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Saudi Arabia Suspends 1,800 Umrah Travel Agencies Over Service Quality (Representative Image) In a significant regulatory crackdown, Saudi Arabia’s Ministry of Hajj and Umrah has announced the suspension of contracts with 1,800 foreign travel agencies engaged in the Umrah pilgrimage sector after a performance review revealed serious shortcomings in service quality and compliance with approved standards. The move, announced on February 01, 2026, affects nearly one-third of the estimated 5,800 agencies operating across the globe but officials say that it will not disrupt services for pilgrims with existing visas or confirmed bookings.Why were the Hajj and Umrah travel contracts suspended by Saudi Arabia?
According to the Saudi Press Agency and ministry officials, the suspension came after a routine evaluation uncovered widespread deficiencies in service delivery and performance among many foreign Umrah operators. Budget 2026'Nothing for common man, Bengal': Mamata slams Centre&..

AdvertisementHong Kong politicsHong KongPoliticsHong Kong to formulate first 5-year plan to align with national blueprintTask force led by Chief Executive John Lee will formulate plan, which one expert says signals greater government role in city’s development
Reading Time:2 minutesWhy you can trust SCMPMatthew ChengPublished: 3:20pm, 2 Feb 2026Updated: 3:46pm, 2 Feb 2026A new task force led by Chief Executive John Lee Ka-chiu will formulate Hong Kong’s first five-year blueprint to align with China’s 15th five-year plan, with a political analyst saying the move signals greater government involvement in shaping the city’s development.
Lee also said on Monday that he would prioritise visits to Eastern Europe and Central Asia to explore new markets for local businesses, stressing the need to “avoid putting all eggs in one basket” and mitigate risk amid geopolitical tensions.
In an interview with the media, the city leader said that he would lead an interdepartmental task force to align Ho..

AdvertisementAmericas and the CaribbeanWorldAmericasCosta Rica elects tough-talking right-winger for presidentLaura Fernandez, a protege and former chief of staff of the outgoing president, has pledged to continue his tough security policies
Reading Time:2 minutesWhy you can trust SCMPAgence France-PressePublished: 3:06pm, 2 Feb 2026Right-wing political scientist Laura Fernandez won Costa Rica’s presidential election on Sunday by a landslide, after promising to crack down hard on rising violence linked to the cocaine trade.
Fernandez’s nearest rival, centre-right economist Alvaro Ramos, conceded defeat as results showed the ruling party far exceeding the threshold of 40 per cent needed to avoid a run-off.
With 81.24 per cent of polling stations counted, the political heir of outgoing President Rodrigo Chaves had 48.94 per cent of the vote compared to 33.02 per cent for Ramos.
AdvertisementAs soon as the first results were announced, members of Fernandez’s Sovereign People’s party erupt..

Strong 5.3 Earthquake Hits Iran on Feb 1 / Image: @ncmuae A moderate earthquake measuring 5.3 on the Richter scale struck southern Iran on the morning of Sunday, February 1, 2026. The seismic event was recorded at 8:11 AM UAE time by the National Seismic Network, part of the National Center of Meteorology (NCM). While the magnitude was significant enough to be classified as a “moderate” quake, its location and depth played a crucial role in how the energy dispersed across the region. According to official data, the quake originated at a depth of 10 kilometers, a common depth for tectonic activity in the Iranian plateau, which often acts as a buffer for the neighboring Arabian Peninsula.Official statements from the Iranian Seismological Center and local provincial governors confirmed that there were no deaths or serious injuries resulting from the tremor.Budget 2026Budget 2026 Live Updates: Govt sets capital expenditure target for FY27 at Rs 12.2 lakh croreIncome Tax Slabs Budget 2026 L..

UAE non-oil trade crossed $1 trillion in 2025, achieving 95 percent of 2031 targets early/Image: X The United Arab Emirates has recorded a landmark year for non-oil trade, crossing the $1 trillion mark for the first time and reaching economic targets set for the next decade well before schedule. Reviewing the latest foreign trade figures, Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President, Prime Minister and Ruler of Dubai, said the achievement reflects a fully developed investment ecosystem, stronger cooperation with the private sector and growing global confidence in the UAE’s economy.Non-oil trade hits historic high
For the first time in its history, the UAE’s non-oil foreign trade exceeded $1 trillion, reaching approximately AED3.8 trillion, or $1.03 trillion, in 2025. Budget 2026Budget 2026 Live Updates: Govt sets capital expenditure target for FY27 at Rs 12.2 lakh croreIncome Tax Slabs Budget 2026 Live Updates: FM Sitharaman begins speech; salaried, middle class taxpayers want..

AdvertisementUnited StatesWorldUnited States & CanadaEnd of an era as US, Russia prepare to exit final nuclear arms treatyWith Trump showing less interest in extending the New START agreement, the future of nuclear weapon limits is unclear
Reading Time:3 minutesWhy you can trust SCMPAgence France-PressePublished: 2:43pm, 1 Feb 2026Come Thursday, barring a last-minute change, the final treaty in the world that restricted nuclear weapon deployment will be over.
New START, the last nuclear treaty between Washington and Moscow after decades of agreements dating to the Cold War, is set to expire, and with it restrictions on the two top nuclear powers.
The expiration comes as President Donald Trump, vowing “America first”, smashes through international agreements that limit the United States, although in the case of New START, the issue may more be inertia than ideology.
AdvertisementRussian President Vladimir Putin in September suggested a one-year extension of New START.
Trump, asked after..

AdvertisementRoboticsTechTech Trends‘Optimus chain’: Chinese suppliers form the backbone of Tesla’s humanoid robot initiativeTesla’s pivot to producing humanoid robots is expected to engage a network of key Chinese component makers
Reading Time:3 minutesWhy you can trust SCMP3Wency Chenin ShanghaiPublished: 2:00pm, 1 Feb 2026Elon Musk wants to bring the production of its Optimus robot to the US amid electric carmaker Tesla’s plan to pivot towards manufacturing humanoids, smart machines that could one day serve as part of the workforce at American factories.That ambitious initiative, however, was expected to remain dependent on China’s vast and fast-developing robotics supply chain into the foreseeable future, even as the final assembly of Optimus would be established in the US, according to analysts and industry insiders.As early as three years ago, Tesla started sourcing and engaging with hundreds of Chinese component suppliers, working closely with some on research and development as..

UAE announces petrol and diesel prices for February 2026/Representative Image The UAE has announced fuel prices for February 2026, confirming a slight reduction across petrol variants and diesel, with the new rates taking effect from February 1, 2026.The updated prices were released on Saturday, and apply nationwide across fuel stations. Motorists will see modest relief at the pump, with all petrol categories and diesel priced lower than current January rates.The fuel prices for February 2026 are as follows:Super 98 petrol: Dh2.45 per litre, down from Dh2.53Special 95 petrol: Dh2.33 per litre, compared to Dh2.42E-Plus 91 petrol: Dh2.26 per litre, reduced from Dh2.34Diesel: Dh2.52 per litre, down from Dh2.55Fuel prices in the UAE are reviewed and announced monthly, with changes reflecting global oil market movements and other cost factors. The February pricing continues the slight easing seen at the start of the year, offering marginal savings for both private motorists and commercial u..

UAE and Scotland Sign Investment MoU: What Does This Mean for Global Business? In a significant development for global investment flows, the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and Scotland have signed a pivotal Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to deepen bilateral investment cooperation, broaden economic ties and unlock new opportunities for businesses in both nations. The agreement, inked on January 30, 2026, reflects the UAE’s strategic vision of strengthening international economic partnerships that support diversification, sustainable growth and resilient development while offering Scottish companies expanded access to one of the Gulf’s most dynamic markets.UAE and Scotland's milestone agreement for bilateral investment
The MoU was formally signed in Dubai by Mohammad Abdulrahman Alhawi, Under-Secretary of the UAE Ministry of Investment and Kate Forbes MSP, Scotland’s Deputy First Minister and Cabinet Secretary for Economy and Gaelic, on behalf of the Scottish Government. This partner..

AdvertisementE-commerceTechPolicyChina slaps US$3.7 million fine on Kuaishou over live-streaming e-commerce violationThe penalty reflects a broader regulatory crackdown on content and operations deemed undesirable or harmful on Chinese online platforms
Reading Time:2 minutesWhy you can trust SCMPBen Jiangin BeijingPublished: 3:39pm, 31 Jan 2026Chinese regulators have slapped a 26 million yuan (US$3.7 million) fine on a unit of Kuaishou Technology, operator of the country’s No 2 short video platform, over multiple violations and misconduct in its live-streaming e-commerce operations, signalling tighter oversight of this market segment.Chengdu Kuaigou Technology, a unit of Beijing-based Kuaishou, was found to have committed seven breaches including failure to disclose information in accordance with the law, charging unreasonable fees on merchants and inadequate consumer protection, according to the State Administration for Market Regulation (SAMR) in its WeChat post on Friday.That ruling..