Bloomberg Russia and the U.S. are preparing for a possible first meeting between Vladimir Putin and Donald Trump before the two presidents attend July’s Group of 20 summit in Germany, according to Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov. “There are preparations,” Ryabkov said on Thursday in a text message. “The issue of whether the schedules of both leaders can …

  Bloomberg The Defense Department’s inspector general is investigating whether former National Security Adviser Michael Flynn “failed to obtain required approval” for a speech to a Russia-backed media network, according to an April 11 letter released on Thursday by the top Democrat on the House Oversight Committee. The Democrat, Elijah Cummings of Maryland, also released an October 2014 letter from …

  DUBAI / Reuters Shares in two Saudi banks that are in early merger talks moved in opposite directions on Thursday while other regional markets ended the week down as investors had little fresh company earnings and news to reallocate their funds or build positions. Alawwal Bank extended the previous session’s 8.6 percent gains, adding 2.2 percent. Shares in Saudi …