Fair Value Analysis

World

Pakistan Launches Major Counter-Insurgency Operation After Coordinated Balochistan Attacks Leave Dozens Dead

Pakistani security forces have killed 145 militants in a large-scale, two-day military operation across Balochistan, officials said Sunday. The offensive was launched in response to a wave of coordinated assaults by separatist fighters that killed nearly 50 people, marking one of the deadliest escalations in the restive province in recent years.

Feb 2, 2026

Business

Weekend Rout Wipes Billions: Geopolitical Jitters and Leverage Unwind Expose Crypto's Fragile Foundation

A perfect storm of geopolitical tension, a surging dollar, and cascading liquidations triggered a brutal selloff across crypto and traditional 'safe havens' over the weekend, raising fresh questions about market maturity and resilience.

Feb 2, 2026

California's Billionaire Tax Debate: A New Front in the Battle Over Wealth and Power

A proposed wealth tax on California's ultra-rich has ignited a fierce debate, pitting tech billionaires against a coalition of millionaires who argue it's time for the wealthy to pay more. The fight echoes past battles over Silicon Valley's influence and raises questions about the state's economic future.

Feb 2, 2026

Business

The Utah Banker Who Built a Wall: Marriner Eccles and the Battle for Fed Independence

As political pressure on the Federal Reserve intensifies, the legacy of Marriner Eccles—the Utah banker who architected its modern independence—offers a crucial lesson. A BYU expert explains why shielding monetary policy from politics remains vital for economic stability.

Feb 2, 2026

World

Speaker Johnson Expresses Confidence in Securing Votes to Avert Partial Shutdown by Tuesday

House Speaker Mike Johnson stated on Sunday that he believes he has secured enough Republican support to pass a stopgap funding bill and end the partial government shutdown by Tuesday at the latest, citing logistical hurdles due to severe weather.

Feb 2, 2026

World

Swiss New Year's Bar Fire Death Toll Climbs to 41 as Teenager Succumbs to Injuries

The death toll from a devastating fire at a New Year's Eve bar in the Swiss Alps resort of Crans-Montana has risen to 41 after an 18-year-old victim died from his injuries, marking one of the nation's worst peacetime tragedies.

Feb 2, 2026

World

Moscow Hails Trump's Diplomatic Push as Ukraine Peace Talks Set to Resume in Abu Dhabi

A senior Kremlin official has publicly endorsed President Trump's efforts to broker an end to the Ukraine conflict, calling renewed U.S.-Russia dialogue "productive" as a new round of trilateral talks is announced.

Feb 2, 2026

World

Musk Denies Epstein Party Invitations, Claims Ignorance of 'Creepy' Offers

Elon Musk has responded to newly released emails showing his correspondence with Jeffrey Epstein, stating he was 'too dumb' to initially understand the financier's offers and would have no need for his assistance to socialize.

Feb 2, 2026

World

Berliners Embrace Free Spuds as German Potato Glut Sparks Creative Solutions and Debate

An unprecedented potato harvest in Germany has led to a wave of grassroots initiatives, with farmers distributing millions of surplus potatoes for free in Berlin, sparking community spirit and a debate on food waste and market impacts.

Feb 2, 2026

World

Rafah Crossing Reopens After Two-Year Closure, Easing Gaza-Egypt Movement Under Strict Scrutiny

The vital Rafah border crossing between Egypt and the Gaza Strip reopened Sunday for limited passenger traffic, marking a significant shift after more than two years of closure. The move, part of a ceasefire deal, initiates a tightly controlled process allowing medical evacuations and returns, though humanitarian aid flow remains uncertain.

Feb 2, 2026

World

Trump's Tariff Threat on Cuba Oil Puts Mexico in Diplomatic Bind

Mexico faces a delicate balancing act as U.S. tariff threats targeting nations supplying oil to Cuba pressure a key trading partner to choose between economic interests and regional solidarity.

Feb 2, 2026

World

Fernandez Holds Commanding Lead in Costa Rica Presidential Vote, Early Results Show

With over half the early vote counted, governing party candidate Laura Fernandez appears poised to secure a first-round victory, potentially avoiding a runoff.

Feb 2, 2026

Business

Markets Stumble as AI Bubble Fears Resurface, Oil and Metals Retreat

Global markets opened the week under pressure, with Asian shares and U.S. futures declining amid renewed concerns over an AI sector bubble and falling commodity prices. South Korea's Kospi led losses with a sharp 4.6% drop.

Feb 2, 2026

World

Khartoum Airport Reopens for Scheduled Flights After Two-Year War Hiatus

A Sudan Airways flight from Port Sudan touched down in the capital, marking a tentative step toward reconnecting a nation fractured by conflict.

Feb 2, 2026

World

Rafah Crossing Reopens: Gaza's Lifeline to the World Cautiously Restarts After Two-Year Closure

The Rafah border crossing between Gaza and Egypt reopened for pedestrian traffic Monday, ending a near two-year shutdown. The vital gateway, crucial for aid and movement, resumes under a complex new security framework involving Israeli oversight and international monitors.

Feb 2, 2026

World

Venezuela Frees Rights Activist Javier Tarazona in Sweeping Prisoner Release Initiative

Prominent Venezuelan human rights defender Javier Tarazona has been released after over four years in detention on charges widely condemned as politically motivated, as the government announces a new amnesty law and the U.S. re-engages diplomatically.

Feb 2, 2026

World

Israel Moves to Expel Doctors Without Borders from Gaza Over Staff Data Dispute

The Israeli government has ordered Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) to cease operations in Gaza by the end of February, citing the aid group's refusal to hand over details of its Palestinian staff—a move critics decry as a dangerous politicization of humanitarian aid.

Feb 2, 2026

World

West Bank Tensions Escalate as Israeli Forces Order Bedouin Expulsion, Settlers Target Schools

Israeli authorities have issued expulsion orders to a Bedouin community near Ramallah, while settler attacks on schools and homes intensify across the occupied West Bank, further constricting Palestinian living space.

Feb 2, 2026

World

Amid Rising Iran Tensions, Top US and Israeli Military Chiefs Hold Pentagon Talks

The highest-ranking US and Israeli military officials held a closed-door meeting at the Pentagon last Friday, as regional tensions with Iran continue to escalate, according to US officials speaking on condition of anonymity.

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