Now in a move that can further worsen the already strained tasks between the United States and China the United States has now interestingly decided to impose human rights-related sanctions on China for its alleged atrocities in the Xinjiang province.

The U.S imposes human rights sanctions

The UK has accused Russia of carrying out a series of cyberattacks on the 2020 Summer Olympics in Tokyo -- scheduled to take place in Tokyo in July, 2020 but was postponed due to the coronavirus pandemic.

Britain also warned that the postponed Games due to take place next year may also be targetted by Russia.

UK and allied intelligence services discovered that the Russian military intelligence service, GRU, attempted to disguise itself as Chinese and North Korean hackers in “false-flag” operations to disrupt the Games.

The statement by UK Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab also accused the Russian body of targeting the 2018 Winter Olympic and Paralympic Games in South Korea with cyberattacks -- using the malware “Olympic Destroyer”.

The attacks started, according to security officials, in September last year, days before the World Anti-Doping Agency (Wada) threatened to ban Russian athletes from the Olympics and other major international sporting events.

The UK's National Cyber Security Centre has assessed the attacks and believes they were intended to sabotage the games, as the malware used "was designed to wipe data from and disable computers and networks."

The UK statement comes after major charges were announced in the US on Monday.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/us-charges-six-russian-military-intelligence-officers-with-cyberattacks-336532">Also read |&nbsp;US charges six Russian military intelligence officers with cyberattacks</a>

Six Russian military intelligence officers have been charged with carrying out cyberattacks on Ukraine's power grid, the 2017 French elections and the 2018 Winter Olympics, the US Justice Department announced on Monday.

To this end, Japan's Chief Cabinet Secretary Katsunobu Kato said that Tokyo was in close cooperation with the US and UK on this issue and would not "overlook malicious cyber attacks that could shake the foundations of democracy."

The UK has accused Russia of carrying out a series of cyberattacks on the 2020 Summer Olympics in Tokyo -- scheduled to take place in Tokyo in July, 2020 but was postponed due to the coronavirus pandemic.

The UK has accused Russia of carrying out a series of cyberattacks on the 2020 Summer Olympics in Tokyo -- scheduled to take place in Tokyo in July, 2020 but was postponed due to the coronavirus pandemic. Britain also warned that the postponed Games due to take place next year may also be targetted by Russia. UK and allied intelligence services discovered that the Russian military intelligence service, GRU, attempted to disguise itself as Chinese and North Korean hackers in “false-flag” operations to disrupt the Games. The statement by UK Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab also accused the Russian body of targeting the 2018 Winter Olympic and Paralympic Games in South Korea with cyberattacks -- using the malware “Olympic Destroyer”. The attacks started, according to security officials, in September last year, days before the World Anti-Doping Agency (Wada) threatened to ban Russian athletes from the Olympics and other major international sporting events. The UK's National Cyber Security Centre has assessed the attacks and believes they were intended to sabotage the games, as the malware used "was designed to wipe data from and disable computers and networks." The UK statement comes after major charges were announced in the US on Monday. Also read | US charges six Russian military intelligence officers with cyberattacks Six Russian military intelligence officers have been charged with carrying out cyberattacks on Ukraine's power grid, the 2017 French elections and the 2018 Winter Olympics, the US Justice Department announced on Monday. To this end, Japan's Chief Cabinet Secretary Katsunobu Kato said that Tokyo was in close cooperation with the US and UK on this issue and would not "overlook malicious cyber attacks that could shake the foundations of democracy."

UK accuses Russia of cyberattacks on Tokyo 2020 Olympics

UK is set to boost its ability to handle threats posed by Russia and China in space as part of a foreign, security and defence policy review being conducted by the UK government, Defence Secretary Ben Wallace said late on Saturday.

Britain on Thursday said it was concerned about a Russian satellite test which involved the launch of a projectile with the "characteristics of a weapon".

"This week we have been reminded of the threat Russia poses to our national security with the provocative test of a weapon-like projectile from a satellite threatening the peaceful use of space," Wallace wrote in The Sunday Telegraph newspaper, adding that China also posed a threat.

"China, too, is developing offensive space weapons and both nations are upgrading their capabilities. Such behaviour only underlines the importance of the review the (UK) government is currently conducting," he added.

Tensions between Britain and Russia have been high in recent weeks, as Britain has targetted Russians with new sanctions, accused Russian actors of trying to meddle in last year's election and said Moscow has tried to hack into vaccine research.

Separately, Britain announced on Monday it would suspend its extradition treaty with Hong Kong in an escalation of a dispute with China over its introduction of a national security law for the former British colony.

Earlier this month, Prime Minister Boris Johnson ordered equipment from China's Huawei Technologies to be purged completely from Britain's 5G network by the end of 2027.

China - once courted as the prime source of investment in British infrastructure projects - has accused Britain of pandering to the United States.

The Mail on Sunday reported that Johnson was also set to overhaul the United Kingdom's treason laws to counter threats posed by China and Russia, with the step likely to see a new Treason Act, a new Espionage Act and a rewriting of the Official Secrets Act.

(with inputs from Reuters)

UK is set to boost its ability to handle threats posed by Russia and China in space as part of a foreign, security and defence policy review being conducted by the UK government, Defence Secretary Ben Wallace said late on Saturday.

UK is set to boost its ability to handle threats posed by Russia and China in space as part of a foreign, security and defence policy review being conducted by the UK government, Defence Secretary Ben Wallace said late on Saturday. Britain on Thursday said it was concerned about a Russian satellite test which involved the launch of a projectile with the "characteristics of a weapon". "This week we have been reminded of the threat Russia poses to our national security with the provocative test of a weapon-like projectile from a satellite threatening the peaceful use of space," Wallace wrote in The Sunday Telegraph newspaper, adding that China also posed a threat. "China, too, is developing offensive space weapons and both nations are upgrading their capabilities. Such behaviour only underlines the importance of the review the (UK) government is currently conducting," he added. Tensions between Britain and Russia have been high in recent weeks, as Britain has targetted Russians with new sanctions, accused Russian actors of trying to meddle in last year's election and said Moscow has tried to hack into vaccine research. Separately, Britain announced on Monday it would suspend its extradition treaty with Hong Kong in an escalation of a dispute with China over its introduction of a national security law for the former British colony. Earlier this month, Prime Minister Boris Johnson ordered equipment from China's Huawei Technologies to be purged completely from Britain's 5G network by the end of 2027. China - once courted as the prime source of investment in British infrastructure projects - has accused Britain of pandering to the United States. The Mail on Sunday reported that Johnson was also set to overhaul the United Kingdom's treason laws to counter threats posed by China and Russia, with the step likely to see a new Treason Act, a new Espionage Act and a rewriting of the Official Secrets Act. (with inputs from Reuters)

UK to boost ability to handle space threat from Russia, China

Russia has threatened to retaliate with reciprocal measures and said the sanctions were pointless.

UK imposes sanctions against human rights abusers