Mōrena and welcome to your Tuesday recap of international business and political news from overnight.
First up, US President Donald Trump has met with Ukraine counterpart Volodymyr Zelensky and other world leaders at the White House for crucial talks to end the Russian conflict in Ukraine.
Trump said his country would be involved in providing security guarantees as part of a peace agreement on ending the war.
Before the summit, Trump urged Ukraine to abandon its ambition to join Nato and its hopes of regaining Crimea, which Russia seized in 2014, Al Jazeera reported.
Trump declined to say whether Russia would face “severe consequences”, which he promised last week if Russia failed to end the war.
Russian President Vladimir Putin.
Bloomberg reported both Trump and Zelensky hoped the summit with European leaders could result in trilateral talks with Russia President Vladimir Putin.
“If everything works out well today, we’ll have a trilat,” Trump told reporters.
“We’re going to work with everybody, and we’re going to make sure that, if there’s peace, the peace is going to stay long term.”
Last week, Putin agreed to allow security guarantees and made concessions on “land swaps” as part of a potential deal, US special envoy Steve Witkoff told CNN.
DeVere Group chief executive Nigel Green said global sharemarkets were ready to respond to any meaningful shifts in the Russia-Ukraine conflict.
“Investors have priced in confrontation, not cooperation. If Washington produces even a hint of forward motion, the S&P500 can punch higher, Europe’s indices will accelerate, and emerging market currencies will surge as safe-haven demand unwinds.”
Over the Ditch, the Australian Federal Government cancelled the visa for outspoken Israeli politician Simcha Rothman, days before he was due to arrive, the ABC reported.
Rothman’s party is part of Israel Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's governing coalition. He was due to speak at events, including an event hosted by the Australian Jewish Association.
The ABC said he has been banned from travel to Australia for three years. Home Affairs Minister Tony Burke said Australia would not accept people travelling to cause division.
"If you are coming to Australia to spread a message of hate and division, we don't want you here. Under our government, Australia will be a country where everyone can be safe and feel safe."
Elsewhere, Bolivia is set to elect a new president after nearly two decades of near-continuous rule by the incumbent socialist party, according to preliminary results, the BBC reported.
Senator Rodrigo Paz Pereira and former president Jorge Quiroga were first and second in the presidential elections. Neither received a high enough share of the vote to secure an outright win.
Another vote between the candidates is expected in October. Pereira was a surprise vote leader, after polls suggested businessman Samuel Doria Medina was the frontrunner, the BBC said.
Finally, global coffee chain Starbucks will give all salaried employees in North America a 2% pay rise this year. Bloomberg reported it was part of a turnaround effort for better service and shorter wait times.
The 2% raise applies to staff, including workers in manufacturing and distribution, along with store managers.
The company had asked executives to keep costs under control to help pay for store upgrades.
