Trade: Modi welcomes US tariff cut, stays mum on India's zero tariff pledge (PRIV)
(D. Ravi Kanth, Geneva)
United States President Donald Trump on 2 February announced an ambitious trade agreement with India, suggesting that New Delhi will "reduce their tariffs and Non-Tariff Barriers against the United States [agricultural and manufactured goods] to Zero" and in return, "the United States will charge a reduced Reciprocal Tariff, lowering it from 25% to 18%."

Trade: US slams WTO after losing major clean energy dispute to China (PRIV)
(D. Ravi Kanth, Geneva)
After losing a trade dispute comprehensively to China at the World Trade Organization on 30 January concerning the Biden administration's renewable energy tax credits, the United States Trade Representative (USTR) slammed the panel ruling.

UN: Deep funding cuts disrupting global health services, warns WHO (PRIV)
(Kanaga Raja, Penang)
Deep funding cuts forced significant workforce reductions and abrupt declines in bilateral aid triggered major disruptions to health systems and essential services across many countries in 2025, according to Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, the Director-General of the World Health Organization (WHO).