TRENDING NEWS
A five-year wheat supply arrangement valued at up to US$500 million has been officially implemented between the UAE and Egypt. Al Dahra Agriculture Trading will deliver imported wheat to Egypt’s General Authority for Supply Commodities as part of this deal. Funding for these purchases is provided through the Abu Dhabi Exports Office. The agreement formalizes a framework established in 2023, establishing the terms for wheat transactions between Al Dahra and GASC over the next five years.
The United Nations is urging stronger protections for children and young people as digital platforms reshape how they receive information. A new UN issue brief highlights risks from disinformation, hate speech, harassment, artificial intelligence and attention-driven online systems. It also points to concerns involving personal data, behavioral advertising and algorithmic distribution. The report says younger users need stronger safeguards while keeping access to education, communication and public participation online.
On Monday, U.S. ultra-low sulfur diesel futures jumped 7.4% to reach $4.19 a gallon, marking the largest single-day increase since July 13. By early Wednesday, the contract hovered around $4.28 a gallon. Meanwhile, European diesel refining margins remained elevated, with gains approaching 10% at the week’s start, reflecting ongoing tightness in supply and refinery issues. Diesel inventories in the U.S. have dropped to levels rarely seen during the summer months. Retail diesel prices have also remained significantly above earlier summer levels.
In 2025, the Democratic Republic of the Congo reported a total of 26,064,143 malaria cases, highlighting the widespread impact of the disease across the country. Official figures also indicate that there were 29,938 malaria-related fatalities during the same year. Guy Esebe Dembo, deputy director of the National Malaria Control Programme, shared these statistics during the launch of a mass treatment initiative in Ituri province. The campaign targets regions where malaria remains a leading cause of illness and places significant strain on healthcare services.
The Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of the Congo has become the deadliest in the country’s history, with the death toll reaching 2,325. As of Aug. 16, government data indicated there have been 4,945 confirmed cases, including the 101 new infections reported in the last 24 hours. This latest death count surpasses the 2,299 fatalities recorded during the Ebola epidemic from 2018 to 2020 in the country.
In July 2026, global electric vehicle sales rose by 9% compared to the previous year, totaling 1.85 million units worldwide. The cumulative sales for the first seven months reached 11.5 million vehicles, representing a 4% increase from the same period in 2025. Europe led major EV markets in July as global electric vehicle demand continued to grow. Among the world’s leading EV markets, Europe experienced the most significant growth during July. Sales in the region climbed 33% from the previous year to approximately 450,000 vehicles. During the January through July span, EV sales across Europe increased by 28%.
In July 2026, South Korea’s vehicle exports surged by 7.0% year-on-year to reach US$6.24 billion, marking the highest monthly total ever recorded for July. Korean vehicle exports climbed in July as electric, hydrogen and hybrid shipments increased. Much of the export growth during this period was driven by eco-friendly vehicles, with their export value jumping 25.5% compared to the previous year. North America remained the primary destination for Korean auto exports, with shipments rising 18.0% to US$3.25 billion. Exports to the European Union increased by 23.5%, reaching US$880 million.
Residents from various northern communities felt the ground shaking during the early morning hours. Pakistan earthquake near Sost triggers landslides and rockfalls across Upper Hunza. Affected districts include Hunza and Nagar, with Chipurson Valley in Upper Hunza experiencing some of the most evident ground effects. Communities surrounded by steep mountain slopes evacuated their homes as the tremors moved through the area. Landslides and falling rocks followed in certain parts of the valley. A rockfall blocked the Chipurson Valley road near Ramanji, disrupting local access. This route connects remote settlements in a region where mountain roads are essential links between villages and larger population centers. Initial assessments by authorities confirmed no fatalities or injuries from the main earthquake. No confirmed structural damages were reported at that time. The primary impact on local infrastructure consisted of rockfalls and landslides. The Gilgit-Baltistan administration closely monitored the affected areas and road conditions after the tremors. Officials also checked access to settlements where debris had reached mountain routes. This seismic activity adds to a series of significant earthquakes that have impacted northern Pakistan in 2026, which has seen multiple tremors during the year. Rockfalls Disrupt Roadways in Upper Hunza The earthquake’s epicenter was near Sost, a town situated on the Karakoram Highway corridor in northern Pakistan. Sost lies south of the Khunjerab Pass and serves as a gateway for communities across Upper Hunza. The Khunjerab route connects Pakistan with China
South Korea recorded a $596.6 million tourism surplus in June 2026, marking its strongest monthly performance since the COVID-19 outbreak. The figure represents an increase of approximately $1.44 billion compared to June 2025, when the country faced an $846.8 million deficit. Data from the Korea Tourism Organization highlighted June as the second-highest month for tourism surplus on record, surpassed only by October 2008 when the surplus hit $661.5 million.
Business
A five-year wheat supply arrangement valued at up to US$500 million has been officially implemented between the UAE and Egypt. Al Dahra Agriculture Trading will deliver imported wheat to Egypt’s General Authority for Supply Commodities as part of this deal. Funding for these purchases is provided through the Abu Dhabi Exports Office. The agreement formalizes a framework established in 2023, establishing the terms for wheat transactions between Al Dahra and GASC over the next five years.
News
Wildfires sweeping through northeastern Algeria have claimed at least 12 lives and left 54 people injured during a severe heatwave. Interior Minister Said Sayoud reported that five individuals died in Jijel, four in Bejaia, and three in Tizi Ouzou. Among the injured, six remain in critical condition after suffering burns and requiring intensive medical attention. The fires have spread across several northern provinces, prompting emergency crews to continue operations around forested communities and nearby residential zones.
Official figures published by Pakistan’s federal government reveal that a total of 21,951 Pakistani nationals were sent back from Gulf nations between March 1 and July 13, 2026. As presented to the National Assembly, these deportations resulted from various violations, including overstaying visas, illegal entries, drug-related offenses, forged documents, and participation in organized begging networks. The nearly 22,000 Pakistanis expelled over four months for visa breaches and begging underscores a broader crackdown on immigration enforcement across the Middle East.
Indonesia’s South Nias earthquake prompts monitoring after tremors spread across Sumatra. The BMKG pinpointed the epicenter at 0.65 degrees south latitude and 98.32 degrees east longitude. The strongest shaking, rated at intensity IV, was reported in North Tapanuli, with tremors also felt in several West Sumatra areas. Communities located farther from the epicenter reported lower-intensity tremors. No tsunami warning issued after the seismic event. Officials continue assessments across affected zones.
The Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of the Congo has become the deadliest in the country’s history, with the death toll reaching 2,325. As of Aug. 16, government data indicated there have been 4,945 confirmed cases, including the 101 new infections reported in the last 24 hours. This latest death count surpasses the 2,299 fatalities recorded during the Ebola epidemic from 2018 to 2020 in the country.
Wildfires sweeping through northeastern Algeria have claimed at least 12 lives and left 54 people injured during a severe heatwave. Interior Minister Said Sayoud reported that five individuals died in Jijel, four in Bejaia, and three in Tizi Ouzou. Among the injured, six remain in critical condition after suffering burns and requiring intensive medical attention. The fires have spread across several northern provinces, prompting emergency crews to continue operations around forested communities and nearby residential zones.
Health
Technology
The United Nations is urging stronger protections for children and young people as digital platforms reshape how they receive information. A new UN issue brief highlights risks from disinformation, hate speech, harassment, artificial intelligence and attention-driven online systems. It also points to concerns involving personal data, behavioral advertising and algorithmic distribution. The report says younger users need stronger safeguards while keeping access to education, communication and public participation online.
Travel
In July 2026, South Korea welcomed a total of 2,093,223 international visitors, signaling a robust rebound in global tourism. This monthly figure reflects a 20.8% increase compared to the 1,733,199 arrivals recorded in July 2025. Additionally, it surpasses the July 2019 level by 44.6%, prior to the pandemic’s impact on international travel.
Nearly 2 million international visitors arrived in Republic of Korea in June alone, propelling the total number of foreign travelers entering the country in the first six months past a significant threshold. Data released by Emirates News Agency confirmed that Korea’s foreign tourist arrivals exceeded 10 million in H1, driven by consistent double-digit growth from key regional source markets. Statistics from the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism indicate that 1.99 million foreigners visited Korea in June, representing a 23.1 percent rise compared to the same month last year. This strong monthly increase brought the cumulative first-half figure to 10.71 million visitors, a 21.3 percent growth from the 8.8 million recorded during the same period in 2025, surpassing pre-pandemic 2019 levels by 26.9 percent.
South Korea’s travel account posts surplus for 3rd consecutive month in May as foreign visitor numbers increase nationwide The post South Korea travel account posts surplus for 3rd month in May appeared first on Gulf Daily Report: The Gulf’s daily news, fully reported..
Australians travel advice Middle East conflict alerts rise as federal authorities urge citizens to leave high-risk Gulf zones. The post Australians travel advice Middle East conflict raised by DFAT appeared first on Gulf Daily Report: The Gulf’s daily news, fully reported..