This category highlights high-stakes diplomacy with President Trump's meeting with Vladimir Putin failing to secure a Ukraine peace deal but touting 'progress', alongside US tariff policies continuing to impact global industries like Irish drugmakers and the UK bioethanol sector, influencing international student mobility and even stalling UN plastics treaty talks.

• Trump and Putin fail to reach Ukraine peace deal but tout ‘progress’ — Financial Times -
• Trump rolls out red carpet for Putin as Ukrainians watch from afar — Financial Times -
• Weight-loss weariness and Trump threats wipe $250bn off Novo Nordisk and Eli Lilly — Financial Times -

• UK ready to put ‘boots on ground’ in Ukraine if ceasefire reached, says minister — Financial Times -
• UK rejects bailout for bioethanol industry hit by Trump deal — Financial Times -
• Trump’s Tariffs Set to Hit Ireland, Where Drugmakers Play Tax Games — The New York Times Business -
• Europe now needs to step off the sidelines on Ukraine — Financial Times -
• What Business Will Be Watching For in the Trump-Putin Talks — The New York Times Business -
• Trump the ‘dealmaker’ and the Putin summit — Financial Times -
• FirstFT: Putin summit puts Trump the ‘dealmaker’ to the test — Financial Times -
• UN plastics treaty talks fail after US joins petrostates in blocking action — Financial Times -
• ‘May God give the right words to President Trump’: Anchorage awaits Putin summit — Financial Times -
• As Trump Pushes International Students Away, Asian Schools Scoop Them Up — The New York Times Business -
• Modi vows ‘self-reliant India’ in wake of Trump’s 50% tariff — Financial Times -
• Opponents of Trump’s tariffs should be wary of relying on the courts — Financial Times -
• Pro Bono or Pro Nono? Law Firms Split on Fulfilling Deals With Trump — Wall Street Journal -
• Rivian Says It Faces $100 Million Hole After Relaxation of Fuel Economy Rules — Wall Street Journal -

The global economic landscape is shifting, with China's economy losing momentum despite rising exports and cracking down on rare earth stockpiling, while the UK Treasury prepares tax reforms to boost productivity and European investors pivot to emerging market ETFs; meanwhile, the US stock market continues its rise amidst a tranquil Treasury market and ongoing discussions about investment strategies.

• Treasury prepares tax reforms in push to boost UK productivity — Financial Times -
• CoreWeave investors sell more than $1bn in shares as IPO lock-up ends — Financial Times -
• China’s Economy Slows Broadly Even as Exports Keep Rising — The New York Times Business -

• Fed Chair Faces Scrutiny — and Bats — at Major Policy Speech in Mountain Forum — The New York Times Business -
• Why Hands-Off Investing Pays Off — The New York Times Business -
• Why Does the Stock Market Keep Rising? — The New York Times Business -
• The Treasury market’s sudden remarkable tranquility — Financial Times -
• European investors switch attention to emerging market ETFs — Financial Times -
• Tariffs Are High. So Is the Stock Market. — The New York Times Business -
• ‘Luck running out’ for Swiss economy as growth slows ahead of US tariff hit — Financial Times -
• Defensive stocks’ offensive performance — Financial Times -
• How Singapore’s wealth fund punted its way to prosperity — Financial Times -
• China’s economy loses momentum as trade pressures weigh — Financial Times -
• How to invest in a stock market bubble — Financial Times -
• The markets are shrugging off chaos — Financial Times -
• China cracks down on foreign companies stockpiling rare earths — Financial Times -

Major corporate and business developments include Priscilla Presley's financial dispute with former partners, Air Canada flight attendants rejecting arbitration, and **CoreWeave investors selling over $1 billion in shares**; other notable news covers UnitedHealth's stock jump after a Berkshire Hathaway stake, SpaceX's tax practices, and leadership changes at N26 as well as Intel's toughest turnaround job.

• Priscilla Presley Locked in Feud With Former Business Partners — The New York Times Business -
• Air Canada’s Flight Attendants Reject Call for Arbitration — The New York Times Business -
• World Economic Forum Clears Klaus Schwab of Wrongdoing — Wall Street Journal -

• Opinion | Want a Steinway? The Forest Service Stands in the Way — Wall Street Journal -
• Lip-Bu Tan, Intel CEO with Silicon Valley’s toughest turnaround job — Financial Times -
• UnitedHealth shares jump after Buffett’s Berkshire takes stake — Financial Times -
• Pictet bankers’ move to Italy sparks fierce Swiss tax debate — Financial Times -
• Why Cheap Airline Seats Are Getting Harder to Find — Wall Street Journal -
• How Urban Outfitters’ Nuuly Stole the Show From Rent the Runway — Wall Street Journal -
• The Man Tasked With Nailing Ford’s Next Model T Moment — Wall Street Journal -
• SoftBank-owned PayPay files for US listing — Financial Times -
• Elon Musk’s SpaceX Most Likely Doesn’t Pay Taxes — The New York Times Business -
• Crypto group backed by Trump sons hunts for bitcoin companies in Asia — Financial Times -
• N26 investors seek to replace chief executive with chair in boardroom bust-up — Financial Times -
• Uncle Nearest Whiskey Is in a Fiscal Bind — The New York Times Business -

Public policy debates include the MAHA draft report on children's health drawing varied reactions and influencing food company marketing, while the UK faces a cyber attack leaking government data, wildfires spread dangerously close to southern European capitals, and domestic discussions arise on inheritance tax deadlines and parliamentary refurbishment costs.

• MAHA Draft Report Brings Relief to Some, Chagrin to Others — The New York Times Business -
• Data of former UK ministers and Afghan refugees leaked after cyber attack — Financial Times -
• There’s Money to Be Made From ‘MAHA.’ Food Companies Want In. — The New York Times Business -

• Wildfires spread dangerously close to southern European capitals — Financial Times -
• Worried about IHT? Don’t miss the trust deadline — Financial Times -
• Human rights reckoning behind stopping ‘small boats’ — Financial Times -
• Re-housing falcons and a £10mn front door: Westminster’s spiralling refurbishment costs — Financial Times -

Ongoing geopolitical tensions persist, with Hizbollah warning of 'sectarian strife' in Lebanon regarding disarmament and Israel grappling with increasing global isolation due to the Gaza war; simultaneously, there are calls for fund managers to acknowledge Gaza-related risks, and theatre is serving as a platform to respond to the Palestinian plight.

• Cutting the Tightrope — writers respond to Palestinians’ plight and politics in theatre — Financial Times -
• Hizbollah warns of ‘sectarian strife’ if Lebanon pursues disarmament — Financial Times -
• Fund managers turn a blind eye to Gaza at their peril — Financial Times -

• Israelis reckon with growing global isolation — Financial Times -

The business world remembers prominent figures such as Frank Savage, a significant Black American leader in global finance, and **Gregory C. O’Connell**, a developer recognized for rejuvenating urban areas; furthermore, **Nike co-founder Phil Knight and his wife made a record-setting $2 billion donation** to a cancer center.

• Frank Savage, 87, Business Leader Entangled in Enron Scandal, Is Dead — The New York Times Business -
• Gregory C. O’Connell, Developer Who Revived Red Hook, Dies at 83 — The New York Times Business -
• Phil Knight, Ex-Nike Chief, and His Wife Pledge $2 Billion to Oregon Cancer Center — The New York Times Business -

Diverse cultural and intellectual discussions include the enduring benefits of learning foreign languages, insights into China's vision of America, analyses of UK soft power diplomacy, and an examination into the lucrative fascination with 'end times' narratives.

• Lost in translation — Financial Times -
• China’s vision of America — Financial Times -
• Starmer's superpower: soft power? — Financial Times -

• Doom sells: why everyone’s talking about the end times — Financial Times -