Bloomberg L.P.
The price of Russian Urals oil has fallen to $34 per barrel, while Brent remains at $61. This drop may indicate the impact of US sanctions and negatively affect the Kremlin's revenues.
Russia has sent weapons to Madagascar's military government, which came to power in an October coup. On December 20, a Russian Air Force plane delivered 40 servicemen and 43 crates of weapons to an international airport near Antananarivo.
Gold and silver prices soared to all-time highs, surpassing previous records. This surge is driven by escalating geopolitical tensions and expectations of interest rate cuts in the US.
Shipments of liquefied natural gas from Russia to China more than doubled compared to last year, reaching 1. 6 million metric tons in November. This allowed Russia to overtake Australia and become the largest supplier after Qatar, offering the cheapest LNG among 12 suppliers.
Chinese startups Zhipu AI and MiniMax, competitors of OpenAI, have undergone listing hearings on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange. The companies have disclosed their financial performance for the first time, preparing for an IPO in January 2026.
Uber, in partnership with Chinese giant Baidu, will launch robotaxis in the UK, starting a pilot project with Apollo Go RT6 autonomous vehicles in the first half of 2026. The company plans to make the service available to Londoners by the end of next year and will offer it in more than 10 markets.
The head of one of Turkey's most titled football clubs, Sadettin Saran, was interrogated in a drug case. He is suspected of providing and facilitating drug use, and has been placed under "forced supervision."
Silver prices surged to a record $67. 55 per ounce, marking its largest annual gain since 1979. Gold neared its peak, hovering around $4363, driven by geopolitical chaos and expectations of Fed rate cuts.
French President Emmanuel Macron announced the launch of a program to create a new generation aircraft carrier (PANG), which is to replace the Charles de Gaulle in 2038. The project, worth 10 billion euros, will be implemented by Naval Group SA, involving hundreds of enterprises, despite financial uncertainty in the country.
The United States has detained the Panamanian-flagged tanker Bella 1 near Venezuela. This happened amid an intensified oil blockade of the Nicolás Maduro regime. The vessel was en route to Venezuela for loading.
The Delaware Supreme Court overturned a lower court's decision, allowing Elon Musk to reclaim his 2018 Tesla compensation package. This stock-based compensation plan is valued at nearly $140 billion.
The US Space Development Agency (SDA) has awarded L3Harris Technologies an $843 million contract for 18 satellites to enhance missile tracking. This is in addition to previous orders for 34 systems, which are a key element of Trump's 'Golden Dome' defense shield.
Hungarian state energy company MVM Group and Romanian E. ON Group have mutually agreed to terminate the agreement for the acquisition of a 68% stake in E.ON Energie Romania and a 98% stake in E.ON Asist. The Romanian government did not support the deal due to concerns about MVM's ties with Russia.
The Russian tanker Hyperion entered the port of Amuay in Venezuela, violating the naval blockade declared by Donald Trump. The vessel delivered raw materials for oil refining, and now the crew risks being detained by the American military when attempting to go to sea.
Gas prices in Europe have fallen to pre-war levels, but European factories continue to close or relocate. Experts believe that relief came too late, and businesses have lost faith in stability on the continent.
The global oil market is experiencing an oversupply of "black gold," pushing oil prices down. A record 1.3 billion barrels of crude oil are in transit or awaiting buyers in the world's oceans.
The UK Foreign Office suffered a cyberattack in October, in which British officials suspect the involvement of Chinese state entities. Although there is no official confirmation, the incident occurred amid strained relations between the countries.
Commander of NATO's Allied Maritime Command, Mike Utley, stated that the Alliance has an advantage over Russia but is not ready for prolonged hostilities. Member countries have recognized the problem and plan to invest in increasing resilience.
Leading AI developers, including Microsoft, Google, and Nvidia, have entered into an agreement with the US government to participate in "Mission Genesis. " The Trump administration's project integrates AI into scientific research, energy, and manufacturing to strengthen the country's technological leadership.
The US has published 70 new photographs from Jeffrey Epstein's personal archive, including pictures with Bill Gates. This is part of a large array of data, comprising about 95,000 photographs, transferred to the Committee.
Boeing has selected defense startup Anduril Industries to develop missile engines for a new interceptor. This partnership is expected to accelerate missile production and reduce supply chain risks amid growing global demand for air defense systems.
Great Britain imposed sanctions against three Russian oil companies: PJSC Tatneft, PJSC Russneft, and PJSC NNK. This expansion of sanctions pressure is aimed at reducing Russia's revenue from energy exports, covering almost 60% of Russian oil exports to key markets.
North Korean hackers stole $2 billion in cryptocurrency in 2025, setting a new anti-record. This accounts for the lion's share of global crypto thefts, which totaled $3.4 billion.
Three Russian border guards illegally crossed the border of Estonia, an EU and NATO member. They crossed the control line on the Narva River on foot and then returned to Russian territory.
This weekend, American and Russian officials will meet in Miami to discuss ways to end the war in Ukraine. The Trump administration is increasing pressure on Kyiv regarding territorial concessions.
Turkey is negotiating with Russia to return the S-400 systems to resolve the conflict with NATO and acquire F-35 fighters. This will allow Ankara to resume military cooperation with the West and strengthen its air force.
The European Union Aviation Safety Agency proposes inspecting Airbus SE A320 aircraft and requires repairs to panels found on fuselages that do not meet specifications due to a quality issue in manufacturing. A total of 628 aircraft contain panels that may be too thick or too thin, with about 170 of them already in service.
Google has introduced Gemini 3 Flash, a more accessible and faster version of its flagship AI model, which will replace Flash 2. 5 and become the basic system for AI functions in Google Search. This will allow users to instantly process complex multi-component queries.
The President of Mexico is ready to mediate negotiations between the US and Venezuela to prevent a regional conflict. This happened after Donald Trump imposed a blockade on oil tankers and increased military presence in the region.
Donald Trump estimated the new White House ballroom, which could also host inaugurations, at up to $400 million. The project, funded by private donations, includes 5-inch glass windows and the demolition of the East Wing.