Gold demand surged to a record high in 2025 as investors and central banks flocked to the safe-haven asset as protection against US President Donald Trump's unpredictable policies and their potential economic impact, industry data showed Thursday.
US President Donald Trump's border czar Tom Homan was set to present his plans on Thursday as the new face of the immigration crackdown in Minneapolis, after two federal agents involved in the fatal shooting of an American citizen were placed on leave.
A theatre boss -- still dressed in his everyday workwear of jumper and chinos -- stepped in mid-performance to make sure the show went on at London's Royal Opera house after its star tenor was taken ill, a report said Thursday.
- UK drugs giant AstraZeneca announces $15 bn investment in China
- US scrutiny of visitors' social media could hammer tourism: trade group
Boulevard
US President Donald Trump's border czar Tom Homan was set to present his plans on Thursday as the new face of the immigration crackdown in Minneapolis, after two federal agents involved in the fatal shooting of an American citizen were placed on leave.
January 29, 2026
RECENT NEWS
South Africa's main cinema houses have pulled a documentary about US First Lady Melania Trump just ahead of its release, with the distributor citing "the current climate", local media reported.
January 29, 2026
RECENT NEWS
Senegal coach Pape Thiaw has been banned for five Confederation of African Football (CAF) matches and fined $100,000 after the chaotic scenes at the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) final against Morocco this month, it was announced on Thursday.
January 29, 2026
Russia's oil giant Lukoil, sanctioned by Washington over the Ukraine war, said Thursday that it would sell its foreign assets to the US investment firm The Carlyle Group.
January 29, 2026
Australian Open chief Craig Tiley said Thursday it was "a fine line" between player promotion and privacy after top stars complained about backstage cameras at the Grand Slam, with Iga Swiatek comparing it to a zoo.
January 29, 2026
Politics
Britain's Keir Starmer is the latest Western leader to thaw trade ties with China in a shift analysts say is driven by US tariff pressure and unease over Donald Trump's volatile policy playbook.
January 29, 2026
RECENT NEWS
Gold prices soared to a fresh record near $5,600 Thursday, while oil rallied after Donald Trump ramped up geopolitical tensions with his threatened military strike on Iran.
Adeliia Petrosian will be in a fierce spotlight when she takes to the ice at the Milan-Cortina Winter Olympics four years after the doping debacle involving fellow Russian teenager Kamila Valieva overshadowed the Beijing Games.
China executed 11 people linked to Myanmar criminal gangs, including "key members" of telecom scam operations, state media reported Thursday, as Beijing toughens its response to the sprawling, transnational industry.
Germany plans to better protect its critical infrastructure with a new law on Thursday as surging tensions with Russia stoke fears of sabotage attacks and other national security threats.
January 29, 2026
Boulevard
Investigators were battling thick fog in the Colombian mountains Thursday to reach the site of a plane crash that killed all 15 people on board, including a politician.
January 29, 2026
RECENT NEWS
Serena Williams has reignited speculation that she could make a return to tennis, refusing to rule it out when asked and instead replying: "I don't know. I'm just going to see what happens."
Vietnam and the European Union pledged to deepen economic and security cooperation on Thursday, upgrading their diplomatic relationship to hedge against an increasingly unpredictable United States.
The colour of the winning party in Myanmar's junta-run election is the same green as a general's uniform, its staff are retired senior officers, and most expect it to march in lockstep with the military.
Deutsche Bank on Thursday reported record pre-tax profits of 9.7 billion euros ($11.6 billion) in 2025, with all divisions performing well, even as Germany's biggest lender faces a new money-laundering probe.
January 29, 2026
- Thai foreign minister says hopes Myanmar polls 'start of transition' to peace
- No white flag from Djokovic against Sinner as Alcaraz faces Zverev threat
- Vietnam and EU upgrade ties as EU chief visits Hanoi
- Starmer, Xi stress need for stronger UK-China ties to face global headwinds
- Senegal coach Thiaw gets five-match ban after AFCON final chaos
- Phan Huy: the fashion prodigy putting Vietnam on the map
- Hongkongers snap up silver as gold becomes 'too expensive'
- Britain's Starmer meets China's Xi for talks on trade, security