China has executed Bai Tianhui, a former senior banker and ex-general manager of China Huarong International Holdings, for accepting 1.1 billion yuan in bribes (equivalent to about R2.5 billion).

The case forms part of President Xi Jinping’s ongoing campaign to crack down on corruption at senior levels of government and finance.

President Volodymyr Zelensky has indicated that Ukraine could hold presidential elections within 60 to 90 days, provided that security conditions are guaranteed by international partners, including the United States and European allies. The announcement comes as Ukraine continues to operate under martial law, which legally prohibits nationwide elections during wartime.

Iran and the United States have moved their nuclear talks from Istanbul, Turkey, to Muscat, Oman. Iran wanted the meetings to stay private and focus only on nuclear issues, avoiding other regional topics. Oman was chosen because it has a long history of acting as a neutral and trusted mediator between Iran and the U.S., unlike Turkey, which is more politically involved in the region.

Bitcoin dropped below $70,000 on February 5, 2026, reaching its lowest level in over a year. The fall came as investors pulled money from crypto and tech markets, showing increased caution and worry about riskier investments.

Thirteen-year-old Austin Appelbee swam for four hours through rough, cold waters off Western Australia to save his mother and two siblings after they were swept out to sea. Exhausted and without a life jacket, he reached shore, ran nearly two kilometers to alert authorities, and a rescue helicopter later found his family, who had spent nearly ten hours in the water. His mother called sending him for help “one of the hardest decisions” of her life, praising his bravery and determination.

Longstanding U.S.-Cuba tensions and Cuba’s reliance on foreign fuel have led the U.S. to target the island’s oil imports to weaken its government economically and politically. Venezuela has stopped shipments, and Mexico faces U.S. pressure to do the same, though Russia continues deliveries.

Eight healthy babies have been born in the United Kingdom using the DNA from three people. The technique, known as mitochondrial replacement therapy, combines genetic material from the mother, father, and a donor (who provides healthy mitochondrial DNA). The procedure aims to prevent the transmission of rare but serious mitochondrial diseases.

A recent U.S. lawsuit over gender-affirming surgery has sent shockwaves through medical, legal, and political circles, as a jury found healthcare providers liable for malpractice related to a gender surgery performed on a minor.

The case, which centers on allegations of inadequate informed consent and long-term harm, is being widely viewed as a landmark moment in the growing legal scrutiny of gender-affirming medical care. The jury awarded the plaintiff $2 million in damages, including compensation for pain and suffering and future medical expenses.

Moltbook is a social network, but its users aren’t human. Launched in January 2026 by Matt Schlicht, the platform is built exclusively for AI agents. Humans can watch, but they can’t join the conversation.

Moltbook has raised red flags. Critics worry about the risks of unsupervised AI communities, which could spread biased or misleading information without human moderation.

Saif al‑Islam Gaddafi, son of Libya’s late leader Muammar Gaddafi, was killed at his home in Zintan on February 3, 2026, by masked gunmen who disabled security cameras before the attack. Once seen as his father’s potential successor, Saif had played a key role in Libya’s 2011 uprising.

Zimbabwe’s Mixed Signals: Pride, Policy, and Practical Failure

At the recent World Governments Summit in Dubai, President Emmerson Mnangagwa defended Zimbabwe’s land seizures, framing the expropriations as a sovereign triumph. But on the ground, citizens risk life and limb crossing crocodile-infested rivers to escape policy-induced poverty. The government calls for the lifting of suffocating sanctions while continuing to hand key industries to the highest foreign bidder.

The land reforms, which began around 2000, aimed to redistribute land from white commercial farmers to Black Zimbabweans. While intended to correct historical injustices, the program was poorly planned and often violent. Many experienced farmers were forced off their land, and thousands left the country entirely, taking with them vital agricultural knowledge and expertise.

A Zimbabwean woman accused of murder escaped from Gaborone Women’s Prison on February 4, 2026, but was recaptured within 24 hours. Authorities launched a swift manhunt, and the incident has prompted a review of prison security.

Russia has reiterated that the United States cannot unilaterally exclude South Africa from participating in the Group of Twenty (G20). The statement, issued by the Russian Foreign Ministry ahead of a press conference by Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov, emphasized that South Africa is a full-fledged permanent member of the group, a status that cannot be changed by the decision of a single country.

EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas has rejected proposals for a Europe-wide army, warning that such a force could be “extremely dangerous” by creating confusion within NATO’s command structure. Allies echoed her concerns, emphasizing that Europe still relies heavily on U.S. support for its defense and would need to significantly boost military spending to operate independently.

Norway is launching an inquiry into ties between high-profile Norwegians and Jeffrey Epstein following the release of new documents. Crown Princess Mette-Marit has apologized for past contact, while former Prime Minister Thorbjørn Jagland faces a corruption investigation.

The Foreign Ministry review also involves senior diplomats, including Mona Juul. The scandal, affecting politicians and royals across Europe, has sparked calls for transparency and accountability in Norway.

The European Commission has released a study mapping the investment required to modernize trade routes connecting Europe and Central Asia via the Caucasus (the mountainous region between the Black Sea and the Caspian Sea). The research identifies key priorities, including upgrading railways and ports, streamlining border procedures, and enhancing energy and digital infrastructure. With trade volumes along the Trans-Caspian Corridor having quadrupled since 2022, the EU sees the corridor (particularly through the Caucasus) as a strategic route to diversify Eurasian trade and strengthen regional connectivity.

Wiandre Pretorius, a figure implicated in matters before the Madlanga Commission of Inquiry, died by suicide at a petrol station in Brakpan on 7 February 2026. Police have opened an inquest into the circumstances surrounding his death.

Pretorius had recently survived a suspected assassination attempt and was a person of interest in the murder of Marius van der Merwe, known as “Witness D,” whose testimony lay at the centre of investigations into alleged corruption and organised criminal networks.

SAPS is investigating whether Pretorius’s death, along with other attacks and killings linked to these cases, points to the involvement of wider criminal syndicates.

South Africa is turning to its neighbors to address growing water shortages. Under the Lesotho Highlands Water Project, the country imports water from Lesotho’s dams to supply the Vaal River system, supporting Gauteng and surrounding provinces. In a new move, South Africa and Zimbabwe have agreed to transfer treated water from Beitbridge to Musina, expected to start in 2026.

The Qala Shallows gold mine has officially begun operations west of Johannesburg, marking South Africa’s first new underground gold mine in over 15 years. The mine has already delivered its first ore to the surface and is ramping up toward its first gold pour expected in March 2026, with production forecast at around 70,000 ounces per year.

South Africa will withdraw its troops from the UN mission in the DRC (MONUSCO), ending nearly 27 years of deployment that began in 1999. President Cyril Ramaphosa has informed the UN that the phased pullout of more than 700 soldiers will be completed by the end of 2026, as part of efforts to ease pressure on the SANDF. The decision follows years of reported frustration among troops over limited resources, unclear mandates, and difficult operating conditions.

Asia is facing massive flight disruptions, with over 4,700 delays and 431 cancellations at major hubs like Tokyo Haneda, Delhi IGI, Bangkok Suvarnabhumi, and Jakarta Soekarno–Hatta, leaving thousands of travelers stranded. The chaos is driven by a combination of factors: bad weather, airline staffing and technical issues, heavy traffic, and logistical constraints.