The Biden administration is considering “a whole number of options” to respond to the reported death in prison of Russian opposition figure Alexei Navalny, President Joe Biden told reporters on Feb. 16 when asked if he is looking at increasing sanctions on Russia.

The Office of Foreign Assets Control is modifying its North Korea sanctions regulations to amend a general license for humanitarian activities carried out by non-governmental organizations in North Korea. The agency also is adding three new general licenses for Commerce Department-authorized transactions, agricultural and medical goods, and some journalistic activities, it said.

Rep. Blaine Luetkemeyer, R-Mo., pressed the Treasury Department on Feb. 14 to consider sanctioning Chinese online store Temu over allegations it uses forced labor to make its garments. During a House Financial Services Committee hearing, Luetkeyemer noted that Temu aired a commercial during the Feb. 11 Super Bowl, reflecting its growing presence in the U.S. Treasury Undersecretary for Terrorism and Financial Intelligence Brian Nelson testified during the hearing that he would “take on board" the congressman's concern but could not comment on any potential sanctions activity by his department. Temu didn't immediately respond to a request for comment.

U.S. agencies met with European officials at a “Sanctions Coordinators Forum” Feb. 14 in Brussels to “discuss impacts and enforcement of our Russia sanctions regimes," the State Department said in a news release. State, along with the Commerce and Treasury departments, met with senior EU and member state government officials and delegations from the U.K. and Ukraine on topics including “the use of targeted sanctions to deter and disrupt malign Russian activity and to demonstrate our readiness to take action to defend international norms.”

The U.S. this week sanctioned four entities and three people for procuring and facilitating the illegal export of “goods and technology from over two dozen U.S. companies” to Iranian end-users, including the Central Bank of Iran.

The Treasury Department last week released its 2024 money laundering, terrorist financing and proliferation financing risk assessments, highlighting areas where companies can focus compliance resources and help “inform their own risk mitigation strategies.”

The Office of Foreign Assets Control this week sanctioned four entities and identified one vessel for violating the price cap on Russian oil. OFAC said they were involved in a “price cap violation scheme” in late 2023 that included making calls at Russian ports.

The U.N. Security Council this week amended 85 entries under its ISIL (Da’esh) and al-Qaida sanctions regime. The UNSC updated each entry with language to show they each underwent a sanctions review in October. All 85 entries are still subject to an asset freeze.

President Joe Biden extended a national emergency that authorizes sanctions against people and entities in Myanmar, the White House said Feb. 7. The “situation” resulting from the military coup in 2021 continues to pose a threat to U.S. national security and foreign policy, the White House said. The emergency was extended for one year beyond Feb. 10.

The Office of Foreign Assets Control this week sanctioned an Ecuadorian gang and its leader for their ties to drug trafficking and violence.