April 15 in history: Launch of Kodachrome, Notre-Dame de Paris catches fire and more

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/us-cancels-black-sea-deployment-of-warships-amid-high-tensions-between-russia-ukraine-377643">Russia-Ukraine crisis: US cancels Black Sea deployment of warships</a>

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<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/fbi-opens-investigation-into-chinese-activity-every-10-hours-director-christopher-wray-377648" hreflang="en">FBI opens investigation into Chinese activity every 10 hours: Director Wray</a>

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<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/path-of-future-world-order-will-be-set-in-indo-pacific-region-european-union-council-president-377645">Path of future world order will be set in Indo-Pacific region: EU Council Prez</a>

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<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/irans-supreme-leader-ayatollah-ali-khamenei-says-vienna-offers-not-worth-looking-at-377646" hreflang="en">Iran's supreme leader says Vienna offers 'not worth looking at'</a>

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<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/brazils-supreme-court-approves-probe-of-bolsonaros-virus-response-377649" hreflang="en">Brazil's Supreme Court approves probe of Bolsonaro's virus response</a>

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Russia-Ukraine crisis: US cancels Black Sea deployment of warships FBI opens investigation into Chinese activity every 10 hours: Director Wray Path of future wo

Russia-Ukraine crisis: US cancels Black Sea deployment of warships FBI opens investigation into Chinese activity every 10 hours: Director Wray Path of future world order will be set in Indo-Pacific region: EU Council Prez Iran's supreme leader says Vienna offers 'not worth looking at' Brazil's Supreme Court approves probe of Bolsonaro's virus response

Morning news brief: US cancels Black Sea deployment of warships and more

Brazil's Supreme Court on Wednesday allowed a Senate investigation of President Jair Bolsonaro's handling of the pandemic to go forward, one of two cases it tackled that could affect the leader's bid for reelection next year.

The full court also was weighing the political future of former President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, a potential powerful rival to Bolsonaro.

One of the judges earlier ruled he had been unjustly convicted in a corruption case, a decision that effectively reinstated his right to run for the presidency again.

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The court voted 10-1 Wednesday to uphold Justice Luis Roberto Barroso's order that the Senate should start an investigation of into Bolsonaro's management of the crisis because a required number of senators had sponsored such a call.

The Senate president had tried to delay the probe, citing pandemic health restrictions.

Critics, including those calling for or leading the investigation, say Bolsonaro has bungled Brazil's response to the pandemic by resisting health-driven restrictions on activity, failing to marshal resources for vaccines, and stimulating the use of drugs that don't work against the virus.

Bolsonaro and his allies say he's being unfairly blamed for Brazil's surge in COVID-19 deaths, a toll that trails only that of the United States. Brazil's seven-day average death toll hit a new record on Monday.

The Senate probe is an attempted ''political coup against the president," said Sen. Marcio Bittar, a Bolsonaro ally in a Twitter post on Wednesday.

He's also cried foul as the Supreme Court has issued rulings that go against him, prompting outrage from his conservative base that claims the court is overstepping constitutional bounds.

Carlos Melo, a political science professor at Insper University in Sao Paulo, said the investigation poses risks for Bolsonaro.

''The desperation with the pandemic tends to increase as deaths continue to grow. Economic issues are also far from being solved. And at the same time his administration is fighting with its base in congress over next year's budget,''&nbsp;Melo said.

''The surroundings of the inquiry don't favor Bolsonaro."

The top court last year knocked down Bolsonaro's attempt to overturn local restrictions meant to slow the advance of COVID-19, ruling that governors and mayors are free to determine their own COVID-19 protocols.

On Tuesday, a justice also suspended parts of four Bolsonaro decrees aimed at loosening gun controls.

The Brazilian leader, who has long downplayed the risks of the disease and still denounces lockdowns, has argued lawmakers should also investigate the actions of governors and mayors to whom the federal government provided funds.

He and his allies scored a partial win at the Senate on Tuesday when the use of such funds was made part of the investigation.

Bolsonaro on Wednesday complained that Justice Barroso's April 8 ruling that the Senate probe should go forward had created ''an atmosphere of animosity.''

''That justice is interfering with the Senate in order to go after me," he said.

More than the required 27 senators had signed a request for the investigation, but the president of the Senate, Rodrigo Pacheco, had refrained from greenlighting the probe, citing health concerns amid the pandemic.

The court on Wednesday also began assessing the decision by Justice Luiz Edson Fachin on March 8 to annul da Silva's two corruption convictions, which were related to the massive ''Car Wash''&nbsp;scandal focused on the state oil company.

Early polling for the 2022 election shows the 75-year-old leftist, who governed Brazil between 2003 and 2010, neck-and-neck with Bolsonaro.

Da Silva was leading polls in 2018 when he was knocked out of the race by a conviction involving a beachfront apartment that prosecutors alleged&nbsp;and he denied&nbsp;belonged to him.

Bolsonaro won the election and the judge who oversaw da Silva's conviction, Sergio Moro, became his justice minister. One of the top court's two panels of justices already ruled Moro was biased against da Silva.

The question now before the full court was whether Moro's court even had jurisdiction to hear the case, and the justices may also evaluate the panel's finding regarding bias.

''The Supreme Court has the opportunity to make history today, maintaining the annulment of the sentences and the bias of Moro against him,''&nbsp;said Gleisi Hoffmann, chairwoman of da Silva's Workers' Party, on Twitter.

Brazil's Supreme Court on Wednesday allowed a Senate investigation of President Jair Bolsonaro's handling of the pandemic to go forward, one of two cases it tackled that could affect the leader's bid for reelection next year.

Brazil's Supreme Court on Wednesday allowed a Senate investigation of President Jair Bolsonaro's handling of the pandemic to go forward, one of two cases it tackled that could affect the leader's bid for reelection next year. The full court also was weighing the political future of former President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, a potential powerful rival to Bolsonaro. One of the judges earlier ruled he had been unjustly convicted in a corruption case, a decision that effectively reinstated his right to run for the presidency again. The court voted 10-1 Wednesday to uphold Justice Luis Roberto Barroso's order that the Senate should start an investigation of into Bolsonaro's management of the crisis because a required number of senators had sponsored such a call. The Senate president had tried to delay the probe, citing pandemic health restrictions. Critics, including those calling for or leading the investigation, say Bolsonaro has bungled Brazil's response to the pandemic by resisting health-driven restrictions on activity, failing to marshal resources for vaccines, and stimulating the use of drugs that don't work against the virus. Bolsonaro and his allies say he's being unfairly blamed for Brazil's surge in COVID-19 deaths, a toll that trails only that of the United States. Brazil's seven-day average death toll hit a new record on Monday. The Senate probe is an attempted ''political coup against the president," said Sen. Marcio Bittar, a Bolsonaro ally in a Twitter post on Wednesday. He's also cried foul as the Supreme Court has issued rulings that go against him, prompting outrage from his conservative base that claims the court is overstepping constitutional bounds. Carlos Melo, a political science professor at Insper University in Sao Paulo, said the investigation poses risks for Bolsonaro. ''The desperation with the pandemic tends to increase as deaths continue to grow. Economic issues are also far from being solved. And at the same time his administration is fighting with its base in congress over next year's budget,'' Melo said. ''The surroundings of the inquiry don't favor Bolsonaro." The top court last year knocked down Bolsonaro's attempt to overturn local restrictions meant to slow the advance of COVID-19, ruling that governors and mayors are free to determine their own COVID-19 protocols. On Tuesday, a justice also suspended parts of four Bolsonaro decrees aimed at loosening gun controls. The Brazilian leader, who has long downplayed the risks of the disease and still denounces lockdowns, has argued lawmakers should also investigate the actions of governors and mayors to whom the federal government provided funds. He and his allies scored a partial win at the Senate on Tuesday when the use of such funds was made part of the investigation. Bolsonaro on Wednesday complained that Justice Barroso's April 8 ruling that the Senate probe should go forward had created ''an atmosphere of animosity.'' ''That justice is interfering with the Senate in order to go after me," he said. More than the required 27 senators had signed a request for the investigation, but the president of the Senate, Rodrigo Pacheco, had refrained from greenlighting the probe, citing health concerns amid the pandemic. The court on Wednesday also began assessing the decision by Justice Luiz Edson Fachin on March 8 to annul da Silva's two corruption convictions, which were related to the massive ''Car Wash'' scandal focused on the state oil company. Early polling for the 2022 election shows the 75-year-old leftist, who governed Brazil between 2003 and 2010, neck-and-neck with Bolsonaro. Da Silva was leading polls in 2018 when he was knocked out of the race by a conviction involving a beachfront apartment that prosecutors alleged and he denied belonged to him. Bolsonaro won the election and the judge who oversaw da Silva's conviction, Sergio Moro, became his justice minister. One of the top court's two panels of justices already ruled Moro was biased against da Silva. The question now before the full court was whether Moro's court even had jurisdiction to hear the case, and the justices may also evaluate the panel's finding regarding bias. ''The Supreme Court has the opportunity to make history today, maintaining the annulment of the sentences and the bias of Moro against him,'' said Gleisi Hoffmann, chairwoman of da Silva's Workers' Party, on Twitter.

Brazil's Supreme Court approves probe of Bolsonaro's virus response

Iran's supreme leader&nbsp;Ayatollah Ali Khamenei&nbsp;on Wednesday dismissed initial offers at talks in Vienna to save Tehran's tattered nuclear deal as ''not worth looking at,''&nbsp;attempting to pressure world powers after an attack on the country's main nuclear enrichment site.

The comments by Khamenei, who has final say on all matters of state in the Islamic Republic, came after a day that saw Iran's president similarly ratchet up pressure over the accord.

European powers meanwhile warned Tehran its actions were ''particularly regrettable''&nbsp;and ''dangerous.''

Also read|&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/european-powers-warn-iran-over-dangerous-uranium-enrichment-move-377640" hreflang="en">European powers warn Iran over 'dangerous' uranium enrichment move&nbsp;</a>

The talks already have been thrown into disarray by a weekend attack on Iran's main Natanz nuclear enrichment site suspected to have been carried out by Israel.

Tehran retaliated by announcing it would enrich uranium up to 60 per cent&nbsp;higher than it ever has before but still lower than weapons-grade levels of 90&nbsp;per cent.

"The offers they provide are usually arrogant and humiliating (and) are not worth looking at,''&nbsp;the 81-year-old Khamenei said in an address marking the first day of the holy Muslim fasting month of Ramadan in Iran. He also criticized the US&nbsp;And warned time could be running out.

''The talks shouldn't become talks of attrition,''&nbsp;Khamenei said. "They shouldn't be in a way that parties drag on and prolong the talks. This is harmful to the country.''

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Speaking to his Cabinet, an impassioned Iranian President Hassan Rouhani said the first-generation IR-1 centrifuges that were damaged in Sunday's attack would be replaced by advanced IR-6 centrifuges that enrich uranium much faster.

''You wanted to make our hands empty during the talks but our hands are full,''&nbsp;Rouhani said.

''60&nbsp;per cent&nbsp;enrichment is an answer to your evilness. ... We cut off both of your hands, one with IR-6 centrifuges and another one with 60 per cent,''&nbsp;Rouhani added:

Rouhani also accused Israel of being behind the Natanz attack and threatened to retaliate.

In Jerusalem at a Memorial Day commemoration, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu appeared to reference Iran.

''We must never remain apathetic to the threats of war and extermination of those who seek to eliminate us,''&nbsp;he said. Israel has not claimed the attack, though it rarely does in its ongoing shadow war against Tehran.

The talks in Vienna are aimed at finding a way for the United States to re-enter Tehran's nuclear agreement with world powers and have Iran comply again with its limits.

The accord, which former President Donald Trump unilaterally withdrew the US&nbsp;from in 2018, prevented Iran from stockpiling enough high-enriched uranium to be able to pursue a nuclear weapon in exchange for the lifting of economic sanctions.

Late on Wednesday, the European Union said formal negotiations would resume Thursday in Vienna.

Rouhani in his comments Wednesday insisted Iran is still hoping that the Vienna talks lead to a negotiated settlement over its program&nbsp;and the accompanying lifting of punishing sanctions. Khamenei as well said he believed in his negotiators, but kept up the pressure on the West in his remarks Wednesday night.

''They must do what we say first, and we are assured that it's done, then we will do what is we are required to do," he said.

France, Germany, and the United Kingdom, all parties to the nuclear deal, only hours earlier issued a joint statement Wednesday expressing their ''grave concern''&nbsp;over Iran's decision to increase enrichment.

''This is a serious development since the production of highly enriched uranium constitutes an important step in the production of a nuclear weapon,''&nbsp;the countries said.

''Iran has no credible civilian need for enrichment at this level.''

China and Russia also took part in the deal.

US&nbsp;Secretary of State Antony Blinken also called Iran's enrichment decision a ''provocative announcement.''

''It calls into question Iran's seriousness of purpose in the nuclear talks,''&nbsp;he said in Brussels.

Saudi Arabia, a regional rival to Iran, similarly issued a statement, saying enriching at that level ''could not be considered a program intended for peaceful purposes.'' It called on Iran to ''avoid escalation."

Iran insists its nuclear program is peaceful, though the West and the International Atomic Energy Agency says Tehran had an organized military nuclear program up until the end of 2003.

An annual US&nbsp;Intelligence report released Tuesday maintained the American assessment that ''Iran is not currently undertaking the key nuclear weapons-development activities that we judge would be necessary to produce a nuclear device.''

Iran previously had said it could use uranium enriched up to 60&nbsp;per cent&nbsp;for nuclear-powered ships. However, the Islamic Republic currently has no such ships in its navy.

Iran had been enriching up to 20&nbsp;per cent&nbsp;even that was a short technical step to weapons-grade levels. The deal limited Iran's enrichment to 3.76&nbsp;per cent.

Iran's envoy to the IAEA, Kazem Gharibabadi, posted a letter online addressed to IAEA Director-General Rafael Grossi warning against any adventurism by (the) Israeli regime&nbsp;targeting Iranian nuclear sites.

''The most recent cowardly act of nuclear terrorism will only strengthen our determination to march forward and to replace all (damaged) centrifuges with even more advanced and sophisticated machines,''&nbsp;Gharibabadi wrote.&nbsp;

(With input from agencies)

Iran's supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei on Wednesday dismissed initial offers at talks in Vienna to save Tehran's tattered nuclear deal as ''not worth looking at,'' attempting to pressure world powers after an attack on the country's main nuclear enrichment site.

Iran's supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei on Wednesday dismissed initial offers at talks in Vienna to save Tehran's tattered nuclear deal as ''not worth looking at,'' attempting to pressure world powers after an attack on the country's main nuclear enrichment site. The comments by Khamenei, who has final say on all matters of state in the Islamic Republic, came after a day that saw Iran's president similarly ratchet up pressure over the accord. European powers meanwhile warned Tehran its actions were ''particularly regrettable'' and ''dangerous.'' Also read| European powers warn Iran over 'dangerous' uranium enrichment move The talks already have been thrown into disarray by a weekend attack on Iran's main Natanz nuclear enrichment site suspected to have been carried out by Israel. Tehran retaliated by announcing it would enrich uranium up to 60 per cent higher than it ever has before but still lower than weapons-grade levels of 90 per cent. "The offers they provide are usually arrogant and humiliating (and) are not worth looking at,'' the 81-year-old Khamenei said in an address marking the first day of the holy Muslim fasting month of Ramadan in Iran. He also criticized the US And warned time could be running out. ''The talks shouldn't become talks of attrition,'' Khamenei said. "They shouldn't be in a way that parties drag on and prolong the talks. This is harmful to the country.'' Speaking to his Cabinet, an impassioned Iranian President Hassan Rouhani said the first-generation IR-1 centrifuges that were damaged in Sunday's attack would be replaced by advanced IR-6 centrifuges that enrich uranium much faster. ''You wanted to make our hands empty during the talks but our hands are full,'' Rouhani said. ''60 per cent enrichment is an answer to your evilness. ... We cut off both of your hands, one with IR-6 centrifuges and another one with 60 per cent,'' Rouhani added: Rouhani also accused Israel of being behind the Natanz attack and threatened to retaliate. In Jerusalem at a Memorial Day commemoration, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu appeared to reference Iran. ''We must never remain apathetic to the threats of war and extermination of those who seek to eliminate us,'' he said. Israel has not claimed the attack, though it rarely does in its ongoing shadow war against Tehran. The talks in Vienna are aimed at finding a way for the United States to re-enter Tehran's nuclear agreement with world powers and have Iran comply again with its limits. The accord, which former President Donald Trump unilaterally withdrew the US from in 2018, prevented Iran from stockpiling enough high-enriched uranium to be able to pursue a nuclear weapon in exchange for the lifting of economic sanctions. Late on Wednesday, the European Union said formal negotiations would resume Thursday in Vienna. Rouhani in his comments Wednesday insisted Iran is still hoping that the Vienna talks lead to a negotiated settlement over its program and the accompanying lifting of punishing sanctions. Khamenei as well said he believed in his negotiators, but kept up the pressure on the West in his remarks Wednesday night. ''They must do what we say first, and we are assured that it's done, then we will do what is we are required to do," he said. France, Germany, and the United Kingdom, all parties to the nuclear deal, only hours earlier issued a joint statement Wednesday expressing their ''grave concern'' over Iran's decision to increase enrichment. ''This is a serious development since the production of highly enriched uranium constitutes an important step in the production of a nuclear weapon,'' the countries said. ''Iran has no credible civilian need for enrichment at this level.'' China and Russia also took part in the deal. US Secretary of State Antony Blinken also called Iran's enrichment decision a ''provocative announcement.'' ''It calls into question Iran's seriousness of purpose in the nuclear talks,'' he said in Brussels. Saudi Arabia, a regional rival to Iran, similarly issued a statement, saying enriching at that level ''could not be considered a program intended for peaceful purposes.'' It called on Iran to ''avoid escalation." Iran insists its nuclear program is peaceful, though the West and the International Atomic Energy Agency says Tehran had an organized military nuclear program up until the end of 2003. An annual US Intelligence report released Tuesday maintained the American assessment that ''Iran is not currently undertaking the key nuclear weapons-development activities that we judge would be necessary to produce a nuclear device.'' Iran previously had said it could use uranium enriched up to 60 per cent for nuclear-powered ships. However, the Islamic Republic currently has no such ships in its navy. Iran had been enriching up to 20 per cent even that was a short technical step to weapons-grade levels. The deal limited Iran's enrichment to 3.76 per cent. Iran's envoy to the IAEA, Kazem Gharibabadi, posted a letter online addressed to IAEA Director-General Rafael Grossi warning against any adventurism by (the) Israeli regime targeting Iranian nuclear sites. ''The most recent cowardly act of nuclear terrorism will only strengthen our determination to march forward and to replace all (damaged) centrifuges with even more advanced and sophisticated machines,'' Gharibabadi wrote. (With input from agencies)

Iran's supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei says Vienna offers 'not worth looking at'

The United States has cancelled this week's planned deployment of two warships to the Black Sea, Turkish officials and media said Wednesday, amid high tensions between Russia and Ukraine.

Turkish diplomatic sources said the passage of the first ship through the Bosphorus due on Wednesday did not take place.&nbsp;

Anadolu state news agency said both deployments, scheduled for Wednesday and Thursday, have been cancelled with Ankara not yet informed of any possible rescheduling.

Last week Turkey announced that it had been informed through diplomatic channels that two US warships "will pass toward the Black Sea" and remain in the region until May 4.

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There was no confirmation from Washington either of the planned deployments or of their cancellation.

Washington is required to give Ankara at least 15 days notice before sending warships through the Bosphorus and Dardanelles straits under the terms of the 1936 Montreux Convention.

The treaty's terms allow foreign warships to stay in the Black Sea for 21 days.

US Navy ships routinely operate in the region in support of Ukraine, which has been fighting Russian-backed forces in its east since a 2014 revolution ousted the pro-Moscow leader in Kiev.

Russia annexed Ukraine's Crimea peninsula around the same time, setting up a confrontation with the West that lingers to this day.

Last week's announcement of a US deployment of warships came as tensions between Moscow and Kiev have risen due to a build-up of Russian troops at the Ukraine border.

These troop deployments come against the backdrop of renewed incidents between Kiev forces and pro-Russian separatists in eastern Ukraine.

Wednesday's news of the cancellation of the US warships' deployment came a day after US President Joe Biden talked by phone with his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin.

During that conversation, Biden proposed a summit with Putin in a neutral country and called on Russia to "de-escalate tensions", according to the White House.

(With input from agencies)

The United States has cancelled this week's planned deployment of two warships to the Black Sea, Turkish officials and media said Wednesday, amid high tensions between Russia and Ukraine.

The United States has cancelled this week's planned deployment of two warships to the Black Sea, Turkish officials and media said Wednesday, amid high tensions between Russia and Ukraine. Turkish diplomatic sources said the passage of the first ship through the Bosphorus due on Wednesday did not take place. Anadolu state news agency said both deployments, scheduled for Wednesday and Thursday, have been cancelled with Ankara not yet informed of any possible rescheduling. Last week Turkey announced that it had been informed through diplomatic channels that two US warships "will pass toward the Black Sea" and remain in the region until May 4. There was no confirmation from Washington either of the planned deployments or of their cancellation. Washington is required to give Ankara at least 15 days notice before sending warships through the Bosphorus and Dardanelles straits under the terms of the 1936 Montreux Convention. The treaty's terms allow foreign warships to stay in the Black Sea for 21 days. US Navy ships routinely operate in the region in support of Ukraine, which has been fighting Russian-backed forces in its east since a 2014 revolution ousted the pro-Moscow leader in Kiev. Russia annexed Ukraine's Crimea peninsula around the same time, setting up a confrontation with the West that lingers to this day. Last week's announcement of a US deployment of warships came as tensions between Moscow and Kiev have risen due to a build-up of Russian troops at the Ukraine border. These troop deployments come against the backdrop of renewed incidents between Kiev forces and pro-Russian separatists in eastern Ukraine. Wednesday's news of the cancellation of the US warships' deployment came a day after US President Joe Biden talked by phone with his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin. During that conversation, Biden proposed a summit with Putin in a neutral country and called on Russia to "de-escalate tensions", according to the White House. (With input from agencies)

US cancels Black Sea deployment of warships amid high tensions between Russia, Ukraine

More than 20 Chinese tech giants have made a public pact to abide by anti-monopoly guidelines, after regulators told them to note "the warning" of a record fine against e-commerce giant Alibaba.

Beijing is taking China's tech firms to task to curtail the reach of private companies into the daily finances of the Chinese public,&nbsp;and, analysts say, to rein in their runaway expansion.&nbsp;

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In a series of individual statements published by China's market regulator on Wednesday and Thursday, some of the country's biggest brands,&nbsp;including ByteDance, Baidu and CTrip,&nbsp;promised to "ensure fair competition", "not abuse market dominance", and "not implement unfair price behaviour".

The oaths come after regulators summoned 34 tech companies on Tuesday and warned them to "rectify" any anti-competitive measures and "heed the warning of Alibaba's case".

The firms were given one month to undergo complete rectification after conducting internal checks, and to correct practices that harmed competition.

Ride-hailing service Didi, video platforms Kuaishou and Bilibili, as well as e-commerce firm JD.com are also among those who have since published commitments.

JD.com said it would not force the practice of "choosing one of two" on its retailers,&nbsp;where merchants are compelled to work only with one platform and not its rivals -- a move which Alibaba had come under fire for.

Meanwhile, in its statement, Didi pledged: "Except where necessary for regular business activities, we will not illegally collect or misuse personal information."&nbsp;

The next front in Beijing's assault on big tech could be the huge volumes of data they scoop up from China's consumers.

On Saturday, regulators hit Alibaba with a $2.78 billion penalty, after a months-long investigation found it had been abusing its dominant market position.

Alibaba and JD.com, along with messaging and gaming giant Tencent, have become hugely profitable on the back of growing Chinese digital lifestyles and government restrictions on major US competitors in the domestic market.

But as the platforms amassed hundreds of millions of regular users, concern has risen over their influence in China, where they are used for a huge array of daily tasks.

(With input from agencies)

More than 20 Chinese tech giants have made a public pact to abide by anti-monopoly guidelines, after regulators told them to note "the warning" of a record fine against e-commerce giant Alibaba.

More than 20 Chinese tech giants have made a public pact to abide by anti-monopoly guidelines, after regulators told them to note "the warning" of a record fine against e-commerce giant Alibaba. Beijing is taking China's tech firms to task to curtail the reach of private companies into the daily finances of the Chinese public, and, analysts say, to rein in their runaway expansion. In a series of individual statements published by China's market regulator on Wednesday and Thursday, some of the country's biggest brands, including ByteDance, Baidu and CTrip, promised to "ensure fair competition", "not abuse market dominance", and "not implement unfair price behaviour". The oaths come after regulators summoned 34 tech companies on Tuesday and warned them to "rectify" any anti-competitive measures and "heed the warning of Alibaba's case". The firms were given one month to undergo complete rectification after conducting internal checks, and to correct practices that harmed competition. Ride-hailing service Didi, video platforms Kuaishou and Bilibili, as well as e-commerce firm JD.com are also among those who have since published commitments. JD.com said it would not force the practice of "choosing one of two" on its retailers, where merchants are compelled to work only with one platform and not its rivals -- a move which Alibaba had come under fire for. Meanwhile, in its statement, Didi pledged: "Except where necessary for regular business activities, we will not illegally collect or misuse personal information." The next front in Beijing's assault on big tech could be the huge volumes of data they scoop up from China's consumers. On Saturday, regulators hit Alibaba with a $2.78 billion penalty, after a months-long investigation found it had been abusing its dominant market position. Alibaba and JD.com, along with messaging and gaming giant Tencent, have become hugely profitable on the back of growing Chinese digital lifestyles and government restrictions on major US competitors in the domestic market. But as the platforms amassed hundreds of millions of regular users, concern has risen over their influence in China, where they are used for a huge array of daily tasks. (With input from agencies)

Over 20 Chinese tech giants make public pact to abide by anti-monopoly guidelines

Facebook has signed a deal to buy renewable energy in India from a local firm's wind power project, the social media giant's first such deal in the South Asian nation, the companies said on Thursday.

The 32-megawatt wind power project, located in southern Karnataka state, is part of a larger portfolio of wind and solar projects that Facebook and Mumbai-based CleanMax are working together on for supplying renewable power into India's electrical grid, they said in a joint statement.

CleanMax will own and operate the projects, while Facebook will buy the power off the grid using environmental attribute certificates, or carbon credits, the companies said.

Facebook's head of renewable energy, Urvi Parekh, told Reuters the company typically doesn't own the power plants but instead signs "long-term" electricity purchasing agreements with the renewable power company.

"That enables the project to seek out the financing that it would need," she said.

India is Facebook's biggest market by users.

In Singapore, Facebook has announced similar partnerships with energy providers Sunseap Group, Terrenus Energy and Sembcorp Industries on projects that can produce 160 MW of solar power, Parekh said.

The electricity generated from these plants will power the&nbsp;tech&nbsp;giant's first Asian data centre https://reut.rs/3uPvtrv that is set to start operations next year, she added.

Data centres driving&nbsp;tech&nbsp;companies like Facebook use up as much as 1% of the world's total energy, the International Energy Agency said last year.

Tech&nbsp;companies like Amazon, Alphabet Inc, and Microsoft have pledged to operate carbon-free and achieve net-zero emissions, as demand for data and digital services is expected to see a sustained rise.

Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg announced separately on Thursday that the company's global operations are now supported wholly by renewable energy and that it has reached net-zero emissions.

Facebook has signed a deal to buy renewable energy in India from a local firm's wind power project, the social media giant's first such deal in the South Asian nation, the companies said on Thursday.

Facebook has signed a deal to buy renewable energy in India from a local firm's wind power project, the social media giant's first such deal in the South Asian nation, the companies said on Thursday. The 32-megawatt wind power project, located in southern Karnataka state, is part of a larger portfolio of wind and solar projects that Facebook and Mumbai-based CleanMax are working together on for supplying renewable power into India's electrical grid, they said in a joint statement. CleanMax will own and operate the projects, while Facebook will buy the power off the grid using environmental attribute certificates, or carbon credits, the companies said. Facebook's head of renewable energy, Urvi Parekh, told Reuters the company typically doesn't own the power plants but instead signs "long-term" electricity purchasing agreements with the renewable power company. "That enables the project to seek out the financing that it would need," she said. India is Facebook's biggest market by users. In Singapore, Facebook has announced similar partnerships with energy providers Sunseap Group, Terrenus Energy and Sembcorp Industries on projects that can produce 160 MW of solar power, Parekh said. The electricity generated from these plants will power the tech giant's first Asian data centre https://reut.rs/3uPvtrv that is set to start operations next year, she added. Data centres driving tech companies like Facebook use up as much as 1% of the world's total energy, the International Energy Agency said last year. Tech companies like Amazon, Alphabet Inc, and Microsoft have pledged to operate carbon-free and achieve net-zero emissions, as demand for data and digital services is expected to see a sustained rise. Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg announced separately on Thursday that the company's global operations are now supported wholly by renewable energy and that it has reached net-zero emissions.

Facebook signs first deal to buy renewable energy in India

French President Emmanuel Macron on Thursday observed the work to salvage and restore Notre-Dame de Paris, two years to the day after flames ripped through the cathedral's centuries-old attic and sent its spire crashing through the vaults below.

In the hours after the blaze, Macron promised a distraught French nation that the cathedral, which dates back to the 12th century, would be rebuilt and later said it would be reopened in some form to worshippers by 2024.

More than 700 days after workers scrambled to shore-up Notre-Dame's flying buttresses, stabilise the bell towers and install hundreds of movement sensors, the effort to make the site secure ahead of restoration is almost complete.

From the rooftop, now largely covered by a complex scaffolding structure, work platforms and in places a tarpaulin "umbrella", Macron peered down into the cathedral’s damaged transept and thanked workers on the site.

"We're all impressed with what we see, with the work that has been achieved in two years," Macron told a group of workers with the Paris skyline behind him. "Bravo and thank you."

"We're arriving at a critical juncture," General Jean-Louis Georgelin, the former army chief of staff named by Macron to head the renovation, told France Inter radio. Restoration work would begin before the end of 2021, he said.

The first phase of the project was complicated by the need to remove 200 tonnes of twisted metal after the fire consumed 40,000 pieces of scaffolding that had been erected around the spire at the time of the blaze.

Work was also halted during the first summer after the fire because of worries over lead contamination and has since at times been slowed by the coronavirus pandemic.

Financing for the restoration was not a concern yet, Georgelin said. Some 834 million euros in donations flooded in from billionaire tycoons and catholic households in the aftermath of the fire.

"As things stand, we will need all these donations to complete the necessary work. We need people to keep giving money because it is a work without end," Georgelin said.

The cathedral, which featured in Victor Hugo’s classic novel "The Hunchback of Notre-Dame", is a UNESCO World Heritage site into which 13 million visitors used to pour every year.

French President Emmanuel Macron on Thursday observed the work to salvage and restore Notre-Dame de Paris, two years to the day after flames ripped through the cathedral's centuries-old attic and sent its spire crashing through the vaults below.

French President Emmanuel Macron on Thursday observed the work to salvage and restore Notre-Dame de Paris, two years to the day after flames ripped through the cathedral's centuries-old attic and sent its spire crashing through the vaults below. In the hours after the blaze, Macron promised a distraught French nation that the cathedral, which dates back to the 12th century, would be rebuilt and later said it would be reopened in some form to worshippers by 2024. More than 700 days after workers scrambled to shore-up Notre-Dame's flying buttresses, stabilise the bell towers and install hundreds of movement sensors, the effort to make the site secure ahead of restoration is almost complete. From the rooftop, now largely covered by a complex scaffolding structure, work platforms and in places a tarpaulin "umbrella", Macron peered down into the cathedral’s damaged transept and thanked workers on the site. "We're all impressed with what we see, with the work that has been achieved in two years," Macron told a group of workers with the Paris skyline behind him. "Bravo and thank you." "We're arriving at a critical juncture," General Jean-Louis Georgelin, the former army chief of staff named by Macron to head the renovation, told France Inter radio. Restoration work would begin before the end of 2021, he said. The first phase of the project was complicated by the need to remove 200 tonnes of twisted metal after the fire consumed 40,000 pieces of scaffolding that had been erected around the spire at the time of the blaze. Work was also halted during the first summer after the fire because of worries over lead contamination and has since at times been slowed by the coronavirus pandemic. Financing for the restoration was not a concern yet, Georgelin said. Some 834 million euros in donations flooded in from billionaire tycoons and catholic households in the aftermath of the fire. "As things stand, we will need all these donations to complete the necessary work. We need people to keep giving money because it is a work without end," Georgelin said. The cathedral, which featured in Victor Hugo’s classic novel "The Hunchback of Notre-Dame", is a UNESCO World Heritage site into which 13 million visitors used to pour every year.

Macron scales Notre-Dame's rooftop two years after cathedral fire

France&nbsp;has advised French citizens to temporarily leave Pakistan and warned of serious threats to French interests in the country, two diplomatic sources said on Thursday, after violent clashes there this week.

Thousands of Pakistani Islamists had clashed with police earlier this week in protest against the arrest of their leader ahead of rallies denouncing French cartoons depicting the Prophet Mohammad.

For Muslims, depictions of the Prophet are blasphemous.

The diplomatic sources said that a message had been sent overnight to French citizens and companies following threats by hardline Islamist group Tehrik-i-Labaik Pakistan (TLP) to target French interests.

The sources said the embassy sent a message to French residents in Pakistan recommending that French nationals leave the country and French companies shut down activities temporarily "due to the serious threats to French interests in Pakistan".

Relations between Paris and Islamabad have worsened since the end of last year after President Emmanuel Macron paid tribute to a French history teacher who was beheaded by an 18-year-old man of Chechen origin for showing cartoons of the Prophet in a class on freedom of speech.

The images sparked anger and protests in the Muslim world, especially in Pakistan, and even saw a Pakistani minister forced to withdraw comments she made that Macron was treating Muslims like Nazis had treated Jews in World War Two.

Last year, TLP ended a similar protest against&nbsp;France&nbsp;only after the government signed a deal agreeing to endorse a boycott of French products and making a move in parliament to expel French ambassador. It had this week demanded the envoy be expelled.

Pakistan has said it would outlaw the group and the arrest of its leader this week sparked further protests against&nbsp;France.

"It's a serious situation and we know that in Pakistan things can escalate quickly," said one of the diplomatic sources.

Pakistan's embassy in Paris did not immediately respond for comment.

France has advised French citizens to temporarily leave Pakistan and warned of serious threats to French interests in the country, two diplomatic sources said on Thursday, after violent clashes there this week.

France has advised French citizens to temporarily leave Pakistan and warned of serious threats to French interests in the country, two diplomatic sources said on Thursday, after violent clashes there this week. Thousands of Pakistani Islamists had clashed with police earlier this week in protest against the arrest of their leader ahead of rallies denouncing French cartoons depicting the Prophet Mohammad. For Muslims, depictions of the Prophet are blasphemous. The diplomatic sources said that a message had been sent overnight to French citizens and companies following threats by hardline Islamist group Tehrik-i-Labaik Pakistan (TLP) to target French interests. The sources said the embassy sent a message to French residents in Pakistan recommending that French nationals leave the country and French companies shut down activities temporarily "due to the serious threats to French interests in Pakistan". Relations between Paris and Islamabad have worsened since the end of last year after President Emmanuel Macron paid tribute to a French history teacher who was beheaded by an 18-year-old man of Chechen origin for showing cartoons of the Prophet in a class on freedom of speech. The images sparked anger and protests in the Muslim world, especially in Pakistan, and even saw a Pakistani minister forced to withdraw comments she made that Macron was treating Muslims like Nazis had treated Jews in World War Two. Last year, TLP ended a similar protest against France only after the government signed a deal agreeing to endorse a boycott of French products and making a move in parliament to expel French ambassador. It had this week demanded the envoy be expelled. Pakistan has said it would outlaw the group and the arrest of its leader this week sparked further protests against France. "It's a serious situation and we know that in Pakistan things can escalate quickly," said one of the diplomatic sources. Pakistan's embassy in Paris did not immediately respond for comment.

France advises citizens to leave Pakistan after serious threats: Sources

Myanmar&nbsp;security forces arrested on Thursday one of the main leaders of the campaign against military rule after driving into him with a car as he led a motorbike protest rally, friends and colleagues said.

Opponents of a February&nbsp;1 coup that ousted an elected government led by Nobel peace laureate Aung San Suu Kyi have kept up their campaign against the military this traditional New Year week with marches and various other displays of resistance.

"Our brother Wai Moe Naing was arrested. His motorbike was hit by a private car of the police," Win Zaw Khiang, a member of a protest organising group, said on social media.

Wai Moe Naing, a 25-year-old Muslim, has emerged as one of the most high-profile leaders of opposition to the coup.

Reuters was not able to contact Wai Moe Naing by telephone. Earlier, Reuters spoke to him as he set off to lead the rally in the central town of Monywa, about 700 km (435 miles) north of the main city of Yangon.

Video posted on social media showed an oncoming car swerving into a group of motorbikes. Reuters was not able to verify the footage.

A spokesman for the junta could not be reached for comment.

Monywa has been one of main centres of the pro-democracy campaign with big rallies day after day and repeated crackdowns by the security forces.

Some colleagues said they feared for Wai Moe Naing's safety in detention.

"We have to continue the fight by doubling our energy for Ko Wai Moe Naing, for the truth, for the present and future of the country," another leader, Tayzar San, said on Facebook.

Earlier on Thursday, soldiers opened fire in the city of Mandalay to disperse protesting medical workers and one man was killed and several wounded when security forces fired in a nearby neighbourhood, media reported.

Medical workers, some of whom have been at the forefront of the campaign against the coup, gathered early in the second city but troops soon arrived, opening fire and detaining some people, witnesses and the BBC's Burmese-language service said.

The BBC and other news outlets did not have details of casualties or arrests at the protest but Khit Thit media said a man was shot and killed in the compound of a nearby mosque as security forces broke up the medics' protest.

"There was no protest here. The soldiers came and seemed to be searching for someone," a resident of the neighbourhood where the mosque is located, who declined to be identified, said by telephone.

Clashes

The five-day New Year holiday, known as Thingyan, began on Tuesday but pro-democracy activists cancelled the usual festivities to focus on their opposition to the generals.

Hundreds of people joined protests marches and motorbike rallies in several towns, according to pictures posted by media outlets.

The coup has plunged&nbsp;Myanmar&nbsp;into crisis after 10 years of tentative steps toward democracy, with, in addition to the daily protests, strikes by workers in many sectors that have brought the economy to a standstill.

An activist group, the Assistance Association for Political Prisoners, says the security forces have killed 715 protesters since the ousting of Suu Kyi's government.

The military says the protests are dwindling but the state-run Global New Light of&nbsp;Myanmar&nbsp;newspaper reported that "rioters" had been committing an increasing number of "terrorist acts", attacking security forces with grenades, planting "homemade mines" and starting fires.

The coup has also led to an increase in clashes between the military and ethnic minority forces fighting for autonomy in border regions, in particular in the east and north, where the military has been launching air strikes.

Government forces had suffered heavy casualties in an assault on ethnic Kachin insurgents in the north this week, the&nbsp;Myanmar&nbsp;Now and Democratic Voice of Burma media groups reported.

Myanmar security forces arrested on Thursday one of the main leaders of the campaign against military rule after driving into him with a car as he led a motorbike protest rally, friends and colleagues said.

Myanmar security forces arrested on Thursday one of the main leaders of the campaign against military rule after driving into him with a car as he led a motorbike protest rally, friends and colleagues said. Opponents of a February 1 coup that ousted an elected government led by Nobel peace laureate Aung San Suu Kyi have kept up their campaign against the military this traditional New Year week with marches and various other displays of resistance. "Our brother Wai Moe Naing was arrested. His motorbike was hit by a private car of the police," Win Zaw Khiang, a member of a protest organising group, said on social media. Wai Moe Naing, a 25-year-old Muslim, has emerged as one of the most high-profile leaders of opposition to the coup. Reuters was not able to contact Wai Moe Naing by telephone. Earlier, Reuters spoke to him as he set off to lead the rally in the central town of Monywa, about 700 km (435 miles) north of the main city of Yangon. Video posted on social media showed an oncoming car swerving into a group of motorbikes. Reuters was not able to verify the footage. A spokesman for the junta could not be reached for comment. Monywa has been one of main centres of the pro-democracy campaign with big rallies day after day and repeated crackdowns by the security forces. Some colleagues said they feared for Wai Moe Naing's safety in detention. "We have to continue the fight by doubling our energy for Ko Wai Moe Naing, for the truth, for the present and future of the country," another leader, Tayzar San, said on Facebook. Earlier on Thursday, soldiers opened fire in the city of Mandalay to disperse protesting medical workers and one man was killed and several wounded when security forces fired in a nearby neighbourhood, media reported. Medical workers, some of whom have been at the forefront of the campaign against the coup, gathered early in the second city but troops soon arrived, opening fire and detaining some people, witnesses and the BBC's Burmese-language service said. The BBC and other news outlets did not have details of casualties or arrests at the protest but Khit Thit media said a man was shot and killed in the compound of a nearby mosque as security forces broke up the medics' protest. "There was no protest here. The soldiers came and seemed to be searching for someone," a resident of the neighbourhood where the mosque is located, who declined to be identified, said by telephone. Clashes The five-day New Year holiday, known as Thingyan, began on Tuesday but pro-democracy activists cancelled the usual festivities to focus on their opposition to the generals. Hundreds of people joined protests marches and motorbike rallies in several towns, according to pictures posted by media outlets. The coup has plunged Myanmar into crisis after 10 years of tentative steps toward democracy, with, in addition to the daily protests, strikes by workers in many sectors that have brought the economy to a standstill. An activist group, the Assistance Association for Political Prisoners, says the security forces have killed 715 protesters since the ousting of Suu Kyi's government. The military says the protests are dwindling but the state-run Global New Light of Myanmar newspaper reported that "rioters" had been committing an increasing number of "terrorist acts", attacking security forces with grenades, planting "homemade mines" and starting fires. The coup has also led to an increase in clashes between the military and ethnic minority forces fighting for autonomy in border regions, in particular in the east and north, where the military has been launching air strikes. Government forces had suffered heavy casualties in an assault on ethnic Kachin insurgents in the north this week, the Myanmar Now and Democratic Voice of Burma media groups reported.

Myanmar security forces arrest prominent leader of campaign against coup

Chinese President Xi Jinping will join a virtual climate summit with France and Germany, Beijing announced Thursday, as US envoy John Kerry visited Shanghai to drum up support from the world's biggest polluter for America's drive to address environmental challenges.

Kerry, President Joe Biden's climate tzar, is in China for meetings with his counterparts until Saturday,&nbsp;the first visit by an official from the new US administration.

Kerry is not expected to meet with Xi, on a trip which has so far taken place behind closed doors.

Beijing unexpectedly announced Xi would join an online French-German climate summit on Friday&nbsp;"at the invitation of French President Emmanuel Macron".

Kerry's trip is seen as a chance for Beijing and Washington to put aside high political tensions -- following a heated initial meeting last month between diplomats in the US -- and focus on areas of potential climate collaboration.

The two sides clashed in Alaska over accusations about China's policies in Hong Kong and its treatment of Uyghurs in its northwestern Xinjiang region, criticisms China rejects as interference in its domestic affairs.

Biden has made reversing the climate-sceptic policy of his predecessor Donald Trump a priority.

He has rejoined the 2015 Paris accord, and is hosting a virtual summit of world leaders next week which the US hopes will result in stronger climate pledges.

Chinese leader Xi is yet to confirm if he will attend the summit.

The US consulate said Kerry arrived in China and would meet Chinese counterparts at a Shanghai hotel in a day of closed-door talks.

Officials are expected to discuss environmental challenges, areas which both China and the US say are top priorities, as well as the upcoming UN-led climate talks to be held in Glasgow at the end of the year.

"At this point understanding each others' expectations and ambition levels, and agreeing how to use those commitments to move the&nbsp;international climate negotiations forward would already be an important&nbsp;first step," Lauri Myllyvirta, lead analyst at the Centre for Research on Energy and Clean Air, told AFP.

China, the world's biggest polluter, announced an ambitious target to be carbon-neutral by 2060, but analysts have warned high reliance on coal and modest short-term targets could scupper the ambition.

As Trump turned away from the national climate agenda, Xi made bold promises to cut emissions.

China "now shouldered the responsibility of global climate governance" and won't be part of a US-centred climate campaign, the nationalistic Global Times cited experts saying Thursday.

Biden has yet to announce any new targets under the Paris agreement.&nbsp;

"Both countries have a long way to go to firm up their targets and commitments for this decade," said Myllyvirta.

No global solution on climate change is likely without both the US and China on board, since the world's top two economies together account for nearly half of the world's total greenhouse gas emissions.

Li Shuo from Greenpeace China said he hoped the talks might yield agreements on China's huge use of polluting coal.

"China is the largest coal consumer, it is still building coal-fired power plants, both domestically and along the Belt and Road region," he told AFP, referring to China's sprawling international infrastructure plan.&nbsp;

"There needs to be a reverse on that. In terms of potential outcomes, that would be top on my list."&nbsp;

While Beijing and Washington have clashed over Hong Kong and Xinjiang, the climate issue is seen as a shared interest which cuts through the rancour.

Chinese President Xi Jinping will join a virtual climate summit with France and Germany, Beijing announced Thursday, as US envoy John Kerry visited Shanghai to drum up support from the world's biggest polluter for America's drive to address environmental challenges.

Chinese President Xi Jinping will join a virtual climate summit with France and Germany, Beijing announced Thursday, as US envoy John Kerry visited Shanghai to drum up support from the world's biggest polluter for America's drive to address environmental challenges. Kerry, President Joe Biden's climate tzar, is in China for meetings with his counterparts until Saturday, the first visit by an official from the new US administration. Kerry is not expected to meet with Xi, on a trip which has so far taken place behind closed doors. Beijing unexpectedly announced Xi would join an online French-German climate summit on Friday "at the invitation of French President Emmanuel Macron". Kerry's trip is seen as a chance for Beijing and Washington to put aside high political tensions -- following a heated initial meeting last month between diplomats in the US -- and focus on areas of potential climate collaboration. The two sides clashed in Alaska over accusations about China's policies in Hong Kong and its treatment of Uyghurs in its northwestern Xinjiang region, criticisms China rejects as interference in its domestic affairs. Biden has made reversing the climate-sceptic policy of his predecessor Donald Trump a priority. He has rejoined the 2015 Paris accord, and is hosting a virtual summit of world leaders next week which the US hopes will result in stronger climate pledges. Chinese leader Xi is yet to confirm if he will attend the summit. The US consulate said Kerry arrived in China and would meet Chinese counterparts at a Shanghai hotel in a day of closed-door talks. Officials are expected to discuss environmental challenges, areas which both China and the US say are top priorities, as well as the upcoming UN-led climate talks to be held in Glasgow at the end of the year. "At this point understanding each others' expectations and ambition levels, and agreeing how to use those commitments to move the international climate negotiations forward would already be an important first step," Lauri Myllyvirta, lead analyst at the Centre for Research on Energy and Clean Air, told AFP. China, the world's biggest polluter, announced an ambitious target to be carbon-neutral by 2060, but analysts have warned high reliance on coal and modest short-term targets could scupper the ambition. As Trump turned away from the national climate agenda, Xi made bold promises to cut emissions. China "now shouldered the responsibility of global climate governance" and won't be part of a US-centred climate campaign, the nationalistic Global Times cited experts saying Thursday. Biden has yet to announce any new targets under the Paris agreement. "Both countries have a long way to go to firm up their targets and commitments for this decade," said Myllyvirta. No global solution on climate change is likely without both the US and China on board, since the world's top two economies together account for nearly half of the world's total greenhouse gas emissions. Li Shuo from Greenpeace China said he hoped the talks might yield agreements on China's huge use of polluting coal. "China is the largest coal consumer, it is still building coal-fired power plants, both domestically and along the Belt and Road region," he told AFP, referring to China's sprawling international infrastructure plan. "There needs to be a reverse on that. In terms of potential outcomes, that would be top on my list." While Beijing and Washington have clashed over Hong Kong and Xinjiang, the climate issue is seen as a shared interest which cuts through the rancour.

Xi to join European climate summit, as Kerry in China for talks

The United States will announce sanctions on&nbsp;Russia&nbsp;as soon as Thursday for alleged election interference and malicious cyber activity, targeting several individuals and entities, people familiar with the matter said.

The sanctions, in which 30 entities are expected to be blacklisted, will be tied with orders expelling about 10&nbsp;Russian officials from the United States, one of the people said.

The United States is also expected to announce aggressive new measures targeting the country's sovereign debt through restrictions on US&nbsp;financial institutions' ability to trade such debt, according to another source.

The White House, the US&nbsp;State Department, and the US&nbsp;Treasury Department did not immediately respond to requests for comment.

The action will add a new chill to the already frosty relations between Washington and Moscow, which has tested the West's patience with a military build-up near Ukraine.

The wide-ranging sanctions would come partly in response to a cybersecurity breach affecting software made by SolarWinds Corp that the US&nbsp;government has said was likely orchestrated by&nbsp;Russia. The breach gave hackers access to thousands of companies and government offices that used the company's products.

Microsoft President Brad Smith described the attack, which was identified in December, as "the largest and most sophisticated attack the world has ever seen."

The United States also intends to punish Moscow for alleged interference in the 2020 US&nbsp;presidential election. In a report last month, US&nbsp;intelligence agencies said&nbsp;Russian President Vladimir Putin likely directed efforts to try to swing the election to then-President Donald Trump and away from now-President Joe Biden.

Biden has also vowed to take action on reports that&nbsp;Russia&nbsp;offered bounties to Taliban militants to kill US&nbsp;troops in Afghanistan.

The expected moves by the Biden administration are likely to exacerbate tensions in a relationship that slumped to a new post-Cold War low last month after Biden said he thought Putin was a "killer."

In a call on Tuesday, Biden told Putin that the United States would act "firmly" to defend its interests in response to those actions, according to U.S. officials' account of the call.

Biden also proposed a meeting with Putin "in a third country" that could allow the leaders to find areas to work together.

In the past few weeks, Washington and its NATO allies have been alarmed by a large build-up of&nbsp;Russian troops near Ukraine and in Crimea, the peninsula that Moscow annexed from Ukraine in 2014.

"The hostility and unpredictability of America's actions force us, in general, to be prepared for the worst scenarios," Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told reporters last week, anticipating the new sanctions.

The United States will announce sanctions on Russia as soon as Thursday for alleged election interference and malicious cyber activity, targeting several individuals and entities, people familiar with the matter said.

The United States will announce sanctions on Russia as soon as Thursday for alleged election interference and malicious cyber activity, targeting several individuals and entities, people familiar with the matter said. The sanctions, in which 30 entities are expected to be blacklisted, will be tied with orders expelling about 10 Russian officials from the United States, one of the people said. The United States is also expected to announce aggressive new measures targeting the country's sovereign debt through restrictions on US financial institutions' ability to trade such debt, according to another source. The White House, the US State Department, and the US Treasury Department did not immediately respond to requests for comment. The action will add a new chill to the already frosty relations between Washington and Moscow, which has tested the West's patience with a military build-up near Ukraine. The wide-ranging sanctions would come partly in response to a cybersecurity breach affecting software made by SolarWinds Corp that the US government has said was likely orchestrated by Russia. The breach gave hackers access to thousands of companies and government offices that used the company's products. Microsoft President Brad Smith described the attack, which was identified in December, as "the largest and most sophisticated attack the world has ever seen." The United States also intends to punish Moscow for alleged interference in the 2020 US presidential election. In a report last month, US intelligence agencies said Russian President Vladimir Putin likely directed efforts to try to swing the election to then-President Donald Trump and away from now-President Joe Biden. Biden has also vowed to take action on reports that Russia offered bounties to Taliban militants to kill US troops in Afghanistan. The expected moves by the Biden administration are likely to exacerbate tensions in a relationship that slumped to a new post-Cold War low last month after Biden said he thought Putin was a "killer." In a call on Tuesday, Biden told Putin that the United States would act "firmly" to defend its interests in response to those actions, according to U.S. officials' account of the call. Biden also proposed a meeting with Putin "in a third country" that could allow the leaders to find areas to work together. In the past few weeks, Washington and its NATO allies have been alarmed by a large build-up of Russian troops near Ukraine and in Crimea, the peninsula that Moscow annexed from Ukraine in 2014. "The hostility and unpredictability of America's actions force us, in general, to be prepared for the worst scenarios," Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told reporters last week, anticipating the new sanctions.

US to slap new sanctions on Russia for election interference, cyber attack: Sources

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