Saudi Arabia has started issuing visas for the 2026 Hajj season (1447 Hijri) from Sunday, according to the country’s Ministry of Hajj and Umrah. The ministry said the decision aims to enhance service readiness and simplify procedures ahead of pilgrims’ arrival. All necessary service agreements for foreign pilgrims have been finalized, and accommodation contracts in Makkah have been completed through the 'Nusuk' platform. So far, about 750,000 pilgrims have registered, including 30,000 who booked Hajj packages directly from their home countries.

For international pilgrims, around 485 camps have been allocated across the holy sites, and 73 Hajj offices have completed initial preparations. In Bangladesh, both government and private pilgrims must undergo health checks at government hospitals and receive vaccinations before obtaining a fitness certificate. As per Saudi guidelines, visa applications must be submitted between February 8 and March 20 with the certificate. The Ministry of Religious Affairs stated that no one will be allowed to perform Hajj without it.

Based on moon sighting, the Hajj is expected to take place on May 26, with flights beginning on April 18.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has said that the United States wants the ongoing war with Russia to end by mid-June. He stated that both Ukraine and Russia have been invited to the United States next week for discussions aimed at achieving that goal. According to Zelensky, the US has proposed that negotiating teams from both countries meet in the US, possibly in Miami, and Ukraine has confirmed its participation.

No immediate comments were available from Washington or Moscow regarding the proposal. The report noted that US President Donald Trump has long been pressing for an end to the conflict since taking office. Meanwhile, Russia continues to target Ukraine’s energy infrastructure, causing widespread power outages during the harsh winter.

Zelensky also mentioned that a possible trilateral meeting among leaders was discussed for the first time, though he cautioned that preparatory steps are needed before such a meeting. He added that the US aims to complete everything by June, influenced by its internal affairs, but did not provide further details.

Doctors Without Borders (MSF) project coordinator Craig Kenji warned that Israel’s threat to ban the organization from operating in Gaza could remove a critical lifeline for residents. Speaking to Al Jazeera from Gaza’s Al-Mawasi area, Kenji said Israel issued the warning after MSF refused to provide a list and personal details of its staff. He noted that MSF supports about 20 percent of hospital beds in Gaza, handles one-third of all deliveries, and has provided over 800,000 medical consultations annually.

Kenji cautioned that if MSF and other NGOs are forced to leave, Gaza’s clean water crisis would worsen severely. The organization currently distributes more than 4.5 million liters of water daily, equivalent to 65 kilometers of jerry cans lined up each day. He added that without registration, MSF cannot bring in supplies, deploy international staff, or pay local partners for their services.

Kenji emphasized that if MSF’s registration is revoked, continuing operations in Gaza would become nearly impossible.

At a panel discussion during the Al Jazeera Forum in Doha, Ahmed Al-Zandani, an assistant professor at Ahmed Bin Mohammed Military College, stated that Israel occupies the center of the current international order, while Arab states remain on its periphery. He argued that Arab nations have little influence over global developments, describing their policies as reactive rather than proactive and their position as subordinate.

Al-Zandani explained that the existing global structure emerged after the fall of the Ottoman Empire, when Arab regions became colonies. He said the United Kingdom played a decisive role in shaping this order by sending experts to study the region’s geography and ethnicity, leaving a lasting impact on Middle Eastern politics and structures.

According to Al-Zandani, this historical legacy continues to distance the Arab world from the core of global decision-making, reinforcing its marginal position in international affairs.

A newly surfaced 2020 FBI document has reignited controversy by alleging that convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein was trained as a spy under former Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Barak. The document, classified as a confidential human source (CHS) report, claims that during intelligence collection on improper domestic and foreign influence in U.S. elections, a source provided multiple pieces of information linking Epstein to Israeli intelligence agency Mossad.

According to the report, the source said they overheard several phone calls between Harvard law professor Alan Dershowitz and Epstein, took notes, and later passed the details to Mossad. The source also alleged that Barak viewed current Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu as a “criminal” and that Epstein acted as a Mossad collaborator. Dershowitz was described as having cooperated with Mossad and maintaining close ties with Netanyahu.

The document further mentioned that venture capital firm Day One Ventures, founded by Epstein’s former publicist Masha Bucher, was allegedly involved in technology theft in Silicon Valley. It also referenced long-standing ties between Jared Kushner’s family and Israel, though without detailed substantiation.

The United States Embassy in Dhaka has clarified that individuals staying in the country on a visitor visa are not permitted to work. The announcement was made on Saturday, February 7, 2026, through an official message from the embassy. It stated that those holding B1/B2 visitor visas may engage in limited business activities such as negotiating contracts or attending conferences, but they are not allowed to receive payment or work for any US employer while in the country.

The embassy’s message emphasized the distinction between permissible business engagements and unauthorized employment under the visitor visa category. It reminded visa holders that the B1/B2 visa is intended for short-term visits, including tourism and certain business purposes, but not for earning income or performing paid work in the United States.

The clarification aims to prevent misuse of visitor visas and ensure compliance with US immigration regulations by foreign nationals visiting the country.

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi has said that Iran is prepared for both peace and war, as the date for the second round of indirect talks with the United States remains undecided. In an interview with Qatar-based Al Jazeera, Araghchi confirmed that both sides have agreed to hold the next round of discussions but have yet to finalize the schedule. He emphasized that Tehran and Washington view the talks as urgent.

Araghchi highlighted that the word “urgent” is crucial, warning that any delay could allow hardline factions in Iran or the influence of the Israel lobby in Washington to derail the process. Addressing questions about the risk of war, he acknowledged that the possibility always exists but reiterated Iran’s readiness for either outcome.

He also reassured regional countries that if the United States attacks Iran, Tehran would target American forces stationed in the region, not neighboring states. Araghchi further noted that trust between the two nations remains fragile following last year’s war and that rebuilding confidence will take time.

A landmine explosion in Syria’s northwestern Idlib province has killed a 10-year-old boy and left his two younger brothers permanently disabled. The incident occurred in Khan Shaykhun when the children discovered a buried object resembling a toy, which detonated as they tried to unearth it. Syrian Civil Defense, known as the White Helmets, rescued the injured and took them to a hospital 15 kilometers away, but the eldest boy, Mohammad, later died.

The family had returned home months earlier after spending five years in a displacement camp near the Turkish border, believing the area was safe following the ouster of Bashar al-Assad in December 2024. However, landmines and unexploded ordnance remain widespread across Syria, killing or maiming civilians almost daily. The International NGO Safety Organization (INSO) reported that more than 1,600 people, including children, have been killed or injured by mines since Assad’s fall.

Humanity & Inclusion estimates around 300,000 active explosive devices still scattered across Syria, making Idlib one of the country’s most contaminated regions.

Russia has launched large-scale attacks on Ukraine’s energy infrastructure, causing widespread power outages across multiple regions. The strikes have left millions of people without electricity in freezing temperatures, creating severe hardship. According to Ukraine’s grid operator Ukrenergo, the latest assault targeted key power facilities, resulting in blackouts in most areas. Restoration work will begin once security conditions allow.

The attacks come as Ukraine and Russia recently held two rounds of U.S.-mediated talks in Abu Dhabi since January. During those meetings, both sides agreed to a prisoner exchange, but no progress was made on territorial issues. Meanwhile, in Moscow, a senior military intelligence general was shot on Friday, and Russian authorities blamed Ukraine for the incident. Kyiv has not commented on the accusation.

The renewed strikes on Ukraine’s energy network highlight the continuing volatility of the conflict and the humanitarian strain on civilians enduring winter without power.

The United States has announced new sanctions against Iran aimed at curbing the country’s oil exports. According to the report, Washington imposed restrictions on 14 ships, 15 Iranian companies, and two individuals. The U.S. State Department stated that President Donald Trump remains committed to halting Iran’s oil and petrochemical exports. The sanctions also prohibit any transactions involving the 14 vessels, which include ships from Turkey, India, and the United Arab Emirates.

The State Department explained that these measures are part of broader efforts to prevent other countries from purchasing Iranian oil, a policy that has continued since Trump’s first administration. The sanctions are intended to tighten pressure on Tehran’s energy sector and limit its international trade.

In a related development, representatives from the United States and Iran met in Muscat, Oman, on Friday to discuss ways to ease ongoing tensions. The Iranian delegation was led by Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi, while the U.S. side included Special Envoy Steve Witkoff, presidential adviser Jared Kushner, and U.S. Central Command chief Brad Cooper.

The United Nations Security Council’s sanctions committee is preparing to ease restrictions on humanitarian aid projects in North Korea, according to diplomatic sources in Seoul cited by AFP on Friday. The move comes as the nuclear-armed country remains under multiple international sanctions for its weapons program, while facing a stagnant state-controlled economy and prolonged food shortages.

Sources said that 17 humanitarian projects are currently being implemented in North Korea by major international organizations such as UNICEF, as well as South Korea- and US-based NGOs. Analysts believe the relaxation will allow these groups to deliver nutritional supplements, medical equipment, and water purification systems to the country.

A South Korean foreign ministry official stated that Seoul continues efforts to deliver humanitarian assistance to North Korea without political considerations, expressing hope that Pyongyang will respond positively to initiatives for peaceful coexistence on the Korean Peninsula. The development was reported shortly after a senior South Korean official hinted at possible new progress on North Korea issues.

The United States has accused China of secretly conducting a nuclear test in 2020, revealing the allegation at a global disarmament conference in Geneva. Washington urged the creation of a new and broader arms control agreement involving both China and Russia. The claim came a day after the expiration of the New START treaty, the last active nuclear arms control pact between the US and Russia. US Under Secretary for Arms Control and International Security Thomas DiNanno said the test, allegedly conducted on June 22, 2020, had an explosive yield equivalent to hundreds of tons of TNT and was concealed by the Chinese military using seismic masking techniques.

An official from the international nuclear test monitoring organization countered that no event consistent with a nuclear explosion was detected on that date, noting their system can identify blasts of 500 tons of TNT or greater. The Chinese embassy in Washington rejected the accusation, reaffirming China’s commitment to its “no first use” policy and its moratorium on nuclear testing. Beijing called on all parties, including the US, to uphold test-ban commitments.

Analysts warned that the end of the New START treaty and renewed nuclear tensions could destabilize global power balances, underscoring the need for constructive arms control dialogue.

The article discusses the recently revealed Epstein Files, described as a mirror reflecting the moral and ethical decay of modern civilization. Based on court records, investigative documents, and official files, the report shows how powerful figures maintained close ties with a man repeatedly accused of serious crimes. It questions how a system emerged where the voices of children and young victims were silenced while the names of the powerful remained protected.

The piece argues that the files reveal the hypocrisy of global power structures, where those who publicly advocate for human rights privately sustain exploitative networks. It highlights how state mechanisms often shield offenders, slowing investigations and weakening charges, leaving victims exhausted and disillusioned. The files also expose the narrowness of accountability in international politics, where laws are harsh for the weak but lenient for the powerful.

Despite the revelations, the article notes that real change remains elusive, with only statements and denials surfacing. It concludes that the Epstein Files uncover the duplicity of the global order, warning that if power remains beyond question, injustice will persist.

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi described recent indirect nuclear talks with the United States in Muscat, Oman, as a 'good start.' The discussions, mediated by Oman, took place on Friday and lasted about six hours. The U.S. delegation included special envoy Steve Witkoff, presidential adviser Jared Kushner, and CENTCOM chief Brad Cooper. Araghchi said the talks were held in a positive atmosphere and indicated a possible consensus to continue dialogue, though no roadmap was set to ease fears of potential U.S. attacks.

Araghchi emphasized that the discussions focused solely on nuclear issues and were conducted in a calm, threat-free environment. He stated that Iran clearly presented its positions and concerns, while also listening to the U.S. side. Omani Foreign Minister Sayyid Badr al-Busaidi played an active mediating role, facilitating message exchanges between the two sides.

According to Araghchi, the next round of talks will be determined after further consultations through Oman. He noted that overcoming the deep mistrust that developed over the past eight months following the war with Israel remains the first challenge to building a new dialogue framework.

Iran and the United States held indirect talks in Muscat, Oman, on Friday, with Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi leading Tehran’s delegation and US special envoy Steve Witkoff, Jared Kushner, and Central Command chief Brad Cooper representing Washington. Araghchi described the discussions as a “good start” but said further steps would be decided after consultations with both capitals. Oman’s Foreign Minister Badr bin Hamad Al Busaidi mediated between the two sides, saying the exchanges helped clarify positions and identify possible areas of progress.

The talks took place as tensions escalated following a US attack on Iran’s nuclear sites during a brief US-Israel conflict in June. Washington is demanding that Iran halt all uranium enrichment, restrict its missile program, and end support for allied armed groups in the region. Tehran insists it will only negotiate on nuclear issues to lift sanctions and demands an end to US threats of war. Meanwhile, Iran’s Revolutionary Guard unveiled a new Khorramshahr-4 ballistic missile, signaling continued military readiness.

Inside Iran, public opinion is divided. Some citizens hope diplomacy will ease economic hardship and avert conflict, while others fear the talks will fail and lead to war. The atmosphere remains tense following deadly nationwide protests last month.