News
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.
UAE search teams support flood rescue and relief operations across Nepal’s Rasuwa district. In coordination with local authorities, the UAE team directs search activities across Rasuwa. Hamoud Al Afari, director of UAE relief operations, highlighted that the technological tools available are crucial in the ongoing efforts to find missing persons. The team’s deployment followed assessments of flood and landslide-affected zones. Search teams have encountered difficulties accessing certain areas where extensive damage has compromised roads and basic infrastructure. They continue to blend ground operations with aerial reconnaissance to evaluate the extent of damage and guide search activities effectively.
Business
Egypt’s net international reserves rose to a record $57.2145 billion at the end of August 2026. The Central Bank of Egypt released the provisional figure on September 7. Reserves stood at $56.2939 billion at the end of July. That means the total increased by about $920.6 million during August, or roughly 1.6%. The latest reading extends a series of monthly gains in 2026 and takes Egypt’s official foreign reserves above $57 billion for the first time.
South Korea and African partner nations are set to initiate a significant economic collaboration centered on artificial intelligence and technology-led development during the 8th Korea-Africa Economic Cooperation Ministerial Conference in Seoul. Celebrating two decades of bilateral cooperation, this summit gathers cabinet ministers, development financiers, and tech industry leaders to review progress and plan future initiatives. Confirmed plans include Korea Africa’s efforts to deploy AI digital infrastructure along emerging trade corridors while evaluating two decades of joint investments.
In August, South Korea’s foreign exchange reserves experienced their largest monthly growth on record. The Bank of Korea announced that reserves reached $442.28 billion at the end of the month, reflecting a $14.33 billion rise from $427.95 billion in July. This surge marked the most significant monthly increase since the reserve data series started in 1971 and also brought the total to its highest level since May 2022.
South Korea’s consumer prices increased by 3.1% in August compared to the previous year, according to official statistics. This growth rate surpassed the 2.8% recorded in July, pushing the headline inflation figure back above 3%. The consumer price index reached 120.05, with 2020 set as the baseline of 100. Prices also grew by 0.2% from July. The Ministry of Data and Statistics published the August figures on September 2.
Korea’s August exports jump 68.7% to $98.25 billion as Asia’s fourth-largest economy extends its trade expansion streak for a 15th consecutive month. Exports of semiconductors skyrocketed 209% year-on-year to an all-time high of $46.65 billion, fueled by ongoing capital investment from leading global tech companies. Additional reports revealed that exports of computer products grew 419.5% to $6.24 billion, while energy and chemical sectors also contributed significantly to the overall increase. Shipments to key trading partners showed broad-based growth, with exports to China increasing 119.3% and deliveries to the United States rising 89.3%.
India’s economy grew 7.8% in Q1 FY27 as manufacturing, services and investment expanded. According to the Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation, the real gross domestic product (GDP) stood at ₹81.36 lakh crore for the quarter. This compares with ₹75.46 lakh crore in the same period last year. Nominal GDP reached ₹88.27 lakh crore, representing a 10.3% increase from ₹80 lakh crore. Real gross value added (GVA), another indicator of economic activity, grew by 8.2% to ₹73.82 lakh crore. Meanwhile, nominal GVA rose by 11.5% to ₹80.53 lakh crore. Manufacturing expanded by 9.2% during this period, while the financial, real estate, and professional services sectors grew by 12.1%. Agriculture, livestock, forestry, and fishing increased by 3.6%. Household consumption rose by 7.1%, continuing its role as a primary driver of domestic demand. Additionally, investment saw an uplift, with gross fixed capital formation increasing nearly 12% compared to the previous year. Its share of nominal GDP reached 34.3%, up from 31.4% in the same quarter last year.
Technology
Japan is advancing its efforts to combat investment fraud by deploying a new system that leverages artificial intelligence to identify warning signs at an earlier stage. The Consumer Affairs Agency announced this initiative on September 1. The system will analyze consumer complaints for specific language and patterns indicative of fraudulent schemes and failing enterprises. According to the package, AI will enhance existing keyword search methods and enable quicker alerts, investigations, and enforcement actions when complaint data signals serious risks.
During the first six months of 2026, China’s digital sector generated a total revenue of 20.71 trillion yuan, marking a 13.6% increase compared to the same period last year. The sector’s overall profit reached 1.79 trillion yuan, which is a 19.3% rise. China’s Ministry of Industry and Information Technology indicated that the rate of revenue growth accelerated by 4.1 percentage points from the previous year. The profit margin for the industry stood at 8.6%, reflecting an increase of 0.7 percentage points. China’s digital industry posted strong revenue and profit growth in the first half of 2026.
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.
