Trump's foreign policy decisions concerning Iran and Middle East conflict spillover fears are central to international relations, alongside global trade tensions stemming from Canada's new tariffs and the US trade war's impact on global ports and industries.

• Opinion | Iraq’s Shadow Over the Iran Debate — Wall Street Journal -
• Trump says talks with Iran could happen ‘in the near future’ — Financial Times -
• Bank Transfer Signals Syria Is Making Strides in Ending Economic Isolation — The New York Times Business -

• FirstFT: Trump says decision on Iran attack will come ‘within the next two weeks’ — Financial Times -
• Canada imposes tariffs on steel and aluminium to curb imports — Financial Times -
• Opinion | The ‘America First’ Face-Off — Wall Street Journal -
• Oil Tanker Collision Near Strait of Hormuz Raises Security Fears — The New York Times Business -
• Gulf monarchies hold rival Iran close as Israel conflict rages — Financial Times -
• Why Vietnam should revamp its economic model — Financial Times -
• Gulf companies prepare contingency plans amid fears of conflict spillover — Financial Times -
• How Trump can offer Iran a way out — Financial Times -
• Donald Trump’s changing rhetoric on Iran intervention — Financial Times -
• Congo and Rwanda near truce after Trump push — Financial Times -
• Spain threatens to derail Nato summit over Trump defence target — Financial Times -
• Tehran warns other countries not to enter war — Financial Times -
• US gauges risks of Iranian retaliation — Financial Times -
• FirstFT: Trump’s next move divides Maga movement — Financial Times -
• How Trump’s Metals Tariffs Could Make Food and Beer Cans More Expensive — The New York Times Business -
• How Trump’s Trade War Has Whipsawed the Port of L.A. — The New York Times Business -
• EU weighs UK-style trade deal with US — Financial Times -
• New Zealand freezes Cook Islands funding over closer China ties — Financial Times -
• Israel’s secret war inside Iran — Financial Times -
• Trump says he ‘may or may not’ strike Iran — Financial Times -
• Putin’s investment forum fails to attract western companies — Financial Times -
• Under China’s Threat, Taiwan Needs Its Own Power Sources More Than Ever — The New York Times Business -
• Iran’s exiled royal calls for regime change — but few are listening — Financial Times -
• Tanker rates double as shipowners steer clear of Strait of Hormuz — Financial Times -

Discussions about central bank interest rate approaches continue, with the Swiss central bank cutting rates to zero and the Fed holding steady, while national debt concerns and inflation and liquidity divergence in markets are also prominent.

• Opinion | ‘Revenge’ Tax? Section 899 Is More Like Repair — Wall Street Journal -
• Fed’s Interest-Rate Approach Keeps It on Collision Course With Trump — The New York Times Business -
• Swiss central bank cuts rates to zero — Financial Times -

• Zero Interest Rates Are Back in Europe — The New York Times Business -
• Record Debt Limit Increase Would Break Republican Precedent — The New York Times Business -
• Inflation and interest rates tracker: see how your country compares — Financial Times -
• BoE warns of weakening jobs market as it holds rates — Financial Times -
• The S&P 500 liquidity divergence — Financial Times -
• Russia on brink of recession, says economy minister — Financial Times -
• European common debt is the way to topple the dollar — Financial Times -
• How a widow-maker bank trade is twisting the knife — Financial Times -
• Podcast: The Wolf-Krugman Exchange — Financial Times -
• The Wolf-Krugman Exchange: The economy in an uncertain world — Financial Times -
• Misplaced Millions? Lost Life Savings? Tell Us. — The New York Times Business -
• At a mad moment, a dull Fed is good — Financial Times -
• Should we worry about Trump undermining the dollar? — Financial Times -

UK consumer confidence has improved, yet challenges persist with planned welfare cuts sparking resignations and concerns over HMRC's control of small business tax. The government is also exploring energy discounts for UK industry and new private financing for public services amidst London's sinking productivity.

• UK consumer confidence improves on brighter economic outlook — Financial Times -
• Labour whip resigns over planned UK welfare cuts — Financial Times -
• HMRC has ‘lost control’ of small businesses as missing tax hits 40% — Financial Times -

• Ministers look at energy discounts for UK industry to compete with European rivals — Financial Times -
• Healthcare policy is afflicted by short-sightedness — Financial Times -
• The value for money crisis at UK universities — Financial Times -
• UK government launches new wave of private financing for public services — Financial Times -
• London’s productivity sinks to below pre-pandemic levels — Financial Times -
• White British — the two words toxifying politics — Financial Times -
• Absence of leadership forces Labour to play to electorate — Financial Times -
• Scottish Widows to slash UK equity exposure — Financial Times -
• UK ministers urged to ‘get on’ with stronger homebuyer protections — Financial Times -

The corporate landscape features major acquisition battles like Home Depot's bid for GMS and Nippon Steel's US Steel takeover, alongside industry-specific regulatory actions such as Google's EU competition fine and the EU investigation into the Mars-Kellanova deal. Other developments include food recalls and trends in coffee chain expansion.

• Why Eliminating Coal Could Take a Long Time — The New York Times Business -
• Home Depot Bid Kicks Off Battle for $5 Billion Building-Products Company — Wall Street Journal -
• Cannes Lions Festival Plays Host to a Messy Business Divorce — The New York Times Business -

• California Executives Sentenced for Continuing to Sell Dehumidifiers That Caught on Fire — The New York Times Business -
• Chicken Alfredo Recall: 3 Dead in Outbreak Tied to Walmart, Kroger — The New York Times Business -
• Food, Agriculture Leaders Sound Warnings on MAHA Overreach — Wall Street Journal -
• How Do You Build a $500 Million Coffee Chain? By Selling Matcha to Teens. — Wall Street Journal -
• Google suffers blow at EU’s top court over record €4.12bn competition fine — Financial Times -
• EU prepares to investigate Mars-Kellanova deal — Financial Times -
• How the NBA Finals’ Champagne Celebration Became a Marketing Moment — The New York Times Business -
• Nippon Steel says capital raise possible to fund US Steel takeover pledge — Financial Times -
• Air India chair says crashed plane and engines had ‘clean history’ — Financial Times -
• Biofuel prices jump as Israel-Iran conflict drives hunt for oil alternatives — Financial Times -
• Trump, Japan and the era of ‘stick-holder capitalism’ — Financial Times -
• Lockheed Martin approaches UK government with air defence pitch — Financial Times -
• Thames Water creditors demand protection from environmental laws — Financial Times -
• Solar bankruptcies mount as Congress slashes green energy funds — Financial Times -
• America’s first golden share — Financial Times -
• ‘Sunbelt’ countries from India to Mexico tipped to overtake in clean industry development — Financial Times -

SpaceX's Starship ground test explosion highlights ongoing challenges in space technology, while Tesla's robotaxi ambitions and Elon Musk's X moving into financial services showcase digital expansion. Europe is also seeking a rival to Starlink, and China is exploring new uses for its drones.

• SpaceX’s Starship Explodes During Ground Test — Wall Street Journal -
• Tesla’s robotaxi ambitions face a reality check after launch — Financial Times -
• TikTok Hits Cannes, Where a U.S. Ban Seems a Distant Dream — The New York Times Business -

• France to double stake in Eutelsat as Europe looks for rival to Elon Musk’s Starlink — Financial Times -
• New Digital Comics Store Takes Aim at Amazon — The New York Times Business -
• Elon Musk’s X to offer investment and trading in ‘super app’ push — Financial Times -
• China made millions of drones. Now it has to find uses for them — Financial Times -

Significant social challenges include malaria increases due to US funding cuts in Africa, threats from population undercounting, and the potential for Social Security benefit cuts. Efforts to advance HIV prevention and new labor laws like the Fashion Workers Act are also underway.

• More than 13mn people in Africa could catch malaria owing to proposed US cuts — Financial Times -
• Population undercounting threatens public policy, scientists warn — Financial Times -
• How Sara Ziff and the Model Alliance Helped Create the Fashion Workers Act — The New York Times Business -

• Why the EU’s migration dilemma is pushing the bloc further right — Financial Times -
• South Africa Built a Medical Research Powerhouse. Trump Cuts Have Demolished It. — The New York Times Business -
• Social Security Benefits Could Be Cut in 8 Years Unless Congress Acts — The New York Times Business -
• Regulators Approve Lenacapavir for H.I.V. Prevention — The New York Times Business -

This category includes recommendations for summer books, observations on the decline of business cards, and insights into luxury travel experiences in Japan and Morocco.

• Summer books 2025: the best titles of the year so far — Financial Times -
• The death of the business card — Financial Times -
• Moro, Morocco’s chicest boutique — Financial Times -

• Forget the bullet train – the best way to see Japan is by classic car — Financial Times -