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Ukrainians warily eyeing the U.S. election have a simple message: Thank you, and please don’t abandon us.
Eastern Ukraine, near the Russian border — Former President Donald Trump has said repeatedly that he would “very quickly” end Russia’s war on Ukraine. He even promised that, if he wins the U.S. election in November, he’ll “get it settled before I even become president.”
Many leaders in Ukraine and Europe fear that would mean cutting off the supply of U.S. weapons and trying to force Ukraine’s leaders to give up Russian-occupied parts of the country in return for a truce.
From F-16 fighter jets to Patriot missile defense systems and artillery, the U.S. has been the chief supplier of weapons to Ukraine, providing more than $60 billion in military assistance since Russia launched its full-scale invasion in late February 2022.
CBS News met the troops of Ukraine’s 80th Air Assault Brigade in October, close to the Russian border. They were using a birch forest to help cover their positions, and their American-supplied Stryker fighting vehicles armed with .50-caliber American-made machine guns.
Ukrainian forces used the Strykers — each one an 18-ton hulking beast of armor-plated steel — to launch their incursion into Russia’s Kursk region in August. The brazen offensive was aimed at weakening Moscow’s relentless missile and drone attacks on Ukraine. But just two months later, by some estimates, Russian troops are gaining ground in eastern Ukraine faster than at any other time since the early months of the war.
President Vladimir Putin’s forces now control an estimated 20% of territory across eastern Ukraine’s Donbas region.
Viktor Zakarov was a truck driver before the war. Now he’s a soldier, driving a Stryker. He told CBS News that he was deeply grateful to the U.S. for the Strykers and the other aid.
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Asked if he had seen the armored vehicles save Ukrainian lives, he didn’t hesitate.
“Seen it, heard it and felt it,” he said.
“We never had anything like this before,” he said of the vehicles. “It’s much more protected.”
American weapons have helped hold the Russians back, but any Ukrainian will quickly say they need more weapons, with more reach, to actually push them in the other direction.
“First of all, I want to say a big thank you to all Americans for what we already have,” added Zakarov. “Of course, if you ask me what we need? More vehicles, more armored vehicles, to stop Russians slightly further away — hit deeper inside Russia.”
The U.S. was supporting Ukraine long before the full-scale war erupted. In 2014, when Ukrainians rose up to topple their pro-Russian government, Sen. John McCain was in Kyiv, telling the country’s people: “This is your moment!”
John McCain Street in Ukraine’s capital was named in the late senator’s honor.
But Putin responded to the toppling of his close ally in Kyiv a decade ago by sending troops into eastern Ukraine. It was then that Russian-backed forces seized control of the Crimean Peninsula and parts of the Donbas, despite protestations from Washington and its European allies. Russia has held those areas ever since — and taken significant new ground around them.
With the results of the U.S. presidential election too close to call and the future of vital American support equally uncertain, the mood in Ukraine has turned gloomy, and anxious.
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Halina, who sells fruit and vegetables in Kyiv and worries about her husband off serving on the front lines, told CBS News that Ukraine’s forces would hang on, but she hopes they won’t have to do it without American backing.
She said she was worried that Trump, if he wins another term in the White House, will cut off the vital American support.
“For us, it’s a matter of survival,” she said, wiping away tears. “My personal family story — my husband’s family is living under [Russian] occupation in the Kherson region… To my family, it matters a lot, this war.”
“We are really strong. We will hold on,” she said. “We hope America will keep helping us, and not abandon us.”
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If you’ve paid any attention to the precious metals market recently, you’re likely aware that gold has been on an impressive upward trajectory since the start of the year. On January 1, gold was trading at $2,063.73 per ounce. Fast forward to today (October 25, 2024), and the price of gold is sitting at $2,734.46 per ounce. This represents an increase of $670.73 per ounce, amounting to a growth rate of approximately 33% in a little over 10 months. This significant growth has captured the attention of investors and market analysts worldwide, as gold’s performance defies predictions and underscores its historic role as a stable store of value.
The recent rally becomes even more noteworthy when compared to gold’s prior record highs. Just this August, the price reached $2,525 per ounce — a milestone that marked a new peak at the time. However, gold’s price was far from plateauing at that point. The price of gold continued to surge, eventually surpassing that mark by over $200 per ounce. This upward movement has established the past year as a standout year for gold, drawing investors who may have initially seen these peaks as ceiling prices, but who now view gold’s price potential as far more expansive than anticipated.
But while there’s no question that gold has offered some of the biggest returns over the past year, many investors are questioning what, precisely, is driving this sustained surge. So why is the price of gold so high right now? That’s what we’ll break down below.
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Why is the price of gold so high right now?
Here are a few of the factors that have been pushing gold’s price to new heights over the last year.
Central banks are buying in
A primary force behind gold’s recent bull run is the purchasing activity of central banks worldwide. Central banks, particularly those in emerging economies, are increasing their gold reserves as a hedge against economic uncertainty and to diversify their holdings away from traditional fiat currencies. This sustained buying pressure from such powerful market participants has created a strong foundation for price appreciation and signals a broader shift in institutional attitudes toward gold as a strategic asset.
Investors are capitalizing on short-term gains
In addition to central banks, individual investors have been flocking to gold, seeing an opportunity for both short-term and long-term gains. With gold prices rising so quickly, gold has become an attractive asset for speculative trading as well as a safer, longer-term investment. So, some investors are now seeking quick returns by betting on the momentum of gold’s climb to earn rapid profits, while others continue to rely on gold’s stability.
The rush of buying and trading activity creates a feedback loop, further driving demand and prices up. This blend of trading activity has been a core factor in the consistent upward price movement over the past year, illustrating gold’s dual role as both a stable store of value and a source of near-term market excitement.
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More investors are diversifying
Ongoing geopolitical tensions, including election year uncertainties, are also playing into gold’s price surge. Elections can influence market sentiment by adding uncertainty, often triggering interest in safe-haven assets like gold. Additionally, global economic slowdowns and international conflicts, such as those involving energy trade disputes, have introduced more volatility in the global market, leading investors to seek refuge in gold.
With each spike in uncertainty, gold’s appeal as a safe, non-correlated asset increases, attracting investors looking to hedge against potential market downturns. For many, gold remains a reliable safeguard, reinforcing its role as a cornerstone in diversified portfolios, especially during periods of unpredictability.
The limited supply also plays a role
The limited supply of gold has also contributed to its recent price surge. Gold is a finite resource, after all, and mining new gold is both costly and time-intensive. As demand grows from both investors and industrial sectors, the pressure on gold’s limited supply intensifies, elevating its value.
Technological advancements in sectors like electronics and green energy have also increased gold’s utility. Gold is used in electronic components, medical devices and emerging green technologies, creating steady industrial demand. This expanding industrial application is a lesser-known but increasingly important factor, reinforcing gold’s value beyond traditional uses.
The bottom line
The remarkable ascent of gold prices in 2024 can be attributed to a perfect storm of global economic and political factors. Central banks’ substantial purchases, investors’ pursuit of both security and short-term gains, geopolitical uncertainties and the finite nature of gold itself have converged to create a robust and sustained rally.
Looking ahead, many analysts believe that gold’s trajectory may continue upward, especially if central banks and industrial sectors sustain their interest and if global uncertainties persist. While the current price surge may eventually stabilize, investors and analysts alike are continuing to keep a close eye on this precious metal right now, as gold continues to set new records and play a vital role in today’s dynamic economic landscape.
At 56, Kim Hale is reigniting her passion for dance, sharing her journey on social media and embracing the motto, “Dreams have no deadlines,” as she pursues a role on Broadway.
Hale, who has over 13 million likes on TikTok, said she has always loved the stage and the energy that New York City brings,
“It just feels like a city where you can dream big,” said Hale.
Hale’s dream of performing on Broadway began in her early years, driven by her passion for expressing herself through movement. She pursued that ambition into her 20s and 30s, but eventually left New York, finding the constant rejection difficult to handle. Reflecting on that time, she acknowledges that she was more vulnerable then. Relocating to California, Hale remained connected to dance, teaching and working for renowned dancer and actor Debbie Allen.
“The biggest gift I got was working for Debbie Allen, and being able to be in her world, which taught me that you can take the skills of dance and apply them to anything,” said Hale.
Hale was around dance, but she wasn’t dancing, and it turns out, that is what her heart still wanted.
“It took COVID. It took the loss of both of my parents. It took skin cancer to get me to step back into a dance studio,” said Hale.
With encouragement from a friend, Hale enrolled in a hip-hop class and “ended up loving it,” saying that each class helped her reconnect with herself.
Hale began sharing her journey on social media, where her posts took off. Broadway choreographer Jerry Mitchell commented on one of her videos, telling her, “Dreams have no deadlines.” It’s a mantra she holds close.
“I just held onto that,” she said.
In May, Hale got to perform in a special showing of “Chicago,” though she doesn’t see it as her official Broadway debut.
“I want to audition and book a show because I prepared for it. I was ready when opportunity met preparation, and I got it,” she said.
For Hale, her return to New York and pursuit of a Broadway role is about more than just achieving a dream.
“The goal is to see what I’m capable of,” she said. “You have to do the work. You have to be ready. But I believe that if it’s meant for me, it will happen. And if it’s not, maybe there’s something bigger out there.”
JC Chasez, a member of the beloved band NSYNC, is out with his first major music project in 20 years. His new album is called “Play with Fire.”
“I want to make a musical and look everybody knows me from making music so the idea is to release the music first to get people interested in the project,” Chasez said on “CBS Mornings Plus.”
He co-produced the album with Golden Globe-winning songwriter and composer Jimmy Harry. The music was inspired by Mary Shelley’s 1818 novel, “Frankenstein.”
“We’re living in a day and age where technology and humanity are interfacing like never before and Mary Shelley wrote this piece in 1818 and we’re talking about these themes today.”
It’s a subject Chasez said he’s passionate about, adding he appreciated the themes in “Frankenstein” later in life.
“We’re talking about AI. We’re talking about how we’re going to navigate a world like this and so to stumble across that, you know when you’re young you read it almost as a school project but when I read it later in life I just couldn’t believe how much it affected me,” he said.
Chasez was involved in writing the script for the musical and said they’re currently talking to directors and producers about the project.
He credits his writing partner, Harry, with helping the project come to fruition, explaining Harry’s mother was a playwright, and wrote a play called “Playing with Fire,” which Harry presented to Chasez.
“After reading it, what I loved about her story was the way she framed it in terms of making the emotional connections with the creature and the creator, you know, Frankenstein, and so we focused on the conversation that the two of them had and expanded from there and kind of came up with our own things.”
Although it’s a departure from his pop music background, Chasez said it still has elements of his past.
“There’s other songs that have that tempo, and have that pop flair and things like that, because I want people to still move and have fun,” he said. “The goal is to just really be engaging, and give people something to talk about when they’re listening to it or when they’re seeing it hopefully in the future.”
When asked if we’ll also see an NSYNC reunion in the future, Chasez said the former bandmates have talked about the possibility more than they have previously.
“Right now, Justin’s got a tour to do, and I’m releasing this record, “Playing with Fire,” so our focus is on our current projects, but there is always a conversation being had behind the scenes about the potential of something.”
