Sanctions

The 40-minute-long broadcast that aired on North Korea's only television channel KCTV last week showed Xi presenting Kim with a huge vase before walking him through the other gifts, laid out on a table for him and Ri to admire. These included two tableware porcelain sets, various silks, jewelry sets and at least six bottles of Moutai liquor, whose manufacturer Kweichow Moutai is described by Bloomberg as the world's most valuable distiller.   … [Read more...] about China Gave North Korea Luxury Gifts and Booze Banned Under Sanctions

North Korea is probably financing this deficit out of reserves, but its reserves are not unlimited. The recent rounds of sanctions may not work through a slow squeeze, but instead create a balance-of-payments crisis — and a loss of confidence in the informal markets that are keeping the economy afloat. … [Read more...] about Those North Korea sanctions might be working. Here’s why.

The United States imposed new economic sanctions on senior Russian politicians, companies and business leaders Friday, citing a list of complaints including Moscow’s attempts to undermine Western democracies, support of separatists in Ukraine and its backing for Syrian President Bashar al-Assad.  … [Read more...] about Trump administration imposes sweeping new sanctions on Russian elite

NBC reported Friday that senior administration officials pointed out that the sanctions, that target oligarchs, top officials, and key businesses such as a weapons trading company and a bank, were made to take action against the "totality of the Russian government's ongoing and increasingly malign activities in the world." … [Read more...] about Mercedes Schlapp: Last Russian Sanctions Target Several Activities

Suleiman Kerimov: A wealthy financier with close ties to Russian President Vladimir Putin, Kerimov was detained in France in November and held for several days. He has been accused of bringing hundreds of millions of dollars into France illegally, sometimes carrying over $20 million with him in suitcases. French tax authorities say Kerimov is involved in laundering millions through French villas and failing to pay taxes.     … [Read more...] about Trump Sanctions Russian Oligarchs, Including Men Linked to Russia Investigation and U.S. Officials