A U.S. software company is asking the Commerce Department to rethink the way export controls are imposed and enforced over AI technologies, arguing for an automated approach that it said can prevent AI systems from being used in ways that violate U.S. licensing rules.
The Council of the European Union sanctioned two members of Russia's judiciary for committing serious human rights violations and undermining democracy and the rule of law in Russia, the council announced Dec. 22. It said Dmitry Gordeev, a judge of the Moscow City Court, has "repeatedly issued politically motivated rulings against opposition figures and human rights defenders," and Lyudmila Balandina, a prosecutor, has pursued cases against critics of the Russian regime.
Sens. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., and Richard Blumenthal, D-Conn., introduced a resolution Dec. 17 urging the Trump administration to seize “shadow fleet” vessels that transport sanctioned Russian oil.
The Treasury, Commerce and State departments released new guidance this week about the Syria-related sanctions and export control relief that's available to companies and other organizations and what Syria-related restrictions still remain (see 2508280029, 2505230073 and 2506160030). The three-page document is aimed at encouraging "U.S. private sector and foreign partner reengagement in Syria."
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Companies in the U.S. and the EU are increasingly being asked by Chinese business partners to certify that they’re not exporting rare earths in violation of Chinese export restrictions, including in some cases through post-shipment audits, lawyers said.
Benjamin Hawk has left his position as acting chief of DOJ's Counterintelligence and Export Control Section, he announced on LinkedIn last week. He had been serving in the role since March 2022.
The U.K.'s Export Control Joint Unit last week added anhydrous ammonia to the scope of a Russia-related general license that authorizes certain trade in fertilizers. The license covers certain financial services and other activities that make funds available to people connected with Russia "for the supply or delivery of specified fertiliser goods from Russia to a third country and making specified fertiliser goods available from Russia to a person in a third country," as long as they're intended for agricultural use.
Canada sanctioned four senior Iranian officials last week for "gross and systematic human rights violations" and for playing a role in carrying out "repressive policies." The designations target Mohsen Karimi and Ahmad Kadem Seyedoshohada, who are senior officials with the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps; Mustafa Mohebbi, former head of the State Prison Organization in Tehran; and Hassan Akharian, head of Ward 5 and solitary confinement of the Rajaei Shahr Prison.
The U.S. on Dec. 20 seized an oil tanker off the coast of Venezuela that was "suspected of carrying oil subject to U.S. sanctions," DHS said in a social media post. Secretary Kristi Noem said the U.S. "will continue to pursue the illicit movement of sanctioned oil that is used to fund narco terrorism in the region."