WORLD

Britain announced sanctions on Monday against Bosnian-Serb politicians Milorad Dodik and Zeljka Cvijanovic, who are accused of “deliberately undermining the hard-won peace in Bosnia and Herzegovina.” The measures, which include asset freezes and travel bans, come in response to political activity that the UK claims amounts to “de facto secession of …

The US Treasury Department has exempted Russian telecommunications and internet companies from some of the strictest sanctions imposed in response to the invasion of Ukraine in February. The move follows pleas from NGOs and internet freedom groups which had argued that cutting Russians off from communication with the west would …

The US State Department has ordered diplomatic workers to vacate a consulate in China, citing a rise in coronavirus infections and new draconian containment measures. All American citizens have also been urged against traveling to the country. An advisory issued on Monday called on all non-emergency workers to leave the …

US President Joe Biden has announced a ban on the manufacture and sale of “ghost guns,” homemade firearms whose lack of serial numbers makes them difficult to track when used in the commission of a crime. The president officially announced the new rule on Monday, rendering it illegal for a …

Current and future sanctions on Russia could spawn one of the worst oil supply shocks in history, OPEC secretary general Mohammed Barkindo warned EU officials on Monday, adding that it would be impossible to replace the volume of oil lost in such an event. Some 7 million barrels of Russian …

Ukraine’s neo-Nazi Azov Battalion has accused Russian forces of deploying a chemical weapon against its fighters during the siege on Mariupol, potentially creating a pretext for the US and its Western allies to step up efforts to punish Moscow over the conflict. An unidentified chemical agent was dropped from a …

US Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin hosted his Indian counterpart, Rajnath Singh, on Monday, calling for closer military ties between the countries and warning of security threats posed by China and Russia. “We’re meeting at a critical moment in the US-India defense partnership,” Austin told Singh as Monday’s talks began. …

Russia’s Investigative Committee launched a criminal probe on Monday over a Ukrainian social advertisement, calling for violence against Russian soldiers. The advertisement, shot in distinctive style resembling propaganda videos by Islamic State (IS, formerly ISIS) terrorists, features mock execution of a Russian soldier. The controversial video emerged on social media …

Austrian Chancellor Karl Nehammer walked away from his meeting on Monday with Russian President Vladimir Putin convinced that sanctions aren’t weakening the Kremlin’s determination to resolve the Donbass crisis before ending the military offensive in Ukraine. “He clearly confirmed that the sanctions are tough for Russia but the situation in …

Canada’s military has reportedly provided combat training to members of Ukraine’s neo-Nazi Azov regiment, contrary to stated policy and despite previous denials of any official relations between Ottawa and the notorious militia. The apparent connection came to light in photos posted on social media by the Ukrainian National Guard, according …