BRUSSELS: The European Union (EU) on Thursday formally adopted its 19th package of sanctions against Russia over the war in Ukraine, introducing a ban on Russian liquefied natural gas (LNG) imports and fresh restrictions on financial and trade activities. The 27-member bloc approved the package after Slovakia lifted its objection late Wednesday, paving the way […]
sanctions
Trump demands NATO halt Russia oil purchases before US sanctions
US President Donald Trump said Saturday he was ready to sanction Moscow, but on the condition that all NATO allies agree to completely halt purchases of Russian oil and implement their own sanctions. He also suggested members of the transatlantic alliance consider slapping tariffs of 50 percent to 100 percent on China as a way […]
EU Chief urges sanctions on Israeli ministers over Gaza crisis
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said Wednesday she will push for sanctions on Israeli ministers over Gaza. She also called for cutting some trade ties with Israel. Her strong statement came as Gaza faces famine and rising civilian deaths. Von der Leyen spoke at the European Parliament in Strasbourg. She said the EU […]
Binance faces US probe of possible Russian sanctions violations
The U.S. Justice Department is investigating whether Binance Holdings was illegally used to let Russians skirt U.S. sanctions and move money through the cryptocurrency exchange, Bloomberg News reported on Friday, citing people familiar with the matter. Regulators globally have long called for tighter controls on crypto exchanges including Binance, the world’s largest, to prevent illegal […]
CIA among targets of new Iran sanctions on US
Iran announced on Monday new sanctions on United States entities and individuals including the CIA, accusing them of “inciting terrorist acts” in the Islamic republic. It comes days after the US placed more than a dozen Iranian officials on its sanctions blacklist for the crackdown on protests over the death in custody of 22-year-old Mahsa […]
Hong Kong leader says he ‘laughs off’ US sanctions
Hong Kong’s leader laughed off US sanctions against him Tuesday as he defended his government’s decision not to act against a superyacht reportedly owned by a Kremlin ally. The Nord a $500 million luxury vessel linked to Russian billionaire Alexei Mordashov arrived in the Chinese territory’s waters last week. Mordashov is among the oligarchs close […]
‘Rich also cry’: Russia’s sanctioned oligarchs lose luxuries
From superyachts and mansions to private jets and works of art, mega-rich Russians are being deprived of their expensive playthings, under swingeing sanctions that implicate them in Vladimir Putin’s war in Ukraine. The seizing and freezing of assets is proving the toughest trial yet for the Kremlin-favoured “oligarchs”, many of whom got rich on the […]
New Zealand imposes sanctions on Russia, pledges more to come
ANKARA: New Zealand on Friday imposed sanctions on top Russian officials and entities, with the pledge of further action in the days to come. In a statement, Foreign Minister Nanaia Mahuta said the first tranche of sanctions under a new law was enacted last night. Under the sanctions, the country imposed a travel ban […]
US hits China with new trade curbs, sanctions over Uyghur rights
The United States on Thursday unleashed a volley of actions to censure China’s treatment of the Uyghur minority, with lawmakers voting to curb trade and new sanctions slapped on the world’s top consumer drone maker. The United States has ramped up pressure on China, with President Joe Biden’s administration a day earlier targeting producers of […]
EU ready to impose sanctions over Lebanon crisis
The European Union said on Friday it was ready to impose sanctions on Lebanon’s ruling elite over the political crisis wracking the country, after adopting a legal framework for such measures. The crisis has left Lebanon without a functioning government since the last one resigned after a massive explosion killed dozens and destroyed swathes of […]