Diplomatic Deadlock

Business

TSMC Founder Morris Chang Breaks Year-Long Public Silence at Taipei Dinner with Nvidia's Jensen Huang

Morris Chang, the 94-year-old founder of Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co., made his first public appearance in over a year at a private dinner in Taipei with Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang. The meeting, which ended months of speculation about Chang's health and public role, also served as a platform to reaffirm TSMC's central position in the global chip supply chain.

Feb 2, 2026

World

Exclusive: India in Talks to Integrate Alipay+ with UPI for Cross-Border Payments

India is negotiating with Ant International to link its Unified Payments Interface (UPI) with the Alipay+ network, a move that could simplify overseas transactions for Indian travelers and signal a thaw in economic relations with China, according to government sources.

Feb 2, 2026

World

Rafah Crossing Reopens with Severe Restrictions, Offering Flicker of Hope to Besieged Gaza

The vital Rafah border crossing between Gaza and Egypt partially reopened Monday, allowing severely limited civilian movement for the first time since its capture by Israeli forces in 2024. The cautious resumption follows intense international pressure but falls far short of addressing Gaza's overwhelming humanitarian crisis.

Feb 2, 2026

World

Rafah Crossing Reopens Under Fragile Truce, Offering Cautious Hope for Gaza

The vital Rafah border crossing between Gaza and Egypt has partially reopened after a prolonged closure, a key provision of the US-mediated ceasefire. The move allows for limited humanitarian movement under stringent security oversight by Israel and Egypt.

Feb 2, 2026

World

Cuba Rejects U.S. Security Threat Label, Calls for Dialogue Amid Energy Stranglehold

Havana denies White House accusations of being a security threat while appealing for constructive talks, as U.S. pressure cuts off vital Venezuelan oil supplies and risks a humanitarian crisis.

Feb 2, 2026

World

Starmer Warns Against UK Isolationism on China Amid Trump's Transatlantic Pressure

UK Labour leader Keir Starmer urges sustained engagement with Beijing, countering Donald Trump's call for Western disengagement and highlighting deepening geopolitical divides.

Feb 2, 2026

World

Rafah Crossing Reopens Under Fragile Gaza Ceasefire, Allowing Limited Movement

The vital Rafah border crossing between Gaza and Egypt reopened Monday for strictly limited passenger traffic, marking a tentative step in the implementation of the Israel-Hamas ceasefire. The move, described as largely symbolic for now, offers a glimmer of hope for thousands of Palestinians seeking medical care or a return home.

Feb 2, 2026

World

Rafah Crossing Reopens Under Fragile Truce, Allowing First Limited Movement in Gaza

The vital Rafah border crossing between Gaza and Egypt has resumed operations for restricted humanitarian and civilian traffic, marking a critical, though tentative, development in the ongoing ceasefire agreement.

Feb 2, 2026

World

Russia Reaffirms Backing for China's Taiwan Stance in High-Level Security Talks

Russian Security Council Secretary Sergei Shoigu, meeting with China's top diplomat Wang Yi in Moscow, reiterated Russia's firm support for Beijing's position on Taiwan, calling it an 'inseparable part' of China. The talks underscore deepening strategic coordination between the two powers amid global tensions.

Feb 2, 2026

World

From Solidarity to Scrutiny: How Ukraine's View on Palestine Is Evolving Amid War and Shifting Alliances

As the war in Ukraine grinds on and U.S. support appears to waver, a nuanced public debate over Gaza is emerging in Kyiv, challenging earlier unequivocal backing for Israel and revealing complex parallels in perceived injustice.

Feb 2, 2026

World

Germany Grinds to a Halt: Nationwide Transport Strike Paralyzes Cities Amid Deep Freeze

A massive strike by public transport workers has brought buses and trams to a standstill across Germany, leaving commuters stranded in sub-zero temperatures as a bitter dispute over pay and conditions escalates.

Feb 2, 2026

World

A New Axis Emerges: Meloni and Merz Forge Conservative Alliance, Diminishing Macron's Role in EU Leadership

Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni and German Chancellor Friedrich Merz have signed a landmark partnership pact in Rome, signaling a potential shift in the European Union's traditional Franco-German power center. The accord, focusing on defense, migration, and trade, comes as France grapples with political instability and a weakened presidency.

Feb 2, 2026

World

Civilian Bus Struck by Russian Drone in Dnipropetrovsk, Killing 12 Miners

A Russian drone attack on a bus carrying Ukrainian miners home from work has left at least 12 dead and 8 wounded, officials say, in what is being condemned as a deliberate strike on civilians.

Feb 2, 2026

World

Medvedev Warns of Global Alarm as New START Expiry Looms, Threatening First Unchecked Nuclear Era in Decades

Russia's former president Dmitry Medvedev cautions that the potential lapse of the last major U.S.-Russia nuclear arms treaty without a successor could plunge the world into an unprecedented era of strategic instability unseen since the Cold War.

Feb 2, 2026

World

China Executes Four in Myanmar-Linked Scam Syndicate, Widening Crackdown on Cross-Border Crime

Chinese authorities have executed four individuals convicted of running a multi-billion dollar telecom fraud and gambling network from Myanmar, responsible for six deaths. The move follows last week's execution of 11 others, signaling Beijing's intensifying campaign against organized cybercrime in Southeast Asia.

Feb 2, 2026

World

Pakistan Launches Major Counter-Operation in Balochistan After Deadly Coordinated Assaults

Following a series of brazen, coordinated attacks claimed by a separatist group that killed dozens, Pakistani security forces report a sweeping response resulting in over 140 militant casualties, as tensions with neighboring India and Afghanistan flare.

Feb 2, 2026

World

Rafah Crossing to Partially Reopen Monday, Offering Glimmer of Hope for Gaza

After weeks of closure, the vital Rafah border crossing between Gaza and Egypt is set to resume limited operations, facilitating the movement of urgent humanitarian cases and some foreign nationals.

Feb 2, 2026

World

China Executes Four in Cross-Border Crackdown on Multi-Billion Dollar Myanmar Scam Syndicate

Chinese authorities have executed four individuals convicted of leading a massive online fraud and gambling ring based in Myanmar, linked to over $4 billion in illicit proceeds and the deaths of six Chinese nationals. The move is part of a widening crackdown on cross-border criminal networks targeting Chinese citizens.

Feb 2, 2026

US

Pope Leo XIV Urges Dialogue as Tensions Rise Between U.S. and Cuba

The American-born pontiff has issued a public plea for peace amid reports of a covert U.S. plan to destabilize Cuba's government, marking his latest critique of Trump-era foreign policy.

Feb 2, 2026

Business

All for One Group SE: Retail Investors Hold Key 37% Stake, Matching Private Company Influence

A unique shareholder structure at German IT firm All for One Group SE sees individual investors wielding influence equal to its largest corporate shareholder, setting the stage for potential shifts in corporate governance and strategy.

Feb 2, 2026