U.N. targets terrorist financing

The U.N. Security Council unanimously adopted a resolution Thursday aimed at tightening its crackdown on financing terrorist groups through illicit oil sales, trading in antiquities and paying ransom for hostages. In a sign of the often divided council’s unity on fighting the Islamic State and other al-Qaida-linked groups, the Russian-sponsored resolution was cosponsored by many council members including the United States. The resolu- tion calls for sanctions on individuals and companies trading oil produced by the Islamic Stateand other terrorist groups. It reaffirms that it is illegal to pay ransom to individuals and groups — such as the Islamic State and Jabhat al-Nusra — that are already subject to U.N.