The UK is preparing to sign a “groundbreaking technology agreement” with the US during President Donald Trump’s state visit next week, Bloomberg reports, citing the UK government.
“Advanced technologies such as artificial intelligence and quantum computing will change our lives. This includes new ways of treating diseases, as well as improving public services,” said UK Technology Minister Liz Kendall.
According to the publication, Trump plans to arrive in the UK on Tuesday for his second state visit, which will last three days. He will be accompanied by a delegation of American business leaders, including executives from Nvidia Corp. and OpenAI.
“During the visit, American companies Nvidia, OpenAI, CoreWeave, and BlackRock will announce multi-billion dollar investments in British data center infrastructure,” the report said.
The US and the UK already cooperate in the fields of artificial intelligence, semiconductors, telecommunications, and quantum computing.
The average rate on long-term mortgage loans in the US rose by 6 basis points last week, hitting a high since late January amid rising US government bond yields. According to the Mortgage Bankers Association (MBA), the average interest rate on 30-year loans for home purchases of up to $806,500 for the week ending May 23 was 6.98% per annum, compared to 6.92% a week earlier.
A year earlier, mortgage rates stood at 7.05%. The number of mortgage applications in the United States fell 1.2% last week after a 5.1% decline the week before. Applications for new home purchases rose 2.7%, while applications for refinancing existing mortgages fell 7.1%.
The administration of U.S. President Donald Trump is considering closing nearly 30 diplomatic missions around the world, including two consulates in Bosnia and Herzegovina – in Mostar and Banja Luka. This was reported by the Serbian Economist with reference to an internal document of the US State Department.
The plans to reduce the diplomatic presence are related to the Trump administration’s intention to optimize federal budget expenditures. According to The New York Times, the closure of 10 embassies and 17 consulates is being considered, as well as the reduction or consolidation of staff in other foreign missions.
In Europe, the embassies in Luxembourg and Malta, as well as consulates in France, Germany, Greece, Italy, Portugal, and the United Kingdom are under threat of closure. In Africa, embassies in the Central African Republic, Eritrea, Gambia, Lesotho, the Republic of Congo and South Sudan are to be closed.
The authorities of Republika Srpska, one of the two entities of Bosnia and Herzegovina, commented on the possible closure of US consulates as part of the US economic strategy. The Chairman of the
Republika Srpska National Assembly Chairman Nenad Stevandic noted that this reflects a change in Washington’s political course.
Meanwhile, the US Embassy in Sarajevo said it had no information about plans to close consulates and was continuing to operate as usual.
Source: https://t.me/relocationrs/840
The delegation of the Ministry of Investment, Industry and Trade of the Republic of Uzbekistan, headed by Minister Laziz Kudratov, held a series of meetings and negotiations with the leadership of leading corporations, large companies and industry associations during its official visit to the United States.
According to the program of her visit, on April 7, she met with representatives of companies operating in strategically important areas such as mining, hospitality and food industry.
The management of a number of companies praised the reforms in Uzbekistan, relying also on the successful cases of American companies with many years of experience in the country, and expressed readiness to expand cooperation.
As a result of the meetings, agreements were signed on cooperation in the field of critical minerals, agreements were reached on investments in exploration and production of minerals, construction of fine ore grinding complexes (HPGR), introduction of innovative technologies and creation of added value of critical raw materials, as well as training of Uzbek specialists.
In addition, the parties agreed on the timing of the implementation of new projects in the field of tourism – hotel construction.
Both Russia and China are interested in establishing relations with the United States, US President Donald Trump said on Fox News’ The Ingraham Angle on Tuesday.
Asked by the host if it was possible to believe that Putin really wants this, while he is influenced by “his close friend, President Xi of China,” Trump replied that “we have our own discussions with President Xi of China, and he also wants to make a deal and we want to make a deal with him. And we will do that.”
Trump blamed the Barack Obama administration for the rapprochement between Russia and China.
“Obama really forced them together through energy and bad energy policy. And when he did so many different things, he forced (them) into a marriage that should never have happened. Because it’s unnatural. And for one reason: Russia has a huge territory, a lot of land, and China doesn’t have enough land. Russia has a much smaller population than China. And it’s natural, it’s always been a natural hostile situation,” Trump said.
“Maybe they’re friendly now, but we’re going to be friendly with both of them. I think we will be friendly with both. China desperately needs us in terms of trade, but we have to equalize the deficit,” he added.
“I think President Xi would like to reach an agreement, and I think Russia would like to reach an agreement with the United States,” Trump summarized.
President of Poland Andrzej Duda has stated the need to end the war in Ukraine with a just and lasting peace and emphasized the importance of transatlantic ties, the Polish President’s Office reports.
“Every day we bear the risks of war on our shoulders. The war in Ukraine must end. It must end in a just and lasting peace. Maintaining ties between the United States and Europe is fundamental,” Duda said.
He expressed doubt that increased aid to Ukraine from European countries would be able to compensate for the cessation of US aid, and called on Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy to return to talks with the US side on continued support.
“President Zelensky must return to the negotiating table at any cost and as soon as possible, because it is in his interest that Ukraine survives this war. In my opinion, Ukraine will not survive without the support of the United States,” the Polish president said.
According to him, there is nothing to indicate that Europe will change its behavior and provide large-scale assistance to Ukraine. “Perhaps the whole of Europe will radically change its previous behavior and suddenly stand firmly and unanimously against Russia and provide Ukraine with exceptionally large-scale assistance that will allow it to continue to defend and fight. Perhaps it will provide such assistance and Ukraine will not be conquered by Russia, and secondly, this war will end happily for Ukraine. However, after what Europe has done in this regard, there is absolutely nothing to indicate this. If anyone can force Russia to end the war, it is the United States of America,” the president said.
Duda is also convinced that if an agreement is concluded between the US and Ukraine on minerals, “Ukraine will become strategic for the interests of the United States, and I am convinced that they will protect it.”
