Category Archives: international

culture, international, media

‘Moments of the Unknown’: Justin Aversano Shares Globetrotting Love Letter to Humanity

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For his latest project, artist and photographer Justin Aversano—known for his acclaimed series “Twin Flames”—set out with a simple compass: love. Armed with just a camera, intuition, and an unspoken promise to document humanity across all seven continents, Aversano embarked on a remarkable journey.

The result is *“Moments of the Unknown,”* a living archive of global intimacy. This ambitious work is currently presented as an exhibition at Glitch Gallery in Marfa, Texas, coinciding with the Art Blocks Marfa Weekend this month. Additionally, a documentary screening is being held at the nearby Crowley Theater.

Decrypt had the opportunity to sit down with Aversano for an inside look at his journey, reflections, and creative process.

### From a Quiet Film to an Audio-Visual Experiment

Initially, Aversano planned the film to be a much quieter affair.
“It was mostly just gonna be no sound,” he recalls.

However, the project evolved as he traveled across continents into an audio-visual experiment. Hundreds of brief video portraits were stitched together, enhanced by soundscapes sourced from humanity’s most iconic artifact of love and hope: the “Voyager Golden Record.”

This phonograph record, sent into space in 1977, contains sounds and images representing Earth. Carl Sagan chaired the NASA committee that assembled the record.

“I wanted to reintegrate that historical movement in culture and space exploration—and use it as the soundtrack for a film about cultures and continents around the world and how they’re connected,” Aversano explained.

Each location in the film resonates with its own fragment from these sounds. Voices speak in 55 different languages, and delegates from the United Nations each say one simple word: “Hello.” It all culminates with the film’s final line: **“Hello from the children of planet Earth.”**

### Love as a Universal Language

At its core, *“Moments of the Unknown”* is about love—but not just romantic love. It encompasses family, friendship, and a sense of oneness.

“What I discovered while shooting is that love has so many forms,” Aversano shared.
“It became about unity, closeness, intimacy. The love of humanity and recognizing we are one human family.”

Rather than scouting subjects in advance, Aversano woke up each day uncertain of who he would meet. With no checklist for diversity or specific goals, he captured human encounters as they came—children, elders, strangers, twins, entire families.

Even the recurring heartbeat sounds in the soundtrack have personal significance. “That’s family,” he explained. “My dad, my sister, my brother. Moments where I felt presence and love.”

### Self-Portraits, Time Capsules, and a Nod to Twin Flames

Aversano quietly inserts himself into his projects, and *“Moments of the Unknown”* is no exception. His first appearance is a blink-and-you’ll-miss-it cameo at a barbershop in New Orleans.

“I just wanted to be a prop in her portrait,” he said.

Another self-portrait appears at Stonehenge on his birthday—an intentional callback to his earliest work, *“The Birthday Project.”* He calls it “an Easter egg,” a thread linking ten years of his artistry.

People reappear over time in his work. They age. Twins emerge, old and new. “I always run into twins,” he laughs, referencing his highly regarded *Twin Flames* series.

*Twin Flames* caught fire with collectors when photos of twin siblings were minted as NFTs on the Ethereum blockchain in 2021. Those tokenized photos even made it to auction house Christie’s and attracted celebrity admirers like Snoop Dogg and Gary Vaynerchuk.

“I never say no,” Aversano admits. “It’s twin flames.”

### The Most Remote Chapter: Antarctica

One of the project’s most challenging chapters was shot in Antarctica.

“A two-day boat from Argentina. Seven days there, two days back,” he shared.

When asked to name a favorite country, he answered philosophically:
“You can’t choose a favorite when it’s all one.”

### A Living Diary, Daily NFT Auctions, and Ongoing Connection

Aversano shot the project two years ago and is releasing each portrait and video exactly on the same calendar day it was taken. The series began on April 8 and will conclude on April 7, 2026.

Each evening, he writes a diaristic entry about the person he met that day. He is now auctioning these daily portraits as unique, single-edition NFTs. Impressively, Aversano hasn’t missed a day.

Every day at 12 pm ET, he hosts an X Spaces conversation to discuss the day’s auction, creating an ongoing dialogue with his audience.

### Reflections on Impact and Reception

When asked what he hopes viewers take away from the film, Aversano focused not on legacy or sales, but on emotional connection.
“Did you feel something?” he asked. “That’s all I want.”

Reflecting on the emotional reception he experienced in Marfa last weekend—where he was brought to tears—he said simply:
“I feel blessed, grateful. What more can you ask?”

—

*“Moments of the Unknown”* stands as a beautiful testament to love, unity, and shared humanity—a powerful reminder that, no matter where we come from, we are all connected.
https://decrypt.co/345942/moments-unknown-justin-aversano-debuts-globetrotting-love-letter-humanity

government, international, politics

Trump begins week-long Asia tour to meet Xi Jinping amid government shutdown

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**President Donald Trump Departs U.S. for Asia Tour, Including Meetings with Chinese President Xi Jinping**

*By Katherine Mosack | OAN Staff*
*10:47 AM, Saturday, October 25, 2025*

President Donald Trump has departed the United States to tour three Asian nations and meet with Chinese President Xi Jinping. The president boarded Air Force One on Friday night and is expected to arrive in Malaysia on Sunday morning.

His first stop will be the annual Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) summit in Kuala Lumpur. Trump attended the summit once during his first term, and this year’s event comes at a critical time as Malaysia and the U.S. work to address a conflict between Thailand and Cambodia.

Following the summit, Trump is scheduled to meet with Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim and participate in a joint signing ceremony alongside Thai Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul and Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Manet. Earlier this year, Trump threatened to withhold trade deals from Thailand and Cambodia until they resolved their skirmish.

“I told the leader of Malaysia, who is a very good man, I think I owe you a trip,” Trump told reporters aboard Air Force One, giving credit to Ibrahim for his collaborative efforts with the U.S. to halt the fighting.

In addition, a meeting with President Luis Inacio Lula da Silva of Brazil may also take place on Sunday. The Brazilian leader reportedly wishes to discuss the U.S. cutting a 40% tariff on Brazilian imports and may address Trump about recent U.S. military strikes on alleged drug trafficking boats off the South American coast. While Lula has mentioned plans for a meeting, the White House has not publicly confirmed it.

After Malaysia, Trump will visit Japan and South Korea to discuss at least $900 billion in investments for U.S. factories and projects. These investments are part of an agreement to reduce Trump’s tariffs from 25% down to 15%.

In Japan, Trump will meet with Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi, the country’s first female prime minister and a protégé of the late Shinzo Abe, who was assassinated after leaving office. “I look forward to meeting her,” Trump said, highlighting her connection to Abe as “a good sign.”

Trump will also be hosted by Japanese Emperor Naruhito and will meet with U.S. troops stationed in Japan, according to a U.S. official who spoke on condition of anonymity.

One of the most highly anticipated stops is a meeting with President Xi Jinping, expected around the time of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit while Trump is in South Korea.

“We have a lot to talk about with President Xi, and he has a lot to talk about with us,” Trump told reporters as he departed the White House. “I think we’ll have a good meeting.”

The meeting is aimed at de-escalating the ongoing trade war. Recently, Beijing imposed new export restrictions on rare earth minerals vital for military applications and threatened to impose retaliatory tariffs. Earlier this week, Trump expressed optimism about reaching a “fantastic deal” with Xi.

Trump may also raise the issue of Jimmy Lai, a pro-democracy newspaper founder held in solitary confinement in China since last month, although no such discussion is officially planned.

Speculation has also emerged about a possible reunion with North Korean Supreme Leader Kim Jong Un. South Korea’s Unification Minister Chung Gong-young indicated this month that a meeting in the Demilitarized Zone (DMZ) could be arranged. “They have a lot of nuclear weapons, but not a lot of telephone service,” Trump quipped, suggesting that setting up a visit might be difficult.

The president is expected back in Washington by October 30th. His signature will be required to sign any legislation aimed at reopening the government, which has now been shut down for 25 days.

When asked about the shutdown, Trump said he was unsure if the government funding lapse would be resolved by his return. “America is shut down and the President is skipping town,” Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) stated on Friday night. “While Americans are struggling to make ends meet, federal workers are going without pay, and millions of families are bracing for soaring health care costs, the president is leaving the country. Instead of doing his job, President Trump is abandoning it.”

Onboard his flight to Malaysia, Trump told reporters he would be “willing to” meet with Democrats leading the shutdown once he returns, noting that he would have done so earlier if arrangements had been made. “I said come on over, just put the government back. All they have to do is say yes, then it’s over. And then we go into negotiations,” he said.

—

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https://www.oann.com/newsroom/trump-begins-week-long-asia-tour-to-meet-xi-jinping-amid-government-shutdown/

government, international, law, politics

Stephen Miller Lists Potential Criminal Charges Against JB Pritzker

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**JB Pritzker Threatens ICE Agents with Arrest; Stephen Miller Responds on Potential Legal Consequences**

Illinois Governor J.B. Pritzker, on October 12th, suggested that state prosecutors might investigate the conduct of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents. Speaking to FOX 32 Chicago, Pritzker stated, “The tables will turn one day. These people should recognize that maybe they’re not gonna get prosecuted today, although we’re looking at doing that, but they may get prosecuted after the Trump administration because the statute of limitations would not have run out.”

In response, President Trump’s aide Stephen Miller addressed the issue during a discussion with Will Cain, explaining how arresting a sitting governor like Pritzker could work under federal law.

### Pritzker’s Proposed Commission to Track ICE Agents

Governor Pritzker is reportedly setting up a commission aimed at tracking the activities of ICE agents. His goal is to either prosecute these agents or at least intimidate them by creating a public record of their conduct. According to reports, the commission will “set up a public record of the conduct of federal agents” and will “consider policy recommendations to prevent future harm to these individuals and communities.”

The communities Pritzker refers to include illegal aliens, criminal illegal aliens, and foreigners who did not enter the country legally. His plans might also affect the left-wing activists who obstruct justice on their behalf.

### Stephen Miller Explains the Legal Authority to Arrest State Officials

During the conversation, Will Cain asked Miller about the federal authority under which a sitting governor like Pritzker could be arrested. Miller responded, emphasizing that his explanation applies not only to Pritzker but to any state or local official who unlawfully interferes with federal law enforcement duties.

He explained, “If you engage in a criminal conspiracy to obstruct the enforcement of federal immigration laws or to unlawfully order your own police officers or officials to interfere with ICE officers or even to arrest ICE officers, you’re engaged in criminal activity.”

Miller outlined various offenses that could come into play, including obstruction of justice, harboring illegal aliens, and impeding immigration law enforcement. He also mentioned the possibility of seditious conspiracy charges depending on the conduct.

### Federal Immunity for ICE Agents

Miller reassured ICE officers of their legal protections, noting that ICE agents have federal immunity while performing their duties. “Anybody who lays a hand on you or tries to stop you or tries to obstruct you is committing a felony,” he stated.

He emphasized, “No city official, no state official, no illegal alien, no leftist agitator or domestic insurrectionist can prevent you from fulfilling your legal obligations and duties.”

The Department of Justice, Miller noted, has made clear that any official crossing the line into obstruction or criminal conspiracy against ICE officers will face justice.

### Additional Remarks

Miller also hinted that attention should be given to Letitia James, who is reportedly tracking ICE activities, suggesting that charges may be warranted.

—

This exchange highlights the ongoing tensions between state officials who oppose federal immigration enforcement and federal authorities defending ICE’s role. As this legal and political battle continues, it raises important questions about the balance of power and the enforcement of immigration laws in the United States.
https://www.independentsentinel.com/stephen-miller-lists-potential-criminal-charges-against-jb-pritzker/

gambling, government, international, media, sports

Sports betting guru ‘Sugar’ caught with one-way ticket to Colombia in bizarre prelude to explosive NBA gambling case

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A sports-betting guru caught up in the explosive NBA gambling scandal attempted to flee the country in January with $10,000 and a one-way ticket to Colombia, court papers reveal. Shane “Sugar” Hennen, 40, was apprehended at Las Vegas’ Harry Reid International Airport as federal authorities closed in on a separate point-shaving case involving him and former NBA player Jontay Porter.

The point-shaving scheme, detailed in court documents, served as a prelude to the stunning twin indictments unveiled on Thursday. The feds accused Hennen, a convicted felon known for flaunting his gambling wins on Instagram, of masterminding a plan in which Porter would fake injuries to pull himself out of games, allowing them to place lucrative bets.

Porter eventually pleaded guilty in the game-rigging scandal and was banned from the NBA. Meanwhile, after his failed attempt to flee, Hennen entered into plea negotiations in that case.

What initially appeared to be an isolated affair unraveled into a much wider gambling probe. On Thursday, authorities arrested 31 individuals, including wiseguys from four Mafia families, Portland Trail Blazers head coach Chauncey Billups, Miami Heat guard Terry Rozier, and former NBA player Damon Jones.

Hennen faces charges in both indictments—covering illegal sports betting and rigged poker games. According to court documents, he allegedly supplied cheating technology, such as card-shuffling machines altered to digitally read the cards in the deck, which was used in the crooked poker games.

The sports betting indictment also details how Hennen placed bets based on Porter’s fake injuries. More explosively, it alleges that Terry Rozier, who had been previously cleared by the NBA after a probe into unusual betting activity, told conspirators he would pull himself out of a 2023 game with an injury.

Hennen reportedly directed a network of bettors who wagered $200,000 on Rozier’s underperformance. The indictment states:

“Rozier’s early exit from the March 23 game and his related underperformance relative to his season averages for points, assists, and three-pointers resulted in the success of numerous fraudulent wagers placed on Rozier’s unders by the defendants and their co-conspirators.”

This sprawling scandal has rocked the NBA and highlighted the growing challenges authorities face in combatting illegal sports gambling and game manipulation.
https://nypost.com/2025/10/24/us-news/sports-betting-guru-sugar-caught-in-prelude-to-nba-gambling-case/

crime, drugs, finance, international, law

Five Plead Guilty Over $7.9M Dark Web Crypto Drug Operation

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**Manhattan Prosecutors Secure Convictions Against Dark Web Drug Trafficking Network**

Manhattan prosecutors have successfully secured convictions against five members of a dark web drug trafficking network that shipped thousands of packages containing illegal narcotics across all 50 states and Washington, D.C., while laundering millions of dollars through cryptocurrency.

Nan Wu and his four associates — Peng Peng Tang, Bowen Chen, Zixiang Lin, and Katie Montgomery — previously entered guilty pleas for their involvement with the operation known as “FireBunnyUSA.” This network advertised itself on dark web marketplaces as an established supplier offering quality products with fast, discreet delivery.

“This alleged scheme was a brazen attempt to use the dark web to conceal a national drug trafficking operation,” Manhattan District Attorney Alvin L. Bragg, Jr. said in a statement on Wednesday. “Even though this activity originated on the dark web, it can still lead to the same dangerous drug-related violence in our neighborhoods that we see far too often.”

**Sentencing and Seizures**

Wu received a minimum sentence of six and a half years in state prison after pleading guilty to criminal sale of a controlled substance and money laundering on April 3. Additionally, the court ordered Wu to forfeit approximately 20 Bitcoin (BTC), 3,297 Monero (XMR), and $12,857 in cash recovered during searches.

**The Operation**

The FireBunnyUSA operation ran from January 2019 through August 2022, initially based in Flushing, Queens. During this period, the group mailed more than 10,000 packages nationwide.

Manhattan investigators conducted 11 undercover purchases from the vendor between June 2021 and August 2022, buying drugs including cocaine, MDMA, and ketamine, all shipped directly into Manhattan.

Through the operation, the ring laundered over $7.9 million, including more than $3.1 million in proceeds through cryptocurrency exchanges. Wu and Tang alone collected nearly $8 million in BTC payments throughout the operation’s run. Investigators found close to $900,000 worth of cryptocurrency on Tang’s phone.

The network converted funds into Monero (XMR), a privacy-focused cryptocurrency designed to be untraceable, before converting it back to Bitcoin and moving the funds through exchange accounts controlled by Wu, Tang, and others.

Investigators revealed that over $734,000 was laundered through U.S.-based crypto exchanges, and $2.4 million in Bitcoin was converted into Chinese yuan abroad.

**Following the Crypto Trail**

Recent global law enforcement crackdowns have targeted similar dark web and crypto-enabled crimes. These include the seizure of 145 BidenCash domains linked to $17 million in stolen card trades in the U.S.; Operation RapTor’s coordinated raids across 10 countries, which resulted in the seizure of $200 million in cryptocurrency and the arrest of 270 people; and India’s bust of “Edison,” an alleged darknet vendor accused of moving 10,000 LSD blots monthly through Monero.

Andrew Fierman, Head of National Security Intelligence at Chainalysis, previously told Decrypt that while a growing number of criminals migrating to privacy coins such as Monero and Zcash for anonymity is concerning, “the vast majority of criminal activity still uses mainstream cryptos, such as Bitcoin, Ethereum, and stablecoins.”

He added, “Crypto is only useful if you can buy and sell goods and services or cash out into fiat, and that is much more difficult with privacy coins, especially as many mainstream exchanges have offboarded the use of privacy coins, such as Monero.”

Fierman also emphasized that privacy coins, “like other cryptos, operate on an immutable ledger,” meaning records of illicit transactions remain permanent and “such evidence can be investigated and prosecuted even years later.”

—

This case highlights ongoing law enforcement efforts to combat dark web drug trafficking and the evolving challenges of cryptocurrency-related money laundering.
https://decrypt.co/345833/five-plead-guilty-over-7-9m-dark-web-crypto-drug-operation

cricket, international, sport

“If match practice is not there, it’s not easy to score runs in international cricket” – Former keeper on Virat Kohli’s 2nd duck in AUS vs IND ODIs

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Former India player Parthiv Patel has noted that it is difficult to judge Virat Kohli’s form as the batter hasn’t spent enough time in the middle. He highlighted that scoring runs in international cricket is challenging without adequate match practice.

Kohli was dismissed for a four-ball duck as India set a target of 265 runs in the second ODI against Australia in Adelaide on Thursday, October 23. The hosts registered a two-wicket win with 22 deliveries to spare, securing the series 2-0 ahead of the final game in Sydney on Saturday, October 25.

During an interaction on the Star Sports show *Follow the Blues*, Parthiv was asked whether Kohli’s second successive duck could be attributed to a mental or technical issue.

“If a batter spends time in the middle, then you try to see if he is in form or not, and if there is any technical fault or not. However, if he hasn’t spent that much time, you can’t say what form he is going through,” the former India wicketkeeper-batter responded.

“One thing is clear. All of us have been talking about it—that if match practice is not there, it’s not easy to score runs in international cricket. We don’t need to tell anyone that Virat is a great player, we know his numbers, but match practice is a massive factor when you come to play international cricket or any level of cricket,” he added.

Prior to the ODIs against Australia, Virat Kohli last played for India in the 2025 Champions Trophy final on March 9. The former India skipper hadn’t played a competitive game since the IPL 2025 final on June 3.

### “You Don’t Need Motivation” – Parthiv Patel on Virat Kohli Ahead of AUS vs IND 2025 3rd ODI

In the same interaction, Parthiv was asked if Kohli needs to draw motivation from somewhere to get back to his vintage best in the third ODI against Australia.

“We all hope that he bats like that, and we have seen that kind of batting many times as well from Virat, but unfortunately, it’s not happening currently. You don’t need motivation and Virat Kohli is that kind of person,” he replied.

The cricketer-turned-commentator added that the modern batting great would be in search of one good knock that could change the tide.

“When he wears the Indian jersey, he knows he has to perform well. I don’t think he needs to search for something from outside. As coaches or former players, we always say that you need one inning to click and then everything changes. Virat will be in search of that one inning,” Parthiv observed.

### Match Recap

Virat Kohli was caught plumb in front of the wickets by a Xavier Bartlett delivery in the second ODI against Australia. His dismissal reduced India to 17/2 after 6.5 overs. Following this, Rohit Sharma (73 off 97) and Shreyas Iyer (61 off 77) added 118 runs for the third wicket, helping the visitors post a competitive total.

—

**About the Author: Kartik Iyer**

Kartik is a cricket writer at Sportskeeda with four years of professional experience. He specializes in news articles and is dedicated to delivering authentic and accurate content by sourcing information only from credible outlets.

Kartik’s love for cricket began in childhood, and he has been closely following the sport ever since. A passionate supporter of Team India, his all-time favorite cricketer is Rahul Dravid, admired for his impeccable technique and approach to the game.

With over 5,500 articles written for Sportskeeda, Kartik possesses strong knowledge of SEO and journalism guidelines, which has helped him gather a loyal readership of nearly 12 million. He holds a B.Tech degree and enjoys watching sports other than cricket in his free time.

—

*Follow IPL Auction 2025 Live Updates, News & Biddings at Sportskeeda. Get the fastest updates on Mega-Auction and cricket news.*
https://www.sportskeeda.com/cricket/news-if-match-practice-there-easy-score-runs-international-cricket-former-keeper-virat-kohli-s-2nd-duck-aus-vs-ind-odis

international, politics, sports

“Can’t play with this inept bowling” – Kris Srikkanth’s scathing remark on Team India star after AUS vs IND 2025 2nd ODI

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Former Indian captain Kris Srikkanth has called for batting all-rounder Nitish Kumar Reddy to be dropped from the playing XI.

This demand came following the team’s series-ending defeat to Australia in the second ODI held in Adelaide. Srikkanth expressed his concerns over Kumar Reddy’s performance, suggesting that a change in the lineup might be necessary moving forward.
https://www.sportskeeda.com/cricket/news-can-t-play-inept-bowling-kris-srikkanth-s-scathing-remark-team-india-star-aus-vs-ind-2025-2nd-odi

business, economy, finance, international, technology

CZ Reveals Real Reason Tokenized Gold Has Not Taken Off

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**Changpeng Zhao (CZ) Responds to Peter Schiff’s Tokenized Gold Plans**

Changpeng Zhao (CZ), founder and former CEO of Binance, has recently commented on Peter Schiff’s announcement regarding a tokenized gold product. Schiff, a well-known gold proponent, is making a notable pivot by embracing blockchain technology to tokenize gold, aiming to make it more accessible and transferable. However, CZ remains skeptical about the idea.

### CZ Critiques the Tokenized Gold Concept

For years, Peter Schiff has dismissed Bitcoin (BTC), even recently forecasting an imminent crash in its price. Now, with his plans to create a tokenized gold product, he appears to be adopting blockchain technology—albeit for gold rather than cryptocurrencies.

CZ’s response, however, was a pointed critique of what he sees as a mismatch between hype and reality. He clarified that his criticism was not aimed at gold itself, but at the tokenization model. According to CZ, tokenized gold often amounts to little more than a digital claim on physical gold held by a central custodian. In other words, individuals do not truly hold gold “on-chain.” Instead, it resembles a bank promise to return deposits.

The risk lies in trusting the issuer: if they go bankrupt, get hacked, or change ownership, the guarantees tied to these tokens could fail. While physical gold endures through time, CZ pointed out, such promises may not. He questioned whether a third party could reliably deliver on their commitments years down the line, especially amid wars and economic disruptions.

Describing the proposed product as a “trust me bro” token, CZ suggested this inherent trust risk explains why no tokenized gold project has truly taken off. This touches on a broader debate about blockchain’s promise. Schiff’s approach offers convenience with a gold twist, but CZ reminds the community that true innovation in blockchain lies in removing the need to outsource trust.

### Peter Schiff Faces Additional Criticism Following Gold’s Price Drop

Meanwhile, Peter Schiff has come under more fire within the cryptocurrency ecosystem after gold prices plunged to record lows on Wednesday, October 22, 2025.

A report by U.Today highlighted commentary from veteran crypto trader Peter Brandt, who took a playful jab at Schiff. Brandt shared a historical chart illustrating that gold investors have endured a difficult journey, often facing deep and long-lasting consolidations over the years. Despite this, gold has averaged a modest annual return of 3.6% over the past 45 years.

Interestingly, Schiff had predicted earlier this month that gold could soar to $6,000 by Christmas, outperforming both Bitcoin and the S&P 500. Contradicting this forecast, gold’s price dipped below $4,100 on Wednesday, fueling recent skepticism and criticism.

On the other hand, Bitcoin continues to experience volatility but is showing signs of recovery. Over the past 24 hours, BTC’s price marginally increased by 1.17%, reaching $109,629.

—

As Schiff ventures deeper into blockchain-based gold products, the debate on trust, innovation, and the future of tokenized assets is sure to intensify. Meanwhile, market movements keep testing the forecasts of both gold and cryptocurrencies alike.
https://u.today/cz-reveals-real-reason-tokenized-gold-has-not-taken-off

government, international, law, military, politics

‘We’ve lived this nightmare before’: Foreign lawmakers unite against Trump ‘catastrophe’

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Dozens of political leaders throughout Latin America are condemning US President Donald Trump’s recent boat-bombing campaign, which began in the Caribbean last month and has since spread to the Pacific Ocean.

In a letter posted by Progressive International on its X account, Latin American leaders from across the region expressed deep concern over Trump’s extrajudicial killings of alleged drug traffickers. They warned that this campaign threatens peace and stability in Latin America and could serve as a pretext for further military intervention in the region.

“The Trump administration is escalating a dangerous military buildup off the coast of Venezuela, deploying naval forces in the Caribbean in preparation for potential armed intervention,” the letter stated. “The pretext is familiar. President Trump justifies intervention in Venezuela as a means to combat ‘cartels,’ celebrating lethal strikes against fishermen accused of carrying drugs.”

The lawmakers drew parallels between the current militarism and past US actions that had destabilized their nations. “We have lived this nightmare before,” they emphasized. “US military interventions of the 20th century brought dictatorships, disappearances, and decades of trauma to our nations. We know the terrible cost of allowing foreign powers to wage war on our continent. We cannot—we will not—allow history to repeat itself.”

They called upon “all organized political forces across Latin America and the Caribbean” to unite in preventing another “catastrophe” from unfolding. “Across our political contexts, we share a common cause: the sovereignty of our nations and the security of our peoples,” the letter concluded. “We must stand together now.”

Over the past seven weeks, the US military has carried out at least nine attacks on boats in the Caribbean and Pacific Oceans, resulting in the deaths of at least 37 people. Although the administration claims these vessels were involved in illegal drug smuggling, it has provided no evidence to substantiate these assertions.

Adding to the concern, both President Trump and Vice President JD Vance have made remarks suggesting that it would be dangerous “to even go fishing” in the Caribbean, indicating the potential risk to civilians in these strikes.

Colombian President Gustavo Petro condemned the incidents this past weekend, stating that the Trump administration had “committed a murder” following a boat attack that killed Colombian citizen Alejandro Carranza. Carranza had been out on a fishing trip when the US military struck his vessel.

The boat strikes have drawn criticism not only from leaders in Latin America but also from multiple US-based legal experts who have accused the administration of engaging in an extrajudicial murder spree. Experts highlight that the US has traditionally treated drug trafficking as a criminal matter—not an act of war warranting military force.

In response to these developments, the Center for Economic and Policy Research (CEPR), a US-based think tank, announced on Thursday the launch of a new project to track “US militarism, aggression, and intervention in Latin America and the Caribbean.” This initiative will monitor “US strikes on boats, threats against Venezuela and Colombia, and other aspects of US interventionism in the region under the second Trump administration.”
https://www.rawstory.com/donald-trump-venezuela/