Volodymyr Zelenskyy is scheduled to meet Donald Trump at the White House on Tuesday as renewed efforts continue to end the war with Russia. The talks follow a shift in US focus to the conflict with Iran.
Hurricane Fausto intensifies to Category 2 in the Pacific, potentially impacting Hawaii next week with wind and rain; exact location and magnitude uncertain.
Russia's MOEX Index gained 0.96% to 2,165.54 points, and RTS Index rose 1.44% to 874.26, after the Central Bank's unexpected 25-basis-point interest rate cut to 14%, surprising market consensus expecting a pause.
Poland's nationalist Law and Justice (PiS) party has split after leader Jarosław Kaczyński expelled former PM Mateusz Morawiecki and dozens of MPs for refusing loyalty declarations. This rupture weakens the conservative camp's ability to challenge pro-EU Prime Minister Donald Tusk in future elections, as PiS's poll numbers decline and conservative voters face division.
Australian households are warned of a potential Reserve Bank interest rate hike and petrol prices exceeding $2 a litre due to the escalating Middle East crisis pushing global crude oil above $US100 a barrel, impacting inflation and household budgets.
Best Buy is offering a significant discount on Acer's Chromebook Plus Spin 514 with 12GB RAM, bringing its price down to $559. The article also highlights deals on Lenovo's Chromebook Plus 14, an Anker 140W wall charger, discounted Nintendo gift cards at Sam's Club, and Logitech USB-C Bolt receivers.
New Liverpool head coach Andoni Iraola has outlined the roles of his backroom staff, including Tommy Elphick and Shaun Cooper, and discussed their focus on improving the team's set-piece performance. He also expressed gratitude for inheriting a talented coaching team at Bournemouth.
Ascot Racecourse has reported record post-Covid attendance and £10.5m in pre-tax profits, announcing a British-record £2.5m prize fund for next year's King George VI & Queen Elizabeth Stakes. This strategic move aims to elevate the race's prestige, attracting a strong field including Japanese contenders.
Hong Kong's Fire Services Department announced paramedics will follow an "if in doubt, rescue first" principle for resuscitation after a new end-of-life directives law takes effect next week. Rescuers must verify physical do-not-attempt CPR orders on-site before withholding life-sustaining treatments.
Hong Kong's trade promotion body will establish a new office in Egypt within nine months to expand its presence in Africa. This strategic move leverages China's zero-tariff treatment for 53 African nations and recalibrates resources from slower-growing traditional markets.
Reform UK has instructed its councillors to dismiss a police investigation into £500,000 in donations from Fiona Cottrell as an "establishment stitch-up." This directive comes as YouGov polling indicates a sharp decline in Nigel Farage's popularity and Reform UK's overall support, with Labour and Conservatives closing the gap.
DTCC is conducting a tokenization trial with 40 firms, including JPMorgan and BlackRock, to represent shares and Treasuries on-chain. However, the usability of these tokens as collateral is hampered by unresolved issues concerning asset pricing, oracle reliability, and accountability for losses when price feeds fail, posing a significant hurdle for institutional adoption.
Pauline Hanson and One Nation continue to pose a significant challenge to Australia's major parties, Labor and the Coalition. Despite controversies over her comments on domestic violence and associations with far-right figures, recent polls show her party's support recovering amidst economic uncertainty.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy is set to meet Donald Trump in Washington next week, following a visit to Kyiv by US right-wing influencer Laura Loomer, who has notably reversed her previous anti-Ukraine stance after experiencing an air raid and witnessing the conflict firsthand.
Google is rolling out a new selfie video sign-in option for user accounts, designed to aid recovery when devices are lost. The opt-in feature uses liveness detection to guard against deepfakes and allows users to control data usage for AI training, contrasting with Meta's recent opt-out approach.
Matildas captain Sam Kerr has made an impactful return to the NWSL with Gotham FC, drawing comparisons to a superhero from her teammates. After a successful tenure with Chelsea, Kerr chose the US league for personal reasons and trophy aspirations, while advocating for increased investment in Australia's A-League Women to attract top talent back home.
Climate activist Sonam Wangchuk ended his 26-day hunger strike after government assurances. Concurrently, PM Modi announced a new Bill with stringent provisions, including fast-track courts, to combat examination paper leaks, to be introduced in Parliament next week.
Zimbabwe captain Sikandar Raza attributed his team's seven-wicket loss to India in the opening T20I at Harare Sports Club to a moist pitch that favored the team batting second. India comfortably chased 126, while Raza praised Wessly Madhevere and Tadiwanashe Marumani for their recovery efforts.
President Macron averted a resignation from his ecological transition minister, Monique Barbut, over a controversial farming bill. The episode exposed deep divisions within his centrist coalition regarding environmental protection and agricultural support, risking their standing in next year's presidential election.
A cross-party delegation of Irish politicians urged Dublin to send observers to the trial of pro-Palestinian activists in Germany and raise concerns about Irish defendant Daniel Tatlow-Devally's detention conditions with the German chancellor during an upcoming visit.
Charli xcx's new album "Music, Fashion, Film" is reviewed, exploring themes of identity, authenticity, and the pressures of A-list success after "Brat." The album delves into her creative leaps, personal insecurities, and relationships through a blend of pop and guitar music.
Two major international banks in Hong Kong reportedly lost access to Anthropic's Claude AI tool for their local teams, a move seen as weakening the city's global financial hub status and highlighting AI's strategic geopolitical treatment rather than neutral infrastructure.
A landmark legal action over brain damage in rugby is on the brink of collapse as a judge considers striking out 95% of 561 claimants due to their former solicitor's failure to disclose documents. Senior Master Cook is deliberating, with no legal precedent for the situation.
US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth is pushing for a "generational investment" of nearly $1.5 trillion for 2027 military spending, a 44% increase, while also seeking emergency funds for the ongoing, unpopular Iran war. This comes despite a previous order for budget cuts and questions about $75bn in unobligated funds from a prior bump.
