| The US and China will temporarily lower reciprocal tariffs on products traded between the world’s two largest economies to allow three months of further negotiations, with Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent saying today that talks in Geneva had established “neither side wants to decouple.” Markets leapt on signs of de-escalation in the trade war, with combined 145% US levies on most Chinese imports to be reduced to 30%, including the rate tied to fentanyl by Wednesday, while 125% Chinese duties on US goods will drop to 10%.  US Trade Representative Jamieson Greer and Scott Bessent, right, in Geneva today. Photographer: Fabrice Coffrini/Getty Images The immediate task for the de-facto Saudi Arabia leader as he prepares to host Trump this week is how to reconcile the US president’s desire for deals with the potential further deterioration in Riyadh’s budget because of oil prices falling to their lowest in more than four years. The crown prince, known as MBS, wants to make himself the Middle East’s go-to man, while Trump has boasted of inking $1 trillion worth of Saudi investment and trade for US firms. Trump’s announcement on Truth Social that India and Pakistan had agreed to a “FULL AND IMMEDIATE CEASEFIRE” left many top officials in New Delhi seething as it appeared to undermine their longstanding policy to resolve the Kashmir territorial dispute through bilateral talks and, perhaps worst of all, put the sworn enemies on an equal footing. Stocks in Pakistan and India rallied following Saturday’s truce between the nuclear-armed neighbors. The PKK Kurdish separatist group agreed to lay down arms to end a 40-year war for autonomy against Turkey, a historic step that could strengthen the NATO member’s push to become a regional powerhouse. Erdoğan has made resolving the Kurdish conflict a central aim as he seeks to reshape the Middle East while strengthening his domestic support.  Protesters carry a banner showing PKK leader Abdullah Öcalan in northeastern Syria in 2021. Photographer: Delil Souleiman/Getty Images Millions of Philippine voters braved temperatures of up to 44C (111F) to vote in midterm elections that could decide the fate of impeached Vice President Sara Duterte as she feuds with President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. There were long queues to cast ballots in over 18,000 positions, with one reported fatality and nationwide heat warnings. UK Foreign Secretary David Lammy is set to unveil fresh sanctions targeting “actors supporting Russia’s illegal invasion” of Ukraine as Britain hosts a security meeting of European ministers in London today. Former Credit Suisse CEO Tidjane Thiam stepped down as head of Ivory Coast’s main opposition party, after his leadership was challenged in court and he was disqualified from running for president. Albania’s premier, Edi Rama, is on track to win an unprecedented fourth term as he seeks to finally take the Adriatic country into the European Union and cement its status as a tourist destination. Prime Minister Keir Starmer plans to end the UK’s “experiment in open borders” with tougher rules to curb migration, seeking to head off the growing electoral threat from Nigel Farage’s populist Reform party. | 
