INSUBCONTINENT EXCLUSIVE:
Russia on Thursday slapped travel bans on U.S
Vice President Kamala Harris, Facebook chief Mark Zuckerberg and dozens of prominent Americans and Canadians in retaliation for sanctions
list was comprised of people responsible for the two countries' "Russophobic" policies.In Washington, one of the officials targeted, State
Department spokesman Ned Price, said that the travel ban was "an honor.""I have to say it is nothing less than an accolade to have earned
the ire of a government that lies to its own people, brutalizes its neighbors and seeks to create a world where freedom and liberty are put
on the run and, if they had their way, extinguished," Price told reporters.Asked if he had to cancel any travel plans to Russia, Price
quipped: "Fortunately I had no rubles and even if I did they would be worthless by now anyway."The United States has led international
efforts to impose sweeping sanctions on Russia over its military operation in Ukraine, causing tumult in its economy.The United States and
European Union have personally sanctioned a number of Russians including President Vladimir Putin, his daughters and oligarchs seen as
crucial to the Russian leader's power.Other Americans banned Thursday by Russia include ABC News television presenter George Stephanopoulos,
Washington Post columnist David Ignatius and the Russia-focused Meduza news site's editor Kevin Rothrock.The U.S
defense officials include Pentagon spokesman John Kirby and Deputy Secretary of Defense Kathleen Hicks.The list of Canadians is headed by
Cameron Ahmad, who serves as director of communications to Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, and Canadian Special Operations Forces Commander
Steve Boivin.Russia had earlier banned Facebook and Instagram, which form part of Zuckerberg's Meta empire, calling them "extremist"
