The US has hit Russia with 500 new sanctions on Friday over the death of jailed Opposition leader Aleksey Navalny and the ongoing war against Ukraine, with the goal of further constricting its energy earnings that fuel and sustain the war effort.
The US has also announced 100 sanctions against entities that are providing "backdoor support" to the Russian war machine, including those in China, the UAE and Liechtenstein.
"These sanctions will target individuals connected to Navalny's imprisonment as well as Russia's financial sector, defence industrial base, procurement networks and sanctions evaders across multiple continents," US President Joe Biden said, announcing new curbs.
"They will ensure Putin pays an even steeper price for his aggression abroad and repression at home."
The 47-year-old Navalny died in a Russian prison on February 16. The US has sanctioned more than 2,000 entities in Russia since President Vladimir Putin sent his troops into Ukraine to deter him by squeezing his energy earnings and sources of material for the war industry.
But Russia appears far from being deterred. Its economy grew by 3 per cent in 2023, more than the US economy. And it continues to wage the war, which is now going in their advantage specially with Ukraine's depleting arsenal desperately in need of replenishment. A legislation providing additional security funding for Ukraine is caught in a political fight between Democrats and Republicans on Capitol Hill, home of the US congress.
Pressing Republicans, who control the House of Representatives to clear the bill, Biden said: "History is watching. The failure to support Ukraine at this critical moment will not be forgotten. Now is the time for us to stand strong with Ukraine and stand united with our allies and partners. Now is the time to prove that the US stands up for freedom and bows down to no one."
These additional sanctions come amidst further deterioration in relations between the world's largest nuclear powers and sharp language exchanged by the two sides.
Biden called Putin a "crazy SOB' at a fundraiser for his re-election campaign earlier this week. And Putin reacted by sarcastically calling Biden his preferred president of the US.
TRIPURA: Restriction imposed on sale of petrol, diesel as landslide hits Assam
As a massive landslide at Jatinga in Assam has hit the goods train movement to Tripura, the Tripura has imposed restrictions on sale of petrol and diesel.
Women perform rituals in Kali temple for rain amid heat wave
Amid the intense heat wave, the BJP MLA Antara Deb Sarkar, accompanied by hundreds of women on Wednesday performed rituals at a Kali temple in Sepahijala's Kamalasagar, seeking divine intervention for rains.
Hours after praising BJP nominee, Kunal Ghosh removed as Trinamool state General Secretary
Hours after Trinamool Congress’ state General Secretary Kunal Ghosh showered praises on Tapas Roy, the BJP candidate from Kolkata Uttar Lok Sabha constituency, the ruling party on Wednesday removed Ghosh from the post.
Salman Khan firing case: Accused gun supplier found hanging in Mumbai police lockup, declared dead
In a sensational development, Anuj Thapan, one of the prime accused in the firing at Salman Khan’s home, allegedly committed suicide in a Mumbai Police lockup on Wednesday, officials said.
Secretary of Tripura's prominent club shot dead, one arrested
Durga Prasanna Deb, Secretary of Bharat Ratna Sangha, a leading club and famous social body of Tripura was attacked by five assailants late Tuesday at Usha Bazar. The accused who has been nabbed was identified as Pradyut Dhar Chowdhury.
GST collections scale record high of Rs 2.1 lakh crore in April
The country's gross GST revenue collection for April this year soared to the highest ever level at Rs 2.10 lakh crore, Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman announced on Wednesday.
Govt cuts windfall tax on crude oil, ONGC, OIL India Ltd to gain
The Government has cut the windfall tax on crude oil to Rs 8,400 a metric ton from Rs 9,600 with effect from Wednesday as part of its fortnightly revision.
Major jolt to Congress in Delhi, Naseeb Singh & Neeraj Basoya quit party, blame AAP alliance
In a major setback to the Congress party, two of its leaders and observers for two Lok Sabha seats in Delhi, Neeraj Basoya and Naseeb Singh have resigned from the party.