News
UAE-Senegal talks center on investment, development and the 2026 UN Water Conference. During their talks, Sheikh Mohamed and President Faye also examined preparations for the upcoming 2026 United Nations Water Conference. The UAE and Senegal will jointly host the event in Abu Dhabi from December 8 to 10. The conference aims to advance progress toward Sustainable Development Goal 6, which emphasizes universal access to clean water and sanitation. The leaders explored water-related priorities and underscored their significance for economic and social progress both domestically and internationally.
Nepal’s National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Authority has announced that the number of individuals unaccounted for after the August 26 floods has risen to 6,150. This updated figure reflects an increase of 971 from the previous count of 5,179. Officials attributed the rise to the incorporation of revised data from affected districts, which was verified through ongoing checks. Since the disaster, authorities have recovered 1,403 bodies. The floods and debris flows inflicted significant destruction across northern Nepal, especially near the border with China.
Business
Bullion experienced renewed downward pressure across global trading platforms as international commodity markets digested a quarter-point increase in interest rates by the U.S. Federal Reserve. Spot gold fell 1 percent to $4,249 per ounce, reaching multi-session lows amid rising sovereign yields and tightening monetary policies. The rise in interest rates has raised the opportunity cost of holding physical bullion, leading institutional portfolios to shift capital into fixed-income investments.
UAE and India deepen trade, investment and strategic cooperation through high-level talks. Both leaders examined their cooperation under the UAE-India Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement, known as CEPA. They also reflected on the longstanding political, commercial, cultural, energy, and people-to-people connections binding their countries. The dialogue aimed at uncovering further prospects for cooperation in areas that are now central to their bilateral relationship. Additionally, the meeting emphasized mutual interests as the UAE and India maintained consistent engagement across economic and strategic sectors.
Oman inflation reached 3.4% in August 2026 as transport and food prices increased. Transport experienced the most significant annual increase among the main consumer groups, with an 8.5% rise from August 2025. Food and non-alcoholic beverages grew by 7%, while miscellaneous personal goods and services increased 6.1%. The prices at restaurants and hotels went up 3.6%, and furniture, household equipment, and routine maintenance costs rose 3.1%. Education costs increased 2.2%, healthcare expenses edged up 1.7%, and culture and recreation prices saw a slight 0.4% increase during this period.
UAE President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan engaged in discussions with leading German business executives in Berlin to promote increased cross-border investments and deepen trade ties between the two nations. Emphasizing the UAE’s strategic role as a global logistics hub and its investor-friendly legal framework, Sheikh Mohamed called on German industrial leaders to broaden their footprint in Middle Eastern and international markets. The session highlighted new commercial prospects arising from recent bilateral accords spanning manufacturing, renewable energy, and digital sectors.
India and Russia agreed to accelerate bilateral economic cooperation to achieve a target of $100 billion in two-way trade by 2030. Following high-level plenary sessions at the INNOPROM India 2026 industrial technology exhibition in New Delhi, officials from both governments established a shared framework to expand trade from its current baseline of approximately $60 billion. India Russia bilateral trade target set at $100 billion by 2030 as diplomatic delegations and industrial leaders move to rebalance commercial flows through non-energy sector expansion.
UAE and Germany expand economic ties with a €40 billion cross-sector investment plan. A key component of the plan involves substantial investment in Germany’s digital infrastructure. A joint declaration from the two governments outlined plans for new data centres with approximately 1 gigawatt of total capacity, with Germany committing to creating favorable conditions for their development. This initiative forms part of a broader set of economic agreements announced during the state visit. Both nations also outlined collaborations in technology, energy, trade, investment, and other areas covered by their bilateral partnership.
Technology
Apple unveiled the iPhone Duo on Sept. 9, marking the company’s inaugural foldable smartphone. The device begins at $1,999 in the U.S. and features a 7.6-inch inner display that unfolds. When folded, it uses a 5.4-inch outer screen for everyday tasks. Preorders open on Oct. 16, with retail sales beginning on Oct. 23. This launch introduces a new form factor for Apple alongside its traditional smartphone lineup.
The camera system on the iPhone 18 Pro now includes four selectable aperture options to optimize lighting and depth of field. Its primary camera supports f/1.48, f/1.8, f/2.8, and f/4.0 apertures. Additionally, it is equipped with 48-megapixel Ultra Wide and Telephoto lenses. New Pro controls allow users to fine-tune aperture, shutter speed, and white balance directly within the Camera app. Users can also monitor a histogram while framing photos or videos. Apple introduces Reference Image, a feature that users can opt into to authenticate photographs. When capturing a photo in Reference mode, signed sensor data is recorded, creating a reference image that can be compared to an edited version in the Photos app. The company also plans to support image metadata and the SynthID standard, with SynthID support arriving via a software update later in 2026.
The United States is ramping up domestic battery manufacturing efforts in an effort to lessen reliance on China. The deeper obstacle lies within the supply chain itself, as China continues to dominate in battery materials, processing, and essential manufacturing technologies used worldwide. While U.S. factories have expanded their capacity, many still depend on imported components and refined minerals. This gap has made graphite, cathodes, anodes, and lithium iron phosphate materials focal points in Washington’s battery initiatives.
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.
