- At a Glance
- New START Treaty Lapses Amid Last-Minute, Unratified U.S.–Russia Abu Dhabi Talks
- Xi Executes Diplomatic Doubleheader: Same-Day Virtual Summit with Putin, Phone Call with Trump
- Russia Ends Trump-Brokered ‘Energy Ceasefire,’ Launches Massive Kyiv Barrage as Abu Dhabi Talks Begin
- U.S. Rebrands MSP as FORGE, Taps South Korea as Chair Until June 2026
- Kremlin Rebuts Trump’s Claim of Indian Exit from Russian Oil
- ECB Freezes Policy at 2 % as Euro Surge Tests Post-Cut 'Good Place'
New START Treaty Lapses Amid Last-Minute, Unratified U.S.–Russia Abu Dhabi Talks
At 00:00 GMT on 5 Feb 2026 the New START arms-control pact expired for lack of a signed extension, while negotiators in Abu Dhabi failed to clinch a formal deal, leaving both powers legally unconstrained for the first time in 54 years.
Perspectives
Liberal internationalist and arms-control–oriented outlets: They frame the treaty’s lapse as a historic unravelling of the rules-based nuclear order that risks a costly new arms race and urge Washington to seize the last chance for an extension. By stressing apocalyptic imagery and pinning most blame on the Trump White House, they underplay Moscow’s earlier suspension of inspections and minimize political obstacles inside Russia or China that also complicate a deal. ( The Japan Times , Rolling Out )
Russian state-run and Kremlin-sympathetic media: They highlight Moscow’s readiness to prolong New START for a year and portray the United States as the recalcitrant party endangering global stability. This narrative spotlights Russia’s ‘good-faith’ offer while glossing over its own suspension of treaty obligations and continued development of exotic delivery systems, redirecting responsibility to Washington for propaganda value. ( Sputnik International , Zero Hedge )
US-allied security hawks and strategic think-tank analysts: They argue the treaty’s demise could be an opportunity to address China’s rapid nuclear build-up and that Washington may need freedom from New START limits to maintain credible deterrence alongside allies like Australia and Japan. By focusing on China’s rise and allied deterrence needs, they normalize a larger US arsenal and treat renewed competition as acceptable, downplaying escalation risks and the loss of verified transparency mechanisms. ( The Strategist , Malay Mail )
Global & US Headlines
- New START Treaty Lapses Amid Last-Minute, Unratified U.S.–Russia Abu Dhabi Talks
At 00:00 GMT on 5 Feb 2026 the New START arms-control pact expired for lack of a signed extension, while negotiators in Abu Dhabi failed to clinch a formal deal, leaving both powers legally unconstrained for the first time in 54 years.
- Xi Executes Diplomatic Doubleheader: Same-Day Virtual Summit with Putin, Phone Call with Trump
On 4 Feb 2026 Xi Jinping first spent 85 minutes online with Vladimir Putin deepening strategic-energy alignment, then hours later told Donald Trump China would markedly boost U.S. soybean imports—signalling Beijing’s bid to hedge by tightening ties to both its chief energy supplier and its chief export market in one calendar day.
- Russia Ends Trump-Brokered ‘Energy Ceasefire,’ Launches Massive Kyiv Barrage as Abu Dhabi Talks Begin
On 3 Feb 2026, only four days into a U.S-announced one-week pause, Moscow resumed large-scale missile and drone strikes on Ukraine’s power grid, crippling heating in sub-zero weather while negotiators from Russia, Ukraine and the U.S. convened in Abu Dhabi.
Business & Economics
- U.S. Rebrands MSP as FORGE, Taps South Korea as Chair Until June 2026
At the 4 Feb 2026 Critical Minerals Ministerial in Washington, the 56-nation Minerals Security Partnership was relaunched as the Forum on Resource Geostrategic Engagement (FORGE) with South Korea appointed interim chair through June.
- Kremlin Rebuts Trump’s Claim of Indian Exit from Russian Oil
On 5 Feb 2026 Moscow publicly stated it has received no notice from New Delhi to curtail Russian crude purchases, directly contradicting U.S. President Donald Trump’s assertion that India agreed, under a new trade deal, to stop buying Russian oil.
- ECB Freezes Policy at 2 % as Euro Surge Tests Post-Cut 'Good Place'
On 5 Feb 2026 the European Central Bank left its deposit rate unchanged at 2.00 % for a fifth straight meeting despite January inflation sliding to 1.7 % and the euro’s jump above $1.20.
Technology & Science
- SpaceX Absorbs xAI Ahead of $50 B IPO, Creating $1.25 Trillion Musk Conglomerate
On 2 Feb 2026, Elon Musk folded his cash-hungry AI startup xAI into SpaceX via an all-stock deal, welding the two private giants into a single entity valued at roughly $1.25 trillion before a planned public listing later this year.
- Apple Shelves ‘Project Mulberry,’ Folds AI Health Coach Into Existing Health App
Apple quietly shut down its standalone AI health-coach project this week and will instead drip-feed its features into the iOS Health app over the next year.
- Spain Unveils Under-16 Social Media Ban and CEO Liability Law, Triggering Musk Spat
On 3 Feb 2026, Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez said Spain will table legislation next week banning under-16s from social networks and criminalising platform executives who ignore illegal content, drawing an immediate rebuke from Elon Musk.