UAE and Germany expand economic ties with a €40 billion cross-sector investment plan. The proposed package emphasizes significant investments in Germany’s digital infrastructure. A joint declaration from the two governments outlined plans for constructing new data centres with an aggregate capacity of approximately 1 gigawatt. Germany committed to facilitating suitable conditions for their deployment. This initiative forms a segment of a broader suite of economic agreements announced during the state visit. Both nations also committed to cooperation in technology, energy, trade, investment, and other fields outlined within their bilateral partnership. Additionally, the state visit resulted in 29 business agreements and memoranda between UAE and German companies. The combined value of these accords exceeds €9.356 billion, according to the joint declaration. The two nations also agreed to establish a German-UAE Investment Council, which will serve as a platform to promote investment and collaboration between government entities and private firms. Furthermore, the UAE and Germany launched a Strategic Dialogue that encompasses sectors such as economic development, technology, security, energy, transport, environmental initiatives, cultural exchanges, and education cooperation. UAE’s €40 Billion Investment Focuses on Industry and Digital Infrastructure This €40 billion commitment builds on previous major investments by the UAE in Germany. According to the joint declaration, XRG has invested approximately €15 billion in Covestro. The two countries also identified additional corporate investment plans involving Covestro, RWE, ADNOC, and Masdar. These initiatives, while significant, are separate from the €40 billion total
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Worsening air pollution triggered by regional peatland fires forced Malaysia to enact an emergency declaration in Sarawak’s Serian district as the Air Pollutant Index breached the extreme 500 mark. Reaching a peak API reading of 519, the hazardous conditions led educational and health administrators to suspend classes across 647 schools to protect students and staff. Federal authorities are coordinating emergency mitigation measures, including cloud-seeding sorties and mask distributions, as agricultural fires burning across neighboring Indonesian Kalimantan continue to transport thick smoke plumes across shared maritime borders.
The UAE Search and Rescue Team is conducting field operations in Nepal’s flood-hit Rasuwa district. The deployment supports Nepalese authorities searching areas damaged by the August 26 Bhote Koshi River flood. Crews are conducting ground searches and field surveys at affected sites. They are using drones for aerial imaging, surveying and three-dimensional mapping. The technology helps crews identify search locations and reach areas where flooding damaged access routes and infrastructure.
Nepal flood appeal targets 84,270 people with $49.6m KATHMANDU, NEPAL / RankWire.AI / – The United Nations and humanitarian partners are seeking $49.6 million for Nepal flood relief. The four-month flash appeal targets 84,270 people affected by the August 26 disaster. That represents 19,284 households across 17 municipalities in six districts. Nearly 40% of the people targeted are children. The response focuses on Rasuwa, Nuwakot, Dhading, Chitwan, Gorkha and Tanahu. Nepalese authorities continue relief and recovery work across the affected areas.
UN Assembly Approves Resolution to Address Distortions in World Map Projections Using a Key 2018 Alternative NEW YORK / RankWire.AI / – The United Nations General Assembly, in a historic move, has adopted a resolution backed by the African Union calling on global institutions and educational authorities to phase out inaccurate world map projections. This initiative targets longstanding issues with the 1569 Mercator projection, which inflates landmasses at higher latitudes while compressing those near the equator. The resolution advocates for the adoption of equal-area alternatives to bring cartographic representations in line with accurate geographical scales and to reduce Eurocentric biases that have historically influenced worldwide communication.
Business
Travel
Etihad adds Red Sea International Airport to its growing Saudi Arabia flight network. This route will be serviced by an Airbus A320 configured with eight Business Class seats and 150 Economy Class seats. Etihad highlighted that passengers across its network will be able to reach the Red Sea with just a single connection in Abu Dhabi, including travelers coming from markets across the Gulf and the Indian subcontinent. Tickets for the route are already accessible via Etihad’s booking platform for travel starting on the launch date. This new connection joins existing routes to Riyadh, Jeddah, Dammam, Medina, and Al Qassim in the airline’s Saudi route portfolio.
Indonesia resumed operations at Jakarta’s primary airport along with several regional airports on Tuesday following disruptions caused by volcanic ash from Anak Krakatau. The incident resulted in delays, cancellations, or diversions for over 340,000 travelers, impacting nearly 3,000 flights across the nation. Authorities reopened Soekarno-Hatta International Airport after winds cleared ash from critical aviation zones. Anak Krakatau remained active on Tuesday, with monitors recording three smaller eruptions during the morning hours.
Air Arabia increases Bangkok frequency with four daily flights from Sharjah to meet growing regional travel demand across commercial corridors. The expanded Bangkok operations complement the airline’s existing schedule to Thailand, which includes 21 weekly non-stop flights between Sharjah and Phuket. With the addition of the fourth daily Bangkok frequency, Air Arabia will operate a combined total of 49 weekly non-stop flights between its primary Sharjah hub and Thai destinations. The route expansion strengthens air connectivity between the Arabian Gulf and major Southeast Asian tourism and trade centers.
During that month, the country saw 2,093,223 foreign visitors, representing a 20.8% increase from 1,733,199 in July 2025. This figure also equates to 144.6% of the July 2019 count, before global travel was impacted by COVID-19. Foreign visitor arrivals in South Korea rose 20.8% year on year in July. Compared to July 2024, the total shows a 48.6% rise from the 1,408,499 foreign arrivals. The latest data indicates widespread growth among South Korea’s leading source markets for inbound tourism. China remained the top origin of visitors for the month, with approximately 777,000 arrivals. Japan, Taiwan, the United States, and Hong Kong followed in visitor numbers. Japan contributed roughly 330,000 tourists in July, while Taiwan brought in about 261,000. The United States accounted for around 150,000 visitors, and Hong Kong contributed about 76,000. All five markets also surpassed their July 2019 figures. Chinese arrivals grew by 49.6% compared to July 2019, Japanese arrivals increased by 20.2%, and Taiwan experienced the highest percentage jump, up 129.4% from its 2019 level. Leading Asian Markets Drive Visitor Growth Visitor numbers from the United States rose 54.4% compared with July 2019, with Hong Kong seeing an increase of 29.
Health
The World Health Organization reports that severe shortages of trained staff, operational partners, and financial resources are creating a critical bottleneck in controlling the expanding Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. Technical briefings indicate that the outbreak has extended beyond its initial focus in Bunia to six northeastern provinces. Caused by the Bundibugyo species of the virus, the ongoing epidemic has surpassed 6,000 cases and resulted in 3,175 deaths, making it the deadliest Ebola outbreak in the country’s history. Staff shortages and funding issues continue to hinder Ebola response efforts as international agencies urge global donors to accelerate financial contributions.
Technology
Apple has unveiled the iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone 18 Pro Max with major camera, performance and battery upgrades. The new models feature a 48-megapixel Fusion Main camera with variable aperture, a first for the iPhone. Both phones run on the new A20 Pro chip and include a redesigned thermal system. Preorders begin September 12, with retail availability scheduled for September 18 in more than 65 countries and regions.