Top stories
On Feb. 7, 2026, options tied to BlackRock’s spot bitcoin ETF, IBIT, exploded in activity as bitcoin plunged, raising fresh questions about whether derivatives amplified the sell-off. The ETF slid about 13% that day to its lowest level since October 2024 while options volume hit a record 2.33 million contracts and buyers paid roughly $900 … Read more
Lead: On Feb. 6, 2026, a divided 2-1 panel of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit upheld a Trump administration rule allowing the detention of undocumented immigrants in the interior without routine bond hearings. The decision applies in Texas, Louisiana and Mississippi and reverses a long-standing practice under prior administrations that often … Read more
Lead On Feb. 6, 2026, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth announced that the Department of Defense will end certain academic partnerships with Harvard University beginning with the new school year in September. The decision targets graduate-level professional military education, fellowships and certificate programs while allowing service members already enrolled to complete their courses. The announcement singled … Read more
Lead In San Francisco, two days before the Super Bowl, veteran reporter Albert Breer published his NFL Honors ballot and awards rankings covering the 2024 regular season through Jan. 4. His most notable choices: Drake Maye as MVP and Matthew Stafford as first-team All‑Pro quarterback. Breer released full first- and second-team All‑Pro lists plus 1–5 … Read more
Lead: Japan goes to the polls on Sunday in a surprise snap general election called by Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi, the country’s first female premier, who took office last October. Takaichi is wagering her unusually strong personal approval ratings to restore a clear parliamentary majority for the long-governing Liberal Democratic Party (LDP). Voters must now … Read more
Lead United Nations agencies warned on the International Day of Zero Tolerance for FGM that an estimated 4.5 million girls worldwide are at risk of female genital mutilation in 2026, with many victims under the age of five. The joint statement from UNICEF and the World Health Organization noted both long-term progress and alarming threats … Read more
Lead: On Feb. 6, 2026, Harvard psychiatrist Dr. Christopher M. Palmer publicly disputed Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s assertion that a ketogenic diet had “cured” schizophrenia, saying the characterization was inaccurate. The exchange followed remarks Mr. Kennedy made at the Tennessee State Capitol the previous Wednesday linking diet to rising mental illness rates. Dr. … Read more
Lead: On February 6, 2026, Quinton Aaron — the actor known for The Blind Side — remains hospitalized after a reported spinal stroke but is showing encouraging signs, his family told TMZ. According to family sources, Aaron is smiling, laughing and communicating as he continues medical care. He is reportedly watching television from his hospital … Read more
On Feb. 6 SmackDown in a tag match that had WrestleMania 42 implications, Rhea Ripley and IYO SKY retained the WWE Women’s Tag Team Championship by pinning challenger Giulia, denying the Beautiful Madness a path to immediate triple gold. The match followed a pre-match promo in which Kiana James reiterated that Giulia could still pursue … Read more
Lead: On Feb. 6, 2026, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency re-approved weedkillers containing the herbicide dicamba for use on genetically engineered cotton and soybeans, reversing a prior judicial curtailment. The move came after farmers and commodity groups pressed the agency to restore access to the chemical; the EPA said its review found no unreasonable risk … Read more
Los Angeles Lakers star Luka Dončić exited the team’s recent win over the Philadelphia 76ers with a left hamstring issue and has been downgraded to out for the upcoming game versus the Golden State Warriors. Coach JJ Redick said an MRI would determine the injury’s extent, and reporting from ESPN’s Dave McMenamin signaled optimism that … Read more
Lead Bitcoin plunged nearly $15,000 within a 24‑hour span this week before recovering most losses to trade around $70,000 on Friday, leaving traders and analysts scrambling for an explanation. One prominent hypothesis, advanced on X by Parker White of DeFi Development Corporation, attributes the shock to a chain reaction from highly leveraged Hong Kong hedge … Read more
Lead On February 13, 2025, the United States and India announced a framework for an Interim Agreement to guide reciprocal trade measures and deepen cooperation as negotiations continue toward a full Bilateral Trade Agreement (BTA). The framework, issued by both governments, outlines tariff changes, commitments on non-tariff barriers, and provisions to strengthen supply-chain and economic-security … Read more
Lead: Singer-songwriter Kelsea Ballerini and actor Chase Stokes have ended their on-again, off-again relationship, sources say. The split was reported in early February 2026 after a reconciliation that followed a breakup last fall. The pair first sparked romance reports in January 2023 and later moved in together in 2024. Sources tell reporters the couple ultimately … Read more
Lead On Feb. 6, 2026, a federal jury in Los Angeles convicted former major league outfielder Yasiel Puig of obstruction of justice and making false statements to investigators probing an illegal gambling operation. The verdict followed a multiweek trial that included testimony from Major League Baseball officials and a Hawaii coach, Donny Kadokawa, through whom … Read more
