Gold prices eased on Tuesday, as a slightly firmer dollar and optimism over a potential ceasefire between Russia and Ukraine dampened investor demand for safe-haven assets.

With future U.S. aid in doubt, Kyiv is ramping up domestic production of arms such as its Bohdana howitzer.

Putin said efforts to end the war were "generally on the right track" and that Moscow was ready to work with Ukraine on a potential peace deal.

Man who stabbed bestselling author sentenced The 27-year-old man who attempted to assassinate author Salman Rushdie has been sentenced to 25 years in prison. Rushdie suffered more than a dozen knife wounds and lost his vision in one eye during the 2022 attack.