Abu Dhabi Diplomacy

Business

Equifax Bets on AI and Verified Data to Deepen Its Moat, But Can It Justify the Premium?

Equifax is expanding beyond traditional credit reporting with a new suite of AI-powered fraud detection and income verification tools. While this strategic push aims to embed the company deeper into the lending ecosystem, analysts remain divided on whether it's enough to support its current valuation amid high debt and execution risks.

Jan 30, 2026

World

Iran Rules Out Direct U.S. Talks Despite Turkish Mediation Offer, Warns of Military Readiness

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi, during a visit to Istanbul, stated Tehran is open to dialogue in principle but has no current plans for negotiations with Washington. The announcement comes amid heightened regional tensions and a Turkish offer to facilitate talks.

Jan 30, 2026

World

ASEAN Holds Firm on Myanmar Peace Plan Despite Stalemate, Eyes Post-Election Engagement

As Southeast Asian foreign ministers gather in Cebu, ASEAN reaffirms its commitment to a stalled five-point peace consensus for Myanmar. While acknowledging the plan's failure to halt the civil war, Thai diplomats suggest recent elections—though widely criticized—could offer a new avenue for dialogue and humanitarian access.

Jan 30, 2026

Business

Three TSX Venture Minnows Drawing Investor Scrutiny Amid Steady Rate Environment

As the Bank of Canada holds rates steady, speculative capital is sifting through junior resource stocks. We examine three micro-caps—a driller, an explorer, and an oil hopeful—navigating unique challenges and opportunities in early 2026.

Jan 30, 2026

World

Iran Threatens to Label EU Armed Forces as Terrorists in Retaliatory Move

Iran has announced plans to designate the armed forces of European Union member states as terrorist organizations, a direct response to the EU's blacklisting of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps. The escalation marks a new low in diplomatic relations and raises fears of further regional instability.

Jan 30, 2026

World

Israel Acknowledges Gaza Death Toll Nears 70,000, Marking Shift After Years of Dispute

In a significant departure from its longstanding position, an Israeli military official has acknowledged a death toll in Gaza close to 70,000, aligning with figures long maintained by Palestinian health authorities. This admission follows over two years of war and persistent international scrutiny over casualty counts.

Jan 30, 2026

World

South Africa Orders Israeli Diplomat to Leave Amid Deepening Rift Over Gaza War

South Africa has declared Israel's deputy ambassador persona non grata, giving him 72 hours to depart, citing "unacceptable" diplomatic violations and insulting social media posts targeting President Ramaphosa. The move escalates tensions already frayed by South Africa's genocide case against Israel at the UN's top court.

Jan 30, 2026

World

South Africa Expels Top Israeli Diplomat Amid Deepening Rift Over Gaza

South Africa has ordered Israel's chargé d'affaires to leave the country within 72 hours, citing "unacceptable violations" of diplomatic protocol and a direct challenge to its sovereignty, further straining relations already tense over the ICJ genocide case.

Jan 30, 2026

World

Putin Agrees to Trump's Request for Temporary Halt on Kyiv Strikes, Kremlin Confirms

The Kremlin stated President Vladimir Putin has agreed to a personal appeal from former U.S. President Donald Trump to pause strikes on Kyiv until February 1, aiming to foster conditions for potential talks, though the scope and durability of the pause remain unclear.

Jan 30, 2026

World

Digital Dragnet: Inside the Surveillance Tactics Powering Trump's Minnesota Immigration Crackdown

A routine commute in Minneapolis turns into a biometric checkpoint, spotlighting the advanced surveillance tools—from facial recognition apps to vast data networks—now central to federal immigration enforcement. As operations intensify, questions mount over privacy, oversight, and the line between targeted enforcement and dragnet surveillance.

Jan 30, 2026

World

Chained Robot Dog in Tokyo Exhibit Sparks Debate on AI Ethics and Human Empathy

A provocative art installation in Tokyo, featuring a violently thrashing robot dog restrained by a metal chain, is drawing crowds and forcing viewers to confront uneasy questions about the future of artificial intelligence, ethics, and our emotional connection to machines.

Jan 30, 2026

Business

Michigan Man Charged in Triple Homicide of Fiancée and Stepsons; Young Son Unharmed

Charles Broomfield, who once wore a '#1 Dad' lanyard, now faces murder charges after allegedly confessing to shooting his fiancée and her two teenage sons in their Grand Rapids home, while his own young child was spared.

Jan 30, 2026

World

A Village Hollowed Out: Mass Kidnapping Forces Exodus in Nigeria's Kaduna State

The abduction of nearly 200 residents from Kurmin Wali has shattered community life, triggering a wave of departures as survivors lose faith in state protection and face an uncertain future.

Jan 30, 2026

World

Drone Warfare Escalates: ISWAP Militants Strike Nigerian Army Base in Borno, Casualties Reported

In a significant tactical shift, Islamist militants from the Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) utilized armed drones in a pre-dawn assault on a Nigerian military base in Borno state, resulting in multiple casualties. The attack underscores the growing sophistication of insurgent groups in the region's long-running conflict.

Jan 30, 2026

Business

The End of an Era? UK Retailers Rethink the Future of Free Returns

The long-standing pillar of UK e-commerce—free and unlimited returns—is facing a fundamental overhaul as soaring costs and changing consumer habits force retailers to adopt more targeted and sustainable policies.

Jan 30, 2026

Business

NextPower Soars on Strong Earnings, Lands Major Saudi Deal as Analyst Target Jumps

NextPower Inc. sees its price target raised by TD Cowen following a robust third-quarter earnings beat and a landmark joint venture in Saudi Arabia, signaling growing confidence in the solar technology firm's trajectory.

Jan 30, 2026

Business

Apple Feels the Pinch: Global Memory Chip Shortage Begins to Bite Tech Giant

Despite record iPhone demand, Apple CEO Tim Cook warns that soaring memory chip costs are set to squeeze margins, highlighting a supply crisis gripping the entire tech industry.

Jan 30, 2026

Business

Liberty Energy Navigates Market Turbulence, Bets Big on Power Infrastructure Expansion

Despite a challenging year marked by oil price volatility and softer demand for completion services, Liberty Energy (LBRT) closed 2025 with a resilient Q4 performance. The company is aggressively scaling its distributed power solutions business, targeting 3 GW of projects by 2029, even as it manages pricing pressures in its core fracking operations.

Jan 30, 2026

Business

Trump Poised to Name Kevin Warsh as Next Fed Chair, Setting Stage for Monetary Policy Shift

President Trump is expected to nominate former Fed governor Kevin Warsh as the next Federal Reserve Chair, a move that could signal a pivot toward aggressive rate cuts paired with a reduction of the central bank's balance sheet, reshaping the landscape for markets and cryptocurrencies.

Jan 30, 2026

World

Trump's Tariff Ultimatum Forces South Korea Back to Negotiating Table

Amid renewed threats of steep US tariffs, South Korean officials are scrambling to salvage a key trade deal, with high-level talks in Washington failing to yield an immediate breakthrough.

Jan 30, 2026