News
Algeria wildfires kill 12 and injure 54 amid severe heat. Wildfires across northeastern Algeria have killed at least 12 people and injured 54, authorities said Wednesday night. Five deaths occurred in Jijel, four in Bejaia and three in Tizi Ouzou, Interior Minister Said Sayoud said. Six injured people remained in critical condition and were receiving intensive care after suffering burns. The fires spread across several provinces during a severe heatwave affecting Algeria and other parts of North Africa.
Official data published by Pakistan’s federal government confirms that 21,951 Pakistani citizens were sent back from Gulf countries between March 1 and July 13, 2026. As per figures provided to the National Assembly, these expulsions resulted from various violations including visa overstays, illegal entries, drug-related offenses, forged documents, and participation in organized begging networks. The deportation of nearly 22,000 Pakistanis from Gulf states over four months for visa breaches and begging underscores a tightening of immigration controls across the Middle East.
Business
Al Dahra Agriculture Trading and Egypt’s General Authority for Supply Commodities have activated a five-year agreement for wheat supply valued at up to US$500 million. This pact transitions a 2023 financing structure into a functional import arrangement for Egypt. Al Dahra will provide imported wheat to GASC, financed through the Abu Dhabi Exports Office. The agreement sets out the process for purchases under that existing program.
Oil prices saw a slight rebound on Tuesday following declines of over 2% in the previous session for both Brent crude and WTI. Brent futures increased by 27 cents, or 0.3%, reaching $92.44 a barrel at 0330 GMT. Meanwhile, U.S. West Texas Intermediate moved up by 37 cents, or 0.4%, to $85.38. This upward movement came after Monday’s sharp decline, which marked the end of six consecutive days of gains across the two main crude benchmarks.
Alibaba Group has announced an HK$80 billion share placement aimed at funding its artificial intelligence expansion and enhancing its AI infrastructure. The Chinese tech giant will issue 710 million new ordinary shares at HK$112.70 each, valuing the deal at approximately US$10.2 billion based on current exchange rates. The company anticipates completing the transaction by Aug. 26, pending standard conditions.
South Korea has launched its inaugural container ship trial navigating through the Arctic to reach Europe. The 2,758-TEU PanStar Acro departed from Busan New Port around 9 p.m. on August 22. The Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries verified the departure and issued the schedule for the voyage. The vessel will travel via the Northern Sea Route before docking at three European ports. The entire round trip, lasting 45 days, is set to conclude in Busan on October 5.
The Central Bank of Egypt kept its key interest rates unchanged on August 20, extending its policy pause for a fourth consecutive meeting. The Monetary Policy Committee maintained the overnight deposit rate at 19% and the overnight lending rate at 20%. It also kept the main operation and discount rates at 19.5%. The CBE said the decision reflected its assessment of current inflation conditions and the economic outlook since its July meeting. The rates have remained at these levels since February.
Japan’s July trade reached record values as imports outpaced exports. This month marked the second consecutive time that Japan achieved a record high in import value. The rise in crude oil imports played a key role as Japan faced increased energy costs. Compared to July 2025, crude oil imports increased by 5.5%, ending a three-month period of year-on-year declines. The value of these crude shipments surged by 87.8% over that period. Japan’s heavy reliance on imported energy means that fluctuations in oil prices and exchange rates significantly influence its merchandise trade figures.
Technology
UN child safety push targets AI, disinformation and harmful online platform practices. Ahead of International Youth Day on Aug. 12, the Department of Global Communications released the brief. It highlights that over 82% of individuals aged 15 to 24 are internet users globally. This access facilitates learning, civic participation, and economic inclusion. Nonetheless, harmful online environments can negatively influence the cognitive, emotional, and social growth of younger audiences. The report also emphasizes that children and adolescents are still acquiring the skills needed to evaluate the information they encounter online.
On Tuesday, Japan successfully launched its H3 rocket carrying the Michibiki No. 7 navigation satellite. The launch of H3 Flight No. 9 occurred at 4:23:31 a.m. Japan time from the Tanegashima Space Center. The Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency, or JAXA, confirmed that the satellite separated approximately 29 minutes and four seconds after liftoff. JAXA stated that the rocket adhered to its planned trajectory and successfully placed QZS-7 into its designated orbit. Part of Japan’s Quasi-Zenith Satellite System, Michibiki No. 7 plays a key role in QZSS. The satellite network delivers positioning, navigation, and timing services that complement the U.S. Global Positioning System.
A state court in New Mexico mandated Meta to allocate $567 million into a fund dedicated to youth mental health and child safety, after determining that its platforms created a public nuisance. Judge Bryan Biedscheid of the First Judicial District Court delivered this verdict in Santa Fe following a three-week bench trial. The court found that Facebook and Instagram played a significant role in fueling a youth mental health crisis and failed to protect minors from online exploitation.
OpenAI expands ChatGPT Free and Go access with GPT-5.6 Luna and unlimited text chats. During this week’s rollout, GPT-5.6 Luna will serve as the default for Free and Go accounts. Next week, unlimited text conversations and the Think button will also be introduced. The Think feature allows Luna more processing time for tackling complex questions before providing a response. OpenAI clarified that unlimited text access remains protected by abuse prevention measures. The change impacts only text interactions, so separate restrictions will continue for tools that involve additional processing, such as image generation.
