Author: Rudolph Angler

Gold continues its record-breaking rally, surpassing $2,870 per ounce, driven by central bank purchases, inflation concerns, and deglobalisation fears. Since the beginning of the year, gold has climbed nearly 10%, marking its fastest growth pace since 1980. Investors wonder whether this rally signals a new era for gold, as economic instability fuels demand for safe-haven assets. Several macroeconomic forces are pushing gold higher, echoing past financial crises, says Otavio Costa, strategist at Crescat Capital. Government debt levels have reached historic highs, similar to the debt problems of the 1940s. Inflation concerns mirror the economic challenges of the 1970s, while equity…

A gunman attacked an Israeli military post in the occupied West Bank early Tuesday, killing two Israeli soldiers, according to Israeli officials. The Israeli military stated that troops returned fire, and the Palestinian attacker was later shot and killed. Eight other soldiers sustained injuries, with two in critical condition, after the attack near Tayasir in the Jordan Valley. The attack occurred as Israeli forces entered the second week of their West Bank military campaign, launched after the temporary ceasefire in Gaza. On Sunday, the Israeli military demolished dozens of buildings in the Jenin refugee camp, claiming they were targeting militant…

BNP Paribas and UBS Group AG posted contrasting earnings results, sending their stocks in opposite directions during Tuesday’s trading session. BNP Paribas jumped 2.3%, fueled by strong profits and a dividend increase, while UBS plunged 5.4% after missing analyst expectations and warning of rising capital requirements. Investors rewarded BNP Paribas’ earnings beat, while UBS struggled with market disappointment despite swinging back to profitability. BNP Paribas, the largest eurozone lender, reported a 15.7% increase in fourth-quarter net income, reaching €2.32 billion, surpassing forecasts of €2.24 billion. Total revenue rose 10.8% to €12.1 billion, driven by Corporate & Institutional Banking, which posted…

The centre-right Christian Democratic Union (CDU) sparked controversy after proposing a stricter migration policy in the Bundestag, which gained support from the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD). The motion, which called for tighter border controls and increased deportations, passed last Wednesday with a narrow majority, thanks to AfD votes. Critics accused the CDU of breaking a long-standing post-Nazi taboo against collaborating with nationalist parties. Protests erupted across Germany, with demonstrators condemning CDU leader Friedrich Merz for legitimizing the far-right by accepting their backing. Despite the political firestorm, Merz insisted that the CDU would “never” work with the AfD, calling it…

More than seven months after the parliamentary elections, Belgium has formed a new coalition government led by nationalist Bart De Wever. On Monday, De Wever took the oath of office before King Philippe, whom he has long criticized for representing Belgian unity. The agreement reached on Friday makes De Wever the first Flemish nationalist to lead the Belgian federal government. De Wever’s Flemish nationalist N-VA party will govern alongside four other parties in a diverse five-party coalition. The coalition includes the centrist Christian Democrats, the leftist Vooruit, the centre-right francophone Reformist Movement, and the centrist Les Engagés. Despite his longstanding…

A trans pilot in the National Guard is pushing back against false social media accusations that blamed her for the Washington helicopter crash. Jo Ellis, a UH-60 Black Hawk pilot in the Virginia Army National Guard, addressed the baseless rumors in a Facebook post on Friday. The claims mirrored former President Donald Trump’s accusations that diversity initiatives caused the crash, which killed 67 people. “Some craziness is spreading online, and people are wrongly naming me as one of the DC crash pilots,” Ellis wrote. She called the rumors insulting to the victims and their families, urging people to stop spreading…

After more than 15 months in captivity, the freed hostages now face a difficult reintegration process, according to former hostages’ testimonies. The family of Israeli hostage Ofer Kalderon expressed gratitude to France and former U.S. President Donald Trump for their role in his release. “Ofer is finally home after 484 days in hell,” said Sharon Kalderon, his sister-in-law, during a press conference at Sheba Medical Center in Israel. His brother, Nissan Kalderon, emphasized the long and difficult journey ahead for both Ofer and his family. Hostage Release as Part of Truce Deal Hamas freed three hostages in Gaza on Saturday,…

Elon Musk’s X has escalated its legal battle by adding more major advertisers to its lawsuit over an alleged coordinated ad boycott. In an amended complaint filed on Saturday in a Texas court, X named Nestlé, Abbott Laboratories, Colgate, Lego, Pinterest, Tyson Foods, and Shell as new defendants. The lawsuit, originally filed in August, claims that these advertisers conspired to withhold billions in ad revenue from X following Musk’s $44 billion takeover of Twitter in October 2022. The WFA, CVS Health, Mars, Ørsted, and Twitch remain as existing defendants in the case. Lawsuit Targets Former Ad Industry Initiative The complaint…

For the fourth time, demonstrators flooded the streets of Valencia on Saturday, calling for the resignation of regional president Carlos Mazón. The protesters accused Mazón and his government of mishandling the deadly floods that struck the region last October. Thousands of Valencia residents marched through the city center, demanding accountability for the administration’s failures. More than 200 civic, social, and trade union organizations coordinated the demonstration. Though smaller than previous protests, city officials estimated the crowd at around 25,000 people. Government Faces Backlash Over Delayed Response Mazón faces intense criticism over his administration’s failure to issue timely flood alerts. Citizens…

Commerzbank will repurchase shares worth up to €400 million, as stated in its earnings report released on Friday. The German lender secured all regulatory approvals and aims to complete the buyback before the Annual General Meeting in mid-May. The announcement comes as Commerzbank faces an unsolicited takeover attempt from Italy’s UniCredit. The bank’s leadership is actively defending its independence by demonstrating strong financial results and shareholder value. Strong Financial Performance in 2024 In 2024, Commerzbank achieved a net profit of €2.68 billion, reflecting a 20% increase compared to 2023. The bank also reported a 6% revenue growth, reaching €11.11 billion.…