US-China Trade: China rejected new US forced-labour tariffs on 60 partners, saying unilateral duties and trade wars don’t serve either side, as Washington replaces expiring temporary levies with longer 10%-12.5% rates. Auto Industry: Volkswagen’s Q2 profit fell 32.9% as it faces cost pressure, weaker EV margins and tougher competition from Chinese rivals, prompting a cut to its annual outlook. Energy Markets: Brent jumped above $100 a barrel after Red Sea and Hormuz-related supply risks intensified, rattling global equities and raising near-term oil availability concerns. South China Sea: China Coast Guard water-cannoned Philippine vessels near Scarborough Shoal again, with Manila warning of collision risks and calling the actions dangerous. AI & Policy: US accusations that China’s Moonshot distilled Anthropic’s model and possible chip-access violations threaten a planned US-China AI safety dialogue, analysts warn. China Economy: China’s first-half performance signaled stronger momentum and higher-quality growth, with GDP up 4.7% and trade hitting record levels. Tech on the Factory Floor: Humanoid robots are moving from labs to production tests in Chinese garment factories, with firms pushing for mass deployment at scale. Logistics & Trade Infrastructure: Shanghai unveiled plans to become a premier international shipping hub by 2030, targeting higher port throughput and smarter, lower-carbon services.