Day News Recap: Ukraine talks open in Abu Dhabi as Gaza floods, Iran tensions and regional security flare

New talks aimed at ending Russia's war in Ukraine opened in Abu Dhabi, with Ukrainian, American and European representatives focusing on security guarantees and territory as the US led push for a settlement continued.  🔗

In the Middle East, diplomatic pressure around Iran intensified on several fronts. Iran's top security official said there are no negotiations with Washington, even as Qatar said it sees progress in US Iran talks after a White House meeting, Egypt said both sides want negotiations, and Donald Trump said the conflict is effectively at an end.  🔗 🔗 🔗 🔗

Trump also said Israel and Gulf allies should repay the United States for war costs, while he repeated that Iran's nuclear weapon issue is non negotiable and warned the US is locked and loaded if the situation changes.  🔗 🔗 France separately summoned Iran's ambassador after accusing Tehran of a cyberattack on supermarket refrigeration systems across the country.  🔗

Regional security concerns widened beyond diplomacy. Saudi Arabia said its air defences intercepted missiles and drones, including two missiles aimed at Riyadh, and later reported a new attack on its East West oil pipeline in the Medina region.  🔗 🔗 The Gulf Cooperation Council agreed to station forces at a new military command post in Kuwait, and the US moved at least 10 KC 135R tankers from RAF Mildenhall amid a reported Iran threat.  🔗 🔗

In Gaza, heavy rain and a seasonal storm flooded about 70,000 tents within 12 hours, worsening displacement and raising fears that shelters could collapse as aid pressure grows.  🔗 🔗 Yemen's government forces said they captured Houthi held positions in Lahj, while Houthi border attacks resumed and the fighting spread across several fronts.  🔗

Iraq also felt the strain, after a drone attack hit the Khor Mor gasfield and deepened power cuts in the Kurdish region.  🔗 In a separate development, Iraqi authorities reportedly blocked an Iranian football team plane from landing in Basra over sanctions concerns.  🔗

Elsewhere in the region, Israel's new 120 seat parliament was sworn in as coalition talks began, while an Al Jazeera investigation said some West Bank settlers involved in attacks on Palestinians also serve as soldiers.  🔗 🔗 In Cyprus, Greek Cypriot and Turkish Cypriot leaders agreed to open two new border crossings, the first concrete sign of detente in years.  🔗

Europe saw several political and security developments. Germany's Friedrich Merz threatened to block the EU budget unless all member states back Ukraine funding beyond 2027, Italy is weighing a 13th aid package for Kyiv, and the European Commission pledged €10 million for Bulgarian Black Sea search and rescue operations.  🔗 🔗 🔗 France brought forward a minimum wage rise amid protest unrest, while Russia's Novaya Gazeta closed after state pressure and Moscow expanded its unfriendly countries policy into courts and family law.  🔗 🔗 🔗

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In Asia and the wider Commonwealth, Japan agreed a 4.3 billion yen security aid package for the Philippines, including a coastal radar system and surveillance drones.  🔗 Bangladesh rejected Sheikh Hasina's passport request as her return bid intensified, Cameroon set February 7 for its delayed legislative and local elections, and South African police detained nine foreign nationals over an alleged attempt to join Russian forces.  🔗 🔗 🔗 In Australia, the Greens are targeting Labor heartland in Melbourne's inner north ahead of the Victorian election.  🔗

On the environmental and legal front, researchers said global fossil fuel emissions are expected to fall in 2026 for the first time since Covid, while a US federal court in Arizona rejected a bid to block the Hermosa Critical Minerals Project.  🔗 🔗 In the United States, the White House sent 26 nominations and one withdrawal to the Senate, Pete Hegseth fought an impeachment push over the Iran war, and California voters rejected a billionaire tax proposal in early projections.  🔗 🔗 🔗 Separate court cases saw a former Trade Desk finance director plead guilty to insider trading and a Cleveland man sentenced to 15 years after a terrorism probe.  🔗 🔗

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