Middle East Crisis

Business

Eastman Chemical Navigates Market Headwinds, Pins Hopes on Operational Shifts and Circular Economy

While outlining stabilization efforts in challenged segments like Fibers, Eastman Chemical's leadership emphasized that a sustained recovery hinges on broader end-market demand. The company is betting on strategic projects and chemical recycling to drive future growth amid persistent pricing pressures and global trade dynamics.

Jan 30, 2026

Business

Eastman Chemical Navigates Earnings Slump with Deep Cuts and Bet on Advanced Recycling

Facing its weakest annual profit in years, Eastman Chemical is doubling down on cost reductions while banking on its molecular recycling technology to fuel a turnaround by 2026, despite a challenging global economic climate.

Jan 30, 2026

World

Mine Collapse in Eastern Congo Claims Over 200 Lives, Exposing Perils of Artisanal Coltan Mining

A catastrophic landslide at a major coltan mine in rebel-held eastern Congo has killed hundreds of informal miners, casting a harsh light on the deadly human cost behind the global tech supply chain.

Jan 30, 2026

World

Houthis Seize UN Assets in Sana'a, Deepening Aid Crisis in Yemen

Yemen's Houthi rebels have seized telecommunications equipment and vehicles from multiple UN offices in Sana'a, the United Nations reported Friday, marking a significant escalation in restrictions that threatens to cripple humanitarian operations in the war-torn country.

Jan 30, 2026

World

Boko Haram Attack Claims 25 Lives in Northeast Nigeria, Marking Deadliest Assault Since U.S. Christmas Strikes

Suspected Boko Haram militants killed at least 25 laborers in an attack on a town in Nigeria's Borno state, relatives and local officials confirm, in the bloodiest reported Islamist assault since late December.

Jan 30, 2026

World

Burkina Faso's Military Government Dissolves All Political Parties, Deepening Democratic Crisis

In a sweeping decree, Burkina Faso's junta has formally dissolved the nation's political parties and seized their assets, a move analysts warn consolidates authoritarian rule and extinguishes a key pillar of democratic life amid an escalating security crisis.

Jan 30, 2026

Business

LifeSci Capital Boosts Price Target on Olema Pharmaceuticals, Citing Promising Breast Cancer Drug Pipeline

LifeSci Capital reaffirms its Buy rating on Olema Pharmaceuticals (OLMA) and raises its price target to $45, following bullish analyst sentiment on the company's lead drug candidate, Palazestrant, for ER+/HER2- breast cancer.

Jan 30, 2026

Business

Northeast Bank's Loan Surge and New SMB Product Spark Investor Debate Amid Rising Charge-Offs

Northeast Bank's Q2 2026 results reveal a bank in transition: record loan growth and a promising new small business product are countered by rising charge-offs and a token dividend, leaving analysts divided on its investment narrative.

Jan 30, 2026

Business

Tarabut Bolsters Open Banking Platform with Strategic Acquisition of AI Firm Servable

Bahrain's Tarabut, a regulated open banking platform, acquires AI engineering specialist Servable to embed advanced financial AI capabilities—from risk assessment to fraud detection—directly into its infrastructure for banks and fintechs across the Middle East.

Feb 2, 2026

Business

Palantir Cements AI Ambitions with Major Korean Industrial Deal and European Sovereign AI Infrastructure Project

Palantir Technologies expands its strategic footprint in Asia through a deepened partnership with HD Hyundai, while securing a pivotal role in building sovereign AI data centers across Europe, the Middle East, and Africa with Sovereign AI and Accenture.

Feb 2, 2026

Business

Geopolitical Tensions Fuel Oil Surge, Adding Pressure to Bitcoin's Struggles

As crude prices spike on Middle East tensions, fears of reignited inflation and subsequent Fed action cast a shadow over risk assets, with Bitcoin failing to capitalize on its perceived 'safe-haven' narrative.

Jan 31, 2026

World

Damascus and Kurdish Forces Strike Landmark Deal to Reintegrate Northeast Syria

After years of de facto autonomy, Syria's Kurdish-led administration and military forces have agreed to a phased reintegration into the state, a move hailed by Washington as historic but met with caution on the ground.

Jan 30, 2026

World

Mozambique Flood Crisis Deepens: UN Warns of Overcrowded Shelters, Pleads for Urgent Aid

As severe flooding displaces hundreds of thousands in Mozambique, the UN raises alarms over dangerously overcrowded temporary shelters and a critical funding shortfall, warning of heightened risks for vulnerable populations.

Jan 30, 2026

World

Winter Crisis Deepens as U.S. Energy Aid for Ukraine Remains Stalled in Bureaucratic Maze

Promised U.S. funds to repair Ukraine's war-shattered energy grid are caught in administrative limbo, leaving millions vulnerable to extreme cold amid renewed Russian strikes and internal U.S. agency disputes.

Jan 30, 2026

World

Ukraine Cautiously Welcomes Trump's Claim of Russian Attack Pause Amid Winter Crisis

Kyiv expresses gratitude for a reported week-long halt to strikes on major cities brokered by the U.S. president, as freezing temperatures exacerbate the humanitarian situation. Moscow remains silent on the alleged agreement.

Jan 30, 2026

Business

HSBC Upgrades Grab to Buy, Sees Over 45% Upside as Southeast Asia's Super App Gains Traction

HSBC has upgraded Grab Holdings from Hold to Buy with a $6.20 price target, citing attractive valuation and intact growth drivers. The stock, already on some 'best buy' lists, has surged nearly 5% this week, with Wall Street analysts forecasting significant upside ahead of its Q4 earnings report.

Jan 30, 2026

Business

Geopolitical Tensions and Supply Shifts Propel Oil Past $70, Challenging Glut Narrative

Brent crude surged above $70 a barrel for the first time since mid-2025, driven by escalating Middle East tensions and shifting supply dynamics, as analysts signal a fading bearish outlook for the oil market.

Jan 30, 2026

World

Syrian Government Security Forces Enter Key Northeastern City Under Landmark Deal with Kurdish-Led SDF

In a significant step toward reconciliation, Syrian interior ministry forces entered the Kurdish-administered city of al-Hassakeh on Monday. The move, part of a fragile new agreement with the Syrian Democratic Forces, aims to cement a ceasefire and outlines a path for the integration of Kurdish-led institutions into the state's security and administrative framework.

Feb 2, 2026

World

A Nation Preparing for the Inevitable: Zimbabwe's Funeral Insurance Boom Overshadows Healthcare Crisis

In Zimbabwe, where formal employment is scarce and medical costs are prohibitive, a stark financial choice is being made: affordable funeral policies are vastly outpacing health insurance, reflecting a cultural prioritization of dignified burials over accessible healthcare.

Feb 2, 2026

World

Costa Ricans Head to the Polls Amid Security Crisis, Chaves's Protégé Leads Race

Laura Fernández, former chief of staff to President Rodrigo Chaves, holds a commanding lead and could secure an outright victory, promising to double down on the incumbent's hardline security agenda.

Feb 2, 2026