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Van Viet Truong was critically injured after coming to the aid of a fellow retail worker in SunshineFollow our Australia news live blog for latest updatesGet our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcastCouncil flags are flying at half-mast in honour of a good Samaritan who died days after he was allegedly attacked by shoplifting youths outside a local shopping strip.Van Viet Truong was critically injured after he rushed to the aid of a fellow retail worker trying to stop the group stealing clothes at Sunshine in Melbourne’s west on Saturday, police allege. Continue reading...

• The AI boom is driving significant profit growth for multilayer ceramic capacitor (MLCC) suppliers, leading to price increases and a surge in long-term orders. • High demand for AI-related components is benefiting manufacturers in mainland China and Taiwan, as conventional production is crowded out by high-value AI needs. • Chaozhou Three-Circle Group recently raised 7.16 billion Hong Kong dollars ($913 million) through a July listing to fund global expansion.

• ENGIE has raised its 2026 outlook following strong financial results for the first half of the year. • The company reported CapEx of EUR 22.9 billion, driven largely by the EUR 19 billion acquisition of UK Power Networks. • While net debt increased due to the acquisition, the company noted that overall levels remain strong enough to support its ongoing investment plan.

• Eurobank has raised its 2026 outlook following strong financial results reported for the first half of the year. • CFO Harris Kokologiannis detailed a full-year Net Interest Income (NII) guidance of €4.5 billion, comprising €2.7 billion from H1 and an expected €1.8 billion for H2. • The bank is actively expanding its bond position and indicated it may acquire up to an additional €1 billion in bonds during the remainder of the year.

• European markets opened higher on Wednesday, with the FTSE 100 receiving a boost from strong corporate earnings reports. • Investors are currently positioning themselves ahead of a critical week of monetary policy decisions from three major central banks. • The Federal Reserve is scheduled to announce its decision on Wednesday, followed by the Bank of England on Thursday and the Bank of Japan on Friday.

• Manufacturing growth forecasts have been raised to 9%, driven primarily by the surge in AI-powered electronics. • In major financial moves, Allianz has acquired HSBC Life Singapore for $2.1 billion, while UOB is upgrading 300,000 Visa cards to premium tiers across ASEAN. • Singapore's global startup standing has seen a significant rise, climbing from 16th to 4th place over the last five years.

• India secured multiple medals on Day 4 of the 2026 Commonwealth Games, including a silver medal won by Sarvesh Kushare in the high jump. • The national tally grew further as weightlifters added three additional medals, while para athletes achieved historic milestones during their competitions. • These victories highlight India's growing dominance across diverse sporting disciplines and the successful integration of para-athletics into the games.

• Goldman Sachs has increased its 12-month target for Japan's TOPIX index from 4,400 to 4,500, suggesting a potential upside of approximately 12%. • The firm's optimistic outlook is driven by expectations that a weak yen will significantly boost Japanese corporate earnings. • This move comes as the TOPIX remains only 2% below its all-time high set in June, outperforming other Asia-Pacific markets with a stable forward P/E ratio of 16x to 17x.

Allowing use of two neonicotinoids to combat crop-ruining disease will kill bees and reduce harvests, union saysBeekeepers and environmentalists in France have reacted furiously after parliament approved a bill reauthorising two banned pesticides scientists say can poison bees.“There are no words to describe the frustration,” said Carolyn Bouguet, a beekeeper in Essonne, greater Paris. “Bee populations have already been badly compromised by climate change, new parasites and loss of habitat. And now this.” Continue reading...

• KBRA has affirmed the credit ratings for Old Second Bancorp, an Illinois-based lender, while upgrading its outlook to positive. • The rating action is driven by the company's improved earnings performance and strengthening capital trends. • This shift reflects a boost in the bank's overall financial profile, signaling increased stability and growth potential.

• Representatives from the CJP met with Union ministers JP Nadda and Jitendra Singh at the Constitution Club to discuss their demands. • A primary objective of the meeting was to call for the resignation of Minister Pradhan. • The CJP reports that the government has requested additional time to consider and respond to their grievances.

• South Korea's five largest financial groups achieved a record combined net income of 13.12 trillion won ($8.97 billion) during the first half of the year. • Shinhan Financial Group contributed to this growth with a 13.3 percent profit increase, driven by a 19.7 percent rise in noninterest income. • The rally was supported by strong performance in securities and asset management, which increased the nonbank share of group profit to 35 percent.

‘Wave of optimism’ is sparked by prospect of new PM, England football team’s progress and hot weatherConsumer confidence in the UK jumped this month by its biggest margin for nearly three years as the prospect of Andy Burnham becoming prime minister became almost certain.The data company GfK said a “Burnham bounce” along with a strong run by the men’s England football team at the World Cup and sunny weather had lifted the mood of consumers in its long-running monthly survey. Continue reading...

• The Euro weakened to approximately 1.1385 against the US Dollar on Thursday after the European Central Bank (ECB) decided to keep its key interest rates unchanged. • In its policy statement, the ECB highlighted that energy prices remain highly volatile and warned that the full inflationary impact of recent energy shocks has not yet materialized. • The decision reflects a cautious approach to monetary policy, as the bank intends to make future adjustments on a meeting-by-meeting basis based on economic data and inflation outlooks.

• The Nasdaq and S&P 500 rose on July 21, 2026, driven by strong corporate earnings reports that lifted overall market sentiment. • Key corporate drivers included General Motors beating second-quarter expectations and Nvidia disclosing a strategic stake in Nebius. • Investors are balancing these gains against geopolitical instability as traders monitor new U.S. military strikes against Iran.

• European shares saw a slight increase on Tuesday, with the pan-European STOXX 600 index rising 0.1% to reach 640.61 points. • Market sentiment was bolstered by falling oil prices, which were driven by reports of mediation efforts between the United States and Iran. • This recovery follows a weak start to the week as investors shift their focus toward a new cycle of corporate earnings reports.

Annual June figure comes after new PM pledges to reduce pressure on households and improve economyUK inflation dropped by more than expected in June to 2.6%, in a boost for Andy Burnham’s plans to reduce the cost of living.The new prime minister has pledged to bring down the cost of living to give households more disposable income and improve the outlook for the economy. Continue reading...

As new prime minister briefs cabinet on ‘cost of living government’, critics ask where money will come fromUK politics live – latest updatesAndy Burnham is under mounting pressure to explain how he will pay for his policy pledges as he implored his new cabinet to examine “all possible ways” to tackle the cost of living crisis.On his first full day in power, the prime minister faced questions about how he would fund the removal of VAT from electricity bills and also an expected uplift in defence spending – an issue that led his new chancellor, John Healey, to resign as Keir Starmer’s defence secretary last month. Continue reading...

Unemployment holds steady at 4.9%, underlining the challenge facing the new prime ministerBusiness live – latest updatesEmployers cut the number of job vacancies in May, according to official figures that highlight the UK’s “fragile” economic outlook amid the conflict in the Middle East.Job vacancies fell to 712,000 – almost half the level in 2022 – as employers put off hiring new staff in the three months to May, the Office for National Statistics said. Continue reading...

• Stock markets are reacting to several key catalysts this Monday, including new inflation data and retail margin usage trends. • Significant financing deals are highlighting growth in data center infrastructure, including a $3.2bn bond for TeraWulf backed by Google and a $27bn debt package for Meta’s Hyperion project with Blue Owl. • Broadcom is also receiving advisory services for a $35bn chip financing deal, signaling strong momentum in high-tech capital expenditures.

• JPMorgan Chase stock is trading near record highs following strong earnings momentum driven by higher interest income and robust credit quality. • The bank reported a substantial increase in annual net income, bolstered by non-interest revenue from trading, investment banking, and high consumer spending volumes. • This growth is significant as it solidifies JPMorgan's position as one of the most profitable banks globally while allowing for expanded capital returns and buybacks.

• 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.

Country begins 42-day countdown to outbreak being declared officially over, as numbers continue to rise in neighbouring Democratic Republic of the CongoUganda has started lobbying countries to lift Ebola-related travel restrictions after discharging its last confirmed Ebola patient from hospital.The discharge of a Congolese national from the Mulago national referral hospital’s isolation centre in Kampala on Thursday triggered the start of a 42-day countdown required by the World Health Organization before Uganda can officially be declared Ebola-free, provided no new infections are detected. Continue reading...

• 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 Indian benchmark indices opened higher on Wednesday, July 15, 2026, with the Sensex gaining 400 points and the Nifty trading near 24,150. • This upward movement is driven by positive investor sentiment following encouraging initial corporate results from the ongoing earnings season. • The surge reflects market confidence in corporate performance, which is currently the primary driver for the BSE and NSE.

• Asian stock markets declined as escalating tensions between the U.S. and Iran drove oil prices higher, creating volatility across the region. • South Korea's KOSPI experienced the steepest drop, sliding 5%, while Australia's S&P/ASX 200 fell 0.3% and India's Nifty 50 futures slipped 0.6%. • Hong Kong’s Hang Seng index remained largely unchanged, and Singapore’s Straits Times Index saw a minor decrease of 0.2%.

• Taiwan networking equipment makers reported record-high monthly revenues for June 2026, with several companies also achieving new quarterly and first-half records. • The growth was primarily driven by increased demand for AI data center expansions, high-speed switches, and broadband network upgrades. • These results highlight the critical role of Taiwanese manufacturers in supporting the global infrastructure needed for AI and Low Earth Orbit (LEO) satellite connectivity.

• LTIM reported its Q1 2027 financial results, with strong AI momentum driving a 4.7% increase in share price. • The company introduced several new Blueworx tools for integrated operations, data transformation, and cybersecurity, alongside a new outcome-based pricing model called Blueworx Currency. • To support growth, LTIM expanded its Blueworx Studio footprint with a new facility in Bangalore.