North Korea China and Russia ties driving North Korean economic recovery China has long been the diplomatically isolated country's main economic backer, though Pyongyang has also drawn closer to Moscow since it launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022. 17/04/2026
Europe News Swedish coastguard boards tanker off Gotland subject to EU sanctions According to the ship tracking site Marine traffic, Flora 1 departed the Russian oil port Primorsk headed for Santos in Brazil, flying the flag of Sierra Leone. 03/04/2026
USA US lifts sanctions on Venezuela's interim President Delcy Rodriguez Washington has lifted sanctions on Rodríguez, boosting her legitimacy as a US-recognised leader and opening doors for closer oil and business ties. 02/04/2026
World News US senators target Hungary with sanctions bill over Russian ties Bipartisan US senators have introduced the Block Putin Act, which would impose visa bans on Hungarian officials accused of enabling Russian energy purchases and blocking EU aid to Ukraine. 27/03/2026
Germany German company wants to cooperate with Putin's nuclear group A factory in Lingen, Lower Saxony, is to produce fuel elements for Russian reactor types in future - in cooperation with Rosatom, the Russian state nuclear corporation. The project is politically and legally controversial. 26/03/2026
The Cube Who are the latest Russian disinformation actors sanctioned by the EU? A former military serviceman and a freelance journalist accused of war crimes - who are the four individuals the EU is sanctioning for spreading Russian propaganda? 24/03/2026
Libya Russian tanker drifts into Libyan waters amid environmental warnings The Russian sanctioned tanker was damaged by explosions and has been drifting unmanned in the Mediterranean for several weeks. Several EU leaders warned the vessel, carrying hazardous cargo, could pose a serious environmental risk. 21/03/2026
France France boards tanker suspected of being part of Russia's shadow fleet The interception took place in the Western Mediterranean and was carried out in cooperation with allies, including the United Kingdom, which monitored the ship. 20/03/2026
Europe News Belarus releases 250 political prisoners after negotiations with US There are more than 1,100 political prisoners in Belarusian jails, many arrested after a disputed 2020 election that triggered widespread protests. 19/03/2026
No Comment Blackout plunges cuba into darkness and exposes fragile power grid Cuba suffers a nationwide blackout, exposing the fragility of its power grid as millions endure heat, shortages and long waits for electricity. 17/03/2026
Business Authorities probe spike in Portuguese exports to Russia-tied countries Countries with close ties to Russia have seen an increase in imports of Portuguese products that are under EU sanctions following the 2022 invasion of Ukraine. 10/03/2026
Europe News EU seeks G7 input on price cap before next round of Russia sanctions The price cap on Russian oil could drastically change if the EU moves ahead with a full ban on maritime services, as proposed by Finland and Sweden. 06/02/2026
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.” 01/02/2026
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. 29/01/2026
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. 28/01/2026
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. 15/01/2026