The White House has confirmed that US Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Trump envoy Steve Witkoff spent a month working on a 28-point peace proposal aimed at ending the war in Ukraine, with contributions from both Russian and Ukrainian representatives. The plan, which has been widely leaked and criticised for appearing favourable to Moscow, has triggered a new political dispute in Washington as allies of Kyiv prepare for talks in Geneva.

The impact of the slowdown in major global economies will be “smaller” on the UAE’s growth and exports due to its relatively less exposure to those markets compared to other markets across the region, the World Bank said.

Rubio said on Saturday that the proposal “was authored by the US” and described it as a framework for ongoing negotiations. Writing on X, he said the plan incorporates “input from the Russian side” along with “previous and ongoing input from Ukraine”. His comments came shortly after several senators claimed Rubio told them privately that the version Trump is urging Kyiv to accept reflected Moscow’s demands rather than Washington’s position.

A State Department spokesperson rejected that claim, calling the senators’ account “blatantly false”. Rubio later suggested the lawmakers had misunderstood him, taking the unusual step of contradicting their statements publicly. The disagreement has come at a sensitive moment, with US, Ukrainian and European officials set to meet in Geneva on Sunday to discuss a joint response to the proposal.

Key elements of the 28-point plan align with Russian President Vladimir Putin’s long-standing demands, including Ukrainian concessions on territory. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has repeatedly dismissed such terms and maintains that Kyiv will not surrender land seized during the invasion. Trump has said he wants Ukraine to accept the proposal by late next week.

Several US lawmakers have issued strong warnings about the implications of the plan. Senator Mike Rounds told a security forum in Canada that the proposal appeared to be written “in Russian” and argued that it would reward Moscow. Independent Senator Angus King said Rubio had told him the draft reflected a “wish list of the Russians”, adding that accepting it would “reward aggression” and signal to other leaders that territorial pressure can succeed.

Putin welcomed the proposal on Friday, saying it “could form the basis of a final peace settlement” if Washington convinces Kyiv and its European partners to sign on. Zelenskyy did not dismiss the plan outright in his latest address but said Ukraine expects fair treatment and will work calmly with its partners during what he described as one of the most difficult periods in the country’s history.

The Geneva meeting is expected to shape the next stage of diplomatic efforts as the conflict approaches its third year.

Chile is holding its presidential election on Sunday, with candidates campaigning on tough stances on crime and immigration. The vote comes four years after progressive Gabriel Boric was elected, at a time when the electorate is deeply divided and a new compulsory voting law adds an element of uncertainty.

Over 14 million Chileans are eligible to vote in the elections, which will also renew the entire Chamber of Deputies and nearly half of the Senate. Security and immigration concerns have dominated the campaign, shifting public attention toward conservative candidates. Evelyn Matthei has called for drug traffickers to be “in jail or in the cemetery,” while Franco Parisi described drug trafficking as “narco-terrorism” and advocated for “bullet or jail.”

The three main contenders offer contrasting visions for Chile’s future. José Antonio Kast, 59, a Republican Party member and the brother of a former minister who served under General Augusto Pinochet, is running for president for the third time. He has focused his campaign on combating crime and illegal immigration. Jeannette Jara, 51, a former minister in Boric’s government and member of the Communist Party, has pledged to expand pensions, lower electricity costs, and construct tens of thousands of new homes. Johannes Kaiser, 49, a former YouTube commentator and legislator, has questioned vaccination programs, opposed abortion, and promised to withdraw Chile from climate agreements and the Inter-American Court of Human Rights.

The introduction of compulsory voting in 2023 could significantly affect turnout, particularly among younger voters. Generation Z, born after 1996, accounts for roughly a third of the electorate, and polls suggest that 30% of these voters have yet to decide. Social media has played a major role, with candidates using platforms like TikTok to mobilize supporters. Jara and Matthei have accused Kast of orchestrating social media campaigns against them, allegations he denies.

Polls indicate a close race. Latest surveys show Jara leading with 30% support, followed by Kast at 22% and Kaiser at 15%. Prediction markets, however, see Kast as the frontrunner with a 70% chance of winning. Analysts suggest that none of the candidates is likely to secure an absolute majority on Sunday, making a run-off election probable on 14 December, likely between Jara and Kast.

A conservative or far-right advance could also reshape the legislative landscape. Polls suggest that both coalitions might achieve a majority in Congress, raising the possibility of a government with limited parliamentary opposition—a scenario not seen in Chile in the past 15 years.

Polling stations opened at 8:00 local time (UTC-4) and will close at 18:00. With crime, immigration, and economic issues at the forefront, this election is being closely watched as a test of Chile’s political direction in a highly polarized environment.

Former US President Donald Trump has directed Attorney General Pam Bondi to launch an investigation into connections between convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein and several prominent Democrats, including former President Bill Clinton. The move follows the release of new emails by Congress showing Epstein’s communications with influential figures in the US and abroad.

The emails, released Wednesday by the House Oversight Committee, stem from Epstein’s personal accounts and reveal interactions with lawmakers, business leaders, and other high-profile individuals. Trump accused the Democratic Party of attempting to revive what he called the “Epstein hoax” to distract from policy failures and political setbacks, including a recent government shutdown.

“Epstein was a Democrat, and he is the Democrat’s problem, not the Republican’s problem,” Trump said in a statement on social media. He also referenced Clinton, former Treasury Secretary Larry Summers, and LinkedIn founder and major Democratic donor Reid Hoffman, asserting that they had close ties to Epstein.

Trump confirmed that he had instructed Bondi to investigate Epstein’s connections with Clinton, Summers, Hoffman, and financial institutions such as J.P. Morgan Chase. “I will be asking A.G. Pam Bondi, and the Department of Justice, together with our great patriots at the FBI, to investigate Jeffrey Epstein’s involvement and relationship with Bill Clinton, Larry Summers, Reid Hoffman, J.P. Morgan, Chase, and many other people and institutions, to determine what was going on with them, and him,” Trump said.

Clinton has denied any wrongdoing or awareness of Epstein’s criminal activities. J.P. Morgan Chase also issued a statement expressing regret over any association with Epstein, emphasizing that it had ended relations with him years before his arrest. “We regret any association we had with the man, but did not help him commit his heinous acts,” said Patricia Wexler, a spokesperson for the bank.

Bondi announced via social media that she had appointed Jay Clayton, U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of New York, to oversee the investigation. “Clayton is one of the most capable and trusted prosecutors in the country, and I’ve asked him to take the lead,” she said, noting that the Department of Justice would conduct the inquiry with “urgency and integrity.”

The announcement comes a week before the House of Representatives is set to vote on whether the Justice Department should release all files related to Epstein, who died by suicide in a federal prison in 2019 while awaiting trial on sex-trafficking charges. Republican Congresswoman Marjorie Taylor Greene urged Trump to ensure that House Republicans vote in favor of releasing the documents, calling failure to do so a “huge miscalculation.” Greene and four other House Republicans have already filed a discharge petition, which has garnered 218 signatures, seeking the public release of all Epstein-related records.

The investigation highlights ongoing scrutiny of Epstein’s network and connections to prominent political and financial figures, as well as continuing debates over transparency and accountability in Washington.