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In an interview with India Today, Lavrov said his country’s forces would use “conventional weapons only,” according to state news agency Interfax. Although he is not directly responsible for military decision-making, his comments are among the most direct so far on the prospect of Russia escalating the conflict into a nuclear one. Western intelligence officials had warned that Russia might resort to tactical or other limited nuclear weapons if its invasion continues to face setbacks....

Describing it as “Orwellian News,” a reference to George Orwell’s dystopian classic 1984, Moscow’s Pretoria embassy shared a tweet Tuesday claiming that Bolton was “nominated for 2020 Nobel Peace Prize for… wait for it… “tremendous efforts in bringing peace to Iran, Venezuela and Israel.” The account added: “If by ‘peace’ you mean failed attempts at regime change in #Venezuela & escalating tensions vs #Iran… #WarIsPeace.” The tweet was accompanied by an image bearing a famous 1984 passage reading “War is Peace, Freedom is Slavery, Ignorance is Strength....

“Whatever their level of involvement, based on the information I have today, I don’t expect Mr. Durham’s work will lead to a criminal investigation of either man,” Barr told reporters in a press conference on Monday. “Our concern over potential criminality is focused on others.” Federal prosecutor John Durham has been leading the Justice Department’s investigation into the FBI’s probe of Russian interference in the 2016 election led by former special counsel Robert Mueller....

In an interview with Reuters on Monday, Peskov said Moscow could “end war immediately” if Ukraine agreed to sign a neutrality agreement that would bar it from entering NATO, recognized Crimea as Russian, recognized the regions of Luhansk and Donetsk as independent, and ceased all military action. He told the news wire that negotiators on Ukraine’s side “were told that all this can be stopped in a moment.” “We really are finishing the demilitarization of Ukraine,” Peskov told Reuters....

In a post on Telegram, the social media platform, foreign affairs spokeswoman Maria Zakharova referred to U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken’s condemnation of Russia this week. “If the State Department decided to look for aggressors violating international law, then its partners should start this process, by standing in front of the mirror,” she wrote. She referred to past NATO operations in Iraq, Libya and Syria and Yugoslavia and said that Blinken’s comments “are nothing more than a failed attempt to provide an ideological basis for the ‘Summit for Democracy’ organized by Washington,” which will take place on December 9 and 10....

“The incompetence of the Russians, which has surpassed what I would have expected. They have simply failed to deliver logistics, a decent battle plan, [and] competent troops,” Stavridis said during an appearance on Sunday TODAY on NBC. His remarks come after a number of successful advances by Ukrainian forces, including the Kharkiv counteroffensive, which pushed Russian forces to retreat from key cities such as Izium last week, indicating that Moscow is struggling in its war, according to experts....

According to critics of the Kremlin, without ballot fraud, the United Russia party would not have the votes to maintain its supermajority in the Russian parliament. Election monitors and opposition activists provided photos of folded piles of ballots in transparent ballot boxes that showed obvious signs of being put in one piece. Footage of polling stations also showed people trying to shove multiple ballots into boxes. For more reporting from the Associated Press, see below....

Russian forces are manoeuvring to encircle the Ukrainian capital, Western intelligence suggest, while fighting escalates outside the fortified city of nearly 3 million people. British officials believe a Russian military convoy, once 40-miles long, that has been stuck outside the north of the city has dispersed, “likely” hoping to surround it. Two oil depots to the south of Kyiv are ablaze following Russian missiles attacks on Saturday morning, according to local media....

An unnamed senior U.S. intelligence official relayed the information to the Associated Press. Polish government spokesman Piotr Mueller did not confirm the information but said an emergency meeting was being held by top leaders of the NATO country to tend to the “crisis situation.” According to Polish media, two people died Tuesday afternoon after a projectile struck an area where grain was drying in Przewodów—a Polish village near the border with Ukraine....

The McDonald’s Corporation announced on Tuesday that it would become the latest international company to sever ties with Russia amidst the ongoing Ukraine invasion. All 847 McDonald’s locations within the country temporarily closed, although Russian officials are considering circumventing trademark restrictions in an effort to reopen. The fast-food chain was one of the first Western franchises to branch out to Russia following the collapse of the Soviet Union, and soon became an icon of post-Soviet life....

In a Telegram post, Slutsky, leader of the right-wing Liberal Democratic Party of Russia (LDPR) and chairman of the State Duma Committee on International Affairs, wrote that if he were in Turkey’s place, “I would not be too flattered about the assurances I received in exchange for not vetoing the Finns’ and Swedes’ accession to NATO,” according to an English translation of his post from the state-run TASS news agency....

The Dane shot a final-round 67 to reach 12 under at the Nordea Masters on Sunday, securing fourth to usurp Poulter in the world points list. Open champion Francesco Molinari, Justin Rose, Tyrrell Hatton and Tommy Fleetwood occupy the top four places on the European points list, with Jon Rahm, Rory McIlroy, Alex Noren and now Olesen set to qualify from the world list as it stands. There are just two European Tour events remaining before the qualification period closes – the Czech Masters and the Made in Denmark....

Looking back, that may have really been something worth being thankful for Rusev. While Mahal flopped as WWE Champion and carried the nature of SmackDown down with him, Rusev’s fame detonated in late 2017. And before the year was over he was driving WWE in stock deals, an uncommon accomplishment for somebody who isn’t getting the noteworthy push. Rusev’s capacity to move merchandise clearly earned him a US title contention at WrestleMania 34, but that was of no help....

By Kayon Raynor KINGSTON (Reuters) - West Indies all-rounder Andre Russell has appealed to have his one-year ban for a doping whereabouts rule violation dismissed. Russell, a two-times Twenty20 World Cup winner, was revealed to have committed the violation a year ago after registering three filing failures in 2015. That constituted a failed drugs test under World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) rules. Reuters has obtained a copy of Russell’s appeal document that was submitted to the Jamaican Anti-Doping Appeals Tribunal on March 20....

NBA League Pass: Sign up to unlock live out-of-market games (7-day free trial) The Lakers (7-5) have now won their last two in a row while the Heat have dropped their last two to fall to 7-4 on the season. Russell Westbrook had a chance to win it at the end of regulation but settled for a long three as time expired and the game went to overtime. Let’s jump into the key takeaways from tonight’s game:...

The fiery point guard recorded his eighth triple-double of the season in Monday’s 112-103 win over the Knicks. MORE: Where will Westbrook and the Thunder finish this season? Westbrook scored 27 points with 18 rebounds and 14 assists, reaching double figures in the categories for the third straight game. He now has 45 career triple-doubles, tying LeBron James for sixth all time. The latest performance boosted him to a triple-double average (30....

The worst 3-point shooting team in the NBA by percentage, Oklahoma City made a season-high 18 on 41 attempts in a 124-109 victory over the Atlanta Hawks on Friday night. Russell Westbrook, who made a pair of 3s, fell a rebound short of a triple-double. He finished with 23 points, 10 assists and nine rebounds. Alex Abrines scored 21 points on seven 3-pointers, Paul George had 20 points and Dennis Schroder added 18....

There are sometimes when Westbrook acts like he’s a solo act, but that’s neither here nor there. In the Thunder’s game against the Suns, the point guard was not happy as he made his way to the bench. Durant stuck his hand out for team solidarity, but Westbrook bypassed it. There could’ve been the chance that Westbrook didn’t see Durant’s hand but knowing how emotional Westbrook is, that option seems unlikely....

Wilson made his thoughts known during a Facebook Live video post Tuesday. He even went as far as to say he’s not certain whether Trump will remain president for all four years of his term. MORE: NFL players are oddly quiet about Donald Trump “Despite anybody’s political issues or views, everybody has a right to choose who they want to vote for," Wilson said. “But this thing is getting out of hand … it’s getting out of hand, people....

The potential cease-fire is one of the first signs of progress in the negotiations between the countries since the onset of Russia’s invasion last week. Vladimir Medinsky, head of the Russian negotiators, reportedly told Russian media following the two-plus hours of talks that the need for humanitarian corridors were agreed to, while Ukrainian officials have said the talks have not been productive enough yet, according to CNN. “We have thoroughly discussed three points—military, international and humanitarian, and the third one is an issue of a future political regulation of the conflict....