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Concerns over planning process as George Town council gives go-ahead for 288MW AI factory despite opposition from localsGet our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcastThe day before Anthony Albanese secured agreement with states and territories to develop national datacentre standards, a small council in Tasmania was grappling with the existing regulations in the face of strong community opposition to a new AI factory planned for its town.The George Town council voted 6-1 to approve the plans of Australian developer Firmus to build a 288 megawatt (MW) datacentre at Long Reach, north of Launceston, but said it did so reluctantly. Continue reading...

• SpaceX achieved a new rocket-reuse record on Tuesday, August 25, during its 100th Falcon 9 launch of the year. • The milestone was reached when a single Falcon 9 first-stage booster successfully completed its 37th liftoff. • This achievement highlights SpaceX's industry-leading capability to rapidly refurbish and reuse orbital hardware to lower spaceflight costs.

• The Bangladesh government has launched a five-year strategic plan to clean up the banking sector, focusing on recovering bad loans, tightening supervision, and restoring depositor confidence. • The Bangladesh Bank will spearhead regulatory and supervisory reforms, while the Financial Institutions Division will coordinate policy and legal changes for state-owned financial institutions. • Success will be measured using specific indicators, including asset quality, capital adequacy, liquidity, transparency, and governance standards.

• The Busan Film Festival has selected 23 titles for its "Vision Korea" and "Vision Asia" sections for the 2026 edition. • The lineup consists of 12 independent Korean films and 11 works from emerging directors across Asia. • These sections are designed to showcase innovative storytelling and provide a platform for new talent within the regional cinema landscape.

• Democratic Party chair Kim Min-seok has initiated a reconciliation push by calling for frequent, informal talks with People Power Party leader Jang Dong-hyeok. • Simultaneously, Kim is seeking to revive cooperation with the Rebuilding Korea Party, exploring the possibility of a merger to strengthen the liberal alliance. • The Rebuilding Korea Party has responded cautiously, stating that rebuilding trust is a necessary prerequisite after previous merger negotiations collapsed.

• The Supreme Court has established a High-Powered Committee, led by retired Justice R Subhash Reddy, to investigate violence and police actions during student protests in Delhi last month. • The probe will examine allegations of police excesses, targeted violence, and the harassment or molestation of women protesters. • The panel is tasked with determining whether the police force acted lawfully and used a proportionate level of force during the demonstrations.

• South Korea's net external financial assets dropped to $64 billion in Q2, marking a 12-year low after a decrease of $689.5 billion. • The decline was primarily driven by a soaring KOSPI, which increased the valuation of Korean stocks held by foreign investors. • The Bank of Korea emphasized that the drop is a result of asset valuation rather than a loss of stability, noting that net external debt remains steady.

• European ETFs reached a record $323.6 billion in year-to-date net inflows by the end of July. • This surge highlights a significant increase in investor appetite for exchange-traded products across the European market. • The growth reflects broader trends in asset management and a shifting preference toward liquid, diversified investment vehicles.

Loggerhead turtles abound this season but rollback of Endangered Species Act protections could threaten futureWildlife groups in Florida are celebrating record numbers of sea turtle nests this season, but experts warn Donald Trump’s recent gutting of the Endangered Species Act (ESA) could reverse decades of their recovery from the edge of extinction.With more than two months of the summer nesting season still to run, loggerhead turtles have already laid 13,770 nests, hundreds more than recorded in any previous year, along an 8.5-mile stretch of shoreline monitored by the Loggerhead Marinelife Center in Juno Beach, on Florida’s Atlantic coast. Continue reading...

• The Indian government is attempting to resolve a parliamentary deadlock with the opposition regarding discussions on student protests and the FCRA bill. • Home Minister Amit Shah is expected to provide a reply as the Monsoon session of Parliament approaches its conclusion in two days. • The issue is politically sensitive for the BJP, which is currently prioritizing the Ram Mandir narrative ahead of upcoming Uttar Pradesh assembly elections.

Critics argue US high court justice should recuse himself from upcoming fossil fuel firms’ climate accountability caseSupreme court justice Samuel Alito gained up to $2.9m from his fossil fuel interests between 2005 and 2024, a new review of financial disclosures shows.The analysis from the non-profit advocacy group and judicial watchdog Court Accountability, shared exclusively with the Guardian, found that even at the lowest range of estimates, Alito gained almost $400,000 from his oil and gas interests since being tapped for the high court by George W Bush in 2005. Continue reading...

• Spain has implemented border controls on travelers arriving from Italy following a diplomatic dispute triggered by a border rush in Ceuta. • The move follows a failed ultimatum from Madrid demanding that Rome halt its own entry checks on non-EU nationals arriving from Spain. • Italy has rejected Spain's demands, stating it will not accept "ultimatums" and will maintain its suspension of Schengen rules until at least August 15.

• European stock markets are currently maintaining positions near record highs despite conflicting market pressures. • Positive corporate earnings reports are providing upward support, but this growth is being offset by downward pressure within the technology sector. • The situation highlights a tug-of-war between strong fundamental company performance and volatility in high-growth tech valuations.

Chancellor will have to find money for Burnham’s policies while sticking to fiscal rules as borrowing costs riseAndy Burnham’s government has set a date for a late October budget to “spread money and power” out of Westminster as the new prime minister pushes forward his tax and spending plans.Announcing an autumn budget for 28 October, the chancellor, John Healey, said Labour would stick to its fiscal rules with its agenda to give businesses and households stability for the future. Continue reading...

• US stock futures are trending upward, with the Dow rising over 150 points, the S&P 500 gaining 0.35%, and the Nasdaq jumping 0.61%. • A rally in Microsoft shares is currently offsetting investor anxiety regarding the Federal Reserve's next moves. • Markets are awaiting the release of PCE inflation data, which will provide critical insights into inflation trends, labor conditions, and economic growth.

• The European Union plans to establish a corporate advisory group following the summer break to enhance the bloc's overall economic security. • This new group will focus on sharing critical information regarding supply chain risks and managing potential trade conflicts. • The initiative matters as the EU seeks to protect its strategic interests and reduce vulnerabilities within its global trade networks.

• European shares rose on Tuesday, driven by strong performance in the technology and mining sectors. • These gains helped offset market concerns regarding rising oil prices triggered by fresh strikes in the Middle East. • The upward trend occurred as investors analyzed a new round of corporate earnings reports to gauge economic health.

• Asian families and fund managers are driving a record surge in sports asset dealmaking across the Asia-Pacific region by pursuing minority stakes in leagues and franchises. • This investment trend is fueled by rapidly growing audiences and rising media rights fees, with FIFA reporting 205 million unique viewers on China's CCTV and 39 million on Japan's Nippon TV. • High-profile investors like Singapore-based businessman Kiat Lim, who controls Valencia CF and has stakes in McLaren Automotive, view sports attention as a valuable financial currency.

• Global investors are increasingly relying on the South Korean stock market as a primary indicator for the health of the global AI trade. • Portfolio managers, such as Hani Redha of PineBridge Investments, now monitor Seoul's market activity and SK Hynix's performance to gauge AI sentiment. • This trend highlights Korea's critical role in the AI supply chain, as shifts in Korean chip stocks often signal broader trends for global semiconductor peers.

• IBM shares experienced a historic single-day crash, plummeting approximately $73 to a price of around $217. • This sudden decline represents a massive 25% loss in market value within a single trading session. • The severity of the "decapitation" has created a rare market volatility event, presenting a unique opportunity for traders to employ specific options strategies.

• Asian foreign exchange markets are trading cautiously as a softening U.S. dollar balances ongoing geopolitical risks. • The Bank of Korea implemented a widely expected 25 basis-point interest-rate hike to 2.75%, though the USD/KRW pair still fell approximately 0.4% to around 1,479 won. • Despite the rate hike, the South Korean won faces limited support due to persistent foreign selling in technology shares and regional instability.

• Sumerian Pictures has released the first official trailer for the upcoming comedy film *The Incomer*, starring Domhnall Gleeson. • The movie is scheduled to hit theaters this September, promising a "side-splitting" experience for audiences. • The narrative explores heavy themes including self-sabotage, the unstoppable momentum of history, and the destructive nature of the culture industry.

• The Dow Jones Industrial Average posted a slight gain amid volatile trading, as cooler inflation data helped offset losses from other sectors. • Market sentiment was weighed down by a slump in IBM and mixed bank earnings, while HCA Healthcare and Virtu Financial saw significant drops of over 9% and 6%, respectively. • The session highlighted a sharp divergence between individual stocks, reflecting investor uncertainty tied to rising Middle East tensions and economic indicators.

• Foreign investors continued to be net sellers of South Korean equities in June, marking the fifth consecutive month of outflows. • This trend persisted despite a significant tech-led rally within the local stock market during the same period. • Data released by the Bank of Korea on July 14 highlights a disconnect between rising stock prices and foreign investor sentiment.

Vote will allow Israelis to pass judgment on Benjamin Netanyahu and his handling of conflicts in Gaza and IranMiddle East crisis live – latest updatesIsrael will hold national elections in late October, giving its citizens their first chance to pass judgment on the prime minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, and his coalition since the Hamas-led attacks of 7 October 2023.The Knesset, Israel’s parliament, will be dissolved on Friday. With just a few days left in session, the most far-right government in Israel’s history is now rushing to pass several controversial laws in a bid to bolster its position before polling day, which is set for 27 October. Continue reading...

• Netflix has signed video licensing agreements with several top digital publishers, including BuzzFeed Studios, Condé Nast, Hearst Magazines, People Inc., Tastemade, and Penske Media’s PMX unit (which includes Variety and Rolling Stone). • Starting August 3, Netflix will host a selection of news, feature, lifestyle, and how-to video content from these publishers to complement its existing scripted and unscripted library. • This strategic move expands the variety of content available to subscribers in the U.S., Canada, U.K., Ireland, Australia, and New Zealand.

• The U.S. Men's National Team's loss to Belgium in the World Cup round of 16 triggered record-breaking betting activity for American sportsbooks. • BetMGM reported that the match became the most-bet soccer game in its history, surpassing betting volumes for the NCAA basketball championship and various professional sports championship series. • The high volume of wagers on the home team allowed sportsbooks to generate significant profits following the U.S. exit from the tournament.

• South Korea’s Supreme Court has established new legal guidelines for the seizure and liquidation of cryptocurrency assets. • The new rules are designed to standardize the process of recovering digital assets during legal disputes and enforcement actions. • These regulations are scheduled to officially take effect on October 1, 2026.