China exported no oil products to North Korea in November, according to Reuters, citing Chinese customs data related on Tuesday. This came in response to UN trade sanctions imposed earlier this year on North Korea over its ongoing nuclear and missile programs.
Why it matters: China is main source of North Korea's fuel, per Reuters. November was the second straight month the country didn't export diesel or gasoline to North Korea. Last week, the U.N. Security Council imposed new caps on trade with the isolated country, including limiting oil product shipments to 500,000 barrels per year, according to Reuters.
Russia's Central Electoral Commission has barred opposition leader Alexei Navalny from running in March's presidential election against Russian President Vladimir Putin, per the BBC. Navalny was convicted of embezzlement earlier this year after a 2013 verdict on the same charges was overturned by the European Court of Human Rights, which determined that he had received an unfair trial.
Why it matters: Navalny is seen as the only person who can credibly challenge Putin, who is running a fourth term as president, in next year's race. After the decision, he called for his supporters to boycott the presidential vote in protest.
