International politics

Business

Joby Aviation Nears Liftoff: Air Taxi Service Launch Imminent in Dubai, U.S. Operations on Horizon

Joby Aviation is on the cusp of launching its pioneering air taxi service in Dubai as early as this year, marking a critical milestone for the eVTOL industry. With U.S. certification advancing, the company eyes 2026 for scaled commercial operations, navigating the final hurdles of funding and regulatory approval.

Feb 2, 2026

Business

Ford and Xiaomi Deny Joint Venture Talks Amid CEO's Mixed Signals on Chinese EV Rivals

Ford Motor and Chinese tech giant Xiaomi have firmly denied a Financial Times report of preliminary talks to collaborate on electric vehicle production in the U.S., even as Ford's CEO publicly admires and studies Chinese EV technology while labeling it a major competitive threat.

Feb 2, 2026

World

Venezuela's Oil Sector Overhaul: A Pragmatic Pivot or a Sovereignty Surrender?

Venezuela enacts its most significant oil reform in nearly 50 years, dismantling core socialist tenets to attract foreign capital. While promising a production boost, the new hybrid system raises questions about transparency, U.S. influence, and whether it offers enough to lure back wary investors.

Feb 2, 2026

Business

Seeking Stability in Volatile Times: Asian Dividend Stocks Offer Income and Growth Potential

Amid global economic uncertainty, investors are turning to Asian dividend-paying companies for portfolio resilience. We examine three high-yield stocks from South Korea and Hong Kong, weighing their income potential against underlying risks.

Feb 2, 2026

Business

The Hidden Engine of the Energy Transition: How Green Tech Fuels Fossil Fuel Demand

Record global investments in wind, solar, and EVs are paradoxically driving a surge in demand for coal, oil, and gas, as the production of essential materials like cement and steel remains locked into hydrocarbon-based economies, primarily in Asia.

Feb 2, 2026

World

Venezuela Rewrites Its Oil Playbook: A Historic Reversal Seeks to Lure Back Foreign Capital

In a landmark shift, Venezuela's interim government has enacted a sweeping reform of its oil industry, dismantling decades of state control. The move aims to revive production but faces deep-seated risks and questions over who will truly benefit.

Feb 2, 2026

World

Venezuela Rewrites Its Oil Playbook: A Historic Reversal Seeks to Lure Back Foreign Capital

In a landmark move, Venezuela's interim government has enacted a sweeping reform of its oil industry, dismantling core tenets of two decades of socialist policy. The overhaul aims to revive production but faces deep-seated risks and questions over its ultimate beneficiaries.

Feb 2, 2026

Business

Hyperliquid Enters Prediction Market Arena with 'Outcome Trading' Proposal

Decentralized exchange Hyperliquid is moving into the fast-growing prediction market sector through a new protocol upgrade, aiming to offer a novel, low-risk form of derivatives trading as regulatory scrutiny intensifies.

Feb 2, 2026

Business

Sugar Prices Sink to Multi-Year Lows as Global Glut Deepens

Sugar futures extended their sharp decline this week, with prices in New York hitting a 2.5-month low and London white sugar touching a five-year trough, pressured by forecasts of abundant global supplies from top producers Brazil, India, and Thailand.

Feb 2, 2026

Business

Cocoa Futures Rebound as Ivory Coast Shipments Slow, But Market Glut Weighs on Sentiment

Cocoa prices edged higher Monday, finding a brief respite from a prolonged slump as delivery slowdowns in top grower Ivory Coast triggered short-covering. However, the rally remains fragile, overshadowed by bulging global stocks, weak demand, and forecasts for a continued supply surplus.

Feb 2, 2026

Business

Arabica Edges Higher Amid Technical Rebound, While Robusta Hits Four-Week Low

Coffee markets diverged on Monday as arabica futures found modest support from technical buying, but robusta prices slumped to a four-week low. The mixed performance comes amid favorable rains in Brazil boosting yield prospects, while surging Vietnamese exports pressure the robusta market.

Feb 2, 2026

Business

Four Seasons Yachts Charts New Course, Taps Fashion Veteran Angélic Vendette as Chief Marketing Officer

The luxury hospitality group turns to a Farfetch and Alo Yoga alum to lead global marketing strategy for its nascent ultra-luxury yachting venture, highlighting a broader industry shift towards fashion and lifestyle expertise.

Feb 2, 2026

Business

Disney Q1 2026 Earnings: Iger Touts Record Parks Revenue, Streaming Stability, and a Quiet CEO Search

Disney's first-quarter earnings call highlighted a landmark $10 billion in Parks revenue and strong film performance, while the looming CEO succession question lingered in the background.

Feb 2, 2026

World

Costa Rica's New Leader Seeks Bukele's Blueprint to Combat Surging Narco-Violence

President-elect Laura Fernandez turns to El Salvador's controversial leader Nayib Bukele for guidance, signaling a hardline shift in tackling Costa Rica's escalating drug trade violence, including plans for a Bukele-style mega-prison.

Feb 2, 2026

Business

Wall Street Gains Ground as Earnings Season Kicks into High Gear

Major U.S. stock indices advanced Monday, setting a positive tone for a week packed with corporate earnings reports from technology giants and other bellwethers. Investor sentiment remains cautiously optimistic as early results surpass expectations.

Feb 2, 2026

US

Texas Primary Rival Backs Crockett's Statewide Prospects, Citing Electability Debate

In a notable show of party unity, Texas Senate hopeful James Talarico affirmed on 'The View' that Democratic primary opponent Rep. Jasmine Crockett could win a statewide race, addressing underlying questions about her electability as a Black woman in Texas.

Feb 2, 2026

Business

Bitcoin Tumbles Below $80,000: Geopolitical Tensions and Forced Liquidations Fuel Sharp Weekend Sell-Off

Bitcoin's sharp decline over the weekend, breaching the key $80,000 level, highlights its heightened sensitivity to macro risks and challenges its 'digital gold' narrative as investors scramble for safe havens.

Feb 2, 2026

Business

The Unseen Danger: How Banking Risks Thrive in the Gaps Between Committees

As financial institutions grow more complex, a new report warns that their greatest vulnerabilities often lie not in unknown threats, but in systemic blind spots where accountability is diffused across multiple committees and functions.

Feb 2, 2026

Business

DaVita Posts Strong Q4 Earnings, Fueling Investor Optimism Amid Healthcare Sector Scrutiny

DaVita Inc. (NYSE: DVA) reported fourth-quarter revenue and profit that surpassed analyst forecasts, driven by strategic pricing and operational efficiency. The results sent shares sharply higher as the dialysis giant navigates a complex regulatory and demographic landscape.

Feb 2, 2026

Business

Netflix's All-Cash Bid for Warner Bros. Discovery: A High-Stakes Gamble on Content and Capital

Netflix's bold, all-cash offer to acquire Warner Bros. Discovery for an estimated $72-83 billion is testing investor confidence and regulatory boundaries. The proposed mega-deal, which would dramatically reshape the streaming landscape, faces intense scrutiny over antitrust concerns and the strain it could place on Netflix's historically disciplined balance sheet.

Feb 2, 2026