US Downs Iranian Drone as Tensions Rise; Ukraine and Russia to Hold Second Round of Talks
Tensions in the Middle East escalated as the U.S. military shot down an Iranian drone in the Arabian Sea on Tuesday, February 3, 2026, according to a Sky News report. The incident occurred as Washington prepared for talks with Tehran later in the week.
According to a U.S. military spokesperson, the Shahed-139 drone approached the USS Abraham Lincoln with "unclear intent" before being intercepted by an F-35C fighter jet launched from the aircraft carrier.
Meanwhile, in other international news, Ukrainian and Russian negotiators are scheduled to meet for a second round of U.S.-brokered talks in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates (UAE), Al Jazeera reported. The two-day trilateral talks, mediated by the United States, aim to advance discussions on ending Russia's nearly four-year war in Ukraine. The first round of talks was held in Abu Dhabi on January 23, 2026.
These developments come as U.S. President Donald Trump stated that talks with Iran are ongoing to de-escalate tensions in the Gulf, Al Jazeera reported.
In other news, in the sports world, James Harden, 36, is set to join the Cleveland Cavaliers after a trade with the Los Angeles Clippers, ESPN and The Athletic reported on Tuesday. The Cavaliers will send Darius Garland and a second-round pick to the Clippers in exchange for the 11-time All-Star. Harden was held out of the Clippers lineup for the past two games for what the team labeled personal reasons, according to Al Jazeera.
In business news, Varaha, an India-based climate tech startup, has raised $20 million in fresh funding to scale carbon removal projects from the Global South, TechCrunch reported. The investment is the first portion of a planned $45 million Series B round led by WestBridge Capital, with participation from existing investors including RTP Global and Omnivore. Founded in 2022, Varaha has raised about $33 million in equity to date, alongside $35 million in project financing and $500,000 in grants, as it builds carbon removal projects across Asia and Africa.
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