Page 659 - World News

Rubio arrives in Saudi Arabia ahead of talks with Russia to end Ukraine war

The talks come after President Donald Trump last week spoke to Russian President Vladimir Putin by phone and ordered top officials to begin negotiations on the war

Gold rush: Why JPMorgan, HSBC are pulling bullion from Bank of England

Donald Trump's tariff threats spark huge gold rush from London to New York as prices surge 11% in the US

Sri Lanka expects economic growth at 5%, to repay all debt: Dissanayake

Dissanayake said that he expects the economy to grow at 5 per cent in the medium term and plans to maintain low inflation, while also taking steps to keep exchange rates stable

Despite plans to invest $80 bn, Microsoft admits that AI is making us dumb

The study, carried out in conjunction with researchers at Carnegie Mellon University, surveyed 319 knowledge workers about how they used AI

European leaders regroup in Paris after Trump's push to end Ukraine war

The move follows a weeklong diplomatic blitz on Ukraine by the Trump administration that seemed to embrace the Kremlin while it cold-shouldered many of its age-old European allies

Experts push to restore Syria's war-torn heritage sites, including Palmyra

Once-thriving landmarks like the ancient city of Palmyra and the medieval Crusader castle of Crac des Chevaliers remain scarred by years of conflict, but local tourists are returning to the sites

Singapore's Indian-origin leader Pritam Singh found guilty of lying in Parl

In the verdict delivered in the State Courts, Deputy Principal District Judge Luke Tan convicted Singh of the two charges against him

China's Xi attends symposium on private enterprises, meets biz leaders

Xi delivered a speech after listening to representatives of private companies

Ukraine's Prez Zelenskyy travels to UAE as momentum grows for peace talks

It wasn't immediately clear what his agenda would be while he was in the country, though Abu Dhabi is hosting its biennial International Defense Exhibition and Conference arms show this week

Japan's economy grows more than expected on strong exports, consumption

On a quarter-to-quarter basis, the world's fourth largest economy grew 0.7 per cent for its third straight quarter of growth, the Cabinet Office reported on Monday in its preliminary data

Ukraine, Europe will be part of 'real' peace talks to end war, says Rubio

Rubio said a negotiation process had not yet begun in earnest, and if talks advanced, the Ukrainians and other Europeans would be brought into the fold.

Asia shares rise on tech gains, Japan's yen boosted by strong GDP growth

For now, investors were just relieved that major tariffs had not already been introduced and MSCI's broadest index of Asia-Pacific shares outside Japan firmed 0.3 per cent

Trump shrugs off EU's reported plans for US-style import curbs on food

Early targets could include US crops such as soybeans grown using pesticides that EU farmers are not allowed to use

Xi Jinping, Jack Ma talks may act as next catalyst for China's tech rally

China is well aware that innovation is the key driver for productivity growth. Xi has continuously pushed for "new productive forces" amid the US curbs on high-end chips to China

Trump admin tries to bring back fired nuclear arms workers in DOGE reversal

One of the hardest hit offices was the Pantex Plant near Amarillo, Texas, which saw about 30 per cent of the cuts

Ukraine, Europe fear being sidelined as Trump pushes talks with Russia

With the three-year war grinding on, Trump is sending Secretary of State Rubio, national security advisor Mike Waltz and special envoy Steve Witkoff to Saudi Arabia for talks with Russian counterparts

Trump admin fires FDA employees in food safety and medical devices

Probationary employees across the FDA received notices Saturday evening that their jobs were being eliminated

Israeli PM may go with Trump's idea to transfer Palestinians from Gaza

Netanyahu has signalled readiness to resume the fighting after the ceasefire's current phase, though it could be a death sentence for remaining hostages

South African NGOs worry Trump's aid freeze will disrupt HIV treatment

There are 5.5 million South Africans receiving antiretroviral treatment, whose funding is now in question after Trump suspended the President's Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief, or PEPFAR

Trump admin wants SC to permit firing of whistleblower agency head

Justice Department's filing asks the conservative-majority court to lift a judge's court order temporarily reinstating Hampton Dellinger as the leader of the Office of Special Counsel