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.

The World Bank projected in its January 2026 Global Economic Prospects report that global economic growth will ease to 2.6% in 2026. While noting increased resilience, the report indicates this growth rate is too slow to effectively reduce extreme poverty

• The wet dress rehearsal for the Artemis II mission around the Moon is underway.
• The prelaunch test began at 8:13 p.m. EST on Jan. 31. 

• Cuban President Miguel Diaz-Canel denounced attempts by a “fascist, criminal and genocidal” U.S. cabal to “suffocate”