At the G20 meeting in Asheville, North Carolina, Russian Finance Minister Anton Siluanov's presence marked his first in-person attendance since Russia's invasion of Ukraine in 2022, surprising European officials who were unprepared for his appearance. This led to a decision not to include him in the traditional G20 family photo. U.S.
Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent met with Siluanov, reiterating that no sanctions relief or new agreements with Russia would occur while the war in Ukraine persists. Additionally, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi urged Russian President Vladimir Putin to end the conflict during a separate meeting.
The meeting also addressed rising tensions with Iran, as President Trump threatened retaliation for attacks on U.S. military bases. In economic news, the White House announced that Venezuela has granted a 100-year concession for oil fields to U.S.-backed North America Blue Energy Partners, giving the U.S. majority control over a significant portion of Venezuela's oil reserves.
Meanwhile, shares of fast-fashion retailer Shein fell on its IPO debut in Hong Kong, valuing the company at approximately $26.5 billion, a stark contrast to its previous private valuation of $100 billion in 2022, as it seeks to fund technology and global expansion