An explosion in Bandar Abbas, Iran, was likely caused by a gas leak. Residents were evacuated, and at least one person was reported killed with several others wounded.
Key Facts
The explosion happened in a residential building in Bandar Abbas, Iran.
A gas leak was reported as the initial cause of the explosion.
Residents of the building were evacuated by the fire department.
State and local reports gave differing accounts of casualties; at least one person was killed, and 14 were wounded.
The explosion destroyed parts of an eight-story building and damaged nearby vehicles and shops.
The Iranian Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps denied that any military buildings were targeted.
Bandar Abbas is located on the Strait of Hormuz, a significant global oil transit route.
A separate gas explosion killed four people in Ahvaz, Iran, on the same day.
Paul George, a player for the Philadelphia 76ers, received a 25-game suspension for breaking the NBA's Anti-Drug Program rules. The specific details of the drug violation were not shared by the NBA. George will return to play on March 25, missing games which affect his team's performance and his salary.
Key Facts
Paul George plays for the Philadelphia 76ers.
He has been suspended for 25 games due to a drug violation.
The NBA did not share what substance was involved in the violation.
This suspension implies it was George's first drug violation.
George will lose approximately $11.7 million of his salary due to the suspension.
He is eligible to return on March 25 against the Chicago Bulls.
The 76ers currently rank sixth in the Eastern Conference.
George has averaged 16 points in 27 games this season, which is the third-highest on his team.
Protesters in Milan gathered to express their opposition to the presence of ICE agents during the upcoming Winter Olympics. The protest focused on concerns about ICE's involvement, despite assurances that agents would operate only in a control room for security purposes. Local politicians and organizations voiced their disapproval, linking the situation to broader concerns about growing authoritarian influences.
Key Facts
Demonstrators in Milan protested against the presence of ICE agents at the Winter Olympics.
The protest took place in a square linked to Italy’s history of anti-fascist resistance.
Participants included members from the Democratic Party, trade unions, and other groups.
The protest objected to ICE's involvement in security for the US delegation at the Olympics.
Milan's Mayor and local officials have expressed opposition to the ICE agents' presence.
Protesters were concerned about ICE's reputation in the US regarding immigration enforcement.
ICE agents involved in the Olympics security are part of a unit that focuses on international crime, not immigration enforcement.
U.S. Vice President JD Vance and Secretary of State Marco Rubio will attend the Olympics opening ceremony.
A federal judge decided that the increased presence of immigration agents in Minnesota can continue. The judge said that the potential harms of the operation do not clearly justify stopping it, even though there are claims of racial profiling and excessive force by agents. The operation, known as "Operation Metro Surge," has led to thousands of arrests and has caused concern among local residents and officials.
Key Facts
A judge ruled that the increased number of immigration agents in Minnesota can continue operating.
The operation, called "Operation Metro Surge," is supported by President Trump's administration.
The ruling followed an incident where a 37-year-old nurse was killed by federal agents.
The judge acknowledged claims of racial profiling and excessive force by federal agents.
The lawsuit argues the operation violates the Tenth Amendment, which protects state authority.
The state of Minnesota claims the surge frightens residents and disrupts local governance.
The federal government considers the lawsuit's arguments as legally unfounded.
Ja Morant, a player for the Memphis Grizzlies, shared a brief and mysterious message on social media amid ongoing rumors about a possible trade. The Grizzlies are reportedly considering trading him and are seeking valuable players or draft picks in return. The NBA trade deadline is approaching, adding urgency to the situation.
Key Facts
Ja Morant plays for the Memphis Grizzlies and has been the subject of trade rumors.
Morant posted "Time tells the truth" on social media, sparking further speculation.
The NBA trade deadline is approaching, creating a timeframe for potential trades.
The Milwaukee Bucks showed interest in Morant but are unlikely to acquire him.
The Grizzlies want valuable assets, not just expiring contracts, in exchange for Morant.
Morant has a five-year contract worth $197 million, ending in the 2027-28 season.
The contract includes a trade kicker but no no-trade clause or player opt-out.
The Grizzlies plan to make a decision by the trade deadline this Thursday.
A major winter storm is affecting the East Coast of the United States, bringing cold weather, strong winds, and heavy snow. Areas unaccustomed to such conditions, like parts of the Southeast, are experiencing blizzard-like conditions due to a "bomb cyclone". The storm has left many without power, and extreme cold poses risks such as frostbite and hypothermia.
Key Facts
Approximately 240 million people are under weather advisories and storm warnings due to a winter storm.
A "bomb cyclone" is causing strong winds and blizzards in the Southeast.
Some areas, like the Carolinas and Georgia, may receive 6 to 10 inches of snow.
Over 127,000 homes and businesses are without power in Mississippi and Tennessee.
Subfreezing temperatures and snow are expected as far south as Florida.
A low temperature of minus 27 degrees Fahrenheit was recorded in West Virginia.
Wyoming, the Carolinas, Virginia, and northeast Georgia could experience up to a foot of snow.
The storm has resulted in more than 100 deaths from Texas to New Jersey.
The NFL fined Seattle Seahawks player Tariq Woolen $17,398 for taunting during a recent game against the Los Angeles Rams. This incident occurred just before the Seahawks are set to play in the Super Bowl against the New England Patriots. Woolen admitted the mistake and apologized publicly.
Key Facts
Tariq Woolen, a Seattle Seahawks player, was fined $17,398 for taunting the Los Angeles Rams' bench.
The taunting incident occurred in the third quarter of the game.
The NFL has been strict about taunting and player safety this season.
Woolen admitted his mistake and apologized for his actions.
The Seahawks are preparing to face the New England Patriots in the Super Bowl LX.
Woolen is considered an important part of the Seahawks' defense, which ranks high in performance stats this season.
The New York Yankees made an offer to outfielder Austin Slater during the offseason, but no agreement has been reached. Slater, who was acquired from the Chicago White Sox before the trade deadline, spent much of his time with the Yankees injured and played only 14 games.
Key Facts
The Yankees offered a major-league contract to Austin Slater in the offseason.
Slater was acquired from the Chicago White Sox at the MLB Trade Deadline.
During his time with the Yankees, Slater played in 14 games due to hamstring injuries.
Slater has a career batting advantage against left-handed pitchers.
The Yankees are searching for a right-handed outfielder like Randal Grichuk to enhance their lineup.
Slater played 51 games for the White Sox before joining the Yankees.
The Yankees' current right-handed outfield options include Aaron Judge and Giancarlo Stanton.
Real Madrid will play Rayo Vallecano in a Spanish La Liga match at the Bernabeu stadium in Madrid, Spain. The game is scheduled for Sunday, February 1, at 2 PM local time. Real Madrid aims to improve their performance after a recent UEFA Champions League loss.
Key Facts
The match is between Real Madrid and Rayo Vallecano, part of the Spanish La Liga.
The game will take place at the Bernabeu stadium in Madrid, Spain.
It is scheduled for Sunday, February 1, at 2 PM local time (13:00 GMT).
Real Madrid recently lost a match in the UEFA Champions League against Benfica.
Real Madrid's coach Alvaro Arbeloa plans to play star players Kylian Mbappe, Jude Bellingham, and Vinicius Junior.
Rayo Vallecano is struggling in the league, winning only 5 out of 21 matches this season.
In their last meeting with Rayo Vallecano, Real Madrid played a 0-0 draw.
Real Madrid won against Rayo Vallecano 2-1 in their previous La Liga game at Bernabeu.
Teofimo Lopez will defend his boxing titles against Shakur Stevenson on January 31, 2026, at Madison Square Garden. The match will air on DAZN as Stevenson moves up a weight class to challenge Lopez for his super-lightweight titles. The event includes several other notable fights.
Key Facts
Teofimo Lopez is defending his WBO and The Ring junior welterweight titles.
Shakur Stevenson is moving up from lightweight to challenge Lopez.
The fight will take place on January 31, 2026, at Madison Square Garden.
The match will be broadcast on DAZN, a streaming service.
Both Lopez and Stevenson are highly regarded boxers, with records of 22–1 and 24–0 respectively.
There are additional fights on the event card, including Keyshawn Davis vs. Jamaine Ortiz and Carlos Adames vs. Austin Williams.
DAZN offers live streaming of boxing events, but regional restrictions may apply.
The article highlights a special offer for new users of Underdog, a daily fantasy sports app. By spending $5, participants receive $75 in daily fantasy entries for events such as the NBA and UFC 325. This promotional offer helps users engage with the app and explore different sporting events.
Key Facts
The Underdog promo code NEWSWEEK provides $75 in daily fantasy entries with a $5 play.
This offer is available for new users of the Underdog app.
Participants can make picks for sports like the NBA and UFC 325.
The offer requires a $5 entry regardless of the event chosen.
Related fights include Alexander Volkanovski vs. Diego Peres for UFC 325.
There is also an NFL boost promo for Super Bowl 60, enhancing potential winnings.
Users must sign up using personal details and secure payment options.
Newsweek may earn a commission if users sign up via links in the article.
Egypt and Qatar criticized recent Israeli airstrikes on Gaza that killed at least 30 people. The strikes happened after a ceasefire violation between Israel and Hamas. This situation occurs amidst ongoing efforts to maintain peace in the region with mediators like Egypt and Qatar involved.
Key Facts
Israeli airstrikes in Gaza killed at least 30 people, according to Palestinian health officials.
Egypt and Qatar condemned the Israeli strikes, both acting as mediators in the ceasefire process.
The airstrikes targeted Hamas and Islamic Jihad affiliates after a reported violation of the ceasefire.
The strikes occurred shortly before the planned reopening of Gaza's Rafah crossing with Egypt.
President Donald Trump's peace plan was part of the ceasefire agreement established in October 2025.
Past conflicts and attacks have led to ongoing tensions between Israel and Hamas.
The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) stated they struck "commanders and terror infrastructure" in Gaza.
Humanitarian concerns persist as many Palestinians remain displaced and in need of aid.
More than three million documents related to Jeffrey Epstein were released, including pictures and emails involving Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor. The documents also mention President Donald Trump numerous times. All individuals mentioned in the records have denied any wrongdoing.
Key Facts
Over three million pages of documents related to Jeffrey Epstein are now public.
New pictures show Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor in a questionable position.
Emails involving a person referred to as “The Duke” are included in the documents.
Jeffrey Epstein sent £10,000 to the husband of Lord Peter Mandelson in 2009.
President Donald Trump is mentioned hundreds of times in the documents.
All people named in the documents have denied any wrongdoing.
The information was discussed on a BBC podcast episode hosted by Laura Kuenssberg and Paddy O’Connell.
The release of documents related to Jeffrey Epstein has brought renewed attention to the connections between Epstein and several wealthy individuals, including Bill Gates and Elon Musk. The documents, released by the U.S. Department of Justice, include emails and other correspondence involving these figures, although some claims are disputed by the individuals mentioned.
Key Facts
The U.S. Department of Justice released documents about Jeffrey Epstein’s connections.
The documents include emails mentioning Bill Gates and claims about extramarital affairs, which Gates denies.
Elon Musk’s emails show he sought visits to Epstein’s island, contrary to his previous claims of not accepting invitations.
Musk responded on social media, claiming minimal interaction with Epstein and support for releasing the files.
Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick also had interactions with Epstein in 2012 but later called Epstein derogatory names.
Some survivors of Epstein’s alleged crimes say abusers remain protected despite the document release.
The Epstein Files Transparency Act required all Epstein-related documents to be published by December 19.
The release marks the end of a thorough review process by the U.S. Department of Justice.
Elon Musk's SpaceX has applied to launch up to one million satellites into Earth's orbit to support artificial intelligence processing. The plan involves creating "orbital data centres" using these satellites, which SpaceX claims would be more energy-efficient than traditional data centres. The application does not give a timeline, but the satellites would operate in low-Earth orbit.
Key Facts
SpaceX wants to launch one million satellites into orbit to support AI computing.
These satellites would join the existing Starlink network, which provides internet services.
SpaceX suggests these "orbital data centres" would be more energy-efficient than current data centres on Earth.
The satellites would work in low-Earth orbit, at heights between 500-2,000 kilometers.
SpaceX claims this system could serve billions of users worldwide.
There are concerns about the risk of collisions and space debris with more satellites in orbit.
Some astronomers have said that Starlink satellites interfere with their research.
The WWE Royal Rumble event in Saudi Arabia saw wrestler Gunther defeat AJ Styles, ending Styles' WWE career. Fans were upset as Styles, a legendary wrestler, did not get to end his career at WrestleMania or in the main event.
Key Facts
The WWE Royal Rumble event was held in Saudi Arabia.
Wrestler Gunther, known as the "Career Killer," defeated AJ Styles.
AJ Styles' career in WWE ended after this match.
The match ended with Styles passing out from a rear-naked choke hold.
Fans were disappointed because Styles' career ended before WrestleMania and not in a main event.
AJ Styles might still wrestle outside WWE or return to TNA Wrestling or All Elite Wrestling.
Styles plans to officially stop wrestling in 2026.
Shohei Ohtani, a player for the Los Angeles Dodgers, is unsure about pitching for Team Japan in the World Baseball Classic. Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said pitching in the tournament is Ohtani's choice, but he noted that Ohtani will not pitch there. This season, the Dodgers plan to use Ohtani as a regular starting pitcher.
Key Facts
Shohei Ohtani plays as a pitcher and batter for the Los Angeles Dodgers.
Ohtani is unsure if he will pitch in the World Baseball Classic for Team Japan.
Dodgers manager Dave Roberts confirmed that Ohtani will not participate in pitching for the tournament.
Ohtani previously took a break from pitching due to UCL surgery.
Last season, he pitched 14 times with a 1-1 win-loss record and a 2.87 ERA.
Ohtani is expected to get 20 or more starts this season as a regular starter for the Dodgers.
The team plans to give him more rest days to help him stay in good form.
Ohtani aims to regain his standing as a strong two-way player and compete for the Cy Young award, an honor for the best pitcher.
AJ Styles retired from professional wrestling after losing a match against Gunther at the WWE Royal Rumble 2026. The match had a rule that required Styles to retire if he lost, which he did when Gunther defeated him.
Key Facts
AJ Styles participated in the WWE Royal Rumble 2026 match against Gunther.
The rule for the match was that if Styles lost, he must retire.
Gunther won by making Styles pass out in a sleeper hold.
Styles focused on hurting Gunther’s calf during the match.
AJ Styles has held titles like the WWE Champion and the IWGP Heavyweight Champion.
He made his WWE debut in the 2016 Royal Rumble match.
Styles is known for his successful past with TNA and NJPW wrestling organizations.
In February 2026, Peacock will add many movies and TV shows, including "Air," "Zoolander," and "Pride And Prejudice." The streaming platform will also broadcast Super Bowl LX, featuring the Seattle Seahawks against the New England Patriots.
Key Facts
Peacock is adding over 70 movies on February 1, 2026.
Some notable movies include "Air," "Zoolander," and "Pride And Prejudice."
New TV show seasons like "House of Villains" Season 3 are coming on February 26.
Super Bowl LX will be streamed on Peacock on February 8.
The football game will feature the Seattle Seahawks and the New England Patriots.
Peacock will offer exclusive content marked with asterisks.
The article discusses a promotional offer from BetRivers for sports betting and casino games. It highlights a $500 bonus available for betting on events like NBA games and UFC 325. The promotion's details vary by location, with options covering different types of bets.
Key Facts
BetRivers offers a promotion with the code NEWSWEEK, providing bonuses for sports and casino betting.
In Pennsylvania and Michigan, users can win up to $500 on their first day.
In Michigan, there's an option for a 100% poker bonus match up to $1,000.
New Jersey users receive a $250 first bet offer with a potential refund.
West Virginia participants can get a casino bonus of $500 back and 250 bonus spins.
NBA games like Spurs-Hornets, Bulls-Heat, and Mavericks-Rockets are available for betting.
UFC 325, featuring a fight between Alexander Volkanovsky and Diego Lopes, is another betting option.
The Super Bowl will occur soon, and bets on Seahawks-Patriots can be placed in advance.
