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Lead On Feb. 3, 2026, Pfizer reported fourth-quarter results that topped Wall Street estimates even as demand for its Covid vaccine and antiviral Paxlovid continued to fall. The company posted adjusted earnings per share of $0.66 and revenue of $17.56 billion, beating consensus. Management reiterated a conservative 2026 outlook and highlighted longer-term investments, including the … Read more

Paris prosecutors’ cyber-crime unit raided the French offices of Elon Musk’s social network, X, on Tuesday as part of an investigation that began in January 2025 into content recommended by X’s algorithm and later expanded to include the company’s AI chatbot, Grok. Authorities say the probe now examines suspected unlawful data extraction and possible complicity … Read more

Iranian leaders privately warned in early February 2026 that a limited U.S. military strike could prompt renewed mass street protests and possibly fatally weaken the Islamic Republic’s hold on power. Six current and former officials told Reuters this concern was raised directly with Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei after a violent January crackdown — described … Read more

In the wake of high-profile incidents and stepped-up federal enforcement, U.S. states are sharply divided over how to handle Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). On Jan. 14, 2026, students in St. Paul rallied at the State Capitol as debate intensified after the deaths of Renee Macklin Good and Alex Pretti prompted fresh scrutiny of federal … Read more

Paris — French prosecutors said investigators conducted a search of X’s French offices on Tuesday as part of an inquiry opened in January 2025 into alleged algorithm abuse and related harms. The Paris prosecutor’s cybercrime unit led the action, and Europol assisted, officials said. Elon Musk, X’s chairman, and former chief executive Linda Yaccarino have … Read more

PepsiCo reported fourth-quarter results on Feb. 3, 2026, beating analysts’ estimates as beverage sales strengthened across multiple regions. Adjusted earnings per share were $2.26 versus $2.24 expected, and consolidated revenue reached $29.34 billion compared with $28.97 billion forecast. Net income attributable to the company was $2.54 billion, or $1.85 per share, up from $1.52 billion … Read more

Lead At the 150th Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show in New York, couples who share life and the show ring stood out as much as the breeds they bring. Longtime partners such as Bill and Taffe McFadden — married in 1985 and fixtures on the circuit — described how mutual commitment makes competing at the … Read more

U.S. equity futures climbed Monday evening after major indexes opened February with gains, as investors digested a slate of corporate earnings and mixed macro signals. S&P 500 futures rose about 0.3% while Nasdaq 100 futures gained nearly 0.6%; Dow-linked futures added roughly 31 points (under 0.1%). In regular trading the Dow surged roughly 515 points … Read more

Elon Musk’s SpaceX has agreed to acquire his artificial intelligence start-up xAI, a move confirmed by a memo posted on SpaceX’s website that unites two of Musk’s most consequential ventures. The deal—whose formal terms were not publicly disclosed—was reported by sources to value xAI at $125 billion and SpaceX at $1 trillion, together making the … Read more

Lead Record-breaking snowfall across Japan over the past two weeks has been linked to at least 30 deaths and hundreds of injuries, officials and broadcasters reported on 3 February 2026. The northern city of Aomori recorded accumulations up to 183cm in spots, surpassing a 40-year local record, and a 91-year-old woman was found buried under … Read more

Uruguayan President Yamandu Orsi arrived in Beijing on a seven-day state visit beginning 1 February 2026 and signed roughly a dozen cooperation agreements with Chinese leader Xi Jinping, including pacts on science, technology and trade. The trip, accompanied by a 150-person delegation of business and government figures, marks the first visit by a Latin American … Read more

Lead On January 24, Chinese leader Xi Jinping removed General Zhang Youxia from the Central Military Commission, a striking purge that exposed deep distrust between the Communist Party leadership and the People’s Liberation Army. Zhang, 75, had been a close ally of Xi for decades and had been allowed to stay beyond the unofficial retirement … Read more

Lead: On Monday night, Feb 2, 2026, the Washington Capitals defeated the New York Islanders 4-1 at home, a timely intra-division result that tightened the Metropolitan Division race. Mat Barzal opened the scoring after a Tom Wilson turnover in the first period, but Washington responded with three second-period goals and an empty-net finish by John … Read more

On Feb. 2, 2026, after Trevor Noah joked about Donald Trump and Jeffrey Epstein during the Grammy Awards broadcast on CBS, President Trump publicly threatened legal action. Legal scholars and free‑speech advocates say such a defamation suit would face steep First Amendment obstacles and is unlikely to succeed in court. The exchange has renewed debate … Read more

Lead On Monday, 2 February 2026, China’s Ministry of Industry and Information Technology issued new vehicle-safety rules that prohibit concealed (flush) exterior door handles on cars sold in China, requiring a mechanical release both inside and outside. The measure — the first national ban of its kind — responds to a spate of deadly incidents … Read more