Highlights
Two men were arrested in New York City and a third is being sought as an Iranian plot to kill Donald Trump was foiled.
The Biden Administration has lifted sanctions on Russian banks while still promising to cut Russia off from the Western financial system. The US Treasury Department cleared energy-related transactions with Otkritie Bank, Zenit, Saint Petersburg, Sovcombank, Sberbank, VTB, Alfa Bank, Vnesheconombank, Rosbank, the National Clearing Center (NCC), and the Bank of Russia. Their subsidiaries and controlled structures (with a share of 50%) have also been exempted from sanctions.
The head of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, said she wants to discuss with Donald Trump increasing purchases of American liquefied natural gas (LNG) to replace supplies from Russia. She acknowledged it will take 18 to 24 months to complete the transition. Russia currently supplies Europe with about 17-18 million tons of LNG per year.
Tidbits
China is preparing for Trump's return by deepening ties with allies, boosting self-reliance in technology, and setting aside money to prop up the economy that is now more vulnerable to fresh tariffs already threatened by Trump. “Experts” say China will focus on exploiting rifts between the U.S. and its allies to lower the tension between China and the U.S. to help strike an early deal to cushion the blow from trade friction.