Currency Intervention

Business

Chalco and Rio Tinto Forge Brazilian Alliance, Securing Pivotal Stake in Major Aluminum Producer

In a landmark deal set to reshape global aluminum supply chains, Aluminum Corporation of China (Chalco) and mining giant Rio Tinto have jointly acquired a controlling interest in Brazil's Companhia Brasileira de Alumínio (CBA). This strategic move marks Chalco's largest overseas investment to date, significantly expanding its international footprint and influence.

Feb 2, 2026

Business

Bitcoin's Wild Ride: How Prediction Markets Missed the Leverage Liquidation Storm

As Bitcoin tumbled below $80,000, a stark divergence emerged: options markets flashed warning signs while prediction contracts remained oddly calm, exposing a fundamental clash in how crypto markets price risk.

Feb 2, 2026

Business

Markets on Edge: Bitcoin Retreats, Metals in Turmoil as Asia Trading Week Begins

Asian markets opened cautiously Monday as a historic metals sell-off reverberated across asset classes. Bitcoin slipped toward $75,000, while regional equities mostly fell. Investors brace for a critical week packed with corporate earnings, central bank decisions, and key economic data.

Feb 2, 2026

Business

Amid Market Volatility, Middle Eastern Dividend Stocks Offer Yields Up to 6.3%

As regional stock markets face headwinds from easing oil prices and shifting geopolitics, income-focused investors are turning to dividend-paying companies for stability and yield. We examine three high-yield opportunities across the textile, banking, and financial sectors.

Feb 2, 2026

World

Diplomatic Gambit: Iran Signals Openness to Nuclear Talks Despite U.S. Military Posturing

Amid heightened regional tensions and a visible U.S. military buildup, Iran's Foreign Minister expresses cautious optimism for a nuclear deal, even as Tehran's supreme leader warns of a broader conflict should hostilities erupt.

Feb 2, 2026

World

U.S. Accuses Cuba of Harassment After Protesters Confront Top Diplomat

Washington has formally accused Havana of orchestrating intimidation tactics against its chief envoy, following a series of heated public confrontations that underscore escalating bilateral tensions.

Feb 2, 2026

World

Khamenei Warns U.S. Strike Would Ignite "Regional War" as Gulf Tensions Simmer

Iran's Supreme Leader issues his most direct threat yet amid heightened U.S. military presence and stalled diplomacy, while internal crackdown death toll estimates soar.

Feb 2, 2026

Business

Nomura's Crypto Conundrum: Losses Prompt Trading Pullback While US Banking Ambitions Advance

Nomura's digital asset arm, Laser Digital, reports quarterly losses leading to reduced crypto exposure, even as it aggressively pursues a US banking charter and global expansion, highlighting a dual-track strategy of short-term risk management and long-term infrastructure build-out.

Feb 2, 2026

Business

Warsh's Fed Return Ignites Debate Over Trillion-Dollar Balance Sheet Legacy

President Trump's anticipated nomination of former Fed Governor Kevin Warsh, a vocal critic of the central bank's post-crisis asset purchases, is shifting market focus from interest rates to the future of the Fed's $6.6 trillion balance sheet and its fundamental role in financial markets.

Feb 2, 2026

Business

Metals Market Reels as Speculative Frenzy Cools: Chinese Investors at Center of Historic Gold, Silver Plunge

Precious metals markets experienced one of their most volatile weeks on record, with silver plummeting 26% and gold dropping 9% in a dramatic reversal. The sell-off, triggered by shifting U.S. policy expectations, laid bare the market's recent dependence on speculative flows from China, raising questions about stability ahead of the Lunar New Year.

Feb 2, 2026

Business

Merck's Q4 Earnings in Focus: Can the Pharma Giant Sustain Its Momentum?

As Merck prepares to release its fourth-quarter results, investors are watching to see if the pharmaceutical leader can maintain its track record of exceeding expectations amid a slowing growth outlook.

Feb 2, 2026

Business

China's Export-Focused Factories Show Surprise Resilience as Broader Economy Cools

A private gauge of China's manufacturing activity edged higher in January, defying expectations of a slowdown, as export-oriented firms outperformed. The reading contrasts with weaker official data, highlighting a two-speed industrial sector amid persistent domestic headwinds.

Feb 2, 2026

US

Houston Mother of Five Found Deceased in Freezing Conditions, Highlighting Gaps in Homelessness and Mental Health Support

The death of Alicia Harnishfeger, discovered under a downtown bridge during a severe cold snap, has sparked conversations about systemic failures in addressing homelessness intertwined with mental health and substance abuse crises.

Feb 2, 2026

Business

Gold Rush Gone Wrong: Shenzhen's Jereh Platform Collapse Leaves 150,000 Investors Facing Pennies on the Dollar

The collapse of Shenzhen-based Jereh, a gold trading platform that operated with massive leverage and no physical backing, has left a trail of financial devastation for 150,000 retail investors, who now confront a controversial repayment plan offering mere fractions of their investments.

Feb 2, 2026

US

Bondi Defends Arrests of Don Lemon, Protesters at Minnesota Church, Citing Safety Over Speech Claims

Florida Attorney General Pam Bondi forcefully rebutted First Amendment criticisms following the arrests of ex-CNN anchor Don Lemon and several activists at a St. Paul church, framing the incident as a dangerous disruption that terrorized worshippers and vowing full prosecution.

Feb 2, 2026

US

Florida Mother and Children Found Safe After Cross-State Search Fueled by Bombing Fears

A Florida woman who authorities say was in a delusional state, fearing imminent bomb attacks on U.S. cities, was located with her two young children following a multi-state search. The family was found unharmed after an alert was issued.

Feb 2, 2026

US

Bronx Toddler Revived by NYPD Officers in Dramatic Rescue, Bodycam Footage Reveals

NYPD Officers Freddy Cerpa and Megan Ficken responded to a frantic 911 call, using life-saving techniques to clear a 2-year-old boy's airway. The incident marks Cerpa's second such rescue in recent weeks, highlighting the critical, split-second decisions first responders face daily.

Feb 2, 2026

US

Florida Vacation Rental Host Faces Indecent Exposure Charge Following Disturbing Reports at Disney-Area Resort

A 51-year-old Airbnb host in Kissimmee has been arrested after multiple residents reported lewd behavior, including an incident involving a vacuum cleaner, at the Windsor Hills Resort community near Walt Disney World.

Feb 2, 2026

US

Minnesota Preschooler and Father Released from Texas Detention, Return Home Amid Legal and Public Outcry

A five-year-old boy and his father are back in Minneapolis after a federal judge ordered their release from a Texas family detention center, a case that has ignited fierce debate over immigration enforcement tactics and the treatment of migrant children.

Feb 2, 2026

US

Five-Year-Old Boy and Father Released from ICE Custody After Court Order

A federal judge ordered the release of a young child and his father from immigration detention, sparking renewed debate over family detention policies. The pair were reunited with their community after a brief but contentious custody.

Feb 2, 2026