🇺🇸 The United States is recalling ambassadors from 29 countries. Diplomatic missions were informed of the personnel changes last week. All ambassadors stepping down were appointed during Biden's administration. The new U.S. diplomatic strategy aims to involve staff who fully support Trump's "America First" priorities. — AP
🛢🇷🇺🇨🇳 The Arctic LNG-2 project has sent its 16th tanker with liquefied natural gas (LNG) for export in 2025, according to BBG.
🌏 Japan is preparing to restart the world's largest nuclear power plant, Kashiwazaki-Kariwa, according to RTRS.
⚠️🇮🇷 Israel has warned the United States that Iran's extensive missile drills may be a cover for preparations for an actual strike, according to Axios. Prime Minister Netanyahu is set to discuss the possibility of new attacks on Iran with President Trump, as reported by NBC News.
🚨 New data from Autostat reveals that sales of new electric vehicles in Russia fell by 31.4% year-on-year from January to November 2025, totaling 11,202 units. This decline highlights the challenges facing the electric vehicle market in the country.
⚠️🇷🇺 The growth rate of airline ticket prices is slowing in 2025 due to increased competition from foreign carriers and accumulated inflation from previous years. In 2026, if demand remains stable, foreign airlines are expected to continue capturing traffic from Russian competitors, who will likely keep prices in check, analysts believe — Ъ.
🌫 Copper prices have reached a new record on the London Metal Exchange, hitting $11,990.
🌏 The Chinese yuan is nearing the 7 mark against the dollar. Authorities in China are urging for further strengthening of the CNY against the USD. Some analysts believe that a drop in USDCNY below 7 will be short-lived, according to a report by Bloomberg. For more details, visit here.
🚀 The topic of "prediction markets" is gaining momentum as the number of "forecasting platforms" is increasing rapidly. DropsTab has released a list of the largest platforms based on venture capital raised and social activity, many of which are set to launch their own tokens soon.
🇮🇳🇳🇿 New Zealand and India have finalized an agreement on a free trade deal. The signing is expected in the first half of 2026. The countries aim to double their bilateral trade within the next five years.
🏢 The Russian Real Estate Register reports that new housing sales in Moscow have decreased by 4% year-on-year over the past 11 months.
⚠️ Analysts and businesses are evaluating whether the Central Bank's decision to lower the interest rate by 0.5% will be sufficient. Experts believe this move is unlikely to significantly aid heavily indebted companies, as concerns about financial stability persist. For more details, visit Vedomosti.