Germany faces growing pressure to abandon its free-market approach and order state-controlled energy firms to buy gas as storage levels hit historic lows ahead of winter, threatening wider European supplies.
Trump administration officials sparked a stock market rally and oil price drop by hinting at an imminent U.S.-Iran deal to reopen the Strait of Hormuz, though Iran denied direct negotiations and pushed a restrictive draft plan.
Russia sold significant gold reserves in 2026, dropping holdings to 73.4 million troy ounces to offset budget deficits caused by soaring defense spending for the war in Ukraine.
South Korea's foreign reserves increased by $590 million to $427.95 billion in July, marking the second consecutive monthly gain, driven by foreign exchange stabilization bonds and rising foreign currency deposits.
Bank reserves fell by $77.579 billion on a weekly-average basis while the US Treasury raised its July-September borrowing estimate by $68 billion, placing scrutiny on Bitcoin's liquidity environment.
A UN report released in Santiago urges Latin American and Caribbean nations to maintain strategic flexibility, diversifying trade toward China while keeping security ties with Washington.
Tether Gold (XAUt) reserves increased 9.5% in Q2 despite gold's 14.1% decline, reflecting demand for tokenized gold. Holdings rose 36% year-to-date, with XAUt now valued at $2.4 billion.
The Colombian Navy intercepted a fishing vessel carrying 1,764 pounds of suspected illegally caught marine animals from the Malpelo Fauna and Flora Sanctuary, detaining three Ecuadorian citizens.
BlackRock has expanded onto the Solana blockchain by launching a new money market fund designed for stablecoin reserves, alongside tokenized shares of an existing liquidity fund.
BlackRock, the world's largest asset manager, has introduced two new tokenized money market products, BSTBL and BRSRV, designed to serve as reserve assets for stablecoins. This move expands BlackRock's presence in the blockchain infrastructure and tokenized Treasury market.
A five-year study in South Africa found that 11 elephants released from captivity exhibited behavior and stress hormone levels very similar to wild elephants, proving their ability to successfully reintegrate into natural environments and regain independence.
Carlos Cordeiro resigned as Gianni Infantino's senior adviser at FIFA, protesting a proposal to sell a World Cup stake, calling it "a bad deal for football." This adds to pressure on Infantino, who faces united opposition from major confederations like UEFA, Concacaf, and AFC, threatening his leadership.
Tether reported a $1.5 billion net operating profit for Q2, a nearly 50% increase from Q1 2026, driven by increased USDT circulation and investments. The company expanded its reserve surplus to over $4 billion and added 14 metric tons of gold, boosting its market share to over 60% in a shrinking stablecoin market.
A five-year study in South Africa found that 11 elephants, rewilded after years in captivity, successfully adapted to natural environments, exhibiting behavior and stress levels similar to wild elephants. This research provides strong evidence for the resilience and adaptability of captive elephants.
The Bank for International Settlements (BIS) announced Project Agorá successfully completed real-value testing of tokenized wholesale cross-border payments. The trials involved 28 financial institutions and central banks, settling 800,000 Swiss francs across 17 scenarios with an average settlement time of 80 seconds.
A Chinese private firm, among others, invested in Indonesia in 2009 to secure nickel, crucial for stainless steel and advanced battery production, fostering deeper economic ties between China and Indonesia.
A study on pearly razorfish in Spain's Balearic Islands reveals heavy fishing may induce epigenetic changes, affecting gene regulation without altering DNA sequences, potentially impacting fish populations beyond just numbers.
A study in the Balearic Islands reveals that intense fishing pressure on pearly razorfish may induce epigenetic changes, affecting gene regulation without altering DNA sequences, potentially impacting the species' biology.
Iran's Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi warned at an SCO meeting that any country aiding US aggression against Iran would be a legitimate target for its armed forces, reaffirming Tehran's right to self-defense amid ongoing conflict with the US and Israel.
Yemen's Presidential Leadership Council announced oil export resumption from July 20, aiming to restore foreign currency and fund services. However, security challenges, Houthi threats, and restoring market confidence pose significant hurdles to sustained exports and economic stability.
India plans to expand its strategic petroleum reserves with a second phase, adding 6.5 million tonnes of crude oil storage at new facilities in Odisha and Karnataka. The Rs 14,527 crore project will use a public-private partnership model to enhance national energy security and reduce supply risks.
Russia's international reserves increased by $0.5 billion to $722.9 billion as of July 17, 2026, according to Central Bank data. This slight rise occurs despite Western sanctions imposed on the Bank of Russia following the special military operation in Ukraine.
Hedge fund manager John Paulson believes gold is in the early stages of a long-term bull market, citing declining faith in paper currencies and growing demand from central banks and the private sector. He advises investing in early-stage gold miners, specifically mentioning NovaGold Resources.
Pakistan has quietly approached the Trump administration for a $10 billion "exchange stabilization facility" to bolster its fragile economy and foreign exchange reserves. The unusual five-year facility, if approved, would strengthen ties with the nuclear-armed nation and provide the US leverage against China's growing influence.
