International News 14 July 2026
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EU LNG Imports From Russia’s Yamal Project Hit Record High Ahead of 2027 Ban
European Union countries imported a record volume of liquefied natural gas (LNG) from Russia’s Yamal LNG facility during the first half of 2026, despite the bloc’s plans to phase out Russian gas supplies. The surge comes ahead of a full ban on remaining Russian LNG imports, which is scheduled to take effect on January 1, 2027. Under EU rules introduced in April 2026, imports of Russian LNG under short-term contracts have already been prohibited, while deliveries under long-term contracts remain permitted until the start of next year. Data from commodity intelligence firm Kpler showed that EU member states imported 136 LNG cargoes from the Yamal project between January and June 2026, totaling 9.97 million metric tons, a 16% increase compared with the same period a year earlier. The rise highlights Europe's continued reliance on contracted Russian LNG supplies despite its broader strategy to reduce energy dependence on Moscow.
Gold Falls as Hormuz Closure Sparks Oil Rally and Rate Hike Concerns
Gold prices fell more than 1% on Monday as renewed conflict in the Middle East drove oil prices sharply higher, fueling expectations that central banks may keep interest rates elevated to contain inflationary pressures. Spot gold declined 1.5% to US$4,060.36 per ounce by 05:41 GMT, while U.S. August gold futures slipped 1.1% to US$4,068.30. The decline came as hostilities between the United States and Iran intensified, with both sides exchanging heavy missile and drone attacks over the weekend. Iran targeted U.S. facilities across Gulf countries on Sunday and again closed the Strait of Hormuz, raising concerns over global energy supplies. The resulting surge in oil prices has strengthened expectations of higher inflation, reducing the appeal of non-yielding assets such as gold amid the prospect of tighter monetary policy.
https://internasional.kontan.co.id/news/selat-hormuz-ditutup-harga-emas-merosot-lebih-dari-1
SK Hynix Shares Plunge Over 15% in Biggest Daily Drop in Nearly Two Decades
Shares of SK Hynix tumbled more than 15% in South Korea on Monday, marking the company's largest one-day decline in nearly two decades as investors locked in profits following its strong Nasdaq debut last week. Meanwhile, the company's U.S.-listed shares fell 9.2% to US$152.50 in premarket trading after surging more than 12% during their first trading session on Friday. The sharp sell-off in SK Hynix, combined with losses in Samsung Electronics, dragged South Korea’s KOSPI index down 9%, triggering a 20-minute trading halt. Selling pressure persisted even after trading resumed, despite President Lee Jae Myung reaffirming the government's commitment to accelerating large-scale semiconductor manufacturing projects worth hundreds of billions of dollars, including major investments planned by Samsung and SK Hynix.