Daily Current Affairs Quiz February 3 2026

1. Russia–Ukraine War: After a brief pause, Russian forces resumed strikes across Ukraine using drones and cruise missiles, hitting Kyiv, Kharkiv and other regions. A separate attack in Zaporizhzhia Oblast killed two civilians in a Russian drone strike.

2. US–Iran Confrontation: In the Persian Gulf, a U.S. warship shot down an Iranian Shahed-139 drone that approached the USS Abraham Lincoln, and Iranian Revolutionary Guard vessels attempted to seize a U.S.-flagged oil tanker in the Strait of Hormuz.

3. Bangladesh Politics: A Dhaka court sentenced former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina to 10 years in prison on corruption charges. (Hasina was already in exile; her sentences came amid Bangladesh’s election campaigns.)

4. Nigeria Bandit Attack: In Kwara State, armed bandits raided the village of Woro and reportedly killed at least 170 civilians in a mass attack. This was one of the deadliest such attacks in recent months.

5. Libya: Saif al-Islam Gaddafi, son of the late dictator Muammar Gaddafi, was ambushed and killed by masked gunmen outside his home in Zintan. The assassination occurred amid ongoing militia infighting in western Libya.

6. Myanmar Junta: The ruling military government announced formation of a 5-member “Union Consultative Council” with sweeping powers, an entity expected to allow military chief Min Aung Hlaing to assume the presidency. This consolidates the junta’s control following last year’s coup.

1. Global Growth Forecast: A UN economic report projected world GDP growth slowing to about 2.7% in 2026 (down from 2.8% in 2025). India’s economy is forecast to grow around 6.6% in 2026.

2. US–India Trade Deal: U.S. President Trump announced a deal to cut U.S. import tariffs on Indian goods from 25% to 18%, while India agreed to gradually phase out tariffs on many U.S. imports. (Trump also said India would stop buying Russian oil, though India has not publicly confirmed that.)

3. India’s Budget 2026–27: The Union Budget (presented Feb 1) boosted infrastructure and defense spending (defense capex up ~18%) and emphasized support for exporters and strategic sectors (e.g. semiconductors, clean energy). No major new tax cuts were announced, but schemes like Biopharma SHAKTI (₹10,000 crore for vaccine/Biopharma manufacturing) were highlighted (per government sources).

1. Musk’s AI Ambition: Elon Musk announced that his company SpaceX will acquire his AI startup xAI, aiming to build solar-powered data centers in space to run large AI models. The goal is to use orbiting, solar-powered platforms to supply the massive energy needed by future AI systems.

2. NASA “Space to Soil” Challenge: NASA launched a design competition for small satellite missions with onboard AI (“Space to Soil Challenge”). The contest (opens Jan 30) invites proposals for AI-driven microsatellite systems to monitor agriculture and forestry, with total prizes of $400,000. (Teams will design satellites capable of adaptive sensing to help manage Earth’s food resources.)

1. US Climate Rollback: The U.S. EPA formally revoked its 2009 “endangerment finding” that declared greenhouse gases a health threat. This action removes a legal basis for regulating CO₂ and other emissions, marking one of the most significant rollbacks of U.S. climate policy to date.

2. Climate Extremes: The World Meteorological Organization reported that January 2026 was the 5th-warmest January on record globally. Europe and North America saw record-breaking cold outbreaks (with deaths from blizzards), while unusual heat struck the Southern Hemisphere – e.g. wildfires in Australia and floods in Chile – underscoring widening weather extremes.

1. US Navy vs. Iran: U.S. naval forces used an F/A-18 fighter to shoot down an Iranian attack drone near the aircraft carrier USS Abraham Lincoln, averting a potential strike. At the same time, Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Navy tried (and failed) to stop a U.S.-flag oil tanker in the Strait of Hormuz, prompting U.S. escorts to intervene.

2. African Security: Turkey announced it will deploy F-16 fighter jets to Somalia to help the Somali government fight al-Shabab militants. This Turkish move strengthens its military ties in Africa, where Turkey already contributes trainers and equipment to Somali forces.

1. Narendra Modi (India PM): Praised at home for engineering the Feb 3 US–India trade deal that cuts tariffs. (Opposition parties in India raised questions about its impact on farmers.)

2. Donald Trump (ex-US President): On Feb 3 he announced the tariff-cut deal with India, pledging reduced tariffs in return for India curbing Russian oil imports.

3. Sheikh Hasina: Former Bangladeshi PM (currently exiled) – convicted on graft charges and given 10 years in prison.

4. Elon Musk: Billionaire CEO of SpaceX/Tesla – in the news for the SpaceX/xAI merger aimed at space-based AI infrastructure.

5. Lord Peter Mandelson (UK): Former minister and EU Trade Commissioner – he apologized and is under criminal investigation in the UK over allegations of introducing a lawmaker to a convicted sex offender. (Police in London are reviewing claims he helped arrange a meeting with Jeffrey Epstein.)

1. Cricket Diplomacy: Pakistan announced it will not field its team for the Feb 15 T20 World Cup match against India. The ICC warned Pakistan that refusing to play (while attending the rest of the tournament) could have serious consequences.

2. Motor Racing: India is exploring a return of Formula 1 racing. The Government inspected the Buddh International Circuit (Noida) and is in talks to bring F1 back after a 13-year hiatus.

Sundance Film Festival 2026: At the Jan 20–30 Sundance Festival (Utah, USA), the Grand Jury Prizes went to Josephine (US Dramatic Jury), Nuisance Bear (US Documentary Jury), Shame and Money (World Dramatic Jury) and To Hold a Mountain (World Documentary Jury).

1. Feb 3: National Women Physicians Day (USA) – honors the contributions of female medical doctors.

2. Feb 3: Four Chaplains Day (USA) – commemorates the four Army chaplains who sacrificed themselves to save soldiers when the USAT Dorchester sank in 1943.

1. US Fed / White House: Fed Governor Stephen Miran resigned as Chair of the White House Council of Economic Advisers on Feb 3. (Miran had been on leave from that role after joining the Fed in late 2025.)

2. DP World (UAE Ports): Sultan Ahmed bin Sulayem resigned as Chairman and CEO of Dubai’s DP World. His departure follows pressure over revelations of past ties to Jeffrey Epstein, prompting investors to demand changes.

India AI Impact Summit: India announced the “India-AI Impact Summit 2026” to be held Feb 16–20 in New Delhi. This global AI conference (hosted by PM Modi) will bring together heads of state (from ~20 countries) and delegates from ~45 countries to discuss AI’s economic impact and governance.

1. Himachal Pradesh: A Himachal Road Transport bus plunged 100 feet into a gorge on the HP–Uttarakhand border on Feb 3, killing at least 3 passengers and injuring dozens.

2. Tamil Nadu: The Tamil Nadu government will hold a Global Tourism Summit in Mamallapuram on Feb 2–3, 2026 to attract domestic and international investment into tourism. (The summit’s launch was announced by state ministers, noting it could help TN reach a $1-trillion economy goal.)

Saif al-Islam Gaddafi (56): Libyan political figure (son of former ruler Muammar Gaddafi) – killed by assassins outside his home in Zintan on Feb 3. (He had been living in custody under a rival militia.)

Responsible Nations Index 2026: Singapore topped the World Intellectual Forum’s global “Responsible Nations Index 2026”, with India ranked 16th. (The index scores countries on governance, sustainability and welfare indicators.)

New Release: Every Happiness – debut novel by Reena Shah (released Feb 3, 2026). The novel explores the ties that bind two women from different generations and cultures, and has been described as a “dazzling debut”.

AI & Jobs Study: A new ICRIER/OpenAI study of 650+ Indian IT firms found that generative AI is boosting productivity but not causing mass layoffs. Entry-level hiring has slowed, yet overall IT employment still grew, as demand shifted toward mid/senior roles and AI-related skills.