Sanctions

US President Donald Trump escalated sanctions against Cuba on January 31 by threatening tariffs on countries selling oil to the island, mainly targeting Mexico's supply. International leaders and organizations condemned the move as imperialist aggression and called for an end to the blockade. In Cuba, tensions with US diplomats persist amid worsening economic hardships.

February 02, 2026 Reported by AI

Early Monday morning, officers from the Federal Criminal Police Office (BKA) and customs conducted a raid at a company in Lübeck's Roggenhorst district. Investigators suspect the firm supplies goods to Russia despite the EU embargo and may be part of a procurement network. An eyewitness video captured the swift operation with masked officers and forced entry.

The United States seized another oil tanker off Venezuela's coast on Saturday, January 3, 2026, according to U.S. media reports. This marks at least the third such interception since December 2025, amid Washington's ongoing blockade of ships carrying oil linked to Nicolás Maduro's regime. Venezuelan authorities denounced the action as 'theft' and piracy.

January 02, 2026 Reported by AI

Iran's Ministry of Defence Export Center has begun accepting cryptocurrency payments for weapons like missiles, tanks, and drones to circumvent international sanctions. This move, detailed on the center's website, marks one of the first times a nation has used digital assets for military sales. The policy comes amid renewed UN sanctions on Iran's nuclear program.

Russia's liquefied natural gas (LNG) shipments to China surged 142.6% year-on-year in November to 1.6 million tonnes, displacing Australia as the second-largest supplier after Qatar. This surge highlights deepening energy ties between the two nations amid Western sanctions. Analyst Xu Tianchen attributes the increase to the resumption of production at the Arctic LNG 2 project.

December 21, 2025 Reported by AI

U.S. authorities have been pursuing a sanctioned tanker heading to Venezuela to load crude since Saturday, ignoring detention orders. The vessel Bella 1 is part of Washington's pressure campaign against Nicolás Maduro's government. This incident is the second of the weekend and the third in a few days.