Network Effects

Business

Behind the $500 Million Deal: Abu Dhabi Royal Family Acquires Major Stake in Trump-Linked Crypto Venture

A company linked to a key UAE national security adviser, Sheikh Tahnoon bin Zayed Al Nahyan, secured a 49% equity stake in World Liberty Financial, the Trump family's flagship crypto firm, just days before President Trump's 2025 inauguration. The investment raises fresh questions about the intersection of foreign capital, presidential family businesses, and U.S. policy.

Feb 2, 2026

Business

The Trump Legacy: How U.S. Trade Policy Ignited a Global Economic Realignment

Morgan Stanley's top strategist argues that recent U.S. trade shifts have prompted nations worldwide to reassess and leverage their own economic strengths, creating a multi-year investment opportunity in a more multipolar global order.

Feb 2, 2026

Business

Epstein's Final Blueprint: Secret Trust Reveals $630M Fortune Destined for 43 Names, Including Fiancée

A long-sealed financial document, signed by Jeffrey Epstein days before his death, details plans to bequeath his vast estate to a circle of associates, with his then-girlfriend Karyna Shuliak positioned to inherit $100 million and multiple properties in contemplation of marriage.

Feb 2, 2026

Business

Goldman Sachs Bets $75 Million on AI Audit Startup Fieldguide, Eyeing Professional Services Shift

Goldman Sachs' investment arm leads a major funding round in Fieldguide, an AI platform for auditors and accountants, signaling a strategic push into the automation of professional services and a potential new growth vector for the Wall Street giant.

Feb 2, 2026

Business

Netflix-Warner Bros. Merger: A Streamlined Future for Viewers and Creators?

Amid subscription fatigue and market fragmentation, the proposed union of Netflix and Warner Bros. Discovery is framed not as a threat to competition, but as a necessary consolidation to compete with tech giants and refocus value on consumers.

Feb 2, 2026

Business

Visa Shares Climb on Strong Quarterly Results, Fueled by Consumer Spending and Digital Innovation

The payments giant reported a 15% jump in revenue, beating Wall Street estimates, as it positions itself to capitalize on emerging trends in stablecoins and AI-driven commerce.

Feb 2, 2026

Business

Frost Bank Parent Company Cullen/Frost Announces Board Refresh, Adding McCombs Heir and Former EY Partner

Cullen/Frost Bankers Inc., the parent of Texas-based Frost Bank, has elected Marsha M. Shields, leader of the Red McCombs family enterprises, and former Ernst & Young managing partner Jeff Rummel to its board, as longtime director Dr. Chris Avery prepares to retire.

Feb 2, 2026

Business

Reddit's Q4 Earnings: A Litmus Test for AI Ambitions and Premium Valuation

As Reddit prepares to report its fourth-quarter results on February 5th, investors are weighing its surging user growth and lucrative data-licensing deals against a sky-high valuation and a volatile market backdrop.

Feb 2, 2026

Business

Capital Without Borders: How Private Equity and Gulf States Are Reshaping Sanctioned Energy Markets

The quiet maneuvering between Carlyle Group, Russia's Lukoil, and the UAE reveals a fundamental shift in global energy finance. As Western sanctions redraw the map, a new playbook is emerging—one where assets are restructured, risks are repackaged, and geopolitical neutrality becomes a tradable commodity.

Feb 2, 2026

Business

New EPA Refrigerant Rule Takes Effect, Casting Wider Net for Facility Compliance

A sweeping federal mandate now requires leak monitoring and repair for appliances containing as little as 15 pounds of HFCs, significantly lowering the previous threshold and placing new operational burdens on countless facilities.

Feb 2, 2026

World

Thai Military Uncovers Vast Fraud Evidence in Raided Cambodian Border Compound

Thai military officials have revealed a massive cache of evidence, including scam scripts and fake police setups, seized from a contested border compound in Cambodia, shedding light on the scale of transnational cyber fraud operations in the region.

Feb 2, 2026

US

Community Mourns Skid Row Advocate Shirley Raines; Family Awaits Official Cause of Death

As authorities continue their investigation, the family of Shirley Raines—founder of the nonprofit Beauty 2 The Streetz—shares insights into the activist's sudden passing, while tributes pour in from the community she served and celebrities she inspired.

Feb 2, 2026

Trump Unveils $12 Billion 'Project Vault' to Secure Critical Minerals, Counter China's Supply Chain Stranglehold

The White House announces a major public-private initiative to stockpile rare earths and critical minerals, aiming to insulate U.S. defense and tech sectors from foreign supply shocks and geopolitical leverage.

Feb 2, 2026

Business

Beyond the Scale: How the GLP-1 Boom is Reshaping Diets, Wallets, and Industries

The surge in popularity of weight-loss drugs like Ozempic and Wegovy is sending shockwaves far beyond the pharmacy, fundamentally altering consumer spending, challenging major corporations, and forcing a broad economic recalibration.

Feb 2, 2026

Business

DraftKings Clears Hurdle for Crypto Betting Funds in Four States, While Massachusetts Holds Firm

The sports betting giant is set to launch a cryptocurrency conversion feature for deposits in Illinois, Kentucky, New Hampshire, and Vermont. Massachusetts regulators, however, have blocked the move, citing unresolved concerns over the technology's readiness and consumer protection.

Feb 2, 2026

Business

Starbucks Skips Super Bowl Game, Bets Big on Olympic-Themed 'Coffee Run' Ad

Starbucks returns to Super Bowl weekend with a cinematic pre-game spot celebrating its role as Team USA's coffee partner, blending Italian film aesthetics with Olympic grandeur to drive its brand turnaround narrative.

Feb 2, 2026

Business

Cboe Eyes Return of Binary Options in Bid to Capture Retail Trading Boom

Cboe Global Markets is exploring a revival of simplified, event-based binary options for retail investors, aiming to compete with surging prediction markets while navigating a complex regulatory landscape.

Feb 2, 2026

Business

Atlanta Emerges Among Top U.S. Buyer's Markets as Housing Inventory Swells

Atlanta ranks ninth nationally as a favorable market for homebuyers, driven by increased inventory and moderating prices, according to new Realtor.com data. The trend highlights a broader shift toward buyer leverage across Sun Belt metros.

Feb 2, 2026

Business

Zegna Charts Course Through 'New Normal' with DTC Focus and Retail Expansion

In his first interview as Executive Chairman, Gildo Zegna outlines a strategy of agility and direct consumer engagement to navigate global uncertainties, as the group reports resilient 2025 results driven by its flagship brand.

Feb 2, 2026

Business

Burger King Sets Sights on 4,000+ Chinese Restaurants by 2035 in Major Expansion Push

Following the finalization of a joint venture with investment firm CPE, Burger King's parent company RBI has reaffirmed ambitious plans to more than triple its footprint in China over the next decade, backed by a $350 million investment.

Feb 2, 2026