EU-China summit live: Trade, Ukraine and rare earths dominate talks amid tense relations
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Diverging Reports Breakdown
Most Gulf stocks subdued as Trump steps up tariff threats
Saudi Arabia’s benchmark index (.TASI) fell 0.2%, as mixed sector performance kept the market subdued ahead of key earnings. Investors remained cautious as the U.S. Federal Reserve is widely expected to keep interest rates unchanged as it waits to see the impact of tariffs on price pressures.Egypt’s central bank kept key interest Rates unchanged on Thursday, pausing a trend of rate reductions.
July 13 (Reuters) – Gulf equities ended mixed on Sunday, with stocks drifting in a tight range during a quiet trading session as investors sought clarity after U.S. President Donald Trump escalated his global trade war.
Trump threatened on Saturday to impose a 30% tariff on imports from Mexico and the European Union, following the announcement of a 35% duty on Canadian imports, both starting August 1.
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He also proposed a blanket tariff rate of 15%-20% on other countries, an increase from the current 10% baseline rate.
Saudi Arabia’s benchmark index (.TASI) , opens new tab fell 0.2%, as mixed sector performance kept the market subdued ahead of key earnings.
Utilities heavyweight ACWA Power (2082.SE) , opens new tab declined 2.4% as its rights issue offering ended.
Investors remained cautious as the U.S. Federal Reserve is widely expected to keep interest rates unchanged as it waits to see the impact of tariffs on price pressures.
With Gulf currencies pegged to the U.S. dollar, the Fed’s decisions on interest rates impact the region’s monetary policy.
Egypt’s central bank kept key interest rates unchanged on Thursday, pausing a trend of rate reductions despite inflation rates easing.
Reporting by Amna Mariyam and Ateeq Shariff in Bengaluru; Editing by Helen Popper
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UK’s Lammy to meet European counterparts in Geneva to hold nuclear talks with Iran
British foreign minister David Lammy will head to Geneva on Friday for nuclear talks with Iran and European counterparts. Israel and Iran have been in a spiralling air war since last week after Israel launched military strikes on Iran, which retaliated with waves of missiles. Lammy’s trip to Switzerland follows his visit to Washington, where he on Thursday met U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio and White House Special Envoy to the Middle East Steve Witkoff.
LONDON, June 19 (Reuters) – British foreign minister David Lammy will head to Geneva on Friday for nuclear talks with Iran and European counterparts, racing to press for a diplomatic solution over Tehran’s nuclear programme, his office said on Thursday.
Israel and Iran have been in a spiralling air war since last week after Israel launched military strikes on Iran, which retaliated with waves of missiles.
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Lammy’s trip to Switzerland follows his visit to Washington, where he on Thursday met U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio and White House Special Envoy to the Middle East Steve Witkoff.
“We are determined that Iran must never have a nuclear weapon… A window now exists within the next two weeks to achieve a diplomatic solution,” Lammy said in a statement.
“Now is the time to put a stop to the grave scenes in the Middle East and prevent a regional escalation that would benefit no one.”
The foreign ministers of Britain, France and Germany – known as the E3 – will meet with the European Union’s top diplomat, Kaja Kallas, at Germany’s permanent mission in Geneva before holding a joint meeting with the Iranian foreign minister, a German source previously told Reuters.
Rubio discussed with Lammy the conflict between Israel and Iran, the pair agreeing that the Islamic Republic can “never develop or acquire a nuclear weapon,” a spokesperson for Rubio said in a statement.
Israel has said its goal is to eliminate Tehran’s ability to develop a nuclear weapon. Iran denies that its nuclear programme is for military purposes.
The White House said earlier on Thursday that U.S. President Donald Trump will make a decision within the next two weeks whether to get involved on Israel’s side.
Reporting by Surbhi Misra in Bangaluru and Sam Tabahriti in London; Editing by Jamie Freed and Stephen Coates
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Trump sees peace between Iran and Israel soon, eyes Putin role
U.S. president says there are talks, without being specific. Trump suggests Israeli strikes may accelerate Iran deal. “We will have PEACE, soon, between Israel and Iran! Many calls and meetings now taking place,” he wrote. Trump said he and Putin had discussed the situation in the Middle East on Saturday in a call that focused more on that conflict than the Russian war in Ukraine. “He is ready. He called me about it,” Trump said about Putin serving as a mediator, according to an ABC News report.. The United States has engaged in talks with Iran about its nuclear program and Trump has told reporters previously that the talks were going well. Another round of discussions scheduled for Sunday in Oman was canceled after the Israeli and Iranian strikes.
Summary Trump laments not getting credit for mediating disputes
U.S. president says there are talks, without being specific
Trump suggests Israeli strikes may accelerate Iran deal
WASHINGTON, June 15 (Reuters) – Despite evidence that the conflict between Israel and Iran is escalating, U.S. President Donald Trump expressed optimism on Sunday that peace would come soon and cited the possibility that Russia’s Vladimir Putin could help.
In a social media post, Trump said there were many unspecified meetings about the issue happening and encouraged the two countries to make a deal. And in an interview with ABC News, he said he was open to Putin, whose forces invaded Ukraine and who has resisted Trump’s attempts to broker a ceasefire with Kyiv, serving as a mediator.
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Israel and Iran launched fresh attacks on each other overnight into Sunday, killing scores.
“Iran and Israel should make a deal, and will make a deal,” Trump wrote on his Truth Social site. “We will have PEACE, soon, between Israel and Iran! Many calls and meetings now taking place.”
Trump did not offer any details about the meetings or evidence of progress toward peace. His assertion contradicted comments by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who said on Saturday that Israel’s campaign against Iran would intensify
A White House spokeswoman did not immediately respond to a request for comment on how Trump and the White House were working to de-escalate the situation in the Middle East.
Trump told ABC News that Iran wanted to make a deal and indicated something like the Israel strikes would accelerate that. “Something like this had to happen because I think even from both sides, but something like this had to happen. They want to talk, and they will be talking,” Trump said, according to ABC reporter Rachel Scott. “May have forced a deal to go quicker, actually.”
The United States has engaged in talks with Iran about its nuclear program and Trump has told reporters previously that the talks were going well. But another round of discussions scheduled for Sunday in Oman was canceled after the Israeli and Iranian strikes.
Trump said he and Putin had discussed the situation in the Middle East on Saturday in a call that focused more on that conflict than the Russian war in Ukraine
“He is ready. He called me about it,” Trump said about Putin serving as a mediator, according to Scott. “We had a long talk about it. We talked about this more than his situation. This is something I believe is going to get resolved.”
Trump, who portrays himself as a peacemaker and has drawn criticism from his political base for not being able to prevent the Israel-Iran conflict, cited other disputes that he took responsibility for solving, including between India and Pakistan, and lamented not receiving more praise for doing so.
“I do a lot, and never get credit for anything, but that’s OK, the PEOPLE understand. MAKE THE MIDDLE EAST GREAT AGAIN!” he wrote on Truth Social.
Reporting by Jeff Mason in Washington; Additional reporting by Michael Martina in Washington; Editing by Michelle Nichols, Jan Harvey, Bill Berkrot and Matthew Lewis
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Iraq urges US to prevent Israeli aircraft from using Iraqi airspace to strike Iran
Iraq calls on the U.S. to prevent Israeli aircraft from breaching Iraqi airspace to carry out attacks against Iran. Iraqi government urges the United States to uphold its responsibilities.
“The Iraqi government urges the United States to uphold its responsibilities under the agreements signed between the two countries and prevent aircraft belonging to the Zionist entity from once again violating Iraqi airspace,” military spokesman Sabah al-Numan said in a statement.
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Reporting by Moayed Kenany Editing by Peter Graff
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Bolivia anti-government protests turn deadly as tensions rise
Clashes between anti-government protesters and authorities in Bolivia have left at least four first responders dead. The deceased are three police officers and a firefighter, Bolivia’s state news agency reported. Tensions have intensified in recent days as supporters of former President Evo Morales have strangled transportation by blocking highways across the Andean nation. The government has deployed military tanks to Llallagua, where the most significant clashes between authorities and protesters have occurred.
Item 1 of 2 Police officers stand guard as supporters of former Bolivian President Evo Morales and police clash in the town of Vinto, Cochabamba, Bolivia, June 11, 2025. REUTERS/Claudia Morales
LA PAZ, June 12 (Reuters) – Clashes between anti-government protesters and authorities in Bolivia have left at least four first responders dead, the country’s justice minister said on Thursday.
Tensions have intensified in recent days as supporters of former President Evo Morales, who have strangled transportation by blocking highways across the Andean nation, skirmish with officials attempting to clear the roadblocks.
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The demonstrations have gained momentum primarily in Bolivia’s rural areas, where Morales’ supporters have taken to the streets to express their frustration over the former president’s disqualification from running in upcoming elections and the country’s deteriorating economic situation.
“There are already four officers who have lost their lives,” Justice Minister Cesar Siles told reporters in La Paz, adding that some had been shot.
The deceased are three police officers and a firefighter, Bolivia’s state news agency reported.
“We can’t call these civilian protests anymore. We are talking about paramilitary groups, groups that carry weapons, and we have to respond firmly,” Siles said.
The government has deployed military tanks to Llallagua, where the most significant clashes between authorities and protesters have occurred, according to local media reports.
As the protests intensify and the number of casualties increases, local businesses have been severely affected.
“Nobody travels on these roads anymore, and nobody works normally. It really harms us,” restaurant owner Marlene Poma told Reuters.
Reporting by Monica Machicao and Daniel Ramos; Writing by Aida Pelaez-Fernandez, Editing by Kylie Madry and Marguerita Choy
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