Foxconn reported a 35 percent increase in net income for the second quarter, reaching $59.97 billion New Taiwan dollars ($1.86 billion), surpassing analyst estimates of $58.38 billion New Taiwan dollars. The company's growth is driven by soaring demand for AI servers, with a 40 percent year-on-year revenue jump reported in the same period. Foxconn, the largest maker of Nvidia's servers and Apple's primary iPhone assembler, is expanding production in India and building factories in Mexico and Texas to meet the rising demand for AI infrastructure.
Liberal senator Andrew Bragg proposed lowering net migration to 180,000 per year, the lowest figures since the mid-2000s, citing a housing shortfall that could be rectified with this reduction. Although Bragg remains steadfast in his target, his colleagues, including opposition leader Angus Taylor, have not publicly committed to specific migration numbers. The Albanese government forecasts net overseas migration to gradually drop from 295,000 to 225,000 over the next few years, while One Nation aims to cap visas at 130,000 annually without further clarity.
On Wednesday, approximately 980 million people across parts of the Northern Hemisphere will have the opportunity to observe a solar eclipse, with totality visible in locations such as Greenland, Iceland, and northern Spain. The eclipse will begin at 15:34 GMT, reaching totality around 17:46 GMT for about two minutes, with specific timings varying by location. Viewers are advised to use certified solar eclipse glasses for safe viewing, as regular sunglasses are insufficient to protect against retinal damage.
Russia and Ukraine have engaged in drone attacks resulting in the deaths of three people: two in Ukraine's Kherson and one child in Russia's Novorossiysk, where the attack also injured others and damaged numerous buildings, including homes and a grain terminal. Additionally, Ukrainian officials reported a separate Russian drone attack that killed two in Kherson, injured at least two, and caused a fire at a shopping mall in Zaporizhzhia, affecting power for around 1,200 consumers. Amidst these ongoing hostilities, Ukrainian President Zelenskyy has proposed a plan to end the conflict, while discussions have stalled, with Russia demanding territorial concessions from Ukraine.
Singapore and South Korea have removed Trader Joe's Everything But the Bagel seasoning from e-commerce platforms due to its poppy seed content, which is banned in both countries. Over 20 online listings were taken down after authorities in Seoul found the seasoning tested positive for morphine and codeine. Singapore's Central Narcotics Bureau has urged the public to dispose of the product, emphasizing their strict zero-tolerance policy towards controlled drugs under the Misuse of Drugs Act.
President Donald Trump revealed that he secretly switched planes due to a potential assassination threat from Iran during a NATO summit in Turkiye on July 8, claiming he faced a "greater risk" on the decoy plane. The plane switch involved the president being moved between aircraft in a catering truck to a military plane in Ankara, while the original Air Force One continued carrying journalists and aides unaware of the change. The details of the incident were not disclosed publicly until reported by The Washington Post, despite the White House remaining silent at the time.
The German Cabinet is set to approve a more than 700-page reform package that grants greater powers to the domestic (BfV) and foreign (BND) intelligence agencies to combat rising hybrid threats, though it faces criticism for potentially infringing on civil rights. Meanwhile, transport ministers are convening to address challenges in inland shipping due to low river levels, with Federal Transport Minister Steffen Bilger noting that the current water shortages affecting rivers like the Rhine will likely persist until the end of August. Despite assurances that there are no immediate supply shortfalls, measures are being discussed to shift cargo transport from waterways to road and rail in anticipation of potential supply issues.
In Jericho, West Bank, the area of Ein al-Duyuk has witnessed extensive demolition of Palestinian homes by settlers, with bulldozers led by settler Hanan Herbst destroying properties and blockading access, leaving rubble piles reaching over two meters high. Since July 19, excavators have operated daily under the guise of "clearing waste," with settlers acting without legal orders and state authorities facilitating the destruction, as described by residents like Mohammad Salah. The situation culminated in a violent settler attack on February 10, described as a "pogrom," where dozens of masked settlers ravaged the area shortly after Israeli Heritage Minister Amichai Eliyahu issued a provocative statement about destroying any site tied to Jewish heritage.
In Khan Younis, Gaza, 16-year-old Ahmed Hatem al-Mahabeel, who has autism, faces severe challenges after losing his home, school, and support systems due to the ongoing war that has killed over 73,380 Palestinians since October 2023. The constant explosions have caused significant psychological trauma for Ahmed and other autistic children, leading to behaviors such as panic attacks and self-harm, as well as physical health issues like malnutrition and complications from a ruptured appendix. Similarly, 19-year-old Muneer al-Haj has experienced a regression in his development and communication skills due to the war, with his treatment severely limited by medication shortages caused by the blockade.
Chennai airport declared a full emergency as an IndiGo flight, carrying 224 passengers, experienced an engine failure while preparing to land. This incident occurred shortly after it was revealed that the captain of an Air India flight, which lost altitude and injured 13 passengers and four crew members, tested positive for marijuana in a drug test. The Indian Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau has classified the Air India incident as serious, prompting the aviation ministry to summon Air India CEO Campbell Wilson.
Cristiano Ronaldo, the most followed athlete on social media, married his longtime partner Georgina Rodriguez on August 12, 2026, in a private ceremony in Cascais, Portugal. The couple, who have five children together, tied the knot exactly one year after announcing their engagement, and they collectively boast over 750 million social media followers. The wedding took place after intense media speculation regarding the location, with the couple ultimately choosing Cascais, about 30 kilometers (19 miles) west of Lisbon, where they own a villa.
At least three Pakistani nationals were killed, and another was injured in a Houthi attack on a commercial vessel in the Red Sea, as confirmed by Pakistan's Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar. He condemned the attack, labeling it a violation of international law that threatens maritime security and navigation freedom. The incident is part of ongoing attacks on commercial shipping in the region amid heightened tensions between the US and Iran, with a separate reported attack on a cargo vessel resulting in the deaths of four crew members.
At least 15 people have died and 27 are missing after an overloaded ferry capsized on Lake Kariba, with only 77 out of an estimated 114 passengers rescued. The ferry, which had a capacity of 90, was reportedly carrying more than its limit when it faced strong waves and capsized, leading to a chaotic rescue operation hampered by bad weather. Witnesses noted that rescue efforts were delayed, and local authorities deployed various resources, including speedboats and a helicopter, to assist in the search.
A boat carrying 95 people, including 90 passengers and five crew members, sank on Lake Kariba in Zimbabwe amid bad weather, leaving multiple fatalities feared. Reports indicated that the vessel may have been overloaded, with ticket sales suggesting as many as 114 adults on board, potentially including additional children. Rescue operations are ongoing, and authorities have not yet confirmed the number of casualties or survivors as officials call for accurate reporting on the incident.
Victorian microparty MPs, including Georgie Purcell, are facing significant challenges in their upcoming re-election due to the recent abolition of group voting tickets (GVTs) by the upper house, which passed the electoral amendment bill with a vote of 33 to 4. Voters are now required to rank at least five parties above the line in order of preference, a move that critics believe will prevent candidates from being elected with very low primary votes—about 20 candidates in the last decade were elected with under 6% of the vote. While Purcell and other opposition MPs acknowledge the difficulty they face under the new system, they argue that further reforms are needed, such as the abolition of the state’s eight upper-house regions, to ensure a fairer electoral process.
Food and grocery delivery workers in Australia will receive a minimum hourly wage of A$31.30 and accident insurance under new rules by the Fair Work Commission (FWC), surpassing the existing minimum wage of A$26.44. The changes, which take effect on August 17, are expected to impact approximately 250,000 workers and represent a significant step forward for gig economy standards in Australia. These regulations follow the adoption of a global treaty by the UN's International Labour Organization aimed at improving working conditions for gig workers worldwide.
Paid paternity leave for police officers in England and Wales is set to double from one week to two weeks, following reports of officers being “mocked and ostracised” for taking time off. Previously, only 25% of police forces provided two weeks' full pay, resulting in just 40% of officers taking the second week compared to 88% in the minority of forces that offered two weeks fully paid. The government faces growing pressure to enhance paternity leave for fathers across the public sector, with campaigners advocating for six weeks at 90% pay amid evidence that one in three UK fathers took no paternity leave after their child's birth.
The closure of the Tata Steel plant's last blast furnace in Port Talbot in 2024 resulted in the loss of nearly 3,000 jobs, significantly impacting the community of this already deprived Welsh town. An exhibition titled "Steeling Ourselves," featuring photography and interviews, aims to document the experiences of locals post-closure, showcasing their resilience and creativity as they adapt to the changing landscape. While Tata Steel plans to transition to a greener electric arc furnace, the new facility is expected to employ far fewer workers than the previous steelworks.
The UK is facing extreme heat with temperatures expected to reach 38C on Thursday, prompting a Cobra emergency meeting chaired by the prime minister. Firefighters have responded to 966 wildfires across England and Wales this year, with July recording the highest number of incidents at 458, as nearly three-quarters of England and all of Wales are now in drought conditions. The Met Office has issued rare amber "extreme heat" warnings for multiple regions and reported that 71.3% of England is experiencing "flash drought," spurred by the country's driest July on record.
The ongoing prison crisis in England and Wales is prompting calls for a reevaluation of incarceration practices, particularly as Prime Minister Andy Burnham faces public backlash over a proposed early release scheme that could include violent offenders. Amid reports that over £4 billion in economic output has been lost due to recent heatwaves, the government is under pressure to address overcrowding while ensuring that serious criminals, including those involved in the PC Andrew Harper case, are excluded from early release. Experts argue for a shift in focus towards rehabilitation and better management of the criminal justice system to prevent excessive workloads for probation officers, who have begun voting for strike action in response to rising demands.
Members of a conservative Christian Liberal group, known as the Reformers, allegedly received "kickbacks" from payments made by Catholic Schools NSW, which oversees over 600 schools in New South Wales, according to testimony from lobbyist Jeremy Greenwood at the Independent Commission Against Corruption (Icac) hearing. The inquiry revealed that nearly 80% of Catholic Schools NSW's funding, approximately $3.8 billion in 2024, comes from federal and state sources, and that two reform members received payments from the lobbying firm JPG Advisory, which Greenwood controlled. Despite allegations of illegal donations to support the Reformers' branch-stacking efforts, Greenwood denied any wrongdoing, including claims that fake invoices were used to disguise the true nature of the payments.
The vapour heat treatment facility in Rehmanpur, Lucknow, faced a major disruption when Japanese inspectors raised concerns about sterilization procedures, leading Japan to suspend imports of Indian mangoes effective March 25, 2026, marking the first major halt in nearly two decades. The suspension affects six mango varieties during the peak export window of April to June, with Japan having imported around $1.54 million worth of mango products from India between 2025 and 2026. Farmers, like Rajesh Patil in Maharashtra, have invested significantly, spending nearly ₹80,000 ($840) on equipment and training to meet Japan's stringent standards, with the Japanese market yielding returns almost double that of local auctions.
Robert Gilman, a 32-year-old former U.S. Marine and teacher, was released from Russian custody after four years of what his family and U.S. officials described as wrongful incarceration and abusive treatment, which nearly left him dead. Gilman was initially arrested in 2022 for allegedly beating a police officer and faced multiple charges that led to his sentence being extended to ten years, despite claims of being wrongly detained, and he had suffered deteriorating health during his imprisonment. Following negotiations involving President Donald Trump, who stated that Gilman's release was "very much on a Humanitarian Basis," he was supported by families and advocacy groups; five other Americans, however, remain imprisoned in Russia under similar circumstances.
Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelenskyy announced that Kyiv has presented new proposals to the United States to help end the four-and-a-half-year war with Russia, emphasizing the need for strengthened air defenses and greater pressure on Moscow. Zelenskyy also warned that Russia is preparing for a significant military mobilization of several hundred thousand troops after its upcoming parliamentary elections, stating that this could occur by the end of the year. Additionally, former US Marine Robert Gilman was released by Russia after four years in detention, with US officials confirming he will receive medical treatment upon his return.
Indonesian authorities rescued over 130 people from a burning ferry, the Putri Yasmin, near Bali, which was en route from Padang Bai to Lembar when the fire broke out at approximately 4:15 a.m. The ferry reportedly had 114 passengers and 17 crew members on board, along with 44 vehicles and 53 motorcycles, and conditions with 4-meter (13-foot) waves complicated the rescue efforts. This incident marks the second major ferry fire in Indonesia within the month, following a previous incident that resulted in five deaths.
A 7.4 magnitude earthquake that struck Colombia on August 11, 2026, has resulted in at least 181 fatalities and 2,595 injuries, with estimates of missing individuals ranging from 195 to nearly 4,000 according to civilian databases. The aftermath of the earthquake has severely strained President Abelardo de la Espriella's government amidst existing crises of poverty and civil warfare, as humanitarian organizations seek to deliver aid despite these complications. International aid is flowing in, with the U.S. offering over $15 million and countries like Mexico and El Salvador pledging additional resources, including health supplies and personnel.
Scientists at the University of Reading created a chocolate bar using cocoa beans grown in Berkshire, marking the first time since 1932 that a chocolate bar has been made with 100% UK ingredients. The project, led by master's student Maha Khan, aims to highlight the impact of climate change on cocoa plants, as cocoa is sensitive to temperature and rainfall changes, and the UK chocolate market is worth £10.4 billion, relying entirely on imported cocoa. Currently, only six limited edition bars have been made, with hopes for increased production, and Khan aspires to present one to the Princess of Wales, reflecting a historic connection to the late queen.
Israeli forces arrested at least 23 Palestinians, including two children, and demolished multiple homes in the occupied West Bank amid escalating violence, with a UN official warning the situation is at a “breaking point.” This year, Israel has averaged the demolition of 122 Palestinian buildings monthly, and attacks by settlers have wounded six Palestinians, including three children, as tensions rise ahead of upcoming elections. The violence has resulted in 76 Palestinian deaths, including 18 children, since the beginning of the year, highlighting a concerning trend of collective punishment and land confiscation in the region.
Thousands of people have been evacuated in Beijing as remnants of Typhoon Dolphin brought torrential rain, with forecasts predicting over 150mm of rainfall, and some districts may exceed 200mm, which is more than one-third of the city's average annual rainfall of 528mm. Authorities responded by evacuating over 5,000 elderly individuals from care facilities and relocating around 1,800 people from high-risk areas, while 250 bus routes were suspended and train services were disrupted on 10 metro lines. In Henan province, a red alert was issued for torrential rain, with up to 350mm expected in some areas, marking a year of increasingly severe weather attributed to climate change and intensified by the El Niño weather pattern.
Australia's Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and New South Wales Premier Chris Minns are expected to announce a $2.5 billion bailout for the Tomago aluminium smelter, which is crucial for the state's energy supply, accounting for over 10% of its energy use and employing about 1,000 workers. The deal, which will split its costs evenly between the federal and state governments, aims to secure the site's operations amid rising energy costs and includes plans for $1 billion in capital improvements and the creation of approximately 2.5GW of new energy supply. Tomago produces up to 590,000 tonnes of aluminium annually, vital for various industries, and is projected to transition to 100% renewable energy by the end of the decade.