US-Iran Tensions Rise: US F-35 Downs Iranian Drone Near USS Abraham Lincoln – 2/4/2026, 8:29:26 AM

US-Iran Tensions Escalate: US President Donald Trump stated the US is negotiating with Iran “right now,” following a US F-35 fighter jet shooting down an Iranian Shahed 139 drone approaching the USS Abraham Lincoln aircraft carrier in the Arabian Sea; US Central Command cited Iranian harassment as increasing risks of miscalculation.[1][4]

Russo-Ukrainian War Developments: Russia, Ukraine, and the US will hold trilateral talks in Abu Dhabi on Wednesday, with US Special Envoy Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner attending; separately, Russian drone and missile strikes hit Ukrainian cities including Dnipro (killing 15 in a minibus), Kyiv, Kharkiv, and Zaporizhzhia (2 killed).[1][4]

Middle East and Regional Conflicts:
– IRGC Navy gunboats attempted to seize a US tanker in the Strait of Hormuz, which escaped under US Navy escort.[4]
– Pakistan ended a 40-hour operation in Balochistan, killing 145 Baloch Liberation Army insurgents (accusing India of support), with 18 civilians and 18 security personnel also dead.[4][5]
– Nigeria killed Boko Haram deputy leader Abu Khalid and 10 fighters in Borno State.[4]
– Sudan Airways resumed flights to Khartoum after renovations amid the civil war.[4]

US Domestic and Diplomatic Moves: Trump signed a bill to reopen the partially shut down government; he also noted positive relations with Venezuela, with 50 million barrels of its oil en route to Houston; State Department approved $3B F-15 sustainment sale to Saudi Arabia and met India on critical minerals cooperation.[1]

Other Global Headlines:
– Saif al-Islam Gaddafi killed in Libya’s Zintan.[1]
– Türkiye-Saudi $2B energy deal on solar/wind; Erdoğan pledges Syria support.[1]
– Indonesia landslide death toll reaches 85; 5.8 magnitude quake in Myanmar; plane crash kills 2 in England; bus crash kills 9 in Turkey.[1][4]
– UN warns Israel’s West Bank settlement plans threaten two-state solution; HRW staff resign over blocked report.[1]
– French President Macron eyes Putin dialogue but doubts intent.[1]

These stories reflect reports as of February 4, 2026 morning UTC, primarily from Anadolu Agency and Wikipedia’s current events portal; other sources like Euronews cover European items (e.g., French shift from US tech, Sicily landslide evacuations) but lack global detail.[1][4][6]