Talks between Putin and envoy Witkoff ended without progress, with both sides holding firm on ceasefire terms, humanitarian access, and security guarantees. The stalemate is reinforced by ongoing battlefield attrition, severe humanitarian strain, and deep mutual distrust. Diplomacy remains active but largely limited to managing risks rather than resolving core political disputes.
The Prime Minister visited the University of Peradeniya to assess severe flood damage estimated at over Rs. 6 billion, which affected major faculties, IT facilities, laboratories, and student infrastructure. She praised the successful evacuation of students and the support from the Army, Disaster Management Centre, and local donors during the crisis. The Government pledged full assistance, directing authorities to restore essential services, repair buildings, strengthen early
Meta has agreed to offer Facebook and Instagram users in the EU a new choice on how much of their data is shared for personalised advertising, following pressure from the European Commission. Starting January 2026, users can choose between fully personalised ads or a version with less data sharing and limited ad personalisation. This move resolves concerns over Meta’s previous “pay or consent” model, which was found to violate the EU’s Digital Markets Act.
Amazon launched its faster Trainium 3 AI chip, helping companies cut training costs by up to 50% and strengthening AWS’s competitiveness against Microsoft and Google. The company also revealed plans for a future Trainium4 chip that will integrate Nvidia’s NVLink Fusion technology, signaling deeper collaboration between the two firms. Amazon’s stock gained slightly, supported by strong recent performance and growing AI investments.
The OECD forecasts the global economy to grow 3.2% this year, showing resilience despite U.S. trade tensions. U.S. growth is upgraded to 2%, supported partly by strong AI-related investments, even as new tariffs pose future risks. China is expected to grow 5%, while India remains the fastest-growing major economy at 6.7%.
The 2026 FIFA World Cup will be the largest ever, featuring 48 teams across 12 groups and hosted jointly by the United States, Canada, and Mexico. The draw produced major headline matchups—such as Brazil vs Morocco and France vs Senegal—while also welcoming several debutant nations like Curaçao, Cape Verde, Jordan, and Uzbekistan. With an expanded format, 104 matches, and global representation, the 2026 edition marks a historic evolution of football’s biggest tournament.