A senior Russian military general was shot several times and injured in an attack in Moscow, officials said. Lt Gen Vladimir Alexeyev was targeted inside a residential building in the city’s north-west area. He was taken to hospital and his condition is not known. Russia’s Investigations Committee said it has opened a criminal case for attempted murder. Spokesperson Svetlana Petrenko said, “The victim has been hospitalised at one of the city's hospitals.” Alexeyev is a senior officer in Russia’s military intelligence directorate, the GRU. He has been involved in Ukraine war talks and past negotiations during the Wagner mutiny. Authorities have not named any suspects yet. (PC: BBC)

Millions of newly released US Justice Department files linked to Jeffrey Epstein have sparked online claims about cannibalism and baby eating. Social media posts pointed to selected lines mentioning “cannibal” and unusual email phrases about “babies” and “cream cheese.” Fact-checking site Snopes reviewed the records and said the words appear in the files but do not prove the viral accusations. Snopes said “cannibal” appears 52 times and “cannibalism” six times, mostly in unverified statements. One anonymous witness in a 2019 interview made extreme ritual abuse claims but gave no proof. The documents do not show verified evidence that Epstein or his associates ate babies. (PC: HT)

Senior officials from the United States and Iran are due to begin direct talks in Oman as tensions rise over the risk of military conflict. The US team will be led by special envoy Steve Witkoff, while Iran’s delegation will be headed by Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi. The talks aim to reduce tensions and build a path for wider negotiations. Washington wants limits on Iran’s nuclear work, missiles and regional armed groups. Tehran says discussions will focus only on its nuclear programme. President Donald Trump has warned Iran of bombing if no deal is reached, saying its leadership “should be very worried.” Iran has warned it will respond with force. (PC: BBC)

Protests were held in the UK and parts of Europe against Pakistan’s Kashmir Solidarity Day events, with demonstrators calling them a propaganda exercise. Rallies took place outside the Pakistan consulate in Bradford and in London and Brussels. Groups linked to the United Kashmir People’s National Party said the day was “fraudulent solidarity” and a “Day of Betrayal.” Protesters raised slogans against land grabbing and state repression. Leaders accused Pakistani authorities of denying rights in Pakistan-administered regions. One statement said, “True solidarity is measured by actions, not slogans.” Speakers also alleged demographic changes and disinformation campaigns linked to the observance. (PC: NDTV)

Bangladesh is set to sign a trade pact with the United States on February 9, just days before national elections on February 12, according to official statements and local reports. Commerce Secretary Mahbubur Rahman confirmed the signing date. Local media said both sides signed a Non-Disclosure Agreement, keeping terms of the deal confidential. The agreement is being finalised under the interim government led by Muhammad Yunus, whose term ends after the vote. Bangladesh currently faces 20% US tariffs and is seeking a cut to 15%. A garment industry leader said, “This should have been done after the election, because it carries major implications.” (PC: HT)

UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer issued an apology for believing Peter Mandelson's lies and appointing him as US ambassador, addressing the scandal during a speech in East Sussex. Starmer stated that when Mandelson was questioned about his relationship with Jeffrey Epstein, his answers were "intentionally intended to create the impression" that he "barely knew" him. When asked if he would resist party efforts to remove him as leader, Starmer said he remains focused on changing the country for the better. The PM expressed his intention to release the Mandelson files "as quickly as possible." Political editor Chris Mason described the moment as a prime minister "scrapping for his future with his back against the wall."

Mass layoffs at The Washington Post cut about 30% of its workforce and removed more than 300 journalists and staff across divisions. Reports say entire desks were shut, including sports and books coverage. All Middle East correspondent and editor roles were cut. Several reporting and editing posts in India and Australia were also removed. At least one reporter was laid off while working in a war zone. Former executive editor Marty Baron called the move “among the darkest days” for the paper. He sharply criticised owner Jeff Bezos over leadership choices. Past reports put annual losses near $100 million. Union data shows median staff pay around $99,904. Bezos and publisher Will Lewis have not issued public statements. (PC: X)

Ukraine has officially recorded 55,000 soldiers killed in the war with Russia, President Volodymyr Zelensky said in an interview with French channel France 2. He said the figure covers both professional troops and conscripts killed on the battlefield. “Officially the number of soldiers killed on the battlefield… is 55,000,” Zelensky said. He added that many people are still listed as missing. The last official update from him in December 2024 put the toll at 43,000. Kyiv and Moscow rarely publish their own loss figures. Zelensky noted that missing cases remain high and some may be prisoners of war or unidentified dead.

Venezuelan official Alex Saab, a Colombian-Venezuelan businessman and close ally of former President Nicolás Maduro, has reportedly been arrested in Caracas as part of a joint operation between U.S. and Venezuelan authorities, according to U.S. law enforcement and Colombian media reports. Saab, once held in the United States on bribery and money-laundering charges and granted clemency for a prisoner swap, was detained early Wednesday and is expected to be extradited to the U.S. in the coming days. Government figures have neither fully confirmed nor denied the arrest, and his lawyer has called reports “fake news.” (PC: Reuters)

The Washington Post has laid off its Ukraine correspondent Lizzie Johnson as part of wide staff cuts across the newsroom. Johnson said she received the notice while reporting from the war zone. “I was just laid off… in the middle of a war zone. I have no words. I’m devastated,” she wrote on social media. The paper is owned by Jeff Bezos and is reducing about one-third of its staff, according to company statements. Several foreign bureaus and the sports desk are also affected. The editor said the paper needs “a new way forward” after financial losses.