The Trump administration deported several Palestinians from the United States to Israel using private aircraft, according to reports published this week by The Guardian in collaboration with +972 Magazine. The flights, which cost about $26,000 per hour, refueled in New Jersey, Ireland, and Bulgaria before landing at Israel’s Ben Gurion Airport. From there, the deportees were reportedly left by the roadside in the occupied West Bank. The first flight on January 21 carried eight Palestinians from Arizona to Tel Aviv, while a second flight took place the following Monday, though the number of passengers remains unclear.

The flights were operated by Dezer Development, a Florida-based real estate company founded by Israeli-American Michael Dezer and currently run by his son Gil Dezer. The Trump administration chartered the aircraft through Journey Aviation. Michael Dezer, known for his close ties to the Trump family, had donated over one million dollars to Trump’s presidential campaign. The US State Department stated that it does not discuss interagency or diplomatic matters and confirmed that it works closely with the Department of Homeland Security on deportations of undocumented foreigners.

Homeland Security did not provide any comment on the issue, leaving questions about the scope and rationale of these private deportation flights unanswered.

The Super Bowl, featuring the Seattle Seahawks and New England Patriots at Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara, California, is expected to generate a major economic boost across the United States. The Bay Area Host Committee projects between $370 million and $630 million in economic output from the game alone, as thousands of fans travel to the region and millions more spend heavily on food, drinks, and watch parties nationwide. Bank of America estimates a 77 percent jump in local spending near the stadium, while the National Retail Federation forecasts record consumer spending of $20.2 billion on the event.

Hosting the Super Bowl comes with costs for cities, though Santa Clara’s projected $6.3 million expense is modest compared with the expected returns. Past host cities, such as New Orleans and Atlanta, have seen both significant gains and high costs. Experts note that while the benefits are substantial, they are often short-term and concentrated in specific sectors like hospitality and retail.

NBC, airing the game, has sold out advertising slots at record prices of $10 million for 30 seconds, benefiting from a strong February sports lineup that also includes the Winter Olympics, boosting parent company Comcast’s stock performance.

Several human rights organizations have issued travel warnings for Florida, one of the host venues for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, citing concerns over civil rights and tourist safety. The Florida Immigrant Coalition and the American Friends Service Committee warned that the state’s current immigration policies and law enforcement practices could create a risky environment for international visitors. They advised football fans to remain cautious, particularly due to fears of racial profiling and arbitrary questioning.

Tessa Petit, executive director of the Florida Immigrant Coalition, questioned the safety of international tourists, saying that even those with valid documents could face harassment. The groups alleged that people might be stopped or interrogated based on appearance, language, or race, with visitors from Asia, Africa, and Latin America facing higher risks. They also criticized Florida’s immigration and “Stand Your Ground” laws, claiming these could be misused to target minorities.

Florida authorities rejected the allegations, asserting that visitors have nothing to fear if they follow the law. Observers now await whether FIFA or the Trump administration will respond before the global tournament.

A newly surfaced 2020 FBI document has reignited controversy by alleging that convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein was trained as a spy under former Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Barak. The document, classified as a confidential human source (CHS) report, claims that during intelligence collection on improper domestic and foreign influence in U.S. elections, a source provided multiple pieces of information linking Epstein to Israeli intelligence agency Mossad.

According to the report, the source said they overheard several phone calls between Harvard law professor Alan Dershowitz and Epstein, took notes, and later passed the details to Mossad. The source also alleged that Barak viewed current Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu as a “criminal” and that Epstein acted as a Mossad collaborator. Dershowitz was described as having cooperated with Mossad and maintaining close ties with Netanyahu.

The document further mentioned that venture capital firm Day One Ventures, founded by Epstein’s former publicist Masha Bucher, was allegedly involved in technology theft in Silicon Valley. It also referenced long-standing ties between Jared Kushner’s family and Israel, though without detailed substantiation.

The White House is planning to hold the first meeting of the Gaza Peace Board on February 19, according to a report by U.S. media outlet Axios. The meeting aims to raise funds for Gaza’s reconstruction. The report noted that the plan remains in its early stages and could change. The White House and the U.S. State Department have not yet responded to questions regarding the meeting.

Earlier, the Trump administration announced the founding members of the Gaza Peace Board, including former UK Prime Minister Tony Blair and U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio. A White House statement said that Donald Trump will serve as chairman, with his Middle East envoy Steve Witkoff and son-in-law Jared Kushner as founding executive members.

The board will temporarily oversee Gaza’s administration and manage its reconstruction efforts. Other executive members include private financier Mark Rowan, World Bank President Ajay Banga, and U.S. National Security Adviser Robert Gabriel. The White House stated that each member will play a key role in stabilizing Gaza and ensuring its long-term success.

U.S. President Donald Trump has signed an executive order warning of additional tariffs on countries that continue trading with Iran. The order, signed on Friday during U.S.-Iran discussions in Oman, does not specify the exact tariff rate but cites 25 percent as an example. According to the order, the tariffs would apply to goods imported into the United States from any country that directly or indirectly purchases, imports, or receives services from Iran.

Trump did not make direct comments about the order itself, but while speaking aboard Air Force One on Friday night, he reiterated that Iran must not possess nuclear weapons. Earlier this year, Trump had issued a similar warning on Truth Social, threatening a 25 percent tariff on nations doing business with Iran.

The executive order underscores Washington’s continued pressure on Tehran and its trading partners, signaling potential economic consequences for countries maintaining commercial ties with Iran.

U.S. President Donald Trump has signed an executive order removing the 25 percent punitive tariff previously imposed on Indian goods. The order, which takes effect on February 7, was originally introduced as a penalty for India’s purchase of Russian oil, according to the report. The decision follows recent announcements by Trump and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi that Washington and New Delhi have reached a new trade agreement.

Under the new trade arrangement, tariffs on Indian goods are expected to drop from 50 percent to 18 percent. The executive order also reiterates Trump’s demand that India stop buying oil from Russia and increase its energy imports from the United States. Additionally, it outlines plans for the two countries to expand defense cooperation over the next decade.

India has not confirmed Trump’s claim that it will halt Russian energy purchases. Previously, New Delhi defended its decision to buy Russian oil, describing it as a matter of national interest.

The United States announced new sanctions on Friday targeting 14 vessels described as part of a “shadow fleet” allegedly used to evade restrictions on transporting Iranian oil and petroleum products. The State Department also imposed penalties on two individuals and 15 entities, including ship management companies based in China, Liberia, and Turkiye, for trading in Iranian-origin crude, petroleum, or petrochemical products. The move coincided with US-Iran talks in Oman aimed at easing tensions between the two countries.

According to the State Department, the sanctions are intended to support antigovernment protests in Iran and to curb the Iranian government’s destabilizing activities. Within hours of the announcement, President Donald Trump signed an executive order threatening additional tariffs on any country acquiring goods or services from Iran. The administration said the measures seek to cut off revenue that Tehran uses to fund terrorism abroad and repress its citizens.

The sanctions form part of a broader pressure campaign under Trump, which has included military actions, threats of further strikes, and the deployment of naval forces near Iran. Despite regional allies urging restraint, the administration maintains that it will continue targeting networks supporting Iran’s oil trade.

Australia and Indonesia signed a new security agreement on Friday aimed at strengthening defense cooperation between Canberra and Southeast Asia’s largest economy. The deal includes plans to build new military training facilities and enhance joint operational capabilities. According to a joint statement cited from Jakarta, a senior Indonesian officer will be embedded within Australia’s defense forces as part of the collaboration. Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese described the agreement as a historic moment for bilateral relations.

Albanese said Australia would help Indonesia improve its military training infrastructure to make joint exercises more effective. He emphasized the countries’ shared maritime boundary as a natural foundation for close partnership. The agreement comes as Australia seeks to bolster its defense capacity amid China’s growing influence in the Asia-Pacific, while Indonesia maintains a balanced foreign policy to preserve ties with its key trading partner, China.

Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto said the pact reflects Indonesia’s “independent and active” foreign policy and commitment to good neighborly relations. The deal follows a 2024 defense agreement that led to large-scale joint military exercises in East Java.

The United States has seized more than 200 illegal online pharmacies connected to an India-based international criminal organization, according to a statement from the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA). The agency said multiple nationwide operations led to the arrest of four individuals. The DEA described the pharmacies as spreading poison among Americans by selling counterfeit and unauthorized pills. The enforcement actions began on January 27 across the country.

Investigations into these online pharmacies had been ongoing since 2022. The DEA stated that the operations were conducted jointly with Indian law enforcement agencies to combat illegal drug traffickers. The agency emphasized that such joint actions aim to curb the flow of dangerous and unapproved drugs that threaten public health and safety in the United States.

During the investigation, the DEA identified thousands of customers who had purchased drugs from these websites and sent over 2,000 letters seeking public information. The agency also issued five immediate suspension orders and one show-cause notice as part of the crackdown.

Two people were killed in a United States strike on a ship in the eastern Pacific Ocean, according to the US Southern Command (Southcom), which oversees American military operations in Latin America. Southcom claimed the deceased were drug traffickers, though it provided no evidence to support that assertion. The report was carried by Al Jazeera.

Since September 2025, the United States has conducted 34 strikes across the Pacific and Caribbean regions, resulting in at least 126 deaths. These operations have been described as violations of international law. The watchdog group Airwars recorded that this latest attack marks the first strike carried out under the Trump administration in 2026.

The incident adds to a pattern of US military actions in the region that have drawn scrutiny over legality and transparency, as questions remain about the justification for targeting and the identities of those killed.

U.S. President Donald Trump has called for a new nuclear agreement with Russia following the expiration of the New START treaty, the last active arms control pact between the two nations. The treaty, originally signed in 2010 and later extended, had limited the number of deployed nuclear warheads by both countries. Trump described the previous deal as poorly negotiated and seriously violated, urging a 'new, advanced, and modern' agreement that would remain effective for a long period.

White House spokesperson Karoline Leavitt said there is no formal understanding between Washington and Moscow to continue adhering to the old treaty’s terms. Russia had earlier suspended inspection activities under the agreement amid deteriorating relations with the U.S. and has now declared it is no longer bound by warhead limits. Despite the deadlock, the Trump administration has recently increased diplomatic engagement with Moscow, including inviting President Vladimir Putin to Alaska and resuming military dialogue after talks in Abu Dhabi.

Arms control advocates have warned that the end of New START could trigger a renewed global nuclear arms race and urged both sides to maintain previous restrictions until a new deal is reached.

A recently released set of documents from the U.S. Department of Justice concerning convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein has reignited discussion around a 2017 interview with former Dutch banker Ronald Bernard. In that interview, Bernard alleged that some members of the global financial elite practiced ritualistic acts, including child sacrifice, as part of occult or Luciferian beliefs. He claimed to have been invited to a ceremony abroad that involved such practices, which he refused to attend.

Bernard told Netherlands-based DVM TV that many high-level financial figures he knew followed what he described as Luciferian worship. He said he had visited places known as the 'Church of Satan,' where rituals involving nudity and alcohol took place, though he admitted uncertainty about their authenticity. His statements resurfaced after the new Epstein-related files hinted at links between several influential individuals and Epstein’s network.

Epstein, who faced charges of child sex trafficking, was found dead in a New York jail in 2019 while awaiting trial. The renewed attention to Bernard’s claims and the Justice Department’s disclosures has again raised questions about the extent of hidden crimes behind wealth and power.

The Washington Post, a 145-year-old American newspaper, has laid off nearly one-third of its staff across multiple departments. Executive Editor Matt Murray announced the decision during a Zoom meeting with employees, confirming significant newsroom reductions. The move has led to the closure of several foreign bureaus, including the entire Middle East desk, Ukraine coverage, and country-specific desks in Australia and India.

According to U.S. media reports, the layoffs are part of a restructuring effort driven by financial challenges rather than individual performance. However, some journalists argue that the decision reflects ideological shifts within the organization. Race and ethnicity reporter Emmanuel Felton described the move as ideological, not financial, while other affected reporters, including Caroline O'Donovan and Claire Parker, expressed shock and disappointment on social media.

The cuts are viewed as one of the most severe blows to the newsroom in recent years, expected to significantly reduce coverage in sports, international, local, and cultural reporting, and potentially affect political and national security coverage as well.

The Washington Post, owned by Amazon founder Jeff Bezos, has begun large-scale layoffs affecting roughly one-third of its staff across all departments, according to a company spokesperson on Wednesday. The move will significantly reduce the size of the organization. Several foreign bureaus, including the entire Middle East desk, Ukraine coverage, and operations in Australia and India, have also been scaled back.

Employees were reportedly instructed via email to stay home on Wednesday morning, prompting questions from staff, former editors, and readers about Bezos’s silence and role in the decision. Many current and former employees expressed frustration, suggesting that Bezos is no longer as actively engaged with the newsroom as before.

U.S. media reports cited restructuring and financial challenges as the main reasons for the layoffs, rather than performance. Some dismissals were also linked to internal disputes or ideological differences. Former chief fact-checker Glenn Kessler wrote that Bezos appears focused on surviving under Donald Trump’s political climate rather than saving the paper, reflecting broader concerns about editorial and business decisions being influenced by non-journalistic factors.