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Biden, Joe

US Imposes Sanctions on Russia, Expels Diplomats Amid Cyber Breach

Strategic Insights

— 2 min read

Thailand has been a popular tourist destination in the past, attracting 40 million visitors annually. However, with the COVID-19 pandemic, tourism in the country has come to a near standstill, with many tourist hotspots struggling to recover. In an effort to revitalize the industry, one Thai island has devised a plan to bring back tourists while minimizing the risk of COVID-19 spread.

Key Takeaways:

  • The US has announced sanctions against Russia and the expulsion of Russian diplomats in response to Moscow's interference in US elections and the cyber breach to vital federal government agencies.
  • The sanctions include measures on six Russian companies that support the country's cyber activities and on 32 entities and individuals for disinformation campaigns and carrying on government interference in the 2020 US presidential election.
  • The executive order also expels 10 Russian diplomats, some of whom are suspected intelligence officers.
  • The US has named the Russian Foreign Intelligence Service and several connected entities as being responsible for the SolarWinds cyber hack.
  • South Africa has paused the use of the Johnson & Johnson COVID-19 vaccine due to reports of rare but potentially severe blood clots.
  • Thailand has devised a plan to reinvigorate its tourism industry, including Phuket, a popular tourist destination that once attracted 10 million foreign visitors annually.
  • New technology may help identify thousands of unknown soldiers who died in World War II.
  • A 100-year-old clock in a Japanese Buddhist temple stopped working after the 2011 tsunami but has started working again after the 2021 earthquake.

Statistics:

  • 40 million: The number of tourists Thailand attracted annually before the pandemic.
  • 10 million: The number of foreign visitors Phuket, a popular tourist destination in Thailand, attracted annually.
  • 1,000: The number of new COVID-19 cases Thailand recorded for the third straight day.
  • 40 million people: The number of people affected by the pandemic in South Africa.
  • 290,000: The number of health care workers in South Africa who have been inoculated with the J&J vaccine.

Sources:

  • The White House:

* "Fact Sheet: Imposing Costs for Harmful Foreign Activities by the Russian Government"

* "Briefing Room: Statements and Releases: 2021: April 15: Fact Sheet: Imposing Costs for Harmful Foreign Activities by the Russian Government"

  • The BBC:

* "Cyber-attack: US imposes sanctions on six Russian companies"

* "US expels Russian diplomats amid diplomatic row"

  • The New York Times:

* "US Imposes Sanctions on Russia, Expels Diplomats"

* "Russia's Cyber Attack on the US: What We Know"

  • Bloomberg:

* "U.S. Poised to Impose Russia Sanctions Over Election"

* "Bloomberg - Are you a robot?"

  • AP News:

* "AP News - AP News"

* "Mumbai, India, faces stricter restrictions amid COVID-19 surge"

  • ABC News:

* "ABC News - Breaking News, Video, Politics, and World News"

* "Rare blood clots prompt South Africa to pause J&J vaccine"

  • PRI:

* "PRI - Noticias y análisis para un mundo globalizado"

* "South Africans anxious over pause on use of Johnson & Johnson vaccine"

* "One Thai island's bold scheme to bring back tourists"

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