International

A senior U.S. delegation has landed in Moscow to participate in crucial discussions about the continuous conflict in Ukraine. This trip occurs amidst rising tensions and a pivotal development on the ground, as Russian troops have recaptured a town of strategic significance. The coinciding timing of these occurrences highlights the intricacy of the situation and the diplomatic hurdles involved.The Ukraine conflict has captured global focus, with the United States significantly aiding Kyiv through military and diplomatic means. Nonetheless, the situation is unstable, highlighted by Russia's latest military progress. Although the particular town recaptured by Russian troops hasn't been officially disclosed, its significance is rooted in its position within the disputed eastern areas, which ha...

Ukraine and US Unable to Conclude Deal on Rare Earth MineralsOn Friday, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky met with US President Donald Trump in Washington to sign an agreement granting the US access to Ukraine’s rare earth mineral deposits. However, the meeting took an unexpected turn, ending in a heated exchange between Zelensky, Trump, and Vice President JD Vance. Following Zelensky’s early departure, the White House announced that no agreement had been signed.Previously, Zelensky had expressed optimism that this "preliminary" agreement could pave the way for further cooperation. However, he confirmed that Ukraine had yet to secure any security guarantees from the US—one of his key demands. Trump, for his part, argued that such a deal would allow American taxpayers to "recoup their ...

More news - Breaking news European stock markets traded lower on Monday in the last full trading session of 2024, as investors braced for a quiet end to the year. The pan-European Stoxx 600 index fell 0.5% in early afternoon trading in London, with most sectors posting losses. Technology, industrial and media stocks led the declines, while oil and gas stocks managed to post gains. Trading volumes remained light as markets across the region prepared to close early or remain closed until January 2 for the New Year holidays. Despite Monday's modest performance, European stocks are on track to end the year with moderate gains. The Stoxx 600 is up about 5.5% in 2024, in stark contrast to the U.S. S&P 500 index, which is up about 25% over the same period. US markets also opene...

Related media - News 24 hours On New Year's Day, Ukraine officially cut off the flow of Russian natural gas to several European countries, marking the end of Moscow's long-standing dominance of European energy markets. The move, which had been widely anticipated, comes as the five-year transit agreement between Russia and Ukraine expired without renewal amid the ongoing war between the two nations. At around 8am local time on Wednesday, Russian state energy giant Gazprom confirmed that gas exports to Europe via Ukrainian pipelines had stopped. This development, which follows more than three decades of transit of Russian gas through Ukraine, highlights changing energy dynamics in Europe as the EU continues to push to reduce dependence on Russian supplies. Ukrainian Pr...

Related media - Recent news Chinese leaders reaffirmed their commitment to boosting the nation's economy by unveiling plans for more aggressive fiscal policy and moderate monetary easing at a high-level economic planning meeting that concluded Thursday. The meeting, led by President Xi Jinping, highlighted the government's determination to stabilize growth despite growing external pressures and domestic challenges. State-run CCTV reported the meeting after the mainland stock market closed. The iShares China Large Cap ETF (FXI) briefly rose 0.8% in premarket trading before paring gains. The annual economic conference highlighted the need for increased government spending, a higher fiscal deficit and the issuance of very long-term bonds in 2025. Furthermore, the confer...

More news - News 24 hours China's leadership surprised markets this week by signaling a change in its monetary policy stance for the first time in 14 years. The announcement highlights the depth of the country's economic challenges, even as experts warn that a large stimulus package remains unlikely. The change involves moving from a “moderately expansionary” monetary policy to a more “cautious” approach in 2024, a phrase not used since the 2008 global financial crisis. At the time, China adopted an aggressively accommodative stance to combat the global recession . This policy adjustment marks the first recognition by the current leadership that more flexible monetary measures may be needed, paving the way for what analysts believe could be a new round of monetary ea...

Related media - Latest news South Korea has found itself in the global spotlight after a stunning series of political events this week, raising concerns about the future of Asia's fourth-largest economy. President Yoon Suk Yeol's sudden announcement of emergency martial law on Tuesday evening, followed by a swift reversal a few hours later, has injected new uncertainty into the country's economic and political landscape. Analysts warn that the fallout could worsen South Korea's already difficult economic outlook, but some believe the turmoil could pave the way for brighter prospects if deeper instability can be avoided. President Yoon initially justified the declaration of martial law as a necessary step to protect South Korea from “communist forces” present ...