The United Nations Security Council granted a one-year sanctions exemption to UNICEF for humanitarian shipments to North Korea, a June 3 Security Council letter said. The exemption will allow shipments “essential” for UNICEF’s programs in North Korea, including sanitation products, water and shipments related to “health” and “nutrition.” The exemption also authorizes shipments related to “the effective treatment of individuals admitted to hospitals.” The UNSC said it approved an extended one-year time frame for the exemption because of “challenges related to the manufacturing and shipment of goods” due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

The State Department designated Gustavo Adolfo Alejos Cambara, formerly chief of staff to then-Guatemalan president Alvaro Colom, for corruption, the agency said June 8. The agency also sanctioned family members Beatriz Jansa Bianchi, his wife; his two sons, Jose Javier Alejos Jansa and Gustavo Andres Alejos Jansa; and his minor daughter.

The Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control updated more than 100 Iran-related sanctions entries on its Specially Designated Nationals List, according to a June 8 notice. OFAC did not immediately provide more information about the changes.

The United Kingdom’s Office of Financial Sanctions Implementation amended 335 entries under its Syria sanctions regime, according to a June 4 notice. The amendments update identifying information for the entries, which are still subject to asset freezes, the U.K. said.

The United Kingdom’s Office of Financial Sanctions Implementation amended an entry under its North Korea sanctions regime, according to a June 4 notice. The change updated identifying information for Yuk Tung Energy Pte Ltd., a commercial ship manager. The entity is still subject to an asset freeze. The United Nations Security Council sanctioned Yuk Tung Energy for conducting illegal ship-to-ship transfers (see 2005120034).

The Treasury Department’s Office of Foreign Assets Control announced regulations to implement an October executive order authorizing certain Syria-related sanctions, OFAC said in a June 4 notice. The notice includes detailed descriptions of the regulations, including transactions that are blocked, definitions, licensing procedures and penalties for violations. OFAC said it plans to release a “more comprehensive” set of regulations, including potential guidance documents and general licenses. The regulations take effect June 5.

President Donald Trump’s June 2 executive order to support international religious freedom authorizes the Treasury Department to impose sanctions on countries violating those freedoms. The order directs the Treasury secretary to recommend “the use of economic tools to advance” religious freedom in “countries of particular concern.” Those tools include the use of sanctions under the Global Magnitsky Human Rights Accountability Act, the order said.

The U.S. added seven entities to the Cuba Restricted List for supporting the “Castro dictatorship,” the State Department said June 3. The military-owned entities include three hotels, two scuba diving centers, one financial institution and one marine park for tourists. The designated entities are: Hotel Marqués de Cardenas de Montehermoso, Hotel Regis, Hotel Playa Paraiso, FINCIMEX, the Varadero Diving Center, the Gaviota Las Molas International Diving Center and the Cayo Naranjo Dolphinarium. The additions will take effect June 12.

A Singapore electronics manufacturer voluntarily disclosed to the Treasury Department possible U.S. sanctions violations, the company said in a May 28 Securities and Exchange Commission filing. The company, Flex Ltd., said the violations may have been committed by its non-U.S. affiliates and that it is conducting an internal investigation, expected to be completed “by the end of the second quarter of fiscal year 2021,” so it cannot estimate possible penalties.

The Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control sanctioned four companies and four vessels for operating in Venezuela's oil sector, according to a June 2 press release. The designated entities include Marshall Islands-based Afranav Maritime Ltd., owner of the Panamanian-flagged Athens Voyager; Greece-based Seacomber Ltd., owner of the Maltese flagged Chios I; Marshall Islands-based Adamant Maritime Ltd., owner of Bahamian-flagged Seahero; and Marshall Islands-based Sanibel Shiptrade Ltd., owner of the Marshall Islands-flagged Voyager I.