Global Roundup: Crackdowns in Asia, Warnings in Europe, Shutdown and Grammys in the U.S.

On February 2, 2026, the world’s attention remained fixed on a blend of security crackdowns, economic uncertainty, ongoing conflicts, and major cultural events across Asia, Europe, and the United States. In Asia, China intensified its campaign against transnational organized crime by carrying out the execution of four additional members of the Bai family mafia, a group accused of running enormous online scam and illegal gambling networks based in Myanmar that allegedly generated billions of dollars and caused numerous deaths among Chinese victims. Meanwhile, consumer preferences in the country’s pork market shifted noticeably, with shoppers increasingly favoring traditional, higher-quality black pig breeds over cheaper, mass-produced Western hybrids as overall pork prices continued to decline. In the South China Sea, Chinese naval forces conducted patrols near Scarborough Shoal soon after U.S.-Philippine joint military exercises, keeping regional tensions elevated. Japan, meanwhile, advanced its efforts to secure deep-sea rare earth mineral deposits as part of a long-term strategy to reduce dependence on Chinese supplies.

Europe faced stark warnings about its place in a rapidly changing global order. Former European Central Bank president Mario Draghi declared that the existing world economic framework is effectively “dead” and pressed the European Union to pursue deeper integration and unity to withstand mounting pressure from both the United States and China. In Ukraine, the war continued to claim civilian lives, with Russian drone attacks killing at least twelve mineworkers on a bus in the Dnipro region in one of several recent deadly strikes. On a more hopeful note, the Rafah border crossing between Gaza and Egypt was reopened on a limited humanitarian basis, permitting a small number of Palestinians—including some seriously injured individuals and patients—to cross for medical care or family reunification under the terms of the fragile ceasefire arrangement.

In the United States, a partial federal government shutdown stretched into its second day after lawmakers failed to agree on funding legislation, though House Speaker Mike Johnson voiced cautious optimism that a Senate-supported compromise could soon bring the impasse to an end. Financial markets showed unease following President Trump’s nomination of Kevin Warsh to succeed Jerome Powell as Federal Reserve chair, with investors also weighing concerns over interest-rate policy direction and the possibility of an overheating artificial intelligence investment bubble. The entertainment world was dominated by the 68th Grammy Awards, where Bad Bunny made history as the first Spanish-language artist to win Album of the Year, and several performers used their acceptance speeches to sharply criticize U.S. immigration enforcement policies and ICE operations. Diplomatic tensions with Iran rose as President Trump issued public ultimatums regarding nuclear negotiations while repositioning naval forces in the region, prompting Iran’s supreme leader to warn that any American military action could trigger a wider war. Separately, the White House confirmed plans to close the Kennedy Center for Performing Arts for approximately two years beginning in July to allow for extensive renovations.