Carlos Alcaraz defeated Novak Djokovic in the final, 2–6, 6–2, 6–3, 7–5 to win the men's singles tennis title at the 2026 Australian Open.

Japan successfully retrieved “rare earth mud” from the deep seabed during a test mission on 2 February 2026 — a world‑first effort to lift rare‑earth‑rich sediment from about 19,700 feet (6,000 metres) below the ocean surface near Minamitorishima Island in the Pacific. 

2 February is observed as World Wetlands Day to mark the adoption of the Ramsar Convention on Wetlands in 1971, highlighting the importance of wetlands for biodiversity and climate regulation.

The Rafah border crossing between Gaza and Egypt was reopened in a limited “pilot operation,” allowing movement of people and signaling a significant step in humanitarian access after a lengthy closure.

Burkina Faso’s military government issued a decree dissolving all political parties, consolidating control under the transitional regime and transferring party assets to the state.

UNESCO has intensified global efforts against misinformation and deepfakes by promoting media literacy, ethical AI use, and international cooperation among member states.

Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang. He hosted a high‑profile “trillion‑dollar dinner” in Taipei on 2 February 2026 for major tech executives, named after the combined market value of the companies attending, as part of his visit to Taiwan’s tech ecosystem. 

• Indonesia officially became the newest full member of the BRICS grouping, with its accession confirmed on January 6, 2025. 
• Indonesia became the 10th full member.

• On 31 January 2026, China was in the process of advancing a new, comprehensive draft law to regulate its activities in Antarctica.
• Law Name: The Antarctic Activities and Environmental Protection Law.