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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..