TRENDING NEWS
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.
On Tuesday, Japan successfully deployed its H3 rocket, which carried the Michibiki No. 7 navigation satellite into orbit. The launch, designated as H3 Flight No. 9, took place at 4:23:31 a.m. Japan time from the Tanegashima Space Center. JAXA reported that the launch vehicle maintained its planned trajectory throughout the mission. The satellite separated roughly 29 minutes after liftoff and entered its assigned orbit. Michibiki No. 7 expands Japan’s QZSS satellite navigation network.
Gold continued its upward momentum for a third straight session on Tuesday, as bullion extended the rebound seen last week. The spot price increased by 1% to $4,432.74 an ounce by 0217 GMT, reaching its highest point since June 5. Meanwhile, U.S. gold futures climbed 1.7% to $4,492.60. This move pushed prices beyond the seven-week peak recorded last week and marked a continuation of the recovery that gained momentum following weaker U.S. employment figures.
On Friday, global markets for precious metals showed a downward trend as spot gold prices dipped, setting the stage for an overall weekly decrease. Market data indicated that spot gold fell by 0.5 percent to trade at $4,326.75 per ounce, while United States gold futures for December delivery declined nearly 1.0 percent to $4,382.50 per ounce. The decline followed a sharp, temporary rally on Thursday, when bullion prices reached their highest levels in more than two months before retreating 1.3 percent amid sudden profit-taking.
Global health officials issued a warning on Friday that the emergency in Central Africa is expanding at a rapid rate. The World Health Organization stated that the Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of the Congo is on a trajectory to become the deadliest in history if ongoing community transmission and logistical challenges in remote areas are not addressed. WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus warned journalists that, at its current rate, this outbreak could surpass the 2014–2016 West Africa crisis, which resulted in over 11,000 fatalities across the region.
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
Etihad Airways is set to launch a seasonal non-stop route linking Abu Dhabi and Gothenburg starting December 17, 2026. The service will operate four times weekly until March 21, 2027, connecting Zayed International Airport with Göteborg Landvetter Airport during the winter travel period. This new route creates a direct link between the UAE capital and Sweden’s second-largest city. Tickets are already on sale through the airline’s booking platforms.
International Youth Day 2026 highlighted the need for youth investment and inclusion, emphasizing the shared aspirations of young people across diverse backgrounds. Secretary-General António Guterres urged youth to have a louder voice in decision-making processes, addressing issues like economic instability and digital inclusion. The event focused on skills development, calling for access to critical competencies like critical thinking and digital literacy. The theme also shed light on the challenges faced by youth in different regions, linking disparities to common goals of opportunity, security, and meaningful contribution to their communities.
Since late last month, health authorities in Chad have reported 13 deaths linked to a severe waterborne disease outbreak. The Ministry of Public Health of Chad published updated surveillance data indicating that the cholera epidemic has resulted in 239 confirmed and suspected cases nationwide. The official statistics show a case fatality rate of 5.4 percent across the country, a figure that notably exceeds international standards for emergency outbreak response.
Business
Oil prices rebounded on Tuesday after experiencing losses exceeding 2% in the previous session. Brent crude increased by 27 cents to reach $92.44 a barrel at 0330 GMT, while U.S. West Texas Intermediate climbed 37 cents to $85.38. This upward movement came after a six-day rally that was followed by a broad market pullback in energy assets on Monday.
News
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.
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
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.
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..