Al Jazeera News Digest
Wednesday, 4 February 2026
Ukraine says first day of peace talks with Russia ‘productive’
Zelenskyy expects negotiations to soon lead to another prisoner exchange.
US Supreme Court rejects challenge to California redistricting effort
Redrawing of electoral maps along partisan lines taken in response to similar measures in Republican-led states.
US-Iran nuclear talks set for Oman on Friday, Tehran confirms
Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi announced that nuclear talks with the US will take place in Oman on Friday.
Man convicted of trying to assassinate Trump to serve life in prison
Judge says Ryan Routh engaged in ‘premeditated’ plot to kill Trump several months before the US presidential election.
AIPAC-linked PAC ups pressure on ‘moderate’ US Democrat in new strategy
Critics claim AIPAC spending aims to intimidate candidates questioning unconditional US support for Israeli policies.
Why is there a mixed reaction in India to the US trade deal?
Trump and Modi hail agreement but details remains vague.
Return through Rafah: Palestinian women recount Israeli interrogation
Palestinian women returning to Gaza describe detention, interrogations, and confiscation of belongings.
Colombia’s EGC suspends Doha peace talks over Petro-Trump meeting
The criminal group suspended talks in response to reports that the US and Colombia would target its leader for arrest.
Russia criticises US as final nuclear warhead treaty set to expire
Experts have warned that the expiry of the US-Russia New START treaty could spark a fresh nuclear arms race.
What is Tarique Rahman’s vision for Bangladesh?
Sreenivasan Jain challenges BNP secretary Mirza Fakhrul on whether the party and its leader really represents change.
‘Treacherous assassination’: Who was Saif al-Islam Gaddafi?
Saif al-Islam Gaddafi, former Libyan leader Muammar Gadaffi’s son, and his number 2, was killed by “four masked men”.
Six British activists acquitted over raid on Israeli defence firm’s factory
Six British activists have been acquitted of aggravated burglary tied to a raid on an Israeli defence firm’s factory.
Some in Israel question its influence over US as Iran war decision nears
Israelis wonder whether US will favour its own geopolitical priorities over Israel in its decision over Iran attack.
Rubio: US ready to talk with Iran, ‘not sure’ a deal can be reached
US Secretary of State said the US would prefer to make a deal with Iran, but he’s “not sure” a deal can be reached.
Washington Post announces massive layoffs in blow to storied paper
Spokesperson says that cuts apply to about one-third of newsroom, with sport and international coverage largely gutted.
Hungary jails German activist for eight years over far-right rally attacks
Maja T was part of a group that attacked participants at Budapest’s ‘Day of Honour’, a major neo-Nazi event.
Russia jails stand-up comic Artemy Ostani over war joke
Artemy Ostanin sentenced to more than five years in a penal colony after joking about a ‘legless’ war veteran.
Russia’s Putin holds video call with China’s Xi
The two leaders discussed maintaining their growing ties amid international instability.
Israeli strikes kill more than 20 in Gaza, shatter ‘ceasefire’ myth
Israeli strikes killed at least 23 Palestinians, many of them children, in widespread attacks on Gaza on Wednesday.
US announces proposed critical mineral trading bloc
The aim of the group is to challenge China’s stronghold on the globe’s rare earth mining.