Xinjiang Policy

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

Markets Retreat as AI Bubble Fears Resurface, Oil Prices Tumble

Global markets stumbled on Monday, with Asian shares and U.S. futures declining sharply. The sell-off was led by a significant pullback in South Korean tech stocks amid renewed concerns over an AI sector bubble, while oil prices dropped over $2 per barrel.

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

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

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

West Bank Tensions Escalate as Israeli Forces Order Bedouin Expulsion, Settlers Target Schools

Israeli authorities have issued expulsion orders to a Bedouin community near Ramallah, while settler attacks on schools and homes intensify across the occupied West Bank, further constricting Palestinian living space.

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

Global Fallout: New Epstein Document Dump Triggers Political Resignations, Diplomatic Tensions

The latest release of millions of pages from the Jeffrey Epstein investigations has sent shockwaves from European capitals to New Delhi, implicating figures in business, politics, and royalty, and forcing governments into damage control.

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

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

Business

Salesforce Secures Major U.S. Army AI Contract, Joins Wildfire Tech Coalition

Salesforce expands its enterprise footprint with a landmark $5.6 billion defense contract and a new role in an AI-driven wildfire response initiative, signaling a strategic push into mission-critical government and infrastructure sectors.

Feb 2, 2026