
US oil inventories rise 1.5M barrels last week: API
US oil inventories rose by 1.52 million barrels during the week ended Aug. 8, compared to Wall Street Journal's expectations for a fall of about one million barrels.
Distillate stocks jumped by 295,000 barrels during the same week, compared to expectations of 500,000 barrels rise.
Gasoline stocks fell by about 1.78 million barrels, compared to expectations of a 600,000 barrels drop.
At Aug. 12 close, Brent crude futures for October delivery fell by 0.8%, or 51 cents, to $66.12 a barrel.
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ArabGT
33 minutes ago
- ArabGT
G-Wagon Price In The US Exposes The Global EV Cost Divide
Electric cars aren't just about wild acceleration or futuristic gadgets anymore — these days, the real drama is in the price tag. And nothing illustrates that better than the G-Wagon price story with Mercedes' latest creation, the all-electric G580 EQ. In the US, Mercedes is offering a $9,500 discount (SAR 35,625) on lease deals for the electric G-Wagon. To put that into perspective, that discount alone is almost enough to buy a brand-new BYD Seagull in China. Imagine that — what's just a discount in America could get you a whole car elsewhere. It's the kind of contrast that makes the G-Wagon price a headline all on its own. Now, let's talk numbers. The G-Wagon price in its electric form starts at around $162,650 (SAR 609,937), making it one of the most expensive electric SUVs on the planet. For comparison, the gasoline-powered G550 is roughly $13,000 (SAR 48,750) cheaper. That difference alone is enough to make buyers pause before going electric. To ease the decision, Mercedes recently raised its leasing incentive from $7,500 to $9,500, with interest rates dipping as low as 4.3%. Still, these perks only apply to leasing — not to buying outright. And here's why: the electric G-Wagon is built outside the US, so it doesn't qualify for federal EV purchase credits. Leasing lets Mercedes pass some of those tax breaks along to customers, making the G-Wagon price a little more digestible for those who don't want to pay the full sticker price upfront. Meanwhile, things look completely different in China. Thanks to government subsidies and mass production, electric cars there are shockingly affordable. For the same value as the US discount, you could actually buy an entire entry-level EV. That's how far apart the markets are — the G-Wagon price in the US versus EV prices in China tells the story of two very different worlds. But let's be fair: the G-Wagon isn't trying to compete with budget EVs. This is a luxury icon. It keeps the same boxy silhouette enthusiasts love, but underneath lies a high-tech electric drivetrain delivering powerful yet whisper-quiet performance. Inside, the cabin is pure Mercedes — plush, digital, and packed with cutting-edge driver-assistance features. On top of that, it still has the legendary off-road capabilities that made the G-Class a star. Still, the conversation always circles back to the G-Wagon price. At well over $160,000, it's a symbol of prestige, exclusivity, and just how different the EV market looks depending on where you live.


Saudi Gazette
12 hours ago
- Saudi Gazette
Bolivia set to elect first non-left wing president in two decades
LA PAZ — Bolivia is set to elect a non-left wing president after nearly two decades of near-continuous rule by the incumbent socialist party, according to official preliminary results. Senator Rodrigo Paz Pereira and former president Jorge Quiroga came in first and second place respectively in Sunday's presidential elections. Neither received a high enough share of the vote to secure an outright win, so the vote will go to a run-off between these two candidates, due in October. Paz Pereira, of the Christian Democratic Party, was a surprise vote leader, after opinion polls had suggested Samuel Doria Medina, a businessman, was the frontrunner. The electoral authorities said it can take up to three days to finalise the results. Paz Pereira's campaign focused on redistributing more funds away from central government towards regional entities, and fighting corruption — with his slogan "capitalism for all, not just a few". He has suggested a programme of accessible credit, tax breaks to boost the formal economy, and eliminating import barriers for products that Bolivia doesn't manufacture. Quiroga briefly acted as interim president from 2001-2002 after serving as Vice President to Hugo Banzer, a military dictator until he was later elected. The election of a president from outside the left camp will likely see sharp changes in the Latin American country's foreign policy. In terms of trade, both candidate's capitalist stances could indicate more support for foreign investment in Bolivia's vast lithium reserves — the key ingredient for batteries used in many electric cars, laptops and solar panels. Politically, a change in government could mark closer ties with the US, after two decades of strengthening ties between Bolivia and China, Russia and Iran. A recent US Congress report briefing described US-Bolivia relations as "strained" under the socialist party's governance. The country's turn to the right comes as it is experiencing its worst economic crisis in years, with shortages of fuel, foreign reserves and some food items and high inflation and debt. Opinion polls ahead of the election suggested that many voters wanted to vote for change, or to punish the incumbent Movimiento al Socialismo (MAS) party. The current president, Luis Arce, mired in deep unpopularity, decided not to seek re-election. The punishment of the left is not just electoral, but physical in some cases. The candidate for MAS, Eduardo del Castillo, was booed out of the school where he cast his vote. Bolivian media reported that some fellow voters told him to "wait in line like they do for fuel" rather than skip the voting queue. People also threw stones at the highest-polling left-wing candidate, Andrónico Rodríguez, when he went to cast his ballot. Rodríguez was previously a member of MAS before splintering from the party. Authorities in Bolivia also said that an explosive device was set off at the polling station where Rodríguez cast his vote. There were no reports of significant damage or injuries. Rodríguez described it as an "isolated incident" orchestrated by a "small group" to a Bolivian newspaper. The left has not just faced recent unpopularity over the economy. It is also deeply divided. For the first time in about two decades, the former president, Evo Morales, was not on the ballot. Morales ruled the country from 2006-2019 and was barred from running again, despite attempts to challenge legal and constitutional rulings to let him run for a fourth term. He has urged his supporters to null their vote. Rodríguez was once seen as a protégé of Morales, but has since distanced himself from him. The last election in 2019 was disputed and protests erupted. Morales was accused of fraud after auditors found irregularities with the poll and he resigned under pressure from the military. In 2020, Luis Arce — a former finance minister under Morales — took office as president. Morales then announced he would return to politics in Bolivia, and deprived Arce of a majority — turning the pair from allies to rivals. Deep rifts and power struggles have existed in the ruling MAS party ever since. Morales's supporters have held protests and roadblocks against the re-election ban imposed on him, which have at times turned deadly with some emergency responders being killed. Judges ordered an arrest warrant for Morales over an alleged sexual relationship and rape of a 15-year-old girl. He has called the accusations politically-motivated. He has been living and operating from Chapare in Bolivia, protected at times by his supporters. — BBC

Al Arabiya
15 hours ago
- Al Arabiya
Australian court fines Qantas $59mln for illegal layoffs
An Australian court fined Qantas Aus$90 million (US$59 million) on Monday for illegally laying off 1,800 ground staff during the COVID-19 pandemic. Federal Court Justice Michael Lee said he wanted the fine to be a 'real deterrence' to firms that might be tempted by the financial rewards of breaching employment law. The penalty concluded a years-long court battle between unions and the carrier. Qantas decided to sack the workers and outsource their jobs in August 2020, a period of lockdowns and border closures when no COVID-19 vaccine existed. Australia's Federal Court subsequently found that Qantas had acted illegally despite its stated 'commercial imperatives' and later dismissed an appeal by the airline. Long-dubbed the 'Spirit of Australia', 104-year-old Qantas has been on a mission to repair its reputation, which has been hit in recent years by the illegal sackings, soaring ticket prices, claims of sloppy service and the selling of seats on already-cancelled flights. Qantas chief executive Vanessa Hudson took over in 2023, promising to improve customer satisfaction. She replaced Alan Joyce, who stepped down earlier than planned as Qantas endured heavy criticism over its treatment of workers and passengers, despite delivering bumper profits for shareholders. Qantas' fine is to be split into two parts, the court said, with Aus$50 million going to the Transport Workers Union and Aus$40 million being held for future payments to the former workers.