This topic covers OPEC's decision to pump more oil and the **slowdown in global M&A activity, along with China's environmental costs from rare earths dominance and Brussels' plans to stockpile critical minerals due to war risks. It also includes challenges to clean-energy subsidies, the resurgence of Europe's ancient insurers, the accelerated wealth exodus from the UK, and insights into valuing homes in local markets and solving the cash ISA problem by closing the advice gap, rounded out by China's efforts to boost consumer spending with a new Legoland and changes in doing business in Hong Kong**.

• OPEC Plus Agrees to Pump More Oil in August — The New York Times Business -
• China Has Paid a High Price for Its Dominance in Rare Earths — The New York Times Business -
• Dealmakers hit pause on M&A as caution rules the boardroom — Financial Times -

• The Moment the Clean-Energy Boom Ran Into ‘Drill, Baby, Drill’ — Wall Street Journal -
• All hail the equity vigilantes — Financial Times -
• Brussels to stockpile critical minerals because of war risk — Financial Times -
• Why Europe’s ancient insurers are rising once more — Financial Times -
• A better way to solve the cash Isa problem? Close the advice gap — Financial Times -
• China’s first Legoland builds Great Wall replica to lure under-pressure consumers — Financial Times -
• How doing business in Hong Kong is changing — Financial Times -
• Look to local markets to value your home — Financial Times -
• Wealth exodus gathers pace as UK policies drive millionaires abroad — Financial Times -

The volatile global landscape features Israel joining ceasefire talks despite Hamas's response and Hamas giving a positive response to a Trump proposal for a Gaza ceasefire, alongside Iran looking to BRICS for allies to test a new world order, and Trump discussing Ukrainian air defense with Zelenskyy as Russian attacks persist; the deepening embrace between China and Russia also signals a shift in global alliances.

• Israel to join ceasefire talks despite ‘unacceptable’ response from Hamas — Financial Times -
• Iran Looks to BRICS for Allies, Testing a New World Order — The New York Times Business -
• Trump and Zelenskyy discuss Ukrainian air defence as Russian attacks mount — Financial Times -

• Hamas gives ‘positive’ response to Trump proposal for Gaza ceasefire — Financial Times -
• China, Russia and the ‘Dragon-Bear’ embrace — Financial Times -

Key political developments include a Reform MP suspending himself over Covid loans allegations and Germany's AfD pledging to tone down its parliamentary behavior in an effort to broaden appeal; in Canada, Indigenous groups are demanding a say in nation-building projects, while Republicans have re-engineered the US tax code, and the Labour party faces the challenge of resurrecting itself after a difficult first year.

• Reform MP suspends himself from party over Covid loans allegations — Financial Times -
• Germany’s AfD pledges to tone down its rowdiness in parliament — Financial Times -
• Canada’s Indigenous Groups Demand a Say in Carney’s Race to Build — The New York Times Business -

• How Republicans Re-engineered the Tax Code — The New York Times Business -
• How Labour can resurrect itself — Financial Times -

The tech sector sees companies betting on profiting from Google Search's potential demise as AI reshapes the digital landscape, Apple achieving box office success with an F1 blockbuster marks its commercial film ambitions, and America streamlines passport renewal through a new online program, showcasing government digital transformation.

• The Companies Betting They Can Profit From Google Search’s Demise — Wall Street Journal -
• Apple races to box office glory with Brad Pitt’s F1 blockbuster — Financial Times -
• America Has Pulled Off the Impossible. It Made Getting a Passport Simple. — Wall Street Journal -

This topic encompasses the passing of Slim-Fast founder S. Daniel Abraham, the dispute heating up over the Golden Globes, and the BBC facing continuous scrutiny, alongside Pope Leo reclaiming papal summer holidays, a tribute to composer Lalo Schifrin, a discussion on when to talk about money in relationships, a reflective return to the ruins of Homs in Syria, and a spotlight on an east London temple to crafted home decor.

• S. Daniel Abraham, Who Reaped Riches With Slim-Fast, Dies at 100 — The New York Times Business -
• How Many Dates Should You Go On Before You Start Talking About Money? — The New York Times Business -
• Dispute Over Golden Globes Heats Up — The New York Times Business -

• ‘Not a sin to swim’: Pope Leo reclaims papal summer holidays — Financial Times -
• Lalo Schifrin, composer and jazz musician, 1932-2025 — Financial Times -
• The BBC’s constant cornucopia of trouble — Financial Times -
• Return to Syria: what I found amid the ruins of Homs — Financial Times -
• The crafted home: an east London temple to tiebacks, tassels and trims — Financial Times -