China warns Japan of decisive response after Takaichi’s landslide win
China issued a sharp warning to Japan on Monday, urging Tokyo to retract comments made in November by Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi about the possibility of military involvement over Taiwan, as bilateral tensions escalated following her decisive election victory. Speaking at a regular press briefing on February 9, foreign ministry spokesperson......
Barcelona withdraws from European Super League project
Barcelona has formally ended its involvement in the European Super League, leaving Real Madrid as the only major founding club still backing the controversial breakaway competition. The Catalan club said it had officially informed the organizing company and the remaining participants of its decision to withdraw. The move marks a clear departure......
ORMVAG ramps up emergency aid for farmers hit by floods in northern Morocco
Morocco’s Regional Office for Agricultural Development of Gharb has intensified emergency operations after heavy rainfall triggered widespread flooding across the Gharb plain, leaving farmers struggling to protect livestock, crops and homes. The agency, known as ORMVAG and operating under the Regional Directorate of Agriculture for......
Musk says Tesla Semi mass production is set for 2026
Tesla chief executive Elon Musk said the company will begin large-scale manufacturing of its long-delayed Semi electric truck in 2026, reviving a commercial vehicle project that has struggled to move beyond limited production since its debut in 2017. Writing on the social media platform X, Musk said the Class 8 electric truck will enter mass......
IMO committee debates cleaner fuel rules for Arctic shipping
As melting Arctic sea ice opens new maritime routes, four countries are pressing the International Maritime Organization to require cleaner fuels for ships operating in polar waters, aiming to curb black carbon emissions that accelerate ice loss. Denmark, France, Germany and the Solomon Islands have submitted a proposal to the IMO’s......
China urges banks to curb US Treasury exposure over risk concerns
Chinese regulators have quietly instructed domestic financial institutions to limit their exposure to US government debt, citing concerns over concentration risk and market volatility, according to people familiar with the matter. The move, first reported by Bloomberg, marks the latest step in Beijing’s long-running effort to reduce......
Ilia Malinin lands first legal Olympic backflip in half a century
Ilia Malinin made a landmark Olympic debut on Saturday at the Milan Ice Skating Arena, becoming the first athlete to legally perform a backflip at the Winter Games since the move was reinstated in 2024. The 21-year-old American, a two-time world champion known as the “Quad God,” delivered the long-banned element as part of the......
Morocco targets health and education with $15 billion budget boost amid AI expansion
Morocco is positioning health and education at the center of its 2026 public spending strategy, allocating approximately 140 billion dirhams ($15 billion USD) to these sectors in response to sustained social pressure and long-standing demands for improved public services. The move coincides with an ambitious artificial intelligence agenda......
Michelangelo drawing sells for $27.2 million, shattering auction record
A small red chalk sketch depicting a foot by Michelangelo sold for $27.2 million at Christie’s in New York on February 5, 2026, setting a new auction record for any work by the Renaissance master and fetching more than 13 times its presale estimate. The 13-centimeter drawing, titled Study for a foot of the Libyan Sibyl (recto); Study......
Morocco falls short against Colombia in Davis Cup but gains a team
The USM Tennis Club in Casablanca hosted an intense clash between Morocco and Colombia in the Davis Cup Group 1 World Playoffs. The stakes were high, with the winner securing a coveted spot in the World Group 1. The match featured a spirited Moroccan team, led by their charismatic captain Hicham Arazi, against a more experienced Colombian......
Epstein abuse survivors air Super Bowl ad demanding justice department transparency
On Super Bowl Sunday, survivors of sexual abuse by Jeffrey Epstein aired an emotional public service advertisement urging U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi to release the remaining federal investigation records related to the late convicted sex offender. The message directly challenged President Donald Trump’s recent remarks suggesting......
Japan signals possible yen intervention after ruling party landslide
Japan’s finance minister Satsuki Katayama said the government is prepared to intervene in currency markets if needed, signaling potential action to stem yen weakness following the ruling party’s decisive election victory. Speaking on Sunday, Katayama said authorities would seek dialogue with financial markets “on Monday in......
Musk says SpaceX now targets building a lunar city within decade
Elon Musk said SpaceX has shifted its top priority to building a self-sustaining city on the Moon, a goal he believes could be achieved in less than 10 years, marking a sharp turn from the company’s long-standing focus on Mars. The announcement, made in a post on X, comes amid a broader restructuring across Musk’s business empire. Musk......
Hong Kong jails media tycoon Jimmy Lai under security law
A Hong Kong court has sentenced pro-democracy media tycoon Jimmy Lai to a total of 20 years in prison under the national security law imposed by Beijing, the harshest punishment handed down since the legislation came into force. The ruling has intensified global criticism and deepened concerns about the erosion of press freedom in the former......
Scopely acknowledges using generative AI in a Star Trek game ad
Scopely has confirmed that it used generative AI to produce promotional material for Star Trek Fleet Command after an Instagram advertisement drew criticism from users who identified the content as machine generated. The promotion featured a visibly artificial human character moving through a futuristic spacecraft and did not disclose that......