Early Edition: February 6, 2026 (2026)

Here's a curated summary of the top news stories and developments from around the world as of February 6, 2026:

Middle East and North Africa

• Iran and the US: Oman facilitated indirect talks between Iran and the United States, with both countries' convoys meeting Omani Foreign Minister Badr al-Busaidi. The discussions focused on creating conditions for resumed diplomatic and technical negotiations.
• Israel-Hamas Ceasefire: The UAE plans to build a housing complex for displaced Palestinians in southern Gaza under Israeli control, but there are doubts about the project's viability due to Palestinian resistance to being housed in Israeli-controlled areas.
• Saudi Arabia and Yemen: Riyadh is budgeting nearly $3 billion to cover salaries for Yemeni forces and civil servants, with a focus on southern fighters previously paid by Abu Dhabi. The Saudis hope this will bring the Iran-backed Houthis to the negotiating table.

Europe and Asia

• Russia-Ukraine War: Russian bloggers report disruptions to Starlink connections on drones and satellite internet for troops in Ukraine, potentially setting back Russian forces. Ukrainian Defense Minister Mykhailo Fedrov contacted SpaceX, leading to Elon Musk's firm blocking access to Starlink in Ukraine.
• Russia: Lt. Gen. Vladimir Alekseyev, deputy head of the Russian military intelligence agency, was shot in Moscow, and the incident is under investigation as attempted murder. Ukrainian officials, who claimed responsibility for previous attacks, did not immediately comment.
• Ukraine and Russia Talks: Ukraine and Russia concluded a second day of US-brokered talks in Abu Dhabi, agreeing to an exchange of 314 prisoners of war and to resume negotiations soon.

Global Affairs

• Al-Qaeda: The group has 50 times more recruits now than at the time of 9/11, with 25,000 potential fighters worldwide, according to a UN monitoring group.
• US-Cuba Relations: The Trump administration announced an additional $6 million in aid for Cuba, with officials warning against the regime's potential misuse of assistance. The US also rejected a halt in oil shipments from Venezuela as the cause of Cuba's humanitarian situation.
• US-Russia Relations: The US and Russia agreed to reestablish high-level military dialogue for the first time since late 2021, aiming to provide consistent contact and work towards lasting peace.

North America

• US Immigration: The DHS Inspector General's office disclosed investigations into the department, including hiring practices, expedited removal, use of force, and compliance with detention standards. The Justice Department hired 33 new immigration judges after firing or pushing out over 100 last year.
• Trump Administration Actions: The Trump administration finalized a policy to strip job protections from up to 50,000 federal workers, making it easier to fire or discipline career employees with policy-related roles. The White House also acknowledged that Trump has not outlined formal plans to deploy ICE agents to polling locations during the midterm elections.

United States

• Minnesota: The Homeland Security Department sought to end asylum claims and expedite deportation proceedings for the family of 5-year-old Liam Conejo Ramos. A hearing is scheduled, with the family's lawyer seeking more time to respond.
• US Domestic Developments: Sen. Elissa Slotkin, Rep. Chris Deluzio, and Rep. Chrissy Houlahan rejected a request from US Attorney Jeanine Pirro to interview them about a video urging military service members to resist illegal orders. A Pentagon official rejected a plea agreement in the USS Cole bombing case, setting the stage for the first death penalty trial at Guantánamo Bay this summer.

Litigation Tracker

• A federal judge ordered the Internal Revenue Service to stop sharing residential addresses with Immigration and Customs Enforcement until the court can review the case further. The judge also barred ICE from using information already provided by the IRS.