US-China Relations

World

Bangladesh Court Sentences Ex-PM Hasina to Decade in Prison, UK MP Niece Also Convicted in Land Scandal

A special anti-corruption court in Dhaka has delivered a landmark verdict, sentencing former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina to 10 years imprisonment and her British lawmaker niece to four years over illicit land allocations in a flagship housing project. The ruling intensifies the political turbulence ahead of crucial elections.

Feb 2, 2026

Business

Enterprise Financial Beats Q4 Estimates on Margin Strength, Deposit Growth

Enterprise Financial Services Corp. (EFSC) reported fourth-quarter revenue that surpassed analyst forecasts, driven by net interest income expansion and robust deposit growth. The regional bank's results were bolstered by recent branch acquisitions and disciplined pricing, though investors are now watching how it navigates potential rate cuts and credit quality.

Feb 2, 2026

World

Iran Escalates Diplomatic Row, Summons EU Ambassadors Over Revolutionary Guard Terror Designation

Iran has summoned the ambassadors of all European Union member states in Tehran in a sharp diplomatic protest against the bloc's move to formally designate the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) as a terrorist organization.

Feb 2, 2026

World

Mexico Defies U.S. Pressure, Pledges Humanitarian Aid to Cuba Amid Escalating Tensions

Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum announces plans to send food and essential supplies to Cuba, vowing to pursue diplomatic channels for fuel shipments despite recent U.S. sanctions threats.

Feb 2, 2026

Business

Takeda Lifts Full-Year Forecasts and Launches New PID Therapy, But Investor Debate on Valuation Intensifies

Takeda Pharmaceutical raises its FY2025 revenue and profit guidance following resilient nine-month results and announces U.S. availability of a new ready-to-use immunoglobulin therapy for primary immunodeficiency, fueling discussions on its growth strategy amid high debt and margin pressures.

Feb 2, 2026

World

Iran Escalates Diplomatic Row, Summons EU Envoys Over Revolutionary Guard's Terror Listing

Iran has summoned the ambassadors of all European Union member states in Tehran in a sharp diplomatic protest against the bloc's recent decision to designate the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) as a terrorist organization. The move, triggered by the IRGC's alleged role in suppressing protests, deepens Iran's isolation amid heightened regional tensions.

Feb 2, 2026

World

Russia Reaffirms Backing for China's Taiwan Stance in High-Level Security Talks

Russian Security Council Secretary Sergei Shoigu, meeting with China's top diplomat Wang Yi in Moscow, reiterated Russia's firm support for Beijing's position on Taiwan, calling it an 'inseparable part' of China. The talks underscore deepening strategic coordination between the two powers amid global tensions.

Feb 2, 2026

World

Germany Grinds to a Halt: Nationwide Transport Strike Paralyzes Cities Amid Deep Freeze

A massive strike by public transport workers has brought buses and trams to a standstill across Germany, leaving commuters stranded in sub-zero temperatures as a bitter dispute over pay and conditions escalates.

Feb 2, 2026

Business

Oracle Bets Big on AI Boom, Plans $50 Billion Cloud Infrastructure Push

Oracle Corporation announced a massive $45-50 billion fundraising plan for 2026, aiming to aggressively expand its cloud infrastructure to meet surging demand from leading AI and tech giants.

Feb 2, 2026

Business

Analysts Revise Econocom Group Price Target, Signaling Shift in Market Sentiment

A fresh price target for Euronext Brussels-listed IT services firm Econocom Group has analysts and investors reassessing the company's trajectory. The update reflects evolving views on the company's strategic positioning and market conditions.

Feb 2, 2026

World

A New Axis Emerges: Meloni and Merz Forge Conservative Alliance, Diminishing Macron's Role in EU Leadership

Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni and German Chancellor Friedrich Merz have signed a landmark partnership pact in Rome, signaling a potential shift in the European Union's traditional Franco-German power center. The accord, focusing on defense, migration, and trade, comes as France grapples with political instability and a weakened presidency.

Feb 2, 2026

World

Medvedev Warns of Global Alarm as New START Expiry Looms, Threatening First Unchecked Nuclear Era in Decades

Russia's former president Dmitry Medvedev cautions that the potential lapse of the last major U.S.-Russia nuclear arms treaty without a successor could plunge the world into an unprecedented era of strategic instability unseen since the Cold War.

Feb 2, 2026

World

Thai Heartland Reckoning: Rural Voters Rethink Loyalties, Threatening Pheu Thai's Populist Dominance

In Thailand's crucial northeast, a profound political realignment is underway. Farmers, disillusioned by unmet promises and economic hardship, are abandoning decades of party loyalty to back individual candidates, testing the foundations of the Shinawatra family's political machine ahead of pivotal elections.

Feb 2, 2026

Business

Capgemini Divests U.S. Unit Amid Scrutiny Over ICE Software Contract

French IT giant Capgemini moves to sell its U.S. government solutions subsidiary following political and internal pressure over its contract with Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), as public debate intensifies around tech's role in immigration enforcement.

Feb 2, 2026

World

Peace Talks Delayed, Then Drone Strike: Russian Attack Kills Ukrainian Miners Returning From Shift

A Russian drone strike targeted a bus carrying coal miners in central Ukraine, killing at least a dozen workers hours after Kyiv announced a postponement of diplomatic negotiations. The attack, condemned as a deliberate strike on civilians, marks one of the deadliest single incidents for Ukraine's energy sector since the invasion began.

Feb 2, 2026

World

Latin America's Trade Dilemma: Chinese EVs and E-commerce Goods Reshape Markets, Prompting Protectionist Pushback

A surge of competitively priced Chinese electric vehicles and consumer goods is rapidly transforming Latin American markets, forcing governments from Mexico to Brazil to enact new tariffs and trade defenses to shield domestic industries from the influx.

Feb 2, 2026

World

Global Elections 2024: From Tokyo to Brasília, Political Shifts Set to Ripple Through Financial Markets

As voters from Japan to Brazil head to the polls in a packed electoral calendar, investors brace for potential market volatility. The outcomes could redefine fiscal policies, international alliances, and economic trajectories in a world already navigating U.S. monetary uncertainty and geopolitical strife.

Feb 2, 2026

Business

JPMorgan Faces Dual Fronts: Trump Lawsuit and Crypto Clash Amplify Regulatory Scrutiny

JPMorgan Chase confronts heightened regulatory and political pressure as a lawsuit from former President Donald Trump alleges biased account closures, while CEO Jamie Dimon's public spat with Coinbase underscores the intensifying battle between traditional banks and crypto platforms for customer funds.

Feb 2, 2026

World

Latin America's Trade Dilemma: Balancing Consumer Demand and Industry Survival Amid Chinese Export Surge

As Chinese exports, from electric vehicles to e-commerce parcels, flood Latin American markets, governments are walking a tightrope between protecting domestic industries and satisfying consumer demand for affordable goods, all while navigating deepening economic ties with Beijing.

Feb 2, 2026

Business

Columbia Financial Shakes Up C-Suite: Is the Stock a Buy After Leadership Reshuffle?

Columbia Financial (CLBK) announces a major executive reshuffle, promoting its long-time CFO to Chief Banking Officer and appointing a new finance chief. The move comes as the stock shows recent gains but longer-term weakness, raising questions about its current valuation and future trajectory.

Feb 2, 2026