... the end of World War II, the U.S. dollar has held a central position in the global economy. As the world’s primary reserve currency, it facilitates most of the world’s trade, investments, and financial activities. Nations rely on the dollar for international transactions, and central banks hold significant dollar reserves. This dominance has provided the U.S. with substantial economic and political leverage worldwide. However, the dollar’s status faces increasing challenges. U.S.-imposed sanctions on countries like Russia and China have raised concerns about the stability of the dollar-based system. Many nations, seeking to avoid reliance on the dollar, have started exploring alternative means for conducting cross-border transactions....

... participants are closely monitoring the EU's further steps to strengthen energy security, including discussions about new targets for storage filling and potential restrictions on Russian gas imports. Global Agreements and Policy: Trade De-escalation vs Sanction Pressure In the international arena, two opposing trends are notably interwoven: de-escalation of trade conflicts between major economies and increasing geopolitical rhetoric. On one hand, a key recent event has been the trade-energy deal between the U.S. and the EU,...

... more closely linked to geopolitics, particularly with the approaching August 8 date when President Trump plans to announce new sanctions against Russia and countries buying Russian oil if a resolution to the conflict with Ukraine is not reached by that ... ... formation of a stable trend," Gromov concludes. Will OPEC+ Continue to Increase Production? "I agree with the majority of international analysts that, at this stage, OPEC+ is likely to pause further easing of production quotas," said Gromov from ...

... cause for nervousness in financial markets. August 8 marked the deadline for the ultimatum previously issued by the US to Russia: Washington demanded a ceasefire in Ukraine, threatening new sanctions otherwise. According to President Trump, secondary sanctions and nearly 100% tariffs could be imposed on Russia and partner countries trading with it. Energy and technology sectors, as well as international carriers involved in the "shadow fleet" exporting Russian oil, may be at risk. Nonetheless, the geopolitical tension eased somewhat Friday evening with news of potential dialogue. The US administration and the Kremlin confirmed ...

... value can be attributed to the soaring demand for its products: the company’s shares have skyrocketed over 500% in the past year amid a sharp increase in sales and profits. In contrast, Gazprom’s capitalization has sharply declined in recent years—sanctions and the loss of key export markets have led to a crash in the stock price of the Russian gas giant. Pop Mart: The Phenomenon of Labubu Toys Pop Mart International Group was founded in China in 2010 and initially began as a small toy store in Beijing. The company gained fame through its “blind box” concept: collectible figurines are sold sealed, and the buyer does not know which character they ...