South Korea Assures U.S. on Trade Deal Commitments Amid Tariff Concerns 
South Korea’s Weak Won Struggles as Retail Investors Pour Money Into U.S. Stocks 
Japanese Pharmaceutical Stocks Slide as TrumpRx.gov Launch Sparks Market Concerns 
Asian Stocks Slip as Tech Rout Deepens, Japan Steadies Ahead of Election 
Silver Prices Plunge in Asian Trade as Dollar Strength Triggers Fresh Precious Metals Sell-Off 
Bank of Japan Signals Readiness for Near-Term Rate Hike as Inflation Nears Target 
U.S. Announces Additional $6 Million in Humanitarian Aid to Cuba Amid Oil Sanctions and Fuel Shortages 
U.S. to Begin Paying UN Dues as Financial Crisis Spurs Push for Reforms 
South Africa Eyes ECB Repo Lines as Inflation Eases and Rate Cuts Loom 
Trump Signs Executive Order Threatening 25% Tariffs on Countries Trading With Iran 
Russian Stocks End Mixed as MOEX Index Closes Flat Amid Commodity Strength 
Trump Allegedly Sought Airport, Penn Station Renaming in Exchange for Hudson River Tunnel Funding 
Trump Backs Nexstar–Tegna Merger Amid Shifting U.S. Media Landscape 
Global Markets Slide as AI, Crypto, and Precious Metals Face Heightened Volatility 
Pentagon Ends Military Education Programs With Harvard University 
Russian President Vladimir Putin remained defiant after U.S. President Donald Trump imposed sweeping sanctions on Russia’s top oil companies, Rosneft and Lukoil, in a bid to pressure Moscow to end its war in Ukraine. The move, announced Thursday, sent global oil prices soaring by 5% and triggered a rapid response from key global buyers. Chinese state oil firms temporarily halted Russian oil purchases, while Indian refiners — the largest buyers of seaborne Russian crude — are expected to cut imports sharply, according to industry insiders.
The sanctions mark a dramatic reversal for Trump, who had recently announced plans for a peace summit with Putin in Budapest. Targeting two energy giants responsible for over 5% of global oil output, the move underscores Washington’s intent to cripple Russia’s wartime revenue streams. Despite the financial blow, Putin dismissed the sanctions as ineffective, warning that reduced Russian supply could further inflate oil prices, hurting Western economies. “No self-respecting country decides anything under pressure,” Putin asserted.
In response, Trump said he was “glad” Putin felt unaffected, adding, “We’ll see in six months.” The shift comes as Ukraine urges the U.S. and Europe for long-range missiles to counter Moscow’s offensive, while Putin cautioned that deeper strikes into Russian territory would provoke a “very serious” retaliation.
Meanwhile, the European Union unveiled its 19th sanctions package, banning Russian liquefied natural gas (LNG) imports and targeting Chinese refiners and Central Asian banks. Although the EU has slashed Russian energy reliance by 90% since 2022, it still imported over €11 billion in Russian energy in the first eight months of 2025.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy welcomed the sanctions as “very important,” urging continued pressure to force Russia toward peace. Despite economic strain, Moscow’s budget remains partly shielded by its heavy taxation on domestic oil production, softening the sanctions’ immediate financial hit.
