TRENDING NEWS
On Monday, Japanese equities faced significant downward pressure with the Nikkei 225 falling nearly 2% in the early trading hours. The index dropped 1.97% to close at 65,096.63, eventually hitting an intraday low of 64,832.10. The decline was mainly driven by technology stocks, as investors responded to rising bond yields and expectations of tighter interest rate policies. The broader Topix index also declined initially, losing 0.84% to 4,111.71.
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.
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.
Alibaba Group has announced an HK$80 billion share placement aimed at boosting its investments in artificial intelligence and cloud technology. The firm will issue 710 million new ordinary shares at HK$112.70 each, translating to roughly US$10.2 billion based on current exchange rates. The transaction is anticipated to close by Aug. 26, contingent upon standard closing procedures. The company plans to direct the raised funds toward expanding its AI-related initiatives.
PanStar Acro is carrying commercial cargo on South Korea’s Arctic shipping trial. The vessel is transporting a total of 837 TEU, of which 737 TEU consist of commercial freight. Its cargo includes chemical substances, used vehicles and automotive parts, along with 100 empty containers. Managed by PanStar Line and supported by government agencies, the ship’s journey through Arctic waters is scheduled to begin around August 30. The Arctic segment spans approximately 6,400 kilometers, with the schedule indicating completion around September 7. After traversing the Arctic zone, PanStar Acro will proceed to three ports in Europe. Its first stop is Felixstowe in Britain on September 9, followed by Rotterdam on September 11. The vessel is then expected to arrive at Gdansk on September 15. The return voyage to South Korea will follow the same northern corridor, with the Busan-to-Rotterdam route covering roughly 13,000 kilometers, in contrast to the approximately 20,000 kilometers via the Suez Canal. Commercial freight challenges Arctic shipping route South Korean authorities prepared the vessel and crew for the demanding conditions expected during the northern passage. Training for polar navigation was completed prior to departure, with officers receiving specialized instruction for Arctic waters. An experienced polar navigator, previously with the Araon icebreaking research vessel, joined as chief officer. Insurance, emergency protocols, and international administrative procedures were also addressed, with a 24/7 communications system established to maintain contact throughout the Arctic
A 70,000-dose Ervebo allocation supports DR Congo’s response to the Ebola outbreak. This distribution was authorized by the International Coordinating Group on Vaccine Provision following a request from the Congolese authorities. The WHO announced that 20,000 doses of Ervebo will facilitate a Phase 3 clinical trial targeting Bundibugyo virus disease. An additional 50,000 doses are designated to safeguard frontline and healthcare workers under current vaccination protocols. On Aug. 20, WHO and Africa CDC welcomed this allocation, which originates from the global Ebola vaccine reserve meant to support emergency responses requiring swift vaccine access during outbreaks.
In July 2026, Japan achieved record-high values for both imports and exports within a single month, driven by increased energy expenses and robust demand for technology products. Imports escalated by 27.8% year-over-year to approximately 12.15 trillion yen. Exports also grew, rising 23.2% to about 11.51 trillion yen. The Ministry of Finance announced a trade deficit of 634.5 billion yen, as import growth outpaced overseas shipment expansion during the period.
U.S. stocks gained as lower long-term Treasury yields eased pressure on major indexes. A substantial part of the session’s momentum was driven by the bond market following the U.S. Treasury Department’s announcement of increased liquidity support buybacks for longer-term debt. Starting September 9, the maximum purchase size will be raised to at least $4 billion per operation from $2 billion. This increase applies to nominal coupon securities with maturities in the 10-to-20-year and 20-to-30-year ranges. The department indicated that these larger purchases will continue through November 4, following strong volumes of high-quality offers. Following the announcement, Treasury yields declined as bond prices rose. The benchmark 10-year yield fell to approximately 4.65%, while the 30-year yield decreased to about 5.20%. On Tuesday, the 30-year yield reached 5.337%, its highest point since 2007. The decline in yields eased some of the pressure that higher borrowing costs had exerted on equities. This movement also contributed to Wall Street’s recovery from earlier losses in the week.
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.
Business
On Monday, Japanese equities faced significant downward pressure with the Nikkei 225 falling nearly 2% in the early trading hours. The index dropped 1.97% to close at 65,096.63, eventually hitting an intraday low of 64,832.10. The decline was mainly driven by technology stocks, as investors responded to rising bond yields and expectations of tighter interest rate policies. The broader Topix index also declined initially, losing 0.84% to 4,111.71.
News
According to a recent United Nations report, nearly 19% of children worldwide now live in conflict zones, a significant increase from close to 10% in the 1990s. The assessment highlights that conflict, forced displacement, climate-related threats, and digital abuse continue to endanger millions of young lives. Najat Maalla M’jid, the UN Special Representative on Violence Against Children, authored this latest review for the 81st UN General Assembly, reflecting on over twenty years of progress since the landmark UN study on violence against children.
India and Uzbekistan ties enter a broader phase spanning trade, technology, and security. Trade and economic relations played a central role in their discussions. Uzbekistan reported bilateral trade reaching $1.3 billion in 2025, reflecting a 33% year-over-year growth. Both nations have set an objective to increase trade to $5 billion by 2030. The number of joint ventures has increased sevenfold over recent years. Currently, there are 14 direct flights per week between the two countries, and four Indian universities are operating in Uzbekistan. Officials agreed to establish a foreign ministers-level mechanism to oversee bilateral commitments. Additionally, a dedicated joint working group will address non-tariff barriers and investment issues. Both countries will revisit further steps after completing a feasibility study for a Preferential Trade Agreement. Focus industries include energy, metallurgy, electrical engineering, critical minerals, and agriculture, with healthcare, pharmaceuticals, automobiles, electronics, mechanical engineering, and jewelry also on the economic agenda. Agreements Significantly Expand Cooperation Across Several Sectors During the visit, India and Uzbekistan signed 11 agreements, memoranda, and related arrangements. These cover areas such as cultural exchanges, higher education, scientific research, environmental protection, and traditional medicine. The agreement also involves tourism, geology, mineral resources, archival cooperation, and economic dialogue. Gujarat state and Uzbekistan’s Samarkand region committed to deepening regional ties. Another accord pertains to diplomatic training, while separate initiatives support archaeological conservation
Flooding across Nepal and Tibet has caused at least 919 deaths, with 4,793 individuals still unaccounted for. Following the disaster on August 26, Nepal has documented 903 fatalities and 4,247 people missing. In Gyirong County, Tibetan authorities have confirmed 16 deaths and 546 individuals missing. Search operations persist across devastated mountain regions, river valleys, and hydropower locations. As rescue teams access previously unreachable areas and verify reports of missing persons, officials have updated casualty figures accordingly.
A 5.1-magnitude quake shook Longchang City in China’s Sichuan Province on Friday, according to data released by the China Earthquake Networks Center. The tremor took place at 1:13 p.m. Beijing time at a depth of 13 kilometers, with its epicenter situated in Neijiang prefecture at 29.23 degrees north latitude and 105.22 degrees east longitude. Emergency agencies promptly launched initial field assessments across the county, with early reports confirming no immediate casualties or structural damages.
According to a recent United Nations report, nearly 19% of children worldwide now live in conflict zones, a significant increase from close to 10% in the 1990s. The assessment highlights that conflict, forced displacement, climate-related threats, and digital abuse continue to endanger millions of young lives. Najat Maalla M’jid, the UN Special Representative on Violence Against Children, authored this latest review for the 81st UN General Assembly, reflecting on over twenty years of progress since the landmark UN study on violence against children.
Health
Technology
During the initial six months of 2026, China’s digital industry generated a total revenue of 20.71 trillion yuan, reflecting a 13.6% increase compared to the same period last year. Profits rose significantly by 19.3%, reaching 1.79 trillion yuan. According to the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology, the industry’s profit margin stood at 8.6%, which is 0.7 percentage points higher than the previous year. These figures encompass key segments of China’s rapidly expanding digital economy.
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.
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