Tax Compliance

US

Leaked Files Reveal UK Ex-Ambassador's Secret Ties to Epstein: Confidential Memos and Bailout Alerts Shared

Newly released court documents expose how former British ambassador to the U.S., Lord Peter Mandelson, shared sensitive government information with Jeffrey Epstein, including advance notice of a major Eurozone bailout. The revelations have forced his resignation from the Labour Party and intensified scrutiny of Prime Minister Keir Starmer's judgment.

Feb 2, 2026

Business

AI and Finance: Is XRP Positioned to Ride the Next Wave?

As artificial intelligence reshapes finance, we examine whether XRP's underlying technology is built to capitalize on the trend of 'agentic AI' handling transactions, or if its potential benefits remain speculative.

Feb 2, 2026

Business

Dream Job vs. Underwater Mortgage: Florida Software Engineer Weighs $70K Loss for Career Change

A high-earning Orlando software engineer faces a stark choice: pursue a lifelong dream in federal law enforcement at a major pay cut and a significant real estate loss, or stay put in a lucrative tech career. His story highlights the personal costs behind shifting housing markets and career pivots.

Feb 2, 2026

Business

Fifth Third Seals $10.9 Billion Comerica Acquisition, Creating a U.S. Banking Powerhouse

Fifth Third Bancorp has finalized its acquisition of Comerica Incorporated, a move that consolidates the Midwest banking landscape and creates the nation's ninth-largest bank with nearly $300 billion in assets.

Feb 2, 2026

Business

Deloitte Warns: Lack of Governance Threatens the Promise of Agentic AI

A new Deloitte report urges enterprises to embed accountability and oversight from the start, arguing that governance is not a barrier but an accelerator for scaling autonomous AI systems.

Feb 2, 2026

Business

North Carolina Crowned 'State of the Year' for Business, Marking Third Top Honor Since 2020

Business Facilities magazine has named North Carolina its 'State of the Year' for business climate and economic development, the state's third such win in six years, following a surge of multi-billion dollar investments from tech and manufacturing giants.

Feb 2, 2026

Business

The Squeeze on American Paychecks: Why Wages Are Losing the Race Against Inflation

Despite modest nominal gains, real wages for U.S. workers are failing to keep pace with the cost of living, with a majority reporting financial strain as structural economic shifts and technological efficiencies redirect gains away from paychecks.

Feb 2, 2026

Business

Amazon Axes 2,200 Seattle-Area Corporate Jobs, Deepening Tech Sector Uncertainty

Amazon's latest round of layoffs will eliminate over 2,200 corporate positions in the Seattle region, part of a broader 16,000-person global workforce reduction. The cuts, effective from late April, add to a wave of job losses hitting Washington's tech sector.

Feb 2, 2026

US

Venezuela's Oil Heartland Weighs U.S.-Backed Reforms: A Gamble on Revival or Empty Promise?

In the oil-rich state of Zulia, PDVSA workers and pensioners view sweeping industry reforms, enacted after U.S. political intervention, with a volatile mix of fragile hope and deep-seated skepticism. While some anticipate long-awaited economic relief, others dismiss the changes as political theater unlikely to reverse decades of decline.

Feb 2, 2026

Business

The Accountability Gap: As Banking Decisions Accelerate, Governance Struggles to Keep Pace

The rapid adoption of algorithmic decision-making in UK banks has created a critical lag in oversight and accountability structures, leaving institutions exposed to risks that traditional governance models are ill-equipped to manage.

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

GM Powers Through EV Headwinds to Post Broad 2025 Sales Gains Across All Brands

General Motors defied a turbulent final quarter to report year-over-year sales growth for each of its four divisions in 2025, solidifying its truck leadership and gaining ground in the electric vehicle market despite significant policy shifts.

Feb 2, 2026

Business

Financial Expert Warns Against Raiding Retirement Funds for Car Debt, Urges Calculated Approach

A soon-to-be father's anxiety over an $8,000 car loan led him to consider a costly 401(k) withdrawal. Financial experts Dave Ramsey and John Delony strongly advised against it, highlighting the severe penalties and long-term consequences of mixing emotional decisions with retirement planning.

Feb 2, 2026

Business

Pass-Through Voting Gains Traction as Banks Navigate ESG Pressures and Shareholder Activism

As regulatory scrutiny intensifies and the ESG debate evolves, major banks and wealth managers are turning to pass-through voting mechanisms to reassert shareholder influence and align investment stewardship with client values.

Feb 2, 2026

World

Epstein Files Unsealed: New Details Emerge on Royal, Political, and Tech Elite Ties

The release of over three million documents by the U.S. Department of Justice has unveiled extensive communications between Jeffrey Epstein and a global network of powerful figures, raising fresh questions about influence, access, and accountability.

Feb 2, 2026

Business

Prosecutors Sound Alarm: New Stablecoin Law May Leave Fraud Victims Unpaid as Issuers Profit

A coalition of New York prosecutors warns that the landmark GENIUS Act, celebrated as a regulatory breakthrough for stablecoins, lacks critical consumer protections, potentially allowing issuers to financially benefit from frozen or disputed funds while victims struggle for restitution.

Feb 2, 2026

Business

American Dream's Novelty Oreo Café Shuts Down Amid Broader Mall Struggles

The flagship Oreo Café at the American Dream mall has closed permanently, ending a brief run that offered themed treats and merchandise. The closure adds to the challenges facing the massive retail and entertainment complex.

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

World

France's 2026 Budget Clears Parliament After Government Survives No-Confidence Votes

The French government has secured parliamentary approval for its 2026 budget, ending a months-long impasse after Prime Minister Sebastien Lecornu weathered a series of no-confidence motions. The passage followed strategic concessions to the Socialist party, a key swing bloc.

Feb 2, 2026

Business

Coupang Faces Legal Storm and Leadership Crisis After Massive Data Breach

South Korean e-commerce giant Coupang is confronting a multi-front crisis, including class-action lawsuits and regulatory probes, following a data breach impacting millions. The fallout has led to the CEO's resignation and intensified scrutiny of corporate governance and cybersecurity protocols.

Feb 2, 2026