New U.S. sanctions have been imposed on family members and associates of Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro as Washington increases pressure on Caracas. The measures have targeted seven people who are family members or associates of Malpica Flores, a nephew of Maduro, and Panamanian businessman Ramon Carretero.

Syria’s government and its allies have welcomed the lifting of sanctions imposed by the U.S. Congress in 2019 to punish then-President Bashar Assad for human rights abuses