$500 Million in Telegram Bonds Frozen in Russia Due to Sanctions
Approximately $500 million worth of bonds issued by the messaging app Telegram have been frozen at Russia’s National Settlement Depository (NSD) due to Western sanctions. A Financial Times report suggests this freeze highlights the company’s lingering exposure to Russian capital, despite founder Pavel Durov’s efforts to distance himself from Moscow. The bonds are blocked because […]
US Poised to Lift More Venezuelan Sanctions to Aid Post-Maduro Economy
U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent has announced that additional sanctions on Venezuela could be lifted as early as next week. This move is part of the Trump administration’s strategy to stabilize the country following the recent capture of former leader Nicolás Maduro by U.S. forces. According to Reuters, The Treasury aims to facilitate oil sales […]
Nayara Energy Sues Microsoft After Cloud Services Cut Over EU Sanctions
Indian refiner Nayara Energy has filed a lawsuit against Microsoft in the Delhi High Court after the tech giant restricted its access to cloud services. The cutoff follows new European Union sanctions targeting entities linked to Russia, prompting Nayara to seek an immediate court order to restore its access. Microsoft abruptly suspended critical services—identified by […]
Surge in ‘Shadow Fleet’ Ships Reflagging to Russia to Dodge US Sanctions
Analysis by Lloyd’s List reveals a sharp increase in illicit “shadow fleet” vessels switching to the Russian registry in an attempt to shield themselves from US seizure. Last year, 40 suspicious ships joined the Russian registry—with 17 doing so in the last month alone—following Donald Trump’s announcement of a “blockade” on Venezuelan oil. Shipowners are […]
Russian Fishing Giant Sues Norway Over Sanctions and Espionage Claims
Vitaly Orlov, the billionaire owner of the Russian fishing company Norebo, has filed a lawsuit against the Norwegian government. The legal action challenges Norway’s decision to ban Norebo vessels from its Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) and ports, a move taken after the company was included in the EU’s 17th Sanctions Package in May 2025. Norwegian […]
EU Targets Russia’s “Shadow Fleet” and Hybrid Threats
In a significant escalation in late December 2025, the European Union has implemented a series of new measures designed to cripple Russia’s ability to fund its war efforts and to counter non-military destabilization tactics. On December 18, 2025, the EU added 41 vessels to its sanctions list. These ships are part of an opaque network […]
EU Sanctions Former Swiss Colonel Over Russian Propaganda
The European Union has officially included Jacques Baud, a retired Swiss Army colonel and former intelligence analyst, in its latest sanctions list related to the war in Ukraine. The EU describes the 70-year-old Baud as a “mouthpiece for pro-Russian propaganda.” He is accused of spreading conspiracy theories and information manipulation that undermine Ukraine’s stability. Specifically, […]
UK Announces Sanctions Against Perpetrators of Violence in Syria
On December 19, 2025, the United Kingdom’s Foreign Secretary, Yvette Cooper, announced a new package of sanctions targeting individuals and organizations responsible for human rights abuses in Syria. This move comes one year after the fall of the Assad regime. The sanctions focus on four individuals and three organizations involved in both historic atrocities from […]
US Escalates Pressure on Venezuela with New Sanctions and Military Action
The US Treasury Department has expanded its sanctions against the inner circle of Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro. This move is part of a broader strategy by the Trump administration to destabilize Maduro’s government through both economic and military pressure. The new sanctions focus on seven individuals, including family members and associates of Maduro’s nephew, Malpica […]
US Sanctions ICC Judges Over Israel Investigation
The United States has officially imposed sanctions on two International Criminal Court (ICC) judges, Gocha Lordkipanidze and Erdenebalsuren Damdin, following their decision to reject Israel’s legal challenge regarding war crimes investigations in Gaza. The US has banned these judges and their families from entering the country and has frozen any assets they may hold within […]