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Global demand for gold jewelry falls to 278 tons in Q2 — WGC

In the first half of the year, global demand for jewelry in value terms rose by 22% year-on-year to $86 bln

MOSCOW, July 30. /TASS/. Global demand for gold jewelry fell by 17% year-on-year in the second quarter of 2026 to 278 tons, driven by high prices that limited affordability and prompted consumers to cut back on purchases, according to data from the World Gold Council (WGC).

In the first half of the year, global demand for jewelry in value terms rose by 22% year-on-year to $86 bln. This indicates that while high prices are dampening sales volumes, consumer spending remains substantial, particularly in regions where gold jewelry serves as a means of saving and preserving capital.

Russia, Mauritania sign memorandum of understanding on economic cooperation

The sides focused closely on fisheries cooperation, a mutually beneficial partnership spanning over 50 years

Anti-Russian sanctions bill does US disservice — Russian embassy

The diplomatic mission noted that with this bill, US President Donald Trump's fellow party hawks are putting sticks in the wheels of the presidential foreign policy to the satisfaction of the opposition from the Democratic Party

Production of Patriot systems in Ukraine impossible due to Boeing's position — TV

Boeing does not transfer licenses for the production of Patriot seeker heads to third countries, which could throw a wrench in those plans

Situation with Fyodorov shows how easily his sponsors can organize protest — diplomat

According to Rodion Miroshnik, there is a system in Ukraine that blocks security forces’ response to civil protests and triggers the protests as such

US Central Command confirms strikes against Iran

The authority says that the strikes are a response to attempted Iranian attacks on US forces based in the Middle East

West fights Russia through Ukraine, some countries harder than others — Lavrov

The Russian foreign minister said the West did not want society to be calm

Belousov congratulates Battlegroup Center on liberating Mogritsa in Sumy Region

The defense minister noted that that strategic success had opened up new opportunities for the development of Russia's offensive

Russian forces deploy over 100,000 Gerbera drones in special op zone in Ukraine — expert

Igor Potapov noted that the Gerbera was initially designed as an air defense decoy, a deception target

Romanian-Ukrainian UAV plant to become legitimate target for Russia — senior lawmaker

the Romanian company OVES Enterprise, together with the Ukrainian side, will launch a facility for the production of unmanned aerial this autumn

West’s desire to subjugate Russia, Ukraine as ‘battering ram’: statements by Medvedev

The Russian Security Council deputy chairman emphasized that the only way to preserve Russia is to ensure victory in the special military operation

Estonia extends 12-hour operation of Russian border crossing points indefinitely

Estonia's Interior Minister Igor Taro noted that railway border crossing points would also switch to a 12-hour schedule

US military aircraft that has been in service for 66 years flying over Persian Gulf

According to a source in the Middle East’s air traffic control services, a Boeing KC-135R Stratotanker is flying a circular route at an altitude of around six kilometers the immediate vicinity of the border of the airspace controlled by Iranian air traffic controllers

Zelensky facing problems with changing defense minister as it is lucrative post — diplomat

Rodion Miroshnik separately said that Vladimir Zelensky wanted to get rid of the now former prime minister, Yulia Sviridenko, as she "wouldn’t be able to get anything new from the "Western partners"

After liberating Svetloye in DPR, Russian forces about to liberate Vodyanskoye — expert

According to Andrey Marochko, after Svetloye’s liberation, Russian forces have gained control of more than ten square kilometers of territories that had been occupied by Ukrainian troops

CPC reports drone attack on two more tankers near its terminal in Black Sea

There were no injuries or casualties among the personnel or contractor staff, and no oil spill occurred

Ukraine purges intelligence service over failed terrorist attack against Yermolayev

According to the official, the personnel purges are fully coordinated with Vladimir Zelensky, who seeks to remove from military intelligence the people who remain loyal to former head of the department Kirill Budanov

Lavrov responds to Western calls to help with Ukraine: 'we have army' to deal with that

The foreign minister noted that Russia also had its people

Kiev cannot compensate for loss of Odessa export routes — expert

Ilya Grashchenkov described the situation around the Odessa ports not as a blockade per se, but rather as a de facto halt to shipping

Russia hits Ukraine’s command, deployment points in Kherson and Kharkov Regions

The successful destruction of targets was confirmed by means of objective monitoring in real time

Italian party leader calls Europe's rearmament misguided policy

Nicola Fratoianni noted that Italy lacks the funds for fundamental goals such as investing in healthcare and education and increasing salaries

Russia at important point of completing special op — Medvedev

The Russian Security Council Deputy Chairman addressed volunteers of the United Russia Young Guard and the Volunteer Company departing to the special military operation zone

Pavel Durov added to list of terrorists and extremists — Russia’s financial watchdog

Pavel Durov has been charged with aiding terrorist activities in Russia as part of a criminal investigation, and proceedings have been initiated to place him on an international wanted list

Lawyer sees little chance of Telegram co-founder’s extradition from France to UAE

Pavel Durov is a French citizen, and France does not extradite its own nationals, Kaloy Akhilgov noted

Ukraine admits failure to intercept any hypersonic missiles at night

The General Staff also acknowledged that the Ukrainian army was unable to shoot down several Russian Iskander-M ballistic missiles

Lavrov explains how Russia withstands sanctions

The foreign minister said that Russians' main national quality is something that does not exist in the West

Gazprom building LNG plant in Ust-Luga using its own large-scale technology

The project entails the creation of an integrated natural gas processing and liquefaction complex

LDARZ, LORTA plants in Lvov, struck by Russia, were of strategic importance for Kiev

Both plants were added to the list of strategic enterprises in 2015, when Ukraine embarked on a course of militarization with Western support

US to retaliate against Iran for shelling of Jordan — Trump

The US president still said he is willing to continue negotiations

PR for Zelensky's terrorism, pride in Russians, 'healthy anger': Lavrov's statements

The Russian foreign minister added that people need to understand the gravity of a situation where essentially the entire West is against Russia

Poland not target of object that fell in southeast of country — Tusk

The Polish PM said that the US was interested in investigating the circumstances of the incident

Russian forces liberate four settlements in Ukraine operation over past day — top brass

The Russia's battlegroup North has established control over the settlements of Yurchenkovo in the Kharkov Region, and Mogritsa and Malaya Slobodka in the Sumy Region

US completes series of strikes against Iran — CENTCOM

According to the authority, its forces struck "dozens of Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps targets in Iran"

‘Christian Corps’ plans punitive operations in Ukraine — Russian security official

According to available information, it includes members of the Tradition and Order group, the Stugna special unit and the Belarusian Volunteers group

Ten civilians injured in Ukrainian drone strike on passenger bus

Two women sustained serious injuries, Denis Pushilin, head of the Donetsk People's Republic, said

PM calls trips to southern Kuril Islands 'Tokyo’s priority' in relations with Russia

Japan's Sanae Takaichi said this is a humanitarian issue

West uses Ukraine as bargaining chip in its hybrid war against Russia — envoy

Gennady Gatilov commented on the lack of proper response from UN human rights bodies to the infringement of the Russian-speaking population’s rights in Ukraine

US’ latest strikes on Iran don’t mean resumption of full-scale hostilities — media

A US official separately told The Wall Street Journal that this attack was more powerful than the previous ones

Iran strikes hangars holding US drones in Kuwait — IRGC

The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps said that strikes on US infrastructure would continue until a complete expulsion of the United States from the region

Russia sanctions bill passes second procedural vote in US Senate

84 senators voted to launch debates on this document

IN BRIEF: Belarus tips Poland off about plot to attack opposition figure’s children

According to the former operative of Belarus’ State Security Committee, the attack was being planned by former journalist Denis Dashkevich, a member of the Belarusian opposition

Share of unprofitable organizations in Russia totals 34.4% in January-May — Rosstat

The number stood at 31.1% in the same period in 2025

Number of Colombian mercenaries in Ukraine eclipses 7,000 — defense sources

Captured Colombians almost unanimously claim that the conditions promised during recruitment are radically different from reality

Czech police find no Metropolitan Hilarion’s fingerprints on drug wraps

According to the metropolitan, the only fingerprints found on the wraps were those of the police officer who claimed to have ‘discovered’ them there

Ukrainian army abandons weapons in three settlements while retreating — Defense Ministry

The Russian Defense Ministry earlier reported that Battlegroup North units established control over the settlement of Yurchenkovo in the Kharkov Region

Ukraine loses $70 million daily from downtime of Black Sea ports — paper

Three ports of Greater Odessa accounted for $2.1 billion worth of goods out of total Ukrainian exports worth $3.5 billion in June

Netanyahu skeptical about chances for deal with Iran — portal

According to sources cited by Axios, the official also told the US president that Israel would not withdraw its troops from the buffer zone in southern Syria

Ukrainian drones attack Wildberries warehouse in Penza Region, one person hurt

Governor Oleg Melnichenko says that around 200 employees were evacuated

Iran’s IRGC reports destroying three planes at US base in Jordan

According to the Iranian side, casualties were also reported

Candidates from eleven Russian parties to be on ballot in fall State Duma elections

Five years ago, 14 parties were represented on the ballot

Zelensky's reception in US shows he's not seen as leader of sovereign state — expert

According to Alexander Dudchak, Ukraine is being used as a cover for a war with Russia, as an excuse to allocate serious sums for the development of its military-industrial complex, which will be paid for by the Europeans

Lukashenko thanks Trump for revealing true nature of US foreign policy

As an example of a wise and pragmatic model of national development, the Belarusian president pointed to China

Russian troops take Novaya Sech, start fighting for two neighboring settlements — expert

Fighting has begun for Kiyanitsa and Khrapovshchina

Riyadh seeks 50-nation coalition to protect Red Sea shipping

The key issue in establishing the coalition is the position of the United States

Su-34 fighter, high-explosive aerial bombs work in symbiosis — Rostec

High-explosive aerial bombs of 1.5-ton, 500-kg, and 250-kg weight classes are used with the universal gliding and correction module, demonstrating high effectiveness against dispersed targets, concentrations of equipment, and field fortifications

IN BRIEF: What is known about charges brought against Telegram co-founder Pavel Durov

Telegram’s administration has failed to remove numerous channels, chats, and bots on the messaging platform that are actively used by Ukrainian intelligence agencies, terrorist and extremist organizations

FACTBOX: What is known about last night's massive strike by Russia on targets in Ukraine

According to the Russian Defense Ministry, the strikes hit military airfields, defense industry enterprises, military telecommunication and logistics centers of Ukraine

New temporary export ban and fuel supply for agriculture enterprises: cabinet’s measures

Under the signed decree, the temporary export ban on fuels will be in effect from August 1, 2026, through January 31, 2027

Fires at Wildberries facilities, 258 drones: aftermath of attacks on Russian regions

According to latest reports, four people were injured

Medvedev says Ukraine conflict to end in Russia’s victory

The Russian Security Council Deputy Chairman stressed that the authorities would have to ensure the transfer of people from the military sector to the civilian sector of economy after the end of the conflict

Polish PM claims Russian missile fell in Poland despite no debris analysis yet

Donald Tusk stated that "everything points to a Russian Kh-101 cruise missile"

Jordanian air defenses down five Iranian missiles — news agency

According to reports, no one was injured as a result of the incident

By taking control of Novaya Sech, Russia expands security buffer zone

The village of Novaya Sech in the Sumy region and its surroundings were used by Ukrainian nationalists as a unified stronghold

Trump says he urged Zelensky to end war during recent meeting

The US president also said he continued to get along well with both his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin and Zelensky

US to be very disappointed if China supplied weapons to Iran — Trump

According to the US president, Chinese President Xi Jinping promised in May not to provide military assistance to Iran

West saved Nazism, which was destroying USSR; Russia now finishing the job — Lavrov

The foreign minister emphasized that Russia should only rely on itself

Rostec delivers batch of Planshet-M-IR artillery fire control vehicles to Russian army

The Planshet-M-IR system can effectively control fire on enemy targets from self-propelled and towed artillery, multiple launch rocket systems, and mortars

Russia’s Molniya-PVO interceptor can ram Ukrainian drones without using warhead

The Molniya-PVO’s standard range is about 15 km, when diving on a target, it can reach speeds of up to 300 km/h

NATO activates air defense assets in connection with incident in Poland — headquarters

According to the headquarters spokesman, the alliance "is in close contact with the Polish authorities regarding the violation of Polish airspace"

Trump supports bill on sanctions against Russia and Iran

The US president added he did not see the need for the House of Representatives to interrupt the parliamentary recess in August to review the sanctions bill promptly

Senate Committee postpones vote on confirmation of Trump’s nominee for US Attorney General

Donald Trump appointed Todd Blanche as acting US Attorney General in April

Zelensky totally unreasonable, tries to scale up conflict — diplomat

Maria Zakharova noted that the head of Kiev regime was trying to engage as many countries as possible into his terrorist actions

Europe has no alternatives to Ka-32 firefighting helicopter — Rostec

The state corporation noted that Europe has no other highly maneuverable aircraft capable of carrying large volumes of water and delivering it accurately onto fires

Around 800,000 weapons intended for Ukraine end up on black market — newspaper

Palermo Prosecutor Maurizio de Lucia told the anti-mafia commission that most of these weapons end up on the European market

Fifteen drones attack Penza logistics center, injuring four people — governor

Several drones were shot down as they approached the city

What is known about drone attack on two tankers near CPC terminal close to Novorossiysk

The tanker remained afloat, with damage assessment underway

Russian troops liberate two communities in Ukraine operation over past day — top brass

Russia’s Battlegroup North inflicted roughly 200 casualties on Ukrainian troops and destroyed an enemy tank and an armored personnel carrier in its areas of responsibility over the past day, the Defense Ministry reported

Trump, Saudi defense minister discuss conflict with Iran — media

No further details were provided

Expert says Gulf monarchies seek to diversify defense ties as US proves unreliable

The current conflict has proven that America’s national security concerns, not the security concerns of the Persian Gulf states, are its primary concerns, Mehran Kamrava said

US Federal Reserve keeps rate in 3.5-3.75% range

According to the authority, economic activity is expanding at a solid pace despite heightened uncertainty, partly driven by the conflict in the Middle East

Trump says no plans to end Iran war because of strikes on US bases

The US president added he would "always hit back"

Russia developing new air defense system against Ukrainian UAVs — expert

Yevgeny Poddubny highlighted three key conditions for successful defense against enemy UAVs: the presence of radar stations, mobility, and well-coordinated interaction of units

Ukrainian armed forces begin mining roads using animal carcasses — governor

Vladimir Saldo urged drivers, especially in frontline districts, to be extremely cautious

F-16 fighter jet crashes in Ukraine

The pilot was forced to eject, the Ukrainian Air Force said

Zelensky seeks to provoke World War III by attacking Iranian ships — Finnish politician

Armando Mema believes Iran can take retaliatory measures in accordance with international law

Press review: Trump, Zelensky hold dubious meeting as Netanyahu tries to kill Iran truce

Top stories from the Russian press on Wednesday, July 29th

Top Turkish diplomat reassures new Hamas leader of Ankara’s support for Palestine

A source in the Turkish foreign ministry separately said that Hakan Fidan reiterated his commitment to ensuring that the Israeli government’s actions in the Gaza Strip and the West Bank, as well as attacks on holy sites, "remain on the international community’s agenda"

Gulf monarchies likely to resume dialogue with Iran after conflict — expert

Mehran Kamrava did not rule out that Iran and Oman could "come to some sort of mutual understanding over the Strait of Hormuz whereby they would jointly exercise administrative control over the strait"

IRGC says will deliver retaliatory strikes against US facilities

The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps stated "the aggressor will be punished"

US command prepares plan for two-week air campaign against Iran — WSJ

CENTCOM believes the US military should increase the intensity of its attacks to turn the situation around, while Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Dan Caine takes a more cautious view

Polish PM says he discusses air defense cooperation with Zelensky

Donald Tusk added that the sides had also discussed Polish investment in Ukraine

Ukraine to lose its Western territories sooner or later — Putin

It may not happen tomorrow or the day after tomorrow, It may take one year, two years, 10 years or 15 years, Russian President said

Iran’s Shadegan comes under US missile attack

The Khuzestan province’s deputy governor told Fars that a missile strike was delivered on areas in the vicinity of the city

Death toll from earthquake in Japan up to 28

Chief Cabinet Secretary Minoru Kihara says the number includes those whose deaths are thought to be linked to the aftermath of the earthquake

Air defense forces down 150 Ukrainian UAVs over Russian regions, Black Sea over past day

During the day, Russian air defense forces on duty intercepted Ukrainian drones over 11 regions

Durov may be sent to Russia from country with extradition treaty — lawyer

Alexey Sinitsyn noted that Russia is a country with about 100 bilateral agreements

Netanyahu, Trump discuss three scenarios for dealing with Iran — Reuters

The source said that in the current conflict with Iran, the US president is acting as the "senior partner," while the Israeli prime minister is playing the role of "junior partner"

US launches another wave of strikes against Iran — media

Axios and Israel’s Channel 12 correspondent Barak Ravid said he had received this information from a US official

Press review: US-Iran strike lull short-lived and Telegram's Durov faces terrorism charges

Top stories from the Russian press on Thursday, July 30th

European Commission confirms sanctions block Spain’s use of Ka-32 firefighting helicopters

Between 2004 and 2014, Spain purchased about 15 Russian Ka-32 helicopters

Hungarian PM weighs on Paks nuke plant’s complete shutdown — news agency

One of the plant’s four reactors was previously shut down due to a record drop in the water level of the Danube River

EU pledges 8.3 bln euros to Kiev, approves set of requirements

According to the statement, the Council of the EU adopted a decision amending the Ukraine Facility and its associated Ukraine Plan