Trump seeks Gulf investment to boost US economy
President Donald Trump will go to Saudi Arabia, Qatar, and the United Arab Emirates from May 13 to 15 to secure large Gulf investments amidst a slowing US economy. The trip begins in Riyadh, where Trump will meet Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman and attend a summit of Gulf leaders, Reuters reported.
A US-Saudi investment forum on May 13 will feature CEOs from top firms including BlackRock, Alphabet, and Citigroup. Trump aims to attract sovereign wealth funds to support US jobs and manufacturing, reinforcing his “America First” agenda.
The visit follows the first US GDP decline in three years, driven by new tariffs and global trade disruptions, as stated by Reuters.
India-Pakistan top military officials to speak as ceasefire holds
Indian and Pakistani military officials are set to meet Monday to finalize details of a ceasefire agreed on Saturday after four days of intense cross-border fighting, according to BBC.
The US-brokered truce has held overnight, allaying fears of a wider battle between the nuclear-armed foes. President Donald Trump announced the accord, demanding an end to hostilities that could result in significant casualties.
Both nations remain on high alert, warning about cease-fire violations. The clashes, centered on the disputed Kashmir region, left dozens dead and marked the worst escalation in recent years. Despite the truce, both sides have claimed victory, BBC reported.
European leaders pressure Russia over 30-day Ukraine ceasefire
European leaders have urged Russia to support an unconditional 30-day cease-fire in Ukraine starting Monday. The appeal was made at a Kyiv summit of the "coalition of the willing," which was hosted by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and attended by leaders from the United Kingdom, France, Germany, and Poland, according to BBC.
The ceasefire plan, first proposed by US President Donald Trump in a phone chat with Zelensky, came with a threat of "massive" consequences if Russia refused. UK Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer said the coalition aims to show that aggression will not prevail in Europe.
Russia has rejected the proposal until Western military aid to Ukraine is ceased, but Zelensky urged that the ceasefire be unconditional, , BBC reported.
The Kyiv gathering came after a separate summit in Moscow, where more than 20 leaders met with President Vladimir Putin. The coalition pledged support for long-term peace efforts and possible security guarantees, including troop deployments in Ukraine.
China, Slovakia pledge stronger partnership and support for China-EU relations
Chinese President Xi Jinping met with Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico on Friday, emphasizing China's commitment to improving relations with Slovakia and advancing China-EU collaboration. The encounter took place during ceremonies commemorating the Soviet Union's victory in the Great Patriotic War, which occurred 80 years ago, Xinhua reported.
Xi underlined that China-Slovakia relations are fast improving, emphasizing the continuous execution of agreements from Fico's 2023 visit to China. He advocated for further collaboration in trade, investment, and Belt and Road initiatives, and he welcomed Slovakia's selection as the guest country of honor at the 2018 China-CEEC Expo.
Fico described the strategic partnership with China as a key foreign policy priority and reaffirmed Slovakia’s support for the one-China policy. He expressed strong backing for China’s global initiatives and praised its constructive role on international issues. Slovakia, he said, is committed to working with China to support multilateralism, free trade, and global supply chain stability, as reported by Xinhua.
