Gaza Border Reopening: The Rafah border crossing between Gaza and Egypt reopened on February 2, 2026, for limited traffic, allowing some displaced people to return and the wounded to seek treatment in Egypt.
Ukraine Airstrikes: Russia launched a major wave of strikes against Ukrainian energy facilities on February 3, 2026, affecting eight regions and leaving thousands without heating during extreme cold.
U.S.-Colombia Meeting: President Trump is scheduled to host Colombia's President Gustavo Petro on February 3, 2026, following recent diplomatic tensions.
X Offices Raided: Authorities in France raided the offices of Elon Musk's platform X as part of a cybercrime investigation, and Musk has been summoned for a "voluntary interview".
2. Media and Entertainment
The Global Story (Podcast): A major daily in-depth podcast from the BBC World Service hosted by Asma Khalid and Tristan Redman, focusing on global politics and business.
The International (2009 Film): A political thriller starring Clive Owen and Naomi Watts, inspired by the real-world BCCI banking scandal of the 1980s.
An International Local Story (2019 Film): A comedy film about a U.S.-returned doctor forced into an arranged marriage in India.
3. Literature and Education
"The International Story" (Book): An anthology edited by Ruth Spack that features classic and contemporary short stories from various countries, designed to help students with reading and writing about fiction.
"International Short Stories": A historical three-volume anthology published in 1910, compiling celebrated short fiction from the U.S., England, and France.