Environmental Law

World

Venezuela Rewrites Its Oil Playbook: A Historic Reversal of Socialist Control Opens Doors, and Questions

In a landmark move, Venezuela's interim government has enacted a sweeping reform of its oil industry, dismantling the state monopoly that defined its socialist era. While aimed at reviving production, the new hybrid system raises critical questions about transparency, U.S. influence, and its true appeal to foreign capital.

Feb 2, 2026

World

Zulu Monarch Calls for Foreigners to Depart Amid Rising Tensions Over School Clashes

King Misuzulu kaZwelithini has urged migrants to leave South Africa, echoing his late father's stance, following violent protests at a Durban primary school where immigration was blamed for admissions shortages.

Feb 2, 2026

World

Palantir CEO Defends Surveillance Tech Amid Soaring Government Sales, ICE Scrutiny

As Palantir Technologies reports a massive surge in U.S. government revenue, CEO Alex Karp publicly defends the company's controversial surveillance platforms, insisting they contain safeguards against overreach. The defense comes amidst growing public and political scrutiny over its contracts with immigration enforcement agencies.

Feb 2, 2026

World

DHS Launches Mandatory Body Camera Program in Minneapolis, Eyes National Rollout

The Department of Homeland Security is equipping all its field officers in Minneapolis with body-worn cameras immediately, with plans to expand the program across the country as resources allow, Secretary Kristi Noem announced.

Feb 2, 2026

World

Rafah Crossing Reopens for Medical Evacuations, But Relief Remains a Trickle Amid Gaza's Vast Needs

The reopening of Gaza's Rafah crossing for medical evacuations brought a glimmer of hope, but stringent Israeli restrictions limited departures to just five patients on the first day, leaving thousands in critical need still waiting.

Feb 2, 2026

World

Costa Rica's Populist Wave Secures Presidency and Congress, But Falls Short of Sweeping Reform Mandate

Laura Fernandez and her Sovereign People's Party (PPSO) have made history by winning control of both the executive and legislative branches, a feat unseen in over three decades. However, their failure to secure a supermajority sets the stage for a contentious political landscape where negotiation, not unilateral action, will be required.

Feb 2, 2026

World

Venezuela, U.S. Envoys Hold High-Level Talks as Diplomatic Thaw Continues

Interim President Delcy Rodriguez met with U.S. Special Envoy Laura Dogu in Caracas, marking a significant step in the gradual restoration of bilateral ties severed four years ago.

Feb 2, 2026

Business

GM's Barra Joins Trump for Critical Minerals Reserve Announcement, Stressing Supply Chain Resilience

General Motors CEO Mary Barra attended a White House event where President Trump unveiled 'Project Vault,' a $12 billion initiative to create a strategic reserve of critical minerals aimed at securing U.S. industrial supply chains.

Feb 2, 2026

Business

Waymo Secures $16 Billion in Funding to Fuel Global Robotaxi Expansion

The autonomous vehicle giant, backed by a consortium of major investors, plans to deploy its driverless fleet in over a dozen new international cities following a funding round that values the company at $126 billion.

Feb 2, 2026

World

Venezuela's Oil Sector Overhaul: A Pragmatic Pivot or a Sovereignty Surrender?

Venezuela enacts its most significant oil reform in nearly 50 years, dismantling core socialist tenets to attract foreign capital. While promising a production boost, the new hybrid system raises questions about transparency, U.S. influence, and whether it offers enough to lure back wary investors.

Feb 2, 2026

Business

Musk Merges xAI with SpaceX, Unveils Vision for Orbital Data Centers to Power AI Boom

Elon Musk has consolidated his AI venture, xAI, into SpaceX, creating a unified entity to pursue the audacious goal of deploying a million-satellite constellation that will function as solar-powered data centers in space, addressing the surging energy demands of artificial intelligence.

Feb 2, 2026

Business

The Hidden Engine of the Energy Transition: How Green Tech Fuels Fossil Fuel Demand

Record global investments in wind, solar, and EVs are paradoxically driving a surge in demand for coal, oil, and gas, as the production of essential materials like cement and steel remains locked into hydrocarbon-based economies, primarily in Asia.

Feb 2, 2026

World

Venezuela Rewrites Its Oil Playbook: A Historic Reversal Seeks to Lure Back Foreign Capital

In a landmark shift, Venezuela's interim government has enacted a sweeping reform of its oil industry, dismantling decades of state control. The move aims to revive production but faces deep-seated risks and questions over who will truly benefit.

Feb 2, 2026

US

DHS Mandates Body Cameras for Minneapolis Immigration Agents Amid Scrutiny, With National Rollout Planned

Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem announced the immediate deployment of body cameras to all federal immigration officers in Minneapolis, a policy prompted by recent fatal shootings and set to expand nationwide as funding allows.

Feb 2, 2026

Business

Kalshi Bets Big on NYC: Prediction Market to Foot $50 Grocery Bills in East Village Pop-Up

In a bold marketing play ahead of the Super Bowl, prediction market platform Kalshi is temporarily rebranding a WestSide Market and covering $50 of groceries per customer, sparking a social media frenzy and questions about its regulatory future.

Feb 2, 2026

World

Venezuela Rewrites Its Oil Playbook: A Historic Reversal Seeks to Lure Back Foreign Capital

In a landmark move, Venezuela's interim government has enacted a sweeping reform of its oil industry, dismantling core tenets of two decades of socialist policy. The overhaul aims to revive production but faces deep-seated risks and questions over its ultimate beneficiaries.

Feb 2, 2026

US

DHS Moves to Equip Minneapolis Agents with Body Cameras, Plans National Rollout Amid Scrutiny

Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem has ordered the immediate deployment of body-worn cameras to all DHS personnel in Minneapolis, with plans to expand the program nationwide. The move follows intense criticism over enforcement tactics and fatal shootings involving immigration agents.

Feb 2, 2026

Business

Fashion Giants Join Forces in Saks Global Bankruptcy Committee as Retailer's Future Hangs in Balance

Amazon, Chanel, and other major creditors have formed a unified front in Saks Global's Chapter 11 proceedings, aiming to recover debts while the luxury retailer moves to liquidate its off-price division and renegotiate key partnerships.

Feb 2, 2026

Business

Mortgage Delinquencies Surge as Hidden Costs and Economic Pressures Squeeze Homeowners

A sharp 18.6% annual rise in serious mortgage delinquencies signals deepening strain for American homeowners, driven by soaring insurance, taxes, and living costs rather than risky loans.

Feb 2, 2026

Business

Palantir's AI Ambitions Cemented as Commercial Surge Drives Record Profits

The data analytics firm's fourth-quarter results showcase a decisive shift, with U.S. commercial revenue soaring 137% and profitability silencing long-time skeptics, even as its premium valuation demands sustained execution.

Feb 2, 2026