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World News

US ‘starting to talk to Cuba’, Donald Trump says moves to cut its oil

The US president did not offer any details about what level of outreach his administration has had with Cuba recently or when, but said, “We’re starting to talk to Cuba.”

Germany

Russia uses 'shadow mail' to bypass EU sanctions, report reveals

Russia has been bypassing EU sanctions using Berlin logistics and lighter-controlled international mail, according to an investigation by German media. In response, the Ukrainian envoy has called for tougher enforcement.

Iraq

Hundreds protest near US embassy in Iraq over election interference

After decades of conflicts and chaos, Iraq has recently regained a sense of stability but it is struggling with weak economic growth and cannot risk punitive measures by the US.

USA

US announces sanctions on Iranian officials over protest crackdown

The Treasury announcement comes a day after Trump that he’d been told "on good authority" that plans for executions in Iran have stopped.

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Switzerland

Economic confrontation biggest global threat in 2026, WEF report says

Geoeconomic confrontation — ranging from sanctions to tariffs — is the top threat, found the World Economic Forum (WEF)'s Global Risks Report on the eve of its annual meeting gathering the world's business and political elites, set to take place in Davos next week.

The Cube

Fact check: Does the European Parliament have an MEP ‘blacklist’?

Virginie Joron, MEP for Patriots for Europe has called out what she qualified as "false claims" alleging that she was placed on a blacklist by the European Parliament. So, is there any weight to this assertion?

USA

US seizes two more sanctioned oil tankers with links to Venezuela

The UK's Ministry of Defence confirmed that it had provided "enabling support" to the US during its operation to seize the tanker.

Finland

Officials: Ship seized in Finland carried EU-sanctioned Russian steel

Countries in the Baltic Sea region have been on high alert following a string of incidents which saw undersea power cables, telecoms links and gas pipelines damaged.

Venezuela

Venezuela targets US tanker seizure supporters with 'anti-piracy' law

Venezuela's National Assembly approved a law imposing up to 20 years in prison for supporting tanker seizures or blockades. The move follows the US seizure of two Venezuelan oil tankers this month.

Venezuela

US seizes second oil tanker off coast of Venezuela

The US has seized an oil tanker that had recently left Venezuela, according to the US Department of Homeland Security. On Tuesday, US President Donald Trump ordered a "blockade" of sanctioned oil tankers coming in or out of Venezuela.

Economy

Trump tightens oil sanctions on Venezuela with tanker blockade

By deploying naval forces to intercept sanctioned Venezuelan oil shipments, the Trump administration is pushing the enforcement of oil sanctions into uncharted legal territory, prompting concerns in Congress and among international law experts about escalation risks.

USA

Trump orders blockade of sanctioned oil tankers to and from Venezuela

Trump's escalation comes after U.S. forces last week seized an oil tanker off Venezuela’s coast, an unusual move that followed a buildup of military forces in the region.

World News

US lifts sanctions on Belarusian potash, Lukashenko releases 123 more political prisoners

The US presidential envoy announced the lifting of sanctions on Belarusian potash fertilisers. In return, Aliaksandr Lukashenka released a large group of political prisoners, including Nobel Peace Prize laureate Ales Bialiatski and one of the opposition leaders Maria Kolesnikova

Europe News

Two Russian shadow fleet tankers on fire off Turkiye's coast

Two sanctioned oil tankers, the Kairos and the Virat, have caught fire in the Black Sea a few dozen nautical miles off the Turkish coast. Their crews are safe as the causes of the explosions are being investigated.

Europe News

Ukraine peace talks: What's at stake for the Europeans?

Initially sidelined, Europeans want to muscle their way back to the peace negotiations between Ukraine and Russia by leveraging the key issues that can only be settled with their consent. But what are they? Analysis:

Economy

Italian firms in Russia lead to €1bn boost for Kremlin war coffers

Since the full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022, Italian companies paid over €1 billion in taxes to Russia, half of which went to military spending to finance the ongoing destruction of Ukraine.

Business

Swiss firm Gunvor drops plan to buy Lukoil assets after US resistance

“As long as Putin continues the senseless killings, the Kremlin’s puppet, Gunvor, will never get a licence to operate and profit,” said the US Treasury in an X post on Thursday.

Syria

UN lifts sanctions against Syria's al-Sharaa before White House visit

The sanctions relief fulfils the Trump administration's pledges following the US leader's May meeting with al-Sharaa in Riyadh, during which he promised to lift or waive decades-old sanctions against Syria.

France

Risky to stay, costly to go: French companies in Russia face dilemma

Many French corporate giants have withdrawn from the Russian market, either because of the difficulties of doing business in a heavily sanctioned country or the potential PR disaster of staying.

Ukraine

Zelenskyy: Ukraine strikes cut Russia's oil refining capacity by 20%

Oil exports play a key role in funding Russia's invasion of Ukraine and new sanctions from the EU and US aim to cut into Moscow's oil and gas export earnings.