Thursday, February 5, 2026

Updated 2m ago

Ukraine, Russia swap 314 prisoners

Ukraine and Russia agreed to exchange 314 prisoners during US-mediated talks in Abu Dhabi, officials said, and planned follow-up talks in the coming weeks.

Ukraine, Russia swap 314 prisoners
3m
Starmer apologises for appointing Mandelson

British Prime Minister Keir Starmer apologized to Jeffrey Epstein’s victims for appointing Peter Mandelson as ambassador to Washington after revelations of Mandelson’s ties and faced calls to resign.

Starmer apologises for appointing Mandelson
3m
Washington Post lays off 300

The Washington Post, owned by Jeff Bezos, cut about one-third of its staff in Washington, D.C., and laid off roughly 300 journalists in a sweeping newsroom reduction.

Washington Post lays off 300
3m
Labour MPs weigh Starmer challenge

Labour MPs in the Commons weighed a leadership challenge to Keir Starmer on Wednesday after fallout over Peter Mandelson’s US ambassadorship and links to Jeffrey Epstein.

Labour MPs weigh Starmer challenge
2m
Starmer hands committee documents; apologises

British Prime Minister Keir Starmer conceded that a parliamentary committee would receive all documents on Peter Mandelson’s appointment after Epstein-linked revelations, and he apologized to victims amid criticism.

Starmer hands committee documents; apologises
3m
US, Iran begin nuclear talks

U.S. and Iranian officials confirmed they would hold direct talks in Oman on Friday to try to restart negotiations over Tehran's nuclear programme amid regional tensions.

US, Iran begin nuclear talks
2m
New START ends nuclear limits

New START between the United States and Russia expired, removing caps on their nuclear arsenals, and President Trump called for negotiating a new, modernized treaty amid arms‑race fears.

New START ends nuclear limits
3m
Bitcoin falls below seventy thousand

Bitcoin fell below $70,000 amid a US tech-driven sell-off after Alphabet's results and soft labor signals, returning the cryptocurrency to pre-election levels and wiping out post-election gains.

Bitcoin falls below seventy thousand
2m
Karp resigns after Epstein emails

Brad Karp resigned as chairman of law firm Paul Weiss after the release of emails showing his communications with Jeffrey Epstein, and the firm named partner Scott Barshay his successor.

Karp resigns after Epstein emails
3m
Bonobo demonstrates childlike pretend play

Researchers reported that a bonobo identified the location of imaginary objects during a staged tea-party experiment, demonstrating that apes can engage in pretend play like human children.

Bonobo demonstrates childlike pretend play
1m
Kanzi suggests great apes imagine

A Johns Hopkins study found that Kanzi, a bonobo at its Maryland facility, understood and acted on simulated objects in pretend-play tests, suggesting great apes can imagine.

Kanzi suggests great apes imagine
1m
Storm Leonardo Forces Mass Evacuations

Storm Leonardo forced the full evacuation of Grazalema in Cádiz and prompted thousands across Spain, Portugal and Morocco to flee as floods and rising rivers battered the region.

Storm Leonardo Forces Mass Evacuations
3m
EIB frontloads carbon market funding

The European Investment Bank paid EU member states a €3 billion advance on emission‑trading revenues earmarked for buildings and transport in 2028 to bolster the bloc's carbon market.

EIB frontloads carbon market funding
2m
Germany sets streaming investment quota

Germany's coalition agreed to require streamers and broadcasters to invest eight percent of their revenue in local film and TV production, a step NZZ said could provoke U.S. protest.

Germany sets streaming investment quota
2m
Versace names Pieter Mulier director

Prada named Belgian designer Pieter Mulier Versace's new creative director, effective July 1, and he will present a final Alaïa collection in March.

Versace names Pieter Mulier director
3m
Milan to open Winter Olympics

The Milano‑Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics were scheduled to open at Milan's San Siro on Friday, organisers said, with pop stars and heads of state expected to attend.

Milan to open Winter Olympics
3m
Olympics open, preliminary matches begin

On the day of the official opening ceremony of the Milan‑Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics, preliminary curling and ice‑hockey matches began, with Lindsey Vonn expected to appear.

Olympics open, preliminary matches begin
3m
Unredacted Epstein images spark fallout

Epstein files released contained unredacted images identifying victims, prompting criticism and heightened pressure on Norway’s Crown Princess Mette‑Marit and top diplomats.

Unredacted Epstein images spark fallout
3m
Le Constellation owners accept blame

The owners of Le Constellation in Crans‑Montana wrote to staff after the deadly New Year's Eve fire, expressed grief and partial responsibility and denied fleeing with the bar's cash.

Le Constellation owners accept blame
3m
Britney Accuses Family Of Abuse

Britney Spears posted on Instagram saying she feared her family, accused relatives of isolating and mistreating her and said she was "lucky to be alive."

Britney Accuses Family Of Abuse
3m
Experts call casting backlash racist

Lupita Nyong'o was cast as Helen in Christopher Nolan's Odyssey film, and her casting sparked heated online debate over skin color, an expert called the backlash "clearly racist."

Experts call casting backlash racist
1m