The combination of a declining currency and a ballooning budget deficit has led to talk of a hard landing for the Russian economy in 2025. After two years of strong growth, which has confounded many analysts’ gloomy predictions, the pace of expansion will slow sharply. The economic bill for the war is at last coming due. It could be a big one. ■ at Economist.com

Over the past year China has rejected claims it is exporting batteries and solar products at artificially low prices. Cuts to rebates are the first time officials seem to have taken action to lessen the force of such accusations, at Economist.com

Mr Petro’s paz total is running out of time. Presidential elections are due in 18 months and he cannot run again. Total peace is not popular; some two-thirds of Colombians say it is going badly. Mr Petro’s successor may well ditch it. To avoid that he needs big wins, fast. Sadly for him, for Colombians and for Ms Basto that looks unlikely. ■ at Economist.com

Even after 40 years, neither Union Carbide nor its employees have faced any real consequences for their role in the disaster. Survivors and families of the dead are still fighting for proper compensation. Worse, the toxic effects of the gas continue to poison successive generations. at Economist.com

Assad, the Syrian dictator, to retake Aleppo after part of the city fell to insurgents in 2012. Less than four days is how long it took him to lose it. On November 27th rebels launched a surprise offensive in north-west Syria. at Economist.com

The second Trump term promises to be different. Old-school television viewership has collapsed as audiences flip to entertainment-focused streaming. At the same time the social-media landscape, which Mr Trump once dominated with his Twitter megaphone, at Economist.com

Mr Guardiola, though, was always more Catalan than Spanish. He is a strong supporter of Catalonia’s independence, and spoke out in favour of an illegal separatist referendum in 2017. Little surprise, at Economist.com

Today Notre Dame has been rebuilt. The archbishop of Paris, Laurent Ulrich, will ceremonially open its doors for the first time since the fire on December 7th, and hold the first mass the next day. Against the odds, at Economist.com

Aseries of violent attacks has shaken China in recent weeks. On November 11th, 35 people were killed and 43 injured when a man drove through a crowd in Zhuhai, a southern city. The police said he ... at Economist.com

Hong Kong, long defined by sky-high property prices, has been experiencing a vicious slump. Home prices have fallen by over a quarter since late 2021. In September they reached their lowest level in eight years; at Economist.com

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Finance & economics in 2025. Interest rates will come down sharply in 2025. The global economy has had a series of shocks, including the pandemic, an inflation spike and the invasion of Ukraine. at Economist.com

Both give the same answers, all of which feature in articles in this week’s edition of The Economist. Email all four answers, along with your home city and country, by 9am GMT on Monday to ... at Economist.com

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