Business

IKEA will close seven large stores in China from Feb. 2 and will refocus on smaller-format shops and online channels while continuing to operate 34 physical stores and two flagship e-commerce shops.

Major Japanese trading houses warned that recent yen volatility is raising investment risks and urged authorities to help stabilize the currency; separately, China announced immediate export controls on dual-use items to Japan, and Japanese officials are still assessing the impact.

The government has proposed cutting the legal breath alcohol limit in England and Wales from 35 to about 22 micrograms and urged people not to drink if they plan to drive; the strategy also proposes alcolocks for some offenders and new powers to suspend licences.

Saudi Arabia's Capital Market Authority removed qualification requirements for foreign investors and will allow non-residents to invest directly in the main market from Feb. 1, the regulator said.

Chinese buyers largely shunned offers for Venezuelan Merey crude this week as loadings to China fell amid a US naval blockade, and sellers raised offers with Merey offered about $13 a barrel below Brent versus roughly $15 a month ago.

South Africa published regulations on Jan. 5 that expand an energy users' block exemption so firms in 'industries in distress' can jointly negotiate energy and share backup generation, and the change could assist ferrochrome and manganese processors facing high electricity costs and recent layoffs.

The U.S. Patent and Trademark Office reportedly refused Tesla’s 'Robotaxi' trademark and reports say 'Cybercab' was already claimed by a French company; the article says Tesla shares fell about 4% after the news.

The article mentions CrowdStrike shares rose about 26% over the past year and that an analyst cites AI-driven platform adoption and strong quarterly revenue growth (over 20%) as reasons for continued momentum.

John Harbaugh has a reported 180–113 record over 18 seasons with a Super Bowl win, and some commentators urged the New York Giants to consider front-office changes—similar to Jacksonville’s recent move—to increase their chances of hiring him.

Mackenzie Dalton, 16, was found safe in Lexington County and an 18-year-old man was arrested on an obstruction charge; authorities say there is no indication she was held against her will.

Lucid, Uber and Nuro revealed a robotaxi program at CES 2026 using Lucid’s Gravity SUV, with testing already underway in the San Francisco Bay Area and production planned later this year.

A December survey for Pensions UK found 28% of people in salary sacrifice schemes plan to increase contributions before rules change, while about 11% expect to reduce contributions once the change takes effect; the autumn budget makes salary-sacrificed pension contributions above £2,000 a year subject to national insurance from April 2029.

China announced it added Taiwan's interior minister Liu Shyh-fang and education minister Cheng Ying-yao to a blacklist, banning them from entering China, Hong Kong and Macau; Chinese officials described them as die-hard supporters of Taiwan independence and said unspecified punishments would follow.

The Bank of Thailand said it will take a medium-term view of monetary policy after cutting its benchmark rate by a cumulative 125 basis points to 1.25%; the next Monetary Policy Committee meeting is scheduled for Feb. 25.

The FTSE/JSE Africa All Share Index's market capitalization climbed above $500 billion, supported by gains in precious metals and a rand that strengthened about 14% last year; the Johannesburg bourse rose 38% over the same period.

Newly released video shows a November crash on U.S. 87 near Dalhart that killed four Houston-area women; families have filed a civil lawsuit naming the truck driver, two trucking companies and H-E-B, and the incident is being investigated as criminally negligent homicide.

State-owned Indian refiners have continued purchases of Russian crude even as New Delhi seeks relief from U.S. secondary tariffs imposed over those imports; analysts say private buying fell in December while public sector firms offset part of the decline.

Gold jumped about 4% this week and silver rose more than 10% after Venezuelan president Nicolás Maduro was reported captured and taken to face U.S. criminal charges; exchanges had recently raised margin requirements on metal futures.

A 17-person San Francisco Giants delegation traveled to Seoul to support outfielder Jung Hoo Lee and to meet Korean baseball and business leaders; the team has told Major League Baseball it would like to participate if future regular-season games are scheduled in Korea.

Six Flags is raising $1 billion in senior notes rated Caa1 to refinance debt due next April, and the article mentions shares edged higher as the company manages a recent loss, executive departures, and strategic shifts.

Michael Reagan, the eldest son of former President Ronald Reagan, died at 80, the Ronald Reagan Presidential Foundation and Institute announced Jan. 6; Newsmax said he was a founding analyst and columnist, and a cause of death was not immediately provided.

Bitcoin has moved back above $90,000, yet derivatives and market metrics show muted longer-term demand and most open interest concentrated in front-month contracts.

British Columbia Premier David Eby said public funds considered for a new pipeline to B.C.'s coast would be better used to support a Canadian refinery, and his remarks followed the U.S. capture of Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro.

Bank of Nova Scotia CEO Scott Thomson and National Bank CEO Laurent Ferreira said Canada's pipeline and nation‑building projects should be accelerated after the capture of Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro, noting Venezuelan heavy crude may return to markets over the next five to 10 years.

Newly released 911 audio captures witnesses reporting a fire and an explosion after a private jet crashed near Statesville Regional Airport, and reports confirm Greg Biffle, his wife Cristina, their two children and three others were killed.

Saks skipped a December interest payment and could file for Chapter 11; some lenders have discussed a debt-in-possession loan and some vendors have stopped backing shipments.

An Israel Democracy Institute poll found about one-third of Arab respondents said it is safer for Arabs to live in Israel, while roughly three-quarters of Jewish respondents said it is safer for Jews to live in Israel.

Officials in Caracas and Washington are discussing exporting Venezuelan crude to U.S. refiners, five sources told Reuters, and Venezuela has millions of barrels stuck on tankers and in storage due to a U.S. blockade since mid-December.

Silver closed above $80 a troy ounce Tuesday, a record after a 177% rise since the start of 2025; the silver-to-gold ratio has fallen to about 55 as gold also closed at $4,482.20.

Heavy snow and icy conditions have been reported across parts of Europe; authorities say six people have died and hundreds of flights were cancelled, leaving many travellers stranded.