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Here are top ten news articles shaping the future on February 5, 2026.
1– US must be prudent when supplying arms to Taiwan, Xi tells Trump
China’s leader Xi Jinping has called Taiwan “the most important issue” in China-US relations during a phone call with US President Donald Trump.Xi told Trump to be “prudent” when supplying weapons to the island, state media report, adding that he attached “great importance” to ties with Washington and hoped both sides would find ways to resolve their differences.
https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c62wpjd3j1zo
2– New START treaty expires, removing constraints on Russia and US nuclear arms
Russia and the United States are no longer bound by any limits on the size of their strategic nuclear arsenals after their last arms control treaty expired on Thursday with no agreement between them on what should come next.
https://www.newarab.com/news/new-start-treaty-expires-lifting-russian-us-nuclear-arms-curbs
3—Russia Expels German Diplomat In a Tit-for-Tat Move
Russia has expelled a German diplomat in response to what it said was Berlin’s unfounded expulsion of a Russian diplomat accused of espionage in January. Russia’s Foreign Ministry said it had declared a staff member of the German embassy in Moscow persona non grata. It said the move was a “symmetrical reaction” after Berlin expelled a Russian diplomat on January 22.
https://web.facebook.com/deutschewellenews
4– As West goes after Russia’s oil fleet, Moscow fears for its war funding
Europe is tightening the net on Russian oil being shipped through its waters, squeezing Moscow’s ability to fund its war even as officials and business executives in Russia fear the window is narrowing to reach a peace deal before the economy deteriorates.
https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/2026/02/04/russia-shadow-fleet-europe-sanctions/
5– Russia warns of response to potential US weapons deployment in Greenland
Russia is preparing to react if the U.S. follows through on deploying its Golden Dome missile defense program in Greenland as the New START treaty expires.
6– What does Iran want from talks with the US?
The two foes had held several rounds of Oman-mediated nuclear talks in 2025, but the Iran-Israel war, which saw the United States conduct strikes on Iranian nuclear sites, derailed diplomacy days before a meeting was due.
https://www.france24.com/en/live-news/20260205-what-does-iran-want-from-talks-with-the-us
7– India and Saudi Arabia share robust defense partnership anchored in mutual trust, ambassador says
India and Saudi Arabia share a robust and steadily expanding defence partnership anchored in mutual trust. Saudi Arabia is one of India’s most trusted and valued strategic partners. Our ties are rooted in a rich tapestry of civilizational, cultural, and commercial connections that date back centuries. In recent years, the relationship has grown exponentially, evolving into a robust strategic partnership, Arab News stated.
https://www.arabnews.pk/node/2631855/saudi-arabia
8– Pakistan presses UN Security Council to designate BLA as terrorist group
A senior Pakistani diplomat has called on the UN Security Council to “act swiftly” to designate the “foreign-funded” Balochistan Liberation Army as a terrorist group under its sanctions regime, established by Resolution 1267 in 1999, as he renewed Pakistan’s pledge to combat and eradicate terrorists on its soil.
9— Bitcoin Under $70,000 for First Time Since Trump’s Election
Bitcoin, the world’s biggest cryptocurrency, extended its price slump Thursday to trade under $70,000 for the first time since Donald Trump’s presidential election victory in November 2024.
The digital currency dropped as low as $69,821.18 before climbing back above $70,000. Bitcoin has fallen sharply in recent weeks as investors pull back from risky assets. It had reached a record high above $126,000 in October.
https://english.aawsat.com/business/5237526-bitcoin-under-70000-first-time-trumps-election
10- Russian Companies Forced Out of Venezuela After U.S. Capture of Maduro, Lavrov Says
Russian companies are being pushed out of Venezuela following the United States’ capture of President Nicolás Maduro last month, Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov has said, suggesting the move was driven by pressure from Washington.