Author: Verified News Online

AdvertisementChina-EU relationsEconomyChina EconomyChinese sports brands set sights on European expansion at 2026 Winter OlympicsThe Games have become a test case for firms seeking to raise their global profile, highlighting rising ambitions and challenges.
Reading Time:2 minutesWhy you can trust SCMPXiaofei Xuin ParisPublished: 4:00pm, 7 Feb 2026With the Winter Olympics now under way in Milan and Cortina, Chinese brands involved in the Games are mounting an ambitious marketing push across Italy and Europe, with sportswear and sports equipment naturally taking centre stage.At the forefront is Li Ning, the company supplying the national team with clothing and gear for the competition after returning as the official partner of the Chinese Olympic Committee (COC) – a role that had previously ended in 2004.The partnership coincides with Li Ning’s efforts to push into overseas markets. Founded by the legendary Chinese gymnast of the same name, the company made its Milan Fashion Week debut i..

Dubai sees early light rain, humid nights and misty mornings today / Image: AI Dubai and parts of the UAE are under a weather pattern that brings light rain and cloudy skies, especially in the early hours of the morning. Local forecasters including the National Centre of Meteorology (NCM) have forecast light rainfall on Friday, February 6, 2026, with some coastal and inland areas seeing droplets or short showers.This comes as part of a broader unstable weather system, influenced by shifts in pressure and cloud cover building over the region, which increases the chance of rain, especially in northern and eastern parts of the UAE.Weather in UAE todayToday’s daytime conditions in Dubai are expected to be fair to partly cloudy, with a pleasant high of around 26 °C and a low at night near 17–18 °C.As night approaches, humidity levels will rise, particularly over coastal areas and islands. This overnight increase in moisture raises the likelihood of fog or mist formation, which can make earl..

Saudi Arabia revoked licences of 74 private schools after inspections found lapses and missing approvals/Representative image Saudi Arabia's education authorities have withdrawn the operating licences of 74 private schools in multiple cities across the Kingdom, tightening oversight as part of a broader effort to protect student safety and preserve standards in the private education sector.The decision was announced by the Saudi Ministry of Education following the identification of repeated regulatory violations at the affected institutions. Officials said the move reflects the ministry’s commitment to maintaining a safe learning environment and ensuring that private schools meet all approved educational and operational requirements.According to the ministry, inspection visits carried out over the past period revealed that several schools had failed to renew their licences or comply with updated regulatory conditions. These lapses triggered enforcement action after schools continue..

AdvertisementRussiaWorldRussia & Central AsiaRussian general shot and wounded in assassination attempt in MoscowShooting of Lieutenant General Vladimir Alekseyev marks the latest high-profile hit on Russia’s military leaders
Reading Time:1 minuteWhy you can trust SCMPAgence France-PressePublished: 4:23pm, 6 Feb 2026A Russian general was shot in a residential building in Moscow on Friday morning and rushed to hospital, officials said, in the latest apparent assassination attempt of a top Russian military figure.
Russia’s Investigative Committee, which probes major crimes, said “an unidentified individual fired several shots” at Vladimir Alekseyev, a general who has a senior role in Russia’s general staff, before fleeing the scene.
“The victim has been hospitalised,” the agency added in a statement.
AdvertisementIt did not say anything about the suspected perpetrator.
Several high-ranking military officials have been killed since Moscow launched its full-scale offensive on Ukraine in Feb..

AdvertisementDonald TrumpThis Week in AsiaEconomicsGold still shines in Asia thanks to ‘pent-up demand’ amid volatilityInvestors are also looking to buy more silver despite the recent rush of funds towards the US dollar, analysts say
Reading Time:3 minutesWhy you can trust SCMPBiman MukherjiPublished: 4:21pm, 6 Feb 2026Updated: 4:24pm, 6 Feb 2026Asian investors should brace for more volatility in the gold and silver markets in the near term following a plunge in prices of the two metals after a record-breaking surge, with demand expected to rise again ahead of the Lunar New Year holiday.The outlook for gold remains strong over the long term, even as investors turned their focus to the US dollar in recent trading sessions, according to analysts.
Gold typically has an inverse correlation with the US dollar. Investors have shifted funds to the dollar after US President Donald Trump expressed optimism on Wednesday about a trade deal between Washington and Beijing following his phone conver..