Enforcement of environmental laws in the United States plummeted during the first year of Donald Trump's second term, while the 2026 Winter Olympics are underway with a scandal involving male ski jumpers, and rising tensions between the U.S. and Iran are raising concerns for an Iranian-American held in Evin prison. These are among the stories making headlines in early February 2026.
According to a report from the Environmental Integrity Project, civil lawsuits filed by the U.S. Department of Justice in cases referred by the Environmental Protection Agency dropped significantly in the first year of Trump's second term, which began on January 20, 2025. The report found only 16 such cases were filed, a 76 percent decrease compared to the first year of the Biden administration.
Meanwhile, the 2026 Olympic Winter Games are underway, but not without controversy. News outlets reported allegations that male ski jumpers were injecting their penises with fillers to gain a competitive edge. The rumor suggests that a larger bulge could provide extra centimeters of material in their jumpsuits, potentially increasing surface area for gliding and improving jump distance. A 2025 study published in the journal Frontiers in Sports and Active Living indicated that every 2 cm of extra fabric in a ski jumpsuit could increase jump distance.
In other news, Interpol coordinated a global operation across 134 nations in late 2025, resulting in the seizure of approximately 30,000 live animals and the confiscation of illegal plant and timber products. The operation also identified about 1,100 suspected wildlife traffickers for national police investigation. Wildlife trafficking is a lucrative illicit industry, generating between $7 billion and $23 billion annually, according to the Global Environment Facility.
Amidst ongoing tensions between the U.S. and Iran, concerns are growing for an Iranian-American held in Tehran's Evin prison. As indirect talks between the two countries begin regarding Iran's nuclear program, Ryan Fayhee, lawyer for journalist Abdolreza Valizadeh, expressed worry for his client.
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