An FDA committee, stacked with Kennedy-appointed members, voted to lift restrictions on manufacturing four peptides for human use, despite lacking safety and efficacy data, with decisions on three more peptides pending.
US business activity grew at its fastest pace in 8 months in July, driven by strong service sector demand, despite manufacturing declines and rising costs.
India's DRDO Gas Turbine Research Establishment (GTRE) successfully developed its first 350kg thrust-class expendable turbojet engine. This indigenous technology is crucial for platforms like cruise missiles and target drones, reducing import dependence and enhancing capabilities for non-contact kinetic warfare.
WuXi AppTec's Hong Kong-traded stock jumped 37% as major shareholders JPMorgan Chase, UBS Group, and BlackRock increased their stakes. The company is set to release its half-year earnings on August 3, with high market expectations.
The US Senate Commerce Committee approved the "Connected Vehicle Security Act of 2026," which bans vehicles from companies with over 15% Chinese ownership. This legislation could bar Mercedes-Benz (due to 20% Chinese investment) and Polestar (majority-owned by Geely) from the American market, prompting concerns from European automakers.
Qantas's new Airbus A350-1000ULR, designed for ultra long-distance commercial flights, landed in Melbourne, Australia, after a 19-hour test flight from Toulouse, France. This marks a step towards the Sydney-London direct route, planned for October 2027, despite previous delays.
US Democrats, led by Reps. Khanna, Suozzi, and Dingell, introduced a bill to create an Industrial Bank for American Manufacturing. Funded by up to $15bn annually from China tariffs, it aims to revitalize domestic manufacturing, particularly in de-industrialized areas, supporting small and medium-sized businesses.
Despite Donald Trump's push to revive US manufacturing, companies like Zion Foodtrucks in Colorado face increased costs from steel and aluminum tariffs and higher fuel prices due to the Iran war, leading to decreased business and tougher competition from Mexican manufacturers.
A proposed $200M Future Portland Hardwood Timber Manufacturing Hub in Victoria, Australia, aims to produce glue-laminated timber from local blue gum, replacing imports and creating jobs. This addresses timber demand post-native logging and supports the national housing target.
A collision between the Wind Orca and BG Orange ships at the Port of Tyne caused up to 25 tonnes of plastic nurdles, roughly a billion pellets, to spill into the River Tyne. The nurdles have spread along the coastline, posing a threat to marine life and the environment.
President Trump proposed tariffs up to 200% on imported generic medicines after a two-year grace period, aiming to boost U.S. production. The generic drug industry, operating on thin margins, warns that shifting manufacturing domestically within the timeframe is challenging and could lead to market exits or price increases, impacting patient access to affordable medicines.
TSMC is committing over $200 billion to advanced semiconductor manufacturing in the U.S., driven by President Trump's pressure and tariff threats. This expansion, while boosting market cap, is increasing production costs and diluting gross margins, despite strong demand from the AI boom.
China's electric vehicle industry is being examined as a potential blueprint for developing countries to foster their own domestic champions. Electrification has lowered traditional entry barriers, and China's vast supply chain offers a faster foothold for aspiring carmakers.
The global semiconductor manufacturing equipment market is projected to reach a record high of $229.5 billion by 2028, driven by increased investment in AI infrastructure, advanced logic chips, and next-generation memory products like HBM, according to a SEMI report.
As trade tensions with China escalate, EU officials are engaging Beijing to de-escalate while simultaneously preparing for a potential trade war to protect its industries from deindustrialisation. Brussels aims to acquire retaliatory tools to counter coercive trade practices.
Azerbaijan and Germany are deepening ties beyond energy, with bilateral trade reaching €1.7 billion in 2025. Over 250 German companies operate in Azerbaijan, driven by Europe's push to diversify supply chains from Russia and Azerbaijan's strategic role in the Middle Corridor.
A new leftwing manifesto from the Australian Manufacturing Workers' Union (AMWU) proposes significant tax reforms, including a new rate for high earners, wealth and inheritance taxes, and increased revenue from gas companies. These proposals aim to fund free education, higher welfare payments, and nationalised aged care, setting a progressive backdrop for the Labor party's national conference in Adelaide.
TSMC, the world's largest contract chipmaker, reported record quarterly profits and raised its revenue outlook, driven by robust demand for AI chips. The Taiwan-based company also announced an additional $100 billion investment to expand its advanced chip manufacturing capacity in the US.
TSMC announced June revenue surged 67.9% year-on-year to NT$398.27 billion, pushing first-half revenue to NT$2.4 trillion. Q2 revenue of NT$1.27 trillion surpassed analyst forecasts, driven by robust AI demand and global manufacturing expansion.
Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company (TSMC) has re-entered the top 10 most valuable companies globally, driven by the artificial intelligence (AI) boom. Its stock rallied, pushing market capitalization to a record high, surpassing Broadcom, with analysts expecting further growth.
A Chinese research team, led by PhD student Wang Yi, has developed a new fabrication method for 3D integrated photonics, drastically cutting production time from hours to seconds, addressing a major manufacturing bottleneck in the field.
Taiwanese chipmaker TSMC to invest $100bn in Arizona, creating tens of thousands of US jobs, boosting President Trump's manufacturing drive, with total US commitment now $265bn.
China has reportedly activated a functional prototype of an indigenous EUV lithography system in Shenzhen, a significant development in the global chip war. This breakthrough challenges Western assumptions about China's access to advanced semiconductor manufacturing technology.
Overseas capital has flowed into China's advanced manufacturing and technology sectors at an unprecedented rate, reaching a record 3.13 trillion yuan in mainland equity holdings by the end of Q2 2026. This shift signifies a move away from traditional consumer and financial stocks towards industries supporting Beijing's tech self-sufficiency goals.
