GIFT City

The 2026 Sports Marketing Blitz: How Brands Are Gearing Up for a Historic Year of Global Events

With the FIFA World Cup in North America, the Milano Cortina Winter Olympics, and a packed calendar of major events, 2026 is poised to be a landmark year for sports. Brands and retailers are deploying sophisticated strategies that prioritize cultural marketing and community engagement over mere sales spikes, navigating a landscape where consumer loyalty is won through storytelling, not just sponsorship.

Feb 2, 2026

World

Pressure Mounts on Lord Mandelson to Resign from House of Lords Amid Deepening Epstein Scandal Fallout

Former UK ambassador to Washington, Peter Mandelson, faces intensifying political and public pressure to relinquish his lifetime seat in the House of Lords following new revelations about his financial and personal ties to the late convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. Prime Minister Keir Starmer has called for his resignation, as documents suggest payments and close correspondence between the two.

Feb 2, 2026

World

Vatican Announces Major Restoration of Michelangelo's 'Last Judgment' in Sistine Chapel

The Vatican has launched a meticulous three-month restoration of Michelangelo's iconic 'Last Judgment' fresco in the Sistine Chapel, aiming to revive the masterpiece's original chromatic brilliance obscured by decades of grime.

Feb 2, 2026

US

Government Funding Deadline Looms as House Returns Amid ICE Controversy

Congress faces a critical vote to avert a prolonged shutdown, while newly released documents shed light on the Minneapolis shooting involving immigration officers and the Epstein case continues to reverberate.

Feb 2, 2026

Business

Sanctions and Legal Woes Push Russia's Crypto Mining Giant BitRiver to the Brink

Russia's premier cryptocurrency miner, BitRiver, faces insolvency proceedings as its CEO is placed under house arrest, marking a dramatic fall for a firm already crippled by international sanctions and mounting legal disputes.

Feb 2, 2026

Business

Analysts See Long-Term Promise in Legend Biotech's Carvykti Despite Fourth-Quarter Sales Shortfall

While Legend Biotech's CAR-T therapy Carvykti missed Q4 sales estimates, prompting mixed analyst reactions, some firms emphasize its curative potential and view the stock's recent decline as a strategic entry point for investors.

Feb 2, 2026

Business

U.S. Launches $12 Billion 'Project Vault' to Counter China's Rare Earth Dominance

The White House has confirmed the launch of a major strategic initiative to stockpile rare earth elements, aiming to reduce American dependence on China for the critical minerals used in defense tech and consumer electronics.

Feb 2, 2026

Business

Fed Chair Contender's 'New Gold' Bitcoin Endorsement Clashes With Market Slump

Kevin Warsh, a leading candidate for Federal Reserve Chair, has historically framed Bitcoin not as a threat but as a crucial policy signal. His past comments labeling it 'the new gold' for younger investors stand in stark contrast to the cryptocurrency's recent 3% decline, highlighting the volatile intersection of regulatory sentiment and digital asset markets.

Feb 2, 2026

Business

Nextpower Inc. Surpasses Expectations, Fueling Analyst Optimism and Higher Price Targets

The renewable energy firm's latest quarterly results, described as a 'beat and raise,' have prompted major banks to lift their valuations, signaling strong confidence in its growth trajectory within the clean energy sector.

Feb 2, 2026

Business

Nova Ltd. (NVMI) Upgraded as Semiconductor Equipment Sector Shows Signs of Robust Recovery

Needham raises Nova Ltd. (NVMI) to Buy with a $500 price target, citing improving industry conditions and the company's strategic position in China's memory market. The upgrade follows a similar bullish move by Bank of America earlier in January.

Feb 2, 2026

Business

Dangote Group Inks Major Gas Supply Pact with NNPC, Aligning with Nigeria's Energy Expansion Drive

Africa's largest conglomerate secures a strategic gas supply agreement with Nigeria's state oil firm, a key move supporting national ambitions to leverage vast gas reserves for industrial growth and investment.

Feb 2, 2026

US

Portland Streets Gridlocked as Hundreds March Against ICE, Clash with Federal Agents

A major protest against U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) brought parts of downtown Portland to a standstill Sunday, culminating in a tense confrontation with federal officers outside a detention facility.

Feb 2, 2026

Business

IREN Pivots from Bitcoin Mining to AI Infrastructure with Major Microsoft, Dell Deals

Digital infrastructure firm IREN secures a landmark $9.7 billion agreement with Microsoft and a massive GPU procurement from Dell, marking a strategic shift from cryptocurrency mining to powering the AI cloud boom.

Feb 2, 2026

Business

Oracle Bets Big on AI Cloud Future with $50 Billion Fundraising Drive

Oracle is launching a massive $45-$50 billion capital raise to aggressively expand its cloud infrastructure, fueled by long-term contracts with AI giants like OpenAI, NVIDIA, and Meta. The move underscores the fierce competition in the cloud arms race, even as the company's stock faces recent headwinds.

Feb 2, 2026

Business

AMD Stock Soars Ahead of Earnings: A Calculated Bet on AI's Future

With shares up over 100% in a year, investors are weighing whether to buy AMD stock before its February 3rd earnings report, as the chipmaker capitalizes on the AI boom.

Feb 2, 2026

Business

Zions Bancorporation Greenlights $75M Share Buyback, Signaling Confidence Amid Sector Scrutiny

Zions Bancorporation has authorized a new $75 million stock repurchase program, a move analysts see as a bet on its undervalued shares and a commitment to shareholder returns as regional banks navigate a cautious regulatory environment.

Feb 2, 2026

Business

ASML Books Record €13.2 Billion in Orders, Yet Investors Probe Sustainability Amid AI Boom

ASML's Q4 2025 bookings, driven by AI chip demand, smashed forecasts. While management raises 2026 guidance, shareholders question the durability of the surge and the company's exposure to geopolitical headwinds.

Feb 2, 2026

World

UK's Gridworks Inks $400M Ethiopia Power Deals as Foreign Minister Visits to Address Migration Pressures

During UK Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper's visit to Addis Ababa, British investor Gridworks signed landmark agreements to develop two major transmission projects. The deals, part of a broader UK strategy linking economic development with migration management, mark Ethiopia's first public-private partnerships in its power transmission sector.

Feb 2, 2026

Business

TSMC Bets Big on AI Future with Record $56 Billion Capex Plan, Fueling Market Optimism

Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co. (TSMC) has unveiled an aggressive capital expenditure plan for 2026, signaling robust confidence in sustained demand driven by artificial intelligence and high-performance computing, which has spurred a significant rally in its shares and upward revisions from analysts.

Feb 2, 2026

Business

Beyond the AI Hype: Energy and Utilities Stocks Offer Steady Dividends for 2026 Income

While tech captures headlines, a selection of energy and utility companies present a compelling case for reliable, high-yield dividend income in the coming year, backed by essential infrastructure and evolving demand drivers.

Feb 2, 2026