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India Detains Three Sanctioned Tankers Linked to Iran

India has detained three oil tankers tied to Iran and already under U.S. sanctions, marking a notable escalation in its maritime enforcement efforts. The vessels were intercepted in Indian waters earlier this month after authorities identified irregularities in their operations and documentation. Officials familiar with the situation say the tankers were suspected of participating in ship‑to‑ship transfers designed to obscure the origin of their cargo. Such practices have drawn increasing scrutiny as India strengthens monitoring of its coastal zones and aligns more closely with global efforts to curb sanctions evasion. The detentions also come at a moment of deepening strategic cooperation between New Delhi and Washington. While India maintains an independent foreign policy, the move signals a firmer stance on illicit maritime activity and a willingness to enforce international compliance standards within its jurisdiction.

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Canadian Retail Sales Rebound in December, Boosting Consumer Confidence

 

Canadian consumers went on a holiday shopping spree at the end of last year, after reining in their spending just a month earlier. Receipts for retailers jumped 0.8% in December, the biggest increase since April. This followed a 0.2% decrease in November, which missed the median estimate of a flat reading in a Bloomberg survey. In volume terms, retail sales also edged down 0.2% that month. The early estimate for December suggests sales increased 0.8% that month, but warned the figure is subject to revision.

The rebound in retail sales in December is a positive sign for the Canadian economy. The holiday season is a crucial period for retailers, and the increase in sales indicates that consumer confidence is on the rise. The report also highlights that the pullback in November still highlights some spending weakness for consumers, who are facing higher interest rates and many of whom are due to renew their mortgages this year.


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