sanctions

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US Seizes a Fifth Oil Tanker: 'No Safe Haven for Criminals'

US boards Olina in search for sanctioned Venezuelan oil, heightening tensions with Russia

(Newser) - US forces have quietly expanded their hunt for sanctioned Venezuelan oil , boarding a fifth tanker early Friday as part of a growing maritime crackdown with global implications. US officials say the latest target is the Olina, an East Timor-flagged ship previously known as the Minerva M and under US sanctions...

Trump Is Inviting Colombia's Petro to White House

Leaders have surprisingly warm phone call

(Newser) - President Trump and his Colombian counterpart, Gustavo Petro, are suddenly talking instead of trading barbs, CBS News reports. The White House says Trump spoke by phone with the Colombian president on Wednesday, days after the US leader described Colombia as "very sick" and Petro as a "sick man"...

US Seizes Oil Tanker Russia Had Been Protecting

Russia sent escorts for the rechristened Marinera, which had been pursued by US Coast Guard

(Newser) - The US on Wednesday moved in on a Russian-flagged oil tanker tied to Venezuela and managed to seize it. The New York Times reports the US military's European Command on X confirmed the "seizure of the M/V Bella 1 for violations of US sanctions. The vessel was seized...

As Economic Protests Spread, Iran Offers $7 Monthly Stipend

Cash offerings will replace import subsidies amid inflation, nationwide unrest

(Newser) - Iran's government is betting that the equivalent of about $7 a month will help tamp down on unrest now spilling across much of the country. Facing mounting demonstrations over soaring prices and a collapsing currency, officials say they'll scrap a $10 billion import subsidy program and redirect the...

Iran Responds to Threat From Trump on Protesters
Iran Answers
Trump's Warning
Jan 2, 2026 3:03 PM CST

Iran Answers Trump's Warning

Government leaders say intervention in protests would make US bases 'legitimate targets'

(Newser) - Iran's political leaders are warning the US that any attempt to shield demonstrators inside the country could trigger widespread military retaliation. Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, speaker of Iran's parliament, lashed out Friday at President Trump's Truth Social post pledging to protect "peaceful protesters" if Iranian forces "...

Iran Essentially Is at War With US and Allies, Its President Says

Masoud Pezeshkian cites sanctions, isolation

(Newser) - Iran's president says his nation is effectively in a state of war with the US, Israel, and Europe, accusing them of trying to weaken the country on multiple fronts. "We are in a full-fledged war with America, Israel, and Europe; they do not want our country to stand...

China Slaps Sanctions on US Defense Contractors After Huge Taiwan Arms Sales

Beijing imposes sanctions on 20 US defense-related firms, 10 execs over massive arms sales

(Newser) - Beijing imposed sanctions on Friday against 20 US defense-related companies and 10 executives, a week after Washington announced large-scale arms sales to Taiwan. The sanctions entail freezing the companies' assets in China and banning individuals and organizations from dealing with them, according to the Chinese Foreign Ministry. The companies include...

Venezuela Stuck With 20 Old Planes After US Airspace Ban

Travelers stuck trying to get home as ban cripples Venezuela's international connections

(Newser) - Venezuelans trying to get home now face a new obstacle: There are barely any planes left to fly them there. After the US announced it wanted traffic barred in the skies of Venezuela over security concerns, more than a dozen foreign airlines halted service to the country. That's left...

Starmer to Oligarch: Pay Ukraine Victims or Face Court

UK PM warns oligarch he needs to direct proceeds from sale of Chelsea club to Ukrainians, as vowed

(Newser) - Roman Abramovich is being given what amounts to a final warning from Britain's prime minister. Keir Starmer told Parliament that the UK has now authorized the transfer of $3.3 billion from the 2022 sale of Chelsea Football Club and demanded that the Russian oligarch follow through on his...

Trump: US Has Seized Oil Tanker Off Venezuela

It's major escalation in tensions with Maduro regime

(Newser) - US forces have seized a sanctioned oil tanker off Venezuela's coast. The move escalates tensions with the Maduro regime and raises new questions about the future of Venezuela's oil exports, Bloomberg reports. President Trump confirmed the seizure Wednesday afternoon. "We've just seized a tanker on the...

Orban Goes to Moscow and Hears About It From EU Leaders

War on Ukraine, energy are topics of meeting with Putin at Kremlin

(Newser) - Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban discussed the war on Ukraine with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Moscow on Friday, a meeting that again put Orban at odds with his European Union and NATO partners. Orban, widely considered Putin's closest ally within the EU, has repeatedly clashed with Western leaders...

Russian Robot Strolled Out to Rocky Theme, Fell on Its Face

Nation's first humanoid powered by AI didn't do so hot in its big Moscow debut

(Newser) - Russia's debut of its first AI-powered humanoid robot took an unexpected turn at a Moscow tech event Monday when the machine, named Aldol, toppled over and broke apart moments after its introduction. The incident happened during a showcase featuring the Russian robotics sector, with Aldol entering to the iconic...

Trump Will Host First Syrian Leader at White House

Ahmad al-Sharaa seeks sanctions relief and global legitimacy for Syria

(Newser) - President Trump will host Syria's transitional President Ahmad al-Sharaa on Monday in a first-ever visit by a Syrian leader to the White House, signaling a dramatic shift in Syria's global standing. Al-Sharaa, who rose from leading the formerly terrorist-labeled Hay'at Tahrir al-Sham in a campaign that ousted...

Orban: Trump Exempted Hungary From Sanctions

Prime minister makes announcement after White House meeting

(Newser) - Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban said after a visit to the White House on Friday that President Trump has granted his country an exemption from US sanctions on Russian energy. That would keep Russian oil and gas flowing to Hungary, the AP reports. Orban, a longtime Trump ally, had come...

Trump Says Pentagon Will Plan for Possible Attack on Nigeria

President first opened the door to sanctions, claiming the country isn't stopping persecution of Christians

(Newser) - A day after suggesting Nigeria could face sanctions for allegedly failing to rein in the persecution of Christians in the West African country, President Trump returned to social media to up his threat. He posted Saturday that the US "may very well go into that now disgraced country, '...

US Slams Colombian Prez, Family With Sanctions

Gustavo Petro 'has allowed drug cartels to flourish,' per Treasury chief Scott Bessent

(Newser) - The Trump administration imposed sanctions on Friday on Colombian President Gustavo Petro, his family, and a member of his government over accusations of involvement in the global drug trade, sharply escalating tensions with the leftist leader of one of the closest US allies in South America. The Treasury Department leveled...

US Sanctions Russia's 2 Biggest Oil Companies

Bessent calls for immediate ceasefire

(Newser) - Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent announced new sanctions Wednesday against Russia's two biggest oil companies and blasted Moscow's refusal to end its "senseless war" as US-led efforts to end the war floundered and the Ukrainian president sought more foreign military help. The sanctions against Rosneft and Lukoil, as...

France Arrests Captain of 'Shadow Fleet' Tanker

Ship intercepted by French navy may have been involved in Denmark drone incidents

(Newser) - The captain of a suspected "shadow fleet" oil tanker intercepted off France has been taken into custody and will go on trial in February, authorities confirmed Thursday. Prosecutors say the captain, a Chinese national, and the first officer were arrested after the French navy boarded the Boracay, though the...

Kremlin to Trump: Russia Is a 'Real Bear'

Spokesman denies economy is in trouble

(Newser) - The Kremlin pushed back Wednesday after President Trump made comments suggesting Russia is faltering in its war with Ukraine, with Moscow insisting it's no "paper tiger." Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov, speaking on Russia's RBC Radio, reminded listeners of Russia's reputation, Politico reports. "Russia...

Poland Isn't Messing Around After Russian Drone Invasion

Country invokes NATO's Article 4, calls emergency UN Security Council meeting after drone incursion

(Newser) - The United Nations Security Council is set for an emergency session at Poland's request after shooting down Russian drones that crossed into Polish airspace, a move that Poland's president described as a test of both Poland and NATO's readiness. Following the incident—the first armed response...

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