China

New US sanctions have stopped 10% of Russia's shadowy oil transportation fleet. About 65 tankers with Russian oil cannot enter the ports of China and other countries.

Former US Director of Intelligence John Ratcliffe spoke about Russia's attempts to compete with the US in hypersonic technology. He noted that Russia's Texas-sized economy forces it to choose narrow areas of competition.

Russia is losing ground in the space industry due to sanctions and the war in Ukraine. Trump could use this as leverage by offering Putin participation in the Artemis program in exchange for an end to the war.

Chinese hackers gained access to more than 400 US Treasury Department computers through a vulnerability in BeyondTrust software. More than 3,000 unclassified files, including sanctions and intelligence documents, were stolen.

The White House is considering options for maintaining access to TikTok in the United States after the ban came into effect on Sunday. The app may remain active, but without updates, although a complete shutdown is also possible.

Canada has prepared a draft list of $105 billion worth of US goods to impose duties in response to possible Trump sanctions. 12 out of 13 provinces have supported a common strategy to counter US protectionism.

U. S. President Joe Biden delivered a farewell speech in the Oval Office, summarizing his term. He noted successes in domestic policy and support for Ukraine, emphasizing the strengthening of NATO.

The US State Department considers the new sanctions to be more effective than recognizing Russia as a sponsor of terrorism. The latest restrictions have already led to the stoppage of tankers carrying Russian oil and made it impossible to circumvent previous sanctions.

John Ratcliffe, a candidate for the post of CIA director, said that the risk of a US conflict with a nuclear power is growing because of the war in Ukraine. He also called the current situation the most difficult for US national security in history.

HMD Global has withdrawn all Nokia smartphones and tablets from sale on its official website. Button phones remain available, but the company has not yet provided official comments on the future of the brand.

The United States imposed sanctions on nearly 100 entities associated with the Russian military machine. Banks, defense companies, foreign companies and individuals are subject to restrictions.

YouTube vlogger MrBeast announced his intention to acquire TikTok to prevent the platform from being blocked in the United States. After this statement was published, several billionaires approached him to discuss a possible deal.

During the discussion in Washington, US National Security Advisors Sullivan and Volz identified China as the main challenge for the United States. The war in Ukraine was not included in the list of major threats to national security.

At a meeting of the NATO Military Committee, Mark Rutte called for increased support for Ukraine. He emphasized the growing hostility of Russia and its allies against democratic countries.

American companies have increased imports of goods from China due to the threat of new tariffs from Trump. In December, the volume of shipments increased by 14.5%, reaching 451 thousand containers.

Three Russian Arctic oil fields have faced serious disruptions due to US tanker sanctions. The restrictions could lead to a halt in production due to a lack of oil storage capacity.

The President of Ukraine will take part in the World Economic Forum in Davos on January 21. The event will also be attended by Donald Trump, Ursula von der Leyen and other world leaders.

Ukraine's European allies have held private talks with the Trump team about supporting Ukraine. Officials expressed cautious optimism that the new US administration would not force Kyiv into premature negotiations with Russia.

Fuel prices in Ukraine are rising due to an increase in world oil prices from $74 to $82 per barrel. The reason was new US sanctions against Russian oil companies and tankers.

Chinese state-owned oil companies are buying crude oil from the Middle East and other regions in large quantities. This is due to fears of supply disruptions after new sanctions against Russia and Iran.

The Mexican government has developed a plan to reduce the trade deficit with China, which reached $105 billion in 2023. The plan calls for increasing domestic production and attracting investment to reduce dependence on Chinese imports.

Elon Musk will head the new Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) and will get an office in the White House complex. The project is aimed at reducing government spending in the Trump administration.

Chinese officials are evaluating the option of selling TikTok's U. S. operations to Elon Musk if the company loses the lawsuit. A potential deal could include integration with the X platform and the use of data for xAI.

The Philippines discovered a 165-meter-long Chinese coast guard ship in its economic zone. In response, the country sent two vessels and lodged a diplomatic protest.

The US President announced the strengthening of American positions by strengthening alliances and putting pressure on adversaries. Biden emphasized the growth of US influence in the diplomatic, military, and economic dimensions.

India plans to ban the unloading of oil tankers that have been sanctioned by the United States for transporting Russian cargo. The country will look for alternative oil suppliers from the Middle East and other regions.

At the Guangzhou Shipyard, China is building new mobile docks modeled after D-Day. The barges will have retractable ramps for transporting heavy equipment and could be a key element in a potential invasion of Taiwan.

Tankers carrying 2 million barrels of Russian oil changed course and stopped off the coast of China after US sanctions. Shandong Port Group banned the sanctioned tankers from entering ports.

The President outlined the priorities for Ukrainian diplomats in 2025. These include strengthening military support, integration into the EU and NATO, sanctions against Russia, and the launch of the e-Consul.

Europe will need 10% more LNG in 2024 to make up for the shortfall after transit through Ukraine is halted. The situation may lead to price competition with Asian countries for gas supplies.