The international market prices of gold and silver both reached record highs on Monday, driven by sustained safe-haven demand in global markets.
During the Asian trading session on Monday, the most actively traded February gold futures on the New York Mercantile Exchange surged more than 2 percent, topping 4,612 U.S. dollars per ounce to set a new intraday high. London spot gold also climbed above the 4,600-dollar mark per ounce, with gains exceeding 2 percent during the session.
March silver futures on the New York Mercantile Exchange rose more than 5 percent intraday, approaching 84 U.S. dollars per ounce. London spot silver jumped past 84 dollars per ounce, marking an intraday record high.
Gold, silver prices surge to record highs on Monday
Gold, silver prices surge to record highs on Monday
Gold, silver prices surge to record highs on Monday
Venezuela's acting president Delcy Rodriguez said on Sunday that the country is at a critical stage and must achieve national unity, emphasizing that maintaining internal cohesion is of utmost importance.
In a televised address, Rodriguez called on the public to continue trusting the government under the current highly complex political circumstances.
Her statement comes in the wake of a January 3 military operation conducted by the United States, during which Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro and his wife were taken into custody and flown out of the country.
The operation resulted in at least 100 fatalities.
Rodriguez, who was sworn in as acting president two days later on January 5, framed her appeal for unity against this backdrop of external intervention.
Meanwhile, Venezuelan Minister of Communication and Information Freddy Nanez denounced the U.S. actions as a "war crime of the 21st century" when speaking at an international cultural event on Sunday.
Nanez condemned not only the January 3 airstrikes but also the associated cyber and electromagnetic attacks.
He accused the United States of violating international law through the forced removal of President Maduro and his wife, while attacks on civilian infrastructure, including medical facilities, represent a flagrant breach of humanitarian norms.
He reiterated that the stigmatization and military attacks against Venezuela are driven by economic interests, particularly the desire to control its abundant natural resources.
Venezuelan acting president calls for national unity amid complex situation
