The final value of Japan’s machine tool orders in November fell 13.6% year-on-year.

Saudi government data: In October 2023, Saudi imports of goods increased by 11.5% to 7.6 billion riyals.

Saudi government data: Non-oil exports (including re-exports) fell 13.9% year-on-year in October.

Russia-appointed government in Crimea: After Ukrainian attack on Feodosia, local trains depart from Aivazovskaya station instead.

Thailand’s Labor Minister: The new minimum wage increase will be determined in March next year.

Thailand’s Prime Minister: The Wage Committee will meet in January to determine a new round of minimum wage increases.

According to Yonhap News Agency: South Korea will add nearly 700 export bans to Russia and Belarus, including heavy construction equipment, rechargeable batteries, aircraft parts, machinery, etc. The new regulations will increase the total number of projects on the list to 1,159 from the current 798 projects.

Dubai Financial Market will be closed on January 1.

According to TASS news agency: The chairman of the Russian Election Commission said that more than 30 people are vying to become candidates for the Russian presidential election.

Iran has set the January price of Iranian light crude oil at a premium of US$3.60/barrel to Oman/Dubai.

[Israeli Defense Minister does not rule out signing an agreement to ensure the return of northern residents] A press release obtained from the Israeli Defense Ministry showed that Israeli Defense Minister Yoyav Galant assessed the situation at the Israel Defense Forces Northern Command and did not line up to sign the agreement. Ensure northern residents return home. Garland said that under the Israeli attack, the Lebanese Shiite movement Hezbollah lost 150 soldiers, its infrastructure was destroyed, and it was far away from the border, while the Israeli Air Force was able to fly over Lebanon at will. Garland promised to expand the scale of operations in the north and not allow a recurrence of the situation before October 7.

[Samsung Electronics has postponed the mass production of its new wafer fab in Tyler, Texas, to 2025] Siyoung Choi, head of Samsung Electronics’ foundry business, said at the 2023 International Electronic Devices Conference that Samsung Electronics will postpone its new fab in Tyler, Texas, the United States. The mass production time of the new factory has been postponed from 2024 to 2025. The Taylor fab will produce its first wafers in the second half of 2024. When Samsung announced its investment plan in 2021, it initially aimed to achieve mass production in the second half of 2024.

According to Ukraine TSN News: The Ukrainian Air Force stated that the Russian large landing ship "Novocherkassk" was destroyed in Crimea.

U.S. Central Command: Launched a strike operation in Iraq at 8:45 pm ET on December 25.

U.S. Department of Defense: U.S. forces attacked three facilities in Iraq used by Hezbollah.

U.S. Department of Defense: Three U.S. personnel were injured in the attack.

U.S. Department of Defense: The U.S. strike was in response to a series of attacks by Iranian-backed militia groups on U.S. personnel in Iraq and Syria.

U.S. Department of Defense: The United States conducted targeted strikes against three facilities used by Hamas and affiliated groups in Iraq.

U.S. Department of Defense: U.S. military strikes at facilities used by Iranian-backed militants in Iraq.