Google plans to establish a powerful AI data center on Australia’s Christmas Island after signing a cloud deal with the Defence Department — a move seen as both a technological leap and a strategic response to growing regional tensions in the Indo-Pacific.

Qatar Airways has sold its entire 9.7% stake in Cathay Pacific for $897 million, marking a full exit after eight years. The deal underscores shifting investment priorities as both airlines strengthen their strategic positions amid the global aviation recovery.

Starbucks will sell a 60% stake in its China operations to Boyu Capital in a $4 billion joint venture, marking a major strategic shift as the coffee giant adapts to slower growth and rising competition in the world’s second-largest economy.

The U.S. government has approved Microsoft’s export of advanced Nvidia chips to the UAE, marking a pivotal milestone in U.S.–Middle East tech cooperation and accelerating the Gulf nation’s global AI ambitions.

U.S. President Donald Trump stated that Chinese President Xi Jinping assured him Beijing would not act against Taiwan while he remains in office, highlighting a new dynamic in U.S.-China relations amid growing regional tension.

Turkey’s leading refiners are cutting Russian oil imports and boosting purchases from Iraq, Kazakhstan, and other producers. This strategic move reflects the growing impact of Western sanctions and reshapes global energy trade dynamics.

In Busan, the face-to-face meeting between Donald Trump and Xi Jinping marked a significant step toward stabilizing U.S.–China trade relations, offering a positive signal for global economic recovery.

Amid signs of a slowing U.S. economy and a cooling labor market, the Federal Reserve is expected to lower interest rates by 0.25 percentage points this week — marking its second rate cut in 2025. Analysts say this will likely not be the last in the current monetary easing cycle.

U.S. President Donald Trump has announced that he has no plans to meet Russian President Vladimir Putin until there are clear signs of a possible peace agreement for Ukraine. The move reflects Washington’s new cautious diplomatic approach amid the ongoing Russia–Ukraine conflict.

President Donald Trump embarks on a five-day Asia tour across Malaysia, Japan, and South Korea, seeking trade and mineral deals before meeting China’s Xi Jinping amid escalating U.S.–China tensions.

Russian President Vladimir Putin declared that Russia would not succumb to U.S. pressure, though he acknowledged that new sanctions targeting Rosneft and Lukoil could inflict “some losses.” The latest sanctions are expected to shake global oil markets and drive energy prices higher in the near term.

Samsung and Google officially unveil the Galaxy XR — an AI-powered mixed-reality headset built with Qualcomm’s Snapdragon XR2+ Gen 2 chip and Google’s Gemini AI. Priced at only $1,800, the Galaxy XR is positioned as a direct challenge to Apple’s Vision Pro, redefining the next era of wearable computing.