Daily Mail: Fortress Minneapolis: Largest Super Bowl security operation in history underway in frigid temperatures with the FBI on high alert to potential extremist threats in the city which has seen residents prosecuted for supporting Somali terror group
* Black Hawk helicopters and jet fighters will be circling above the U.S. Bank Stadium in Minneapolis, Minnesota on Sunday along with choppers equipped with infrared cameras
* Due to the risk of a terrorist attack, the Department of Homeland Security has given the Super Bowl a Level 1 'special event assessment rating'
* This year the FBI is on particular alert because of the number of terrorism prosecutions there have been in Minneapolis
* The area has been home to the third highest number of terror prosecutions in the U.S. since 9/11 - in total 12 Twin Cities residents have been charged with providing support to ISIS and in the past nine years
* A further 20 people have been arrested for alleged support of the Somali terror group al Shabab
* Super Bowl LII will kick off at 6.30pm Eastern on Sunday but the security planning for the event began two years ago - more than two Super Bowls back
* Dozens of cities are sending cops to help the 900 officers in the Minneapolis Police force who are unable to cope on their own with the estimated one million people who will be in the city
Four layers of aircraft in the sky including armed F-16 jets will be part of the largest security operation in the history of Super Bowl when it kicks off this Sunday.
Black Hawk helicopters and jet fighters will be circling above the U.S. Bank Stadium in Minneapolis, Minnesota, to force down any aircraft that enters the 30 nautical mile no-fly zone.
Helicopters equipped with infrared cameras will be in the air and there will be tens of thousands of police and FBI agents on the ground.
According to the event organizers they want the streets around the stadium to be the 'most secure area in the world' on the day of the Super Bowl.
Read more ....
MIDDLE EAST
Turkish army suffers deadliest day in Syria's Afrin. Afrin offensive: seven Turkish soldiers die in Syria.
Turkish border guards accused of shooting at Syrian refugees.
US troops in Kurdish uniform may be targeted by Olive Branch forces – Turkish Deputy PM.
Iraq lists 60 most-wanted jihadists and Baathists.
Outside Yemen’s rebel-held capital, stalemated war rages on.
Saudi and UAE move to end standoff in Yemen's Aden.
Iran says US nuclear policy brings world 'closer to annihilation'.
PLO orders plans to be made for 'disengaging' from Israel. PLO vows 'to start disengaging from Israel'.
Erekat says US is pushing a Palestinian 'coup,' tells Nikki Haley to 'shut up'.
IDF Chief of Staff warns growing possibility of Gaza war.
Jordan's King Abdullah sees no Mideast peace without US role.
Israel moves toward deporting thousands of African migrants.
ASIA
Maldives top court 'in bid to remove' President Yameen. Maldives government warns Supreme Court against impeaching President Yameen Abdul Gayoom.
Suicide bombing in northwestern Pakistan kills 11 soldiers.
Afghanistan parliament elections likely delayed until October.
N. Korea slams Trump's 'sinister' State of the Union address.
N. Korea's ceremonial head of state to visit South.
Doping scandal hits Winter Olympics.
China accuses US of 'Cold War mentality' with new nuclear policy.
China and Vietnam close to landmark deal on streamlined joint border checkpoint.
AFRICA
Nigerian military claims complete victory over Boko Haram.
Roadside bomb in Sinai kills 2 Egyptian security forces.
Guinea holds first local elections since military rule.
Bodies of 20 people pulled from the Mediterranean.
Cameroon forces kill 4 civilians in restive anglophone west.
Four civilians killed in Mali as army imposes traffic restrictions.
South Africa: Zuma to face party top guns .
Indian oil tanker and crew missing off Africa's west coast.
Trans-African railway line hopes to boost regional trade.
Cape Town residents dread 'disaster' as city waits for water to run out.
EUROPE
Cyprus president re-elected, defeats same opponent again.
Thousands of Greeks rally in Athens calling for the country of Macedonia to change its name in 25-year-old row. Thousands protest Greek government compromise in Macedonia dispute. Greece Macedonia: Name dispute draws mass protest in Athens.
UK’s May under pressure as Conservatives at war over Brexit.
Ex-Georgian leader’s supporters march "for future" in central Kiev.
Italy drive-by attack targets immigrants in Macerata.
German coalition talks adjourned, set to continue Monday.
Europe must brake mounting nuclear arms race: Germany.
‘Arctic invasion’: Huge winter storm, freezing rain wreaks havoc in Moscow (PHOTOS).
AMERICAS
NFL: America readies for Patriots, Eagles Super Bowl.
House Intelligence Committee to vote Monday on releasing Dems’ countermemo.
Polls swing toward GOP, easing fears of midterm disaster.
US House Speaker Paul Ryan deletes $1.50 tax cut gain tweet.
Costa Rica elections: Political storm brewing in paradise.
Tillerson says U.S. still considering Venezuela oil sale restrictions.
Venezuelan President Maduro calls for election date to be set by Monday as he eyes snap poll.
Ecuador votes on term limits to decide ex-president Rafael Correa's political survival. Ecuador votes on election term limit as Correa looks on.
US and Argentina to work together against Hezbollah.
Deadly storms hit Bolivia and Argentina.
Hawaii worker who sent missile alert was '100% sure' attack was real.
Mexico finds nearly 200 migrants hidden in cramped lorry.
Two train workers are killed and 116 passengers are injured as an Amtrak train traveling on the WRONG track smashes into freight carriages in South Carolina.
TERRORISM/THE LONG WAR
Egypt, Israel are secretly fighting against ISIS together.
UK's MoD ‘in chaos’ over drone use outside of war zones.
Islamic State attacker shows intersection of crime, terror.
Paris trial sheds light on terrorists' efforts to hide after attacks.
ECONOMY/FINANCE/BUSINESS
Yellen disappointed not to get a second term as Fed chair.
EU official warn US on trade: EU will hit back if needed.
YouTube announces plan to combat propaganda.
Mexico protesters fear US-owned brewery will drain their land dry.
