US President Donald Trump's visit to China this week comes as the rivalry between the world's two largest economies is increasingly shaped by economic competition, technological leadership and global influence.
Volkswagen's labour representatives on the supervisory board rejected a major restructuring plan reportedly including 100,000 job cuts and four plant closures. The plan was voted down 12-7. The company reported an 8.6% drop in Q2 vehicle deliveries.
EasyJet's board has accepted Apollo Global Management's cash offer of £7.15 per share, valuing the airline at £5.7 billion, surpassing Castlelake's previous bid. The airline faces regulatory hurdles within EU law regarding ownership and control.
In 2025, nearly one million people worldwide joined the ranks of US dollar millionaires, with the US leading in absolute numbers. Eastern European countries, particularly Lithuania, saw the fastest percentage growth in new millionaires.
ECB President Christine Lagarde stated the digital euro will complement, not replace, cash and is not designed for payment tracing. The European Parliament approved its negotiating mandate, moving closer to adoption by end-2026. Lagarde emphasized strengthening Europe's payment autonomy.
Spain's Finance Minister Carlos Cuerpo proposed a new "European Sovereign Facility" for joint EU borrowing to strengthen the euro's international role amid geopolitical uncertainty. The mechanism aims to centralize debt, reduce costs, and build a €5 trillion stock within five years, though some member states oppose further joint debt.
The European Commission has initiated an investigation into Chinese Peking duck imports following complaints from EU producers about unfairly low prices and alleged subsidies. This move escalates trade tensions between the EU and China, potentially impacting ongoing negotiations.
