks by Vladimir Putin saying Moscow could withdraw its ratification of a global ban on testing. Robert Floyd, the executive secretary of the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty Organization (CTBTO) did not refer to Putin's remarks directly but to "recent media reports". "It would be concerning and deeply unfortunate if any state signatory were to reconsider its ratification of the CTBT," Floyd said. Any Russian nuclear test would be the first since 1990, the last conducted by the Soviet Union. Renewed testing by a nuclear superpower…