91ÊÓƵ

The supertanker Marbella, whose location was a mystery for more than a year, turned on its transponder this past weekend to reveal it was sitting off the coast of Venezuela.

The Veronica is the fourth tanker seized since the U.S. ouster of Venezuela President Nicolás Maduro in a surprise nighttime raid almost two weeks ago.

The global oil industry is working through the consequences of Washington’s move. For shipowners, that means higher rates on some routes as current and future oil flows are redirected.

The bill would favor a market-based approach by setting up the independent body charged with building a stockpile of critical minerals, stabilizing prices and encouraging production.

Under an order Trump signed on Jan. 14, the government would collect the duty on the chips as they’re brought to the U.S. before final shipment to Chinese customers and other foreign markets.

President Trump has been under pressure to respond after China constrained access to rare earths crucial to advanced technologies during a trade spat last year.

It’s unclear which U.S. officials will participate in the meetings and whether Trump plans to become personally involved. Whether a deal will be finalized also remains uncertain. 

State legislators are assessing new bills requiring English-language proficiency skills for truckers, and setting fines for repeat offenders and companies with convicted drivers.

The court hasn’t said when it will issue its next opinions but could schedule more decisions Jan. 20-21, when the justices again are in session.

Honda’s sales of EVs will take a back seat to gas-fueled cars and SUVs in response to growing demand for low-cost models, said Lance Woelfer, the head of Honda’s U.S. sales operations.