US and China open trade talks in Geneva amid rising tensions
Chinese Vice Premier He Lifeng and US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent began talks in Geneva on Saturday, aiming to ease escalating trade tensions between the two nations.
The discussion, held privately at the Swiss ambassador's residence, came after weeks of hefty tariff increases that disrupted global trade and stoked recession fears, according to Reuters.
The United States wants China to lower its trade deficit and implement economic reforms, but Beijing wants tariff cuts and more equitable treatment.
Though differences remain, the talks mark a tentative step toward resolution, Reuters reported.
Zelensky welcomes European leaders in Ukraine in effort to secure ceasefire
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky hosted UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer, French President Emmanuel Macron, Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk, and German opposition leader Friedrich Merz at the Mariyinsky Palace in Kyiv for talks aimed at advancing a cease-fire in the Russia-Ukraine war.
The meeting came after the UK imposed additional sanctions on Russia's "shadow fleet," a network of tankers that evaded oil export limits, according to BBC.
In a joint statement, the leaders pledged to increase pressure on Russia and expressed their support for prospective peace talks. Zelensky stressed that Russia must be held accountable for its aggressiveness.Zelensky reiterated that Russia must be held accountable for its aggression.
The talks took place a day after Russia’s annual World War II victory parade in Moscow and as President Putin’s self-declared three-day ceasefire comes to an end, BBC reported.
Mexico sues Google over Gulf name change
Mexico has sued Google for referring to the Gulf of Mexico as the "Gulf of America" in US versions of Google Maps, despite repeated objections. President Claudia Sheinbaum claims that the alteration violates international name standards, Associated Press reported.
The debate stems from a recent vote in the United States House of Representatives, led by Republicans, to officially adopt the name "Gulf of America" for use in federal papers. US President Donald Trump said that the US has main influence over the region.Google stated that it follows official government sources and displays different names based on user location.
Mexico claims the modification misrepresents shared territory. The issue also caused friction between the White House and the Associated Press, who refused to use the new name.
According to the Associated Press, Trump is also planning on renaming the Persian Gulf the "Gulf of Arabia" during his upcoming visit to Saudi Arabia.
Nepal will not allow its territory to be used against neighboring countries: PM Oli tells Indian envoy
Indian Ambassador to Nepal Naveen Srivastava called on Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli on Friday..
During the meeting held at the official residence of the Prime Minister at Baluwatar, Indian Ambassador Srivastava briefed Prime Minister Oli about recent tensions and scenarios developed between India and Pakistan due to the terrorist attack at Pahalgam of India on April 22.
The Indian Ambassador made it clear that India has only carried out retaliatory attacks but the propaganda that it carried out ‘jet attack’ was not the reality.
He thanked the government of Nepal for the statement made public on Thursday regarding the incident, according to PM Oli’s Secretariat.
Saying Nepal is always in favour of world peace, Prime Minister condemned the terrorist attack as per Nepal’s principle stance against all types of terrorism.
He clarified that Nepal would not allow its territory to be used against its neighbouring countries.
