Donald Trump's policies and actions are heavily influencing international trade relations, with new tariffs on goods from various countries, tensions with China impacting business operations, and a reassessment of US foreign policy in Ukraine and existing government contracts like those with SpaceX, alongside changes in US regulatory bodies.

• China Exit Ban on Wells Fargo Executive Stokes Foreign Business Anxiety — The New York Times Business -
• UK government seeks way out of clash with US over Apple encryption — Financial Times -
• As Trump Courts a More Assertive Beijing, China Hawks Are Losing Out — The New York Times Business -

• Trump faces frosty reception on Aberdeen golf trip — Financial Times -
• Trump’s overdue pivot on Ukraine — Financial Times -
• Donald Trump: six months in six charts — Financial Times -
• Ousted head of US audit regulator warns accountants against cutting standards — Financial Times -
• The Problem With Using Sugar in Soda: The U.S. Doesn’t Make Enough — Wall Street Journal -
• Embraer warns US carriers face extra $9mn per plane from Trump’s tariffs — Financial Times -
• World’s largest copper producer says Trump’s tariffs are causing ‘anxiety’ — Financial Times -
• Chinese Rare-Earth Magnet Exports Surge After U.S. Trade Truce — Wall Street Journal -
• Trump Aides Discussed Ending Some SpaceX Contracts, but Found Most Were Vital — Wall Street Journal -

The global economy faces challenges like extreme weather driving food price inflation and insurance limits for UK floods, while the US economy appears more fragile, the ECB monitors the euro's strength, and specific regional trends include Atlanta's ending growth streak, France's fiscal plans scrutiny, **EU regulation on bank M&A, and a revival in the Australian IPO market**.

• Extreme weather drives food price surges across the globe — Financial Times -
• The US economy is more fragile than it appears — Financial Times -
• Is the ECB worried about the strength of the euro? — Financial Times -

• Atlanta’s Growth Streak Has Come to an End — Wall Street Journal -
• France’s fiscal watchdog says plan to scrap holidays ‘remains to be proven’ — Financial Times -
• EU cracks down on state meddling in bank M&A — Financial Times -
• Virgin float has led Australian IPO market revival, says Bain — Financial Times -

Geopolitical headlines cover Japan's prime minister navigating election setbacks, the escalation of the Israel-Gaza conflict, troop withdrawals in Syria, Czech defiance on NATO spending targets, Iran's deportation of Afghans amid security concerns, deepening economic ties between North Korea and Russia, and China's expansive global port network strategy.

• FirstFT: Japan’s prime minister signals intent to stay on despite election setback — Financial Times -
• Israel extends Gaza offensive to areas not yet reached by ground forces — Financial Times -
• Japan’s PM Ishiba signals intent to stay on despite election blow — Financial Times -

• Bedouin fighters withdraw from Syrian province hit by violence — Financial Times -
• Czech Eurosceptic frontrunner vows to defy 5% Nato spending target — Financial Times -
• Iran accelerates deportation of Afghans as it hunts for infiltrators — Financial Times -
• Apples, sausages and workers: North Korea and Russia deepen economic ties — Financial Times -
• How China Built a Global Port Network — Wall Street Journal -

The UK confronts falling property prices, strained flood insurance limits, planned overhauls in water industry regulation, an impending reform of the pensions system, data breach concerns impacting Afghan families, and the impact of Brexit turbulence on the drugs agency's operations.

• Investors hitting ‘limit’ for insuring against UK floods, warns Flood Re chief — Financial Times -
• UK property asking prices fall faster than usual in July — Financial Times -
• UK minister promises overhaul of water industry regulation — Financial Times -

• UK pensions overhaul looms as minister warns of slump in retirement income — Financial Times -
• UK relocated Afghan family after they sought data breach disclosure via law firm — Financial Times -
• UK drugs agency outsources 40% of applications after Brexit turbulence — Financial Times -

Key industry news includes an opinion on the electric grid's real risks stemming from energy subsidies, Klaus Schwab rejecting misconduct probe findings at WEF, Netflix facing growth saturation, the fashion comeback of Levi's, and a CEO's abrupt resignation triggered by a viral kiss-cam moment.

• Opinion | The Real Risk to the Electric Grid — Wall Street Journal -
• Klaus Schwab rejects misconduct probe findings as WEF dispute deepens — Financial Times -
• Netflix Is Running Out of Worlds to Conquer — Wall Street Journal -

• Why Levi’s is back in fashion — Financial Times -
• Coldplay, a Viral Kiss-Cam Moment—and a CEO’s Abrupt Resignation — Wall Street Journal -

Diverse social and lifestyle topics include the passing of nightclub owner Jewel Thais-Williams, reflections on art's portrayal of Covid and 2020 riots, the "Toupee Queen" using TikTok to destigmatize baldness, information on organ donation processes, and commentary on workplace phone etiquette.

• Jewel Thais-Williams, Whose Nightclub Catch One Celebrated ‘Queer Black Joy,’ Dies at 86 — The New York Times Business -
• Opinion | What Art Does Covid and the 2020 Riots Justice? — Wall Street Journal -
• The Toupee Queen Uses TikTok to Combat Stigma of Baldness and Hair Systems — The New York Times Business -

• Organ Donation: What to Know About the Process — The New York Times Business -
• A fresh phone hell in the office — Financial Times -