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Boeing and Airbus are scrutinizing forged paperwork used to authenticate titanium parts for commercial jets, such as the A220, A320, and A350, amid safety concerns. Regulators are investigating the issue, while Boeing requests decade-long records on Chinese titanium from suppliers and distributor Titanium International Group. Last year, CFM International revealed falsified documentation for engine components. Titanium scarcity is exacerbated by high demand for planes, with Western nations seeking alternatives to Russian and Chinese metals. The scrutiny follows a 737 MAX 9 incident and highlights the importance of ensuring the authenticity of aerospace-grade titanium used in critical aircraft components.

China, through the NFSRA, stockpiles diverse minerals, from copper to aluminum, raising monitoring concerns. This accumulation, suspected for strategic or economic motives, echoes historical instances preceding conflicts. Notably, parallels are drawn to Germany and Japan's pre-World War II mineral maneuvers. China's mineral hoarding, amidst global disruptions like the pandemic and geopolitical tensions, aims at fortifying against trade pressures. This strategy, pivotal for national stability, impacts global economics and geopolitical dynamics, despite China facing internal economic challenges.

European and Asian stocks show mixed reactions amid Fed rate cut expectations and tech sector weakness. Despite a Chinese policy easing outlook, the CSI 300 faces its worst week since February. Meanwhile, US GDP growth accelerates, prompting concerns about inflation risks. In the corporate world, Mercedes-Benz reports a 19% earnings drop, while Eni raises profit guidance. Elsewhere, the Nasdaq 100 experiences a tech slump, and the yen gains traction, fueling speculation of a BOJ rate hike. Hong Kong stocks rebound on hopes of Chinese policy easing, with notable gains in various sectors. Amidst uncertainty, the DAX and Wall Street exhibit stability, with Ford facing challenges in the electric vehicle market. Analysts anticipate future US interest rate cuts and identify opportunities in the current market climate.

After a recent anomaly with the Falcon 9 rocket, SpaceX has been designated ready for launch by the FAA. The issue, caused by a liquid oxygen leak, prevented the deployment of 20 Starlink satellites. Despite previous incidents, the Falcon 9 has a successful track record with 364 launches, including missions for NASA to the ISS. The FAA found no public safety risks, allowing SpaceX to resume operations from Vandenberg Space Force Base in California.

The Pentagon has discovered a booking error in previous weapons deliveries, allowing for additional military aid to be sent to Ukraine. The error stems from difficulties in accurately assessing stocks from the US military. This comes after it was determined a year ago that the value of previous deliveries was overestimated by $6.2 billion, and now another difference of $2 billion has been discovered. In other news, Czech President Petr Pavel stated that real peace negotiations for the war in Ukraine can only happen with the participation of Russia and China. He believes that without their involvement, there will be no peace negotiations. Meanwhile, Belarusian state television has shown a video of the German citizen Rico Krieger, who has been sentenced to death in Belarus, pleading for mercy from President Alexander Lukashenko. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has praised the progress in the country's defense industry, particularly in the development of long-range drones. Additionally, a drone attack on a Russian railway ferry by Ukrainian forces has reportedly caused logistical problems for Russia's occupation forces in southern Ukraine and the regional export of liquefied gas.

Researchers have calculated that a generic version of the AIDS drug Lenacapavir could cost as little as $40 per patient, a significant reduction from the current price of $40,000. Lenacapavir, developed by Gilead, has the potential to revolutionize the fight against AIDS and has shown a 100% success rate in preventing HIV transmission. The drug, which only needs to be injected twice a year, could act like a vaccine and effectively stop the transmission of HIV. However, with the current price, most people cannot afford the treatment. Researchers estimate that a generic version could be produced at a much lower cost based on raw material prices and conversations with generic manufacturers in China and India. Gilead is facing pressure to allow generic versions of Lenacapavir, with the UNAIDS director urging the company to make history and save lives. Gilead states that it has been in discussions with governments and NGOs to ensure widespread access to Lenacapavir. While the drug is still awaiting clinical trial results for HIV prevention, it has the potential to provide an affordable and life-saving treatment option for the millions of people worldwide who currently lack access to effective HIV treatment.

In response to increasing US export restrictions, Nvidia collaborates with Inspur to create a China-specific AI chip, slated for a Q2 2025 release. Facing competition from Huawei and Tencent, Nvidia's China revenue share dropped from 26% to 17%. The upcoming B20 chip is a revised model to comply with regulations and will offer reduced power and precision. Despite challenges, Nvidia remains dedicated to the Chinese market, essential to its global presence.

China's housing sector is facing ongoing challenges despite possible rescue measures. The sector has implemented reforms including changes in financing, presale, and property tax. Additionally, 300 billion yuan has been allocated to address excess inventory. However, weak demand, falling prices, and a 4.7% Q2 GDP growth, along with Goldman's GDP contribution cut, indicate the difficulties the sector is facing. The impact of these challenges on the real economy may take years to fully manifest. China's central bank has also taken measures to combat the economic slowdown by cutting key rates to record lows. However, these monetary policies alone may not be sufficient to address the crisis in the housing sector. The sector's struggles are further exacerbated by high levels of debt in local governments and the fact that the previous construction boom was fueled by borrowing. In addition, China's Third Plenum has announced reforms aimed at reducing systemic risks related to real estate, local debt, and financial issues. However, experts believe that these measures are unlikely to fully solve China's entrenched economic challenges. The country's large production capacity, weak domestic demand, and rising global protectionism also pose additional obstacles to economic recovery. China's rural land reform, on the other hand, is seen as a potential solution to address the rural-urban income gap and support the goal of common prosperity. The reform allows farmers to commercially utilize their homes through renting, shareholding, and cooperation, which helps in boosting their incomes. It also aims to integrate migrant workers by safeguarding their rural property rights. The implementation of the reform will require legislation to break down restrictions on using rural property as collateral for loans and allow commercial use of homes owned by village collectives to support urbanization.

According to a UN report, global new HIV infections have declined, but have risen in eastern Europe, central Asia, the Middle East, and north Africa. Marginalized groups such as sex workers, transgender women, and gay men face discriminatory laws that limit their access to care. Despite progress, young women in sub-Saharan Africa remain vulnerable. While new long-acting HIV treatments are available in wealthy countries, they are not yet accessible in developing nations. Achieving the goal of ending AIDS by 2030 requires protecting human rights, addressing the debt crisis, increasing aid, expanding access to new treatments, and reducing inequalities. Challenges that remain include the criminalization of high-risk populations, stigma and discrimination, and limited access to resources.

China aims to boost the economy through reforms targeting private enterprises. A package of measures includes reforms in financing, taxes, land, and housing. The Central Committee and Communist Party are driving these plans forward, with a focus on national security and key areas. Despite a 4.7% GDP growth in the last quarter, the details of implementation and goals remain unclear and partially contradictory. The promotion of jobs for youth and improvement of living standards for seniors are also key objectives. The article highlights the need for a balance between national security concerns and economic considerations, as well as the importance of implementing immediate reforms to increase productivity and GDP growth. Fiscal reform and liberalizing the hukou system are suggested as possible solutions. Rebalancing regional investment allocation and allowing market forces to determine resource allocation are also discussed.

The US Secretary of State Antony Blinken has warned that Iran is just 'one or two weeks' away from having enough fissile material to build a nuclear weapon. Blinken stated that the withdrawal from the nuclear agreement has significantly shortened the timeline for Iran to acquire the capability to produce this material. He emphasized that while Iran has not yet developed nuclear weapons, the current situation is concerning and closely monitored by the US government. The US continues to prefer a diplomatic approach to prevent Iran from possessing nuclear weapons. The 2015 nuclear agreement between the US, France, Germany, the UK, Russia, and China aimed to prevent Iran from developing nuclear weapons. However, in 2018, the US unilaterally withdrew from the agreement, leading Iran to gradually disregard its commitments. Efforts to revive the agreement have been unsuccessful so far. The newly elected Iranian President, Ebrahim Raisi, has expressed his intention to revive the nuclear agreement in order to end his country's isolation.

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken has warned that Iran is only 'one or two weeks' away from obtaining enough fissile material to produce a nuclear weapon. The withdrawal of the US from the 2015 nuclear deal has accelerated Iran's progress in its nuclear program. Blinken emphasized that although Iran has not yet developed nuclear weapons, the current situation is concerning. The US government is closely monitoring the developments and remains committed to preventing Iran from acquiring a nuclear weapon. Efforts to revive the nuclear agreement have been unsuccessful, with negotiations stalling since the US withdrawal in 2018. The international community, including the US, France, Germany, the UK, Russia, and China, had signed the agreement with Iran to prevent its development of nuclear weapons. The new Iranian president has expressed a desire to revive the agreement. However, Iran's recent actions, including enriching uranium to 60%, suggest a growing capability to produce fissile material. The US continues to prioritize diplomatic solutions to address the Iranian nuclear threat.

In his acceptance speech as the Republican presidential nominee, Donald Trump pledged to impose high tariffs on car imports, including those from China, with the aim of revitalizing the US auto manufacturing industry. While he did not repeat his previous promise to impose 60% tariffs on Chinese goods, Trump maintained a tough stance on trade with China. He criticized President Joe Biden's support for electric vehicles, calling them 'green new scams.' Experts suggest that Trump's targeting of specific industries, such as EVs, may have limited impact on China, as the US is a small market for Chinese electric car manufacturers. However, there may still be room for the US and China to address their trade disputes and potentially revive the 2020 Phase 1 trade agreement requiring China to buy an additional $200 billion of American goods and services.

Netflix has gained eight million new subscribers in the second quarter, surpassing expectations. The company now has a total of 277.7 million subscribers. Netflix also exceeded Wall Street's revenue expectations, reaching $9.56 billion. Additionally, the company reported a net profit of $2.15 billion. This growth comes as Netflix continues to crack down on password sharing, and it has seen increases in previous quarters as well. The streaming service plans to release new games, stream NFL games on Christmas 2024, redesign its interface, and provide more information about its content. The $6.99 monthly ad-supported service is responsible for four million of the new accounts. Netflix has also experienced notable growth in the Asia-Pacific region, adding 2.8 million new accounts, and closed the first half of the year with 17 million new accounts, its best first half since 2020.

Chip stocks experienced a significant decline, losing $480 billion in value due to concerns over China trade tensions and recent comments made by former President Trump regarding Taiwan. The US is considering tightening export restrictions on advanced semiconductor technology to China, which has contributed to the decline in chip stocks. Major companies such as ASML Holding, Nvidia, AMD, Qualcomm, Micron, Broadcom, and Arm saw their stocks drop by 5-11%. However, some US manufacturers like Intel, GlobalFoundries, and Texas Instruments benefited from the situation. The world's largest contract chipmaker, TSMC, also experienced a 6% fall in stock price due to Trump's Taiwan defense comments. Overall, the chip industry is facing increased uncertainty and potential restrictions that could impact global markets. Investors are closely monitoring the situation and its potential impact on the stock market and semiconductor sector.

UK wage growth slowed, but economists expect a rate cut from the Bank of England. Global chip stocks tumbled due to tighter US export restrictions. Tech-heavy markets like Nasdaq and S&P 500 fell in response. Investors reacted to Trump's comments on Taiwan, causing a slump in semiconductor stocks. Concerns about US policy on Taiwan and enhanced tariffs on China-made goods are growing. Hong Kong and other major Asian markets also declined. The Nasdaq suffered its worst loss since 2022, with chip stocks leading the decline. UK jobs market cooled as wage growth slowed, but unemployment remained steady. Real wage growth reached its highest in over 2.5 years. The Bank of England is considering interest rate cuts. Tech-led stock losses are expected to continue in Europe. TSMC is set to report strong profit despite pressure from Trump's comments.