RT C3 (@C_3C_3)Live look at Mitch McConnell writing his X posts slamming the Trump Administration’s Ukraine and Russia peace plan.Not buying it.https://t.co/xqUNXY3oix ...

German Chancellor Friedrich Merz and President Donald Trump discussed Ukraine in a phone call Friday, a German government spokesman said, as the US steps up pressure for a peace deal with Russia https://t.co/ccwO8ZgNbE ...

President Vladimir Putin signaled Russia may commence nuclear weapons testing if Donald Trump moves forward with the threatened US atomic weapons trials (translation via AP) https://t.co/NBxC4QXiyR https://t.co/qBSndCris4 ...

OPEC+ Strategy & Rationale - OPEC+ brought back 137,000 barrels a day to the market as expected but decided to hold off on further increases for the first three months of next year [1] - OPEC's rationale is based on monitoring the market and digesting customer demand [2] - The decision to hold off on further increases may be influenced by Russia's production capabilities due to sanctions on Rosneft and Lukoil [3][4] Market Dynamics & Oversupply Concerns - The market is moving towards an oversupplied state, despite OPEC+ increasing output since earlier this year [5] - Chinese buying, which previously helped absorb increased output, may slow down going into 2026 [6] - US output has remained strong despite WTI being in the low $60 range [7][12] Chinese Demand & Economic Factors - Analysts are watching refinery run rates and teapot purchases to determine if Chinese demand is faltering [8] - Industrial output from China needs to be monitored to assess the overall Chinese economy [9] - EV sales in China are strong, suggesting that long-term gasoline demand may not grow as it has in the past [10] - China's industrial and economic growth has not met expectations, and has not significantly pushed up oil demand [11]

New today, Defense Secretary Pete Hexath announcing another air strike on a suspected drug boat in the Caribbean. Hegs says all three people on board were killed and called them narot terrorists. He did not provide any evidence for his claims, but it is the 15th strike since early September.Democrats say they're getting left in the dark. This document needs to be shared with every member of the Senate this week so that as we get into this discussion about war powers, we've got the basis of how the administr ...

Her uncompromising stances on Russia and China have ruffled feathers in some European capitals. But “Europe’s new iron lady” remains unfazed.@DSORennie sits down with @kajakallas in the first episode of Inside Geopolitics, streaming at 6pm London time https://t.co/xL1Qt333vm ...

Geopolitical Analysis - The opinion piece from WSJopinion suggests that Russia must be compelled to negotiate to end the war [1] - Seth G Jones and Tom Karako are the authors of the opinion piece [1]

Geopolitical Observation - The report offers a glimpse into the reality of life in Krasnodar, Russia, beyond the major cities like Moscow and St Petersburg [1] - The content suggests a focus on understanding the socio-economic conditions and everyday life in Russian cities outside the main centers [1]

Geopolitical Analysis - Russia is using grey-zone intimidation tactics against Europe [1] - The Economist's cover story examines Vladimir Putin's challenge to the West and its unity [1] Call to Action - The Economist encourages readers to sign up for their weekly newsletter for more insights [1]

Geopolitical Developments & Market Impact - A 20-point proposal for a Gaza ceasefire, agreed upon by U S President Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu, awaits Hamas approval, potentially impacting regional stability and oil markets [1][5][38] - Qatar's role as a key mediator between Israel and Hamas is crucial for the ceasefire, requiring a face-saving gesture, such as Israel expressing regret for a past attack [8][9][10] - The Israeli Shekel has strengthened against the USD by approximately 10% this year, reflecting the impact of geopolitical developments on local markets [46] - RBA (澳大利亚储备银行) holds cash rate at 36%, notes uncertainties in global environment and upside risks to inflation [40][41][42][43] Economic & Financial Market Trends - Looming U S government shutdown raises market risk, potentially delaying crucial jobs data release and impacting monetary policy assessment [2][3][23][25][44] - Gold hits record highs, massively outperforming Bitcoin, driven by uncertainty and a pullback in USD, with potential for further gains amid Fed rate cuts [3][4][23][32][33][44] - The market has aggressively priced in 3-4 rate cuts by June 2026, making upcoming jobs market data pivotal for determining monetary policy [27] - Potential tariffs on imports of timber and lumber, particularly impacting Canada, add to market uncertainty [23][39] - MSCI China is logging five-month gains, the longest streak since 2018, driven by better-than-expected PMI data and geopolitical signals [48] Energy Sector - Brent crude oil is slipping down by 08% ahead of the OPEC Plus meeting, where increased supply is expected [4] - The oil market is bearish due to well-supplied conditions, with focus on Iran snapback and Russia-Ukraine conflict, leading to investment in gold over oil [52][53] - Afentra is cautious about oil price volatility, focusing on a strong balance sheet and strategic acquisitions [64][65][66] - Nigeria's government intervenes to resolve a clash between the petroleum and natural gas association and oil labor group, potentially impacting crude production of 650 thousand barrels a day [76][77][78]