President Trump's increasing use of tariffs, including new levies on Mexico and threats against the EU, is causing confusion in global commerce and impacting economies like Lesotho, while broader analyses discuss geoeconomics and the stock market's reaction to trade wars.

• After Months of Negotiations, Trump Imposes More Tariffs on Mexico — The New York Times Business -
• Trump Escalates Tariff Threats, Showing Little Interest in New Trade Deals — The New York Times Business -
• US demands to know what allies would do in event of war over Taiwan — Financial Times -

• Trump threatens 30% tariffs on EU and Mexico from August 1 — Financial Times -
• As Trump Sows Tariff Confusion, Rules of Global Commerce Give Way to Chaos — The New York Times Business -
• Africa’s top garment exporter could fold under US tariffs, minister says — Financial Times -
• The new age of geoeconomics — Financial Times -
• Tidings from my stock market humble pie — Financial Times -

The competitive AI race sees major investments like SpaceX backing xAI and Google hiring top AI talent, while the streaming wars narrow to YouTube vs. Netflix, and Elon Musk's SpaceX demonstrates financial strength even as Trump Media pivots to crypto.

• SpaceX to Invest $2 Billion Into Elon Musk’s xAI — Wall Street Journal -
• It’s YouTube vs. Netflix as the Streaming Wars Come Down to 2 — The New York Times Business -
• As Truth Social Business Struggles, Trump Media Goes Big on Crypto — The New York Times Business -

• Google Hires Top A.I. Leaders From Windsurf, Which OpenAI Was Courting — The New York Times Business -
• As Tesla Stumbles, SpaceX’s Finances Go From Strength to Strength — Wall Street Journal -

Insights into the UnitedHealth company's controversial efforts to quiet critics are revealed, alongside details about the lucrative market for 'superfake' luxury handbags, and an analysis of how Costco's Kirkland Signature brand drives significant sales.

• UnitedHealth’s Campaign to Quiet Critics — The New York Times Business -
• Inside the Shadowy, Lucrative Business of ‘Superfake’ Luxury Handbags — Wall Street Journal -
• The Pants Cost $20. They Explain $86 Billion of Costco Sales. — Wall Street Journal -

Discussions cover the potential danger of a stock market melt-up, new tax implications for gambling winnings, essential retirement cash-out strategies, and the Federal Reserve's defense of Jerome Powell amid Trump's criticism.

• The Danger of a Stock Market Melt-Up — The New York Times Business -
• Break Even at the Casino? You May Still Owe Taxes. — The New York Times Business -
• You Saved and Saved for Retirement. Now You Need a Plan to Cash Out. — The New York Times Business -

• Fed Defends Powell Amid Trump’s Criticism of Central Bank Renovations — The New York Times Business -

Preliminary reports for Air India Flight 171 indicate that fuel to the engines was cut off just seconds before the fatal crash, prompting questions about pilot actions but recommending no immediate actions against manufacturers.

• Air India Plane Crash Report Says Fuel to Engines Was Cut Off — The New York Times Business -
• Fuel to Air India 171’s engines was cut off seconds before fatal crash, report says — Financial Times -