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Terror and Stunned Gazes: A Russian Concert Turns Into a Nightmare

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Horror struck the hearts of concertgoers at a Russian concert in Moscow when shots rang out at Crocus City Hall on Friday night. The screams and chaos that ensued left many in a state of shock and disbelief.

Efim Fidrya and his wife found themselves hiding in a bathroom in the basement of the building, trying to protect themselves from the armed gunmen who had entered the venue. As shots echoed through the halls, they held onto the door, hoping to keep the assailants at bay.

The terror and fear were palpable as the group waited in the smoke-filled room, not knowing if they would make it out alive. When a second round of shots rang out, they knew they were in a dire situation.

As the fire spread and the situation grew more desperate, Mr. Fidrya’s wife, Olga, showed everyone how to wet their shirts to avoid inhaling toxic smoke. The group braced themselves for the worst, not knowing when the violence would end.

After what felt like an eternity, they emerged from their hiding spot only to be greeted by the aftermath of a horrific terror attack. Bodies littered the venue, and the extent of the devastation became clear.

The Islamic State claimed responsibility for the attack, sending shockwaves through the country. Survivors shared their harrowing tales of how a night of music and joy turned into a nightmare of bloodshed and tragedy.

Tatyana Farafontova, who initially thought the gunshots were part of the show, described the terror of seeing armed assailants enter the hall and open fire. The sense of helplessness and fear was overwhelming as she tried to escape the violence.

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Others, like Aleksandr Pyankov and his wife, encountered the chilling sight of lifeless bodies as they desperately tried to flee the scene. The horror of the attack left many in a state of shock and disbelief.

Accounts of those who lost their lives in the attack highlighted the tragedy of innocent concertgoers who never made it out alive. The stories of people like Irina Okisheva and Pavel Okishev, who traveled hundreds of miles for a night of music, only to meet a tragic end, underscored the senseless violence of the attack.

The aftermath of the attack left a city in mourning, with families shattered and lives forever changed. The pain and sorrow of the victims and their loved ones will never be forgotten, as they grapple with the senseless loss of innocent lives.

As the community comes together to heal and support one another, the resilience and strength of the human spirit shine through. Despite the darkness that descended on that fateful night, the light of hope and unity remains.

In the face of unspeakable tragedy, the people of Moscow stand strong, united in their grief and their determination to overcome. The screams and blank stares of shock may linger, but so too does the resolve to never let fear win.

Intellectuals Insider

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Is now the right time to invest in gold as prices have cooled?

Now may be the time to buy gold following a recent lull in its price.

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The price of gold has climbed to record highs recently and has remained strong through much of April. And, that growth continued until the precious metal traded at around $2,390 per ounce on April 19, 2024. But since, growth in the price of the precious metal has cooled, with gold’s price now hovering around $2,300 per ounce.

This lull in gold’s price may represent an investment opportunity.

In general, investing is centered around buying assets when prices are low and selling them when prices are high – generating a profit on the difference between the two. So, considering the declines in gold’s price over the past few days, now may be the time to make your investment. But is buying gold during this lull in prices really a good idea?

Compare your gold investment options among leading brokers now.

Gold prices have cooled. Should you buy in now?

With gold’s price down from recent highs, you may be wondering if now is the right time to buy in. There are several reasons the dip in gold’s price may represent an opportunity to buy. Here are some of the biggest:

Prices may rise again

If looking at a gold price chart shows anything for certain, it shows that changes in the overall growth of the medal come in fits and spurts. Periods of price growth are typically followed by periods of declines and vice versa.

But with inflation rising in recent months – and with gold’s reputation as a safe-haven asset that can hedge against inflation – it only makes sense that the price of the precious metal will eventually start to head up again in the future. While attempting to time that directional change may be tricky, buying the precious metal while the price is down gives you the opportunity to take advantage of any upward movement that may be ahead.

Add gold to your portfolio now before prices have a chance to rise.

You may be able to make a quick profit

Gold isn’t known as an asset in which you can earn a quick return, but in today’s market, that may be the case. Don’t forget that in January, gold was trading at just $2,000 per ounce. And, by mid-April, the commodity’s price had climbed to around $2,400 per ounce. That’s about 20% growth in a matter of months, much of which happened since March 1 – an impressive climb for any investment asset.

Perhaps more importantly, gold’s price growth through the beginning of 2024 shows that the commodity doesn’t have to be a buy and hold style investment that you keep in a safety deposit box or precious metal depository for years to come. There’s also the possibility that the commodity’s price could climb further ahead, making it a compelling way to potentially generate a quick profit.

There are other benefits of investing in gold

There are other benefits of investing in gold that have little to do with the price growth seen thus far in 2024 – or the lull in prices seen over the past couple of days. Those benefits include:

Inflation protection: Gold has long been considered an inflation hedge, and for good reason. When inflation drives the prices of consumer goods and services up – and the value of the dollar down – gold’s price tends to rise. So, it could be used to maintain the value of your portfolio during inflationary economic conditions. That’s important in today’s economic environment as stubborn inflation continues to weigh on the value of the dollar.
Portfolio diversification: Gold’s price doesn’t always move in the same pattern that bonds or stocks do. So, mixing a reasonable amount of gold into your portfolio (up to 10% of your portfolio assets) as a diversifier could protect you from losses should one or more of your traditional portfolio assets fall in value. “If you have less than 5% – 10% of your net worth in commodities & FX (forex), you should absolutely consider adding exposure to gold and other precious metals,” says Vijay Marolia, money manager and managing partner at the wealth management firm, Regal Point Capital.

The bottom line

Gold’s price has fallen from recent highs – which may represent an opportunity to tap into growth ahead. However, gold isn’t simply a “buy while it’s low and sell while it’s a high” kind of investment opportunity. The commodity can also protect your portfolio from the stubborn inflation we’ve seen thus far in 2024 while acting as a diversification tool that could increase your risk-adjusted portfolio returns. So, consider adding gold to your portfolio today while it has the potential to grow in value.

Joshua Rodriguez

Joshua Rodriguez is a personal finance and investing writer with a passion for his craft. When he’s not working, he enjoys time with his wife, two kids, two dogs and two ducks.