February 4, 2026

MIDDLE EAST | Updates from regional conflicts:

• Reports say at least 19 Palestinians have been killed in Israeli strikes in Gaza today in action Israel said was in response to an attack on Israeli forces that seriously wounded one soldier. [more]
• The U.S. military Central Command says a Navy fighter jet shot down an Iranian drone that "aggressively approached" the USS Abraham Lincoln aircraft carrier in the Arabian Sea yesterday. The incident came amidst ongoing U.S.-Iran tensions and a buildup of U.S. forces in the region. [more]
• Reuters cites multiple unnamed Western diplomats as saying the U.S.-led Board of Peace that will oversee recovery and reconstruction in Gaza has yet to secure funding due to concerns over the not-yet-realized disarmament of Hamas and the desire by some potential donors for funds to be managed by the United Nations rather than the Board of Peace. [more]

UKRAINE | Today is day 1,439 of the Russian invasion of Ukraine. Here is your update:

• Russian, Ukrainian, and U.S. envoys are scheduled to meet today in the United Arab Emirates' capital of Abu Dhabi in the latest round of talks aimed at ending the almost-four-year Russia-Ukraine war. [more]

U.S. GOVERNMENT FUNDING | With a 217-214 vote yesterday, the House passed, and President Donald Trump later signed into law, a government spending bill that funds the majority of government departments through September 30 but funds the Department of Homeland Security only through February 13 to allow time for further debate amidst tensions over DHS immigration enforcement policies and actions. Signing of the roughly $1.2 trillion funding measure ended a four-day partial government shutdown. [more]

MINNESOTA | Trump administration border czar Tom Homan announced this morning that the Department of Homeland Security is withdrawing 700 personnel from Minneapolis, Minnesota, "immediately," but that the complete drawdown of the more than 2,000 federal agents remaining in the city as part of Operation Metro Surge is largely dependent on what he called "the illegal and threatening activities against ICE and its federal partners that we're seeing in the community." [more]

U.S. PROTESTS | Days after federal agents used tear gas to disperse protesters outside a U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement building in Portland, Oregon, a federal judge yesterday issued a 14-day temporary restraining order barring federal officers at the site from using chemical or projectile munitions on people who pose no imminent threat of physical harm, or who are merely trespassing or refusing to disperse. [more]

U.S. NUCLEAR POWER | In a Federal Register notice this week, and in compliance with an executive order signed by President Donald Trump last year, the Department of Energy says it has created an exclusion for new experimental nuclear reactors being built at sites around the U.S. from major requirements of the National Environmental Policy Act, including from disclosures on how construction and operation might harm the environment and local ecosystems. [more]

EPSTEIN FILES | The U.S. Justice Department and lawyers for victims of late financier and convicted sex trafficker Jeffrey Epstein have reportedly reached a deal to protect the identities of some 100 women who say they were harmed when the government failed to redact their names and other personally identifying information in releasing millions of pages of documents related to investigations into Epstein. [more]

NEW YORK AND NEW JERSEY | Seeking the release of funds authorized under the Biden administration's 2021 federal infrastructure law, New York and New Jersey filed a lawsuit against the Trump administration yesterday alleging that the September freezing of $16 billion in approved federal funding for a new rail tunnel under the Hudson River between the two states was unlawful. [more]

U.S. SMALL BUSINESS | Under a new Small Business Administration policy, lawful permanent residents, also known as green card holders, will no longer be allowed to apply for SBA loans. The new policy, released earlier this week, says that, effective March 1, SBA loans will be available only to businesses that are 100% owned by U.S. citizens or U.S. Nationals who reside in the United States, its territories, or possessions. [full policy document] [more]

U.S. AND RUSSIA | Ahead of tomorrow's expiration of the New START Treaty – the last remaining nuclear arms pact between the U.S. and Russia – arms control advocates warn that failure to renew the agreement could lead to a new Russia-U.S. arms race and increase global instability and the risk of nuclear conflict. [more]

CHINA AND RUSSIA | In a videoconference today, Russian President Vladimir Putin and Chinese leader Xi Jinping reconfirmed their countries' close relationship. According to Russian media, Xi said the two leaders would "exchange views on major strategic issues" and address a new "grandiose plan for the development of bilateral ties," while Putin hailed the countries' "partnership in the energy sphere" and "shared efforts to ensure the sovereignty and security of our countries." [more]

GREECE | Authorities say at least 15 people were killed yesterday when a migrant boat and a Greek coast guard patrol vessel collided off the eastern Aegean island of Chios. Coast guard officials say search and rescue operations continue at the collision site today. [more]

JAPAN | Authorities in northern Japan say heavy snow over the past two weeks continues to affect power supplies, transportation, and emergency services throughout the region. Reports say some areas have received up to 2 meters (6.5 feet) of snow and that at least 35 deaths and hundreds of injuries have been associated with the conditions. [more]

SUDAN | A new Sudan Humanitarian Fund effort was launched by the United Nations and the United States yesterday to rally international support for humanitarian aid to Sudan. The United Arab Emirates has pledged $500 million to the fund, while the U.S. has contributed $200 million. [more]

GREENLAND | The Danish Meteorological Institute reports that Greenland experienced its warmest January on record this year, with temperatures averaging +0.2 degrees Celsius for the month, compared to a historical average of -7.7 degrees between 1991 and 2020. [more]

SOCIAL MEDIA ADVERTISING | Following recent reports about major social media companies generating significant revenue from ads linked to scams, U.S. Senators Ruben Gallego and Bernie Moreno have introduced a bipartisan bill, the Safeguarding Consumers from Advertising Misconduct Act, or the SCAM Act, that would require social media platforms to take “reasonable steps” to combat fraudulent advertising or face legal action by the Federal Trade Commission and state attorneys general. [more]

NEWS OUTLETS | The Washington Post is expected to announce mass layoffs this morning with the outlet's sports, metro, and international desks particularly impacted, according to reports. [more]

OLYMPICS | Ahead of Friday's opening ceremony, competition at the 2026 Milan-Cortina Winter Olympics begins today with curling events. [schedule and results] [more]

TODAY IN HISTORY | On this date in 1945, during the final stages of World War II, the Yalta Conference opened with Franklin D. Roosevelt, Winston Churchill, and Joseph Stalin meeting to plan the final defeat and occupation of Nazi Germany. [more history]