G20 Policy

Business

Nevada Court Halts Polymarket Operations, Spotlighting Legal Peril for U.S. Prediction Markets

A Nevada court has issued a temporary restraining order against prediction market platform Polymarket, barring it from offering event-based betting to state residents. The ruling intensifies the regulatory clash between state gambling laws and federal financial frameworks, casting uncertainty over the future of crypto-powered prediction markets in the U.S.

Feb 2, 2026

Business

Polish E-Commerce Battle Escalates: Erli Files Antitrust Lawsuit Against Allegro Over Pricing Practices

Polish online marketplace Erli has filed a lawsuit against dominant rival Allegro, alleging the platform abuses its market power to pressure sellers into maintaining higher prices on competing sites. Allegro denies the accusations, stating its seller benefit programs are voluntary.

Feb 2, 2026

Business

Disney Posts Record Revenue Amid Streaming Spat, Tourism Dip; Stock Slips

The Walt Disney Company announced blockbuster quarterly earnings driven by historic box office and streaming performance, though profits were pressured by a resolved YouTube dispute, rising costs, and a broader slowdown in international travel to U.S. destinations.

Feb 2, 2026

Business

Crypto Funds Bleed $1.7 Billion in a Week as ETF Enthusiasm Cools

Digital asset investment products faced massive withdrawals last week, with U.S. spot Bitcoin ETFs leading the sell-off. The outflows have pushed year-to-date net redemptions past $1 billion, signaling a sharp shift in investor sentiment amid market turmoil.

Feb 2, 2026

Business

Markets Brace for Volatility as Fed Pick, Inflation Data Rattle Investors

U.S. stock futures pointed lower Monday, extending Friday's sell-off fueled by inflation concerns, a hawkish Fed chair nominee, and a brutal commodities rout. Wall Street analysts scrambled to adjust ratings on major tech and energy names amid the shifting landscape.

Feb 2, 2026

Business

Pfizer's Pandemic Gambit: How Moral Clarity Fueled a Vaccine Production Miracle

Faced with scaling annual vaccine output from 200 million to 3 billion doses, CEO Albert Bourla reframed an operational nightmare as a moral imperative, unlocking what he calls "miracles" of human effort.

Feb 2, 2026

Business

Consumer Campaign Targets Hannaford's Pricing and Practices, Yet Shoppers Show Limited Awareness

A months-long advocacy campaign criticizing Hannaford's pricing and animal welfare policies has gained little traction among Maine shoppers, many of whom remain loyal to the dominant grocer despite concerns over affordability.

Feb 2, 2026

Business

Social Security's 2026 COLA: A Raise That Doesn't Keep Up

Millions of seniors received a 2.8% Cost-of-Living Adjustment this January, but soaring Medicare premiums and a flawed inflation formula mean their real purchasing power continues to erode, highlighting a systemic crisis for retirees.

Feb 2, 2026

World

From the Ring to the Stage: Joshua and Styles Join UK's Top Taxpayer Elite

Boxing champion Anthony Joshua and pop icon Harry Styles are among the prominent new entrants on the UK's annual Tax List, revealing the substantial contributions of the nation's highest earners to the public purse.

Feb 2, 2026

Business

The 2026 Lifetime ISA Guide: Where Savers Under 40 Can Get the Best Deal

With a 25% government bonus and tax-free growth, the Lifetime ISA remains a key tool for first-time buyers and retirement savers. We review the top cash and investment providers for 2026, as the scheme faces a planned 2028 overhaul.

Feb 2, 2026

Business

Markets Retreat as Trump's Fed Pick Rattles Investors; Gold's Historic Rally Stalls

U.S. stocks and precious metals fell sharply Monday as President Trump's surprise nomination of Kevin Warsh to lead the Federal Reserve injected fresh uncertainty into markets, reversing a recent dollar slump and cooling a historic gold rally.

Feb 2, 2026

Business

Crypto Markets Recover After $290 Billion Weekend Plunge

Digital asset markets stabilized Monday following a sharp, liquidity-starved selloff that erased nearly $290 billion in total value over the weekend, with Bitcoin and Ethereum finding firmer footing after testing key support levels.

Feb 2, 2026

Business

Beyond Paradise Prices: UHERO Report Reveals Hawaii's Decades-Long Economic Stagnation

A stark new analysis from the University of Hawaii Economic Research Organization adjusts for the state's high cost of living, uncovering that wages and productivity have trailed the national average for over 30 years, painting a picture of deep-seated economic distress.

Feb 2, 2026

World

Diplomatic Thaw Emerges as Iran Signals Readiness to Revive Nuclear Talks with U.S.

Amid a fragile de-escalation, Tehran confirms it is reviewing regional mediation proposals and expects a framework for renewed negotiations with Washington within days, though significant hurdles remain.

Feb 2, 2026

World

UK Moves to Arm Forces with New Powers as Rogue Drone Incidents Near Military Sites Double

The British government is proposing legislative changes to allow troops to intercept and destroy threatening drones near defense sites, following a sharp increase in reported incidents amid heightened European security tensions.

Feb 2, 2026

US

Shutdown Showdown: House Gears Up for Monday Vote as Funding Impasse Drags On

With a partial government shutdown entering its third day, the House prepares to vote on a Senate-crafted funding deal. While Speaker Johnson eyes a Tuesday resolution, deep partisan divisions over Homeland Security funding and procedural hurdles threaten to prolong the stalemate, leaving thousands of federal employees working without pay.

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

From Across the Border: Iranian Exiles in Turkey Watch Homeland's Turmoil with Fear and Hope

In a cafe in eastern Turkey, Iranian exiles gather, their eyes fixed on news from home. As a new wave of protests meets a severe crackdown, those who fled earlier unrest watch, wait, and voice a desperate mix of anguish, anger, and fragile hope.

Feb 2, 2026

Business

Qatar Launches Historic Offshore Decommissioning, Taps McDermott for Landmark Project

QatarEnergy awards McDermott a pivotal contract to plan the removal of 27 aging offshore platforms, marking the nation's first major step in responsibly retiring legacy oil and gas infrastructure.

Feb 2, 2026

Business

Carlsberg Exits Tibetan Brewery Venture, Ceding Full Control to Local Partner

Danish brewing giant Carlsberg has agreed to sell its 50% stake in the Lhasa Brewery joint venture to its local partner, Tibet Development, for 292 million yuan ($42 million), ending a partnership marked by operational disputes and significant financial impairments.

Feb 2, 2026