Social Commentary

Business

Hershey Bets on Spice and Collectibles: Jolly Rancher Heat Wave Gummies Target New Audiences

The Hershey Company is expanding its Jolly Rancher brand with a dual-pronged strategy: launching spicy 'Heat Wave' gummies and a limited-edition collectible box in partnership with VeeFriends. This move aims to capture the attention of younger consumers and digital-native collectors, signaling a shift in the confectionery giant's growth playbook beyond traditional chocolate.

Feb 2, 2026

Business

Beyond the Hype: Four Forces Shaping Crypto Prediction Markets in 2026

As crypto prediction markets surge past $6B in weekly volume, a new phase of growth beckons. Driven by institutional interest, regulatory evolution, and AI integration, these platforms are poised to redefine speculative finance.

Feb 2, 2026

Business

From Hurricanes to Sentiment: Wintermute Predicts Crypto Prediction Markets Will Upend Insurance by 2026

A new report from crypto market maker Wintermute Ventures forecasts a seismic shift, arguing that blockchain-based prediction markets will begin displacing traditional insurance by making hyper-specific risks tradable. The firm outlines a future where decentralized infrastructure becomes the new clearing layer for a programmable global economy.

Feb 2, 2026

Business

Pass-Through Voting Gains Traction as Banks Navigate ESG Backlash and Regulatory Scrutiny

Facing pressure from both investors and regulators, banks and wealth managers are turning to pass-through voting mechanisms to reclaim shareholder influence and align stewardship with client values, even within passively managed funds.

Feb 2, 2026

Business

Gymshark Founder Ben Francis on Billionaire Status: 'It's Just a Number on Paper'

From delivering pizzas to building a global sportswear empire, Ben Francis's journey to a $1.4 billion net worth is a modern business fable. Yet, in a candid podcast interview, the Gymshark CEO argues that equating self-worth with wealth is a 'wildly unproductive way to live,' offering a rare glimpse into the mindset behind the paper fortune.

Feb 2, 2026

Business

Reddit's Balancing Act: AI Data Ambitions, Brand Control, and a Shifting Ad Landscape

As YouTube emerges as a key AI training data source, Reddit navigates a complex web of challenges: protecting its community brands, defending ad revenue against TikTok and AI search, and proving the value of its data licensing strategy to investors.

Feb 2, 2026

Business

Bitcoin's Bearish Turn: 'Worthless' Fears Resurface as Key Support Levels Crumble

Bitcoin's sharp decline below critical technical levels has amplified fears of a prolonged bear market, with prominent critics questioning its fundamental value. While some analysts see a buying opportunity, the mood among traders is turning increasingly grim.

Feb 2, 2026

Business

UiPath: From Automation Pioneer to Agentic AI Contender – Is the Pullback a Buying Opportunity?

Despite a steep decline from its highs, UiPath's pivot towards agentic AI and a path to sustained profitability is drawing investor scrutiny. We examine its valuation, competitive moat, and growth runway in a crowded field.

Feb 2, 2026

World

Guinea-Bissau's Junta Signals Reconciliation, Releases Opposition Leader Amid Regional Pressure

The military leadership in Guinea-Bissau has freed a key opposition figure and pledged to form an inclusive government, in moves widely seen as an effort to appease regional bloc ECOWAS following November's coup.

Feb 2, 2026

US

Mexico's Education Secretary Mourns as Kin Slain in Colima Home Invasion; Three Suspects Killed in Police Raid

The aunt and cousin of Mexico's Secretary of Public Education, Mario Delgado, were fatally shot in their Colima home. Authorities later killed three suspects in a confrontation, highlighting the persistent violence plaguing the region.

Feb 2, 2026

Business

Bloomberg Strategist Warns of 2008-Style Market Unwind, Sees Bitcoin Plunging to $10,000

A hawkish Fed nominee and geopolitical tensions trigger a broad market sell-off, with one analyst forecasting an 87% collapse in Bitcoin from current levels.

Feb 2, 2026

Business

Bitcoin Tumbles Below $76,000, Triggering Over $2 Billion in Liquidations

A sharp weekend sell-off pushed Bitcoin below a key cost basis for major holders, liquidating leveraged bets and rattling a market already on edge from cooling ETF inflows and heightened leverage.

Feb 2, 2026

Business

Bitcoin's Fate Hinges on U.S. Labor Data and MicroStrategy Earnings This Week

As Bitcoin grapples with volatility below $80,000, a packed U.S. economic calendar—featuring key jobs reports and MicroStrategy's Q4 earnings—is poised to dictate the cryptocurrency's near-term trajectory by shaping Federal Reserve policy expectations.

Feb 2, 2026

World

China Executes Four in Myanmar-Linked Scam Syndicate, Widening Crackdown on Cross-Border Crime

Chinese authorities have executed four individuals convicted of running a multi-billion dollar telecom fraud and gambling network from Myanmar, responsible for six deaths. The move follows last week's execution of 11 others, signaling Beijing's intensifying campaign against organized cybercrime in Southeast Asia.

Feb 2, 2026

US

Pope Leo XIV Urges Dialogue as Tensions Rise Between U.S. and Cuba

The American-born pontiff has issued a public plea for peace amid reports of a covert U.S. plan to destabilize Cuba's government, marking his latest critique of Trump-era foreign policy.

Feb 2, 2026

Business

Chalco and Rio Tinto Forge Brazilian Alliance, Securing Pivotal Stake in Major Aluminum Producer

In a landmark deal set to reshape global aluminum supply chains, Aluminum Corporation of China (Chalco) and mining giant Rio Tinto have jointly acquired a controlling interest in Brazil's Companhia Brasileira de Alumínio (CBA). This strategic move marks Chalco's largest overseas investment to date, significantly expanding its international footprint and influence.

Feb 2, 2026

World

SpaceX Claims Success in Blocking Russian Use of Starlink, Kyiv Develops New Safeguards

Elon Musk stated that SpaceX's measures to prevent Russia's unauthorized use of Starlink appear effective. Meanwhile, Ukrainian officials are developing a system to restrict terminal access on its territory, highlighting the ongoing tech dimension of the conflict.

Feb 2, 2026

World

Venezuela Frees Over 30 Detainees Amid Amnesty Push, Rights Groups Report

Venezuela has released more than 30 individuals classified as political prisoners, according to a leading rights organization. The move follows the government's announcement of a proposed amnesty law and comes amid mounting international pressure and domestic calls for faster action.

Feb 2, 2026

US

Musk Denies Epstein Association, Claims Media Smear Campaign Amid Email Revelations

Elon Musk has issued a forceful rebuttal to allegations linking him to the late financier and convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, following the release of emails showing past correspondence. The tech mogul asserts he is being unfairly targeted and positions himself as a champion for Epstein's victims.

Feb 2, 2026

Business

Pinterest Announces Workforce Restructuring, Doubling Down on AI Amid User Backlash Over 'Synthetic' Content

The visual discovery platform Pinterest is cutting up to 15% of its global workforce as part of a strategic shift toward AI development, a move that has reignited concerns among its user base about the proliferation of AI-generated images flooding the platform.

Feb 2, 2026