Recent federal actions include the removal of a controversial social media video, legislative transitions, and various oversight and sanctions developments, including financial restrictions on a maritime network and judicial relief sought for immigration policy changes. The developments also encompassed investigations, custody transfers, and agency briefings on domestic security and law enforcement matters.

The FBI, in conjunction with other federal agencies, has convened a nationwide briefing for state and local election administrators ahead of the midterm elections, amid heightened tensions over jurisdiction, data access, and allegations of voting irregularities. The meeting is expected to address alleged fraud scenarios, potential security threats, and federal demands for expanded access to voter data, raising concerns about the balance between election integrity and administrative authority.

Italy has implemented a comprehensive security framework for the 2026 Winter Olympics, featuring a multi-agency deployment of 6,000 personnel, advanced surveillance technologies, and international cooperation to address diverse threat vectors. The security plan balances protective measures with civil liberties, incorporating judicial oversight and limited detention powers.

Mexico's national oil company has entered into new agreements with private conglomerates to boost hydrocarbon production, including a US$1.99 billion drilling program and several mixed-contract models, aiming to reverse a two-decade decline in crude output and achieve financial self-sufficiency by 2027. The partnerships leverage private sector expertise and funding to stabilize production and reinforce the national company's operational capabilities.

The European Commission has initiated formal charges against a video-sharing platform, alleging that its design features, such as infinite scrolling and autoplay, induce compulsive use and contravene the EU's Digital Services Act. The platform is required to modify its design or face penalties of up to six percent of its global annual turnover.

Germany is evaluating the feasibility of enforcing a minimum age of 16 for access to major social media platforms to enhance online protections for minors, as part of a broader international trend towards regulating youth online safety. The proposed measures would require mandatory age verification systems and establish clear legal accountability for non-compliant platform operators.

Amazon has announced a $200 billion capital expenditure plan for 2026, primarily to support artificial intelligence workloads, expand cloud-computing capacity, and advance robotics and satellite initiatives. The investment is part of an industry-wide commitment to AI infrastructure development, with major technology providers collectively allocating over $630 billion.

On February 3-4, 2026, armed extremists carried out a coordinated attack on two remote villages in western Nigeria, killing at least 162 people and destroying homes and businesses. The incident is part of a broader trend of expanding armed extremist violence in Nigeria, previously concentrated in the northeast, and has prompted a government counter-insurgency deployment in the affected region.