Thai Defense Minister Nakphanit flies to Cambodia for truce talks. The conflict has lasted three weeks, causing 98 deaths and half a million refugees.
Russia has almost doubled its exports of liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) to Central Asia and Afghanistan, reaching 1. 016 million metric tons from January to November 2025. This happened after the EU imposed restrictions on the import of Russian propane and butane in December 2024.
Silver hit $75 for the first time on Friday, with gold and platinum also setting record highs. This occurred amid speculative bets, expectations of US interest rate cuts, and rising geopolitical tensions.
Oil prices rose on Friday after the US increased economic pressure on Venezuelan oil supplies and launched airstrikes against militants in Nigeria. Brent futures rose to $62.30 and WTI to $58.41 amid low market activity due to the Christmas holidays and expectations of an annual price decline.
Acting chairman of the Bangladesh Nationalist Party, Tarique Rahman, arrived in Dhaka after almost 17 years in London. His return is seen as a key stage in the party's preparations for the general election in February.
Russia criticized US actions in the Caribbean, calling the pressure on Venezuela a return to banditry. Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova stated that Moscow supports Nicolas Maduro.
Prince Andrew's daughters, Princesses Beatrice and Eugenie, appeared at the Christmas service in Sandringham without their father. Prince Andrew was absent due to his ties to convicted Jeffrey Epstein and the deprivation of military ranks and royal titles.
The Serbian government has supported negotiations between NIS's Russian owners and Hungarian MOL regarding the sale of a controlling stake. The aim of the deal is to remove the country's largest energy company from under US sanctions.
Authorities in Liechtenstein and Switzerland are investigating the deaths of four members of the same family, whose bodies were found in two locations. A 41-year-old man was discovered on the banks of the Rhine, and his parents and sister were found in an apartment in Vaduz.
Five people have died after a helicopter crashed on Mount Kilimanjaro in Tanzania. The aircraft was on a medical rescue mission, and among the dead are a guide, a doctor, a pilot, and two foreign tourists.
Turkish authorities have detained 115 people suspected of involvement with the "Islamic State," who were planning attacks during the Christmas and New Year holidays. Istanbul police conducted searches at 124 locations, seizing weapons.
Paramount Skydance revised its takeover bid for Warner Bros. Discovery, including Larry Ellison's personal financing of $40.4 billion and an increased breakup fee. However, WBD's fifth-largest shareholder, Harris Oakmark, considers the changes insufficient, demanding a greater incentive.
On Wednesday evening, an explosion occurred in a mosque in Maiduguri, Nigeria, during prayer. This region is the epicenter of the activities of the terrorist groups Boko Haram and Islamic State – West Africa.
The Trump administration has developed a plan to reform the immigrant detention system, envisioning the conversion of industrial warehouses into deportation centers. The new system is designed to accommodate over 80,000 people simultaneously, with a network of seven "super-warehouses" and 16 smaller facilities.
In Russia, the All-Russian Public Opinion Research Center predicts the end of Russia's war against Ukraine in 2026. 70% of respondents consider 2026 to be more successful, and 55% associate this with the possible end of the war.
Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu announced preparations for a response after the explosion incident in Rafah, which injured an IDF officer. Hamas denies involvement, claiming the explosion was caused by old ammunition.
The US cannot intercept the oil tanker Bella 1, linked to the Nicolas Maduro regime, due to limited resources of the Maritime Security Response Team. The vessel's crew refused to voluntarily allow US law enforcement officers on board.
The militaries of Thailand and Cambodia have begun three-day talks to end a 16-day armed standoff that has killed at least 86 people. The goal of the meeting is to restore the truce previously brokered by Malaysia and the United States.
The US State Department has signed memorandums of cooperation with four African countries, investing $1. 4 billion, while recipient countries have pledged to invest more than $900 million of their own resources. The new US approach requires financial discipline and a gradual phasing out of donor aid, with clear benchmarks and consequences for non-compliance.
Brent and WTI crude futures rose by 0. 2% and 0.3% respectively, reaching $62.53 and $58.56 per barrel. This increase is driven by strong US economic growth and geopolitical risks, despite an expected annual price drop.
President Zelenskyy has called for a meeting with US President Trump to resolve sensitive issues of a future peace agreement with Russia, such as territorial control. The Ukrainian and American delegations have come closer to finalizing a 20-point negotiation plan.
The Trump administration announced tariffs on Chinese semiconductor imports due to Beijing's pursuit of dominance, but postponed their implementation until June 2027. This decision is a result of an investigation into China's unfair trade practices.
On December 24, gold surpassed $4,500 per ounce for the first time, while silver and platinum also reached record highs. This is due to investments hedging geopolitical and trade risks, as well as expectations of interest rate cuts in the US.
Venezuelan company PDVSA is using tankers as temporary oil storage due to critical overfilling of onshore tanks. This is caused by increased US sanctions and the detention of tankers, which has led to an export blockade.
The US and Iran exchanged remarks at the UN Security Council regarding the resumption of nuclear talks. Washington is ready for direct negotiations, but Tehran rejects conditions related to uranium enrichment.
The Israeli Ministry of Defense denied the government's intentions to restore civilian settlements in the Gaza Strip, stating that the military presence would be purely for security purposes. This position contradicts the "Trump Plan" for the withdrawal of Israeli troops from the enclave.
The Italian government has made adjustments to the performance of the national anthem, removing the traditional word "Sì!" from it at the end. The changes concern the final part of the anthem "Brothers of Italy", which ended with the phrase "We are ready to die, we are ready to die, Italy calls! Yes!".
The price of spot gold rose to $4,476. 15 per ounce, and US gold futures climbed to $4,509.80. Spot silver rose to $69.44 per ounce, renewing its record at $69.98.
Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu will visit the US next week to meet with Donald Trump. The main topics will be Iran's nuclear activity in light of its recent missile exercises, as well as the transition to the next stage of Trump's "Plan" for Gaza.
Alphabet acquired Intersect for $4. 75 billion to address the electricity shortage needed for the development of AI technologies. Intersect will operate independently, diversifying energy sources and curbing electricity prices.
