The US introduced new import tariffs at the end of February 2026. Ukraine was among the countries in the EBRD region that experienced the largest increase in tariffs.
British police continued searching Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor's former home after his arrest. He is under investigation on suspicion of abuse of office related to his friendship with convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.
On February 17, global gold prices fell by 1% to $4948 per ounce. This happened due to a stronger dollar and low liquidity in Asian markets.
Global gold prices stabilized above $5,000 per ounce, despite profit-taking and a slight decline. Analysts predict a rise to $5,800 per ounce by the end of the second quarter.
Thames Valley Police are investigating information about Prince Andrew's possible transfer of confidential trade reports to Jeffrey Epstein. This is related to 2010 emails where Andrew sent reports from his trip to Southeast Asia.
Bitcoin has solidified above $70,000 after falling to $60,033. Experts describe the situation as "cautiously constructive," and institutional investors continue to show interest.
HP, Dell, Acer, and Asus are considering purchasing memory chips from Chinese manufacturers like CXMT due to the global supply crisis. This could help address rising prices and the threat to new product launches.
Senior Chinese General Zhang Youxia, vice chairman of the Central Military Commission, is under investigation. This deprives the US of an important contact in China's highest military body.
Last year, Russia's energy revenues decreased by 20% compared to 2024. This was due to increasing discounts on Russian oil and low global prices, which intensified pressure on the country's economy.
Users of American TikTok are reporting outages in the app, prompting them to switch to alternative applications. The problems arose due to a power outage at one of Oracle's data centers.
The Trump administration presented the "New Gaza" project at the World Economic Forum. The plan envisions transforming the enclave into a modern economic hub by 2035.
Donald Trump has invited a number of countries to his "Peace Council for Gaza" to implement a 20-point plan. The signing ceremony is scheduled for this Thursday in Davos.
China's population decreased by 3. 39 million in 2025, reaching 1.405 billion, while the birth rate fell to 7.92 million, an all-time low. The death rate rose to 11.31 million, the highest since 1968.
Ukrainian specialists discovered a Starlink terminal on board a downed Russian BM-35 drone. This allows operators to control the apparatus over long distances, making it almost invulnerable to electronic warfare.
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.
