The World in Brief from The Economist

America’s coastguard said it was in “active pursuit” of an oil tanker which it claimed was part of Venezuela’s “illegal sanctions evasion”. Also, gold’s price has risen by around 66% this year, putting it on track for its biggest annual increase since 1979.

America’s coastguard reportedly boarded a second oil tanker this weekend off the coast of Venezuela, although details remain sketchy.

America stops vessels off Venezuelan coast; Australia mourns victims of Bondi attack, and more

Russia stepped up attacks on Ukraine’s Black Sea coast, targeting the port of Pivdennyi and infrastructure in the Odessa region

Russia stepped up attacks on Ukraine’s Black Sea coast, targeting the port of Pivdennyi and infrastructure in the Odessa region

America struck dozens of suspected Islamic State sites across central Syria.

Fielding questions at his marathon end-of-year press conference, President Vladimir Putin claimed that Russian troops were still advancing in Ukraine, seizing the “strategic initiative”

The European Union reached a deal to loan Ukraine €90bn ($106bn) for the next two years, after marathon talks in Brussels.