The World in Brief from The Economist

The White House said that an oil tanker it seized off the coast of Venezuela would be sent to an American port, where the vessel’s cargo will be obtained by following “a legal process”.

Donald Trump said that American forces had seized a “very large” oil tanker off the coast of Venezuela. Also, María Corina Machado arrived in Oslo hours after her daughter accepted the Nobel peace prize on her behalf.

The Federal Reserve lowered the central bank’s headline interest-rate range by a quarter of a percentage point, to 3.5-3.75%.

The Federal Reserve lowered the central bank’s headline interest-rate range by a quarter of a percentage point, to 3.5-3.75%.

Volodymyr Zelensky promised to hold wartime elections within three months if America and Europe “ensure security” for the vote. Also, China’s consumer-price index rose by 0.7% in November, compared with a year earlier, the fastest rate for nearly two years.

Ukraine’s president, Volodymyr Zelensky, said he would present a “refined” peace plan to America “in the near future” following a summit with European leaders in London and a visit to Italy.

Ukraine’s president, Volodymyr Zelensky, said he would present a “refined” peace plan to America “in the near future” following a summit with European leaders in London and a visit to Italy.

European leaders said “now is a critical moment” to support Ukraine, after Sir Keir Starmer hosted Volodymyr Zelensky for talks in London. Also, Thailand evacuated nearly 450,000 people from provinces near its border with Cambodia as fighting between the two sides intensified.