The U.S. Justice Department under President Donald Trump has ended Task Force KleptoCapture, which targeted Russian oligarchs under U.S. sanctions. Attorney General Pam Bondi said resources will now focus on drug cartels and international gangs, marking a major shift in enforcement priorities.
The task force was established under former President Joe Biden to freeze assets linked to Russian elites and enforce sanctions imposed after the war in Ukraine. It led to indictments of figures like Oleg Deripaska and Konstantin Malofeyev, as well as seizures of yachts owned by sanctioned billionaires Suleiman Kerimov and Viktor Vekselberg.
According to Bondi’s directive, prosecutors assigned to the task force will return to their previous roles, and the new policy will be in effect for at least 90 days, with the possibility of renewal.
Trump has expressed interest in improving U.S.-Russia relations and previously vowed to end the war in Ukraine, though without detailing how. His administration’s shift toward combating drug cartels follows his designation of cartel groups as terrorist organizations, part of a broader crackdown on illegal immigration and fentanyl trafficking.
The decision also affects enforcement of the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act (FCPA), a U.S. foreign bribery law that has led to major corporate cases over the last decade. The Justice Department’s FCPA unit will now prioritize cartel-related bribery investigations, a move some legal experts call a significant departure from past enforcement strategies.
Chinese scientists have unveiled PlantGPT, the first large language model-based artificial intelligence designed specifically for plant functional gen...
UN Secretary-General António Guterres on Thursday warned that the humanitarian situation in the Gaza Strip has reached a critical level and called fo...
The European Commission has put forward a proposal allowing carbon credits purchased from developing countries to be counted towards the EU’s 2040 c...
Russian President Vladimir Putin reiterated Moscow’s readiness to continue peace negotiations with Ukraine during a telephone conversation with US P...
Chinese scientists have unveiled PlantGPT, the first large language model-based artificial intelligence designed specifically for plant functional genomics.
UN Secretary-General António Guterres on Thursday warned that the humanitarian situation in the Gaza Strip has reached a critical level and called for an immediate and lasting ceasefire. He emphasised that vital infrastructure is on the verge of collapse due to a severe fuel shortage.
The European Commission has put forward a proposal allowing carbon credits purchased from developing countries to be counted towards the EU’s 2040 climate target for the first time. The move, announced on Wednesday, has drawn criticism from campaigners and some scientists.
The U.S. economy faces a 40% risk of recession in the second half of 2025, JP Morgan analysts said on Wednesday, citing rising tariffs and stagflation concerns.
A magnitude 5.5 earthquake struck off Japan’s Tokara Islands on Wednesday, with no tsunami warning issued but residents advised to remain vigilant.
The United States has rescinded licensing restrictions on ethane exports to China, allowing shipments to resume after a temporary halt and signalling progress in efforts to ease recent trade tensions.
The European Commission is set to propose allowing carbon credits from other countries to count towards the EU’s 2040 climate target, according to a leaked internal document.
China has ramped up efforts to protect communities impacted by flood control measures, introducing stronger compensation policies and direct aid from the central government.
At least seven people remain missing following a massive explosion at a fireworks warehouse in the town of Esparto, Northern California, according to a report by NBC News citing local officials.
A delegation from Azerbaijan, led by MP Qaya Məmmədov, took part in the annual session of the Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe Parliamentary Assembly (OSCE PA), held from 28 June to 3 July in Porto, Portugal.
Chinese scientists have unveiled PlantGPT, the first large language model-based artificial intelligence designed specifically for plant functional genomics.
UN Secretary-General António Guterres on Thursday warned that the humanitarian situation in the Gaza Strip has reached a critical level and called for an immediate and lasting ceasefire. He emphasised that vital infrastructure is on the verge of collapse due to a severe fuel shortage.
The US House of Representatives approved a significant tax-cut and spending bill on Thursday, passing it by a narrow margin of 218 to 214. The legislation has now been sent to President Donald Trump for his signature.
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