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January 27 2026 – The dollar's slide to a four-month low and gold's surge above $5,000 a troy ounce mark a decisive shift in how global investors price political risk, asserts the CEO of financial advisory giant deVere Group.

The British company Cornelius Electronics will invest approximately €5 million to expand production at the Edineț Industrial Park located in the Republic of Moldova's North-Western region. 

January 26 2026 – Japan's latest bond market rupture exposes a multi-trillion-dollar fault line for global investors, warns the CEO of one of the world's largest independent financial advisory organizations.

The violent repricing of Japanese government bonds over the last few days has detonated a structural risk that global markets have not confronted in decades, with more than $7 trillion in sovereign debt at the centre of a regime shift that threatens to reprice capital worldwide.

Nigel Green, CEO of deVere Group, says the collapse in Japanese bond prices marks the end of an era in which Tokyo anchored global interest rates and supplied cheap liquidity to the world.

“Japan has been the world's financial shock absorber for a generation, and that role has abruptly ended.

“The repricing of Japanese debt is a systemic event, not a local story, and investors need to treat it as such.”

Yields on ultra-long Japanese bonds have surged above levels once considered implausible, with 40-year yields breaking through the 4 percent threshold for the first time since their introduction and 30-year yields approaching 4 percent.

These moves come after the Bank of Japan began normalizing policy and political leaders signalled aggressive fiscal expansion, igniting concerns about debt sustainability and inflation persistence.

“The bond market is signalling a credibility test for fiscal policy,” says the deVere CEO.

“Investors are demanding a risk premium that Japan has avoided for decades, and that shift rewires global capital flows.”

Japan's public debt stands at roughly 250% of GDP, one of the highest ratios in the world, while inflation has exceeded the central bank's 2 percent target for multiple consecutive years.

Political plans for large-scale spending and tax relief have intensified fears that borrowing will escalate further.

“Japan has relied on domestic savings and central bank intervention to suppress yields. Both pillars are eroding, and markets are enforcing discipline in real time,” Nigel Green adds.

The significance for global markets lies in the scale and positioning of Japanese capital.

Domestic investors have trillions deployed overseas in equities, bonds and alternative assets, supported by decades of ultra-low rates that enabled the yen carry trade.

“If Japanese yields stay elevated, capital will be repatriated on a massive scale,” says Nigel Green. “Trillions of dollars could rotate back into domestic assets, draining liquidity from global equities, credit and emerging markets.”

The carry trade has been a dominant feature of global finance, with investors borrowing in yen to buy higher-yielding assets abroad. A reversal would tighten financial conditions globally, pushing up borrowing costs and compressing valuations across asset classes.

“The carry trade has been a silent engine for risk assets,” he notes. “A sustained unwind would hit stocks, high-yield credit and even digital assets simultaneously.”

Recent market dynamics underline the feedback loop. Foreign investors now account for a large share of Japanese bond trading activity, increasing volatility and the risk of sudden capital flight. Japan's central bank has also tapered bond purchases, leaving private markets to absorb record issuance.

“This is a transition from policy-engineered stability to market-driven volatility,” says Nigel Green. “When policy support retreats, price discovery can be brutal.”

The global spillover is already visible. Rising Japanese yields have pushed up US and European yields, tightening financial conditions at a time when geopolitical and political uncertainty is elevated.

Analysts estimate that even small idiosyncratic shocks in Japan can transmit directly into global rate markets.

“Japan has been the gravitational centre of global rates,” says Nigel Green. “When that centre shifts, everything else moves.”

Currency markets are also vulnerable. A stronger yen driven by higher domestic yields would amplify capital repatriation, while intervention attempts to stabilise the currency underscore the political sensitivity of inflation and living costs in Japan.

“Currency volatility will be the transmission mechanism,” he explains. “A sharp yen move could accelerate the repricing across global portfolios.”

The structural backdrop is a demographic and fiscal challenge that constrains Japan's policy options.

An ageing population, high debt servicing costs and rising inflation create a narrow corridor for policymakers, while markets are increasingly sceptical of gradualism.

Nigel Green concludes: “It's a secular reset of Japan's role in global finance.”

Investors will likely need to face higher global yields, meaning lower equity multiples, tighter credit conditions and increased dispersion across markets.

Japan's bond market was considered the most predictable corner of global finance. Its sudden volatility proves that regime shifts arrive without warning, and they can reshape markets for decades.

The Youth Democracy Network (YDN) – an initiative aimed at supporting young leaders committed to advancing fundamental values and freedoms – is holding its next regional meeting in Strasbourg, the symbolic heart of European democracy. YDN seeks to provide tools, resources, and opportunities for young people to engage with decision-makers and play an active and constructive role in shaping public policies.

The YDN Europe Regional Meeting, held in Strasbourg from 14th to 16th January, is gathering emerging leaders for intensive development and strategic dialogue. Under the theme “Dialogue Over Division: Democratic Responses to Polarization” attendees will tackle one of the continent’s most pressing issues. The meeting program features an in-depth workshop on leadership development, peer learning, public speaking, and strategic communications, culminating in a pitch competition in which three winners will be selected for special support to bring their ideas to life.

Participants will also have the opportunity to gain hands-on insight into governance, youth policy, and the inner workings of key European institutions, including the Council of Europe.

“Young people worldwide are taking the lead in defending fundamental values. From Hong Kong to Serbia to Venezuela and Iran, youth-led movements challenge authoritarianism and demand accountability. In Europe, even amid democratic transitions, polarization and authoritarian influences remain pressing challenges. The Youth Democracy Network is dedicated to support emerging leaders, enhancing their resilience, and fostering initiatives that promote freedom, human rights, and participation,” said Dr. Mantas Adomėnas, Secretary General of the Community of Democracies.

YDN aims to engage young people, particularly in countries with large youth populations that face the threat of democratic erosion. Guided by the YDN board, with members from over 80 countries, the initiative strives to support emerging leaders by strengthening their skills and professional development, as well as by expanding access to mentorship and strategic networks. By supporting collaboration and knowledge exchange, YDN seeks to connect youth organizations, enabling meaningful interactions that strengthen initiatives and create impact on the ground.

The YDN Regional Meeting in Strasbourg will bring together selected YDN members chosen from over 400 applications representing 20 countries across Europe, alongside distinguished guests such as Véronique Bertholle, Deputy Mayor of the City of Strasbourg; Dr. Mantas Adomėnas, Secretary General of the Community of Democracies; Marius Schlageter, Policy Advisor and Secretary to the Advisory Council on Youth, Directorate for Democracy, Council of Europe; and Enrique de Obarrio, Chair of the Community of Democracies’ International Steering Committee of the Civil Society Pillar.

About Youth Democracy Network

The Youth Democracy Network (YDN) brings together and supports emerging leaders from Africa, Asia, Latin America, and Europe by providing them with practical skills, in-depth knowledge, and access to strong international networks, enabling them to play an active and informed role in policy-making and governance processes.

About Community of Democracies

The Community of Democracies (CoD) is a global intergovernmental coalition of states working together to promote, defend and strengthen democracy worldwide. Building on its founding document, the Warsaw Declaration, the Community is committed to taking concerted action to advance and protect democratic freedoms, strengthen democratic institutions, and expand political participation.

January 23 2026 – With US national debt now hitting almost $39 trillion, Trump needs to focus on the potential fallout of the world's largest economy's debt triggering a global financial crisis, warns the CEO of one of the world's largest independent financial advisory organizations.

Nigel Green of deVere Group's comments come as fresh Treasury data show US government liabilities surging past $38.4 trillion in early January, rising by more than $2.2 trillion in the past year alone and on track to breach $39 trillion within months.

The US has added more than $10 trillion to its debt in just five years, underscoring the accelerating pace of borrowing.

He says: “This month alone, Trump and his administration have been focused on Venezuela, legal action against the Chair of the Federal Reserve, acquiring Greenland, tariffs on European allies, and now suing the CEO of JPMorgan Chase.

“Behind the scenes, the US national debt continues to soar at a pace that should dominate the economic agenda.”

The deVere CEO warns that the scale and speed of borrowing now represent a systemic global risk rather than a domestic political talking point.

He says: “Debt accumulation has become routine in Washington, but markets will not treat it as routine forever.

“The US is borrowing trillions every year while interest costs alone are approaching levels that exceed defence and Medicare spending.

“This is a structural vulnerability that investors, policymakers, and global partners cannot, and should not, ignore.”

US fiscal data show the federal government ran a roughly $1.8 trillion budget deficit in fiscal 2025, with interest payments nearing or surpassing $1 trillion for the first time in history. Net interest costs have almost tripled over the past five years, driven by higher interest rates and the expanding stock of debt.

Nigel Green says: “Interest is now one of the largest items in the federal budget. Paying creditors is consuming resources that could otherwise fund productivity, innovation, or tax relief.

“This is the classic debt spiral dynamic that every emerging market fears, yet it's now visible in the world's largest economy.”

He adds that the US enjoys unparalleled financial privilege because the dollar is the global reserve currency, but that privilege should not be mistaken for immunity.

“Global investors buy Treasuries because they trust the US system. If that trust weakens, yields will rise, the dollar could become more volatile, and global borrowing costs will climb. Every mortgage holder, corporate borrower, and emerging market government would feel the shock.”

He argues that the US debt trajectory has direct implications for inflation, monetary policy, and global asset markets.

 “When debt becomes politically untouchable, governments lean on central banks to keep rates lower and inflate away liabilities.

“This erodes purchasing power and distorts capital allocation. Investors should understand that high debt changes the entire macro regime.”

The deVere chief executive stresses that debt is rising at a time when the US faces mounting demographic and geopolitical pressures. Social Security and healthcare spending are increasing as the population ages, while defence outlays and industrial policy ambitions continue to expand.

He continues: “The fiscal reality is brutal. Mandatory spending is rising automatically, discretionary spending is politically sensitive, and tax revenues are insufficient to close the gap.

“Without credible reform, borrowing remains the default option.”

He cautions that markets are often complacent, until they are not.

Nigel Green says: “Debt crises rarely announce themselves years in advance. They emerge when confidence shifts, when buyers demand higher compensation, or when political dysfunction undermines fiscal credibility.

“US debt is the backbone of global reserves, banking collateral, and risk pricing. If that backbone weakens, the consequences will cascade through equities, currencies, commodities, and credit markets worldwide.”

Despite the risks, the deVere CEO emphasizes that the situation is not yet a crisis but a slow-moving macro event that demands leadership.

He says: “The US still has time to stabilize its fiscal path. It requires confronting spending growth, tax policy, entitlement reform, and the cost of servicing debt.

“Ignoring the issue while pursuing headline-grabbing geopolitical projects or pet peeves is a strategic error.”

He concludes: “Debt at this scale reshapes geopolitics and financial markets. The US has a responsibility not just to its citizens but to the global system that depends on its stability.

“The longer Washington postpones serious fiscal reform, the higher the eventual cost for everyone.”

deVere Group is one of the world's largest independent advisors of specialist global financial solutions to international, local mass affluent, and high-net-worth clients.  It has a network of offices around the world, more than 80,000 clients, and $14bn under advisement.

A large majority of migrants and refugees new to Australia plan to become citizens and believe it is important to celebrate Australia Day, according to a new survey.

Most newcomers plan to mark the day in some way and that Australia Day events make them feel more welcome in their new country, the survey found.

There is also growing awareness among migrants and refugees about the debate over the date of Australia Day and claims by Indigenous groups that it represents an invasion, based on surveys conducted in previous years.

However, most don’t know the significance of the January 26 date and are unaware of sensitivities over the day among some Indigenous Australians.

The survey of 120 new migrants and refugees, commissioned by refugee and migrant settlement agency AMES Australia, also found an appetite for more information about Australia’s history among recent arrivals.

The survey asked: ‘Is a national day such as Australia Day important for the nation?’ Seventy-nine per cent of respondents said ‘yes’ while just 10 per cent said ‘no’.

Almost 75 per cent said they planned to mark or celebrate the day in some way while 17 per cent said they had no plans.

Only 40 per cent of those surveyed knew the significance on January 26 – the day the First Fleet arrived in Port Jackson – while almost 60 per cent did not.

An overwhelming 87 per cent of respondents said they planned to become Australian citizens while 13 per cent said they had no plans to become citizens or were not sure.

Forty-two per cent of those surveyed were aware of the controversy over Australia Day prompted by some Indigenous groups calling it ‘invasion day’ – up from just 37 per cent in 2024.

Respondents who were aware of the controversy were split evenly over the issue of changing the date with 40 per cent supporting a change and 30 per cent opting for the status quo. Another 30 per cent did not have a view.

Most respondents (78 per cent) said Australia Day would mean more to them it they were citizens while 22 per cent said it would make no difference. The affirmative vote was up from 61 per cent in 2024.

Seventy-five per cent of respondents said they knew, or planned to learn more, about Australia’s history and the reasons Australia Day is celebrated.

The survey found Australia Day events and the tone of publicity around the day helped new arrivals feel welcome.

Three quarters said the day helped them to feel more welcome while 17 per cent said it made no difference and 7 per cent said it made them feel less welcome.

Almost three-quarters (78 per cent) said Australians should be proud of Australia Day, up from 55 per cent in 2024.

But 90 per cent said that, relative to other issues in their lives, the date of Australia day was not important to them.

AMES Australia CEO Melinda Collinson said the survey results showed that migrants and refugees were overwhelmingly committed to becoming Australians and contributing to the nation.

“It’s our experience that almost without exception people who are newly arrived to Australia want to fit in and become part of the broader society,” Ms Colinson said.

“They want to learn about Australia’s culture and history, and they want to build connections,” she said.

Jalal Ahmadzai, an Afghan refugee who recently became an Australian citizen, said becoming a citizen was a way of showing commitment to his adopted country.

“My life now revolves around this country, so I wanted to show that I am committed,” Jalal said.

“As I citizen, I get to vote and have a say in the way the country is run – which is important to me,” he said.

Jalal said he planned to celebrate the day with a small gathering of family and friends.

“Celebrating Australia Day makes you stop and think about all of the advantages we have in this country,” he said.

“And it is a chance to reflect on the journey my family has been on and to express gratitude for the opportunities we now have,” Jalal said.

January 22 2026 – Investors should be watching the so-called TACO pattern as policy volatility under President Donald Trump seems to be becoming a recurring market signal with real consequences, asserts the CEO of one of the world's largest independent financial advisory organizations.

The comments from Nigel Green of deVere Group come as equities rebound after US President Donald Trump signals a “framework” agreement involving Greenland and withdraws threats of escalating tariffs on European allies, reversing a sharp sell-off earlier in the week triggered by renewed trade-war fears.

Markets had priced in the risk of higher levies on several European countries, pushing stocks lower and lifting volatility, before sentiment turned when Trump pivoted toward negotiation and cooperation on defence and strategic resources.

TACO trade is market shorthand for a recurring behavioural pattern linked to policy messaging by US President Donald Trump.

The acronym stands for “Trump Always Chickens Out.” Traders use it to describe a cycle in which aggressive tariff threats or policy escalations trigger market sell-offs, followed by policy softening, delays, or negotiations that lead to market rallies.

“Investors should be watching this closely. The TACO trade lacks the precision of a proper model, yet the repetition looks too consistent to ignore,” says Nigel Green.

“Markets are built on pattern recognition. Traders, asset managers, and risk teams search for recurring behavior because behavior shapes positioning.

“Tariff threats push equities lower, volatility rises, and defensive assets attract flows. Policy then softens, negotiations emerge, and markets rally. Observing that rhythm influences decision-making even without a formal framework.

“Market participants should treat this as behavioral finance in action rather than a guaranteed strategy. Patterns can persist, then fail, so discipline matters.

“Recent events around Greenland illustrate how quickly sentiment can flip. A tariff threat triggers risk aversion across Europe and the US, then a policy reversal drives a relief rally.

“Fundamentals don't change in a couple of days, narrative changes in a week.”

He continues: “There also might be a timing pattern.

“Tariff threats often appear late on a Friday when markets are closed, rhetoric intensifies over the weekend, markets open lower on Monday, and policy tone often shifts toward compromise around midweek, frequently on Wednesday, with equities rebounding.

“Investors should avoid conspiracy thinking, but they should watch patterns, and this rhythm seems to keep repeating.”

Markets price narrative as well as earnings, productivity, and capital investment. Policy communication now acts as a volatility driver in its own right.

When equities fall and volatility spikes, the political cost rises. Policymakers receive that signal instantly, and messaging shifts. Investors watch the feedback loop because it affects asset prices.

“Pattern recognition doesn't imply orchestration. Traders exploit recurring behaviour without assuming intent. The pattern exists because incentives exist,” notes the deVere CEO.

Resource access, defence infrastructure, and AI and tech supply chains amplify policy sensitivity. Greenland highlights strategic competition for minerals and Arctic positioning. Headlines linked to strategic assets carry immediate market implications.

Investors should separate tactical trading from strategic asset allocation. Short-term dislocations can offer opportunities, while long-term returns depend on cash flows, productivity, and capital discipline.

Policy-driven volatility can create attractive entry points, yet building portfolios around a single behavioral trade introduces concentration risk.

Patterns persist until they break. Investors should avoid assuming the next policy reversal arrives on schedule or in the same form.

“Risk management matters more in an environment where rhetoric moves markets within hours. Liquidity, diversification, and scenario analysis deserve priority.”

Tariff scenarios, currency swings, and geopolitical shocks require stress-testing because the policy cycle can shift without warning.

“I believe that investors will be increasingly watching the TACO trade as a possible signal about policy volatility and market psychology,” he concludes.

deVere Group is one of the world's largest independent advisors of specialist global financial solutions to international, local mass affluent, and high-net-worth clients.  It has a network of offices around the world, more than 80,000 clients, and $14bn under advisement.

January 21 2026 – No US military force is now expected over Greenland, but tariffs are rapidly emerging as President Donald Trump's weapon of choice to pursue the territory, warns the CEO of global financial advisory giant deVere Group.

The stark warning from Nigel Green follows President Donald Trump's address at the World Economic Forum in Davos, which sparked a relief rally across markets even as it seemed to reinforce a far more persistent economic risk.

Shortly after the opening bell on Wall Street, the S&P 500 and Dow Jones Industrial Average both rose around 0.3%, and the Nasdaq also made modest gains. Treasury yields fell as prices rose, while the dollar pared losses.

“Markets rallied because the immediate fear of military escalation seems to have eased,” says the deVere chief executive.

“But the speech in Davos was not conciliatory, it was highly aggressive. Trump repeatedly praised tariffs, defended their effectiveness, and presented them as a proven way to achieve national objectives.

“Investors should focus on what he consistently endorsed, not simply on what he ruled out.”

Throughout the speech, Trump highlighted tariffs' roles in protecting US interests, securing leverage, and compelling outcomes, making clear that he views trade pressure as both legitimate and effective.

“He repeatedly hailed tariffs as a successful tool and doubled down on their power to deliver results. This could be seen as a warning shot to those countries he has already name-checked over the Greenland issue.”

Trump has already stated publicly that his pursuit of Greenland remains non-negotiable. With military force excluded, Nigel Green argues that the repeated emphasis on tariffs throughout the Davos address points to a clear strategic direction.

“When the president removes force from the equation and spends an entire speech championing tariffs, the implication is obvious,” he notes.

“Tariffs align with his worldview, his language, and his record.”

Markets, however, appear to be interpreting the absence of force as a broader de-escalation signal. The deVere CEO believes that reading is misplaced.

“Trade pressure is slower and less dramatic, but it could potentially be far more corrosive,” he says. “Tariffs feed into inflation, squeeze margins, disrupt supply chains, and weigh on growth. They reshape the investment environment over years.”

Europe remains particularly exposed. The European Union exports more than €500bn of goods to the US each year, leaving major sectors vulnerable even to targeted measures.

“Autos, industrials, luxury goods, and cross-border manufacturing networks, among others, would all be affected.”

Currency markets are also at risk of renewed volatility. Trade friction often supports the dollar in the short term while pressuring export-driven currencies and emerging markets, raising hedging costs and complicating capital allocation.

“Tariffs create rolling uncertainty in foreign exchange markets,” says Nigel Green. “This uncertainty does not disappear because equities bounce for a session or two.”

He stresses again that investors are underestimating the significance of the Davos message.

“Trump's conviction was unmistakable,” he says. “He repeatedly underscored tariffs as a tool that works. Markets should assume that belief translates into action over Greenland.”

Green concludes that the current rally risks obscuring a deeper recalibration ahead.

“Removing military risk does not remove economic risk,” he says.

“It seems that tariffs remain the central lever in Trump's strategy, and investors ignore that at their own peril.”

deVere Group is one of the world's largest independent advisors of specialist global financial solutions to international, local mass affluent, and high-net-worth clients.  It has a network of offices around the world, more than 80,000 clients, and $14bn under advisement.

Coptic Orthodox Archbishop of London reflects on the Church's heritage of martyrdom and the Christian call to advocacy for the oppressed.

Christian Solidarity International (CSI) released today a new essay by His Eminence Archbishop Angaelos OBE, the Coptic Orthodox Archbishop of London and Papal Legate to the United Kingdom, as part of its ongoing essay series, “Persecution and the unity of believers.”

The essay series, initiated by CSI's President Dr. John Eibner, brings together reflections from Christian leaders across traditions on the urgent reality of anti-Christian persecution and the need for Christian unity in response.

Previous contributions include an introductory essay by Dr. Eibner; the series' inaugural essay by Cardinal Kurt Koch, president of the Vatican's Dicastery for Promoting Christian Unity; and a response by Dr. Rowan Williams, the former Archbishop of Canterbury.

In his essay, “The Heritage of Persecution and Theology of Advocacy,” Archbishop Angaelos draws on the Coptic Orthodox Church's centuries-long experience of persecution to reflect on both the spiritual significance of martyrdom and the Christian obligation to speak out for religious freedom for all.

The Archbishop traces the Coptic Church's heritage of martyrdom from its founder, Saint Mark the Evangelist, who was killed in 68 AD, through the reign of the Roman Emperor Diocletian, when nearly one million Christians were martyred in Egypt. He notes that this sacrifice is so central to Coptic identity that the Church's calendar begins from 284 AD, the year of Diocletian's ascent, calling it the “Year of the Martyrs.”

Archbishop Angaelos gives particular attention to the 21 Christians who were beheaded by ISIS in Libya in February 2015. Their killers labeled them “The People of the Cross,” intending it as an insult, but Archbishop Angaelos writes that this phrase “has now come to further the cause for unity between Christians of all denominations, and indeed led to the outpouring of love and solidarity from people of all faiths and none.”

Importantly, the Archbishop emphasizes that honoring the martyrs and their heritage does not imply remaining silent when people are suffering today. “As I have reiterated time and time again, we can choose to accept suffering for ourselves, but we must never accept that it be borne by others,” he writes. “Our responsibility as Christians, following in the footsteps of our Lord Jesus Christ, is to advocate for all.”

His Eminence Archbishop Angaelos has served as the Coptic Orthodox Archbishop of London since 2017 and is a prominent voice on religious freedom and human rights. He has addressed the United Nations, the European Parliament, and the British Parliament on issues of persecution and interfaith dialogue.

The essay series will continue with a contribution from Professor Yusuf Turaki, a renowned Nigerian theologian who has documented the systematic persecution of Christians in northern Nigeria.

The full text of Archbishop Angaelos' essay is available now on the CSI international website. (ref. https://www.csi-int.org/app/uploads/sites/13/2026/01/Angaelos-Essay_.pdf )

Christian Solidarity International (CSI) is a Christian human rights organization promoting religious liberty and human dignity.