US-China trade negotiations are progressing with a framework deal reached, potential delays in China's rare earth export controls, and President Trump signing new trade agreements in Southeast Asia, alongside the UK Chancellor's push for Gulf trade talks and US sanctions impacting Russia's war machine and Syria's economy.

• UK chancellor to hold Gulf trade talks in push for pro-growth policies — Financial Times -
• FirstFT: US expects China to delay rare earth export controls — Financial Times -
• Companies Have Shielded Buyers From Tariffs. But Not for Long. — The New York Times Business -

• Chinese and U.S. Officials Reach Framework of a Trade Deal — The New York Times Business -
• Trump and Xi meet for key trade talks — Financial Times -
• Did Ronald Reagan ‘love tariffs’ as Trump claims? — Financial Times -
• US expects China to delay rare earth export controls as trade deal nears — Financial Times -
• The US throws sand in Russia’s war machine — Financial Times -
• ‘Positive framework’ agreed for Trump-Xi summit, says Bessent — Financial Times -
• Syria’s revival stalls under sanctions and red tape — Financial Times -
• Trump Opens Trip With Trade Deals in Southeast Asia — The New York Times Business -
• The ‘Sleeper Issue’ at the Heart of Trump’s Trade War on China — The New York Times Business -
• Trump to raise tariffs on Canada by 10% over Ontario’s Reagan ad — Financial Times -

**Novartis is acquiring Avidity Biosciences for $12 billion, Boeing defense workers rejected their latest contract, and Nigeria's Dangote plans a major refinery expansion, while Kodak undergoes a turnaround, Gatwick Airport warns against a 300% tax hike impacting investment, and Condé Nast adapts with glam events and paywalls**.

• Boeing Defense Workers Reject Latest Contract — Wall Street Journal -
• Novartis Agrees to Acquire Avidity Biosciences for $12 Billion — Wall Street Journal -
• Nigeria’s Dangote plots refinery expansion part financed by stake sale — Financial Times -

• Starring in Videos Is No Longer a Job Just for the Social Media Team — The New York Times Business -
• UK agency warned Peter Kyle over £1.5bn JLR loan guarantee — Financial Times -
• Condé Nast’s Strategy for Media’s New Normal: Glam Events and Paywalls — Wall Street Journal -
• Geely targets 100,000 UK sales in push to take on Tesla and BYD — Financial Times -
• The ‘blue-collar CEO’ trying to fix Kodak — Financial Times -
• Gatwick airport warns investment at risk if expected 300% tax rise imposed — Financial Times -
• US risks losing more ground to China in EV race as investment tumbles — Financial Times -
• A Hiking Death Roils a Fashion Empire and the Heirs to a Fortune — Wall Street Journal -

Labour ministers are criticizing Reform UK over an MP's 'racist' remarks, Sunak is urging Chancellor Reeves to build fiscal headroom, and Birmingham eyes 'Zone 5' status with the HS2 rail link, alongside new education landscape reforms and senior ministers commenting on Starmer's government.

• Labour ministers round on Reform UK over MP’s ‘racist’ remarks — Financial Times -
• A new education landscape emerges for England — Financial Times -
• Sunak urges Reeves to build more fiscal headroom in next UK Budget — Financial Times -

• Starmer’s government has hit rock bottom, senior minister says — Financial Times -
• Met arrests Epping asylum seeker released from prison by accident — Financial Times -
• Birmingham eyes ‘Zone 5’ status with long-awaited HS2 — Financial Times -

Cal State is inviting tech companies to remake learning with A.I., **OpenAI reportedly shunned advisers on $1.5tn in deals, and Pinterest is courting Gen Z with a 'safer' social media strategy**.

• Cal State Invited Tech Companies to Remake Learning With A.I. — The New York Times Business -
• OpenAI shunned advisers on $1.5tn of deals — Financial Times -
• How Pinterest Is Courting Gen Z With ‘Safer’ Social Media — The New York Times Business -

Discussions center on whether the Fed will cut interest rates next week, the US economy facing paralysis due to polarization, and markets bracing for Argentine election outcomes, alongside a Texas 'Y'all Street Tax Plan and the 'political reality' of far-right lawmakers in the EU assembly.

• Opinion | The Y’all Street Tax Plan for Texas — Wall Street Journal -
• Trump warns Hamas to find hostage bodies as Israel launches new strike — Financial Times -
• Is the Fed certain to cut interest rates next week? — Financial Times -

• Polarisation paralyses the US economy — Financial Times -
• Abigail Spanberger fights the Democrats’ image problem in Virginia — Financial Times -
• Markets braced as Argentines go to the polls — Financial Times -
• Far-right lawmakers are ‘political reality’ in EU assembly, says top official — Financial Times -

Neutrogena is recalling makeup wipes due to bacterial contamination, **French police made arrests in an €88mn Louvre heist, and an NBA betting scandal involves a historic rowhouse, with other reports detailing a Hong Kong transparency parable and a CVC tax fraud probe in Spain**.

• Opinion | A Transparency Parable From Hong Kong — Wall Street Journal -
• The Odd History of the Rowhouse at the Center of the N.B.A. Betting Scandal — The New York Times Business -
• Neutrogena Recalls Makeup Wipes Over Bacterial Contamination Concerns — The New York Times Business -

• G. Michael Brown, Who Regulated and Then Ran Casinos, Dies at 82 — The New York Times Business -
• French police make first arrests in €88mn Louvre heist — Financial Times -
• Tulane Punished a High School After an Early Decision Student Backed Out — The New York Times Business -
• Ballroom blitz at the White House raises eyebrows — Financial Times -
• CVC tax fraud probe threatens to rock Spain’s private equity sector — Financial Times -