Government Affairs

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

Judge Orders Release of Five-Year-Old Detained by ICE, Condemns 'Cruel' Pursuit of Deportation Quotas

A five-year-old boy and his father have been released from immigration detention after a federal judge sharply criticized ICE's tactics, accusing the agency of a 'perfidious lust for unbridled power' in a case that has ignited national outrage.

Feb 2, 2026

World

Trump's Tariff Threat on Cuba Oil Puts Mexico in Diplomatic Bind

Mexico faces a delicate balancing act as U.S. tariff threats targeting nations supplying oil to Cuba pressure a key trading partner to choose between economic interests and regional solidarity.

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

Khartoum Airport Reopens for Scheduled Flights After Two-Year War Hiatus

A Sudan Airways flight from Port Sudan touched down in the capital, marking a tentative step toward reconnecting a nation fractured by conflict.

Feb 2, 2026

World

Rafah Crossing Reopens for Limited Traffic After Two-Year Shutdown, Marking Fragile Ceasefire Milestone

The vital Rafah border crossing between Gaza and Egypt has partially reopened for a trial period, allowing a restricted number of Palestinian civilians to cross. This move implements a key provision of the U.S.-mediated ceasefire, though severe limitations and high costs cast doubt on its immediate humanitarian impact.

Feb 2, 2026

World

Rafah Crossing Partially Reopens After Months of Pressure, But Aid Flow Remains Uncertain

Israel has reopened the Rafah border crossing between Gaza and Egypt for limited pedestrian movement, a move long demanded by aid agencies. However, the crucial flow of humanitarian supplies remains restricted, and the reopening follows deadly violence in the area.

Feb 2, 2026

World

Rafah Crossing Reopens: Gaza's Lifeline to the World Cautiously Restarts After Two-Year Closure

The Rafah border crossing between Gaza and Egypt reopened for pedestrian traffic Monday, ending a near two-year shutdown. The vital gateway, crucial for aid and movement, resumes under a complex new security framework involving Israeli oversight and international monitors.

Feb 2, 2026

World

Diplomatic Gambit: Iran Signals Openness to Nuclear Talks Despite U.S. Military Posturing

Amid heightened regional tensions and a visible U.S. military buildup, Iran's Foreign Minister expresses cautious optimism for a nuclear deal, even as Tehran's supreme leader warns of a broader conflict should hostilities erupt.

Feb 2, 2026

World

Costa Rica Votes Amid Security Crisis, Populist Party Seeks to Consolidate Power

Voters head to the polls in Costa Rica, with the ruling right-wing populist party aiming to secure a decisive mandate and a legislative supermajority to tackle record violence and political gridlock.

Feb 2, 2026

World

Minnesota Boy, 5, Returns Home After ICE Detention Sparks Legal and Political Firestorm

A five-year-old boy and his father are back in Minnesota following their release from a Texas immigration detention facility, a case a federal judge called the result of an 'ill-conceived' pursuit of deportation quotas that traumatizes children.

Feb 2, 2026

World

Newly Unsealed Email Reveals Epstein Associate's Plan to Tap Into Libya's Frozen Billions Amid 2011 Turmoil

A 2011 email to Jeffrey Epstein detailed a bold proposal to identify and recover billions in frozen Libyan state assets, with claimed backing from former intelligence operatives, as the country descended into civil war.

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

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

The Weight of a Word: How 'Axis' Became a Geopolitical Weapon

From Mussolini's Rome-Berlin Axis to Bush's 'Axis of Evil,' the term has evolved from a descriptive label to a powerful political tool, framing global rivalries and shaping diplomatic realities.

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

World

Japan's Deep-Sea Breakthrough: Rare Earth Minerals Retrieved from 6,000-Meter Depths in Pacific

Japan has successfully retrieved sediment containing rare earth minerals from a depth of 6,000 meters in the Pacific Ocean, marking a world-first achievement in deep-sea resource exploration. The mission, part of a strategic push to reduce reliance on Chinese supplies, could reshape global supply chains for critical technology components.

Feb 2, 2026

Business

O'Donnell Financial Bets $6.8 Million on AAA CLO ETF, Signaling Confidence in Income Strategy

A major stake increase by O'Donnell Financial in the iShares AAA CLO Active ETF (CLOA) highlights institutional interest in high-grade, actively managed securitized credit as a source of yield in a complex rate environment.

Feb 2, 2026

Business

Jacobs Solutions Set to Report Q4 Earnings Amid Mixed Sector Performance

Jacobs Solutions prepares to release its fourth-quarter financial results, with analysts projecting moderate revenue growth but watching closely after recent earnings misses and a volatile professional services landscape.

Feb 2, 2026

Business

Whistleblower Alleges Google AI Support Aided Israeli Military Contractor, Violating Ethics Pledge

A former Google employee has filed a formal complaint with the SEC, accusing the tech giant of breaching its own AI ethics principles by providing customer support to an Israeli defense contractor using AI to analyze drone footage, according to documents obtained by The Washington Post.

Feb 2, 2026