Europe could potentially defend itself against Russia independently of the United States, according to a recent opinion article. Meanwhile, the Ariane 6 rocket successfully launched for the first time, carrying 32 spacecraft to low-Earth orbit. Elsewhere, the economic viability of electric vehicles (EVs) in Africa is being explored, while the value of gold is rising as the dollar's status as the world's leading reserve currency is challenged.
The opinion piece, written by Karl-Heinz Kamp, former President of the Federal Academy for Security Policy, and published on Euronews, suggested that Europe could secure its defense independently in the future. The article was published as the Munich Security Conference began.
In other news, the Ariane 6 rocket, developed by Europe, achieved its inaugural launch on Thursday from the Guiana Space Center in South America. The heavy version, Ariane 64, utilized its full complement of four solid rocket boosters, generating over 3.4 million pounds of thrust. The rocket's mission was to deploy 32 spacecraft for Amazon's satellite broadband constellation.
The adoption of electric vehicles in Africa is also gaining attention. A recent study in Nature Energy found that EVs, from scooters to minibuses, could be more cost-effective than gas-powered vehicles in Africa by 2040. However, challenges remain, including limited grid and charging infrastructure in some regions, as well as electricity reliability issues. The continent's 54 countries face diverse needs and challenges regarding EV adoption.
Furthermore, the value of gold has surged, exceeding $5,300 per ounce last month. This increase was attributed to factors such as President Donald Trump's foreign policy and tariff threats, which prompted investors to seek safer assets. David Einhorn, founder of Greenlight Capital, predicted a shift in global reserve assets, suggesting that central banks would replace dollars with gold. He made this apparent in a recent conversation with CNBC.
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