Biggest world stories-2018

On July 1, 2024, the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) de jure ended its 33-year presence in Azerbaijan, closing a chapter that began in the early days of the country’s independence. This information, disclosed on January 16 at a press conference by Azerbaijani Foreign Minister Jeyhun Bayramov, both culminated years of strained relations and reflected changing geopolitical affinities.

The transition team of Donald Trump, who is set to assume the presidency of the United States on January 20, 2025, is preparing a large-scale package of energy measures primarily aimed at increasing oil and gas production. The implementation of these measures is planned to begin without delay.

On November 21, the United States imposed sanctions on Gazprombank, Russia's third-largest bank, along with six of its subsidiaries abroad, over 50 Russian financial institutions, 40 securities registrars, and 15 financial officials.

In a dramatic policy reversal, President Joe Biden has reportedly given Ukraine the green light to use U.S.-supplied ATACMS missiles for strikes deep inside Russian territory. This decision, revealed in reports from multiple sources, marks a significant departure from the previous cautious stance held by Washington, which had previously limited the use of these weapons to targets within Ukraine’s borders. The move comes at a pivotal moment, just two months before the expected transfer of power to newly elected President Donald Trump, who has vowed to reevaluate U.S. support for Ukraine.