Venezuelan oil exports drop sharply after U.S. tanker seizure
Venezuela’s oil shipments have plunged following the United States’ seizure of a tanker earlier this week....
U.S. Vice President JD Vance began a four-day trip to India on Monday, aiming to strengthen bilateral ties and discuss trade issues with Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
The visit comes as India seeks to finalize a trade agreement with the U.S. to avoid steep tariffs and reinforce relations with the Trump administration.
Vance, accompanied by his family, plans to combine official meetings with personal activities such as visiting the Taj Mahal and attending a wedding in Jaipur. His wife, Usha, is of Indian descent.
Before arriving in New Delhi, Vance visited Rome, where he met privately with Pope Francis on Easter Sunday. In India, he and Modi will review progress on the bilateral agenda set in February during Modi's visit to Washington. This includes fairer trade practices and expanding defense cooperation.
India is considering reducing tariffs on over half of its imports from the U.S., which totaled $41.8 billion in 2024, in hopes of reaching a deal during the 90-day pause on tariff hikes announced by President Trump earlier this month. Despite ongoing talks, Trump has continued to label India as a "tariff abuser".
Indian officials remain optimistic about the visit’s potential impact. The U.S. is India’s largest trading partner, with total trade reaching $129 billion last year, and a $45.7 billion surplus in India’s favor.
Vance's visit is also viewed as preparation for a future trip by President Trump to India for a Quad summit later this year. Analysts say Vance's rising diplomatic role and the current U.S.-China tensions add importance to his visit.
While no formal deals are expected during this trip, the two countries plan to advance discussions on defense cooperation, including joint production of weapons like Javelin missiles and Stryker combat vehicles. These talks are set to continue during U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth’s upcoming visit to India.
Japan has lifted a tsunami advisory issued after an earthquake with a magnitude of 6.9 hit the country's northeastern region on Friday (12 December), the Japan Meteorological Agency (JMA) said. The JMA had earlier put the earthquake's preliminary magnitude at 6.7.
The United States issued new sanctions targeting Venezuela on Thursday, imposing curbs on three nephews of President Nicolas Maduro's wife, as well as six crude oil tankers and shipping companies linked to them, as Washington ramps up pressure on Caracas.
Iran is preparing to host a multilateral regional meeting next week in a bid to mediate between Afghanistan and Pakistan.
Kyiv has escalated its naval campaign against Moscow’s economic lifelines, claiming a successful strike on a vessel suspected of skirting international sanctions within the Black Sea.
An extratropical cyclone has caused widespread disruption across Brazil’s São Paulo state, with powerful winds toppling trees and power lines, blocking streets and leaving large parts of the region without electricity.
Türkiye’s Trade Minister Omer Bolat said Friday that discussions in Washington with U.S. officials have strengthened efforts to expand bilateral trade, moving closer to a $100 billion target.
Türkiye’s President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan and Pakistani Prime Minister Shahbaz Sharif held talks on Friday during the International Peace and Trust Forum in Ashgabat, Turkmenistan, focusing on bilateral relations as well as regional and global issues
Hungary has strongly criticised NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte’s warning that Russia could be capable of attacking the alliance within five years, with Foreign Minister Péter Szijjártó describing the remarks as irresponsible and dangerous.
Thailand and Cambodia have agreed to halt all shooting from Friday evening following renewed fighting along their shared border, U.S. President Donald Trump said on Friday.
China’s Ministry of Commerce announced on Friday that it will introduce a licensing system for steel exports starting in 2026, covering around 300 steel products.
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