Trump Claims He Will Void Biden Documents Signed with Autopen 
Pentagon Probe Finds Hegseth’s Use of Signal Risked Exposing Sensitive Yemen Strike Details 
Trump Administration Halts Immigration, Green Card, and Citizenship Processing for 19 Countries 
Cuba Reaffirms Anti-Drug Cooperation as Tensions Rise in the Caribbean 
Trump Administration to Secure Equity Stake in Pat Gelsinger’s XLight Startup 
Honduras Election Turmoil Intensifies as Nasralla Blames Trump for Shift in Results 
YouTube Agrees to Follow Australia’s New Under-16 Social Media Ban 
U.S.-Russia Talks Leave Ukraine Peace Efforts Uncertain 
Japan Approves $117 Billion Budget to Power Stimulus and Support Growth 
Tesla Faces 19% Drop in UK Registrations as Competition Intensifies 
Netflix’s Bid for Warner Bros Discovery Aims to Cut Streaming Costs and Reshape the Industry 
U.S. Officials Say Afghan Suspect in D.C. National Guard Shooting Radicalized After Arrival 
China’s Expanding Maritime Military Presence Alarms Taiwan and Japan 
U.S. to Reduce Import Duties on South Korean Autos Under New Trade Agreement 
Maduro Confirms “Respectful” Call With Trump, Signals Openness to Diplomatic Dialogue 
Australia and Japan Strengthen Defence Cooperation Amid Rising Regional Tensions 
U.S. Justice Department Orders Intensified Probe Into Antifa and Domestic Extremist Groups 
The Trump administration has imposed fresh sanctions on China’s Hebei Xinhai Chemical Group and three port operators for purchasing Iranian oil, reinforcing its “maximum pressure” strategy against Tehran ahead of expected U.S.-Iran nuclear talks in Oman.
Hebei Xinhai, one of China’s largest independent refiners outside Shandong province, was targeted along with Baogang (Dongying Donggang) Logistics, Shandong Jingang Port, and Shandong Baogang International Port. These firms were cited for operating a terminal at Dongying Port that received over one million barrels of Iranian crude.
The U.S. Treasury Department stated the companies facilitated transactions worth hundreds of millions of dollars in Iranian oil, undermining sanctions meant to cut off Iran’s revenue streams used for funding militant groups in the Middle East. The action follows similar sanctions on smaller Chinese refiners, which have led to disrupted oil imports and rebranding of exports.
Additional sanctions were placed on companies and vessels linked to Iran’s so-called “shadow fleet,” including Star Twinkle Shipping, Hong Kong Prime Trading, Embrace Que, Nissho Lines, Propitous Forever Trading, and Skadi Limited. Blocked tankers include STAR TWINKLE 6, LAMD, SKADI, IMPALAS, BIG MAG, and THANE.
The sanctions freeze U.S. assets of those listed and prohibit Americans from conducting business with them. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent emphasized Washington’s intent to tighten pressure on Iran’s oil supply chain.
China’s embassy in Washington condemned the sanctions as illegal “long-arm jurisdiction,” while analysts noted the measures are incremental and stop short of targeting Chinese state-owned enterprises. Talks between U.S. and Iranian officials are expected to continue over the weekend in Oman.
