January Barometer

Business

Metals Market Reels as Speculative Frenzy Cools: Chinese Investors at Center of Historic Gold, Silver Plunge

Precious metals markets experienced one of their most volatile weeks on record, with silver plummeting 26% and gold dropping 9% in a dramatic reversal. The sell-off, triggered by shifting U.S. policy expectations, laid bare the market's recent dependence on speculative flows from China, raising questions about stability ahead of the Lunar New Year.

Feb 2, 2026

Business

IAS Bolsters Board with Ad-Tech Heavyweights, Signaling Streaming Ambitions

Integral Ad Science appoints Horizon Media's Bob Lord and Amazon's former video ad chief Krishan Bhatia to its board, a move analysts say sharpens its focus on the convergence of streaming, data, and advertising technology.

Feb 2, 2026

Business

O'Donnell Financial Bets $6.8 Million on AAA CLO ETF, Signaling Confidence in Income Strategy

A major stake increase by O'Donnell Financial in the iShares AAA CLO Active ETF (CLOA) highlights institutional interest in high-grade, actively managed securitized credit as a source of yield in a complex rate environment.

Feb 2, 2026

Business

Illinois Tool Works Q4 Earnings Preview: Can the Industrial Giant Beat Expectations?

As Illinois Tool Works prepares to report its fourth-quarter results, investors are weighing steady growth forecasts against a history of revenue misses. The report comes amid a mixed performance for the industrial machinery sector.

Feb 2, 2026

World

Staged Images of Khamenei Aim to Project Strength as Regime Faces Internal Strains, Critics Claim

Iranian opposition figures allege recent state media images of Supreme Leader Khamenei are a calculated display meant to bolster morale within the security apparatus, as the regime confronts domestic unrest and international pressure.

Feb 2, 2026

US

Illinois Mother of Six Fatally Stabbed in Oswego Home; Ex-Husband Charged with Murder

Ashley Stewart, 41, was killed in an alleged attack by her ex-husband inside her Oswego residence. The suspect, Ryan Dodd, faces multiple felony charges as friends remember Stewart as a 'beacon of light' and a community rallies to support her grieving family.

Feb 2, 2026

US

Colorado Ice Rink Worker Killed in Zamboni Accident at Fort Collins Facility

A Zamboni operator has died following a workplace collision at the Edora Pool Ice Center, prompting a city-wide safety review and temporary closure of the rink.

Feb 2, 2026

US

TSA's $45 ConfirmID Fee Takes Effect: What Travelers Without REAL ID Need to Know

A new $45 fee for air travelers lacking a REAL ID or other approved identification is now in effect. The TSA's ConfirmID program aims to shift processing costs to non-compliant passengers, urging advance online payment to avoid airport delays.

Feb 2, 2026

US

Two Years After Sonya Massey's Killing, Former Deputy Sean Grayson Serves 20-Year Sentence

Nearly two years after the fatal shooting of Sonya Massey in her Springfield home, former Sangamon County deputy Sean Grayson is serving a 20-year prison sentence for second-degree murder. The case, which drew national attention and a statement from President Biden, highlighted issues of police conduct and accountability.

Feb 2, 2026

US

Florida Luxury Auto Dealers Face Racketeering Charges in Alleged Title Fraud Scheme

A South Florida couple operating a high-end dealership is accused of using fraudulent invoices to obtain clean titles for rebuilt luxury vehicles, exposing buyers to significant financial risk and prompting a multi-vehicle investigation.

Feb 2, 2026

US

Houston Mother of Five Found Deceased in Freezing Conditions, Highlighting Gaps in Homelessness and Mental Health Support

The death of Alicia Harnishfeger, discovered under a downtown bridge during a severe cold snap, has sparked conversations about systemic failures in addressing homelessness intertwined with mental health and substance abuse crises.

Feb 2, 2026

Business

Gold Rush Gone Wrong: Shenzhen's Jereh Platform Collapse Leaves 150,000 Investors Facing Pennies on the Dollar

The collapse of Shenzhen-based Jereh, a gold trading platform that operated with massive leverage and no physical backing, has left a trail of financial devastation for 150,000 retail investors, who now confront a controversial repayment plan offering mere fractions of their investments.

Feb 2, 2026

US

Texas Community Reels as Third Teen Dies in Sledding Tragedy Within Days

The death of 17-year-old Caden Nowicki marks the third fatal sledding incident in North Texas in less than a week, raising urgent questions about winter recreation safety.

Feb 2, 2026

US

RFK Jr. on Family Ties After Tragic Loss: A Kennedy Divide Widened by Politics and Personal Grief

In an exclusive interview, Robert F. Kennedy Jr. addresses the state of his relationship with cousin Caroline Kennedy following the death of her daughter, Tatiana Schlossberg, last December. The tragedy unfolds against a backdrop of deep political rifts within America's most storied political dynasty.

Feb 2, 2026

US

From Suspected Rival to Betrayal by Friends: The Twisted Stalking Saga of a Celebrity Esthetician

Los Angeles skincare entrepreneur Dawn DaLuise spent months believing a business competitor was terrorizing her, only to discover the real perpetrators were two close friends—a revelation detailed in a new true-crime documentary.

Feb 2, 2026

US

Minnesota Boy, 5, Returns Home After Release from Immigration Custody

Liam Conejo Ramos, whose detention with his father sparked national outcry, is back in Minnesota following a federal judge's order for their release from a Texas facility.

Feb 2, 2026

US

After 13 Days in Detention, Five-Year-Old Liam and Father Fly Home to Minneapolis Following Court Order

A Minnesota judge orders the release of Liam Conejo Ramos and his father from a Texas ICE facility, citing 'traumatizing children' in pursuit of deportation quotas. The case sparked national outrage over the treatment of asylum-seeking families.

Feb 2, 2026

US

Secrecy vs. Scrutiny: Legal Battle Erupts Over Sealed Filings in Charlie Kirk Assassination Case

Prosecutors and a media coalition are challenging the defense's push to seal court documents in the high-profile case against accused assassin Tyler Robinson, igniting a fierce debate over public access and a fair trial.

Feb 2, 2026

US

Tragedy Strikes L.A. Mayoral Race: Candidate Austin Beutner's Daughter, 22, Dies After Being Found Near Highway

Emily Beutner, a 22-year-old Loyola Marymount University student and daughter of mayoral hopeful Austin Beutner, has died following a medical emergency near a Palmdale highway. The death is under investigation by homicide detectives.

Feb 2, 2026

US

Fewer but Fiercer: The Evolving Disruption of U.S. Government Shutdowns

While the frequency of U.S. government shutdowns has declined since the 1990s, a deepening partisan divide has transformed them into longer, more damaging stalemates, with 22 closures since 1976 imposing growing costs on federal operations and the public.

Feb 2, 2026