ELON MUSK ACCESS TO FEDERAL AND PERSONAL DATA Elon Musk’s team just entered the headquarters of the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau. Three Musk allies are now listed as "senior advisers" in the staff directory at the CFPB. 13 US states to file lawsuits against Musk based on the right to privacy and security risks. Src: AP, Reporter Holly Otterbein

US MILITARY CONTRACTORS ALREADY IN GAZA US private military contractors were sent to Gaza a week ago "to ensure weapons are not transferred to northern Gaza" as Palestinians returned to their homes. (Resistance fighters and their weapons manufacturing largely operate underground.) US forces have already been operating in Israel and Gaza since at least Oct 2023, assisting Israel with massive weapons transfers, surveillance drones, military operations, and ballistic missile defense. Src: Israeli Officials, Haaretz, Pentagon, Telegraph, SAN

US AIRCRAFT CARRIER LEAVES RED SEA After the Gaza ceasefire was implemented and Yemen Ansarallah fighters halted their attacks, the USS Harry S Truman aircraft carrier and its strike group has left the Red Sea for Europe. This US strike group was responsible for bombing Yemen and Somalia, according to the US Navy, including under Biden and also Trump's recent bombing of Somalia, reminiscent of his first term. Src: USNI, Bloomberg. Img: Wikimedia #News #War #Houthis

MISSING PLANE OVER ALASKA A Cessna 208B aircraft owned by Bering Air flying from Unalakleet to Nome carrying 10 people (9 passengers, 1 pilot) disappeared from radar at ~3:16 pm over the Norton Sound. Nome Fire Department: The pilot told Anchorage Air Traffic Control that he intended to enter a holding pattern while waiting for the runway to be cleared. Search efforts are expanding as more details emerge. Src: Alaska's News Source #Breaking #News #Alaska

ANOTHER JOURNALIST DETAINED Journalist Richard Medhurst was detained again, this time by the Austrian police and intelligence services in Vienna. Police and Intelligence raided his house, office, and took all of his devices, accusing Medhurst of being a member of Hamas and threatening him with 10 years in prison. Medhurst was also arrested in London at Heathrow Airport in August under Section 12 of the Terrorism Act 2000 because of his reporting on Palestine, Lebanon, and Syria. He was released without charges. #News #Palestine #JournalismIsNotACrime

TRAIN FIRE A SEPTA train goes up in flames. The 6-car train was carrying roughly 350 people from Philadelphia to Wilmington when it caught fire. No reported injuries as of now. Crum Lynne Station Ridley Park Pennsylvania 2.6.25 Src: Briana Smith, 6ABC, Confirmed: CBS #Breaking #News #Fire

PANAMA NEVER SAID US SHIPS CAN TRANSIT CANAL FOR FREE Trump State Department: US government vessels can now transit the Panama Canal without fees, saving the US millions of dollars a year — Panama Canal Authority: We have not made any adjustments to fees — Panama President Mulino denied a deal was reached, had told Hegseth he can't set or exempt anyone from fees — Panama ambassador in US to dispute State Department’s statement Src: AP. Img: Rubio and Mulino, Dato-Bo #Breaking #News #Panama

TRUMP TO SANCTION INTERNATIONAL CRIMINAL COURT Trump will sign an executive order today to sanction the ICC for "targeting" (investigating) the United States and Israel, a White House official said. The order will place financial and visa sanctions on ICC members and their family members. Src: White House Official, Steve Holland. Img: Reuters #Breaking #News #Gaza

TRUMP MARKETS LAND THEFT PLAN Using 'Palestinians' as a slur again, Trump says no US soldiers would be needed to remove Palestinians from Gaza by force, implying mercenaries and or Israel may break the ceasefire and at the "conclusion of fighting," "give Gaza to the United States." Trump authorized a shipment of 2,000-pound bombs to Israel last week. Src: Trump, Michael Tracey #News #Gaza #Palestine

TRUMP WHITE HOUSE CHAOS — Trump admin agreed to restrict DOGE access to personal info in Treasury Dept due to privacy, security issues — Head of DOGE-controlled gov tech task force resigns — 60,000+ federal employees take Trump's buyout offer — Judge blocks Trump buyout scheme until Mon — Trump executive order to fire thousands at Health and Human Services — Trump admin in talks with shipping-container company to house migrants — First migrants sent to Guantanamo Video: Migrant arrested at his workplace, ICE #Breaking #News #Trump

US MILITARY FLIGHT CRASH US military surveillance flight contracted by the US Department of Defense crashes in the Philippines — 4 dead including — 1 US service member — 3 US military contractors Maguindanao del Sur Philippines Afternoon 2.6.25 Src: US Officials. Img: NYP #Breaking #News #Surveillance

HOW FAST IS BRICS EXPANDING? "The real showdown is about dismantling the dollar-denominated debt system that keeps the Global South locked in. But can BRICS really create viable alternative payment systems when even China is still tied to SWIFT? What happens if more countries start refusing to play by the old rules?" — Pepe Escobar, journalist and geopolitical analyst #News #BRICS #DeDollarization

US AND ISRAEL WITHDRAW FROM UN HUMAN RIGHTS COUNCIL After Trump's withdrawal from the United Nations Human Rights Council and halting of funding to Palestinian refugees, Netanyahu's government also withdrew from the council where it was an observer, not a member. Src: Reuters, Ynet. Img: Nikkei Asia #Breaking #News #UnitedNations

"IT'S LIKE A BAD JOKE" Referring to Gaza as "the site," Trump said that the US would "level the site" and create economic development... US Senator Chris Murphy: "A U.S. invasion of Gaza would lead to the slaughter of thousands of U.S. troops and decades of war in the Middle East. It's like a bad, sick joke." Img: Senator Murphy, Connecticut Public

HAMAS SAYS TRUMP'S STATEMENTS ARE ABSURD Hamas official Sami Abu Zuhri said: "Trump's remarks... are ridiculous and absurd... capable of igniting the region." Trump had stated, "I am talking about transferring all Palestinians from Gaza permanently... the deal can certainly be closed... I deserve the Nobel Prize, but they will not give it to me." Hamas official, Izzat al-Rishq: "Trump's statements reflect confusion and deep ignorance..." Src: Reuters, Al Mayadeen. Img: DRDK

US POST OFFICE HALTS SERVICE FROM CHINA USPS suspends accepting inbound packages from China and Hong Kong after Trump announced new tariffs "until further notice." The suspension is effective immediately, the USPS said. Letters and flats are not included in the suspension. Src: USPS, Business Insider

CIA BUYOUTS CIA offers buyouts to the entire workforce to "align with Trump priorities." The US spy agency is also freezing the hiring of job applicants already given a conditional offer. Src: Reuters, WSJ