Russia's central bank just reported that the country's international reserves—essentially its rainy-day fund of foreign cash and gold—have reached a record high, swelling by nearly $10 billion in under a month. Despite Western sanctions, Moscow keeps stacking up its financial safety net.

Editor’s Note: On paper, this looks like Russia's economy is weathering sanctions better than expected. But reserves alone don’t tell the full story—it’s also about how usable they are and what’s being sacrificed to build them up. For markets and policymakers, it’s a signal that the financial standoff between Russia and the West isn’t going as one-sided as some predicted.

India has once again topped the global charts for money sent home by its diaspora, hitting an all-time high. This isn’t just a small bump—it’s a record-breaking surge, reinforcing India’s position as the world’s top recipient of remittances.

Editor’s Note: Remittances are a lifeline for many families and a major boost for India’s economy. When overseas workers send money back, it helps everything from household budgets to national forex reserves. This record high suggests the Indian diaspora is thriving abroad, which is good news for both individuals and the broader economy. It also highlights how interconnected global labor markets are—when Indians abroad do well, it ripples back home.