Good morning. Donald Trump sees a good chance he’ll meet Vladimir Putin and Volodymyr Zelenskiy. The Bank of England is set to lower interest rates today. And Egypt’s billion-dollar antiquities museum opens in November. Listen to the day’s top stories.
Donald Trump said there was a “very good chance” he would meet with Russian President Vladimir Putin and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy soon in another bid to broker peace between the two countries. Russia had earlier said Putin exchanged “signals” with the US when talking to Trump’s envoy Steve Witkoff.
Trump’s new tariffs officially took hold. The president also announced plans to impose a 100% tariff on semiconductor imports, though he would exempt companies moving production to the US. With Trump by his side, Apple’s Tim Cook unveiled a fresh $100 billion investment plan. Here’s how Apple is expanding an 18-year-old iPhone glass deal to avoid levies.
Switzerland’s President Karin Keller-Sutter left Washington without announcing any success in lowering the 39% tariff that Trump has put on her country. A delegation presented a new proposal to US officials, according to a person familiar, but failed to clinch a better deal. Read how Switzerland’s executives drew up plans to avoid higher levies.
The Bank of England is set to cut interest rates to the lowest level in over two years. Markets and economists expect the UK central bank to lower the benchmark rate by 25 basis points to 4%, sticking to its once-a-quarter pace of easing. Investors will be looking for clues about the future of the central bank’s bond sales.
Lithuania’s ruling party nominated Inga Ruginiene, a former trade union leader, to become the next prime minister after the collapse of the previous coalition government. Read more about how the former PM quit over business ties that drew scrutiny.
Fans of Croatian nationalist singer Marko Perkovic Thompson during a concert. Photographer: Damir Sencar/AFP/Getty Images
For the millions of tourists who flock to its Adriatic coast, Croatia is a place of sun, sailing and seafood. This year, though, the Balkan nation’s dark history is resurfacing during the peak summer season.
A surge in the popularity of a far-right singer once banned from performing in some places has seen the revival of Nazi-era slogans and symbols. And rather than condemn it, some senior politicians are joining the country in embracing it.
Organizers of a concert held last month in Zagreb by the star, Marko Perkovic Thompson, said 500,000 people bought tickets in a country with a population of 3.8 million. Many fans wore black T-shirts displaying a slogan used by Croatia’s World War II fascists while Thompson chanted it during his performance.
Crude oil prices are set to fall further before any rebound, Javier Blas writes, noting that a return to $100 a barrel is unlikely over the next two years. Waiting for a recovery will require a ton of forbearance and incur significant opportunity costs.
Visitors pass ancient Egyptian colossal statues inside the Grand Egyptian Museum. Photographer: Khaled Desouki/AFP/Getty Images
Mark your calendar. Egypt set Nov. 1 for the formal opening of its billion-dollar antiquities museum—the Grand Egyptian Museum—after being delayed due to regional tensions. The 120-acre site will display some 100,000 artifacts, including treasures from King Tutankhamun’s tomb.
Frozen margaritas and half-price tee times are paying off—Topgolf Callaway’s shares soared 11% after hours as the company raised its earnings outlook, saying promos helped drive sales.
