December 6, 06:46 PM • 3866 viewsDecember 4, 02:10 PM • 42038 viewsChina plans to purchase 140 million barrels of oil for its strategic reserves by the first quarter of 2026, as long as prices remain below $80 per barrel. This will ensure a high level of imports and soft commercial demand.
Bitcoin fell 3. 2% to $117,386 after a record surge above $123,000. The pullback occurred amid optimism about US digital asset legislation and a rally in risk assets.
Germany has asked the administration of US President Donald Trump to provide Ukraine with two more Patriot missile batteries. German Defense Minister Boris Pistorius discussed this issue with US Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth.
Iran and the US have failed to agree on the time, date, and location for resuming talks on Tehran's nuclear program. Iran will not return to negotiations without confidence in their effectiveness, demanding guarantees against future attacks.
China's coal imports in June 2024 reached their lowest level since February 2023, falling by 11% in the first half of the year. This is due to weak demand caused by the shrinking real estate market and a slowdown in heavy industry.
Gold prices rose to a three-week high, and silver approached a 14-year high, amid demand for safe-haven assets following Trump's tariff threats. Investors are awaiting US inflation data and a possible rate easing by the Fed.
The head of the Main Intelligence Directorate of the Ministry of Defense, Kyrylo Budanov, stated that North Korea supplies Russia with up to 40% of ammunition for the war in Ukraine. Pyongyang also sends ballistic missiles and artillery systems, receiving money and technology from Russia.
The head of the Main Intelligence Directorate of the Ministry of Defense, Kyrylo Budanov, stated that Russian troops have intensified their offensive, trying to break through the defense in the direction of Dnipropetrovsk Oblast. According to him, the Russians intend to enter the oblast 10 km deep to create a buffer zone.
Pope Leo XIV's childhood home in Dolton, a Chicago suburb, has been sold for $375,000, 70% higher than the initial asking price. The village of Dolton plans to turn it into a landmark in cooperation with the Archdiocese of Chicago.
Latvian Prime Minister Evika Siliņa stated that Ukraine will receive American Patriot air defense systems. This comes amid intensified Russian drone and ballistic missile strikes on Ukrainian territories.
Great Britain and France have agreed to jointly use their nuclear deterrence potential. This decision is a clear warning to the Kremlin and a response to threats from Russia.
Elon Musk's startup xAI has released Grok 4, a new flagship artificial intelligence model that, according to Musk, outperforms PhDs. Simultaneously, xAI introduced a new SuperGrok Heavy subscription for $300 per month, making it the most expensive on the AI market.
In central Texas, a search operation is ongoing for the sixth day after a sudden flood on July 4. 109 people have died, and over 160 are missing, mostly in Kerr County.
Hungarian company MOL considers the Odesa-Brody oil pipeline and sea deliveries as the best solution to reduce energy dependence on Russia. The project requires significant investment and political support, given the war in Ukraine.
The US Army plans to spend over $1. 3 billion on Patriot missiles in the next fiscal year, increasing the target procurement volume to 13,773 units. This decision is driven by the growing demand for air defense systems, which have proven critical for Ukraine and US forces in the Middle East.
Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban called for the resignation of European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and rejected Brussels' economic recommendations regarding fiscal policy. The Hungarian government refused the EC's demands for permanent fiscal measures to reduce the budget deficit, citing national priorities.
The volume of Russian seaborne oil supplies fell to 3. 12 million barrels per day, the lowest figure since February 2025. This reduction is explained by a faster increase in refinery processing compared to production.
The European Union is considering creating a 100 billion euro fund for long-term support to Ukraine, which will start flowing from 2028. This will strengthen Europe's role in financing Ukraine amid uncertainty regarding aid from the United States.
Trump announced that new "reciprocal" tariffs will take effect from August 1, 2025, without delay. This announcement is part of his trade strategy aimed at reshaping global trade flows.
Russia has stopped publishing monthly population statistics, making it difficult to assess the demographic situation. This is happening amid significant losses in the war against Ukraine and a decline in birth rates.
Chinese suppliers play a key role in providing Russia with components for the production of attack drones used against Ukraine. 92% of foreign components in Russian drones are of Chinese origin, with supplies made directly and through intermediaries.
Deputy Prime Minister Olha Stefanishyna denied talks about her possible dismissal and appointment as Ukraine's ambassador to the USA. She noted that such discussions had not taken place either in the government or in parliament, and her work schedule was planned until the end of the year.
Daniel Abraham, a New York billionaire who created the Slim-Fast "weight loss empire," died at the age of 100. His fortune was estimated at $2.4 billion, and he sold Slim-Fast to Unilever NV in 2000 for $2.3 billion.
US President Donald Trump announced the imposition of 25% tariffs on goods from Japan and South Korea starting August 1. This applies to countries that have not yet concluded trade agreements with his administration and is part of his policy of reviewing trade relations.
President Zelenskyy discussed replacing the current Ukrainian ambassador to the US, Oksana Markarova, with President Trump. Among the potential candidates for the ambassadorial position are Denys Shmyhal, Olha Stefanishyna, Rustem Umerov, and Herman Halushchenko.
BlackRock Inc. stopped seeking investors for a multi-billion dollar Ukraine reconstruction fund earlier this year after Donald Trump won the US presidential election. The fund was supposed to raise at least $500 million from countries and $2 billion from private investors.
Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi stated China's readiness to cooperate with France in nuclear energy, aviation, AI, green energy, and biotechnology. Issues concerning Ukraine and the Middle East were also discussed, and China resolved the issue of anti-dumping duties on European cognac.
The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) withdrew its inspectors from Iran due to a new Iranian law that criminalizes the activities of international monitoring missions. This decision caused concern among Western countries and intensified the isolation of Iran's nuclear program.
US President Donald Trump signed a bill that raises the national debt limit by $5 trillion, cuts social programs, and increases military funding. The document also provides for tax breaks and funding for combating illegal migration.
The US government is ceasing the production of pennies, as minting them cost more than their value. This decision is symbolic, but could lead to prices being rounded to the nearest nickel.
