United States
From September 23 to September 30, 2025, 154,000 civil servants left US federal agencies, marking the largest outflow of personnel in almost 80 years. This has led to problems in weather forecasting, food safety, healthcare, and space projects, particularly at NASA.
Payment giant Visa has launched a pilot program that will allow businesses to use stablecoins for international settlements, accelerating cross-border payments. This will solve the problems of frozen funds and high fees, integrating the technology into the existing infrastructure.
Former British Prime Minister Sir Tony Blair has become the first appointed member of the new "Peace Council" chaired by Trump. This council will temporarily control the administration of the Gaza Strip if Hamas accepts the American plan to end the war.
US President Donald Trump announced the introduction of new tariffs on imported timber and wood products, including lumber (10%) and kitchen cabinets and upholstered furniture (25%). These measures could lead to higher prices for housing and furniture, and also affect domestic industry and exports.
Director David Lynch's Hollywood Hills home is for sale for $15 million. The approximately 1-hectare estate includes five buildings where Lynch lived and worked for over three decades.
Starting November 1, China's Qingdao port is implementing new rules for oil tankers, banning vessels over 31 years old and those with invalid certificates. These restrictions follow US sanctions against oil carrier Qingdao Port Haiye Dongjiakou Oil for transporting Iranian oil.
China is actively demonstrating its intention to shape the world order, amid the US withdrawal from international organizations. Chinese Premier Li Qiang stated at the UN General Assembly that the country is ready to take responsibility and will bring more positive energy to the world.
Venezuelan dictator Nicolas Maduro announced military exercises and is ready to impose a state of emergency due to a possible US attack. This is due to the deployment of US warships to the Caribbean and Trump's accusations against Maduro.
President Zelenskyy announced the receipt of funding for 4 aid packages for the purchase of American weapons within the framework of the PURL initiative. The Netherlands, Denmark, Norway, Sweden, Germany, and Canada have contributed a total of over $2 billion.
US President Donald Trump, Vice President J. D. Vance, and Republican leaders are blaming Democrats for a possible government shutdown. Democrats, in turn, believe public opinion is on their side and are seeking concessions on healthcare.
Donald Trump has proposed a 20-point peace plan to end the war in the Gaza Strip, which has been approved by Israel, the Palestinian Authority, and a number of Arab countries. Hamas is studying the proposal, while Palestinian Islamic Jihad called it a "recipe for an explosion in the region."
The National Bank of Ukraine set the official hryvnia exchange rate at UAH 41. 3176/USD, strengthening it by 16 kopecks. The official euro exchange rate is UAH 48.44/EUR, and the zloty exchange rate is UAH 11.34/PLN.
YouTube will pay $24. 5 million to settle Donald Trump's lawsuit filed after his account was blocked in 2021. Of the total amount, $22 million will go to the Trust for the National Mall fund for furnishing the ballroom in the White House.
Gold prices rose to an all-time high due to the threat of a possible US government shutdown, which complicates the forecasting of the Fed's monetary policy. The value of bullion reached $3,839.52 per ounce, and the world's largest gold producers announced personnel changes.
The US State Department plans to furlough more than half of its US-based employees if the government shuts down. Embassies and consulates abroad will continue to operate, providing services to citizens.
Donald Trump unveiled a 20-point peace plan to end the conflict in Gaza, which includes the release of hostages, the reconstruction of Gaza, and its demilitarization. The plan also includes the creation of an interim government and economic development of the region under international supervision.
The global players' union FIFPRO has appealed to FIFA regarding the intense international calendar and potential extreme heat at the 2026 FIFA World Cup. The organization emphasizes the need to review the schedule.
US President Donald Trump met with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu at the White House. They are discussing a new peace plan that aims to end the war in Gaza.
The price of gold reached $3,800 per ounce, which was previously forecast for the end of 2025. This increase reflects global distrust and preparation for worse economic scenarios.
People's deputies registered a draft resolution on appealing to the Nobel Committee regarding the nomination of Donald Trump for the Peace Prize. Among the authors are Anna Skorokhod, Anatoliy Urbansky, and Taras Batenko.
US President Donald Trump has promised to impose 100% tariffs on foreign-made films, as he pledged in May. This could lead to serious upheaval in the entertainment industry, given the volume of media production outside the US.
Electronic Arts Inc. has agreed to sell shares to a group of private investors for $55 billion, marking the largest leveraged buyout in history. The consortium, including Silver Lake Management and Saudi Arabia's Public Investment Fund, will pay $210 per share in cash.
Meta is developing new guidelines for training its AI chatbot regarding child sexual exploitation and other high-risk topics. This comes after scrutiny from the Federal Trade Commission and prohibits chatbots from generating content that depicts or condones sexual relationships involving children.
Minister of Foreign Affairs Andriy Sybiha discussed new packages of military aid to Ukraine with his counterparts from Germany, Poland, and France. They are united in the view that security guarantees must be effective and legally binding.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy stated that Russia seeks to divide allies, and a common position of the EU, NATO, and the US can deter aggression. He noted that risks remain for Moldova, Kazakhstan, and other states, despite the victory of pro-European forces in Moldova.
President Volodymyr Zelenskyy stated that Donald Trump's attitude towards Ukraine's security has changed to a fair one. Ukraine must maintain this new US attitude towards the war so that it aligns with the European one.
US Vice President J. D. Vance stated that the US is considering Ukraine's request to purchase long-range Tomahawk missiles. President Trump will make the final decision on authorizing the deal.
Bad Bunny will headline the Apple Music Super Bowl LXI Halftime Show in 2026. The event will take place on February 8 at Levi's Stadium in Santa Clara, California.
New Volvo electric vehicles, including the mid-size EX60 electric SUV, will be equipped with advanced battery technologies available outside of China. The EX60, due out next year, will have battery options with two different chemical compositions and will use prismatic cells.
Gold prices reached $3800 per ounce due to fears of a US government shutdown and expectations of interest rate cuts by the Fed. Silver and platinum also saw significant gains, supported by a weakening dollar.