Chinese officials are reviewing Meta's $2 billion acquisition of AI platform Manus over potential export control violations. This could give Beijing leverage over the deal, which is a rare instance of an American company acquiring a Chinese AI startup.
Gold prices remain around $4450 per ounce after the arrest of Nicolas Maduro. Investors are awaiting the US employment report and predict a price increase to $4900 – $5000 per ounce in 2026.
Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi will meet with President Donald Trump this spring. The meeting will take place amid escalating regional tensions due to Chinese military exercises around Taiwan.
President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy signed decrees on synchronizing sanctions with Great Britain against 8 individuals and 40 legal entities involved in the deportation of children and the supply of components for Russian weapons. Ukraine also imposed sanctions against 8 military leaders of South Sudan in accordance with UN Security Council resolutions.
Western sanctions have reshaped India's oil trade, reducing its reliance on Russian oil. Imports from Russia decreased by 17.8% in January-October 2025, while imports from the US increased by 83.3% and from the UAE by 8.7%.
On December 22, the spot price of gold reached an all-time high of $4383. 73 per ounce. This increase is driven by the easing of US monetary policy and growing global geopolitical instability.
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.
Over 25% of new cars sold globally in 2025 are electric, according to an Ember analysis. This growth is driven by emerging markets, which are now leading the transition to electromobility.
The Russian Federation has been recognized as the least peaceful country on the planet, taking last place in the annual Global Peace Index (GPI) report. Ukraine and Sudan also made it into the top three most dangerous states.
Thailand halted fuel shipments to Laos via the Chong Mek border crossing, fearing diversion to Cambodia. This decision is linked to the border conflict and intelligence reports of fuel supplies to Cambodian troops.
Former cryptocurrency mogul Do Kwon was sentenced to 15 years in prison after a $40 billion market collapse revealed fraud in his crypto ecosystem. The judge called it a fraud of epic proportions that caused real people to lose money.
The administration of US President Donald Trump is forming a coalition to counter China's dominant control over critical minerals and technology sectors. On Friday, the Pax Silica declaration will be signed with the participation of Singapore, Australia, Japan, South Korea, and Israel.
In Tennessee, 64-year-old Harold Wayne Nichols was executed for the rape and murder of 20-year-old student Karen Pulley in 1988. He was sentenced to death in 1990 and expressed remorse before his execution.
In January-October 2025, Ukraine increased its imports of tomatoes to 81. 8 thousand tons and cucumbers to 109.6 thousand tons. Turkey traditionally remains the largest supplier of both crops.
This year, 17 people have been executed in Singapore for drug and murder offenses, the highest number since 2003. This comes amid renewed debate over the use of capital punishment.
Samsung Electronics has released its first foldable smartphone, the Galaxy Z TriFold, priced at 3. 59 million won ($2,440.17). The model with a 10-inch display will go on sale on December 12 in South Korea, and later in China, Singapore, Taiwan, UAE, and the US.
The oil tanker Talara, seized by Iranian forces, has been released, but without its gasoil cargo. The crew is safe, and the vessel has left Iranian waters with a shallower draft.
Ariana Grande has stated that her upcoming 'Eternal Sunshine' tour in 2026 might be her last major tour for a long time. The singer plans to focus on her acting career after the tour.
Russian seaborne crude flows fell for the fourth consecutive week, exacerbating the country's oil price slump and cutting the Kremlin's revenue to a two-and-a-half-year low – about $1. 2 billion a week. In the four weeks to November 16, the country shipped 3.36 million barrels per day, about 90,000 barrels less than in the comparable period to November 9.
Bitcoin fell by 2. 4% during Asian trading, dropping below $90,000, which deepened its monthly decline. This decrease nullified all the cryptocurrency's gains in 2025 and affected sentiment in the digital asset market.
Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps seized a tanker carrying petrochemical cargo bound for Singapore. The seizure took place in the Persian Gulf due to alleged violations of transportation rules and the unauthorized transport of cargo.
Forces of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps intercepted the Marshall Islands-flagged tanker Talara, which was carrying diesel fuel. This is the first seizure of a vessel by Iran since the Israeli and US strikes in June.
Johnson Wen, who grabbed Ariana Grande at the premiere of Wicked: For Good in Singapore, has been charged with public nuisance. The man plans to plead guilty and faces a fine of up to 2,000 Singapore dollars.
China is stepping up efforts to import Russian gas, laying the groundwork for its own "shadow fleet" of vessels to transport liquefied fuel, bypassing US sanctions. This will allow it to diversify supplies and strengthen ties with Russia, which needs buyers for its LNG.
Former prosecutor Stanislav Bronytskyi stated that there is no control over NABU and SAP, which leads to questionable decisions and the dismissal of prosecutors. He noted that since 2015, no audit of SAP has been conducted, unlike international practice.
New data indicates millions of tons of Russian oil were transshipped through a port partly owned by Macquarie Bank, with potential sales to Australian companies. Australia has imported over 3 million tons of Russian-origin petroleum products since 2023 through third countries, creating loopholes in sanctions.
Gold prices rose after traders increased bets on a December Fed rate cut. This followed the release of unexpectedly weak US employment data, showing the largest job reduction in October in over 20 years.
British police have seized dinosaur skeletons worth over £12 million from a Chinese national suspected of money laundering. Su Binhai has agreed to forfeit three complete fossilized skeletons and nine London apartments.
Russia's Black Sea port of Tuapse has suspended fuel exports, and the local refinery has stopped oil processing after drone attacks on November 2. Three tankers that were in the port during the attack were moved away from the berths.
Bitcoin's price fell 7. 4% to $96,794, dropping below $100,000 for the first time since June. This is more than 20% below the record high reached a month ago, which corresponds to a bear market in stocks.
