U.S. battery manufacturing is growing while key materials still come from China. In 2025, China accounted for more than 80% of the world’s battery cell production. It also produced roughly 85% of cathode active materials and over 90% of anode active materials. The International Energy Agency reported these shares in its 2026 global electric vehicle outlook. Chinese manufacturers supplied nearly three-quarters of global electric vehicle battery deployment in 2025, showcasing their industrial scale from mineral refinement to final cell production and manufacturing equipment. While the United States has managed to increase its battery manufacturing capacity at a faster percentage rate than China—growing by about 50% in lithium-ion nameplate capacity during 2025—it remains heavily reliant on imported materials. The country’s net import reliance for natural graphite reached 100% in 2025, with China ranked among its leading graphite suppliers over the previous four years, and Chinese processors controlling a dominant share in battery-grade graphite production. China’s control over key segments of the battery supply chain persists U.S. federal funding now targets these upstream vulnerabilities, along with efforts to boost battery assembly. On August 20, the U.S. Department of Energy announced $500 million for seven projects focusing on critical mineral processing, domestic battery manufacturing, and recycling. One initiative aims to process materials recovered from used lithium-ion batteries and manufacturing scrap, while others are dedicated to domestic processing and the development of alternative battery materials to strengthen U.S. supply chains. Tar
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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.
IFHC houbara breeder initiative supports training, welfare and biosecurity across the UAE. Ekthar Wildlife Development will oversee the initiative, handling its scientific and technical aspects. Additionally, Ekthar functions as the strategic operational partner for IFHC’s centers, programs, and projects both within the UAE and globally. Drawing on extensive conservation and operational expertise, the initiative aims to support participating breeders. The launch took place at the 23rd Abu Dhabi International Hunting and Equestrian Exhibition, an event that unites falconers, breeders, and organizations dedicated to wildlife, heritage, and conservation efforts.
During the encounter, Sheikh Mohamed and Barzani revisited the enduring ties connecting the UAE to Iraq and its Kurdistan Region. According to official reports, their dialogue aimed at identifying opportunities for broader cooperation across multiple sectors. The two leaders also deliberated on issues of common interest and regional dynamics. This diplomatic engagement takes place amid ongoing efforts by Middle Eastern nations to bolster security and stability amid rising regional tensions. Both sides underscored the significance of fostering security, stability, and enduring peace across the Middle East, emphasizing that these initiatives should benefit the entire region. The Kurdistan Regional Government highlighted that both parties condemned recent assaults on the UAE. Its account of the meeting noted that the leaders reaffirmed the importance of maintaining peace and security while addressing regional developments impacting the broader area. UAE and Kurdistan Region explore avenues for enhanced cooperation Abu Dhabi hosted a high-level gathering involving several senior UAE officials alongside Sheikh Mohamed, Barzani, and Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid. Among the attendees was Abu Dhabi Crown Prince Sheikh Khaled bin Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan. Deputy Prime Minister and Interior Minister Sheikh Saif bin Zayed Al Nahyan was also part of the delegation. Other senior figures from the UAE government and leadership attended, reflecting the importance of the meeting’s agenda. This session represented another phase of direct dialogue between Sheikh Mohamed and the Kurdistan Region’s prime minister in 2026. The UAE president previously hosted Barzani in Abu Dhabi on February 3 during an earlier official visit. At that time, Barz
Chinese President Xi Jinping arrived in Cairo for an official visit, marking 70 years of diplomatic ties between Egypt and China. Egyptian President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi greeted Xi at Cairo International Airport on Tuesday. The reception was also attended by First Lady Entissar El-Sisi, alongside Xi’s wife, Peng Liyuan. This marks Xi’s first trip to Egypt in a decade, amid ongoing reviews by both governments of their multifaceted relationship encompassing political, economic, and development cooperation.
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
Congo’s Ebola response expands as Bundibugyo transmission remains active. This outbreak has become Congo’s most extensive and deadliest Ebola epidemic to date. Globally, it ranks as the second-largest Ebola outbreak after the 2014-2016 epidemic in West Africa. Ituri remains the epicenter of the crisis, representing about 85% of cases and 88% of deaths. Tedros emphasized that many fatalities involve individuals not listed as known contacts, indicating that transmission chains are still being overlooked by health teams. Community deaths and unsafe burials continue to pose significant challenges in controlling the outbreak.
Technology
U.S. battery manufacturing is growing while key materials still come from China. In 2025, China accounted for more than 80% of the world’s battery cell production. It also produced roughly 85% of cathode active materials and over 90% of anode active materials. The International Energy Agency reported these shares in its 2026 global electric vehicle outlook. Chinese manufacturers supplied nearly three-quarters of global electric vehicle battery deployment in 2025, showcasing their industrial scale from mineral refinement to final cell production and manufacturing equipment. While the United States has managed to increase its battery manufacturing capacity at a faster percentage rate than China—growing by about 50% in lithium-ion nameplate capacity during 2025—it remains heavily reliant on imported materials. The country’s net import reliance for natural graphite reached 100% in 2025, with China ranked among its leading graphite suppliers over the previous four years, and Chinese processors controlling a dominant share in battery-grade graphite production. China’s control over key segments of the battery supply chain persists U.S. federal funding now targets these upstream vulnerabilities, along with efforts to boost battery assembly. On August 20, the U.S. Department of Energy announced $500 million for seven projects focusing on critical mineral processing, domestic battery manufacturing, and recycling. One initiative aims to process materials recovered from used lithium-ion batteries and manufacturing scrap, while others are dedicated to domestic processing and the development of alternative battery materials to strengthen U.S. supply chains. Tar