Venezuela has reduced the number of accredited diplomats at the French, Italian and Dutch embassies to three in response to their governments' "hostile" stance towards President Nicolas Maduro's inauguration for a third term. The Venezuelan foreign ministry restricted the diplomats from traveling more than 40 kilometers from Plaza Bolivar in Caracas without written authorization. Meanwhile, the US imposed new sanctions on Venezuela and increased the reward for Maduro's arrest to $25 million, while other countries such as the UK and EU announced further sanctions on officials associated with the Caracas government. However, Russian President Vladimir Putin congratulated Maduro on his swearing-in, despite widespread criticism of the election results.
https://www.firstpost.com/world/venezuela-restricts-diplomats-from-france-italy-netherlands-over-maduros-inauguration-13852859.htmlFrench Prime Minister Francois Bayrou's government faces a challenge in securing support for its 2023 pension reform as it seeks to balance concessions made to left-wing lawmakers with opposition from conservative and centrist lawmakers who fear the cost of any compromise. Bayrou, who took office after Michel Barnier's government fell due to opposition from far-right lawmakers and socialists, has held talks with party leaders and unions in an effort to reach a deal. However, two-thirds of French people are already unhappy with his leadership, according to a recent poll, and undoing parts of the pension reform could spook investors who have expressed concerns over France's large budget deficit. Bayrou's government must navigate this delicate situation to survive, as it faces opposition from various factions in parliament.
https://www.brecorder.com/news/40342620/french-pms-concessions-on-pensions-eyed-in-key-policy-speechPresident Joe Biden announced his intention to lift the US designation of Cuba as a state sponsor of terrorism, as part of a deal facilitated by the Catholic Church to free political prisoners on the island. The move is expected to ease some economic pressure on Cuba and result in the release of "many dozens" of political prisoners by January 20th. However, this decision may be reversed after President-elect Donald Trump takes office and Secretary of State-designate Marco Rubio assumes his position, as Rubio has been a long-time proponent of sanctions on Cuba.
https://www.boston25news.com/news/politics/biden-administration/BRNDRZFZR5EZVEYLRZRU7Q6BJI/The Biden administration has acknowledged that ending Russia's conflict with Ukraine within a 24-hour timeframe is not feasible. This admission comes as part of a shift in tone from the US team following recent developments, according to Ukrainian publication FREEDOM.
https://www.fakti.bg/en/world/941414-the-united-states-has-no-tools-to-put-pressure-on-russia-putin-will-not-negotiateUS President Biden made a secret visit to Ukraine's capital, Kyiv, in 2023, becoming the first sitting president to do so. He emphasized that the US and its allies cannot abandon Ukraine, which has received billions of dollars in military aid since the war began in 2022. Biden also stated that China will not surpass the US as a superpower, citing Washington's ability to manage complex ties with Beijing without conflict during his presidency.
https://www.thenews.com.pk/latest/1271846-us-winning-the-worldwide-competition-bidenUS President Biden made a secret visit to Ukraine's capital Kyiv in 2023, becoming the first sitting US president to do so. He emphasized that the US and its allies cannot abandon Ukraine, which has received billions of dollars in military aid since the war began in 2022. Biden also stated that China will not surpass the US as a superpower, citing Washington's ability to manage complex ties with Beijing without conflict. In his speech, he defended the US withdrawal from Afghanistan in 2021 and urged the Trump administration to continue green energy policies, calling climate deniers "dead wrong".
https://www.ndtv.com/world-news/china-wont-surpass-us-says-joe-biden-in-farewell-speech-7467852US President Joe Biden stated on Monday that he believes his country's adversaries, including Russia and China, would prefer the US to remain engaged in the conflict in Afghanistan for an extended period.
https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-14279893/joe-biden-defends-afghanistan-withdrawal-history.htmlUS Secretary of State Antony Blinken emphasized the importance of a post-war reconstruction plan for Gaza in a speech to the Atlantic Council, a Washington-based think tank. The proposal, which has been in development for a year, aims to establish an interim governing authority with international partners and Arab states providing security forces. This plan is part of the Biden administration's broader Middle East policy efforts, including addressing Iran and potential normalization of ties between Israel and Saudi Arabia.
https://apnews.com/article/gaza-israel-hamas-war-blinken-a4607f077f607743bc45e0f9811f460eThe price of Brent futures rose by $1.25 to settle at $81.01 per barrel and US West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude increased by $2.25 to settle at $78.82, according to a report by Reuters. The sanctions announced by the US on Russia's energy trade are expected to disrupt Russia's exports of petroleum, potentially reducing a predicted supply surplus of almost 1 million barrels per day this year. The Kremlin has stated that the measures risk destabilising global markets and will take steps to mitigate their impact. However, as domestic providers account for around 85% of the Russian oil-drilling market, the sanctions are unlikely to have an immediate effect on Russia's ability to pump crude.
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