China
Bitcoin's price dropped to $93,670, $15,000 below its December record. The cryptocurrency is up 120% year-to-date, but expectations for Fed rates have cooled the market.
Brent and WTI oil prices declined amid expectations of new economic data from major consumers. Traders are analyzing the demand outlook after China's record stimulus and the reduction in US inventories.
Kaja Kallas said that the number of sabotage attacks in Europe has increased since the beginning of Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine. The EU plans to step up measures against Russian ships and is considering the use of frozen Russian assets.
Trump unexpectedly chose his former rival Marco Rubio to be the US Secretary of State. Rubio changed his position on Ukraine from strong support to voting against additional funding.
Russia has shifted to stockpiling supplies between attacks instead of frequent small strikes. During the attack on December 12-13, about 90 missiles and 180 UAVs were used.
China has unveiled a new Type 076 Sichuan amphibious assault ship with an electromagnetic catapult for launching aircraft. The 40,000-ton ship can carry more than 1,000 marines and competes with the US military power.
The Alabuga plant produced 5,760 Shahed drones in 9 months of 2024, twice as many as in 2023. russia plans to produce 10,000 decoy drones by the end of the year to overcome Ukrainian air defense.
Donald Trump has asked the Supreme Court to suspend the ban on TikTok until 2025. He claims that he will be able to find a political solution to the issue after his inauguration, using his “outstanding deal-making skills.
Kyrgyzstan has begun construction of a new railroad connecting China with Europe through Central Asia. The 450-500 km long project will allow cargo to be transported bypassing russia.
The President of Ukraine reported on massive losses of DPRK troops at the front and their killing by his own troops. Russia deliberately sends Koreans into combat without protection and prevents their capture.
Photos of two new Chinese military aircraft with a tailless design and stealth characteristics have been posted online. The larger aircraft is diamond-shaped with three engines, while the smaller one has a more traditional look.
Foreign Ministry spokesman Heorhiy Tykhyi emphasized that Ukraine needs a comprehensive and just peace based on a 10-point formula.
Brent and WTI oil prices showed weekly growth amid expectations of economic stimulus in China. The strengthening of the US dollar is restraining further growth in oil prices.
Vladimir Putin's experimental Oreshnik missile launched against Ukraine last month was manufactured by Russian companies that still rely on modern Western production equipment.
The Russian ambassador to China announced that Xi Jinping will visit Moscow in 2025. According to him, China and Russia plan to jointly counteract the United States and its allies in the Asia-Pacific region.
The governments of the United States and Japan have adopted new Extended Deterrence Guidelines to strengthen security in the region. The document is aimed at countering strategic and nuclear threats from China and North Korea.
In Norway, a bus carrying foreign tourists went off the E10 highway and ended up in the water, killing three people. Among the passengers were citizens of 8 countries, 11 people were hospitalized, and the rescue operation is ongoing.
The President of Ukraine has appointed Yuriy Vitrenko as Permanent Representative to the International Organizations in Vienna by Decree No. 881/2024. This appointment is part of a large-scale diplomatic reshuffle in Ukrainian missions abroad.
The Finnish authorities are investigating the involvement of the Eagle S tanker from the Russian “shadow fleet” in damaging the Estlink 2 submarine electric cable. The vessel was stopped in Finnish waters after the incident last Wednesday.
For the first time, Taiwan conducted a large-scale exercise to simulate a response to military escalation with China. The simulation involved 19 ministries, local authorities, and non-governmental organizations under the leadership of the Vice President.
John Messick received a wedding ring with a fragment of the Apollo 11 spacecraft's thermopolyamide ribbon. The ring, made by Honest Hands Rings, also contains a lunar meteorite.
Brent and WTI oil prices rose by 0. 5-0.6% due to China's plans to issue $411 billion in bonds. An additional factor was a 3.2 million barrel reduction in US oil reserves.
Due to Trump's plans for new tariffs on Chinese imports, toy prices in the United States could rise by more than 50%. American consumers will lose about $78 billion annually due to new tariffs on various goods.
In his Christmas posts, Trump expressed his intentions for US control over Canada, Greenland, and the Panama Canal. He proposed that Canada become the 51st US state and criticized the current management of the Panama Canal.
russian companies have officially started using cryptocurrencies for international payments following legislative changes. The Minister of Finance of the Russian Federation confirmed the transactions and announced the expansion of the practice next year.
Audi has announced new car models for 2025 after a significant drop in profits. The company will present updated A5, A6 e-tron, Q5, Q6, A7, Q3 and other models with new specifications.
Head of the OP Andriy Yermak met with the newly appointed Chinese Ambassador Ma Shengkun to discuss bilateral cooperation. The parties discussed China's role in achieving peace and the possibility of a high-level dialogue.
Brent crude rose to $73. 58 and WTI to $70.10 per barrel due to expectations of a reduction in supplies. Analysts predict stable prices and rising demand in the coming months amid Chinese stimulus.
26-year-old Swiss snowboarder Sophie Hediger died in an avalanche at the Arosa resort before Christmas. The athlete was a participant in the 2022 Olympics and had two World Cup podiums in the 2023/24 season.
Britain's defense spending has increased by 14% over 10 years, while Iran, China, and Russia have increased funding by 57%, 60%, and 34%. London plans to increase spending to 2.5% of GDP.