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This is the world in brief from The Economist.

Our top stories. Ursula von der Leyen, the president of the European Commission, said she will meet Donald Trump on Sunday in Scotland to discuss trade.

A draft deal between America and the European Union would reportedly set tariffs of 15% on the bloc's exports. That is down from the 30% the Mr. Trump

threatened to impose if the side fails to reach a deal by August 1st.

Marco Rubio said America, quote, strongly rejects the plan of fraud. fails to reach a deal by August 1st.

Marco Rubio said America, quote, strongly rejects the plan of France's president,

Emmanuel Macron, to recognize Palestine as a state.

America's Secretary of State called it, quote, a slap in the face to the victims of Hamas's attack on Israel on October 7th,

2023. Israel's Prime Minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, also condemned France's decision,

saying such a move, quote, rewards terror and risks creating another Iranian proxy.

Volkswagen's profits took a 1.33 billion euro or $1.5 billion hit in the first half of 2025 as a result of American tariffs.

The German carmaker, which owns Audi and Porsche, said profits fell 33% from a year earlier to 6.7 billion euros.

In response, VW's boss promised, quote, huge investments in the United States

and the possibility of a deal with America on a, quote, company level, for car companies.

Thailand's acting prime minister warned that clashes between his country and Cambodia

could, quote, move towards war.

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