Tag: sanction

US imposes sanctions on Venezuela state oil firm PDVSA

WASHINGTON, United States (AFP) — The United States imposed sanctions on Venezuela’s state oil company PDVSA on Monday in the latest effort to ramp up pressure on the country’s President Nicolas Maduro. Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin said the sanctions prevented Maduro from diverting more resources from the crisis-damaged country until control in Caracas could be transferred to an interim government or new democratically-elected government. However, Mnuchin said PDVSA’s US-based subsidiary Citgo would be able to […]

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Kim warns N. Korea could consider change of tack

by Jung Hawon Agence France Presse SEOUL, South Korea (AFP) — Nuclear-armed North Korea wants good relations with the US but could consider a change of approach if Washington maintains its sanctions, leader Kim Jong Un warned in his New Year speech Tuesday after 12 months of diplomatic rapprochement. At a summit with US President Donald Trump in Singapore in June the two signed a vaguely worded pledge on denuclearisation of the Korean peninsula. But […]

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US sanctions top Kim Jong Un aides over N.Korea rights

by Shaun TANDON Agence France Presse WASHINGTON, United States (AFP) — The United States on Monday imposed sanctions on three North Korean officials as it called the regime’s human rights record among the world’s worst, in an abrupt shift from President Donald Trump’s efforts to woo the regime. In actions required by Congress, the Trump administration said it would seize any US assets of Choe Ryong Hae, described as the right-hand man of leader Kim […]

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US sanctions on Iran, ‘toughest ever,’ take force Monday

by Brian KNOWLTON Agence France Presse WASHINGTON, United States (AFP) — The United States is reimposing punitive measures targeting the Iranian oil and financial sectors in what US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo called “the toughest sanctions ever placed” against Iran. Taking effect Monday, the measures are the most concrete result yet of US President Donald Trump’s controversial decision in May to abandon the multi-nation nuclear deal with Tehran. They will directly affect companies from […]

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China, Russia call at UN for easing of N.Korea sanctions

by Carole LANDRY Agence France Presse UNITED NATIONS, United States (AFP) — China and Russia called Thursday for an easing of sanctions against North Korea, rejecting a US push at the UN Security Council for vigorous enforcement despite warming ties. Led by the United States, the Security Council adopted three sanctions resolutions last year aimed at depriving North Korea of revenue for its nuclear and ballistic missile programs. Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi told a […]

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US sanctions Chinese military unit for buying Russian jets, missiles

  WASHINGTON, United States (AFP) — The United States expanded its sanctions war against Russia to China on Thursday, announcing punitive measures against a Chinese military organization for buying Russian fighter jets and missiles. Stepping up pressure on Moscow over its “malign activities,” the US State Department said it was placing financial sanctions on the Equipment Development Department of the Chinese Ministry of Defense, and its top administrator, for its recent purchase of Russian Sukhoi […]

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Iran vs US case opens at top UN court

THE HAGUE, Netherlands (AFP) — A legal battle between Iran and the United States over renewed sanctions imposed on Tehran opened Monday, with the Islamic state’s lawyers due to argue the measures are hurting Iran’s economy. The hearings commenced shortly after 0800 GMT at the International Court of Justice in The Hague and are scheduled to run for four days. © Agence France-Presse

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S. Korea firms caught importing coal, iron from North: Seoul

  SEOUL, South Korea (AFP) — Three South Korean firms were caught importing coal and iron from the North last year, Seoul’s customs office said Friday, in an apparent violation of UN sanctions imposed in August 2017 on the nuclear-armed state. More than 35,000 tonnes of North Korean coal and iron were imported into the South via Russia between April and October last year, the Korea Customs Service said, warning that “any ships that are believed to […]

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Trump warns countries against doing business with Iran

WASHINGTON, United States (AFP) — US President Donald Trump on Tuesday said that sanctions reimposed on Iran were the “most biting ever” as he warned other countries from doing business with Tehran. “The Iran sanctions have officially been cast. These are the most biting sanctions ever imposed, and in November they ratchet up to yet another level,” he wrote in an early morning tweet. “Anyone doing business with Iran will NOT be doing business with […]

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White House moves to finalize China trade sanctions

by Douglas Gillison Agence France Presse WASHINGTON, United States (AFP) — President Donald Trump said Tuesday he is moving to finalize trade sanctions against China even as a US delegation is set to travel to Beijing for talks to resolve the dispute. The White House said the planned sanctions announced in March, largely focused on China’s theft of American intellectual property, we’re still in the works and details would be announced in the coming month. […]

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US imposes sanctions on Putin’s oligarch allies

  by Dave Clark © Agence France-Presse WASHINGTON, United States (AFP) — The United States struck President Vladimir Putin’s inner circle Friday, imposing sanctions on seven of Russia’s most influential oligarchs and stoking a diplomatic crisis some have dubbed a new Cold War. Those hit include metals magnate Oleg Deripaska, described as operating for the Russian government, as well as Alexei Miller, director of state-owned energy giant Gazprom. Any assets they hold in areas under US […]

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US seeks UN ban on 33 ships, 27 firms over North Korea smuggling

by Carole Landry Agence France Presse UNITED NATIONS, United States (AFP) — The United States is seeking to have the United Nations ban 33 vessels from ports worldwide and blacklist 27 shipping businesses for helping North Korea circumvent sanctions. The US request to a UN sanctions committee, a copy of which was obtained by AFP, came as President Donald Trump announced Friday the “heaviest sanctions ever” on North Korea over its nuclear and ballistic missile […]

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