Fuel

• Actress Kangana Ranaut criticized Hrithik Roshan on August 2, 2026, regarding a viral "we need to apologise" social media trend. • Ranaut urged the actor to "stop adding fuel to fire," signaling a resurgence of the long-standing public feud between the two stars. • The clash highlights the volatile nature of celebrity disputes and their ability to dominate digital trends and entertainment news cycles.

Chancellor says the government wants to prevent shoppers being ‘taken for a ride’ at the pump or tillThe chancellor, John Healey, has said the government is standing by to prevent the public from “being taken for a ride at the pump or the till” as the Iran war continues to hit prices.While he said there had been “no significant evidence of so-called price gouging” during the crisis, he used a weekend column to tell the big retailers that ministers were “watching closely” for any signs of profiteering. Continue reading...

Australians bought EVs and hybrids at nearly same rate as petrol cars between April and June, Australian Automobile Association data showsGet our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcastAustralians are now buying electric and hybrid vehicles at the same rate as traditional petrol-powered cars, according to new data that shows EV sales doubled in the months after the peak of the fuel price spike.Fuel prices are again on track to top $2 a litre, after the federal government’s fuel excise reductions – introduced to offset the impact of the ongoing crisis in the Middle East – came to an end on Sunday. Continue reading...

Increase in annual pay packets began from August 1. Follow updatesThe deputy leader of the opposition, Jane Hume, will appear on ABC’s Insiders after 9.Petrol prices set to rise as fuel excise relief endsObviously we always monitor the situation and take steps as necessary, but our policy decision is clear. Continue reading...

• European markets rose midday Thursday as a surge in technology stocks fueled investor risk appetite. • The trend follows Wednesday's Federal Reserve decision, with short-term yields dropping to support tech valuations and weaken the U.S. dollar. • SPI Asset Management analyst Stephen Innes noted that while markets believe tightening may be delayed, there is lingering skepticism regarding the Fed's control over inflation expectations.

Petrol now costs more than $1.90 a litre in every capital city, with diesel expected to exceed $2.40 a litrePetrol prices could surpass $2 a litre and diesel $2.40 in coming days, after the government’s 16-cent discount ends on Sunday.The 32-cent per litre reduction in fuel excise, introduced in March at the peak of the fuel price spike, was halved to 16 cents in July. Continue reading...

• Asia-Pacific stocks rose for a second consecutive day, driven largely by a recovery in South Korean markets fueled by semiconductor giants SK Hynix and Samsung. • The Japanese yen surged abruptly while the US dollar declined following the Federal Reserve's decision to keep interest rates unchanged. • Long-term Treasury yields reached new multi-year highs as investors reacted to the Fed's steady rates amidst persistent inflation.

Boom in solar farms and home installations in first half of 2026 began shortly after start of US-Israel war against IranGreat Britain has recorded more new solar power installations in the first half of this year than in any six-month period since 2011, as households turn to rooftop panels to help cut their energy bills.An analysis of the government’s official figures shows that Great Britain added 142,536 solar installations in the first six months of the year, putting it on track to top last year’s record solar additions. Continue reading...

• South Korea's Kospi index plummeted over 11% on Wednesday, marking a significant 43% drop from its June peak of 9,386 to 5,311.77. • The crash was driven by intense selling pressure on heavyweight chipmakers Samsung Electronics and SK Hynix, despite both companies reporting strong earnings. • Capitalmind CEO suggests that the volatility was fueled by speculative trading, specifically citing 3x leveraged single stock ETFs as "pure gambling."

• Lam Research reported record fiscal fourth-quarter results on July 29, accompanied by stronger-than-expected future guidance. • The company's growth is driven by surging demand for artificial intelligence, which is accelerating global investments in semiconductor manufacturing equipment. • This trend is fueling expansion across Lam Research's core business segments, specifically in etching, deposition, and related services.

• The Nasdaq surged 2%, driven primarily by strong performance in Microsoft and various semiconductor stocks. • Market activity occurred as investors analyzed megacap tech earnings and the Federal Reserve's recent decision to maintain current interest rates. • In contrast, European markets showed mixed or negative trends, with Germany's DAX down 0.27% and the U.K.'s FTSE 100 projected to drop 0.84%.

• Asian stock markets experienced a significant decline, highlighted by South Korea's KOSPI sinking 8% and Taiwan's benchmark index falling nearly 4%. • The sell-off was driven by a combination of AI-related jitters, geopolitical tensions following Iranian attacks, and fears that China's growing semiconductor ecosystem will pressure established chipmakers. • Other regional markets also retreated, with Hong Kong’s Hang Seng easing about 1.5% and mainland China’s Shanghai Composite and CSI 300 both declining over 0.5%.

• NASA has successfully supplied the fuel for the next-generation Roman Space Telescope in preparation for its upcoming mission. • The telescope is currently scheduled for launch in August, marking a significant milestone in the agency's deep-space observation capabilities. • This mission is critical for advancing astronomical discoveries and expanding our understanding of the universe's evolution.

• The global supply of AI chips is doubling every nine months, creating an unprecedented surge in computing power for the technology industry. • According to research firm Epoch AI, there are currently approximately 20 million AI chips deployed across data centers worldwide to support evolving AI capabilities. • This rapid scaling is critical because breakthroughs in AI performance are directly tied to corresponding jumps in available hardware and processing power.

• Asian stock markets experienced a significant decline, highlighted by South Korea's KOSPI sinking 8% and Taiwan's benchmark index falling nearly 4%. • The sell-off was driven by a combination of AI-related jitters, geopolitical tensions following Iranian attacks, and fears that China's growing semiconductor ecosystem will pressure established chipmakers. • Other regional markets also retreated, with Hong Kong’s Hang Seng dropping about 1.5% and mainland China’s Shanghai Composite and CSI 300 declining over 0.5%.

More electric vehicles sold in first half of 2026 than whole of last year, new data showsFollow our Australia news live blog for latest updatesGet our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcastAustralians bought more electric vehicles in the first six months of 2026 than the whole of the previous year, new data shows, as the ongoing crisis in the Middle East causes uncertainty about petrol prices.There were 103,855 battery electric vehicles (EVs) sold nationally between January and June, compared with 103,269 in 2025, according to data from VFacts and the Electric Vehicle Council. Continue reading...

• Microsoft and French AI startup Mistral announced a multi-billion-dollar strategic partnership on July 21 to expand Europe's sovereign AI infrastructure. • Mistral's latest models, "Medium 3.5" and "OCR 4," are now available on the Microsoft Foundry development platform. • The Medium 3.5 model has been integrated into Microsoft Copilot Studio, enabling corporate customers to build and deploy customized multilingual AI agents.

• JPMorgan Chase issued a research report warning that the "earnings fuel" driving U.S. stock growth is depleting as the upside for earnings revisions narrows. • Despite strong second-quarter results and raised full-year guidance from companies like BNY Mellon, Johnson & Johnson, and ServiceNow, the S&P 500 faces significant resistance at record highs. • The report highlights a disconnect where individual giants like Goldman Sachs, Tesla, and Google are beating expectations, yet overall market momentum is stalling.

Budget airline, which has two US investment firms vying to buy it, also affected by passengers booking laterThe low-cost airline easyJet has revealed a 70% slide in profits because of soaring fuel costs and later bookings as a result of the conflict in Iran, only weeks after it agreed to a £5.7bn takeover.The carrier reported a pre-tax profit of £85m between April and June compared with £286m during the same period a year earlier, as its fuel costs increased by £105m after the outbreak of hostilities in the Middle East in late February sent energy prices rocketing. Continue reading...

• Alphabet, the parent company of Google, has increased its capital expenditures (CAPEX) guidance, sparking a rally in the domestic stock market. • This positive momentum contributed to a significant surge in the KOSPI, which rose by over 3%. • The move is critical as investors seek evidence that massive infrastructure investments in artificial intelligence (AI) will lead to sustainable profitability.

Experts warn global energy market at a ‘critical juncture’ with escalating Middle East crisis expected to further drag on a slowing Australian economyFollow our Australia news live blog for latest updatesGet our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcastThe likelihood of a Reserve Bank interest rate hike has doubled according to market forecasts, as the escalating Middle East crisis once again drives fuel prices higher amid dwindling global oil reserves.The total breakdown in the fragile ceasefire between the United States and Iran has sent the international Brent crude benchmark surging by 23% over the past two weeks and back within reach of $US90 a barrel. Continue reading...

Interviews with residents of Russian-held region point to frustration with Moscow as Ukrainian campaign to isolate it takes toll on daily lifeFirst, the guests stopped coming. As Ukrainian drones and missiles pounded Crimea throughout the spring and into the summer, Russian tourists began cancelling their bookings at the small guesthouse Marina runs in Yevpatoria, a resort town on the peninsula’s Black Sea coast.Then petrol became scarce, making it harder to stock the business with food and other essentials. Now, electricity and running water are cut off for much of the day, just as the summer heat sets in. Continue reading...

• Smoke from hundreds of active Canadian wildfires has blanketed the US Northeast, Great Lakes, and Mid-Atlantic regions, pushing air pollution to dangerous levels. • The toxic haze has caused widespread disruptions to daily life, including the cancellation or modification of sporting events and transportation delays. • This environmental crisis has reignited political tensions between Washington and Ottawa regarding cross-border disaster management and the urgent need to address climate change.

• South Korea is experiencing a stock market frenzy driven by AI speculation, leading to sharp price swings and increased volatility. • Market movements are being fueled by leveraged investment products rather than corporate fundamentals, unsettling both regulators and investors. • This instability complicates the valuation of South Korean equities, which is critical given the nation's role as a primary supplier of AI-related semiconductor technology.

• European airlines are facing increased risks of insolvency and restructuring due to rising fuel costs triggered by the conflict in Iran. • The surge in oil prices is expected to hit the industry particularly hard during the peak summer travel season. • Smaller carriers are identified as the most vulnerable to these financial pressures, as they lack the capital buffers of larger airlines.

• ASML, Europe's largest company by market capitalization, has raised its 2026 total net sales forecast to between €43 billion and €45 billion. • The Veldhoven-based firm also increased its projected gross margin to between 54% and 56%, up from the previous estimate of 51% to 53%. • This upgrade reflects the company's continued growth driven by the global AI boom, causing its share price to rise by more than 5%.

• The UN human Rights Office (OHCHR) reports that Sudan's war economy is creating a "self-perpetuating" cycle of conflict, where the exploitation of resources fuels ongoing violence. • The OHCHR is calling on warring parties and international corporations involved in the Sudanese commodity value chain to strictly comply with international law. • This situation is critical as the financial incentives derived from illegal trade and resource control provide the means for combatants to sustain prolonged military operations.

• An Indian-origin crew member was killed and eight others injured after Iranian missiles struck UAE tankers in the Strait of Hormuz on July 14, 2026. • Arvind Kejriwal is scheduled to visit activist Sonam Wangchuk's protest site on July 16, as Wangchuk enters day 16 of a hunger strike regarding NEET. • India and the United States have reached an agreement on a trade deal framework, marking a significant step in bilateral economic relations.