🌍GLOBAL BREAKING NEWS BRIEF - FEBRUARY 1, 2026🚨
🇮🇷REGIONAL WAR WARNING: Iran’s Supreme Leader warns any 🇺🇸U.S. strike could trigger a full-scale regional war, a dramatic escalation amid military buildup.
🇺🇸 TRUMP HINTS TALKS: President Trump says Iran is “talking to” the U.S. and hinted at negotiations to avert conflict, even as naval firepower remains positioned.
🇺🇸 OIL DIPLOMACY: Trump claims India will pivot oil purchases to Venezuela over Iran, tightening pressure on Tehran.
🌍 INTERNATIONAL GEOPOLITICS 🇮🇱
🇵🇸 GAZA STRIKES & RAFah: Latest Israeli airstrikes reportedly kill 30+ in Gaza; preparations underway to reopen Rafah crossing on Monday, a key step in the U.S.–brokered ceasefire plan.
🇷🇺Russian drone strike kills 15 miners in 🇺🇦Ukraine's Dnipropetrovsk, officials say
🇳🇪 NIGER UNREST: Military ruler vows retaliation after reported explosions and gunfire at Niamey airport.
🇨🇷 COSTA RICA POLLS: Voters head to polls amid fears of an authoritarian shift in a traditionally stable democracy.
🇺🇸 Demonstrations surge in Minnesota and other cities after a federal judge refused to pause a major ICE crackdown (Operation Metro Surge).
🇨🇺 CUBA OIL THREAT: Trump moves toward cutting Cuba’s oil supplies, raising humanitarian crisis warnings.
EPSTEIN FILES FALLOUT: 🇺🇸New scrutiny on officials including LA Olympics chief and Prince Andrew after fresh images and documents circulate.
SPORTS 🇦🇺 AUSTRALIAN OPEN:
• Carlos Alcaraz defeats Novak Djokovic to win his first Australian Open and becomes the youngest male with a Career Grand Slam.
• 🇵🇰PAKISTAN–🇮🇳INDIA TENSIONS: Reports of 145 militants killed in Balochistan operations; India denies involvement, tensions remain high.
SRC: Reuters | AP News | Bloomberg | Al Jazeera | CNN | Associated Press | Govt Sources
