Breaking News, Business, Financial and Economic News, World News from EconoTimes

Become a contributor

Bookmark Econotimes

Sat, Sep 05, 2026 03:28 PM All times are UTC

Follow Series

©Econometrics LLC . All Rights Reserved.

MV Ramana

Simons Chair in Disarmament, Global and Human Security at the Liu Institute for Global Issues, University of British Columbia

M. V. Ramana (Ph.D. Boston University; M.Sc Indian Institute of Technology Kanpur) is the Simons Chair in Disarmament, Global and Human Security at the Liu Institute for Global Issues, UBC. His research interests are in the broad areas of international security and energy supply, with a particular focus on topics related to nuclear energy and fissile materials that can be used to make nuclear weapons. He combines technical skills and interdisciplinary methods to address policy relevant questions related to security and energy issues. Ramana is the author of The Power of Promise: Examining Nuclear Energy in India, Penguin Books, New Delhi (2012).

His recent work has involved studying the multiple risks associated with the acquisition and expansion of nuclear power around the world, including the linkage with nuclear weapons, the financial risks stemming from the high capital costs of reactors, the environmental risks associated with spent fuel and long-lived radioactive waste, and safety risks as a result of the potential for severe accidents like the ones at Chernobyl in 1986 and Fukushima in 2011. He has also carried out critical assessments of new reactor technologies. Earlier work has included studying the effects of nuclear explosions, accidents involving nuclear weapons, and the detection of ballistic missiles.

His work has been recognized through honors such as a Guggenheim Fellowship in 2003 and the Leo Szilard Award from the American Physical Society in 2014. He is a member of the International Panel on Fissile Materials and on the editorial board of Energy Research & Social Science.

Why Ontario must rethink its nuclear refurbishment plans

Jan 07, 2020 15:45 pm UTC| Insights & Views Economy

Ontario is working to refurbish 10 nuclear reactors at the Darlington and Bruce power plants at estimated costs of $12.8 billion and $13 billion respectively. In the months ahead, Ontario Power Generation expects to start...

Ontario can phase out nuclear and avoid increased carbon emissions

Jan 06, 2020 16:48 pm UTC| Insights & Views Politics

As wind and solar energy have become cheaper, theyve become a more prominent and important way to generate clean electricity in most parts of the world. The Ontario government, on the other hand, is cancelling renewable...

Canada could slow the accelerating nuclear arms race

Sep 02, 2019 23:19 pm UTC| Insights & Views

The Aug. 8 explosion at a remote missile test site in Nyonoksa in Northern Russia has been covered widely in the media. The test involved something powered by radioactive isotopes (possibly a nuclear power generator of...

The argument from cyberspace for eliminating nuclear weapons

Nov 08, 2018 16:41 pm UTC| Insights & Views Technology

At the height of the Cold War in 1982, American psychiatrist Robert Jay Lifton argued that the central existential fact of the nuclear age is vulnerability. That warning predated the proliferation of computers into almost...

Small nuclear power reactors: Future or folly?

Jul 25, 2017 14:46 pm UTC| Insights & Views Economy

Nuclear energy companies are proposing small nuclear reactors as a safer and cheaper source of electricity. In June, Canadian Nuclear Laboratories put out a call for a discussion around Small Modular Reactor (SMRs) in...

Economy

Hong Kong Eyes Offshore Yuan Expansion, Deeper China Market Links

Hong Kong is preparing to expand the use of the offshore yuan and strengthen cross-border investment ties with mainland China under its first five-year plan, Bloomberg reported Saturday, citing Chief Executive John Lee....

Japan, US Target AI and Chips in $550 Billion Investment Push

Japan and the United States are advancing a $550 billion investment initiative, with artificial intelligence and semiconductor projects expected to become major priorities in the next phase of the economic partnership,...

Iran’s Hormuz Oil Pressure Fades as Gulf Crude Flows Continue

Irans effort to pressure global oil markets by restricting traffic through the Strait of Hormuz is losing some of its effectiveness as U.S. support helps Gulf producers maintain crude shipments, according to the Wall...

JPMorgan Sees ECB Raising Rates to 2.75% in December

JPMorgan now expects the European Central Bank (ECB) to raise interest rates for a third time in December, lifting its policy rate to 2.75% as persistent inflation, higher energy costs and resilient eurozone growth...

Asian Currencies Rise as Yen Surges on Fed Rate Outlook

Asian currencies strengthened on Friday, led by a sharp rally in the Japanese yen as the U.S. dollar weakened following dovish comments from Federal Reserve Governor Christopher Waller. The yen was heading for a weekly...

Politics

Ecuador Backs U.S. Sinking of Vessels in Pacific Anti-Drug Operation

Ecuador has defended U.S. operations that intercepted and sank three Ecuadorean vessels this week as part of a broader campaign targeting maritime drug trafficking in the eastern Pacific, despite claims from crew members...

Trump’s Arlington Arch Project Faces New Court Restrictions

A federal judge on Friday ordered the Trump administration to provide at least 48 hours notice before carrying out most activities at the proposed site of a 250-foot triumphal arch near Arlington National Cemetery, adding...

U.S. Issues Cuba Health Alert as Illnesses Rise

The U.S. Embassy in Havana issued a health alert for Cuba on Friday after reporting a significant increase in diarrheal and intestinal illnesses linked to deteriorating water and electricity infrastructure across the...

Trump Grants Clemency to Jay-Z Associate Emory Jones

U.S. President Donald Trump granted clemency to 30 people this week, including Emory Jones, a longtime associate of rapper and business mogul Jay-Z, according to White House pardon czar Alice Marie Johnson. Johnson...

Mexico Morena Lawmaker Zenyazen Escobar Found Dead in Veracruz

Mexican federal lawmaker Zenyazen Escobar, a member of the ruling Morena party, was found dead from a gunshot wound in Veracruz on Friday, adding to concerns over political violence ahead of Mexicos upcoming elections....

Science

Blue Origin New Glenn Explosion Could Delay Launch Operations Until 2028

Blue Origin is facing a significant setback after a dramatic explosion involving its New Glenn rocket severely damaged a launch pad at Cape Canaveral, Florida. According to NASA Administrator Jared Isaacman, repairs to the...

Blue Origin New Glenn Rocket Explodes During Launch Pad Test, Delaying Space Ambitions

Blue Origin suffered a major setback after its uncrewed New Glenn rocket exploded during a launch pad test in Florida on Thursday, raising new challenges for Jeff Bezos space company as it competes with Elon Musks SpaceX...

SpaceX Delays Starship V3 Launch Ahead of Potential Record IPO

SpaceX on Thursday postponed the highly anticipated launch of its 12th Starship rocket test from Texas after technical issues interrupted the final countdown. The company now plans to attempt the Starship V3 launch again...

Trump Administration Releases New UFO Files and Apollo Mission Records

The U.S. Defense Department has released dozens of previously classified UFO-related files following an order from President Donald Trump, sparking renewed debate over unidentified anomalous phenomena (UAP) and government...

China vs. NASA: The New Moon Race and What's at Stake by 2030

The space race is back and this time, its a direct competition between the United States and China for dominance on the lunar surface. NASAs Artemis II mission recently made history when four astronauts flew farther into...

Technology

SpaceX Turbine Push Unlikely to Threaten Howmet, Bernstein Says

SpaceXs plan to manufacture industrial gas turbine blades and vanes is unlikely to significantly threaten Howmet Aerospace, according to Bernstein analysts, who see recent weakness in Howmet shares as a potential buying...

Anthropic IPO Marketing Expected to Start in Mid-October

Anthropic is expected to begin marketing its initial public offering in mid-October at the earliest, as the artificial intelligence company adjusts the timeline for what could become one of the largest IPOs in history. The...

South Korea, US Discuss Chip Investments Amid Tariff Plans

South Korea and the United States are holding discussions over semiconductor investments in U.S. manufacturing as the two countries navigate broader economic and trade negotiations, a senior Seoul official said Friday. The...

Anthropic Nears $15 Billion Credit Deal Ahead of IPO

Anthropic is reportedly close to finalizing an expansion of its revolving credit facility to $15 billion, strengthening the artificial intelligence companys financial position ahead of its widely anticipated initial public...

Xiaomi Shares Jump on Europe EV Expansion Plan

Xiaomi shares climbed sharply on Friday after the Chinese technology giant confirmed plans to begin selling its electric vehicles in Europe in 2027, marking a major step in its international EV expansion. Xiaomi Corp...