Political Fallout

World

Pakistan Launches Major Counter-Insurgency Operation After Coordinated Balochistan Attacks Leave Dozens Dead

Pakistani security forces have killed 145 militants in a large-scale, two-day military operation across Balochistan, officials said Sunday. The offensive was launched in response to a wave of coordinated assaults by separatist fighters that killed nearly 50 people, marking one of the deadliest escalations in the restive province in recent years.

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

World

Ukraine, U.S., and Russia Set for Crucial Talks in Abu Dhabi Amid Escalating Winter Assaults

As winter deepens and Russian strikes intensify, President Zelenskyy announces a new diplomatic push for peace, with talks scheduled this week in the UAE. The negotiations unfold against a backdrop of skepticism and a humanitarian crisis fueled by attacks on critical infrastructure.

Feb 2, 2026

World

Coordinated Assaults Rock Balochistan: Pakistan Hunts Separatists After Deadly Two-Day Siege

Pakistan launches a sweeping manhunt for Baloch separatist militants following a devastating wave of coordinated attacks across the volatile province. With over 190 dead, the government vows retaliation as the region reels from assaults on security installations, banks, and prisons.

Feb 2, 2026

World

Iran Denies Reports of Planned Live-Fire Drills in Strategic Strait of Hormuz

A senior Iranian official has refuted earlier media claims that the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) Navy would conduct live-fire military exercises in the vital Strait of Hormuz this week, calling the reports inaccurate.

Feb 2, 2026

Business

M&A Market Roars Back to Life: 2026 Poised for Major Deal Surge as Confidence Returns

Fueled by a wave of blockbuster transactions and renewed executive optimism, the global mergers and acquisitions landscape is heating up for a robust 2026. Major consulting firms report a significant shift in sentiment, with U.S. CEOs leading the charge in pursuing strategic deals despite lingering market uncertainties.

Feb 2, 2026

California's Billionaire Tax Debate: A New Front in the Battle Over Wealth and Power

A proposed wealth tax on California's ultra-rich has ignited a fierce debate, pitting tech billionaires against a coalition of millionaires who argue it's time for the wealthy to pay more. The fight echoes past battles over Silicon Valley's influence and raises questions about the state's economic future.

Feb 2, 2026

Business

Xi's Financial Vision Resurfaces: China Eyes Yuan's Global Role Amid Dollar Uncertainty

A renewed emphasis by President Xi Jinping on building a 'strong financial nation' with a globally powerful currency is being interpreted as a signal for accelerated yuan internationalization, as global confidence in the dollar shows signs of strain.

Feb 2, 2026

Business

Markets on Edge: Bitcoin Retreats, Metals in Turmoil as Asia Trading Week Begins

Asian markets opened cautiously Monday as a historic metals sell-off reverberated across asset classes. Bitcoin slipped toward $75,000, while regional equities mostly fell. Investors brace for a critical week packed with corporate earnings, central bank decisions, and key economic data.

Feb 2, 2026

World

Speaker Johnson Expresses Confidence in Securing Votes to Avert Partial Shutdown by Tuesday

House Speaker Mike Johnson stated on Sunday that he believes he has secured enough Republican support to pass a stopgap funding bill and end the partial government shutdown by Tuesday at the latest, citing logistical hurdles due to severe weather.

Feb 2, 2026

World

Moscow Hails Trump's Diplomatic Push as Ukraine Peace Talks Set to Resume in Abu Dhabi

A senior Kremlin official has publicly endorsed President Trump's efforts to broker an end to the Ukraine conflict, calling renewed U.S.-Russia dialogue "productive" as a new round of trilateral talks is announced.

Feb 2, 2026

World

Musk Denies Epstein Party Invitations, Claims Ignorance of 'Creepy' Offers

Elon Musk has responded to newly released emails showing his correspondence with Jeffrey Epstein, stating he was 'too dumb' to initially understand the financier's offers and would have no need for his assistance to socialize.

Feb 2, 2026

World

When Venus Became a Target: The WWII Incident Where the U.S. Navy Mistook a Planet for a Japanese Balloon Bomb

Amid the tense atmosphere of World War II, a routine night watch escalated into a bizarre engagement when U.S. Navy gunners, convinced they were under attack by a Japanese balloon weapon, opened fire on an unexpected celestial intruder: the planet Venus.

Feb 2, 2026

World

Portugal Unveils €2.5 Billion Lifeline for Storm-Battered Communities

The Portuguese government has launched a massive financial aid package, combining loans and direct support, to accelerate recovery from the deadly Storm Kristin which left a trail of destruction across the country last week.

Feb 2, 2026

World

Syrian Security Forces Uncover Cell Behind Damascus Airport Strikes; Weapons Linked to Hezbollah

Syrian authorities announced the arrest of a militant group responsible for rocket attacks on the Mezzeh military airport, alleging the weapons were supplied by Iran-backed Hezbollah—a claim the Lebanese group denies.

Feb 2, 2026

World

Unsealed Epstein Files Reveal Extensive Kremlin Ties, Fueling Espionage Fears

Newly released documents from the Jeffrey Epstein case detail his repeated interactions with Vladimir Putin and Russian intelligence, raising serious questions about whether the financier's sex trafficking network doubled as a foreign kompromat operation.

Feb 2, 2026

World

Trump's Tariff Threat on Cuba Oil Puts Mexico in Diplomatic Bind

Mexico faces a delicate balancing act as U.S. tariff threats targeting nations supplying oil to Cuba pressure a key trading partner to choose between economic interests and regional solidarity.

Feb 2, 2026

World

Fernandez Holds Commanding Lead in Costa Rica Presidential Vote, Early Results Show

With over half the early vote counted, governing party candidate Laura Fernandez appears poised to secure a first-round victory, potentially avoiding a runoff.

Feb 2, 2026

World

Markets Retreat as AI Bubble Fears Resurface, Oil Prices Tumble

Global markets stumbled on Monday, with Asian shares and U.S. futures declining sharply. The sell-off was led by a significant pullback in South Korean tech stocks amid renewed concerns over an AI sector bubble, while oil prices dropped over $2 per barrel.

Feb 2, 2026

Business

Markets Stumble as AI Bubble Fears Resurface, Oil and Metals Retreat

Global markets opened the week under pressure, with Asian shares and U.S. futures declining amid renewed concerns over an AI sector bubble and falling commodity prices. South Korea's Kospi led losses with a sharp 4.6% drop.

Feb 2, 2026