International Relations

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

US

Virginia Man Found Guilty in BDSM-Themed Double Murder Plot Involving Au Pair

Brendan Banfield has been convicted of the aggravated murder of his wife and a stranger lured through a fake BDSM encounter, a plot allegedly orchestrated with the family's live-in nanny who testified against him.

Feb 2, 2026

US

DHS Mandates Body Cameras for Minneapolis Immigration Agents Amid Scrutiny, With National Rollout Planned

Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem announced the immediate deployment of body cameras to all federal immigration officers in Minneapolis, a policy prompted by recent fatal shootings and set to expand nationwide as funding allows.

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

Southeast Asian Exporters Defy US Tariffs, Widening Trade Gap with Washington

Despite facing increased US duties, Malaysia, Thailand, and Vietnam have expanded their trade surplus with the United States over the past year, even as their deficits with China grow, highlighting shifting global trade dynamics under renewed protectionist pressures.

Feb 2, 2026

Business

SoFi and GoTu Forge Exclusive Alliance to Bring Financial Wellness Tools to Healthcare Professionals

SoFi Technologies partners with GoTu to embed its 'SoFi at Work' financial solutions directly into the gig-work platform for healthcare professionals, aiming to tap into a growing market as the company navigates a volatile stock performance.

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

World

Epstein Document Dump Rattles British Elite, From Royalty to Westminster

The latest release of court documents linked to Jeffrey Epstein has intensified scrutiny on the British establishment, implicating a disgraced royal, a former duchess, and a senior Labour figure in the financier's orbit.

Feb 2, 2026

US

Surgeon Faces Murder Charges in Ex-Wife, Husband's Holiday Slaying; Jail Booking Footage Reveals Stoic Demeanor

Dr. Michael McKee, a vascular surgeon, stands accused of the aggravated murders of his ex-wife Monique Tepe and her husband Spencer Tepe in their Columbus home. Newly released jail intake video shows his emotionless processing as the legal case unfolds.

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

Survey Reveals Lingering Cash Safety Fears Among CFOs, Despite Post-SVB Reforms

A new report finds corporate treasurers remain deeply concerned about deposit security, with most businesses holding funds far above FDIC insurance limits and vulnerable to operational shutdowns if a primary bank fails.

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