Cybercrime Crackdown

World

Costa Rica Votes Amid Security Crisis, With Conservative Favorite Poised for Victory

Costa Ricans cast ballots Sunday in an election defined by soaring narco-violence, with ruling party candidate Laura Fernandez, promising a Bukele-style crackdown, favored to win. The vote signals a potential rightward shift and constitutional showdown in a nation struggling with its transformation into a major drug trafficking hub.

Feb 2, 2026

World

Satellite Imagery Reveals Opaque Activity at Key Iranian Nuclear Sites Amid Rising Tensions

New satellite imagery shows Iran constructing roofs over bomb-damaged buildings at its Isfahan and Natanz nuclear facilities, a move analysts say is likely aimed at shielding recovery efforts from surveillance as international pressure mounts over Tehran's internal crackdown and nuclear ambitions.

Jan 30, 2026

World

MSF Refuses Israeli Demand for Staff Data, Citing Safety Risks in Gaza

Doctors Without Borders (MSF) has definitively rejected an Israeli order to hand over sensitive staff information, following months of failed negotiations. The move comes amid a wider crackdown on aid groups and a devastating toll on healthcare workers in the conflict.

Jan 30, 2026

Business

Russia's Crypto Mining Giant BitRiver Teeters on the Brink of Bankruptcy

BitRiver, the dominant force in Russia's Bitcoin mining sector, faces a severe financial and legal crisis as court-ordered monitoring of its parent company begins. The turmoil stems from a multi-million dollar contract dispute, regional mining bans, and mounting pressure from sanctions and tax evasion charges against its founder.

Feb 2, 2026

World

German Authorities Crack Down on Alleged Sanctions-Busting Ring Supplying Russian Defense Firms

German federal prosecutors have arrested five individuals accused of orchestrating a vast procurement network that allegedly funneled millions of euros worth of goods to Russian defense companies, in direct violation of EU sanctions imposed following the invasion of Ukraine.

Feb 2, 2026

World

EU Rebuffs Iran's Retaliatory Move to Label European Armies as 'Terrorist Groups'

The European Union has firmly rejected Iran's retaliatory designation of EU member states' armed forces as 'terrorist groups,' a move that came days after the bloc formally listed Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) as a terrorist organization, escalating a diplomatic tit-for-tat.

Feb 2, 2026

World

UK Labour MP Tulip Siddiq Hit with Additional Four-Year Sentence in Bangladesh Corruption Cases

A Bangladeshi court has convicted British MP Tulip Siddiq in absentia on two further corruption charges, adding four years to her prison term. The cases center on allegations she used her influence with her aunt, former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, to illegally secure land for family members.

Feb 2, 2026

World

Bangladesh's Pivotal Vote: A Strategic Reckoning for India, China, and Pakistan

As Bangladesh heads to the polls on February 12 under an interim government, its geopolitical alignments are shifting. The outcome will test the influence of regional powers India, China, and Pakistan in a nation navigating a post-Hasina political landscape.

Feb 2, 2026

Business

NetEase Shares Dip: A Buying Opportunity or a Sign of Deeper Challenges?

Following a significant pullback, NetEase (SEHK: 9999) shares are trading at levels that some analysts deem undervalued. We examine the financial models, peer comparisons, and the broader sector headwinds facing the Chinese gaming giant to assess if the current price presents a strategic entry point for long-term investors.

Feb 2, 2026

Business

Bloomberg Strategist Warns of 2008-Style Market Unwind, Sees Bitcoin Plunging to $10,000

A hawkish Fed nominee and geopolitical tensions trigger a broad market sell-off, with one analyst forecasting an 87% collapse in Bitcoin from current levels.

Feb 2, 2026

World

Former Chinese Justice Minister Tang Yijun Receives Life Sentence for Bribery

A Beijing court has sentenced ex-Justice Minister Tang Yijun to life imprisonment on bribery charges, state media reported Monday, marking one of the highest-profile convictions in China's ongoing anti-corruption campaign.

Feb 2, 2026

World

Iran Escalates Diplomatic Row, Summons EU Ambassadors Over Revolutionary Guard Terror Designation

Iran has summoned the ambassadors of all European Union member states in Tehran in a sharp diplomatic protest against the bloc's move to formally designate the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) as a terrorist organization.

Feb 2, 2026

World

Iran Escalates Diplomatic Row, Summons EU Envoys Over Revolutionary Guard's Terror Listing

Iran has summoned the ambassadors of all European Union member states in Tehran in a sharp diplomatic protest against the bloc's recent decision to designate the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) as a terrorist organization. The move, triggered by the IRGC's alleged role in suppressing protests, deepens Iran's isolation amid heightened regional tensions.

Feb 2, 2026

World

Nepal Cracks Down on Multi-Million Dollar Fake Mountain Rescue Insurance Scam

Nepali authorities have arrested six executives from travel and rescue companies, alleging a sophisticated fraud scheme involving fabricated high-altitude rescues to bilk international insurers out of nearly $20 million.

Feb 2, 2026

US

Weekend Rundown: Boy, 5, Released from Immigration Custody as Broader Policy Battle Rages On

A five-year-old boy, whose detention made him a symbol of U.S. immigration enforcement, has been released with his father. Their case highlights the ongoing political stalemate over border policy and government funding, with a partial shutdown looming.

Feb 2, 2026

World

Khamenei Warns U.S. Attack on Iran Would Ignite Wider Regional Conflict

Iran's Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei has issued a stark warning that any U.S. military action against Tehran would escalate into a regional war, accusing Washington of coveting Iran's energy resources. The warning comes amid heightened tensions and internal unrest following deadly protests.

Feb 2, 2026

World

Costa Ricans Head to the Polls Amid Security Crisis, Chaves's Protégé Leads Race

Laura Fernández, former chief of staff to President Rodrigo Chaves, holds a commanding lead and could secure an outright victory, promising to double down on the incumbent's hardline security agenda.

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

Costa Rica Votes Amid Security Crisis, Populist Party Seeks to Consolidate Power

Voters head to the polls in Costa Rica, with the ruling right-wing populist party aiming to secure a decisive mandate and a legislative supermajority to tackle record violence and political gridlock.

Feb 2, 2026

World

Staged Images of Khamenei Aim to Project Strength as Regime Faces Internal Strains, Critics Claim

Iranian opposition figures allege recent state media images of Supreme Leader Khamenei are a calculated display meant to bolster morale within the security apparatus, as the regime confronts domestic unrest and international pressure.

Feb 2, 2026