U.S. equities closed slightly higher on Wednesday, buoyed by a notable drop in long-term Treasury yields. The S&P 500 gained 16.22 points, or 0.21%, reaching 7,707.98, and broke a three-day losing streak. The Dow Jones Industrial Average increased by 119.65 points, or 0.22%, ending at 53,463.05. The Nasdaq Composite added 41.38 points, or 0.16%, closing at 26,331.09. The decline in government bond yields helped the major indices recover after multiple sessions of pressure from rising borrowing costs.
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International Youth Day 2026 highlights youth inclusion, skills and shared global aspirations. According to the UN, young generations face significant challenges such as economic instability, digital access, and climate change, which are often transnational and demand coordinated responses. Guterres urged for improved access for young people to essential skills like critical thinking, problem-solving, and digital literacy, emphasizing that these competencies will influence the future and foster broader societal participation. The theme for 2026 emphasizes the diverse circumstances shaping young people’s lives and maintains a shared focus on opportunity and well-being, connecting youth development with global solidarity and common challenges.
A U.S. appeals court has permitted more than 3,000 federal lawsuits concerning alleged social media addiction to move forward. The 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals dismissed appeals from Meta Platforms and TikTok on Aug. 10. These companies challenged the lower court rulings that kept the legal processes active. The appeals court noted their appeals were filed prematurely. U.S. District Judge Yvonne Gonzalez Rogers is overseeing the consolidated federal cases in Oakland.
Over 167,900 People Displaced as Typhoon Dolphin Expands Flood Response Efforts FUZHOU, CHINA / RankWire.AI / – The China Meteorological Administration has increased flood alert measures following Typhoon Dolphin’s landfalls and the resulting heavy rainfall and floods across eastern China. In Fujian Province, authorities evacuated approximately 167,900 residents from vulnerable coastal and low-lying areas by 7 a.m. Monday. Meanwhile, Shanghai had already evacuated around 215,600 people from high-risk zones by late Sunday. The storm made two landfalls in Zhejiang Province on Sunday before moving inland and gradually losing strength.
ATKA, ALASKA / RankWire.AI / – The Alaska Earthquake Center has reported that a magnitude 5.0 earthquake struck southeast of Atka late Saturday in Alaska’s Aleutian Islands. The seismic activity was recorded at 7:36 p.m. Alaska Daylight Time on August 8, which corresponds to 03:36 UTC on August 9. The quake’s epicenter was approximately 48 miles, or 77 kilometers, southeast of Atka. Seismologists indicated that the event occurred at a depth of roughly 10.6 miles, or 17 kilometers.
Business
Travel
Etihad Airways plans to introduce seasonal nonstop flights connecting Abu Dhabi and Gothenburg beginning December 17, 2026. The route will operate four times per week until March 21, 2027, linking the UAE capital with Sweden’s second-largest city during the winter travel season. Ticket sales for the new Abu Dhabi to Gothenburg service are already open. Flights will run between Zayed International Airport and Göteborg Landvetter Airport. Etihad’s Abu Dhabi-Gothenburg service will operate four times weekly this winter. This route will mark Gothenburg’s first direct air link with the United Arab Emirates, providing its inaugural nonstop connection to the Middle East and Asia.
South Korea experienced a tourism surplus of $596.6 million in June 2026, marking the strongest monthly figure since the onset of COVID-19. This represents an improvement of $1.44 billion compared to June 2025, when the tourism balance was at an $846.8 million deficit. Data from the Korea Tourism Organization indicate that June’s surplus ranks as the second-highest monthly record ever, with only October 2008 surpassing it at $661.5 million.
The Spanish government has implemented short-term border inspections for individuals arriving from Italy via air and sea routes. These measures commenced at midnight on Aug. 8 and are scheduled to last until Sept. 7. Spain’s decision to introduce these checks followed Italy’s own temporary border controls on arrivals from Spain. The new procedures involve additional document verification along routes that typically operate under the European Union’s Schengen system of internal travel.
Dubai-based airline flydubai announced on Wednesday a significant increase in its European route offerings, aiming to meet growing international travel demand by adding more services to key Italian hubs. As reported by Emirates News Agency, flydubai is expanding its presence in Italy through additional flights to Milan-Bergamo and Naples, strengthening direct transport links between the United Arab Emirates and Southern Europe. Beginning July 31, 2026, the airline will operate a double daily service between Dubai International Airport and Milan-Bergamo Airport, while also increasing its flights to Naples International Airport to a daily schedule.
Health
Congo Ebola response expands as health teams work to curb Bundibugyo transmission. (AI-generated image) According to WHO incident manager Thierno Baldé, the three-month containment goal hinges on securing necessary funding and resources for the response. The agency has obtained approximately $69.3 million of the $115 million it estimates is required, roughly 60%. Over the past two weeks, teams added more than 400 treatment beds and deployed 100 extra epidemiologists along with over 500 community health workers to enhance surveillance and contact tracing efforts. The response effort also demands vehicles, ambulances, medical supplies, and personnel across the expanding affected region. Transmission has now reached Bas-Uélé, marking it as the sixth affected province. As of August 12, Ituri accounted for 85% of confirmed cases and 79% of all reported deaths nationwide. Authorities stated that between 70% and 80% of new cases had no known links to existing patients. Efforts to broaden surveillance are underway to accelerate case detection and ensure timely transfers of patients to treatment centers. The first confirmed case in Bas-Uélé traveled from Haut-Uélé before symptoms appeared on August 4. Expansion of Response Efforts Across the Affected Regions Since declaring the outbreak on May 15, the Ministry of Public Health, Hygiene and Social Welfare of the Democratic Republic of the Congo has been leading the response. Laboratory testing in Kinshasa confirmed the presence of Bundibugyo virus, a rarer Ebola
Technology
UN urges stronger safeguards for children. The warning comes as young people rely heavily on online spaces for education, communication, information, and civic participation. The report says children and adolescents are still developing skills needed to assess the information they encounter online. The UN groups the threats into three categories covering technology, distribution systems, and harmful content. Technology-related risks include misuse of digital tools and artificial intelligence. Content risks include disinformation, online harassment, and hate speech. The report calls for technology companies and AI developers to incorporate child rights and safety into the design of products and services.