Briefly

WORLD ECONOMIC FORUM

Founder Schwab to step down as chair

The World Economic Forum founder Klaus Schwab will "start the process" of stepping down as chair of its board of trustees, a spokesperson for the Geneva-based institution told Reuters on Thursday. Schwab said the forum, which convenes annual gatherings in the Swiss resort of Davos, must recover its "sense of mission" after a period of turmoil, the Financial Times reported. He did not give a timeline for his departure.

UNITED STATES

National Security Agency chief fired

The head of the secretive US intelligence body the National Security Agency was fired on Thursday, US media reported. The Washington Post cited US officials who said General Timothy Haugh was fired after little over a year on the job. The officials did not give a reason for Haugh's removal, The Post added. Haugh was also serving as head of the US Cyber Command, the Pentagon's cyber warfare body which conducts offensive and defensive cyber operations.

UKRAINE

Team will travel to US for minerals deal talks

A Ukrainian government team will head to the United States in the near future for discussions on a new framework for a minerals deal, Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha said on Friday. US President Donald Trump's administration has proposed a new, more expansive minerals deal with Ukraine, revising its original proposal. Ukraine received the updated draft last week, Ukrainian officials said.

Agencies - Xinhua