US-Ukraine-Russia peace talks in the UAE entered their second day on February 5 amid ongoing Russian strikes on Ukrainian energy infrastructure, cities like Kyiv, Kharkiv, and Dnipro (where a drone hit a minibus killing at least 15), and Zaporizhzhia (two civilians killed).[1][2]
Middle East tensions escalated with a US F-35 shooting down an Iranian drone near the USS Abraham Lincoln, IRGC Navy gunboats attempting to seize a US tanker in the Strait of Hormuz, and Iran seizing two foreign oil tankers in the Persian Gulf.[1][2]
Ongoing global conflicts included Israeli strikes in Gaza killing at least 23 Palestinians (including children and a paramedic) and a PIJ commander; Sudanese civil war drone attacks killing civilians in South Kordofan; Nigerian bandit attacks killing 170 in Kwara State; Pakistani military operations against Balochistan insurgents after 200+ deaths; and Myanmar’s junta forming a council for Min Aung Hlaing to assume presidency.[2]
2026 Winter Olympics in Milan faced challenges: a norovirus outbreak postponed Finland-Canada women’s hockey to February 12 (13 Finnish players affected), Milan’s San Siro hosting the opening ceremony, and climate change making future hosting harder.[1]
Other key developments:
– Search for missing mother of ‘Today’ show host Savannah Guthrie (Nancy Guthrie) entered its fifth day with new details and an emotional family plea.[1][3]
– Measles outbreak in Mexico’s Jalisco state (World Cup host) prompted school mask mandates.[1]
– Nigeria killed senior Boko Haram commander Abu Khalid and released 89 church kidnapping victims from Kaduna.[2]
– Azerbaijan sentenced 13 Nagorno-Karabakh officials, including ex-leader Arayik Harutyunyan, to 15 years to life for war crimes and terrorism.[2]
– SpaceX deactivated Starlink in Russian-occupied Ukraine after Ukrainian pressure.[2]
– Markets slid with tech and Bitcoin routs in Asia.[4]
– Bridge collapse in China killed five workers.[2]
