The U.K. on Dec. 10 removed one entry from its Iraq sanctions list. The Office of Financial Sanctions Implementation delisted Munir Al Qubaysi, who was sanctioned in 2004.
The Office of Foreign Assets Control this week extended a Russia-related general license that authorizes certain transactions for the negotiation of and entry into contingent contracts for the sale of Lukoil International GmbH -- the international business of Russian energy firm Lukoil -- and related maintenance activities. General License 131A, which replaces 131, now expires at 12:01 a.m. ET Jan. 17. The license was scheduled to expire Dec. 13 (see 2511140039).
The State Department's Directorate of Defense Trade Controls has sent a new final rule for interagency review that involves the International Traffic in Arms Regulations and U.S. Munitions List. The rule, sent for review Dec. 9, is titled "International Traffic in Arms Regulations: USML 2025 Supplemental Rule 2." The agency didn't release more information.
Although his bill to restrict exports of advanced AI chips didn't make it into the final FY 2026 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA), which lawmakers unveiled this week (see 2512080048), Sen. Jim Banks, R-Ind., said late Dec. 9 that he's not giving up on his proposal.
President Donald Trump’s decision to allow exports of more advanced AI chips to China could deal a damaging blow to U.S. efforts to convince the Dutch and Japanese to maintain and strengthen their own export controls against China, former Biden administration national security officials said.
The U.K.'s Office of Financial Sanctions Implementation this week added two entries to its cyber sanctions list and seven entries to its Russia sanctions list.
The Senate approved a bill late Dec. 8 that would allow the president to use International Emergency Economic Powers Act sanctions against transnational criminal organizations that conduct large-scale cyber scams targeting Americans (see 2510010059).
A host of lawmakers criticized President Donald Trump’s decision this week to allow Nvidia to export its H200 chips to China (see 2512080059), saying it will help Beijing catch up to the U.S. in AI. Others were sympathetic or non-committal.
The Office of Foreign Assets Control this week removed two Russians from its Specially Designated Nationals List that it had originally sanctioned for either helping to provide Russia with export controlled items or for operating in Russia's technology sector.
The Office of Foreign Assets Control this week sanctioned four people and four entities for their roles in recruiting and training former Colombian soldiers to fight for the Sudanese Rapid Support Forces in that country's ongoing civil war.