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Treasury Sanctions Sudanese Islamist Actors to Counter Regional Instability and Support for Iran

WASHINGTON — Today, the U.S. Department of the Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) imposed sanctions on two Sudanese Islamist actors––Gebreil Ibrahim Mohamed Fediel (Gebreil) and the Al-Baraa Bin Malik Brigade (BBMB)––for their involvement in Sudan’s brutal civil war and their connections to Iran. These sanctions aim to limit Islamist influence within Sudan and curtail Iran’s regional activities, which have contributed to regional destabilization, conflict, and civilian suffering. The United States remains committed to working with regional partners to achieve peace and stability in Sudan, ensuring that the country does not become a safe haven for those who threaten Americans and the national interests of the United States.

“Sudanese Islamist groups have formed dangerous alliances with the Iranian regime. We will not stand by idly and allow them to threaten regional and global security,” said Under Secretary of the Treasury for Terrorism and Financial Intelligence John K. Hurley. “The Treasury Department is using our powerful sanctions tools to disrupt this activity and protect U.S. national security.”

Sudanese Islamist elements have long been a destructive force in Sudan, most notably during the Islamist regime of former President Omar al-Bashir (Bashir), who governed Sudan for 30 years until 2019. More recently, Sudanese Islamists have played a key role in derailing Sudan’s progress toward a democratic transition, including by undermining the former civilian-led transitional government and the Framework Political Agreement process.

This contributed to the outbreak of fighting between Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) and the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) in April 2023. Since then, an estimated 150,000 people have been killed, and more than 14 million have been displaced, giving rise to the world’s worst ongoing humanitarian crisis. Sudanese Islamists continue to actively obstruct efforts to reach a ceasefire to end the current war and are cultivating ties with and receiving technical support from the Iranian Government, including the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC).

Gebreil is Sudan’s Finance Minister and chairman of the Justice and Equality Movement (JEM), a Darfuri armed group with historical links to Hassan al Turabi, the architect of Sudan’s Islamist revolution. JEM has contributed thousands of its followers to fight the RSF, leading to the destruction of Sudanese towns and the deaths and displacement of thousands of Sudanese civilians. Additionally, Gebreil has collaborated with the Iranian Government with the intent of strengthening political and economic ties and traveled to Tehran last November.

BBMB is a Sudan-based, Islamist militia that traces its origins to Sudan’s Popular Defense Forces, an Islamist paramilitary organization associated with the former Bashir regime. BBMB has contributed upwards of 20,000 fighters in the conflict against the RSF, using training and weapons provided by the IRGC. BBMB fighters have been implicated in arbitrary arrests, torture, and summary executions of those perceived to be aligned with the RSF. BBMB, along with other armed Islamist militias in Sudan, represents a significant impediment to ending the civil war in Sudan and undermines efforts to resolve the conflict.

Gebreil is being designated pursuant to Executive Order (E.O.) 14098, “Imposing Sanctions on Certain Persons Destabilizing Sudan and Undermining the Goal of a Democratic Transition,” for being a foreign person who is or has been a leader, official, senior executive officer, or member of the board of directors of JEM, an entity that has, or whose members have, been responsible for, or complicit in, or have directly or indirectly engaged in actions or policies that threaten the peace, security, or stability of Sudan relating to the tenure of such leader, official, senior executive officer, or member of the board of directors. BBMB is being designated pursuant to E.O. 14098 for being a foreign person who is responsible for, or complicit in, or who has directly or indirectly engaged or attempted to engage in, actions or policies that threaten the peace, security, or stability of Sudan.

SANCTIONS IMPLICATIONS

As a result of today’s action, all property and interests in property of the designated or blocked persons described above that are in the United States or in the possession or control of U.S. persons are blocked and must be reported to OFAC. In addition, any entities that are owned, directly or indirectly, individually or in the aggregate, 50 percent or more by one or more blocked persons are also blocked. Unless authorized by a general or specific license issued by OFAC, or exempt, OFAC’s regulations generally prohibit all transactions by U.S. persons or within (or transiting) the United States that involve any property or interests in property of blocked persons.

Violations of U.S. sanctions may result in the imposition of civil or criminal penalties on U.S. and foreign persons. OFAC may impose civil penalties for sanctions violations on a strict liability basis. OFAC’s Economic Sanctions Enforcement Guidelines provide more information regarding OFAC’s enforcement of U.S. economic sanctions. In addition, financial institutions and other persons may risk exposure to sanctions for engaging in certain transactions or activities involving designated or otherwise blocked persons. The prohibitions include the making of any contribution or provision of funds, goods, or services by, to, or for the benefit of any designated or blocked person, or the receipt of any contribution or provision of funds, goods, or services from any such person.

The power and integrity of OFAC sanctions derive not only from OFAC’s ability to designate and add persons to the Specially Designated Nationals and Blocked Persons List (SDN List), but also from its willingness to remove persons from the SDN List consistent with the law. The ultimate goal of sanctions is not to punish, but to bring about a positive change in behavior. For information concerning the process for seeking removal from an OFAC list, including the SDN List, or to submit a request, please refer to OFAC’s guidance on Filing a Petition for Removal from an OFAC List.

Click here for more information on the persons designated today.

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September 12, 2025
This Trio Of Robots Could Explore Lunar Caves

Protecting astronauts and equipment during missions outside of Earth’s protective sphere is critical to successful space exploration. The Moon is a malign environment where powerful solar radiation bombards the surface unimpeded.

The Moon’s temperature swings, the wildest in the Solar System, reach highs of 121 Celsius and lows of -146 Celsius. Some polar locations are in a permanent -240 Celsius deep freeze.

There are also micrometeorites. With no atmosphere to stop them, micrometeorites pummel the surface at extremely high velocities up to 70 km/second (157,000 mph.) Some research shows that up to 10,000 kg of micrometeorites strike the Moon every day.

Astronauts need protection from all of these hazards. Orbital images of the Moon show that there are numerous lava tubes on the Moon that could keep astronauts safe. These were formed during ancient lava eruptions. When part of a lava tube ceiling collapses it leaves an opening called a skylight that shows up in images.

This image from NASA’s Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter shows a section of collapsed ceiling in a lava tube in Mare Tranquillitatus. Rocky debris from the collapse is seen at the bottom of the pit. The pit is about 100 meters deep, but only further exploration can determine how long or large the lava tube is. Image Credit: By NASA/GSFC/Arizona State University – http://photojournal.jpl.nasa.gov/catalog/PIA13518, Public Domain.

There are also visible sinuous rilles on the surface indicating the path and length of some tubes. While many have collapsed almost completely, others have not. Some rilles reach great lengths. Rima Sharp, a rille on the lunar near side, is up to 566 km long, though some researchers say it is actually two separate rilles.

Rima Sharp may be the longest lunar rille at 566 km in length, though some consider it to be a pair of separate rilles. Image Credit: NASA/GSFC/Arizona State University.

There’s been a lot of research into the idea of using these caves for protection. There are concepts for bases constructed inside of them where astronauts could live and work. But they need to be explored before those plans can take any concrete steps. The collapsed skylights are seen as possible entrances into some of these caves, and scientists have thought hard about how they could be used to access the caves and explore them.

A team of European researchers have designed a trio of robots with different capabilities that could work together to explore lunar caves and assess their potential. The researchers have tested them on Lanzarote, a volcanic island in Spain’s Canary Islands. The team’s work is presented in a new research letter published in Science Robotics titled “Cooperative robotic exploration of a planetary skylight surface and lava cave.” The lead author is Raul Dominguez from the Robotics Innovation Center at the German Research Center for Artificial Intelligence.

While the Moon is the next place where astronauts will get their boots on the ground, Mars is part of this work, too. Mars also has lava tubes with collapsed skylights, and astronauts visiting the planet could also benefit from their protection. Additionally, Mars has astrobiological importance that the Moon lacks.

“Exploration of lava caves on the surface of planetary bodies near Earth is of high importance for scientific research and space exploration,” the authors write. “The natural shielding that these caves offer against radiation and small meteorites makes them well suited for preserving exobiological signatures and protecting human-made facilities. The use of a robot team arises as the safest and most cost-efficient way to explore extraterrestrial lava caves because they are difficult to access.”

The team are working on a three-member team of heterogeneous robots that work together autonomously to explore lava tubes in four phases.

SherpaTT is a hybrid wheeled and legged robot that performs surface exploration and acts as a surface anchor to lower another robot, Coyote III, into the lava tube. Coyote III is a small, lightweight, highly-mobile wheeled rover. LUVMI-X is the third rover. It’s lightweight and cost effective, and performs mapping along with SherpaTT.

The three robots and their capabilities. Image Credit: Dominguez et al. 2025 SciRob

In phase 1, the entrance area around the lava tunnel is mapped by SherpaTT and LUVMI-X. In phase 2, a sensorized payload cube with high-speed cameras is ejected into the cave from LUVMI-X to collect initial data about the entrance and the cave floor. In phase 3, the Coyote III scout rover rappels into the cave while being anchored to SherpaTT. In phase 4, the scout rover explores and maps the cave in 3d.

This image shows the three members of the robotic team tested on Lanzarote in the Canary Islands. Image Credit: Dominguez et al. 2025. SciRob

The team tested the operation on Lanzarote Island in February 2023.

The researchers aimed to test each phase of the mission several times in order to gauge effectiveness and understand what improvements are needed. They were unable to test each phase as many times as they desired due to weather and other constraints, but still achieved good results.

“In MP-1, SherpaTT and LUVMI-X collaborated to generate a DEM with enough accuracy to identify the skylight and place the rovers in the correct position during the following phases,” the authors write.

“During MP-2, the skylight was explored using the payload cube, which demonstrated its capacity to recreate the skylight in 3D by emulating a free fall under lunar gravity through a pulley system,” the authors explain.

MP 3 was also successful. Coyote III was autonomously lowered into the cave without damage.

MP4, the cave-mapping portion of the test, was also validated. “Coyote III was suitable for traversing the harsh terrain and collecting point clouds through remote control,
therefore validating the locomotion and data acquisition approach,” the authors write. Coyote III successfully traversed different terrains in the cave, but was unable to execute point turns “in consolidated irregular rocky surfaces because of high friction,” the authors explain.

These panels show some of the results of the testing for mission phase 4. The testing validated the cave reconstruction and the mobility and effectiveness of Coyote III. A shows the skylight mesh image produced by Coyote III. B shows the skylight Time of Flight data visualization. C shows the rovers travelling through a narrow corridor. D shows the passage Time of Flight visualization. E shows the Coyote III cave reconstruction. F shows ground-truth rover cave reconstruction for F(i) the skylight area and F(ii) the narrow corridor area. Image Credit: Dominguez et al. 2025 SciRob

The researchers say that a “heterogeneous autonomous robot team is a promising approach” for the exploration of lunar and Martian lava caves. “The presented analog field test showed reliable and efficient performances in most of the defined MPs,” they write. ” However, the mission concept needs further research to be extrapolated to a real planetary exploration scenario.”

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September 12, 2025
Gold Rises Toward Record as ETFs Expand in Run-Up to Fed Meeting

Gold headed for a fourth weekly gain on expectations the Federal Reserve is poised to lower US interest rates, with prices aided by inflows into bullion-backed exchange traded funds.

The precious metal traded near $3,650 an ounce, up about 1.7% this week, after setting a record in Tuesday’s session. Silver, which can move in tandem, topped $42 an ounce to hit the highest since 2011.

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September 12, 2025
Pharmacist Discusses Top OTC Strategies for Managing Menstrual Pain

Menstrual cramps affect millions of women worldwide, causing significant discomfort and disruption to daily life. Joanna Lewis, PharmD, MBA, 340B program director at Baptist Health, highlighted comprehensive strategies for managing menstrual pain, focusing on medication, supplements, and patient education.

Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) emerge as the primary treatment for menstrual cramps, according to Lewis. Medications like ibuprofen (Advil) and naproxen (Aleve) work by reducing prostaglandins, the chemicals responsible for uterine contractions. These medications not only alleviate pain but also address associated symptoms like inflammation. Dosage recommendations are critical. Ibuprofen is typically prescribed at 400 mg every 6 hours, while naproxen is recommended at 220 milligrams every 8 to 12 hours. She stressed the importance of taking medication at the first sign of cramps, and some patients even begin treatment one to two days before their expected period.

However, NSAIDs aren’t without risks. Potential adverse effects include stomach upset, nausea, heartburn, and, in some cases, increased bleeding risk. Patients with kidney disease, heart failure, or active ulcers, or those on anticoagulants, should consult health care professionals before use. Complementing pharmaceutical interventions, certain supplements show promise in managing menstrual pain. Magnesium can help relax uterine contractions, while omega-3 fatty acids reduce prostaglandin production. Vitamins B1 and E, along with zinc, have demonstrated potential in alleviating menstrual discomfort. Lewis cautions that supplements require consistent daily intake and may take 1 to 2 menstrual cycles to show significant results. Alternative OTC options include combination products like Midol Complete and Pamprin Multi-Symptom, which address multiple menstrual symptoms, including fatigue and irritability. Lidocaine patches offer another localized pain relief method.

“The first thing a pharmacist needs to do is educate the patient on how to take the medication,” Lewis said. “It’s best for these NSAIDs to take the medication as soon as you feel the first sign of cramps. It really works better when you get ahead of the pain.”

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September 12, 2025
Marcus Willcocks obituary | Design

My former colleague Marcus Willcocks, who has died aged 47 of leukaemia, worked at Design Against Crime, a London-based project that aims to create safer public spaces.

Marcus joined DAC, of which I am the founder and director, in 2010 as a designer leading projects and raising funding. He worked across the UK and internationally, trying to find ways in which good design can help to reduce crime in areas such as bike theft and ATM tampering. Among other things, he co-designed a chair to which handbags can be “locked”, and a separate “Grippa Clip”, to deter bag theft in places such as pubs and cafes.

Chair designed by Marcus Willcocks. Photograph: Design Against Crime

Born in London to Jini (nee Vine) a schoolteacher, and Jon, who owned a graphic design business, Marcus went to Chesham high school in Buckinghamshire before gaining a degree in product design from Central Saint Martins (CSM) in London in 2000. He remained at Central Saint Martins after his degree, taking on a job as a designer (2000-08) and then as a senior research fellow. In that role continued to work for DAC when it became a research centre at CSM.

While still working part-time for DAC, in 2015 Marcus began working freelance as an urban design consultant for the Design Council, and in 2018 he became a senior urban designer, also in a part-time role, at the cycling charity Sustrans, where he helped people analyse their environments and then co-design changes that encouraged walking and cycling. He incorporated their ideas and artwork directly into the infrastructure, helping to create joyful, welcoming spaces that people wanted to spend time in.

The Bristol to Bath railway path, which was recently improved through a project Marcus worked on extensively with the local community. Photograph: Sustrans

Aside from his interest in design, Marcus loved street art. In 2015 he was co-organiser of The Graffiti Sessions, a three-day international conference on the subject for DAC in partnership with University College London, and in 2017, he set up the Market Road Gallery in Islington, north London, as a hub for street artists. He also led the My Mural project for DAC at University of the Arts London, matchmaking artists and residents to co-create public artworks.

Gentle yet uncompromising, Marcus was kind in spirit and courageous in his commitment to his work and values.

He is survived by his wife, the sustainability expert Marta Salvà, whom he married in 2007, their sons, Joel and Ruben, his parents and his sister, Sara.

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September 12, 2025
Fortune 500 does not plan to use AI to replace support staff • The Register

ai-pocalypse You’ll be able to talk to a human when you need help for many years to come. A new Gartner study shows that fears about AI replacing humans with bots in call centers are unfounded, at least among Fortune 500 companies.

None of the biggest corporations reported that they were planning to replace everyone with bots by 2028 and the analysts noticed that several companies are rehiring staff after going all-in on AI too early. Only 11 percent of companies said that they planned to reduce headcount as a result of AI, while 54 percent said that they would maintain staffing and use AI to boost engagement.

“Let’s say you have the most advanced AI agent in the world, and you have all of the infrastructure stuff set up to be able to deploy the technology. Customers are still going to have issues that need to be handled by human agents,” Emily Potosky, senior director of research at Gartner told The Register.

“This is both in terms of just practicality, like super unique issues or super critical issues, but also just in terms of the emotional aspect. If you’ve been a victim of credit card fraud and you need to talk to someone, you probably want to talk to a human who can provide you with that reassurance.”

Part of the problem, she explained, is that successful AI implementation is not as simple as slapping a bot on the system and letting it do its thing. There’s an enormous amount of work that has to be done in the background. This includes linking in data management tools and knowledge bases to automated systems to avoid making the bot deployment useless or even counterproductive.

In some cases, companies that rushed to lay off staff to replace them with AI are rehiring them, she pointed out. Rushing into AI has caused reputational harm as customers grew frustrated with the technology’s limitations.

Not all jobs are going to be safe, and there will be some staff reductions, the report found. 22 percent of companies have stopped backfilling those who choose to leave, but conversely 32 percent are hiring more staff where they have specialized skills.

“The role of the customer service employee is going to look different,” Kathy Ross, senior director analyst at Gartner, told us. “They’re going to be tasked with more complex work, unique issue resolution, and they’re going to be building customer relationships that are going to support growth.”

The logical way forward, she opined, is that humans stay firmly in the loop, but AI is used to expand operations while people handle the tough stuff. This will mean some reskilling for employees, but the net result won’t be the jobs apocalypse that some are predicting.

“Even those companies that have very bullish projections against their headcount reductions are probably going to realize that it may be possible in the future, but not quite yet,” she told us. “So they need to back off these plans.”

Others certainly have. Last year Swedish fintech biz Klarna was an early adopter of AI and said it was planning to halve its workforce and replace staff with bots.

By May of this year it admitted it was rehiring staff because humans just don’t like talking to bots. ®

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September 12, 2025
LA County reports child died from rare measles complication after infection in infancy – Reuters
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September 12, 2025
World’s first AI minister will eliminate corruption, says Albania’s PM

Guy DelauneyBBC Balkans correspondent

ADNAN BECI/AFP

The new minister, named Diella, has already been active as a bot, guiding applicants through a process to obtain official documents.

For government officials, being called “heartless” is an occupational hazard. But Albania has chosen to turn that insult into a positive quality, by appointing an AI minister.

Not a minister for artificial intelligence. Rather, a cabinet member who is, literally, the work of AI.

The new addition is, like a pop star, known simply by the single name: Diella.

Prime Minister Edi Rama introduced her as a member of his new cabinet on Thursday, four months after securing his fourth term in office in May elections.

However, the move was symbolic rather than official, as Albania’s constitution insists that government ministers must be mentally competent citizens aged at least 18.

Still, the advantages of appointing a bot over a human are obvious.

Diella, whose name means sun in Albanian, is unlikely to be the source of any unflattering leaks about the government. She will only be power-hungry in the sense of the electricity she consumes. And a damaging expenses scandal would appear to be out of the question.

In fact, corruption was uppermost in Rama’s mind when he made Diella part of his team as minister for public procurement.

Her role will be to ensure that Albania will become “a country where public tenders are 100% free of corruption”.

“We’re working with a brilliant team, which is not only Albanian but also international, to come out with the first full AI model in public procurement,” the prime minister told the BBC.

“Not only will we wipe out every potential influence on public biddings – we will also make the process much faster, much more efficient and totally accountable.”

Diella had already been working in Albania even before the government “appointment”. Her first incarnation was as an AI-powered virtual assistant, guiding applicants through the process to obtain official documents.

Reuters

Albania’s prime minister, Edi Rama, won a fourth term in office in May and introduced his cabinet on Thursday

Rama boasts that Diella has “helped more than a million applications” on the e-Albania platform. But his vision for AI’s government role is a lot grander than a mere chatbot.

He talks of “leapfrogging” bigger, more advanced countries, which are still locked into “traditional ways of working”.

Reactions to Diella’s new role are, understandably, mixed. The opposition Democratic Party has labelled the initiative “ridiculous” and “unconstitutional”.

But others are cautiously optimistic.

The founder of financial services company Balkans Capital, Aneida Bajraktari Bicja, notes that Edi Rama “often mixes reform with theatrics, so it’s natural people wonder if this is symbolism”. But she says the “‘AI minister’ could be constructive if it develops into real systems that improve transparency and trust in public procurement”.

Anti-corruption experts have also noted the potential for AI to be deployed to minimise graft.

“AI is still a new tool – but if it is programmed correctly, when you put a bid in online, you can see clearly and more closely if a company meets the conditions and the criteria,” says Dr Andi Hoxhaj of King’s College London, a specialist in the Western Balkans, corruption and the rule of law.

He believes Albania’s rapid progress in EU accession talks and encouragement from Brussels to complete the negotiations by 2027 mean that the country has a powerful incentive to tackle graft.

“There’s a lot at stake,” he says. “The main precondition from the EU has been to address corruption. If [Diella] is a vehicle or mechanism that could be used towards that goal, it’s worth exploring.”

Edi Rama does not deny that there is an element of a publicity stunt to his latest wheeze. But he insists that there is serious intent behind the playful presentation.

“It puts pressure on other members of the cabinet and national agencies to run and think differently. This is the biggest advantage I’m expecting from this minister,” he says.

In other words, ministers beware: AI could be coming for their jobs as well.

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September 12, 2025
Pakistan open Asia Cup campaign with 93-run win against Oman | Cricket News

Pakistan batter Mohammed Haris hits 66 of Pakistan’s modest 160-7 in their Asia Cup opener, but Oman collapse in reply.

Published On 12 Sep 2025

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Mohammad Haris hit a return-to-form half-century before bowlers routed Oman as Pakistan opened their Asia Cup campaign with a 93-run win over Oman in Dubai.

Haris anchored the innings on Friday with a 43-ball 66 spiced with seven boundaries and three sixes as Pakistan scored a below-par 160-7 against Asia Cup first-timers.

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But spinners Sufiyan Muqeem (2-7) and Saim Ayub (2-8) and seamer Faheem Ashraf (2-6) atoned for unimpressive batting as Oman, comprising six expats from Pakistan, folded for 67 in 16.4 overs.

Hammad Mirza, top-scored with 27 off 23 balls which contained a six and three boundaries.

Earlier, Oman’s spinner Aamir Kaleem (3-31) and pacer Shah Faisal grabbed (3-34) and kept Pakistan batters under control.

It was Haris who helped Pakistan, who won the toss and batted, with his second score of over fifty in T20Is.

Pakistan’s Mohammad Haris was eventually bowled by Oman’s Aamir Kaleem during the Asia Cup Cricket match [Fatima Shbair/AP]

Haris added a damage-repairing 85 for the second wicket with Sahibzada Farhan after Faisal dismissed Ayub with the second ball of the innings.

Farhan scored a run-a-ball 29 with one boundary.

Faisal also dismissed Hasan Nawaz (9) and Mohammad Nawaz (19) to cap an impressive T20I debut.

Pakistan added 49 in the last five overs, with Fakhar Zaman remaining unbeaten on a 16-ball 23.

Pakistan now face arch-rivals India in a high-voltage Group A match in Dubai on Sunday.

Bangladesh play Sri Lanka in Group B match in Abu Dhabi on Saturday.

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September 12, 2025
Speculation Builds for the Battle in the Bay – lavercup.com
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September 12, 2025