International

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…

Donald Trump, the president-elect of the United States, has announced two major diplomatic appointments ahead of his inauguration. In a statement shared on his Truth Social account, Trump revealed that Lou Rinaldi has been named the next US ambassador to Uruguay, while Leah Francis Campos has been selected to serve as chief of mission in the Dominican Republic. “I am thrilled to announce Lou Rinaldi as the next United States Ambassador to Uruguay,” Trump wrote. “Lou, a successful entrepreneur and lifelong friend, brings a wealth of experience and a unique perspective to this important role.” Trump highlighted Rinaldi's connection to…

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…

Shell and Norwegian energy firm Equinor have unveiled plans to merge their offshore oil and gas businesses in the UK sector of the North Sea, marking a significant step in the energy sector. The joint venture, which will be equally owned by both companies, aims to strengthen energy security and continue fossil fuel production, navigating the UK's evolving energy landscape. The new entity, based in Aberdeen, Scotland, is set to become the largest independent oil and gas producer in the UK North Sea once the merger is completed, probably by the end of next year, pending the regulatory approval. Shell…

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…