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Here's today's free edition. This is the World in Brief from The Economist.

Our top stories.

Joe Biden reportedly arranged virtual meetings

with congressional groups one day after delivering a closely watched press conference.

20 Democrats in the House of Representatives and one senator have publicly called on him to step aside.

In Thursday's news conference Mr Biden combined verbal gaffes with a firm grasp of foreign policy.

He promised to stay in the presidential race and, quote, complete the job.

China's trade surplus rose to $99 billion in June, an all-time high.

The government is throwing cash and manufacturing firms propelling exports.

At the same time, weak domestic demand has depressed imports.

The figures will spook China's trading partners who complain that the subsidies have allowed it to flood their markets with goods, including electric cars at cutthroat prices.

In response, America and the EU were hiking up tariffs on Chinese products.

America's most closely watched index of consumer sentiment, published by the University of Michigan, plunged to its lowest reading

in eight months in July, according to preliminary data.

Although inflation is easing, high prices are eroding living standards, weighing on consumer views of the economy.

Meanwhile, the producer price index, a leading indicator of inflation, rose 0.2% last month more than analysts were expecting.

Russia denied that it had conspired to assassinate Armin Papperger, the boss of Rhine-metall, Germany's biggest armsmaker.

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