US sanctions

Chinese chip-tool maker AMEC reported a preliminary 282% year-on-year profit growth in the first half of the year, driven by strong demand for domestic semiconductors amid US sanctions. The company's income between January and June reached at least 2.7 billion yuan.

A nationwide power failure in Cuba has caused major disruptions for American travelers, with the U.S. Embassy in Havana advising citizens to prepare for ongoing grid instability. The crisis, including six outages in 2026, has led to extreme heat and reliance on outdoor cooling methods. Cuban officials have cited U.S. sanctions as a factor in the energy crisis, though the cause of the latest blackout remains unclear.

Cubans are sleeping on Havana's Malecón seaside boulevard to escape recurring blackouts and summer heat, with the sixth nationwide blackout since January linked to U.S. sanctions cutting off oil supplies. The energy crisis has caused daily blackouts exceeding 20 hours, crippling infrastructure, tourism, and public transport, while hospitals struggle to maintain power.

Cuba is gradually restoring power after a nationwide blackout, the sixth since the year began, due to aging infrastructure and U.S. sanctions affecting oil imports. Residents face daily electricity outages, impacting water supply and daily life, with no immediate resolution.

Cuba experienced its sixth nationwide blackout this year as its energy grid collapsed, exacerbated by US oil sanctions and halted oil exports from Venezuela and Mexico. The crisis has intensified summer hardships for residents, prompting incremental economic reforms including foreign fuel imports and private tourism investments.

Cuba began restoring electricity after its sixth nationwide power grid collapse of 2026, caused by aging infrastructure, fuel shortages, and U.S. sanctions. The outage affected the entire country, with partial restoration in areas like Havana, following a prior partial blackout in western regions due to weather-related damage.

Cuba's government announced that private pharmacies will open to address severe medicine shortages, which have forced residents to rely on the black market. State pharmacies will continue operating alongside private ones, following a crisis exacerbated by the pandemic and U.S. sanctions.

Nearly three-quarters of Cuba's hotels have closed due to US sanctions and fuel shortages, with seven international hotel chains responsible for half of all rooms leaving the island. Tourism, Cuba's second-largest foreign currency source and employer of over 300,000 people, has been described as 'almost totally paralyzed'.

The US State Department stated Turkey has not met conditions for F-35 sales due to its ownership of Russian S-400 air defense systems, maintaining sanctions that block the transaction. Trump previously indicated support for the sale, but the issue remains unresolved.

The International Criminal Court (ICC) removed its chief prosecutor, Karim Khan, after member states voted to oust him over sexual misconduct allegations he denied. The decision comes amid growing challenges for the ICC, including U.S. efforts to 'dismantle' the court and Venezuela's announcement to withdraw, citing geographical bias.

Huawei founder Ren Zhengfei has endorsed the company's Tau Scaling Law as a critical strategy to overcome US sanctions, stating it is the only path forward. The remarks were shared internally and reported by the state-backed Science and Technology Daily.

Miami FBI agents accuse Victor Jose Tomassoni, a Venezuelan-Italian civil engineer, of laundering over $550,000 linked to North Korean IT workers evading U.S. sanctions. Prosecutors allege Tomassoni used shell companies to conceal funds from IT workers posing as foreign contractors, with authorities claiming the scheme benefited North Korea's regime.

Spanish hotel chain Meliá is closing all operations in Cuba due to U.S. sanctions causing legal, economic, and financial challenges. The decision follows U.S. sanctions targeting Cuba’s Ministry of Tourism and GAESA, a military-business conglomerate, which had already forced Meliá to suspend management of 15 hotels.

Spanish hotel chain Meliá is closing its operations in Cuba due to operational and financial challenges linked to U.S. sanctions and an energy blockade. The company attributes its decision to legal and financial hurdles in the Caribbean nation.

A report states Chile’s naval shipyard serviced Chinese fishing vessels linked to illegal fishing, including two under US sanctions. The article mentions Beijing’s fleet crowding Chile’s waters.

Reza Zarrab, a businessman who admitted helping Iran evade U.S. sanctions through gold trades with a Turkish bank, will not face additional prison time after cooperating with U.S. investigators. His case strained U.S.-Turkey relations as Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan publicly opposed the allegations, claiming they were part of a U.S. plot against Turkey.

A gold trader admitted to conspiring with a Turkish bank to help Iran evade U.S. sanctions and will be sentenced to time served. The case has strained U.S.-Turkey relations.

A US citizen, Mahdi Mohammad Sadeghi, was found guilty of conspiring to unlawfully export electronic components to Iran via a Swiss front company. The components were allegedly destined for Iran's Revolutionary Guard's military drone program. Sadeghi, a former Analog Devices employee, was convicted on three of five charges and faces sentencing in October.

A US citizen, Mahdi Mohammad Sadeghi, was found guilty of conspiring to export electronic components to Iran in violation of sanctions. The case involved a Swiss front company and allegations that the components were used in Iran’s military drone program. A co-defendant, Mohammad Abedininajafabadi, is believed to be in Iran after a prisoner exchange.

France's real-estate market is seeing shifting buyer priorities due to increasing heatwaves. Crude oil prices are rising amid renewed US-Iran strikes, and Cuba experienced a nationwide blackout linked to US sanctions.

The death toll from twin earthquakes in northern Venezuela on June 24 has risen to 3,685, with 150 additional fatalities reported. The injured number 16,740, 6,462 rescued, and 17,907 homeless. Economists are urging the US to lift sanctions.

The US strikes targets in Iran following ship attacks, causing oil prices to surge. Tensions in the Strait of Hormuz have increased as Iran resists US sanctions on its oil exports and reacts to the seizure of its Grace 1 tanker near Gibraltar.

Cuba experienced a nationwide blackout affecting 10 million people, exacerbating its ongoing energy crisis linked to U.S. sanctions and fuel shortages. The Electric Union reported a total disconnection of the National Electric Power System, with officials blaming U.S. policies for worsening the crisis.

Zimbabwe's Parliament approved a constitutional amendment extending President Emmerson Mnangagwa's term until 2030. US politicians criticized the move, with Sen. Jim Risch and Rep. Gregory Meeks accusing Mnangagwa of consolidating power and citing concerns over corruption. Mnangagwa faces existing US sanctions over corruption and human rights abuses.

Cuba's healthcare system, once a national pride, is deteriorating due to energy shortages linked to U.S. sanctions. Patients like Irisleydis Tristá face critical care gaps as hospitals lack supplies, equipment parts, and fuel, while medical staff emigrate and food shortages hinder treatment.

Cuba's healthcare system is deteriorating due to energy shortages linked to U.S. sanctions, leaving patients without critical care like CT scans. Hospitals face shortages of medical supplies and equipment, while doctors and technicians leave the country. The crisis worsened after U.S. actions against Venezuela disrupted fuel supplies.

Three International Criminal Court judges had their bank accounts frozen, lost health insurance, and faced restricted financial services due to U.S. sanctions under Executive Order 14203. A complaint filed in a New York federal court details the personal and financial hardships imposed on the judges, including impacts on their families and daily lives.

Pakistan's petroleum minister stated the country is considering purchasing cheaper oil and gas from Iran following a temporary easing of US sanctions. The move could save $170-340 million annually and align with recent fuel price reductions in Pakistan amid lower international oil prices and eased Middle East tensions.

Pakistan may resume importing Iranian crude oil as US sanctions ease, but technical and commercial challenges like high furnace oil yield and limited domestic demand persist. Local refineries previously imported Iranian oil until sanctions halted purchases, and upgrades are needed to process heavy crude effectively.

Iran and India discussed strengthening energy cooperation and trade during a meeting between their oil ministers at a Brics energy ministers’ gathering in India. India previously suspended Iranian crude imports in 2019 due to US sanctions, but a recent interim deal between Iran and the US led to a temporary license for exporting Iranian energy products.

ICC judges have filed a lawsuit against the Trump administration regarding U.S. sanctions. The International Criminal Court is located in The Hague, Netherlands.

Iran is set to re-enter the global oil market as the US temporarily waives sanctions on its oil exports. The US claims the waiver is conditional on Iran allowing nuclear inspections, though Iran denies making such a commitment.

Tehran could benefit from a 60-day reprieve from U.S. sanctions, but dismantling over four decades of sanctions faces legal, political, and commercial challenges that may take years. The interim U.S. deal's ability to provide lasting economic relief remains uncertain due to the complexity of the sanctions regime.

Cuba's prime minister presented reforms to privatize a large portion of the socialist economy, supported by the Communist Party and former leader Raúl Castro, to address challenges from U.S. sanctions.

Senior US officials revealed a draft US-Iran memorandum of understanding that includes an immediate ceasefire, steps to lift US sanctions, restoration of commercial shipping, and negotiations on Iran’s nuclear programme. The deal is set to be signed ahead of a planned ceremony on Friday.

Brazil's Supreme Court sentenced Eduardo Bolsonaro in absentia to four years and two months in prison for seeking US sanctions against Brazil during his father's coup trial. Prosecutors alleged he threatened judicial authorities by lobbying for sanctions if proceedings against Jair Bolsonaro did not favor him.

The article criticizes U.S. sanctions and economic restrictions on Cuba for causing severe hardships, including electricity shortages and healthcare crises. It highlights humanitarian efforts by Vermonters to provide aid and describes the impact of policies led by President Donald Trump and Secretary of State Marco Rubio.

Iran has not finalized a nuclear deal despite Trump's statement, with Qataris visiting Tehran to negotiate. The draft agreement includes open Hormuz Strait access, US sanctions waivers, and Iran's commitment to halt nuclear pursuits and dilute uranium.

Cuba's President Miguel Díaz-Canel announced economic reforms under the 2026 program to address a severe crisis caused by an oil crisis and U.S. sanctions. The reforms aim to liberalize the economy amid pressure from Donald Trump's government, though specific implementation details were not provided.

Cuban President Miguel Díaz-Canel announced economic reforms to attract investment and involve Cubans living abroad, citing the need for change amid challenges like fuel shortages and food insecurity linked to the U.S. oil blockade. The reforms focus on foreign trade, exports, and supply chain adjustments, with no specific details provided.