U.S.-Guatemala Relations

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

Business

HSBC Doubles Down on Hong Kong Investment Banking Amid Strategic Pivot

HSBC Holdings is aggressively rebuilding its investment banking operations in Hong Kong and key Asian hubs, reallocating senior talent and capital to capture growth in IPOs and capital markets, as its strategic focus shifts decisively eastward.

Feb 2, 2026

World

Explainer: The Baloch Liberation Army – Pakistan's Persistent Separatist Challenge

A recent wave of deadly attacks in Pakistan's Balochistan province, claimed by the banned Baloch Liberation Army (BLA), has spotlighted the escalating capabilities and ambitions of a group that threatens regional stability and critical Chinese investments.

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

Swiss New Year's Bar Fire Death Toll Climbs to 41 as Teenager Succumbs to Injuries

The death toll from a devastating fire at a New Year's Eve bar in the Swiss Alps resort of Crans-Montana has risen to 41 after an 18-year-old victim died from his injuries, marking one of the nation's worst peacetime tragedies.

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

Rafah Crossing Reopens After Two-Year Closure, Easing Gaza-Egypt Movement Under Strict Scrutiny

The vital Rafah border crossing between Egypt and the Gaza Strip reopened Sunday for limited passenger traffic, marking a significant shift after more than two years of closure. The move, part of a ceasefire deal, initiates a tightly controlled process allowing medical evacuations and returns, though humanitarian aid flow remains uncertain.

Feb 2, 2026

World

New Allegation Emerges: Second Epstein Accuser Claims Encounter with Prince Andrew at Windsor Estate

A second woman has come forward alleging the late financier Jeffrey Epstein arranged for her to have a sexual encounter with Prince Andrew in 2010, according to a BBC report. The claim surfaces amid renewed scrutiny following a major document release by U.S. authorities.

Feb 2, 2026

World

Venezuela Frees Rights Activist Javier Tarazona in Sweeping Prisoner Release Initiative

Prominent Venezuelan human rights defender Javier Tarazona has been released after over four years in detention on charges widely condemned as politically motivated, as the government announces a new amnesty law and the U.S. re-engages diplomatically.

Feb 2, 2026

World

Iran Escalates Rhetoric, Labels EU Armies as 'Terrorists' Amid Rising US Tensions

Iran's Supreme Leader warns of a broader regional war if the US launches an attack, as Tehran retaliates against the EU's terrorist designation of the Revolutionary Guards by branding European armies similarly. The moves come amidst a significant US naval buildup and fragile diplomatic signals.

Feb 2, 2026