National People’s Power Moves To Combat Corruption In Sri Lanka

The gold price is racing from one all-time high to the next. That's good news for friends of the precious metal and bad news for anyone still hoping for a stabilization of global debt dynamics.

Assuming the markets close out the year without major volatility, gold holders can look forward to an approximate 70 percent increase in value within a single year. This is remarkable—not least because 2024 already ended with a 26 percent gain for the otherwise conservative asset class of precious metals. That amounts to a doubling of value in just two years—a surge usually seen in the tech sector rather than gold.

A Store of Value in Turbulent Times

For the most stable money humanity has ever known, which has served as a store of value in crises for millennia, this is no ordinary development. Quite the opposite. Among those who follow geopolitical developments and financial markets closely, such a compressed upward movement is an unmistakable signal: Danger is imminent.

Whether it's military conflicts—like the Ukraine crisis, which still carries dangerous escalation potential—or the global debt dynamics now affecting nearly every region, capital is visibly fleeing to the safe haven of gold. Gold has a key advantage over other assets: there is no counterparty risk. Physical ownership—not as an ETF held at a bank—represents a tangible value that, aside from the annual 1.6 percent mining increase, neither inflates nor can be arbitrarily frozen.

By comparison, the M2 money supply—which includes cash, deposits, short-term term deposits such as money market funds, and savings accounts—is expected to grow by seven to nine percent globally this year. Gold is becoming scarcer relative to circulating fiat money—a compelling argument, particularly in central bank circles. Banks are well aware that their interest rate policies, coupled with ongoing debt monetization, lead to planned currency devaluation. Hence, the precise move into gold—central bankers are essentially trying to secure themselves.

The size of the global gold stock is limited and fairly precisely measurable. Worldwide, there are 216,000 tons of gold, equating to a volume of 11,200 m³—forming a cube with a side length of 22.3 meters.

Central Banks Scent Their Own Crisis

Globally, it was again the central banks pushing gold prices higher this year. The Polish, Chinese, and Turkish central banks stand out. Combined, central banks are expected to add roughly 1,000 tons of gold to their vaults this year—a figure well above the long-term average of 400–500 tons. As mentioned: danger is imminent.

This massive buying suggests that central bankers know full well we are facing a global debt problem—or may already be in the eye of the storm. Interest rates are rising in almost every economy, prompting investors to demand higher risk premiums on sovereign bonds from highly indebted states. The U.S., with over 120 percent debt, joins France (~117 percent) and Italy (~136 percent). Even Germany, currently an exception at 65 percent debt, plans a significant buildup in the coming years. Overstretched welfare states and additional burdens from migration-related crises push public budgets further into deficit, only offset by continuously growing bond volumes.

When central banks step in and take on large parts of this new debt, the credit money supply grows alongside the actual credit process, driving inflation in both goods and asset prices.

Subordinating monetary policy to fiscal mandates has created a powerful political unit. Debt policy becomes the norm, and the natural causality between deficit, higher taxes, and inflation is systematically stretched out over time. Who today links rising food prices or the precious metal boom to the Federal Reserve or the ECB?

Private investors feel the pressure, too: German households, for instance, bought about 9,000 tons of gold this year in the form of jewelry, goods, and coins.

Trust Crisis in the Global Financial System

Growing private and institutional demand for safe assets, which shows no sign of abating and is expected to continue into 2026, points to a severe trust crisis. Rising sovereign bond yields—especially in Japan, with debt around 230 percent—have reached alarming levels, scaring investors and exposing the depth of the trust crisis. A storm is brewing—and Japan may well be where it begins.

For years, Japan served as a carry trade hub: borrowing cheaply in yen and investing elsewhere for higher returns with limited currency risk. Rising rates there could abruptly make these long-standing financing models unprofitable.

The foundation of the international financial market, largely built on U.S. Treasuries, risks destabilization. Options to hedge against the monetary excess—central banks taking on massive state debts—are limited.

Gold remains one of the safest havens. For those preferring more volatility, Bitcoin is digital gold: serving the same purpose, independent of state creditworthiness, and operating as a self-contained economic ecosystem.

Italy and the Final Alarm Signal

As if one more proof were needed that a storm might hit capital markets, Italy—one of the Eurozone's three pillars—has gone on the offensive. The country is working to legally transfer gold stored at the Italian central bank to state ownership.

Does Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni foresee that in a Euro crisis, the ECB might tap national gold reserves to stabilize the common currency?

How far has the trust crisis in capital markets already advanced? The new year may soon give us a clearer answer to this pressing question.

Source: Zero Hedge

By publicly cooperating with the United States on Christmas Day airstrikes, Nigeria's government may have averted humiliating unilateral military action threatened a month ago by President Donald Trump.

But security experts say it is unclear whether such strikes can do much to hinder Islamist militants who have long menaced communities in the area.

Trump announced on Truth Social on Thursday that U.S. forces had launched a strike against Islamic State militants in northwest Nigeria at the request of Nigeria's government.

Local media reported loud explosions in the village of Jabo in the evening of Christmas Day. Reuters has not been able to confirm whether there were casualties.

Abuja confirmed it had approved the operation. Foreign Minister Yusuf Tuggar said on Friday Nigeria had acted jointly with the U.S., but not targeting any specific religion.

"Nigeria is a multi-religious country, and we're working with partners like the U.S. to fight terrorism and protect lives and property," Tuggar told Nigeria's Channels Television.

TRUMP THREATENS ACTION TO PROTECT CHRISTIANS

Nigeria's population of over 230 million people is roughly evenly divided among Christians, who predominate in the south, and Muslims who predominate in the north.

Last month, Trump threatened to order his forces to take military action in Nigeria unless the authorities there acted to stop what he described as the persecution of Christians.

While Nigeria has had persistent security challenges, including violence and kidnappings by Islamist insurgents in the north, it strongly denies that Christians are subjected to systematic persecution.

Its government responded to Trump's threat by saying it intended to work with Washington against militants, while rejecting U.S. language that suggested Christians were in particular peril.

"After Trump threatened to come guns-blazing in Nigeria, we saw a Nigerian delegation visit the U.S.," Kabir Adamu, managing director of Abuja-based Beacon Security and Intelligence Limited, told Reuters.

"The Attorney General was involved, and agreements were signed. Then we learned of U.S. surveillance missions mapping terrorist locations."

Participating in the strikes could raise a risk that the government could be perceived as endorsing Trump's language on wider sectarian strife, a sensitive issue throughout Nigeria's history.

"Trump is pandering to domestic evangelical Christian objectives with his 'Christian genocide' narrative," Adamu said.

The northwestern area where Thursday's airstrikes took place has been plagued since 2024 by increasing violence from members of the Lakurawa sect, a strict Sunni Islamist movement that claims affiliation with the Islamic State group.

Formed as a vigilante outfit, the group evolved into a jihadist movement enforcing strict Islamist rule across hundreds of villages in the area. Nigeria declared the group a terrorist organisation early this year.

"It's very likely this is the group Trump referred to when mentioning U.S. military strikes in Nigeria," said Confidence MacHarry, senior analyst at Lagos-based SBM Intelligence. "They've also been linked to widespread cattle theft, with most of the stolen animals ending up in markets along the Nigeria-Niger border."

But Adamu questioned whether the strikes would do much to counter the insurgents, noting that the particular village hit was not previously known for harbouring militants.

"We were told the Nigerian government okayed the attack, but why Jabo when there is no record of any group there?" he said.

Source: Reuters

Some households in East Sussex have had no water on Christmas Day after supplier Southern Water experienced a problem while trying to restore service following a burst water main.

Southern Water blamed "very low levels" at Fairlight reservoir, adding that the facility had "now reached its final reserves".

Areas affected included TN34, TN35, TN37 and TN38, with customers living at higher elevations more likely to be hit.

The utility company said: "We're sorry customers in Hastings may currently be experiencing low pressure and, in some cases, a temporary loss of water supply.

"We understand how disruptive this can be, especially at this time of year, and we're doing everything we can to restore supplies as quickly as possible."

Southern Water said it had reports of low pressure or intermittent supply from from fewer than 100 customers in Hastings.

The incident follows reports on Tuesday morning of a burst mains pipe in a woodland north of Hastings, which the company had raced to fix before supplies cut out over Christmas.

A short power outage on Thursday at Brede water supply works then affected the remaining levels in the Fairlight reservoir.

It is not the first time burst pipes have caused an outage in the area. Hastings residents were left without water for four days in May 2024 after a pipe burst, which was flagged for replacement in 2007 but never fixed. Multiple pipes in the Hastings area have previously been listed by the company as "aged assets prone to failure".

A bottled water station in Pelham Place car park on Carlisle Parade in Hastings was open until 10pm on Christmas Day.

Southern Water has deployed a fleet of tankers to inject water into the network and the reservoir, saying: "This process takes time, but we're already seeing gradual improvements."

The problems are expected to be "temporary", the supplier said, adding: "If you do have water, please use it responsibly, as reservoir levels remain low and demand is very high."

Helena Dollimore, the Labour MP for Hastings, Rye and the Villages, said: "I'm angry that Hastings once again is paying the price for the failures of Southern Water.

"Our town's water infrastructure is not fit for purpose after years of neglect, and Southern Water must do better.

"I am pushing Southern Water to get us back in supply as quickly as possible and minimise the impact on residents by supplying bottled water and opening plenty of water stations.

"I'm also asking them to supply extra water to our pubs and restaurants who are particularly busy at this time of year. Once we are through this incident, Southern Water must get their act together.

"After a major five day water outage last May when the same pipe burst, and an environmental disaster last month when millions of plastic beads escaped their wastewater plant, we cannot endure any more."

Source: GUARDIAN

Bitcoin whales do not need headlines to move markets. Their actions alone can change sentiment. On December 25, that quiet influence returned when large Bitcoin transfers reached centralized exchanges. The surprise was not the movement itself. It was the calm response that followed.

In the second half of December, on-chain data flagged multiple high-value transfers tied to long-inactive wallets and institutional custodians. On-chain tracking data shows one institutional wallet transferred more than 2,200 Bitcoin to a U.S. exchange, while a separate wallet dormant for nearly eight years moved 400 Bitcoin to an offshore platform. Together, the transfers exceeded $230 million at prevailing market rates.

When Bitcoin Whales Move but Markets Stay Still

Historically, exchange inflows from Bitcoin whales tend to trigger caution. Large deposits often precede selling, or at least raise the risk of it. Academic research on crypto liquidity patterns shows that heavy inflows into exchanges can suppress short-term momentum even when broader trends remain intact.

This time, the BTC price held steady near the mid-$87,000 range. That stability puzzled traders. Market observers noted that there was no sudden spike in spot selling following the transfers. Instead, buyers absorbed available supply, keeping price action contained. Market data suggested the inflows did not immediately translate into spot selling, limiting downside pressure despite the size of the transfers.

Data from a public market tracker confirms Bitcoin traded within a narrow band during the session, reflecting balance rather than fear.

ETF Outflows Add Pressure Without Triggering Panic

While whales drew attention, another signal added weight beneath the surface. U.S. spot Bitcoin exchange-traded funds recorded five consecutive days of net outflows. Persistent redemptions often reflect institutional caution, especially during low-liquidity holiday periods.

Despite that backdrop, the BTC price avoided a breakdown. Analysts who study ETF flows note that outflows do not always imply bearish conviction. In many cases, they reflect portfolio rebalancing or year-end risk trimming rather than directional bets.

Aggregate ETF flow data shows institutions reduced exposure without accelerating downside momentum.

Source: Sosovalue

Leverage Pullback Reveals Defensive Positioning

Derivatives markets offered another layer of insight. Open interest across Bitcoin futures declined modestly as the price stalled. The decline in open interest suggested traders were reducing exposure ahead of potential volatility rather than positioning for a sharp breakdown. That shift signaled traders were unwinding leverage rather than building aggressive positions.

Liquidation maps revealed heavy long positioning near $85,900 and sizable short exposure above $88,600. This structure suggested traders believed downside risk remained limited while upside faced resistance. The BTC price reflected that tug-of-war.

Here, Bitcoin whales influenced psychology more than price. Their activity raised awareness, but not alarm.

Source: Coinglass

Why Consolidation Often Comes Before Direction

Since mid-November, Bitcoin has traded in between $86,000–$93,500. Historic studies find increased volatility often preempts powerful moves.

If Selling momentum builds and the price closes below support, momentum can quickly decay. If buyers reclaim the upper boundary, sidelined capital may return. Until then, Bitcoin whales continue to act as silent stress tests for market conviction.

At present, the BTC price sits at the center of that range, reflecting indecision rather than weakness.

Conclusion

Markets often reveal more through restraint than reaction. Bitcoin whales moved significant capital. ETFs leaked demand. Leverage thinned. Yet price held.

This balance suggests confidence has not vanished, but conviction remains fragile. The BTC price now depends less on headlines and more on follow-through. A decisive break will require either renewed institutional demand or a shift in whale behavior. So far, neither has materialized.

Until that catalyst emerges again, Bitcoin's range-bound behavior reflects balance, not exhaustion, something fundamental lies behind meaninglessness.

Until then, Bitcoin whales remain the quiet force shaping sentiment beneath a steady chart.

Source: CryptoSlate

President Trump telegraphed the move last month, warning that US military intervention in West Africa was certaintly on the table after what he described as the mass killing of Christians by Islamic terrorists in Nigeria. Now, the president says the US military forces carried out powerful strikes against ISIS targets, framing the operation as a direct response to militants "viciously killing, primarily, innocent Christians."

"Tonight, at my direction as Commander in Chief, the United States launched a powerful and deadly strike against ISIS Terrorist Scum in Northwest Nigeria, who have been targeting and viciously killing, primarily, innocent Christians, at levels not seen for many years, and even Centuries!" Trump wrote on Truth Social on Christmas Day.

Trump continued, "I have previously warned these Terrorists that if they did not stop the slaughtering of Christians, there would be hell to pay, and tonight, there was."

"The Department of War executed numerous perfect strikes, as only the United States is capable of doing. Under my leadership, our Country will not allow Radical Islamic Terrorism to prosper," the president declared.

U.S. Africa Command (AFRICOM), the U.S. military's unified combatant command responsible for operations and security cooperation across Africa, said on X that, acting at the direction of Trump and the Secretary of War and in coordination with Nigerian officials, it carried out strikes against ISIS terrorists in Nigeria on Christmas Day, in Sokoto State.

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth wrote on X that Trump was very clear last month: "The killing of innocent Christians in Nigeria (and elsewhere) must end," adding, "The @DeptofWar is always ready, so ISIS found out tonight — on Christmas. More to come…"

As we've previously reported, Christianity is facing an existential threat in Nigeria...

• Trump Threatens US Military Action In Nigeria Over 'Killing Of Christians'

• Nigeria's Christians Are Caught in A Tide Of Jihadi Violence

It seems Nicki Minaj has become the spokeswoman to address the persecution of Christians in Nigeria and around the world.

The energy market reaction was muted during the thin holiday trading, with Brent crude prices flat despite Nigeria's status as an OPEC member.

Trump has previously designated Nigeria as a Country of Particular Concern over religious freedom, a label rejected by Nigerian President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, who has faced growing ISIS pressure in the northeast.

The strike against ISIS fits into a broader pattern of Trump using military force abroad, including recent large-scale airstrikes in Syria and Iran and gunboat diplomacy in the Caribbean to accelerate regime instability in Venezuela.

Source: Zero Hedge

The Malaysian government is expected to table the National Climate Change Bill (also known as the RUUPIN) in parliament in the coming months, providing a legal framework for climate action and anchoring market-based financing for adaptation and resilience. Malaysia's global climate pledges, including the goal of cutting methane emissions by 30% by 2030, were reaffirmed by the then acting minister of natural resources and environmental sustainability Datuk Seri Johari Abdul Ghani when announcing this timeline.

Methane, the primary component of natural gas, is also a potent greenhouse gas responsible for roughly 30% of global warming, because it traps over 80 times more heat than carbon dioxide in a 20-year period. Methane reduction is fast emerging as a defining front in the global fight against climate change.

The Environmental Defense Fund (EDF) is a global non-profit driving practical solutions for a safer climate and a more resilient energy future. For more than a decade, EDF has advanced scientific and economic efforts to highlight how methane mitigation is a rare opportunity to address emissions while benefiting energy supply, economic development, and the climate. About 25% of human-made methane comes from the oil and gas sector; reducing these emissions is an economic and climate relief opportunity.

Momentum is building across Southeast Asia to curb methane emissions from the oil and gas sector. The region's efforts gained structure in 2023 with the launch of the Asean Energy Sector Methane Leadership Program (MLP) in Kuala Lumpur — an initiative backed by Petroliam Nasional Bhd (PETRONAS) and the Japan Organization for Metals and Energy Security, now entering its second phase (MLP 2.0). PETRONAS set a regional benchmark at COP28 by becoming the first national oil company in Asean to commit to halving methane emissions by 2025. The following year, Asean energy ministers spotlighted MLP as a model of regional cooperation. By COP29, that collaboration deepened, as leading national oil companies across Asean pledged a joint path forward — to establish a regional methane emissions baseline by 2025 and set measurable reduction targets for 2030, underscoring a collective drive towards a lower emission energy future.

Progress followed by these pledges is evident. PETRONAS has already achieved a 62% methane reduction a year ahead of schedule. PETRONAS, Indonesia's Pertamina and Thailand's national oil company PTTEP have joined the UN Environment Programme Oil and Gas Methane Partnership 2.0, committing to higher standards of monitoring and transparency. In May 2025, Cambodia became one of the first least-developed countries to submit its National Methane Roadmap, aiming to increase the country's climate ambition and inform updates to its Nationally Determined Contribution. In June 2025, the Methane Management Roadmap for Oil and Gas in Asean was released by the Asean Centre for Energy (ACE), Asean Council on Petroleum and the World Bank. Most recently, in October 2025, the Asean Plan of Action for Energy Cooperation 2026-2030 includes action plans to set and promote initiatives to reduce methane emissions in oil and gas activities.

Two new studies by EDF, Swinburne University of Technology Sarawak and the Institute of Strategic and International Studies Malaysia suggest that cutting methane emissions in the country's oil and gas industry could deliver not only climate benefits but also strong economic gains.

The first study found that up to 63% of methane emissions from Malaysia's upstream oil and gas sector could be mitigated at no net cost — largely through measures such as rerouting vented gas to fuel systems and replacing high-emission equipment with zero emission alternatives. Even a 30% reduction could yield net revenues of US$8 million (RM32 million) to US$11 million, offering a clear business case for action. The findings provide Malaysia-specific data to guide investment and technology choices in the Asean region, filling a gap often dominated by US-centric data used by regional energy companies.

The second study highlights methane abatement as a potential job creator. Opportunities are expected to emerge across fields such as remote sensing, drone inspection, measurement, monitoring, reporting and verification. The oil and gas services and equipment sector stands to gain the most, with additional employment growth anticipated across downstream operations — signalling that methane reduction could become both an environmental and economic win for Malaysia.

Methane management stands out as a rare win-win for Malaysia and the broader Asean region — a strategy that strengthens both climate ambition and economic resilience. By embedding methane reduction targets into the forthcoming National Climate Change Bill, Malaysia can turn commitment into leadership, aligning the bill with its Climate Change Policy 2.0 and setting a powerful precedent for neighbours like Thailand, which is also developing climate legislation.

With the Asean Methane Roadmap promising up to US$87 million in additional gas revenue alongside deep emission cuts, the case is clear: tackling methane is not a cost, but an investment in efficiency, innovation and regional energy security. The region can no longer afford to let methane leak away as lost value and rising pollution — it's time to capture its potential for a cleaner, more competitive future.

Dr Shareen Yawanarajah is senior director of Energy Transition at the Environmental Defense Fund. She leads EDF's Southeast Asia energy transition strategy and engagement agenda.

Source: Theedgemarkets