Tuesday morning news: February 10, 2026

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Netanyahu - US/Iran » Israel is willing to do whatever it takes to stop Iran’s ballistic missile program. And that reportedly includes military strikes against Iran, even if they have to go it alone.

That’s according to a report from The Jerusalem Post citing unnamed defense officials who call Iran’s missile program a threat to Israel’s very existence.

Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Saar says Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu will press President Trump about that during a meeting tomorrow in Washington:

SARR:  Huge amounts of long range ballistic missiles that the Iranian regime seeks to produce.

He said that has to be curbed.

This comes as the United States and Iran have been holding talks in Oman over Tehran’s nuclear ambitions.

President Trump has threatened military action if Iran refuses to cooperate.

DHS funding fight or MAHA » Health and Human Services Secretary Robert. F. Kennedy Jr. on Monday marked one year of his Make America Healthy Again initiative speaking at the offices of the Heritage Foundation.

KENNEDY: And we need to change what we're feeding these children, or we're going to lose our country.

WORLD’s Harrison Watters has more now from Washington:

HARRISON WATTERS: Kennedy told attendees that health policy has come a long way in the last year through changing FDA rules for food dyes and pushing drug companies to lower their prices in the U.S.

For parents, Kennedy said raising healthy children first requires making informed decisions, with a healthy dose of skepticism.

KENNEDY: Trusting the experts is not a feature of democracy, and it's not a feature of science. It's a feature of religion and totalitarianism.

WATTERS: Near the top of Kennedy’s agenda for this year: Requiring hospitals to publish prices for medical procedures, so patients can shop around before scheduling an operation.

Reporting for WORLD, I’m Harrison Watters in Washington.

Ghislaine Maxwell and Clintons testimony » Ghislaine Maxwell refused to answer questions from House investigators during a deposition Monday related to Jeffrey Epstein. She repeatedly pleaded the Fifth, invoking her right against self-incrimination.

Oversight Committee Chairman James Comer:

COMER:  Her attorney said that, uh, she would answer questions if she was granted clemency.

Maxwell is serving a 20-year federal sentence for sex trafficking on Epstein’s behalf.

But Congressman Andy Biggs said her lawyer did provide some information regarding President Trump and former President Bill Clinton.

BIGGS:  The attorney for, for Ms. Maxwell said that, uh, she has no indication and would say that, um, neither presidents Trump or Clinton, uh, are culpable for any wrongdoing.

Her attorney said Maxwell could testify to that if granted clemency. But lawmakers from both parties quickly rejected the idea, as has the White House.

Bill Clinton and former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton are scheduled to answer questions later this month in depositions related to Epstein. Neither are accused of any wrongdoing.

Starmer faces calls to resign » Meantime in the UK, British Prime Minister Keir Starmer is caught up in the Epstein scandal and is now fighting for his job.

That is not due to any misconduct allegations against Starmer who never met Epstein. But two years ago, he appointed Peter Mandelson as ambassador to Washington despite his known ties to the late sex offender.

The leader of Britain’s Reform UK party, Nigel Farage, predicted this ordeal will cost Starmer his job.

FARAGE: Its depth, the numbers of people it involves, the sheer level of corruption is probably the biggest political scandal we've seen for a hundred years. And it's not as if the PM wasn't warned! Everyone knew!

And some lawmakers in Starmer’s own Labour Party have called on him to resign for appointing Mandelson to the post.

Starmer has apologized, saying he was wrong to believe Mandelson’s denials, and has vowed to stay on as prime minister.

Jimmy Lai sentence » There is global outcry today over the sentencing of former Hong Kong pro-democracy media mogul Jimmy Lai.

The court handed the 78-year-old Lai a 20-year sentence, drawing condemnation from democratic governments everywhere.

The United States called Lai’s sentence “unjust and tragic.” And the United Nations and EU have called it a “monumental injustice.”

Jimmy Lai’s son Sabastian Lai says he had hoped the government would consider his father’s age and health:

LAI:  His life is at threat. He lost 10 kilos over the last year alone. Uh, he's got heart issues now, he's got diabetes. Uh, it's, uh, we're incredibly worried about his life.

Jimmy was convicted of supposed conspiracy to collude with foreign forces and conspiring with others to publish seditious articles critical of the government.

He was charged under a so-called national security law, which Beijing imposed on Hong Kong which has been used to silence dissent.

Jonathan Price, an attorney for Jimmy Lai's family, says this sends a clear message:

PRICE: That political dissent, even moderate and peaceful campaigning for greater democracy in Hong Kong will not be tolerated.

Authorities in China and Hong Kong defended the court's decision Monday, saying it reflects the spirit of the rule of law.

Venezuela kidnapping » In Venezuela, less than 12 hours after the government released a close ally of the nation’s opposition leader, the country’s top prosecutor ordered his arrest. WORLD’s Benjamin Eicher reports:

BENJAMI EICHER: Juan Pablo Guanipa was among numerous prisoners set free as part of a move to release detainees who are facing politically motivated accusations.

The government there is under heavy pressure from the United States to implement reforms.

The Attorney General's office claims Guanipa violated court-imposed conditions, but did not specify which ones.

Opposition leader María Corina Machado says that shortly after his release, Guanipa was taken by armed men in Caracas, the country's capital.

Ramón Guanipa said his father did not violate the two conditions of his release— monthly check-ins with a court, and no travel outside Venezuela—and he showed reporters the court document listing them.

For WORLD, I’m Benjamin Eicher.

And I'm Kent Covington.

Still ahead, churches are rethinking security after aggressive anti-ICE protests in Minnesota. And later, investigating claims that pro-life laws endanger the lives of pregnant women.

This is The World and Everything in It.

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