“The U.S. and Russia agreed on Thursday to reestablish high level military-to-military dialogue following a meeting between senior Russian and American military officials in Abu Dhabi, the United States European Command said in a statement. The agreement was reached following meetings between Gen. Alexus Grynkewich, the Commander of U.S. European Command — who is also NATO Supreme Allied Commander Europe — and senior Russian and Ukrainian military officials, the statement said. The channel ‘will provide a consistent military-to-military contact as the parties continue to work towards a lasting peace,’ the statement said. High level military communication was suspended in 2021, just before Russia’s full scale invasion of Ukraine. Grynkewich was in the capital of the United Arab Emirates where talks between American, Russian and Ukrainian officials on ending the war in Ukraine entered a second day and as Moscow escalated its attacks on Ukraine’s power grid.” (02/05/25)
“A man accused of killing two Israeli diplomats in Washington, D.C., last year was indicted on four additional counts of terrorism, in a new indictment that was unsealed on Wednesday. The new indictment includes nine charges, including hate crimes, filed earlier. Several of the charges carry a maximum penalty of death or life imprisonment, the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Columbia said. … Prosecutors accuse Elias Rodriguez, 31, of opening fire on people leaving an event for young professionals and diplomats hosted by the American Jewish Committee, an advocacy group that fights antisemitism and supports Israel.” (02/04/26)
“Sudanese paramilitary forces have advanced on army positions near the southeastern border with Ethiopia, according to the group and an eyewitness who spoke to AFP on Wednesday. Control over Sudan’s southeastern Blue Nile State, bordering both Ethiopia and South Sudan, is split between the army and a faction of the Sudan People’s Liberation Movement-North, allies of the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces. In a statement released Tuesday, the SPLM-N, led by Abdelaziz al-Hilu, said they had ‘liberated the strategic city of Deim Mansour and areas of Bashir Nuqu and Khor al-Budi.'” (02/04/26)
“The last nuclear weapons control treaty between the US and Russia has expired, raising fears of a new arms race. The Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty, known as ‘New START’ and signed in 2010, was one of a handful of agreements designed to help prevent a catastrophic nuclear war. … The treaty had capped the number of deployed strategic nuclear warheads for each party to 1,550 and established some transparency including data transfer, notifications and on site inspections. … Although Russia suspended the treaty three years ago as tensions grew over the Ukraine war, both countries were still thought to be abiding by the treaty.” (02/05/26)
“Bitcoin was on the cusp of breaking below the key $70,000 level on Thursday as a slide in the world’s largest cryptocurrency showed no signs of stopping. Bitcoin fell 2% in early European trade, having dropped as much as 3.5% earlier during the Asian session to $70,052.38, its lowest level since November 2024. Ether , meanwhile, was down 0.7% at $2,111.34. A drop below $2,000 would mark the first time the world’s second-largest cryptocurrency has breached that level since May last year.” (02/05/26)
“The Supreme Court on Wednesday allowed California to use a new voter-approved congressional map that is favorable to Democrats in this year’s elections, rejecting a last-ditch plea from state Republicans and the Trump administration. No justices dissented from the brief order. The justices had previously allowed Texas’ Republican-friendly map to be used in 2026, despite a lower court ruling that it likely discriminates on the basis of race. Conservative Justice Samuel Alito wrote in December that it appeared both states had adopted new maps for political advantage, which the high court has previously ruled cannot be a basis for a federal lawsuit. Republicans, joined by the Trump administration, claimed the California map improperly relied on race, as well. But a lower court disagreed by a 2-1 vote.” (02/04/25)
“The Russian government’s oil revenues collapsed to the lowest in more than five years in January as weaker global prices, steeper discounts for the nation’s barrels, and a stronger currency took a toll on the budget. Oil-related taxes halved to 281.7 billion rubles ($3.7 billion) last month from a year earlier, according to Bloomberg calculations based on finance ministry data published Wednesday. Combined oil and gas revenue also declined by 50%, to 393.3 billion rubles. Lower proceeds from the two industries, which between them contribute about a quarter of the budget, will put more strain on the nation’s coffers as the war in Ukraine drags toward a fifth year with little sign of ending.” (02/04/26)
“About 25% of federal agents in Minnesota will leave ‘effective immediately,’ leaving about 2,000 still in the state, mostly in Minneapolis and St. Paul, Border Czar Tom Homan said Wednesday. Homan cited an ‘unprecedented’ amount of cooperation between local officials and Immigration and Customs Enforcement in the state since he was sent there as the reason for the drawdown. … ICE and Border Patrol agents have been in Minnesota since December, and people have been actively protesting their presence. Two American citizens have been [murdered] by federal agents since Operation Metro Surge began.” [editor’s note: Did Tim Walz cough up $50k in cash in a shopping bag for Homan? – TLK] (02/04/26)
“A government lawyer who told a judge that her job ‘sucks’ during a court hearing stemming from the Trump administration’s immigration enforcement surge in Minnesota has been removed from her Justice Department post, according to a person familiar with the matter. … At a hearing Tuesday in St. Paul, Minnesota, for several immigration cases, [Julie] Le told U.S. District Judge Jerry Blackwell that she wishes he could hold her in contempt of court ‘so that I can have a full 24 hours of sleep.’ ‘What do you want me to do? The system sucks. This job sucks. And I am trying every breath that I have so that I can get you what you need,’ Le said, according to a transcript.” (02/04/26)
“Tunisian lawmaker Ahmed Saidani has been arrested by police, a move seen as part of a larger crackdown on critics of President Kais Saied. Saidani had recently criticized Saied on social media, mocking him for the lack of significant achievements, leading to his arrest. … The arrest highlights the growing tension in Tunisia, as the government appears to tighten control over political expression and opposition voices.” (02/04/26)
