Moscow, Russia | AFP | Moscow is intensifying efforts to wean its economy off the dollar as Washington considers tough new sanctions that could deny Russia access to foreign debt markets and cut its banks from the greenback. President Vladimir Putin has repeatedly slammed the US unit’s dominance on the …
Read More »China to continue Iran trade despite new US sanctions
Beijing, China | AFP | China denounced new US sanctions targeting Iran’s oil and financial sectors as “long-arm jurisdiction” on Monday and vowed to continue its bilateral trade with the Islamic republic. The measures, which took effect on Monday, follow US President Donald Trump’s decision to abandon a multi-nation nuclear …
Read More »Trump tweets himself as star of own Iran sanctions movie
Washington, United States | AFP | “Game of Thrones” fans are primed for the final season, but starring Donald Trump? Well not quite, though the president had a laugh at Iran’s expense Friday by posing in a GoT-style picture. “SANCTIONS ARE COMING,” reads the mock movie poster Trump tweeted Friday, …
Read More »Sweeping Iran sanctions target oil, banks
Washington, United States | AFP | All of Iran’s oil exports and financial transactions will be targeted under US sanctions that take force Monday, six months after President Donald Trump bolted from a nuclear deal. The sanctions bring back the punitive measures that were imposed and then lifted by former …
Read More »UN blacklists dozens of ships, businesses over N. Korea smuggling
United Nations, United States | AFP | The UN Security Council on Friday blacklisted 27 ships, 21 companies and a businessman for helping North Korea circumvent sanctions, as the United States keeps up pressure on Pyongyang despite its recent overtures toward talks, diplomats said. Acting on a request from the …
Read More »US restricts trade with South Sudanese oil firms
Washington, United States | AFP |The United States imposed restrictions Wednesday on exports of US technical support to the South Sudanese oil industry, warning that it is fuelling the bloody civil war there. State Department spokeswoman Heather Nauert said exporters will henceforth need a license to export, re-export or transfer …
Read More »White House says Xi agrees to keep sanctions pressure on N. Korea
Washington, United States | AFP | The White House on Friday said that Chinese leader Xi Jinping had agreed to keep up sanctions pressure on North Korea, amid fears a diplomatic gambit could lead to backsliding. After a call between Xi and President Donald Trump, the White House said the …
Read More »US pushes UN to consider arms embargo on South Sudan
United Nations, United States | AFP | The United States on Wednesday circulated a draft UN Security Council resolution that threatens to impose an arms embargo on South Sudan and to take “all appropriate measures” against those blocking peace efforts. The draft text obtained by AFP demands an end to …
Read More »US finds North Korea killed Kim brother with VX agent
Washington, United States | AFP | The United States formally concluded Tuesday that North Korea murdered Kim Jong Un’s half-brother with the banned VX nerve agent, blasting Pyongyang for deploying a chemical weapon in a packed international airport. Kim Jong Nam died in February last year, shortly after two women …
Read More »UN agrees sanctioned N.Korea official to attend Olympics
United Nations, United States | AFP | The UN Security Council on Thursday gave permission for a North Korean official under international sanctions to travel to the Pyeongchang Winter Olympics along with Kim Jong Un’s sister, diplomats said. South Korea presented on Wednesday a request to the council’s sanctions committee …
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