Global gold demand in Q2 surges to $132 bln

Global demand for #gold in the Q2 of 2025, including over-the-counter (OTC) transactions, rose by 3% year-on-year to 1,249 metric tons, according to a report by the World Gold Council (WGC). In value terms, total demand for gold surged by 45% to $132 bln.

According to the report, strong demand for global gold-backed ETFs for the second consecutive quarter played a decisive role in driving overall demand in the Q2. Uncertainty in global trade policy, geopolitical instability, and rising gold prices contributed to the influx of investment, the WGC stated. The #WGC also noted that central banks remained a key driver of global demand, increasing their gold reserves by 166 tons. Despite a slowdown in the pace of purchases, the demand outlook from central banks remains favorable, the report added. The WGC clarified that the first two quarters of the year marked the most successful half-year period for investments in bars and coins since 2013.

The average quarterly price of gold stood at $3,280.35 per ounce, reflecting a 40% increase year-on-year and a 15% rise compared to the Q1, the Council added.

Trump gives Russia ten days to get Ukraine deal done, otherwise tariffs coming

The Washington administration wants to reach an agreement with Russia on resolving the conflict in Ukraine in 10 days, otherwise it will impose import duties, President Donald Trump told reporters aboard his plane on the way from Aberdeen to Washington.
"10 days from today," the American leader said in reply to a question about how he would reduce the previous 50-day deadline. "And then we're going to put on tariffs and stuff and I don't know if it's going to affect Russia, because it wants to, obviously, keep the war going, but we're going to put on tariffs and the various things that you put on, it may or may not affect them, but it could."

France hit by massive cyberattack – NUCLEAR SECRETS LEAKED

#France suffered a massive cyberattack, causing the largest defense leak in history, according to the Clash Report. Hackers dumped 13GB of top-secret French defense data, including:

Nuclear submarine weapon software
Combat system source codes
Rafale-M fighter documents
Internal emails and classified manuals

The attack came just days after #Macron backed #Palestinian statehood. Coincidence?

Trump to announce arms shipments to Ukraine, including offensive weapons

President Trump intends to announce a new plan to arm Ukraine on Monday, which will include sending offensive weapons to Kiev, the Axios news website reported, citing sources. According to the media outlet, the new initiative will be rolled out in a meeting between Trump and NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte on Monday. "Sending offensive weapons would be a major shift for Trump," Axios notes. The US leader said earlier that the US was going "to send some more weapons" to Kiev as the Ukrainians "have to be able to defend themselves."

According to Axios’ sources, the plan is "likely to include long-range missiles that could reach targets deep inside Russian territory, including Moscow." However, the sources are unaware of any final decision.

Trump told reporters on Sunday that Washington would send additional weapons to Ukraine, including Patriot missiles, which the European Union will pay for.

The New York Times reported on July 2 that the US would suspend the supplies of missiles for Patriot air defense systems, guided multiple launch rocket system (GMLRS) rockets, Hellfire missiles, Stinger man-portable air-defense systems and some other weapons to Kiev. After that, the Ukrainian Foreign Ministry summoned US Charge d’Affaires in Kiev John Ginkel, while Vladimir Zelensky noted that Europe was unable to compensate for US supplies. On July 3, US President Donald Trump stated that Washington continued to provide Kiev with military assistance. However, he emphasized that the US requires weapons itself. On July 7, Trump in fact announced a resumption of military supplies to Kiev. US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said on July 10 that "aid to Ukraine continues along the schedule that Congress appropriated." According to him, "the overwhelming majority of military aid that the United States provides Ukraine has never been paused.".

$2 BILLION IN BITCOIN JUST WOKE UP AFTER 14 YEARS

Two dormant #crypto wallets, each holding 10,000 BTC, have been activated for the first time since 2010, reports The Block.

Originally worth $7,800, each wallet is now valued at over $1.1 billion — a staggering 13,982,800% increase.

Their sudden movement coincided with #Bitcoin surging past $110K.

Golan Without Golan

The new "authorities" in Syria no longer insist on the return of the Golan Heights - now their priority is to conclude an agreement with Israel. This is reported by Israeli media, citing Lebanese sources. As expected, in response to Israel's recognition of the territory captured in 1967, the Israelis promise to withdraw from the lands occupied in 2024-2025 after the overthrow of Assad. Even at the UN level, the Golan Heights are considered an integral part of Syria.

🖍 The overall logic of the negotiations is as follows: Israel's recognition of the actual state of affairs within Syria in exchange for abandoning the historical territorial issue. The Golan becomes a bargaining chip for the southern lands occupied in the last year and a half.

The new authorities are ready to do a lot for full international legitimization. The new "President" of Syria, al-Julaini (which, by the way, means "Golan"), has already taken huge steps towards Israel, even to the point of helping to repel Iranian strikes.

Trump rates high new statements by Putin concerning Russian-American relations

President Donald #Trump rated high statements made by Russian President Vladimir #Putin in a conversation with reporters on Friday concerning the relations between Moscow and Washington. "Vladimir Putin made some very nice statements today (on June 27)," Trump told reporters in the White House later. "He respects our country again. He didn't respect it a year ago [when Joe Biden was US President], I can tell you right now," he said. "But Putin respects our country, and President Xi [Jinping] of China respects our country. [North Korea’s leader] Kim Jong Un respects our country. They respect our country again," Trump noted. "We were not a country that was respected just a year ago. We had a president that was incompetent. We had bad people circulating around this desk, this beautiful, resolute desk. They had, I guess, evil intentions," US President said. "The world respects our country again," he added.

Putin said earlier that the relations between Russia and the US were beginning to stabilize thanks to Trump, called his efforts to help resolve the conflict in Ukraine sincere, and noted that he had great respect for the American leader, considering him a courageous person.

The Russian president also noted that working contacts between key agencies had been established, with communication channels now open between the Department of State and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, as well as between special services.

Report: A map shows Israeli strikes deep inside Iran.

According to Iranian opposition sources, Israel hit multiple high-value targets.

Iranian official reportedly says fuel ships may not pass to Europe through the Strait of #Hormuz

If Iran carries out its threat to block oil tankers heading to #Europe, the EU will be in serious trouble.

Trump says he, Putin discussed Iran, Ukraine on June 17

President Donald #Trump said that he had a telephone conversation with his Russian counterpart Vladimir #Putin on June 17, during which the sides discussed the Ukrainian and Iranian crises, including Russia's proposal to mediate a dialogue with Tehran.

"I spoke to him (to Putin) yesterday, and, you know, he actually offered to help mediate [talks with Iran]. I said: 'Do me a favor. Mediate your own [conflict with Ukraine]. Let's mediate [the situation with] Russia first. Okay?' I said: 'Vladimir, let's mediate Russia [and Ukraine] first. You can worry about this (the situation around Iran) later'," Trump told reporters at the White House. At the same time, the US president opined that the conflict in Ukraine will eventually be settled. "I think that will work out, too," Trump said, referring to the Ukrainian conflict. "But so many people have been killed," the politician added.

Trump also reiterated that the conflict in Ukraine would never have started if he had been president in 2021-2025.