U.S. President Donald Trump has called for a new nuclear agreement with Russia following the expiration of the New START treaty, the last active arms control pact between the two nations. The treaty, originally signed in 2010 and later extended, had limited the number of deployed nuclear warheads by both countries. Trump described the previous deal as poorly negotiated and seriously violated, urging a 'new, advanced, and modern' agreement that would remain effective for a long period.

White House spokesperson Karoline Leavitt said there is no formal understanding between Washington and Moscow to continue adhering to the old treaty’s terms. Russia had earlier suspended inspection activities under the agreement amid deteriorating relations with the U.S. and has now declared it is no longer bound by warhead limits. Despite the deadlock, the Trump administration has recently increased diplomatic engagement with Moscow, including inviting President Vladimir Putin to Alaska and resuming military dialogue after talks in Abu Dhabi.

Arms control advocates have warned that the end of New START could trigger a renewed global nuclear arms race and urged both sides to maintain previous restrictions until a new deal is reached.

Chinese President Xi Jinping has urged US President Donald Trump to carefully consider any decision to send weapons to Taiwan, calling the island an integral part of China. The two leaders held a phone conversation following recent visits to China by Western leaders, including UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer. During the call, Xi reaffirmed China’s commitment to safeguarding its sovereignty and territorial integrity regarding Taiwan.

According to Chinese state media, Xi emphasized Beijing’s strong interest in maintaining constructive relations with Washington. He expressed optimism that both countries could find ways to resolve their differences on various issues. The conversation came after Xi’s virtual meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin and ahead of Trump’s planned visit to China in April, which Xi said he was eagerly anticipating.

The latest exchange marks a continuation of dialogue between the two leaders, who last spoke in November when Xi invited Trump to visit China.

Israeli authorities have started constructing a new settlement road north of occupied East Jerusalem, according to the Jerusalem Governorate. The road extends from the city of Mikhmas in the east to the village of Qalandiya in the west, spanning about six kilometers. Officials said the project is part of a bypass network designed to connect Israeli settlements while avoiding Palestinian areas. Around 280 dunams of land have been confiscated from four Palestinian towns for the construction.

Palestinian officials argue that such infrastructure projects restrict Palestinian movement and entrench land confiscation. They accuse Israel of using settlement expansion and road construction to isolate East Jerusalem from the West Bank. The report notes that since the Gaza war began in October 2023, Israeli military operations in the West Bank have intensified, with increased killings, demolitions, forced evictions, and settlement expansion.

According to official Palestinian statistics, at least 1,110 Palestinians have been killed, about 11,500 injured, and more than 21,000 detained in the West Bank during that period.

Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) has seized two ships accused of smuggling fuel near Farsi Island, off the coast of Bushehr Province in the Persian Gulf. The IRGC Navy’s public relations office announced on Thursday that the vessels were captured following an operation in the strategically important waters around the small, barren island. According to the statement, more than one million liters of smuggled fuel were recovered, and 15 foreign crew members were detained and handed over to judicial authorities.

The IRGC alleged that the ships were part of an organized fuel smuggling network active for several months. Intelligence surveillance and targeted operations led to their identification and capture. However, the statement did not disclose the ships’ origin or destination, nor the nationalities of the detained sailors.

The incident occurred amid heightened tensions in the Persian Gulf, as the United States has recently increased its military presence in the region and President Donald Trump has threatened military action against Iran. Meanwhile, Iran and the United States have agreed to begin indirect nuclear talks in Muscat, Oman, on Friday through regional mediation.

The Global Sumud Aid Flotilla is set to embark for Gaza on March 29 from the port of Barcelona, Spain, in response to the ongoing war and humanitarian crisis in the Palestinian territory. Organizers announced that this year’s mission will feature broader international participation than previous efforts. The announcement was made during a livestreamed press conference in Johannesburg, South Africa, where activist Sumeira Akdeniz Ordu confirmed that additional ships will join from Tunisia, Italy, and other Mediterranean ports.

According to Ordu, the flotilla will include thousands of participants, among them over one thousand doctors, nurses, and health workers. The mission will also involve eco-builders skilled in sustainable infrastructure and war crimes investigators expected to document human rights violations in Gaza. Organizers emphasized that the flotilla’s goal extends beyond delivering humanitarian aid—it aims to raise global awareness against the blockade imposed on Gaza.

The Global Sumud authorities stated that the initiative, involving citizens, human rights activists, and professionals from multiple countries, seeks to send a clear message of international solidarity with the people of Gaza.

UN Secretary-General António Guterres has warned that the expiration of the New START nuclear arms control treaty between the United States and Russia marks a grave moment for international peace and security. In a statement issued on Wednesday, he said the treaty’s expiry at midnight on February 5 effectively removed legal limits on the world’s two largest nuclear powers for the first time in over half a century.

Guterres noted that the US and Russia possess the vast majority of the world’s nuclear weapons and that their bilateral arms control frameworks have long served as a vital pillar of global stability. He recalled that agreements from the Strategic Arms Limitation Talks to New START had enabled the reduction of thousands of nuclear weapons, strengthening global security.

Warning that the collapse of decades of progress comes amid heightened geopolitical tensions and technological change, Guterres said the risk of nuclear use is now at its highest in decades. He urged both nations to return to negotiations and establish a new verifiable framework to restore limits, reduce risks, and reinforce collective security.

The Washington Post, a 145-year-old American newspaper, has laid off nearly one-third of its staff across multiple departments. Executive Editor Matt Murray announced the decision during a Zoom meeting with employees, confirming significant newsroom reductions. The move has led to the closure of several foreign bureaus, including the entire Middle East desk, Ukraine coverage, and country-specific desks in Australia and India.

According to U.S. media reports, the layoffs are part of a restructuring effort driven by financial challenges rather than individual performance. However, some journalists argue that the decision reflects ideological shifts within the organization. Race and ethnicity reporter Emmanuel Felton described the move as ideological, not financial, while other affected reporters, including Caroline O'Donovan and Claire Parker, expressed shock and disappointment on social media.

The cuts are viewed as one of the most severe blows to the newsroom in recent years, expected to significantly reduce coverage in sports, international, local, and cultural reporting, and potentially affect political and national security coverage as well.

Newly released documents from the US Department of Justice suggest that convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein closely monitored Saudi Arabia’s 2017 anti-corruption crackdown led by Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman. The documents include an email exchange from November 4, 2017, in which an unidentified person advised Epstein to watch the situation in Saudi Arabia. Epstein asked whether it was a missile attack or an anti-corruption campaign, and was told it was the latter. A newly published photograph also shows Epstein smiling beside the Saudi crown prince.

The crackdown, launched in early November 2017, saw numerous wealthy businessmen and royal family members detained at Riyadh’s Ritz-Carlton Hotel. While the crown prince described it as an anti-corruption effort, reports indicated that billions of dollars were extracted from detainees, and some who refused to pay were imprisoned. The Wall Street Journal reported that several detainees were physically mistreated.

The documents further indicate that Epstein was closely following Gulf region politics and had possible connections with senior Saudi officials. An earlier email exchange with a New York Times journalist also referenced Epstein’s claimed Saudi contacts, raising new questions about his international network.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky stated that around 55,000 Ukrainian soldiers have been killed since the start of the war with Russia. He revealed the figure during an interview with France 2 television on February 4, 2026. According to Turkey’s state media TRT World, Zelensky said the casualties include both professional soldiers and conscripts, and many people remain officially listed as missing.

A report by the U.S.-based Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS) estimated that by spring 2026, total military casualties, including the dead, wounded, and missing from both sides, could reach about two million. CSIS estimated Russia’s military losses at around 1.2 million and Ukraine’s at between 500,000 and 600,000, with roughly 325,000 Russian soldiers killed over nearly four years of conflict.

The United Nations reported that civilian casualties in Ukraine reached their highest level in 2025 since 2022, with at least 2,500 civilians killed and more than 12,000 injured that year. The UN warned that the actual figures may be higher.

China has announced that it will not participate in nuclear disarmament talks at this stage, despite calls from Germany for Beijing to join global arms control discussions. The statement came on Thursday following the expiration of the last active nuclear arms control treaty between the United States and Russia, which has raised fears of a renewed global arms race.

At a press conference in Beijing, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Lin Jian said that China’s nuclear capabilities are fundamentally different from those of the United States and Russia. For that reason, he explained, China will not take part in nuclear disarmament negotiations at this time.

China’s position comes as international concern grows over the potential escalation of global weapons competition following the end of the U.S.-Russia START treaty, which had been the final functioning nuclear arms control agreement between the two powers.

Microsoft co-founder Bill Gates has apologized for spending time with convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. The apology came after the U.S. Department of Justice released a new batch of documents related to Epstein, revealing email communications with several influential figures. Among the documents was a draft email in which Epstein claimed Gates had engaged in an extramarital affair.

In an interview with 9News Australia, Gates said he regretted every minute spent with Epstein and apologized, calling the email false and never sent. A spokesperson for Gates also denied the claims, stating that the newly released files only showed Epstein’s frustration over the end of his contact with Gates and his attempts to entrap and defame him.

Melinda French Gates, who divorced Bill Gates in 2021, told National Public Radio that the documents brought back painful memories from their marriage, adding that some questions still remain.

Ukraine, Russia, and the United States began the second day of talks in Abu Dhabi on Thursday, aiming to end Moscow’s nearly four-year-long aggression. According to AFP, the discussions, mediated by the US, mark the latest stage of ongoing diplomatic efforts. After the first day, Kyiv described the meeting as “deep and productive,” though no major progress was reported. The war, considered Europe’s deadliest since World War II, has killed hundreds of thousands and displaced millions, devastating Ukraine’s eastern and southern regions.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said about 55,000 Ukrainian soldiers have been killed. Russian strikes have caused widespread power outages, leaving civilians suffering in freezing temperatures. Ukraine’s lead negotiator Rustem Umerov said the first day focused on “specific steps and realistic solutions,” while the Kremlin reaffirmed its hardline stance. The talks remain stuck on the future of eastern Ukrainian territories, with Russia demanding Kyiv withdraw from Donbas and recognize occupied areas as Russian, which Kyiv rejects.

The US has involved special envoy Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner in the process. Kyiv remains cautious, warning that conceding territory could embolden further Russian aggression.

Iran and the United States have agreed to hold nuclear talks in Muscat, Oman, later this week. The confirmation came from both sides on Wednesday, following earlier uncertainty over the venue and agenda. Ahead of the meeting, US President Donald Trump warned Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei that he should be “very worried.” Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi announced on social media that the meeting is scheduled for Friday and thanked Oman for its support. The White House also confirmed the talks.

Reports indicate that Turkey was previously considered as a host, but disagreements over including Iran’s ballistic missile program led the US to reconsider. Trump told NBC News that Iran was planning to build a new nuclear facility and warned of severe consequences if it proceeded. The US Navy has deployed the “Armada” fleet in the region, which recently shot down an Iranian drone, prompting Tehran to threaten retaliation.

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio stated that meaningful dialogue must address Iran’s missile program, support for regional armed groups, and human rights issues. Despite internal unrest and regional pressure, the Muscat meeting is viewed as a significant diplomatic step for both nations.

Israel has suspended the transfer of patients from Gaza to Egypt through the Rafah crossing, according to the Palestinian Red Crescent Society. The suspension came just days after Israel reopened the crossing on February 2, 2026, for the first time in about 18 months. On the first day, only five critically ill patients were allowed to cross into Egypt. The Red Crescent’s spokesperson Raed al-Nims told Al Jazeera that Israel announced the closure only minutes before it took effect, leaving many wounded and seriously ill Palestinians waiting in ambulances near the crossing.

Israeli officials had earlier said that up to 50 Palestinians would be permitted to cross daily, but only five were allowed on Monday and 16 on Tuesday. Gaza’s health authorities reported that more than 18,000 patients are awaiting evacuation for treatment, including around 440 in critical condition. No explanation was given for why some patients were denied passage.

Despite an ongoing ceasefire, Israeli forces continued airstrikes in Gaza. The Palestinian Health Ministry said at least 21 people were killed and 38 injured on Wednesday, bringing the total to 556 deaths and 1,500 injuries during the truce period.

U.S. President Donald Trump confirmed that Washington is continuing discussions with Iran to ease tensions in the Persian Gulf, even as American forces shot down Iranian drones over the Arabian Sea. Speaking at the White House, Trump said talks were underway but declined to reveal their location. He referenced a previous U.S. operation called “Midnight Hammer” and noted that Iran might not want to face a similar situation again.

According to Iranian media, Trump’s special envoy Steve Witkoff met Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in West Jerusalem to discuss Iran. Reports cited U.S. officials saying Israel is pressing Washington to launch new strikes on Iran, though Trump currently opposes such action. The president has also warned that if nuclear talks fail, “something bad” could happen, and he recently deployed the USS Abraham Lincoln to the Gulf.

The developments follow Israel’s 12-day assault on Iran in June 2025, which targeted military and nuclear sites. Turkish officials said a planned meeting between Iran’s foreign minister and Trump’s envoys will now take place in Oman instead of Istanbul.