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Gold and silver prices climbed to fresh record levels on Monday, underlining a renewed investor turn towards precious metals as a hedge against economic and political uncertainty. Gold futures touched an all-time high of $4,445.80 per ounce, while spot gold was trading at $4,414.99. The precious metal has risen by almost 70% since the beginning of the year, buoyed by volatility in risk assets and its traditional role as a safe haven during periods of instability. Silver followed gold’s rally, reaching a record $68.96 per ounce, with spot prices hovering just above that level. Silver prices have surged by around…

U.S. equity markets are showing signs of a late-year lift, with investors cautiously positioning for potential gains in 2026 as trading activity slows during the holiday period. Futures linked to the S&P 500 were up around 0.3% in early trading, extending a strong rebound from the previous session, which marked the index’s best daily performance in several weeks. Nasdaq 100 futures climbed roughly 0.5%, reflecting renewed strength in technology stocks, while Dow Jones futures were largely unchanged. Market attention is set to turn briefly to a small batch of economic data releases, including a delayed third-quarter GDP report due later…

Author and comedian David Walliams will no longer take part in next year’s Waterstones Children’s Book Festival, following allegations of inappropriate behaviour towards young women, which he has denied. The decision comes shortly after his publisher, HarperCollins, confirmed it had ended its professional relationship with the bestselling writer. A spokesperson for Waterstones told the BBC that HarperCollins had informed the bookseller that Walliams would not be appearing at the festival in Dundee, nor at events planned in Lincoln and Taunton. Walliams’ name has since been removed from the festival’s list of participating authors. The programme will instead feature writers such…

US actor James Ransone, widely recognised for his role in the acclaimed television series The Wire, has died at the age of 46. Ransone portrayed Ziggy Sabotka, a volatile and troubled dockworker, in the show’s second season. The character became one of the most memorable figures in the Baltimore-set crime drama, which is frequently cited as one of the greatest television series ever made. According to the Los Angeles County Medical Examiner, Ransone died by suicide on Friday. Beyond The Wire, Ransone built a varied career in film and television. He appeared in HBO’s Iraq War miniseries Generation Kill, also…

The United States has taken control of an oil tanker that recently left Venezuelan waters, the Department of Homeland Security has confirmed, marking the second such seizure this month. The action follows President Donald Trump’s announcement earlier this week that Washington would impose what he described as a “blockade” on oil tankers subject to US sanctions travelling to and from Venezuela. Caracas has condemned the operation, accusing the US of “theft and kidnapping” and warning that the incident would have consequences. In a statement, the Venezuelan government said it would raise the matter at the UN Security Council and with…

Australians observed a minute’s silence on Sunday to commemorate the victims of the Bondi Beach attack, as part of a nationwide day of reflection held one week after the deadly shooting. The attack took place during an event marking the Jewish festival of Hanukkah, when two gunmen opened fire, killing 15 people. Among the dead were a 10-year-old girl, a British-born rabbi and a Holocaust survivor. As dusk fell over Sydney, crowds gathered at Bondi Beach, where silence was held at 18:47 local time – the precise moment authorities first received reports of gunfire a week earlier. The memorial took…

New York has become one of the first US states to impose comprehensive safety rules on artificial intelligence, signing a law that will require major AI companies to adopt formal safety practices and report serious software failures, despite ongoing federal inaction on the issue. Governor Kathy Hochul on Friday enacted the Responsible AI Safety and Education (RAISE) Act, which targets companies with more than $500 million in AI-related revenue. Under the new legislation, these firms must publish detailed safety plans and disclose significant breaches within 72 hours of detection, or face financial penalties. The measure also creates a dedicated enforcement…

In a year defined by rapid technological shifts, a number of advances are already reshaping how people interact with devices and how scientists approach long-standing scientific challenges. One significant trend in consumer technology has been the wider rollout of advanced smartphone formats. Tri-fold devices, once a concept on the fringes of mobile tech, have now entered mainstream production, led by Samsung’s recent Galaxy Z Trifold release which aims to make foldable screens more accessible to everyday users. This expansion is expected to drive software developers to support large, multi-window interfaces, smoothing the transition from traditional phones to more flexible, desktop-like…

A growing number of people across different age groups are reporting feelings of loneliness and social disconnection, according to a new national survey, prompting concern among policymakers and health experts about the long‑term effects on wellbeing and community cohesion. The study, conducted by a leading social research institute and published this week, suggests that while social media and digital communications keep people connected online, they may not be compensating for a decline in close, meaningful in‑person relationships. Researchers found that more than one in three adults feel isolated “often” or “very often,” a figure that has steadily increased over the…

A recent report shows that around two-thirds of Germans feel the modern world is faster and more connected, but also more stressful, particularly due to concerns about war. The 2025 TK Stress Report, published by Germany’s statutory health insurer Techniker Krankenkasse (TK), found that 62% of Germans experience high levels of stress, while just 8% reported feeling no stress at all. The survey, conducted by polling firm Forsa in May 2025 with 1,407 participants, highlights multiple global crises—such as the wars in Ukraine, Gaza, and Sudan, trade restrictions, pandemics, and authoritarian regimes—that respondents say heavily burden them. Despite these global…