While America burned with rage over federal killings, Trump cut deals abroad and Russia drew red lines
Week of February 2, 2026 | Issue No. 3
International breaking stories
Russia Issues Direct Threat
Moscow Warns NATO Troops in Ukraine Would Be ‘Legitimate Targets’
Russia issued a stark warning Monday that any deployment of foreign military forces or infrastructure in Ukraine would be treated as direct foreign intervention, with those forces becoming “legitimate targets” for Russian armed forces. Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov’s comments, released by the ministry, specifically mentioned German troops as Moscow rejected European proposals to deploy NATO peacekeepers to help secure any future peace deal. “The deployment of military units, facilities, warehouses, and other infrastructure of Western countries in Ukraine is unacceptable to us and will be regarded as foreign intervention posing a direct threat to Russia’s security,” the ministry stated. The warning comes just two days before U.S.-Russia-Ukraine trilateral peace talks are set to resume in Abu Dhabi, with Kremlin envoy Kirill Dmitriev returning from weekend meetings with American officials in Miami. Moscow accused Berlin of “revenge fantasies” in its Ukraine policy while praising President Trump’s efforts at working toward a resolution.
Major U.S.-India Deal
Trump Slashes India Tariffs, Modi Agrees to End Russian Oil Purchases
President Trump announced a major trade breakthrough with India on Monday, slashing tariffs from 50% to 18% after Prime Minister Narendra Modi agreed to stop buying Russian oil and commit to over $500 billion in U.S. energy, technology, and agricultural purchases. “Out of friendship and respect for Prime Minister Modi and as per his request, I am reducing the reciprocal tariff immediately, as a deal between the United States and India, whereby the United States will charge a reciprocal tariff, cutting it from 25% to 18%,” Trump posted on social media. The White House confirmed the U.S. is eliminating a punitive 25% duty on all Indian imports related to Russian oil purchases, which had been imposed on top of reciprocal tariffs last August. India, the world’s third-largest oil importer, will now purchase American and potentially Venezuelan oil instead of Russian supplies. The agreement comes hours after India and the European Union finalized a sweeping free trade deal affecting nearly two billion people.
Pakistan’s Bloodiest Battle in Decades
Pakistani Forces Kill 145 Militants in Two-Day Battle After Coordinated Attacks
Pakistani security forces killed 145 militants during a 40-hour operation in Balochistan province after coordinated attacks across multiple cities killed 31 civilians and 17 security personnel on Saturday. Balochistan Chief Minister Sarfraz Bugti said the death toll marked the highest in decades, with authorities holding the bodies of all 145 militants, some from Afghanistan. The Balochistan Liberation Army launched near-simultaneous gun and bomb attacks across Quetta, Gwadar, Mastung, and Noshki districts, with militants disguised as civilians infiltrating hospitals, schools, banks, and markets. Pakistan accused India and Afghanistan of supporting the attackers, claiming senior BLA figures operate from Afghan soil charges both New Delhi and Kabul deny. Two attacks involved female militants, according to Defence Minister Khawaja Asif, who noted a concerning trend of increasingly targeting civilians and low-income communities.
