The United States Southern Command launched a new strike on a vessel accused of drug trafficking in the eastern Pacific Ocean, according to a statement released on Monday. The operation resulted in the deaths of two individuals, while one survivor was rescued. The command confirmed the incident in a post on social media platform X, describing the deceased as 'narco-terrorists' and noting that the U.S. Coast Guard had been tasked with search and rescue efforts for the survivor.

The Southern Command reported that this latest strike brings the total number of anti-drug trafficking operations to 38, with at least 130 people killed so far. The command stated that maritime surveillance and military operations have been further intensified to curb drug smuggling through sea routes.

The statement underscores Washington’s continued focus on maritime interdiction efforts in the Pacific region as part of its broader campaign against transnational narcotics networks.

US President Donald Trump has again made controversial remarks about his country’s election system, alleging regular fraud and vote theft. In a post on his social media platform Truth Social on Sunday, he called for the implementation of a proposed 'Save America Act' to reform the voting process. Trump warned that without such reforms, the nation would be at risk and urged Republican Party members to unite on the issue.

According to Axios, Trump has asked Congress to pass new legislation introducing three strict measures. These include mandatory voter identification during voting, in-person registration with proof of US citizenship, and a complete ban on mail-in ballots except for cases involving illness, disability, military service, or travel. He argued that the current system has become a global embarrassment for the United States.

The call for reform comes ahead of the US congressional midterm elections scheduled for November 3 this year.

The United States Navy has seized a large oil tanker named ‘Aquila 2’ in the Indian Ocean for allegedly transporting Venezuelan oil to China in violation of sanctions imposed by President Donald Trump. According to Al Jazeera, the vessel was en route from Venezuela to a Chinese port when it was intercepted. US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth confirmed the operation in a post on social media platform X on Monday, February 9, stating that the Navy had been monitoring the ship since it left the Caribbean Sea.

Hegseth said the Defense Department strictly enforces any sanctions or quarantines it issues, adding that the ‘Aquila 2’ was seized after an overnight operation in the Indian Ocean. He noted that the tanker had continued its journey despite restrictions on Venezuelan vessels under Trump’s sanctions. The defense secretary emphasized that no one could evade US defense systems by air, land, or sea and warned that the Pentagon would take a firm stance against those violating international maritime laws.

Hegseth further stated that the United States would maintain a strict and negative approach toward any misuse of rights in global maritime zones.

US President Donald Trump announced that Chinese President Xi Jinping will visit the White House later this year, marking a significant step toward improving relations between the world’s two largest economies after years of trade tensions and diplomatic strain. Trump made the remarks in an interview with NBC News, recorded on Wednesday, the same day the two leaders held wide-ranging discussions on trade, Taiwan, the Ukraine war, and the situations in Russia and Iran.

Trump also indicated he may visit China in April, with Xi’s US trip expected to follow. He described his recent talks with Xi as positive and productive, emphasizing the importance of maintaining strong ties between Washington and Beijing. Since returning to the White House, Trump’s administration has taken a tough stance on tariffs, imposing duties on steel, cars, and other sectors, though both sides reached a broad understanding last spring after heightened tensions.

Xi, who last visited the US in 2023, urged caution over US arms sales to Taiwan and expressed hope that bilateral issues could be resolved amicably through dialogue, according to Chinese state television CCTV.

An intense Arctic cold wave has swept across the eastern United States, placing about 80 million people under weather alerts. According to ABC News, extreme cold warnings have been issued across most of the Northeast and Mid-Atlantic regions. The combination of frigid air and strong winds has driven wind chills far below freezing, with dangerous conditions reported from the Great Lakes to the Carolinas since early Saturday.

In coastal New England, snowfall has begun to ease, though an inverted trough caused heavy snow in some areas, with rates reaching up to 2.5 inches per hour. Temperatures across much of the Northeast have dropped into single digits, and wind chills are expected to remain below zero. Major cities such as New York, Boston, and Buffalo may experience wind chills near minus 10 degrees Fahrenheit, while parts of upstate New York and northern New England could see readings between minus 20 and minus 30 degrees Celsius.

The weather service indicated that conditions may gradually improve from Monday as winds weaken and temperatures begin to rise across the eastern region.

US President Donald Trump’s chief Iran negotiators, Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner, visited the aircraft carrier USS Abraham Lincoln deployed in the Arabian Sea amid heightened Middle East tensions. The US military confirmed the visit on Saturday, noting that the officials toured the nuclear-powered carrier and its strike group. The visit came as prospects grew for renewed talks between Washington and Tehran.

According to AFP, the inspection coincided with expectations of new discussions between the two countries. Following the visit, Witkoff stated on social media that the carrier and its strike group were ensuring US security and upholding President Trump’s message of peace. Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi expressed optimism that talks with the United States would resume soon but warned against any potential US military action.

The visit followed indirect talks held in Oman’s capital the previous Friday, described by both sides as a positive start. The USS Abraham Lincoln had arrived in the region in January after tensions rose over the suppression of anti-government protests in Iran.

Will Lewis, the chief executive and publisher of The Washington Post, has resigned following widespread criticism over his management and recent large-scale staff cuts. The U.S.-based newspaper, owned by Amazon founder Jeff Bezos, had laid off more than 300 employees just days before Lewis announced his departure. He informed staff of his resignation through a brief note, thanking Bezos and acknowledging the need for difficult decisions to secure the paper’s future.

During his two-year tenure, Lewis faced scrutiny over his leadership, which intensified after the layoffs. In his message, he suggested that the job cuts were part of efforts to ensure the newspaper’s sustainability and its ability to continue serving millions of readers.

Jeff D’Onofrio has been appointed as the acting publisher, taking over leadership responsibilities as the organization navigates the aftermath of the layoffs and leadership change.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is scheduled to meet U.S. President Donald Trump in Washington, D.C., on Wednesday to discuss the situation surrounding Iran, according to a statement from the Israeli Prime Minister’s Office on Sunday, February 8, 2026. The meeting follows renewed diplomatic activity between the United States and Iran, including indirect talks held last Friday in Muscat, Oman, where both sides agreed to continue such discussions in the future.

Israeli media outlet Maariv reported that President Trump has presented Iran with five conditions: removal of 400 kilograms of enriched uranium, destruction of its nuclear infrastructure, elimination of ballistic missile capabilities, cessation of missile production, and an end to support for allied armed groups in Syria, Yemen, Iraq, and Lebanon. Bronwen Maddox, director and chief executive of Chatham House, said the demand to destroy Iran’s ballistic missile capability is the most sensitive and difficult for Tehran to accept.

Maddox warned that losing missile capability would leave Iran defenseless against potential attacks and suggested that the conditions may have been designed to provoke rejection, which could heighten the risk of new U.S. military action against Iran.

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.