The Office of Foreign Assets Control extended a general license authorizing certain transactions involving securities of companies that “closely” match the name of a company identified as a Chinese military company (see 2011130026), a May 18 notice said. General License No. 1B, which replaced General License No. 1A (see 2101270009), authorizes the transactions through 9:30 a.m. EDT June 11 and past the previous expiration date of May 27.

The Office of Foreign Assets Control sanctioned three people and one entity for helping the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria group access financial systems in the Middle East, a May 17 news release said. The sanctions target Alaa Khanfurah for transferring funds to ISIS through his Turkey-based money service business, Idris Ali Awad al-Fay for using the sanctioned Turkey-based Al-Fay Company to help distribute currency for ISIS, and Ibrahim Ali Awad al-Fay for owning the Al-Fay Co.

The Office of Foreign Assets Control sanctioned 16 people and one entity connected to Myanmar’s military, which is committing human rights violations after overthrowing the country’s government earlier this year, the agency said May 17. The designations target 13 “key members” of the Myanmar military, three adult children of previously designated military officials and the State Administration Council (SAC), which was created by the military to support its overthrow of the government.

The Office of Foreign Assets Control amended its Narcotics Trafficking Sanctions Regulations and the Foreign Narcotics Kingpin Sanctions Regulations to add and revise general licenses, prohibitions, definitions and technical changes, the agency said in a notice released May 14. The final rule, effective May 17, will revise several general licenses related to payments for “legal services,” certain transactions for “maintenance of blocked tangible property” and emergency medical services, which will be subject to new recordkeeping requirements. The agency also revised definitions for “foreign person” and “specially designated narcotics trafficker,” updated certain “regulatory provisions” in the sanctions language, and made other conforming changes.

The United Kingdom's Office of Financial Sanctions Implementation added two individuals and one entity to its Libya sanctions regime and amended one entry, in a May 13 financial sanctions notice. Mohamed Al-Kani and Abdurahem Al Kani were added to the list for their serious human rights abuses in Libya, along with the al-Kaniyat militia on the grounds that the group has committed shocking violations of international humanitarian law. In addition, OFSI updated the individual listing of Aisha Muammar Muhammed Abu Minyar Qadhafi, updating her Libyan passport number.

The Office of Foreign Assets Control removed designations from three people and one entity earlier this week (see 2105110030) after the agency determined that “circumstances no longer warrant” their inclusion on sanctions lists, a May 13 notice said. The agency removed sanctions from Syrian military official and Brig. Gen. Jami Jami, Netherlands-based entity Staroil B.V. and two other people: Alexander Hollebrand and Paul Van Mazijk. The people and entities were previously listed under OFAC’s Syria sanctions regime.

The European Council announced that a group of third countries aligned with the bloc's sanctions regime on ISIL and al-Qaida and with the February sanctions on Myanmar due to the recent military coup in that country. In May 11 and May 12 news releases, the EU said North Macedonia, Montenegro, Serbia, Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway, Ukraine and Moldova aligned themselves with the Myanmar sanctions. It said the same group, minus Norway and with the additions of Armenia and Georgia, also levied sanctions against ISIL and al-Qaida and the persons, groups, undertakings and entities associated with them.

The State Department designated Yu Hui, a former Chinese government official, for human rights violations, the agency said May 12. The State Department announced the designation along with its release of the 2020 Annual Report on International Religious Freedom. The agency said Yu is the former office director of the so-called Central Leading Group on Preventing and Dealing with Heretical Religions.

The Office of Foreign Assets Control sanctioned seven people and two entities for drug trafficking, the agency said May 12. The sanctions target Jesus Gonzalez Penuelas and Gonzalez Penuelas Drug Trafficking Organization (Gonzalez Penuelas DTO), which is “among the largest sources of raw opium gum and heroin” in northern Mexico. OFAC also sanctioned six people and one entity for their ties to Gonzalez Penuelas DTO: Ignacio and Wilfrido Gonzalez Penuelas, Efrain Mendivil Figueroa, Adelmo Nunez Molina, and Raul and Juana Payan Meraz, and construction company City Plaza, Sociedad Anonima de Capital Variable.

The European Commission published guidance May 11 for individual and business compliance with recent sanctions on Myanmar put in place due to the February military coup and subsequent protest crackdown. The sanctions are composed of financial sanctions, a travel ban and limited sectoral sanctions that include an embargo on exports of arms equipment that may be used for internal repression, dual-use goods for use by the military and Border Guard Police in Myanmar, and equipment for monitoring communications. The guidance details who must comply with the provisions, what the terms of the provisions stipulate, how to determine ownership of sanctioned activity and exceptions to the sanctions.