Sub-Saharan Africa

Business

Chicago's Metropolitan Capital Bank Fails, Marking Second Consecutive Year of Early U.S. Banking Collapse

For the second year running, a Chicago financial institution has become the nation's first bank failure. Regulators shuttered Metropolitan Capital Bank & Trust on Friday, citing unsafe practices and depleted capital. The FDIC facilitated a swift takeover by Detroit's First Independence Bank, ensuring depositors are protected.

Feb 2, 2026

World

U.S. Intensifies Counterterrorism Campaign in Somalia Amid Growing ISIS Threat to Homeland

The United States has dramatically escalated airstrikes in Somalia, conducting over 150 missions since 2025, as military officials warn of a direct threat from ISIS-affiliated groups plotting attacks against American soil.

Feb 2, 2026

Business

Opera Stock Surges as MiniPay Wallet Embraces Tether's USDT, Signaling Deeper Crypto Push

Opera's shares soared nearly 18% after the browser company integrated Tether's dominant USDT stablecoin into its MiniPay wallet, highlighting investor optimism around its Web3 strategy despite unanswered questions on long-term monetization.

Feb 2, 2026

Business

Opera Shares Soar 15% as Crypto Wallet Expands Tether Support, Targeting Emerging Markets

Opera's stock surged following the announcement of expanded Tether (USDT and XAUT) integration in its MiniPay wallet, which processed over $153M in stablecoin transactions in December and aims to simplify crypto access for its 12.6 million users in emerging economies.

Feb 2, 2026

Business

Molecular Partners' DLL3-Targeting Radiotherapeutic Shows Promising Imaging Data, U.S. Trial Set to Begin

New clinical imaging data for Molecular Partners' experimental radiotherapeutic MP0712, targeting the DLL3 protein in cancers like small cell lung cancer, show favorable tumor targeting and healthy organ clearance. The company confirms its U.S. Phase I/II trial is now open for patient screening.

Feb 2, 2026

Business

Metals Tumble, Energy Surges: A Volatile Start to 2026 for Commodities

January 2026 saw dramatic swings across commodity markets, with precious metals soaring to record highs before a sharp correction, while energy commodities rallied on strong winter demand. The month underscored the sector's inherent volatility amid shifting seasonal and macroeconomic forces.

Feb 2, 2026

World

Exclusive Footage Reveals IS Militants' Brazen Assault on Niger's Main Airport

Newly released video evidence shows Islamic State fighters moving unchallenged among aircraft at Niamey's Diori Hamani International Airport, igniting regional tensions and raising urgent questions about security in the Sahel.

Feb 2, 2026

World

UK's Gridworks Inks $400M Ethiopia Power Deals as Foreign Minister Visits to Address Migration Pressures

During UK Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper's visit to Addis Ababa, British investor Gridworks signed landmark agreements to develop two major transmission projects. The deals, part of a broader UK strategy linking economic development with migration management, mark Ethiopia's first public-private partnerships in its power transmission sector.

Feb 2, 2026

Business

Equinor Deepens Brazil Commitment with $114M West Saturn Drillship Extension

Seadrill secures a major contract extension for the West Saturn drillship with Equinor Brasil, adding over $100 million to its backlog and solidifying operations in Brazil's strategic pre-salt basin through 2027.

Feb 2, 2026

Business

Webber Wentzel and Blake Cassels & Graydon Dominate 2025 Mining M&A Legal Advisory Ranks

New data reveals a two-horse race in mining sector legal advisory, with Webber Wentzel leading by total deal value and Blake Cassels & Graydon topping the charts by number of transactions in a year marked by megadeals.

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

World

Global Reinsurers Flock to India's GIFT City, Challenging Singapore and Dubai

A wave of international reinsurance giants, including Lloyd's of London, Samsung Re, and Mapfre Re, are seeking approval to set up shop in India's GIFT IFSC, drawn by tax incentives and a booming market, as the hub aims to rival established global financial centers.

Feb 2, 2026

Business

Italtile's Five-Year Slump: Shareholders Face 16% Loss Despite Recent Gains

While Italtile's stock saw an 11% bump last month, a look at the past five years reveals a sobering picture for long-term investors, with total shareholder returns deep in negative territory even as company earnings grew.

Feb 2, 2026

Business

Acsion Ltd: A Deep Dive into the JSE-Listed Property Developer's Investment Merits

Amidst the allure of high-growth tech narratives, Acsion (JSE:ACS) presents a case for steady, profitable growth. With strong insider alignment and improving margins, does this property-focused stock warrant a closer look from discerning investors?

Feb 2, 2026

World

Nigerian Forces Eliminate Senior Boko Haram Commander in Sambisa Forest Raid

In a targeted night operation in Borno state, Nigerian troops neutralized a high-ranking Boko Haram leader and ten fighters, marking a significant blow to the militant group's command structure in its historic stronghold.

Feb 2, 2026

World

Khartoum Airport Welcomes Second Commercial Flight Amid Lingering Conflict

A Sudan Airways domestic flight touched down in the war-scarred capital Sunday, marking only the second commercial arrival since conflict erupted nearly three years ago, as the government pushes to restore a semblance of normalcy.

Feb 2, 2026

US

A Political Shift in Holsters: Liberal and Leftist Gun Ownership Surges Amid Federal Crackdowns

In the wake of high-profile federal interventions and the killing of a nurse in Minneapolis, traditionally left-leaning demographics—including women, LGBTQ+ individuals, and people of color—are arming themselves at unprecedented rates, challenging long-held assumptions about American gun culture.

Feb 2, 2026

Business

China's Pork Palate Shifts: Nostalgia and Premium Demand Drive Black Hog Revival

As China's pork industry grapples with overcapacity and falling prices, a growing appetite for premium, flavorful black pork among the middle class is offering a lifeline to farmers and reshaping market strategies.

Feb 2, 2026

World

Surviving the Siege: A Doctor's Flight from Darfur's Fallen Stronghold

In a rare firsthand account, Dr. Mohamed Ibrahim details his three-day escape from el-Fasher as paramilitary forces overran the city. His testimony paints a harrowing picture of urban warfare, civilian slaughter, and the systematic collapse of Sudan's last army bastion in Darfur.

Jan 31, 2026

World

Through Hell in Darfur: A Doctor's Harrowing Escape from Besieged el-Fasher Reveals Scale of Atrocities

Exclusive testimony from Dr. Mohamed Ibrahim, who fled the last hospital in Sudan's strategic el-Fasher, details a three-day ordeal of hiding from paramilitary forces, witnessing mass casualties, and surviving a kidnapping and ransom demand—shedding light on a siege the U.N. calls a 'massive crime scene.'

Jan 31, 2026