Federal-Local Conflict

World

Rafah Crossing Reopens After Two-Year Closure, Easing Gaza-Egypt Movement Under Strict Scrutiny

The vital Rafah border crossing between Egypt and the Gaza Strip reopened Sunday for limited passenger traffic, marking a significant shift after more than two years of closure. The move, part of a ceasefire deal, initiates a tightly controlled process allowing medical evacuations and returns, though humanitarian aid flow remains uncertain.

Feb 2, 2026

World

Ukraine Peace Talks to Resume in Abu Dhabi Amid Ongoing Russian Strikes

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy confirms a new round of trilateral negotiations with Russia and the U.S. is scheduled for early February, even as drone attacks continue to target civilian infrastructure.

Feb 2, 2026

World

Rafah Crossing to Reopen Monday, Offering Lifeline to Gaza's Sick and Wounded

After nearly two years of near-total closure, the Rafah border crossing between Gaza and Egypt is set to reopen under a coordinated pilot operation. The move, a key element of international ceasefire efforts, will initially allow hundreds of critically ill patients and their families to seek medical care abroad.

Feb 2, 2026

World

Israel Moves to Expel Doctors Without Borders from Gaza Over Staff Data Dispute

The Israeli government has ordered Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) to cease operations in Gaza by the end of February, citing the aid group's refusal to hand over details of its Palestinian staff—a move critics decry as a dangerous politicization of humanitarian aid.

Feb 2, 2026

World

Iran Escalates Rhetoric, Labels EU Armies as 'Terrorists' Amid Rising US Tensions

Iran's Supreme Leader warns of a broader regional war if the US launches an attack, as Tehran retaliates against the EU's terrorist designation of the Revolutionary Guards by branding European armies similarly. The moves come amidst a significant US naval buildup and fragile diplomatic signals.

Feb 2, 2026

World

Amid Rising Iran Tensions, Top US and Israeli Military Chiefs Hold Pentagon Talks

The highest-ranking US and Israeli military officials held a closed-door meeting at the Pentagon last Friday, as regional tensions with Iran continue to escalate, according to US officials speaking on condition of anonymity.

Feb 2, 2026

World

Russian Drone Attack on Miners' Bus in Eastern Ukraine Kills 12, Wounds Eight

A Russian drone strike targeted a bus carrying coal miners in Ukraine's Dnipropetrovsk region on Sunday, killing at least 12 workers and wounding eight others, in what Ukrainian officials describe as a deliberate attack on civilian infrastructure.

Feb 2, 2026

World

U.S. Accuses Cuba of Harassment After Protesters Confront Top Diplomat

Washington has formally accused Havana of orchestrating intimidation tactics against its chief envoy, following a series of heated public confrontations that underscore escalating bilateral tensions.

Feb 2, 2026

World

Judicial Conduct Complaint Dismissed in High-Profile Clash Over Trump-Era Deportations

A federal appeals court has thrown out a Justice Department misconduct complaint against a judge who blocked deportations to El Salvador's notorious prisons, citing a lack of evidence. The ruling highlights ongoing tensions between the judiciary and executive branch over immigration enforcement.

Feb 2, 2026

World

Rafah Crossing to Partially Reopen Monday Amid Lingering Fears and Unmet Aid Needs

Israel announces a limited, security-heavy reopening of Gaza's Rafah crossing with Egypt, allowing some medical evacuations while concerns mount over aid access and the safety of returnees.

Feb 2, 2026

World

Khamenei Warns U.S. Strike Would Ignite "Regional War" as Gulf Tensions Simmer

Iran's Supreme Leader issues his most direct threat yet amid heightened U.S. military presence and stalled diplomacy, while internal crackdown death toll estimates soar.

Feb 2, 2026

Business

Warsh's Fed Return Ignites Debate Over Trillion-Dollar Balance Sheet Legacy

President Trump's anticipated nomination of former Fed Governor Kevin Warsh, a vocal critic of the central bank's post-crisis asset purchases, is shifting market focus from interest rates to the future of the Fed's $6.6 trillion balance sheet and its fundamental role in financial markets.

Feb 2, 2026

Business

PJT Partners Q4 Earnings Preview: Can the Boutique Bank Maintain Its Outperformance Streak?

As PJT Partners prepares to release its fourth-quarter results, the market watches to see if the elite advisory firm can continue its run of topping revenue estimates amidst a turbulent period for financial stocks.

Feb 2, 2026

US

Judge Orders Release of 5-Year-Old and Father from ICE Custody Amid Heated Asylum Dispute

A federal judge has ordered the release of a five-year-old boy and his father from immigration detention, sparking a public clash between Trump administration officials and Democratic lawmakers over the family's asylum status and the treatment of migrant children.

Feb 2, 2026

World

Staged Images of Khamenei Aim to Project Strength as Regime Faces Internal Strains, Critics Claim

Iranian opposition figures allege recent state media images of Supreme Leader Khamenei are a calculated display meant to bolster morale within the security apparatus, as the regime confronts domestic unrest and international pressure.

Feb 2, 2026

US

Minnesota Police Chief Intervenes After Controversial ICE Detention of U.S. Citizen

A Minnesota police chief facilitated the release of a woman detained by federal immigration agents after a traffic stop described by witnesses as aggressive and unmarked. The incident, captured on dashcam, has reignited debates over ICE tactics and oversight.

Feb 2, 2026

US

Bondi Defends Arrests of Don Lemon, Protesters at Minnesota Church, Citing Safety Over Speech Claims

Florida Attorney General Pam Bondi forcefully rebutted First Amendment criticisms following the arrests of ex-CNN anchor Don Lemon and several activists at a St. Paul church, framing the incident as a dangerous disruption that terrorized worshippers and vowing full prosecution.

Feb 2, 2026

US

Amid Minneapolis Unrest, DHS Secretary Noem Defends Agency's Record as Border Czar Deploys

Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem asserted her department is 'always learning' while defending its actions, as veteran official Tom Homan arrives in Minneapolis to oversee ICE operations following violent clashes and mounting political pressure.

Feb 2, 2026

US

Secrecy vs. Scrutiny: Legal Battle Erupts Over Sealed Filings in Charlie Kirk Assassination Case

Prosecutors and a media coalition are challenging the defense's push to seal court documents in the high-profile case against accused assassin Tyler Robinson, igniting a fierce debate over public access and a fair trial.

Feb 2, 2026

US

Minnesota Preschooler and Father Released from Texas Detention, Return Home Amid Legal and Public Outcry

A five-year-old boy and his father are back in Minneapolis after a federal judge ordered their release from a Texas family detention center, a case that has ignited fierce debate over immigration enforcement tactics and the treatment of migrant children.

Feb 2, 2026