WASHINGTON (Sputnik) - US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said on Wednesday that Washington should maintain relations and dialogue with Russia, regardless of the ongoing conflict in Ukraine.

ISTANBUL (Sputnik) - The Turkish authorities are in talks with Saudi Arabia over the route of a railroad largely following the Hejaz Railway, with plans for the new line potentially to extend to Oman and serve as an alternative to the Strait of Hormuz, Turkish Minister of Transport and Infrastructure Abdulkadir Uraloglu said on Wednesday.

People often make irrational decisions, and while artificial intelligence can help predict and overcome these mistakes, it should not be trusted blindly because it has vulnerabilities of its own, Anton Suvorov, rector of the Russian Economic School and a specialist in behavioral economics, told Sputnik at SPIEF.

The St. Petersburg International Economic Forum (SPIEF) sends a clear signal to the world: Russia is an influential power with strong growth potential, actively seeking to expand multilateral cooperation, Egyptian economic expert Hanan Ramsis tells Sputnik.

Sberbank has launched a program that reimburses 50% of the value-added tax (VAT) paid on merchant acquiring services, a targeted measure aimed at supporting small businesses, Deputy Chairman of the Management Board Anatoly Popov said at SPIEF 2026.

The pattern of solar flares has begun to resemble a heartbeat on a cardiogram, according to the Laboratory of Solar Astronomy at the Russian Academy of Sciences' Space Research Institute.

Russia's Ministry of Economic Development is in discussions with business associations regarding the VAT exemption threshold for small and medium-sized enterprises and is taking their concerns into account, Deputy Economic Development Minister Tatyana Ilyushnikova said.

MOSCOW (Sputnik) - Russia and Tanzania have every opportunity to boost mutual trade, Russian President Vladimir Putin said on Wednesday.

A photo exhibition dedicated to the 85th anniversary of Sovinformburo, the Soviet Information Bureau and precursor to the Rossiya Segodnya media group, has opened at the St. Petersburg International Economic Forum (SPIEF).

The June 3-6 St. Petersburg International Economic Forum's plenary session "Small Business Transformation: A New Recipe for SME Growth" focuses on the evolving role of small and medium-sized enterprises (SME) as a core pillar of economic development, driving innovation, job creation, and overall economic resilience.

The ample participation of countries in SPIEF reflects the level of trust in Russia, as well as shows faith in cooperation with new and trustworthy global powers, Lebanese international relations expert Jerar Dib tells Sputnik.

MOSCOW (Sputnik) - Ukraine lost up to 435 soldiers in combat against Russia's Vostok (East) battlegroup over the past day, in addition to losses in manpower and equipment on other fronts, the Russian Defense Ministry said on Wednesday.

MOSCOW (Sputnik) - US President Donald Trump said on Wednesday that there is no need for a US ground operation against Iran.

TEHRAN (Sputnik) - Tehran condemns the US strikes on Qeshm Island and the attack on an Iranian tanker, reiterating Iran's right to defend itself, and blames Kuwait and Bahrain for complicity, the Iranian Foreign Ministry said on Wednesday.

The device operates on the 5.8 GHz frequency commonly used by FPV drones, according to a marine serving with Russia’s Tsentr battlegroup who spoke to Sputnik.

The 29th St. Petersburg International Economic Forum will take place June 3–6 under the theme “Pragmatic Dialogue: The Path to a Stable Future.”

The Cuban people are facing unprecedented outside pressure, and Russia declares its firm solidarity and support for them, said Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov.