Steve Witkoff will meet with Ukrainian officials on Wednesday before traveling to Moscow with Jared Kushner for talks with Putin on a peace plan. Documents on a peaceful settlement have been unofficially handed over to Moscow for review.
Indian refiners are changing their oil import strategy, reducing purchases from Russia and increasing supplies from the Middle East. This could help New Delhi conclude a trade deal with the United States and lower tariffs.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has agreed to join the Peace Council being established by US President Donald Trump. This Council is positioned as a competitor to the UN, although it was initially intended to oversee the reconstruction of the Gaza Strip.
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.
Hungarian MOL Group has signed a preliminary agreement to acquire a 56. 15% stake in Serbian NIS from Russian "Gazprom Neft". The deal requires approval from the US Office of Foreign Assets Control due to sanctions.
Rising tensions between the US and Iran, as well as internal protests, pose a threat to the security of Tehran's nuclear assets. Experts are concerned about the loss of control over highly enriched uranium and possible sabotage at nuclear power plants.
Hungary has received an invitation from Donald Trump to join the US-created Peace Council. Prime Minister Viktor Orbán confirmed the acceptance of this invitation.
The Trump administration is developing a 'Peace Council' project as an alternative to the UN. Countries can obtain permanent membership for a one-time payment of $1 billion.
Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu has protested against the composition of the executive council for governing the Gaza Strip, which was unveiled by the White House. Israel did not approve this composition, which contradicts its official policy.
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.
Britain and the US warn citizens against traveling to 16 countries, including Turkey, UAE, Cyprus, and Egypt. The reason is growing tensions in the Middle East and security risks.
Russia is using the online game ARMA3 and the Discord app to recruit South Africans for the war against Ukraine. Two men in their 20s left South Africa, one of whom was killed in battle in Luhansk Oblast.
The Yemeni government, supported by Saudi Arabia, has regained control of the city of Mukalla and Hadramaut province. This happened after a series of Saudi coalition airstrikes on separatist positions.
In Switzerland, 24 of the 40 victims of the bar fire at the Crans-Montana ski resort have been identified. Among the deceased are citizens of Switzerland, Italy, the UAE, Romania, France, and Turkey, aged between 14 and 39. A national day of mourning is scheduled for January 9, 2026, with a minute of silence and church bells ringing.
OPEC+ agreed to maintain stable oil production, despite an 18% price drop in 2025 and tensions between Saudi Arabia and the UAE. Eight countries raised their production targets by 2.9 million barrels per day from April to December 2025.
Yemen's Transitional Council agreed to talks with Saudi Arabia after losing the eastern port of Mukalla. This happened amid military successes of the Yemeni government and the weakening of separatist positions.
The governor of Yemen's Saudi-backed Hadramaut province announced the start of an operation to reclaim positions in the south of the country.
Yemen's main air gateway, Aden International Airport, has suspended operations due to a dispute between Saudi Arabia and the UAE over flight restrictions. This happened amid the biggest crisis in relations between Riyadh and Abu Dhabi in a decade.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs expressed hope that the leaders of these countries would express deep concern about Russia's real attacks on civilian targets in Ukraine and solidarity with Ukraine, against which Russia has been waging an unjustified and unprovoked aggression for the fourth year.
Oil prices were little changed on Wednesday but are expected to fall by more than 15% over 2025. This is due to fears of oversupply, despite wars, tariffs, and sanctions.
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.
Separatists in southern Yemen accused Saudi Arabia of airstrikes on their forces in Hadhramaut after a warning about troop withdrawal. This escalates the situation in the country and jeopardizes the coalition fighting the Houthis.
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%.
The global oil market is experiencing an oversupply of "black gold," pushing oil prices down. A record 1.3 billion barrels of crude oil are in transit or awaiting buyers in the world's oceans.
The criminal prosecution of Roman Mileshko's group of aviation companies has been ongoing for more than three years without any charges being filed. A number of law enforcement agencies have found no evidence of a crime, which indicates possible pressure from competitors.
Heavy rains and thunderstorms are raging in the emirates of Dubai and Abu Dhabi, causing traffic jams and accidents. Police urge drivers and pedestrians to be careful on the roads.
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 European Union has expanded sanctions against 9 individuals and entities supporting Russia's "shadow fleet" that transports oil. This decision aims to limit Russia's revenues and targets companies associated with "Rosneft" and "Lukoil" that use illegal shipping practices.
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.
Sovereign wealth funds from Gulf countries have joined forces to finance Warner Bros. Discovery's potential acquisition of Paramount. This move underscores their growing desire for Hollywood assets and influence in the global media market.
