Venezuela’s interim President Delcy Rodriguez has accused the US of using false claims about drugs and human rights as a pretext to seize the nation’s oil. She stated Venezuela is open to mutually beneficial energy partnerships with clearly defined commercial contracts. This comes as the US announced it would manage future Venezuelan crude sales and oversee its global petroleum trade.

The decision was taken after Union Minister Nitin Gadkari chaired an annual meeting of Transport Ministers from all States and Union Territories in New Delhi.

The raids at the I-PAC office and its chief Prateek Jain’s residence in Kolkata prompted a sharp response from the TMC and West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee.