Washington: The United States has seized an oil tanker that was last docked in Venezuela, as confirmed by the US Homeland Security chief. "The United States will continue to pursue the illicit movement of sanctioned oil that is used to fund narco terrorism in the region," Kristi Noem wrote on US social media platform X. Venezuelan officials have responded with a statement rejecting the "theft and kidnapping" of the vessel, asserting that such acts will not go unpunished.
According to Anadolu Agency, more than a dozen files related to the investigation of convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, including a photo featuring US President Donald Trump, have reportedly been removed from the Department of Justice's website. The removal has sparked criticism from Democrats, who have called for greater transparency from the Justice Department. They emphasized the need for clarity and urged General Attorney Pamela Bondi to ensure transparency for the American public.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy revealed that the United States has proposed a trilateral meeting involving national security advisors from Russia, Ukraine, and the US. The meeting aims to address the ongoing conflict between Russia and Ukraine. Zelenskyy expressed support for the meeting, conditional upon significant decisions, such as prisoner exchanges, being reached. He noted that similar meetings have taken place in Trkiye, resulting in prisoner swaps.
In other developments, The New York Times reported increased tensions between the US and Venezuela, with both countries allegedly jamming satellite navigation signals in parts of the Caribbean. This has raised concerns about potential risks to civilian air and maritime traffic. Additionally, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is expected to discuss military options regarding Iran with President Donald Trump during their upcoming meeting in Florida, as reported by Israel's public broadcaster KAN.
In the realm of international relations, Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan criticized Israeli violations that complicate peace efforts in the Gaza Strip. Meanwhile, Trkiye's intelligence chief Ibrahim Kalin met with a Hamas delegation in Istanbul to discuss the Gaza ceasefire agreement. Further dialogues were held between Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi and Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov on regional developments, while the Israeli army reported a strike on two Palestinians in northern Gaza, violating a ceasefire agreement.
On the economic front, the World Bank has approved $700 million in financing to support Pakistan's macroeconomic stability and service delivery. This funding is part of a broader initiative supporting federal and provincial reforms to mobilize domestic revenue, according to a World Bank statement. Additionally, Japan and five Central Asian countries have announced new initiatives, including efforts to strengthen critical minerals supply chains, following a summit in Tokyo. These initiatives focus on Green and Resilience, Connectivity, and Human Resource Development, as stated by the Japanese Prime Minister's office.