Judicial Oversight

Business

Hong Kong Set to Issue First Stablecoin Licenses in March, Marking Watershed Moment for Crypto Hub Ambitions

The Hong Kong Monetary Authority (HKMA) is poised to grant its inaugural stablecoin issuer licenses next month, a key step in the city's comprehensive push to establish a regulated digital asset ecosystem. The move follows a rigorous application process and signals a new era of oversight for the burgeoning sector.

Feb 2, 2026

Business

Trump's Fed Nominee Warsh's Crypto Ties Raise Questions Over Stablecoin's 'Made in America' Push

Former Fed governor Kevin Warsh, nominated to lead the central bank, previously advised the firm issuing Tether's new U.S.-regulated stablecoin, intertwining his potential oversight role with a key player in the digital asset industry.

Feb 2, 2026

Business

Delaware Supreme Court Slashes Tesla Legal Fee Award by $100M, Musk Hails Decision

The Delaware Supreme Court has dramatically reduced the legal fees awarded to attorneys in a shareholder lawsuit against Tesla's board, cutting the sum from $176.1 million to $70.9 million. The ruling, which cited an overvaluation of the settlement, prompted a pointed response from CEO Elon Musk.

Feb 2, 2026

US

After Release from ICE Custody, Father Details Son's Illness and Detention Ordeal

Following a federal judge's order for their release, a father recounts the two-week detention of his five-year-old son by ICE, alleging inadequate medical care and harsh conditions, as the case ignites debate over immigration enforcement practices.

Feb 2, 2026

World

Former Chinese Justice Minister Tang Yijun Receives Life Sentence for Bribery

A Beijing court has sentenced ex-Justice Minister Tang Yijun to life imprisonment on bribery charges, state media reported Monday, marking one of the highest-profile convictions in China's ongoing anti-corruption campaign.

Feb 2, 2026

World

Rafah Crossing Reopens Under Fragile Truce, Offering Cautious Hope for Gaza

The vital Rafah border crossing between Gaza and Egypt has partially reopened after a prolonged closure, a key provision of the US-mediated ceasefire. The move allows for limited humanitarian movement under stringent security oversight by Israel and Egypt.

Feb 2, 2026

World

Swiss New Year's Bar Fire Death Toll Climbs to 41 as Teenager Succumbs to Injuries

The death toll from a devastating fire at a New Year's Eve bar in the Swiss Alps resort of Crans-Montana has risen to 41 after an 18-year-old victim died from his injuries, marking one of the nation's worst peacetime tragedies.

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

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

US

Louisiana's 'Teacher of the Year' Arrested on Charges of Sexual Abuse Involving Student

Christie Oster, a recently honored middle school educator in Lafayette Parish, faces serious felony charges following allegations of an inappropriate relationship with a former student, casting a shadow over her celebrated career.

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

Musk Consolidates Empire: SpaceX Acquires xAI Ahead of Blockbuster IPO

Elon Musk merges his space and AI ambitions under one roof as SpaceX finalizes the acquisition of xAI. The strategic move, combining Starlink, social platform X, and chatbot Grok, sets the stage for a landmark public offering and accelerates Musk's vision for off-planet data infrastructure.

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

From One 'House of Horrors' to Another: Youngest Turpin Siblings Break Silence on Abuse and Foster Care Ordeal

In a landmark interview, three of the youngest Turpin siblings detail their harrowing journey from their parents' infamous captivity to alleged abuse in foster care, revealing a system that failed them twice.

Feb 2, 2026

Business

Controversial Security Mogul Erik Prince Seeks Public Listing for AI Drone Firm Swarmer

Erik Prince, founder of the private military firm Blackwater, has filed to take his AI-powered drone autonomy company Swarmer Inc. public on Nasdaq. The firm's technology, extensively tested in Ukraine, highlights the accelerating shift toward software-defined warfare.

Feb 2, 2026

US

Ohio Teen's Disappearance Ends in Tragedy: Suspect Arrested After Month-Long Search

The search for 17-year-old Hailey Buzbee, missing since January 5, has ended with authorities declaring her deceased and arresting a 39-year-old man she met through online gaming.

Feb 2, 2026

Business

Chicago's Metropolitan Capital Bank Fails, Marking Second Consecutive Year of Early U.S. Banking Collapse

For the second year running, a Chicago financial institution has become the nation's first bank failure. Regulators shuttered Metropolitan Capital Bank & Trust on Friday, citing unsafe practices and depleted capital. The FDIC facilitated a swift takeover by Detroit's First Independence Bank, ensuring depositors are protected.

Feb 2, 2026

World

DHS Mandates Body Cameras for All Field Agents Nationwide, Starting with Minneapolis

Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem announces immediate rollout of body-worn cameras to all field officers, including ICE agents, with Minneapolis as the initial focus. The policy expands a federal transparency initiative amid heightened scrutiny of immigration enforcement practices.

Feb 2, 2026

World

Venezuela's Divided Workforce Unites in Demand for Living Wages Amid Post-Maduro Economic Pledges

In a rare show of common cause, both government supporters and opponents took to the streets of Caracas on Monday, demanding better salaries and pensions as the interim administration promises an oil-fueled recovery.

Feb 2, 2026

Business

Palantir's Surveillance Tech Faces Scrutiny as Government Contracts Fuel Record Growth

Amid surging government revenue and public protests over its ICE contracts, Palantir CEO Alex Karp defends the company's controversial surveillance technology, framing it as a safeguard against state overreach rather than an enabler.

Feb 2, 2026