With Russia’s conflict with Ukraine deepening with every hour, the United States (US), European Union (EU) and United Kingdom (UK) have decided to put crippling sanctions on the financial sector in Russia.&nbsp;

The measures taken to put Russia on back foot include a block on its access to the global financial system, SWIFT, and, for the first time, restrictions on its central bank. &nbsp;

On Saturday, the measures were announced jointly to "hold Russia to account and collectively ensure that this war is a strategic failure for (Russian President Vladimir) Putin." &nbsp;

Also Read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/us-president-joe-biden-approves-military-aid-for-ukraine-worth-350-million-456773">US President Joe Biden approves military aid for Ukraine worth $350 million</a>

This is a part of a new round of financial sanctions. &nbsp;

The key Russian banks are being cut out of the SWIFT financial messaging system. While the restrictions over central bank look to target over USD 600 billion in reserves that the Kremlin has at its disposal. It is meant to limit ability of Russia to support the ruble as sanctions by the West intensify. &nbsp;

These steps were framed to send the ruble into "free fall" and promote soaring inflation in the Russian economy, the US officials said. &nbsp;&nbsp;

Also Read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/russian-army-to-broaden-offensive-from-all-sides-against-ukraine-says-kremlin-456881">Russian army to broaden offensive ‘from all sides’ against Ukraine: Kremlin</a>

EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, while announcing the measures in Brussels, said would push the bloc also to "paralyse the assets of Russia's Central bank" so that its transactions would be frozen. Cutting several commercial banks from SWIFT "will ensure that these banks are disconnected from the international financial system and harm their ability to operate globally," she added. &nbsp;

"Cutting banks off will stop them from conducting most of their financial transactions worldwide and effectively block Russian exports and imports. Putin embarked on a path aiming to destroy Ukraine, but what he is also doing, in fact, is destroying the future of his own country," she added. &nbsp;

(With inputs from agencies)&nbsp;

With Russia’s conflict with Ukraine deepening with every hour, the United States (US), European Union (EU) and United Kingdom (UK) have decided to put crippling sanctions on the financial sector in Russia.

With Russia’s conflict with Ukraine deepening with every hour, the United States (US), European Union (EU) and United Kingdom (UK) have decided to put crippling sanctions on the financial sector in Russia. The measures taken to put Russia on back foot include a block on its access to the global financial system, SWIFT, and, for the first time, restrictions on its central bank. On Saturday, the measures were announced jointly to "hold Russia to account and collectively ensure that this war is a strategic failure for (Russian President Vladimir) Putin." Also Read: US President Joe Biden approves military aid for Ukraine worth $350 million This is a part of a new round of financial sanctions. The key Russian banks are being cut out of the SWIFT financial messaging system. While the restrictions over central bank look to target over USD 600 billion in reserves that the Kremlin has at its disposal. It is meant to limit ability of Russia to support the ruble as sanctions by the West intensify. These steps were framed to send the ruble into "free fall" and promote soaring inflation in the Russian economy, the US officials said. Also Read | Russian army to broaden offensive ‘from all sides’ against Ukraine: Kremlin EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, while announcing the measures in Brussels, said would push the bloc also to "paralyse the assets of Russia's Central bank" so that its transactions would be frozen. Cutting several commercial banks from SWIFT "will ensure that these banks are disconnected from the international financial system and harm their ability to operate globally," she added. "Cutting banks off will stop them from conducting most of their financial transactions worldwide and effectively block Russian exports and imports. Putin embarked on a path aiming to destroy Ukraine, but what he is also doing, in fact, is destroying the future of his own country," she added. (With inputs from agencies)

Over Ukraine conflict, US, UK, EU to put crippling sanctions on Russian central bank, block SWIFT

When the United States barred Americans from doing business with Russian banks, oil and gas developers and other companies in 2014, after the country’s invasion of Crimea, the hit to Russia’s economy was swift and immense. Economists estimated that sanctions imposed by Western nations cost Russia $50 billion a year.

Since then, the global market for cryptocurrencies and other digital assets has ballooned. That is bad news for enforcers of sanctions and good news for Russia.

On Tuesday, the Biden administration enacted fresh sanctions on Russia over the conflict in Ukraine, aiming to thwart its access to foreign capital. But Russian entities are preparing to blunt some of the worst effects by making deals with anyone around the world willing to work with them, experts said. And, they say, those entities can then use digital currencies to bypass the control points that governments rely on — mainly transfers of money by banks — to block deal execution.

“Russia has had a lot of time to think about this specific consequence,” said Michael Parker, a former federal prosecutor who now heads the anti-money laundering and sanctions practice at Washington, D.C., law firm Ferrari &amp; Associates. “It would be naive to think that they haven’t gamed out exactly this scenario.”

Sanctions are some of the most powerful tools the United States and European countries have to influence the behavior of nations they don’t consider allies. The United States in particular is able to use sanctions as a diplomatic tool because the dollar is the world’s reserve currency and used in payments worldwide. But American government officials are increasingly aware of the potential for cryptocurrencies to lessen the impact of sanctions and are stepping up their scrutiny of digital assets.

To apply sanctions, a government makes a list of people and businesses its citizens must avoid. Anyone caught engaging with a member of the list faces heavy fines. But the real key to any effective sanctions program is the global financial system. Banks around the world play a major role in enforcement: They see where money comes from and where it is bound, and anti-money laundering laws require them to block transactions with sanctioned entities and report what they see to authorities. But if banks are the eyes and ears of governments in this space, the explosion of digital currencies is blinding them.

Banks have to abide by “know your customer” rules, which include verifying their clients’ identities. But exchanges and other platforms that facilitate the buying and selling of cryptocurrencies and digital assets are rarely as good at tracking their customers as banks are, even though they are supposed to follow the same rules. In October, the U.S. Treasury Department warned that cryptocurrencies posed an increasingly serious threat to the U.S. sanctions program and that U.S. authorities needed to educate themselves about the technology.

Should it choose to evade sanctions, Russia has multiple cryptocurrency-related tools at its disposal, experts said. All it needs is to find ways to trade without touching the dollar.

The Russian government is developing its own central bank digital currency, a so-called digital ruble that it hopes to use to trade directly with other countries willing to accept it without first converting it into dollars. Hacking techniques like ransomware could help Russian actors steal digital currencies and make up revenue lost to sanctions.

And while cryptocurrency transactions are recorded on the underlying blockchain, making them transparent, new tools developed in Russia can help mask the origin of such transactions. That would allow businesses to trade with Russian entities without detection.

There is a precedent for these kinds of workarounds. Iran and North Korea are among countries that have used digital currencies to mitigate the effects of Western sanctions, a trend that U.S. and United Nations officials have recently observed. North Korea, for instance, has used ransomware to steal cryptocurrency to fund its nuclear program, according to a U.N. report.

In October 2020, representatives of Russia’s central bank told a Moscow newspaper that the new “digital ruble” would make the country less dependent on the United States and better able to resist sanctions. It would let Russian entities conduct transactions outside the international banking system with any country willing to trade in digital currency.

Russia could find willing partners in other nations targeted by U.S. sanctions, including Iran, that are also developing government-backed digital currencies. China, Russia’s largest trading partner in both imports and exports according to the World Bank, has already launched its own central bank digital currency. The country’s leader, Xi Jinping, recently described China’s relationship with Russia as having “no limits.”

The developing system of central banks directly exchanging digital currencies creates new risks, said Yaya Fanusie, a fellow at the Center for a New American Security who has studied the effects of cryptocurrency on sanctions. “The lessening of U.S. sanctions power comes from a system where these nation states are able to do transactions without going through the global banking system.”

In early February, independent sanctions monitors told the U.N. Security Council that North Korea was using cryptocurrencies to fund its nuclear and ballistic missile program, according to Reuters. (A spokesperson for Norway’s permanent mission to the U.N. confirmed the existence of the report, which has not yet been made public.) In May, consulting firm Elliptic described how Iran was using revenue from Bitcoin mining to make up for the limitations on its ability to sell oil because of sanctions.

Sanctioned Russian entities could deploy their own evasion strategy, using ransomware attacks. The playbook is straightforward: A hacker breaks into computer networks and locks up digital information until the victim pays for its release, usually in cryptocurrency.

Russia is at the center of the growing ransomware industry. Last year, about 74% of global ransomware revenue, or more than $400 million worth of cryptocurrency, went to entities that are probably affiliated with Russia in some way, according to a Feb. 14 report by blockchain-tracking firm Chainalysis.

Illegal funds have also flowed into Russia through a dark web marketplace called Hydra, which is powered by cryptocurrency and handled more than $1 billion in sales in 2020, according to Chainalysis. The platform’s strict rules — sellers are allowed to liquidate cryptocurrency only through certain regional exchanges — have made it difficult for researchers to follow the money.

“We know that there’s no questions asked, and we know that Hydra operates not just throughout Eastern Europe but throughout western Europe,” said Kim Grauer, director of research at Chainalysis. “There’s definitely cross-border business happening.”

Digital currencies all use blockchain technology, a form of computer code that is publicly viewable by anyone, anywhere. This public ledger keeps track of the movements of individual digital coins from one “wallet” — as online repositories for digital assets are called — to another. In theory, this should let authorities track all crypto transactions and keep sanctioned entities from completing them.

But the technology behind Hydra masks the source of transactions, offering a potential tool for Russian users to move money outside the country’s borders. On its own, Hydra is not yet big enough to handle the volume of transactions that Russia would need to successfully evade sanctions. But other money-laundering techniques — including “nesting,” in which an illicit marketplace buries itself within a larger, legitimate structure to hide its activities — could also help.

There are signs that the United States is stepping up its monitoring of cryptocurrency activity. On Feb. 17, the Justice Department announced it had created a new national cryptocurrency enforcement team, a move that seemed to emphasize that federal prosecutors were paying extra attention to bad behavior among cryptocurrency users.

Parker, the former prosecutor, said that the Feb. 8 arrests of a Manhattan couple for stealing $3.6 billion in Bitcoin from Hong Kong cryptocurrency exchange Bitfinex is “a tangible example of the government getting very good and up to speed on what they need to do to be able to trace this.”

Administration officials are also urging the cryptocurrency industry to implement internal controls that prevent bad actors from using their services. In October, the Treasury Department published a 30-page sanctions-compliance manual recommending that cryptocurrency companies use geolocation tools to weed out customers in sanctioned jurisdictions. In many cases, the report said, crypto companies have taken months or years to implement such compliance procedures.

That may change as the industry starts to mature. Chainalysis offers a “know your transaction” tool that alerts companies when blacklisted entities use their services. Last year, the company doubled its number of private-sector customers, many of whom use the compliance tool.

But savvy cryptocurrency users can find ways around a blacklist.

“A Treasury designation of a crypto wallet address is not foolproof,” said Fanusie of the Center for a New American Security. “That designated actor can still open up a new wallet elsewhere. You can do that quite easily.”

When the United States barred Americans from doing business with Russian banks, oil and gas developers and other companies in 2014, after the country’s invasion of Crimea, the hit to Russia’s economy was swift and immense.

When the United States barred Americans from doing business with Russian banks, oil and gas developers and other companies in 2014, after the country’s invasion of Crimea, the hit to Russia’s economy was swift and immense. Economists estimated that sanctions imposed by Western nations cost Russia $50 billion a year. Since then, the global market for cryptocurrencies and other digital assets has ballooned. That is bad news for enforcers of sanctions and good news for Russia. On Tuesday, the Biden administration enacted fresh sanctions on Russia over the conflict in Ukraine, aiming to thwart its access to foreign capital. But Russian entities are preparing to blunt some of the worst effects by making deals with anyone around the world willing to work with them, experts said. And, they say, those entities can then use digital currencies to bypass the control points that governments rely on — mainly transfers of money by banks — to block deal execution. “Russia has had a lot of time to think about this specific consequence,” said Michael Parker, a former federal prosecutor who now heads the anti-money laundering and sanctions practice at Washington, D.C., law firm Ferrari & Associates. “It would be naive to think that they haven’t gamed out exactly this scenario.” Sanctions are some of the most powerful tools the United States and European countries have to influence the behavior of nations they don’t consider allies. The United States in particular is able to use sanctions as a diplomatic tool because the dollar is the world’s reserve currency and used in payments worldwide. But American government officials are increasingly aware of the potential for cryptocurrencies to lessen the impact of sanctions and are stepping up their scrutiny of digital assets. To apply sanctions, a government makes a list of people and businesses its citizens must avoid. Anyone caught engaging with a member of the list faces heavy fines. But the real key to any effective sanctions program is the global financial system. Banks around the world play a major role in enforcement: They see where money comes from and where it is bound, and anti-money laundering laws require them to block transactions with sanctioned entities and report what they see to authorities. But if banks are the eyes and ears of governments in this space, the explosion of digital currencies is blinding them. Banks have to abide by “know your customer” rules, which include verifying their clients’ identities. But exchanges and other platforms that facilitate the buying and selling of cryptocurrencies and digital assets are rarely as good at tracking their customers as banks are, even though they are supposed to follow the same rules. In October, the U.S. Treasury Department warned that cryptocurrencies posed an increasingly serious threat to the U.S. sanctions program and that U.S. authorities needed to educate themselves about the technology. Should it choose to evade sanctions, Russia has multiple cryptocurrency-related tools at its disposal, experts said. All it needs is to find ways to trade without touching the dollar. The Russian government is developing its own central bank digital currency, a so-called digital ruble that it hopes to use to trade directly with other countries willing to accept it without first converting it into dollars. Hacking techniques like ransomware could help Russian actors steal digital currencies and make up revenue lost to sanctions. And while cryptocurrency transactions are recorded on the underlying blockchain, making them transparent, new tools developed in Russia can help mask the origin of such transactions. That would allow businesses to trade with Russian entities without detection. There is a precedent for these kinds of workarounds. Iran and North Korea are among countries that have used digital currencies to mitigate the effects of Western sanctions, a trend that U.S. and United Nations officials have recently observed. North Korea, for instance, has used ransomware to steal cryptocurrency to fund its nuclear program, according to a U.N. report. In October 2020, representatives of Russia’s central bank told a Moscow newspaper that the new “digital ruble” would make the country less dependent on the United States and better able to resist sanctions. It would let Russian entities conduct transactions outside the international banking system with any country willing to trade in digital currency. Russia could find willing partners in other nations targeted by U.S. sanctions, including Iran, that are also developing government-backed digital currencies. China, Russia’s largest trading partner in both imports and exports according to the World Bank, has already launched its own central bank digital currency. The country’s leader, Xi Jinping, recently described China’s relationship with Russia as having “no limits.” The developing system of central banks directly exchanging digital currencies creates new risks, said Yaya Fanusie, a fellow at the Center for a New American Security who has studied the effects of cryptocurrency on sanctions. “The lessening of U.S. sanctions power comes from a system where these nation states are able to do transactions without going through the global banking system.” In early February, independent sanctions monitors told the U.N. Security Council that North Korea was using cryptocurrencies to fund its nuclear and ballistic missile program, according to Reuters. (A spokesperson for Norway’s permanent mission to the U.N. confirmed the existence of the report, which has not yet been made public.) In May, consulting firm Elliptic described how Iran was using revenue from Bitcoin mining to make up for the limitations on its ability to sell oil because of sanctions. Sanctioned Russian entities could deploy their own evasion strategy, using ransomware attacks. The playbook is straightforward: A hacker breaks into computer networks and locks up digital information until the victim pays for its release, usually in cryptocurrency. Russia is at the center of the growing ransomware industry. Last year, about 74% of global ransomware revenue, or more than $400 million worth of cryptocurrency, went to entities that are probably affiliated with Russia in some way, according to a Feb. 14 report by blockchain-tracking firm Chainalysis. Illegal funds have also flowed into Russia through a dark web marketplace called Hydra, which is powered by cryptocurrency and handled more than $1 billion in sales in 2020, according to Chainalysis. The platform’s strict rules — sellers are allowed to liquidate cryptocurrency only through certain regional exchanges — have made it difficult for researchers to follow the money. “We know that there’s no questions asked, and we know that Hydra operates not just throughout Eastern Europe but throughout western Europe,” said Kim Grauer, director of research at Chainalysis. “There’s definitely cross-border business happening.” Digital currencies all use blockchain technology, a form of computer code that is publicly viewable by anyone, anywhere. This public ledger keeps track of the movements of individual digital coins from one “wallet” — as online repositories for digital assets are called — to another. In theory, this should let authorities track all crypto transactions and keep sanctioned entities from completing them. But the technology behind Hydra masks the source of transactions, offering a potential tool for Russian users to move money outside the country’s borders. On its own, Hydra is not yet big enough to handle the volume of transactions that Russia would need to successfully evade sanctions. But other money-laundering techniques — including “nesting,” in which an illicit marketplace buries itself within a larger, legitimate structure to hide its activities — could also help. There are signs that the United States is stepping up its monitoring of cryptocurrency activity. On Feb. 17, the Justice Department announced it had created a new national cryptocurrency enforcement team, a move that seemed to emphasize that federal prosecutors were paying extra attention to bad behavior among cryptocurrency users. Parker, the former prosecutor, said that the Feb. 8 arrests of a Manhattan couple for stealing $3.6 billion in Bitcoin from Hong Kong cryptocurrency exchange Bitfinex is “a tangible example of the government getting very good and up to speed on what they need to do to be able to trace this.” Administration officials are also urging the cryptocurrency industry to implement internal controls that prevent bad actors from using their services. In October, the Treasury Department published a 30-page sanctions-compliance manual recommending that cryptocurrency companies use geolocation tools to weed out customers in sanctioned jurisdictions. In many cases, the report said, crypto companies have taken months or years to implement such compliance procedures. That may change as the industry starts to mature. Chainalysis offers a “know your transaction” tool that alerts companies when blacklisted entities use their services. Last year, the company doubled its number of private-sector customers, many of whom use the compliance tool. But savvy cryptocurrency users can find ways around a blacklist. “A Treasury designation of a crypto wallet address is not foolproof,” said Fanusie of the Center for a New American Security. “That designated actor can still open up a new wallet elsewhere. You can do that quite easily.”

Russia could use cryptocurrency to blunt the force of US sanctions

The sanction imposed by the West has not stopped Russia from halting the invasion of Ukraine. Reportedly, no sanctions have been imposed on Russia’s energy sector.

West sanction has not stopped Russia from halting invasion

Ukraine's nuclear agency and interior ministry said on Friday they were recording increased radiation levels from the site of the defunct Chernobyl nuclear power plant.

Experts at the state nuclear agency did not provide exact radiation levels but said the change was due to the movement of heavy military equipment in the area, lifting radioactive dust into the air.

"Radiation has started to increase. It is not critical for Kyiv for the time being, but we are monitoring, "the interior ministry said.

The still-radioactive site of the 1986 nuclear disaster lies some 100 kilometres from Kyiv.

Ukraine's neighbor, Poland, said it had not recorded any increase in radiation levels on its territory.

Ukraine's nuclear agency and interior ministry said on Friday they were recording increased radiation levels from the site of the defunct Chernobyl nuclear power plant.

Ukraine's nuclear agency and interior ministry said on Friday they were recording increased radiation levels from the site of the defunct Chernobyl nuclear power plant. Experts at the state nuclear agency did not provide exact radiation levels but said the change was due to the movement of heavy military equipment in the area, lifting radioactive dust into the air. "Radiation has started to increase. It is not critical for Kyiv for the time being, but we are monitoring, "the interior ministry said. The still-radioactive site of the 1986 nuclear disaster lies some 100 kilometres from Kyiv. Ukraine's neighbor, Poland, said it had not recorded any increase in radiation levels on its territory.

Ukraine nuclear agency reports higher Chernobyl radiation levels

Russia is facing severe sanctions by western allies after invading Ukraine. The United States has targeted Russia's financial system blocking assets of large Russian banks, imposing export controls on Russia's high-tech needs and sanctioning its business oligarchs.

US and allies impose harsh sanctions on Russia amid conflict with Ukraine

The government will join "democratic countries" in imposing sanctions on Russia over the invasion of Ukraine, the government said on Friday, with the world's largest contract chipmaker, TSMC, saying it would comply with all export control rules.

The crisis is being watched closely in Taiwan, which China claims as its own territory and which has faced increased military pressure from Beijing over the last two years.

"We very harshly condemn such an act of invasion and will join democratic countries to jointly impose sanctions," Premier Su Tseng-chang told reporters in Taipei without giving details.

The foreign ministry echoed that message, while Economy Minister Wang Mei-hua said the island would "harshly scrutinise" exports to Russia and "coordinate" with unspecified allies on further actions. She also did not elaborate.

Asked about the sanctions, Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co Ltd (TSMC), a major Apple Inc (AAPL.O) supplier and Asia's most valuable listed company, said it had a robust export control system and would follow the rules.

"TSMC complies with all applicable laws and regulations and is fully committed to complying with the new export control rules announced," it said in a statement.

Taiwan is not a major market for Russia, and trade with Ukraine and Russia each accounted for less than 1% of its total, government data showed.

The island's natural gas contract with Russia is due to expire in March, and Taiwan will diversify its supplies, the economic ministry said on Thursday.

Asked about Taiwan's sanctions, Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson Wang Wenbin said Taipei never missed an opportunity to "grab eyeballs and try to make their presence felt."

"But this kind of trick will not prevail, "he said.

China is not imposing sanctions on Russia, saying they have never resolved any problems.

Taiwan President Tsai Ing-wen, speaking in the southern city of Tainan, reiterated that the island's situation was different from Ukraine's and that the Taiwan Strait formed a "natural barrier".

She said that Taiwan's improved military power and the great attention paid to the region by "friendly and allied countries" give strong confidence in maintaining security, she said.

She also called for greater vigilance to prevent foreign forces and local players from exploiting the Ukraine crisis to "create panic and affect the morale of Taiwanese society."

Defence Minister Chiu Kuo-cheng told reporters a working group was watching the Ukraine crisis and would see if the war caused any "linkage" to China. The minister said commanders and their deputies had been ordered not to leave their bases at the same time.

His ministry released a video set to music featuring a montage of its fighter jets, tanks, warships, and soldiers training to demonstrate its resolve to defend Taiwan.

Chiu Tai-san, head of Taiwan's Mainland Affairs Council, said there was "no comparison" between Ukraine and Taiwan in terms of strategic importance.

"Taiwan has long been the most important country in the first island chain. "If Taiwan is lost, the strategic planning in Asia will need to be changed significantly," he said, referring to the islands and countries that run from southern Japan down to the bottom of the South China Sea.

The government will join "democratic countries" in imposing sanctions on Russia over the invasion of Ukraine, the government said on Friday, with the world's largest contract chipmaker, TSMC, saying it would comply with all export control rules.

The government will join "democratic countries" in imposing sanctions on Russia over the invasion of Ukraine, the government said on Friday, with the world's largest contract chipmaker, TSMC, saying it would comply with all export control rules. The crisis is being watched closely in Taiwan, which China claims as its own territory and which has faced increased military pressure from Beijing over the last two years. "We very harshly condemn such an act of invasion and will join democratic countries to jointly impose sanctions," Premier Su Tseng-chang told reporters in Taipei without giving details. The foreign ministry echoed that message, while Economy Minister Wang Mei-hua said the island would "harshly scrutinise" exports to Russia and "coordinate" with unspecified allies on further actions. She also did not elaborate. Asked about the sanctions, Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co Ltd (TSMC), a major Apple Inc (AAPL.O) supplier and Asia's most valuable listed company, said it had a robust export control system and would follow the rules. "TSMC complies with all applicable laws and regulations and is fully committed to complying with the new export control rules announced," it said in a statement. Taiwan is not a major market for Russia, and trade with Ukraine and Russia each accounted for less than 1% of its total, government data showed. The island's natural gas contract with Russia is due to expire in March, and Taiwan will diversify its supplies, the economic ministry said on Thursday. Asked about Taiwan's sanctions, Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson Wang Wenbin said Taipei never missed an opportunity to "grab eyeballs and try to make their presence felt." "But this kind of trick will not prevail, "he said. China is not imposing sanctions on Russia, saying they have never resolved any problems. Taiwan President Tsai Ing-wen, speaking in the southern city of Tainan, reiterated that the island's situation was different from Ukraine's and that the Taiwan Strait formed a "natural barrier". She said that Taiwan's improved military power and the great attention paid to the region by "friendly and allied countries" give strong confidence in maintaining security, she said. She also called for greater vigilance to prevent foreign forces and local players from exploiting the Ukraine crisis to "create panic and affect the morale of Taiwanese society." Defence Minister Chiu Kuo-cheng told reporters a working group was watching the Ukraine crisis and would see if the war caused any "linkage" to China. The minister said commanders and their deputies had been ordered not to leave their bases at the same time. His ministry released a video set to music featuring a montage of its fighter jets, tanks, warships, and soldiers training to demonstrate its resolve to defend Taiwan. Chiu Tai-san, head of Taiwan's Mainland Affairs Council, said there was "no comparison" between Ukraine and Taiwan in terms of strategic importance. "Taiwan has long been the most important country in the first island chain. "If Taiwan is lost, the strategic planning in Asia will need to be changed significantly," he said, referring to the islands and countries that run from southern Japan down to the bottom of the South China Sea.

Russia-Ukraine war: Taiwan to join 'democratic countries' in sanctions on Russia

US President Joe Biden detailing a new round of sanctions against Russia after it invaded Ukraine. President Joe Biden condemned Russia’s “unprovoked and unjustified” military attack on Ukraine and launched another round of sanctions against Moscow. Voice of America’s Chief White House correspondent Patsy Widakuswara has this report.

US President Joe Biden hits Russia with new sanctions | WION-VOA CO-Production

US President Joe Biden and UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson have hit Russia. No, not militarily yet. &nbsp;

Both the leaders have unveiled a wave of sanctions on Thursday to reprimand Moscow for attacking Ukraine in a 'premeditated' conflict. &nbsp;

The measures have been taken to impede ability of Russia to do business in major currencies along with sanctions against banks and state-owned enterprises. &nbsp;

But Biden has not imposed sanctions on Putin himself.

Not just this, the US leader has not disconnected Russia from the SWIFT international banking system. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;

Also Read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/live-updates-ukraine-conflict-at-least-137-killed-as-russia-continues-military-operation-455211" hreflang="en">Live: Ukraine conflict: At least 137 killed as Russia continues attack</a>

In the largest-ever package of sanctions against Russia, Britain has targetted banks, members of President Vladimir Putin's closest circle and wealthy Russians. &nbsp;

This comes as there are differences with Western allies over how far to go at this juncture. The Republicans in the US have criticised Biden, saying that he should have done more. &nbsp;

Also Read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/ukrainian-president-says-his-country-had-been-left-alone-to-fight-russia-456242">Ukrainian President says his country had been 'left alone' to fight Russia</a>

"This is a premeditated attack. Putin is the aggressor. Putin chose this war. And now he and his country will bear the consequences," Biden told reporters at the White House. &nbsp;

The White House also announced export restrictions to curb access of Russia to everything from commercial electronics to semiconductors. &nbsp;

"This hideous and barbarous venture of Vladimir Putin must end in failure. For our part today, the UK is announcing the largest and most severe package of economic sanctions that Russia has ever seen," Johnson told parliament while announcing the new sanctions. &nbsp;

Sanctions have been imposed on more than 100 Russian individuals and entities by the UK. &nbsp;&nbsp;

(With inputs from agencies)&nbsp;

US President Joe Biden and UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson have hit Russia. No, not militarily yet. Both the leaders have unveiled a wave of sanctions on Thursday to reprimand Moscow for attacking Ukraine in a 'premeditated' conflict.

US President Joe Biden and UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson have hit Russia. No, not militarily yet. Both the leaders have unveiled a wave of sanctions on Thursday to reprimand Moscow for attacking Ukraine in a 'premeditated' conflict. The measures have been taken to impede ability of Russia to do business in major currencies along with sanctions against banks and state-owned enterprises. But Biden has not imposed sanctions on Putin himself. Not just this, the US leader has not disconnected Russia from the SWIFT international banking system. Also Read | Live: Ukraine conflict: At least 137 killed as Russia continues attack In the largest-ever package of sanctions against Russia, Britain has targetted banks, members of President Vladimir Putin's closest circle and wealthy Russians. This comes as there are differences with Western allies over how far to go at this juncture. The Republicans in the US have criticised Biden, saying that he should have done more. Also Read: Ukrainian President says his country had been 'left alone' to fight Russia "This is a premeditated attack. Putin is the aggressor. Putin chose this war. And now he and his country will bear the consequences," Biden told reporters at the White House. The White House also announced export restrictions to curb access of Russia to everything from commercial electronics to semiconductors. "This hideous and barbarous venture of Vladimir Putin must end in failure. For our part today, the UK is announcing the largest and most severe package of economic sanctions that Russia has ever seen," Johnson told parliament while announcing the new sanctions. Sanctions have been imposed on more than 100 Russian individuals and entities by the UK. (With inputs from agencies)

For 'premeditated' Ukraine conflict, US, UK hit Russia with new sanctions

Russian president Vladimir Putin addressed the media amid the going conflict with Ukraine. He will be meeting oligarchs to discuss about the sanctions that the West is expected to impose after Russia logged attacks on Ukraine.

Russian president Vladimir Putin to discuss implications of sanctions imposed by West

Several other countries have imposed sanctions on Russia over its actions in Ukraine. Beyond the alliance of western countries, Japan has called Moscow's moves an unacceptable violation of Ukrainian sovereignty and international law.

Japan, Australia, EU impose sanctions on Russia over its actions in Ukraine

Japan&nbsp;on Tuesday said it stood&nbsp;ready&nbsp;to&nbsp;join&nbsp;the United States and other G7 industrialized nations in slapping&nbsp;sanctions&nbsp;on Russia, should President Vladimir Putin order an invasion of Ukraine.&nbsp;

The confirmation by the world's No. 3 economy comes as the crisis in Europe deepens, with the Russian leader on Monday ordering troops into two breakaway regions in Eastern Ukraine that Russia now recognizes as independent states.

That action was "unacceptable and a violation of international law," Prime Minister Fumio Kishida, who called&nbsp;Putin on Thursday to urge restraint, told reporters.&nbsp;Japan&nbsp;was&nbsp;ready&nbsp;for a strong response that could include&nbsp;sanctions, he added.

Also read&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/entertainment/lifestyle/news-city-pop-the-soundtrack-to-japans-boom-years-goes-viral-455195">&nbsp;|&nbsp;City Pop: the soundtrack to Japan's boom years goes viral</a>

The White House said late on Monday it would announce new&nbsp;sanctions&nbsp;on Russia on Monday "in response to Moscow’s decisions and actions today."

"We are coordinating with allies and partners on that announcement," a White House spokesperson said.

New&nbsp;sanctions&nbsp;by&nbsp;Japan, which would add to those imposed on Russia in 2014 after it occupied the Crimea, would include a ban on semiconductor chips and other key technology exports and tighter restrictions on Russian banks, the Yomiuri newspaper reported earlier.

Although&nbsp;Japan&nbsp;is no longer a major exporter of semiconductors, with only a 10% share of the global chip market, it is a key manufacturer of specialised electronic components, such as automotive chips and image sensors, and dominates in other industrial fields, such as high tech manufacturing equipment.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/us-imposes-sanctions-on-two-russian-backed-areas-in-eastern-ukraine-455190">US imposes sanctions on two Russian-backed areas in eastern Ukraine</a>

Kishida and other government officials who spoke on Tuesday did not say what&nbsp;sanctions&nbsp;Japan&nbsp;was mulling.

Japan's toughening stance against Russia contrasts with the softer diplomatic approach to Moscow taken by&nbsp;Japanese administrations in the past. They have courted Putin in an attempt to secure the return of islands occupied by Russian forces at the end of World War Two.

Japan's delicate diplomacy has also been shaped by&nbsp;its&nbsp;reliance on Russia for some of&nbsp;its&nbsp;energy needs. In 2021, Russia provided more than 12% of&nbsp;Japan's thermal coal, and almost a tenth of&nbsp;its&nbsp;liquefied natural gas.

That economic anguish, however, has been overtaken in recent years by growing concern about a revival in Russian military activity in East Asia and Moscow's deepening security cooperation with neighbouring China.

“Ukraine is facing a tense situation now, so we must firmly watch how it could affect&nbsp;Japan’s economy,” Finance Minister Shunichi Suzuki said at a briefing on Tuesday.

Watch |&nbsp;'No access to financial markets of Russia plans to invade Ukraine,' warns EU

<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/no-access-to-financial-markets-of-russia-plans-to-invade-ukraine-warns-eu-455237/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>

&nbsp;

Japan on Tuesday said it stood ready to join the United States and other G7 industrialized nations in slapping sanctions on Russia, should President Vladimir Putin order an invasion of Ukraine.

Japan on Tuesday said it stood ready to join the United States and other G7 industrialized nations in slapping sanctions on Russia, should President Vladimir Putin order an invasion of Ukraine. The confirmation by the world's No. 3 economy comes as the crisis in Europe deepens, with the Russian leader on Monday ordering troops into two breakaway regions in Eastern Ukraine that Russia now recognizes as independent states. That action was "unacceptable and a violation of international law," Prime Minister Fumio Kishida, who called Putin on Thursday to urge restraint, told reporters. Japan was ready for a strong response that could include sanctions, he added. Also read | City Pop: the soundtrack to Japan's boom years goes viral The White House said late on Monday it would announce new sanctions on Russia on Monday "in response to Moscow’s decisions and actions today." "We are coordinating with allies and partners on that announcement," a White House spokesperson said. New sanctions by Japan, which would add to those imposed on Russia in 2014 after it occupied the Crimea, would include a ban on semiconductor chips and other key technology exports and tighter restrictions on Russian banks, the Yomiuri newspaper reported earlier. Although Japan is no longer a major exporter of semiconductors, with only a 10% share of the global chip market, it is a key manufacturer of specialised electronic components, such as automotive chips and image sensors, and dominates in other industrial fields, such as high tech manufacturing equipment. Also read | US imposes sanctions on two Russian-backed areas in eastern Ukraine Kishida and other government officials who spoke on Tuesday did not say what sanctions Japan was mulling. Japan's toughening stance against Russia contrasts with the softer diplomatic approach to Moscow taken by Japanese administrations in the past. They have courted Putin in an attempt to secure the return of islands occupied by Russian forces at the end of World War Two. Japan's delicate diplomacy has also been shaped by its reliance on Russia for some of its energy needs. In 2021, Russia provided more than 12% of Japan's thermal coal, and almost a tenth of its liquefied natural gas. That economic anguish, however, has been overtaken in recent years by growing concern about a revival in Russian military activity in East Asia and Moscow's deepening security cooperation with neighbouring China. “Ukraine is facing a tense situation now, so we must firmly watch how it could affect Japan’s economy,” Finance Minister Shunichi Suzuki said at a briefing on Tuesday. Watch | 'No access to financial markets of Russia plans to invade Ukraine,' warns EU

Russia-Ukraine crisis: Japan ready to join US-led sanctions on Moscow

The UK government imposed tough sanctions against five Russian banks and three billionaires from the country over President Vladimir Putin’s aggressive action on the Ukraine border.

UK sanctions 5 Russian banks, 3 billionaires over Russia-Ukraine conflict

The United States is considering new sanctions against Russia, proposing to cut some of its top banks from Dollar transactions. UK has already announced sanctions blocking Russian companies access to western currencies.

US to cut Russian banks from Dollar transactions

Ukrainian leader Volodymyr Zelenksy said that Russia is creating the legal basis for further military aggression against Ukraine. He also demanded an immediate halt to the Nord Steam 2 project and new sanctions against Russia.

Russia preparing for further military aggression against Ukraine, says Volodymyr Zelensky

After weeks of warnings to de-escalate military maneuvers in eastern Ukraine, US has now imposed a series of limited sanctions on the two Russian-backed areas in eastern Ukraine's Donbass region. The move came after Putin signed a presidential decree recognizing the independence of two separatist regions in eastern Ukraine.

United States announces new sanction as Russia backs Ukraine's rebel regions

The European Union on Monday added 22 officials of Myanmar's military junta to the bloc's sanctions list. Sanctions have also been imposed on four companies tied to the military regime.

The latest move means that 65 Myanmar officials have till now been hit by EU asset freezes and visa bans. Number of firms under sanctions has come to 10.

Among those targeted by the latest round of sanctions were the ministers for investment, industry and information, officials at the election commission and senior members of military.&nbsp;

Two state mining and energy firms were also added to the list, along with two private firms linked to the junta. &nbsp;&nbsp;

"The European Union is deeply concerned by the continuing escalation of violence in Myanmar and the evolution towards a protracted conflict with regional implications," the bloc said in a statement. &nbsp;

"Since the military coup, the situation has continuously and gravely deteriorated."

It repeated calls for "an immediate cessation of all hostilities, and an end to the disproportionate use of force and the state of emergency".

Myanmar has been in chaos, its economy paralysed, and more than 1,500 civilians have been killed in a military crackdown since the putsch in February 2021, according to a local monitoring group.

(With inputs from agencies) 
&nbsp;

The European Union on Monday added 22 officials of Myanmar's military junta to the bloc's sanctions list. Sanctions have also been imposed on four companies tied to the military regime.

The European Union on Monday added 22 officials of Myanmar's military junta to the bloc's sanctions list. Sanctions have also been imposed on four companies tied to the military regime. The latest move means that 65 Myanmar officials have till now been hit by EU asset freezes and visa bans. Number of firms under sanctions has come to 10. Among those targeted by the latest round of sanctions were the ministers for investment, industry and information, officials at the election commission and senior members of military. Two state mining and energy firms were also added to the list, along with two private firms linked to the junta. "The European Union is deeply concerned by the continuing escalation of violence in Myanmar and the evolution towards a protracted conflict with regional implications," the bloc said in a statement. "Since the military coup, the situation has continuously and gravely deteriorated." It repeated calls for "an immediate cessation of all hostilities, and an end to the disproportionate use of force and the state of emergency". Myanmar has been in chaos, its economy paralysed, and more than 1,500 civilians have been killed in a military crackdown since the putsch in February 2021, according to a local monitoring group. (With inputs from agencies)

EU expands sanctions on Myanmar military junta regime

Vladimir Putin is counting on China to help Russia circumvent possible western sanctions. Will Beijing openly back a Russian invasion of Ukraine? What's in it for Xi Jinping? Palki Sharma tells you.

Gravitas: What will China do if Russia invades Ukraine?

Austria has opposed to including the Nord Stream 2 gas pipeline in the package of sanctions against Moscow that the European Union is preparing if Russia invades Ukraine.

Austria resists including Nord Stream 2 in EU sanctions

Russia's outspoken ambassador to Sweden Viktor Tatarintsev told a Swedish newspaper that Moscow "doesn't give a s***' about threat of Western sanctions over Ukraine crisis.

"Excuse my language, but we don't give a s*** about all their sanctions", Viktor Tatarintsev told the Aftonbladet newspaper in an interview posted on its website late Saturday.

"We have already had so many sanctions and in that sense they've had a positive effect on our economy and agriculture," said the veteran diplomat, who speaks fluent Swedish and has been posted to the Scandinavian country four times.

Also Read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/west-will-respond-decisively-if-ukraine-invasion-occurs-biden-tells-putin-452818">West will respond decisively if Ukraine invasion occurs, Biden tells Putin</a>

"We are more self-sufficient and have been able to increase our exports. We have no Italian or Swiss cheeses, but we've learned to make just as good Russian cheeses using Italian and Swiss recipes", he said.

"New sanctions are nothing positive but not as bad as the West makes it sound", he added.

Tatarintsev accused the West of not understanding the Russian mentality.

"The more the West pushes Russia, the stronger the Russian response will be," he said.

Also Read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/will-there-be-a-war-over-ukraine-from-feb-16-story-so-far-of-russia-west-stand-off-452844">Will there be a war over Ukraine from Feb 16? Story so far of Russia-West stand-off &nbsp;</a>

The diplomat's comments come as Western nations fear Moscow is preparing an invasion of Ukraine, having nearly surrounded its western neighbour with more than 100,000 troops.

Washington has warned that an all-out invasion could begin "any day".

Tatarintsev insisted Moscow was trying to avoid a war.

"That is our political leadership's most sincere wish. The last thing people in Russia want is war."

(With inputs from agencies)

Russia's outspoken ambassador to Sweden Viktor Tatarintsev told a Swedish newspaper that Moscow "doesn't give a s***' about threat of Western sanctions over Ukraine crisis.

Russia's outspoken ambassador to Sweden Viktor Tatarintsev told a Swedish newspaper that Moscow "doesn't give a s***' about threat of Western sanctions over Ukraine crisis. "Excuse my language, but we don't give a s*** about all their sanctions", Viktor Tatarintsev told the Aftonbladet newspaper in an interview posted on its website late Saturday. "We have already had so many sanctions and in that sense they've had a positive effect on our economy and agriculture," said the veteran diplomat, who speaks fluent Swedish and has been posted to the Scandinavian country four times. Also Read | West will respond decisively if Ukraine invasion occurs, Biden tells Putin "We are more self-sufficient and have been able to increase our exports. We have no Italian or Swiss cheeses, but we've learned to make just as good Russian cheeses using Italian and Swiss recipes", he said. "New sanctions are nothing positive but not as bad as the West makes it sound", he added. Tatarintsev accused the West of not understanding the Russian mentality. "The more the West pushes Russia, the stronger the Russian response will be," he said. Also Read | Will there be a war over Ukraine from Feb 16? Story so far of Russia-West stand-off The diplomat's comments come as Western nations fear Moscow is preparing an invasion of Ukraine, having nearly surrounded its western neighbour with more than 100,000 troops. Washington has warned that an all-out invasion could begin "any day". Tatarintsev insisted Moscow was trying to avoid a war. "That is our political leadership's most sincere wish. The last thing people in Russia want is war." (With inputs from agencies)

Russia does not give 's***' about Western sanctions, says its ambassador to Sweden

Hit by the sanctions from the United States, Iran's bookstores fear washout. The increased production cost is expected to have a wider impact.

Bookstores fear washout in Iran as publishers are running out of cash

The United States has restored sanctions waiver to Iran as efforts are on to salvage 2015 Iran Nuclear deal.

The US restores sanctions waiver to Iran amid efforts to salvage 2015 Nuclear deal

Marking one year since the military seized power and the country descended into chaos, on Monday a new set of sanctions was imposed by the United States, Britain, and Canada against additional officials in Myanmar.

The three nations, which have already imposed sanctions on commander-in-chief Min Aung Hlaing and other members of the junta, jointly targeted judicial officials involved in the prosecution of ousted Nobel laureate Aung San Suu Kyi.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/south-asia/myanmar-junta-slaps-election-fraud-charges-against-aung-san-suu-kyi-449305">Myanmar junta slaps election fraud charges against Aung San Suu Kyi</a>

In addition, Washington has sanctioned a directorate that purchases weapons for the junta from overseas. It also has sanctioned an alleged arms dealer Tay Za, and his two adult sons; and a company KT Services &amp; Logistics Company Ltd and its Chief Executive Jonathan Myo Kyaw Thaung that it believes provides financial support to the junta.

Since the Feb. 1, 2021, coup, Suu Kyi and members of her National League for Democracy (NLD) party have been detained by the military. Military officials claimed fraud in the NLD's landslide victory in the November 2020 election. However, Monitoring groups said the vote reflected the wishes of the country's residents.

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken said the coordinated action shows the international community's support for Myanmar and will "further promote accountability for the coup and the violence perpetrated by the military," citing the deaths of nearly 1,500 people and the detention of 10,000 by a military attempting to consolidate control.

As part of its investigations into atrocities committed over the past year, UN investigators said on Monday that they are preparing files that could facilitate prosecutions.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/south-asia/suu-kyi-indispensable-for-democracy-in-myanmar-says-the-philippines-445265">Suu Kyi 'indispensable' for democracy in Myanmar, says the Philippines</a>

"Those who are considering committing crimes should be aware that serious international crimes have no statute of limitations," Nicholas Koumjian, head of the Geneva-based Independent Investigative Mechanism for Myanmar, said in a statement.

US Treasury said that seven individuals and two entities have been added to its sanctions list. Among them is the junta's attorney general, Thida Oo, whose office it alleged crafted politically motivated charges against Suu Kyi.&nbsp;

The Treasury also named the Myanmar Supreme Court's chief justice and the chairman of the Anti-Corruption Commission, who it said were also involved in prosecuting Suu Kyi and NLD leaders.

In general, Americans are barred from doing business with those blacklisted by the action, their US assets are frozen.

Watch | Top justice officials hit with fresh Myanmar sanctions one year after military coup

<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/top-justice-officials-hit-with-fresh-myanmar-sanctions-one-year-after-military-coup-449384/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>

"As long as the regime continues to deny the people of Burma their democratic voice, we will continue to impose further costs on the military and its supporters," US President Joe Biden said in a statement on Monday condemning Myanmar's military rulers.

Canada announced that it would also add the three judicial officials to its sanctions list. The British government has announced that it will list Myanmar's attorney general, the chair of the corruption commission, and the chair of Myanmar's election commission, appointed by the junta.

(With inputs from agencies)

Marking one year since the military seized power and the country descended into chaos, on Monday a new set of sanctions was imposed by the United States, Britain, and Canada against additional officials in Myanmar.

Marking one year since the military seized power and the country descended into chaos, on Monday a new set of sanctions was imposed by the United States, Britain, and Canada against additional officials in Myanmar. The three nations, which have already imposed sanctions on commander-in-chief Min Aung Hlaing and other members of the junta, jointly targeted judicial officials involved in the prosecution of ousted Nobel laureate Aung San Suu Kyi. Also read | Myanmar junta slaps election fraud charges against Aung San Suu Kyi In addition, Washington has sanctioned a directorate that purchases weapons for the junta from overseas. It also has sanctioned an alleged arms dealer Tay Za, and his two adult sons; and a company KT Services & Logistics Company Ltd and its Chief Executive Jonathan Myo Kyaw Thaung that it believes provides financial support to the junta. Since the Feb. 1, 2021, coup, Suu Kyi and members of her National League for Democracy (NLD) party have been detained by the military. Military officials claimed fraud in the NLD's landslide victory in the November 2020 election. However, Monitoring groups said the vote reflected the wishes of the country's residents. US Secretary of State Antony Blinken said the coordinated action shows the international community's support for Myanmar and will "further promote accountability for the coup and the violence perpetrated by the military," citing the deaths of nearly 1,500 people and the detention of 10,000 by a military attempting to consolidate control. As part of its investigations into atrocities committed over the past year, UN investigators said on Monday that they are preparing files that could facilitate prosecutions. Also read | Suu Kyi 'indispensable' for democracy in Myanmar, says the Philippines "Those who are considering committing crimes should be aware that serious international crimes have no statute of limitations," Nicholas Koumjian, head of the Geneva-based Independent Investigative Mechanism for Myanmar, said in a statement. US Treasury said that seven individuals and two entities have been added to its sanctions list. Among them is the junta's attorney general, Thida Oo, whose office it alleged crafted politically motivated charges against Suu Kyi. The Treasury also named the Myanmar Supreme Court's chief justice and the chairman of the Anti-Corruption Commission, who it said were also involved in prosecuting Suu Kyi and NLD leaders. In general, Americans are barred from doing business with those blacklisted by the action, their US assets are frozen. Watch | Top justice officials hit with fresh Myanmar sanctions one year after military coup "As long as the regime continues to deny the people of Burma their democratic voice, we will continue to impose further costs on the military and its supporters," US President Joe Biden said in a statement on Monday condemning Myanmar's military rulers. Canada announced that it would also add the three judicial officials to its sanctions list. The British government has announced that it will list Myanmar's attorney general, the chair of the corruption commission, and the chair of Myanmar's election commission, appointed by the junta. (With inputs from agencies)

One year since the coup, US, Britain, Canada impose fresh sanctions on Myanmar officials

On the one-year anniversary of a military coup in Myanmar, the United states, Britain and Canada have hit top Myanmar justice officials with coordinated sanctions as part of a joint action. With the United Kingdom and Canada, US has designated seven individuals and two entities connected to Burma's military regime .

Top justice officials hit with fresh Myanmar sanctions one year after military coup

From coup to the jailing of Suu Kyi, here's a look at Myanmar's year of turmoil

The United States and Britain are stepping up efforts to keep Moscow under pressure. Both countries are preparing new devastating sanctions against Russian individuals.

US, UK prepare new sanctions against Russia next week

As tensions on the Russia-Ukraine border continues to simmer, the United West has threatened to impose never seen before sanctions on Moscow if Russia invades Ukraine.

Impact of possible sanctions on Moscow

US President Joe Biden has said that he would consider imposing sanctions on President Vladimir Putin himself, if Russia invaded Ukraine.

US President Joe Biden warns of sanction if Russia invades Ukraine

China and Russia have delayed a US effort at the United Nations to impose sanctions on five North Koreans in response to recent missile launches by Pyongyang, diplomats said.

China, Russia delays US bid to sanction North Koreans at UN

Protests have broken out in Mali, with people pouring into independence square against sanctions. Country's military had called for protests.

Protests break out in Mali: People pour into independence square against sanctions

Protests break out in Mali: People pour into independence square

North Korea’s show of power amid the cloud of sanctions through missile launches seems to be continuing. &nbsp;&nbsp;

On Friday, North Korea seems to have fired at least two missiles. This comes just hours after it criticised a US push for new sanctions. &nbsp;

The country has been conducting missile launches for some time. It had also warned of strong reaction to the sanctions. &nbsp;

Also Read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/biden-administration-imposes-first-sanctions-on-north-koreans-over-missile-tests-444270" hreflang="en">Biden administration imposes first sanctions on North Koreans over missile tests</a>

Without elaborating, South Korea's Joint Chiefs of Staff, said that the&nbsp;North had presumably launched two short-range ballistic missiles (SRBMs) eastward from North Pyongan Province on the west coast of the country.&nbsp;

The US and South Korea see the recent missile launches as a "provocation". &nbsp;

The development was also confirmed by Japan as the coast guard also said that the North had fired what looked like a ballistic missile.

The missiles appeared to have landed in the sea outside Japan's exclusive economic zone, reported broadcaster NHK, citing a Japanese defence ministry official.&nbsp;

Also Read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/strategic-military-muscle-north-korea-says-it-launched-hypersonic-missile-444008" hreflang="en">'Strategic military muscle': North Korea says it launched hypersonic missile</a>

Defending missile tests to be a legitimate right to self-defence, North Korea said the United States was intentionally escalating the situation with the help of imposition of new sanctions, its state media reported earlier on Friday.&nbsp;It had cited the foreign ministry in the report. &nbsp;

In a statement to the KCNA state news agency, the foreign ministry said that North Korea's recent development of a "new-type weapon" was just part of its efforts to modernise its national defence capability and did not target any specific country or harm the security of neighbouring countries. &nbsp;&nbsp;

(With inputs from agencies)&nbsp;

North Korea’s show of power amid the cloud of sanctions through missile launches seems to be continuing. On Friday, North Korea seems to have fired at least two missiles.

North Korea’s show of power amid the cloud of sanctions through missile launches seems to be continuing. On Friday, North Korea seems to have fired at least two missiles. This comes just hours after it criticised a US push for new sanctions. The country has been conducting missile launches for some time. It had also warned of strong reaction to the sanctions. Also Read: Biden administration imposes first sanctions on North Koreans over missile tests Without elaborating, South Korea's Joint Chiefs of Staff, said that the North had presumably launched two short-range ballistic missiles (SRBMs) eastward from North Pyongan Province on the west coast of the country. The US and South Korea see the recent missile launches as a "provocation". The development was also confirmed by Japan as the coast guard also said that the North had fired what looked like a ballistic missile. The missiles appeared to have landed in the sea outside Japan's exclusive economic zone, reported broadcaster NHK, citing a Japanese defence ministry official. Also Read | 'Strategic military muscle': North Korea says it launched hypersonic missile Defending missile tests to be a legitimate right to self-defence, North Korea said the United States was intentionally escalating the situation with the help of imposition of new sanctions, its state media reported earlier on Friday. It had cited the foreign ministry in the report. In a statement to the KCNA state news agency, the foreign ministry said that North Korea's recent development of a "new-type weapon" was just part of its efforts to modernise its national defence capability and did not target any specific country or harm the security of neighbouring countries. (With inputs from agencies)

Show of power continues: North Korea fires two missiles to target 'cloud' of US sanctions

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