South Africa has decided to withdraw its troops deployed under the United Nations peacekeeping mission in the Democratic Republic of Congo. In a statement issued on Saturday night, President Cyril Ramaphosa announced that the South African contingent stationed in Congo will be brought back. He informed UN Secretary-General António Guterres of the decision, citing the need to reorganize the country’s armed forces as the main reason for the withdrawal.

According to TRT World, South Africa has participated in the UN peacekeeping mission in Congo for the past 27 years and currently has more than 700 soldiers deployed there. When the mission’s mandate was extended in December last year, around 11,000 troops and police officers were serving under the UN mission. The mission’s primary role is to combat various rebel groups in Congo, where decades of conflict have intensified in recent times.

The statement added that South Africa will coordinate with the UN to finalize the withdrawal timeline and process, aiming to complete it before the end of 2026. Ramaphosa’s office said the country will continue close bilateral relations with Congo and support international efforts for lasting peace.

Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian stated that dialogue remains the key to peacefully resolving disputes, following recent indirect talks between Iran and the United States in Oman. In a post on social media platform X on Sunday, he said the discussions, supported by regional countries, signaled a step forward in reducing tensions. Pezeshkian emphasized that Tehran has always prioritized dialogue for peaceful solutions and reiterated that Iran’s nuclear program is its legitimate right.

The talks came after heightened tensions triggered by US President Donald Trump’s threats of military action against Iran. Following the first round of discussions in Oman on Friday, Iranian negotiator Abbas Araghchi described the meeting as a good start but warned that if Washington targets Iranian territory, Tehran would strike US bases in the region. He also confirmed that a second round of talks with the United States would take place soon.

The renewed diplomatic engagement suggests cautious optimism for de-escalation, though both sides remain firm on national security and sovereignty issues.

Saudi Arabia’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs has strongly condemned attacks by Sudan’s paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) on civilians and humanitarian organizations. According to the ministry’s statement, RSF forces targeted the Kuweik Military Hospital, a humanitarian aid convoy linked to the World Food Programme, and vehicles transporting displaced citizens. The assaults caused numerous civilian deaths and extensive damage to humanitarian operations in North and South Kordofan states.

The statement described the attacks as a clear violation of humanitarian standards and international agreements. Saudi Arabia urged the RSF to ensure the safe delivery of humanitarian assistance to affected areas. The ministry reaffirmed the kingdom’s firm support for Sudan’s unity, security, and stability.

Saudi Arabia also called for an end to foreign interference, illegal arms supplies, and the use of foreign fighters, emphasizing that such actions prolong the conflict and worsen the suffering of the Sudanese people.

Hundreds of people gathered in Paris, France, to demonstrate solidarity with the peoples of Palestine, Haiti, Venezuela, New Caledonia, Congo, and Sudan. The protest took place at Place de la Nation, where participants denounced discrimination and oppression faced by these communities. The demonstration was organized following calls from various civic organizations, according to Anadolu Agency.

Protesters carried banners reading “Boycott Israel” and waved flags representing the six nations. Members of France’s Yellow Vest movement also joined the rally, adding to the diverse group of participants. The event reflected a broader expression of international solidarity with populations perceived as victims of injustice and repression.

The gathering highlighted continued public engagement in France with global human rights issues and solidarity movements, particularly concerning Palestine and other regions experiencing political or humanitarian crises.

Human Rights Watch (HRW) has reported that the Indian government is normalizing violence against religious minorities, marginalized groups, and critics through discriminatory policies, hate speech, and politically motivated cases. The findings were published in HRW’s latest global report, which reviewed human rights conditions in more than 100 countries.

According to the report, the Hindu nationalist Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)-led government spread hostility against religious minorities in 2025 and expelled hundreds of Bengali-speaking Muslims and Rohingya refugees by labeling them as “illegal immigrants.” HRW said these actions have led to increased human rights violations by government officials and BJP supporters. HRW’s Asia Director Elaine Pearson stated that instead of presenting India as a global voice for human rights, the government has undermined its international standing.

The 529-page World Report 2026 also includes remarks from HRW Executive Director Philippe Bolopion, who described the rise of authoritarianism worldwide as a major challenge and urged democratic nations and civil societies to form strategic alliances to protect fundamental freedoms.

Italy has announced it will not join U.S. President Donald Trump’s proposed Peace Board. Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani told the news agency ANSA that constitutional obligations prevent Italy from participating. He explained that there is a legal conflict between Italy’s constitution and the charter of the Peace Board, which cannot be ignored. Tajani added that Italy remains open to discussions on peace initiatives.

By refusing to join, Italy aligns itself with France, Germany, and the United Kingdom, which have also declined participation in the controversial board. The Peace Board was introduced as an interim administrative body to oversee governance and reconstruction in post-war Gaza. However, Trump expanded its authority before the charter’s approval, omitting any reference to Gaza.

The decision comes despite the close relationship between Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni and Trump, who chairs the board. Tajani cited Article 11 of Italy’s constitution, which discourages joining organizations that lack equality among member states, while Trump holds ultimate authority over the board.

US President Donald Trump’s chief Iran negotiators, Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner, visited the aircraft carrier USS Abraham Lincoln deployed in the Arabian Sea amid heightened Middle East tensions. The US military confirmed the visit on Saturday, noting that the officials toured the nuclear-powered carrier and its strike group. The visit came as prospects grew for renewed talks between Washington and Tehran.

According to AFP, the inspection coincided with expectations of new discussions between the two countries. Following the visit, Witkoff stated on social media that the carrier and its strike group were ensuring US security and upholding President Trump’s message of peace. Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi expressed optimism that talks with the United States would resume soon but warned against any potential US military action.

The visit followed indirect talks held in Oman’s capital the previous Friday, described by both sides as a positive start. The USS Abraham Lincoln had arrived in the region in January after tensions rose over the suppression of anti-government protests in Iran.

Will Lewis, the chief executive and publisher of The Washington Post, has resigned following widespread criticism over his management and recent large-scale staff cuts. The U.S.-based newspaper, owned by Amazon founder Jeff Bezos, had laid off more than 300 employees just days before Lewis announced his departure. He informed staff of his resignation through a brief note, thanking Bezos and acknowledging the need for difficult decisions to secure the paper’s future.

During his two-year tenure, Lewis faced scrutiny over his leadership, which intensified after the layoffs. In his message, he suggested that the job cuts were part of efforts to ensure the newspaper’s sustainability and its ability to continue serving millions of readers.

Jeff D’Onofrio has been appointed as the acting publisher, taking over leadership responsibilities as the organization navigates the aftermath of the layoffs and leadership change.

A small aircraft crashed into the sea off the coast of South Australia on Friday afternoon, killing all three people on board, including the pilot, according to police. The crash occurred near Long Bay, close to the port town of Goolwa South, about 63 kilometers south of Adelaide. Police confirmed that all three male occupants were found dead and that the wreckage had been recovered from the water.

Authorities said investigators from the Australian Transport Safety Bureau arrived at the crash site on Saturday to begin an investigation into the incident. Local media outlet Seven News shared a video on social media platform X showing the aircraft descending nose-first into the sea at high speed.

Police have not yet released further details about the cause of the crash or the identities of the victims, and the investigation remains ongoing.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is scheduled to meet U.S. President Donald Trump in Washington, D.C., on Wednesday to discuss the situation surrounding Iran, according to a statement from the Israeli Prime Minister’s Office on Sunday, February 8, 2026. The meeting follows renewed diplomatic activity between the United States and Iran, including indirect talks held last Friday in Muscat, Oman, where both sides agreed to continue such discussions in the future.

Israeli media outlet Maariv reported that President Trump has presented Iran with five conditions: removal of 400 kilograms of enriched uranium, destruction of its nuclear infrastructure, elimination of ballistic missile capabilities, cessation of missile production, and an end to support for allied armed groups in Syria, Yemen, Iraq, and Lebanon. Bronwen Maddox, director and chief executive of Chatham House, said the demand to destroy Iran’s ballistic missile capability is the most sensitive and difficult for Tehran to accept.

Maddox warned that losing missile capability would leave Iran defenseless against potential attacks and suggested that the conditions may have been designed to provoke rejection, which could heighten the risk of new U.S. military action against Iran.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has expressed concern over Egypt’s increasing military capabilities, calling for close monitoring to prevent excessive buildup. According to Israeli media reports on Thursday, Netanyahu made the remarks during a closed-door session of the Knesset’s Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee. Citing a source present at the meeting, the report said Netanyahu emphasized that while Israel maintains relations with Egypt, its expanding military strength should be carefully observed and restrained if necessary.

The report added that this warning comes amid heightened sensitivities in bilateral relations, following a major $35 billion gas deal signed between Israel and Egypt in December. Netanyahu had described the agreement, valued at 112 billion shekels, as the largest in Israel’s history. The two nations have maintained peace since signing the Camp David Accords and a formal peace treaty in 1979, which ended their state of war and normalized relations.

The renewed caution from Netanyahu highlights ongoing strategic vigilance in Israel’s approach to Egypt despite their longstanding peace framework.

The Trump administration deported several Palestinians from the United States to Israel using private aircraft, according to reports published this week by The Guardian in collaboration with +972 Magazine. The flights, which cost about $26,000 per hour, refueled in New Jersey, Ireland, and Bulgaria before landing at Israel’s Ben Gurion Airport. From there, the deportees were reportedly left by the roadside in the occupied West Bank. The first flight on January 21 carried eight Palestinians from Arizona to Tel Aviv, while a second flight took place the following Monday, though the number of passengers remains unclear.

The flights were operated by Dezer Development, a Florida-based real estate company founded by Israeli-American Michael Dezer and currently run by his son Gil Dezer. The Trump administration chartered the aircraft through Journey Aviation. Michael Dezer, known for his close ties to the Trump family, had donated over one million dollars to Trump’s presidential campaign. The US State Department stated that it does not discuss interagency or diplomatic matters and confirmed that it works closely with the Department of Homeland Security on deportations of undocumented foreigners.

Homeland Security did not provide any comment on the issue, leaving questions about the scope and rationale of these private deportation flights unanswered.

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi has announced that a second round of talks with the United States will take place soon. Speaking to Al Jazeera, he reaffirmed that uranium enrichment is Tehran’s legitimate right and said that building mutual trust will take time. Araghchi emphasized that Iran’s nuclear enrichment program would continue and could not be destroyed even by bombings.

Following the first round of talks held in Oman on Friday, Araghchi described the discussions as a good start but warned that if Washington targets Iranian territory, Tehran would retaliate against U.S. bases in the region. The renewed dialogue comes after last year’s collapse of nuclear negotiations between Tehran and Washington following Israeli airstrikes on Iran.

The United States has deployed an aircraft carrier toward Iran after suppressing anti-government protests in the country. Araghchi stated that Iran is ready to reach an agreement on uranium enrichment and that the nuclear issue can only be resolved through dialogue.

Tensions between the United States and Iran have escalated sharply, with Washington deploying major military assets to the Middle East following President Donald Trump’s call for the removal of Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. The U.S. has demanded that Tehran dismantle its nuclear enrichment and ballistic missile programs and curb its regional influence, warning of a more severe attack if Iran refuses to negotiate. Iran’s parliament has declared its nuclear and missile capabilities as a national red line, viewing U.S. pressure as a threat of regime change.

Analysts cited in the report warn that any U.S. military strike could destabilize not only Iran but the entire region. Such action might consolidate Iran’s ruling power, empower the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, or trigger internal conflict. Tehran has vowed retaliation through regional allies, potentially drawing Israel and Gulf states into a wider confrontation.

The article concludes that a U.S. attack could ignite regional war, disrupt global energy markets, drive up inflation, and increase refugee flows toward Europe, amplifying global instability.

At least seven people were killed in an explosion at a biotech factory in northern China, according to state media reports. The incident occurred on Saturday at the Jiapeng Biotech Company facility in Shanxi province’s Shanyin County, about 400 kilometers west of Beijing. Xinhua News Agency reported on Sunday morning that one person remains missing following the blast, citing local authorities. Search and rescue operations are continuing at the site.

The cause of the explosion is still under investigation. Industrial accidents are relatively common in China, often attributed to lax safety standards. In late January, a similar explosion at a steel plant in neighboring Inner Mongolia province killed at least nine people.

Authorities have not yet released further details about the victims or the extent of the damage, and investigations into the cause are ongoing.