Trump–Netanyahu Talks Aim to Revive Gaza Ceasefire and Address Iran, Hezbollah Tensions 
U.S. Judge Blocks Deportation of British Anti-Disinformation Campaigner Imran Ahmed Amid Free Speech Dispute 
Trump Administration Probes Corporate DEI Programs, Raising Questions for Google Stock 
Kosovo PM Albin Kurti Moves to Form New Government After Election Win 
US Airstrikes Target Islamic State Militants in Northwest Nigeria Amid Rising Security Concerns 
Lebanon Cabinet Approves Financial Gap Law to Tackle Ongoing Economic Crisis 
Zelenskiy to Meet Trump in Florida as Ukraine-U.S. Peace Framework Nears Completion 
Australia Orders Independent Review After Bondi Mass Shooting, Albanese Resists Royal Commission Calls 
Kim Jong Un Oversees Strategic Cruise Missile Launch to Reinforce North Korea’s Nuclear Deterrence 
Japan Approves Record ¥122.3 Trillion Budget as Takaichi Seeks Fiscal Balance 
Israel Recognizes Somaliland as Independent State, Sparking Regional and Global Reactions 
Mark Carney Reaffirms Canada’s Support for Ukraine as Peace Talks With Russia Gain Momentum 
Zelenskiy Discusses Ukraine Peace Efforts With Trump Envoys 
Zelenskiy to Meet Trump to Advance Ukraine Peace Talks and Security Guarantees 
Canada Announces $2.5 Billion Economic Aid Package to Support Ukraine’s Financial Stability 
FBI Surges Resources to Minnesota Amid Fraud Investigations Linked to Somali Community 
Bolsonaro Undergoes Phrenic Nerve Block Procedure After Surgery-Related Complications 
Iran’s foreign ministry announced retaliatory sanctions on officials from the European Union and the United Kingdom. The sanctions are in response to the penalties issued by the bloc and the British government on Tehran for human rights violations and the crackdown on the ongoing protests.
The Iranian foreign ministry on Monday announced sanctions on nine entities and 23 individuals, including media institutions, a military base, as well as current and former politicians. The sanctions were also related to the assassination of the top Iranian commander Qassem Soleimani.
Tehran continued its targeting of foreign-based media organizations by blacklisting the Iran-focused branch of the US-funded Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, Radio Farda, the Amsterdam-based Radio Zamaneh, and the French satire publication Charlie Hebdo.
Two German firms, Water Engineering Trade GmbH and Gidlemeister Projectka GmbH, were also blacklisted by Iran, citing that the companies assisted in producing chemical weapons used by Iraqi leader Saddam Hussein during the 1980s Iran-Iraq war. Former German lawmakers, as well as a French politician, doctor, and co-founder of the Medecins Sans Frontieres Bernard Kouchner, were also included.
Former German defense minister Annegret Kramp-Karrenbauer, and a commander of the German forces in Iraq and at the Ramstein air base were also sanctioned.
Iran blacklisted the Tony Blair Institute for Global Change as well as several current members of parliament aside from Geoffrey Bindman of the British Institute of Human Rights. The RAF Menwith Hill, the British Royal Air Force base in North Yorkshire, and British military and intelligence officials were also sanctioned for alleged involvement in the assassination of Soleimani.
The European Union has also, in turn, imposed sanctions on Iran for its crackdown on the ongoing protests as well as Tehran’s alleged involvement in producing drones for Russia in its war with Ukraine. Foreign ministers of the EU imposed sanctions on several clerical leaders, senior officials, and employees of top state media outlets over the new crackdowns on the anti-government protests.
20 individuals and one entity were sanctioned by the bloc for human rights abuses, while four more people and more entities were sanctioned for the drones being used by Russia to attack Ukraine.
