US social networks, blogs allowed back into Crimea

The United States on Friday announced that U.S. companies can still give users in Crimea access to a range of free online communications services, despite an earlier U.S. ban on providing any services to the region after it was annexed by Russia last year.

The decision will allow U.S. Internet companies such as Apple and Google — who previously announced that they were cutting off service to Crimea — to continue services to the region without violating U.S. sanctions.