Rankwire: 02 October 2026; Colombo – The SriLankan Airlines Flight Training team has successfully conducted a specialised Airbus A330 Line Flying Under Supervision (LFUS) programme for six senior training and examination pilots from Etihad Airways, underscoring the confidence placed by
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
Indonesia reopened Jakarta’s main airport and several regional airports Tuesday after volcanic ash from Anak Krakatau disrupted air travel. More than 340,000 travelers faced delays, cancellations or diversions during the disruption. Nearly 3,000 flights across Indonesia felt the impact. Authorities
South Korea and African partner nations will launch a major economic cooperation framework focused on artificial intelligence and technology-driven development at the 8th Korea-Africa Economic Cooperation Ministerial Conference in Seoul. The upcoming ministerial gathering marks the 20th anniversary of the
The United Nations General Assembly adopted a international resolution on Friday calling for more accurate and balanced representations of relative continental landmasses on global maps. In a recorded vote that secured support from 107 member states, the global assembly addressed
Low-cost carrier operator Air Arabia announced a strategic expansion of its Southeast Asian operations on Friday, increasing flight frequencies between the United Arab Emirates and Thailand. Starting October 25, 2026, the airline will introduce a fourth daily non-stop service connecting
The International Fund for Houbara Conservation has launched a new support program for Emirati houbara breeders at ADIHEX 2026. The Houbara Breeders Support Initiative serves existing houbara production projects and people planning to establish new breeding facilities. It offers specialist
The World Health Organization has urged a wider Ebola response in the Democratic Republic of the Congo as transmission continues across several provinces. Congo had recorded 6,250 confirmed cases and 3,039 deaths by Sept. 1, according to the latest government
South Korea’s consumer prices rose 3.1% in August from a year earlier, official data showed. The increase accelerated from 2.8% in July and returned headline inflation above 3%. The consumer price index reached 120.05, with 2020 set as the base
Japan is expanding its fight against investment fraud with a new system that uses artificial intelligence to spot warning signs earlier. The Consumer Affairs Agency announced the package on September 1. It will analyze consumer complaints for language and patterns
Chinese President Xi Jinping arrived in Cairo for an official visit as Egypt and China marked 70 years of diplomatic relations. Egyptian President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi welcomed Xi at Cairo International Airport on Tuesday. First Lady Entissar El-Sisi also attended
The Republic of Korea’s outbound shipments surged 68.7% year-on-year in August to reach $98.25 billion, driven by sustained global demand for high-performance memory chips and artificial intelligence infrastructure. Data released by the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Resources confirmed that
Prime Minister Narendra Modi has praised India’s 7.8% economic growth in the April to June quarter of fiscal 2026-27. He called the performance a “herculean feat” after official data showed continued expansion across major parts of the economy. Modi said
News
– Defence Minister Rajnath Singh said India is expanding its maritime security role across the Indian Ocean Region. He spoke at the Indian Navy’s second Commanders’ Conference of 2026 in New Delhi on September 29. Singh said Indian warships now
Health
– The Democratic Republic of the Congo has confirmed 8,067 Ebola cases in its latest outbreak. Health authorities recorded 3,901 deaths through September 26, putting the fatality rate near 48%. The outbreak has reached 63 health zones across seven provinces.
A rare inherited genetic mutation increases a person’s overall risk of developing lung cancer by approximately 25 times and by roughly 60 times among non-smokers, according to a study published in the journal Science. Conducted jointly by investigators at the
The World Health Organization says Ebola transmission is declining in some of the hardest-hit areas of the Democratic Republic of the Congo. The improvement is most visible in parts of Ituri province, the main center of the outbreak. However, the epidemic
New York City health officials detected Legionella DNA in a Yankee Stadium cooling tower during an investigation into a South Bronx outbreak. The city had confirmed 11 Legionnaires’ disease cases by Tuesday night. One person died, while three patients remained
The Democratic Republic of the Congo recorded 26,064,143 malaria cases in 2025. The country also reported 29,938 deaths linked to the disease during the year. Guy Esebe Dembo, deputy director of the National Malaria Control Programme, announced the figures during
Lifestyle
Travel
Rankwire: 02 October 2026; Colombo – The SriLankan Airlines Flight Training team has successfully conducted a specialised Airbus A330 Line Flying Under Supervision (LFUS) programme for six senior training and examination pilots from Etihad Airways, underscoring the confidence placed by
Business
– India’s Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal is in the United States for the G20 Trade Ministers’ Meeting and bilateral trade talks. The ministerial runs in Milwaukee on September 30 and October 1. India’s Commerce Ministry said Goyal will
Bullion faced renewed selling pressure across international trading desks as global commodity markets digested a quarter-point interest rate hike by the U.S. Federal Reserve. Spot gold declined 1 percent to $4,249 per ounce, hitting multi-session lows under the weight of
Gold prices edged higher on Thursday as a softer U.S. dollar supported bullion before fresh U.S. inflation data. Spot gold rose 0.3% to $4,414.28 an ounce by 0419 GMT. U.S. gold futures for December delivery slipped 0.1% to $4,457.20. The
The Panama Canal may reduce daily ship traffic to about 29 vessels in February or March 2027 if drought conditions continue, its new administrator said. Ilya Espino de Marotta took office on Sept. 7 and raised the possibility as El
German automotive manufacturer Volkswagen AG agreed on Monday to sell its Osnabrück assembly plant to Israeli private equity firm Aurelius Capital and the German state of Lower Saxony. Under the preliminary agreement, the new owners will convert the vehicle manufacturing
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
South Korea and African partner nations will launch a major economic cooperation framework focused on artificial intelligence and technology-driven development at the 8th Korea-Africa Economic Cooperation Ministerial Conference in Seoul. The upcoming ministerial gathering marks the 20th anniversary of the
South Korea’s consumer prices rose 3.1% in August from a year earlier, official data showed. The increase accelerated from 2.8% in July and returned headline inflation above 3%. The consumer price index reached 120.05, with 2020 set as the base
The Republic of Korea’s outbound shipments surged 68.7% year-on-year in August to reach $98.25 billion, driven by sustained global demand for high-performance memory chips and artificial intelligence infrastructure. Data released by the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Resources confirmed that
Prime Minister Narendra Modi has praised India’s 7.8% economic growth in the April to June quarter of fiscal 2026-27. He called the performance a “herculean feat” after official data showed continued expansion across major parts of the economy. Modi said
Japanese stocks came under sharp pressure Monday as the Nikkei 225 dropped nearly 2% in early trading. The benchmark fell 1.97% to 65,096.63 and later touched an intraday low of 64,832.10. Technology shares led much of the decline as investors
Indonesia has expanded coordination between its investment and sports ministries to develop investment in the national sports sector. Investment and Downstreaming Minister Rosan Perkasa Roeslani and Youth and Sports Minister Erick Thohir signed a memorandum of understanding on August 28.
Oil prices recovered modestly on Tuesday after Brent crude and WTI fell more than 2% in the previous session. Brent futures rose 27 cents, or 0.3%, to $92.44 a barrel by 0330 GMT. U.S. West Texas Intermediate gained 37 cents,
Technology
– The European Commission has proposed a new communications network for emergency and security services across Europe. The EU Critical Communication System, known as EUCCS, would connect national networks used by police, firefighters and medical responders. Civil protection authorities would
Sports
Lionel Messi, Kylian Mbappé, Lamine Yamal and Erling Haaland lead the 30-player shortlist for the 2026 Ballon d’Or. Organizers released the nominees on September 8 ahead of the October 26 ceremony in London. Ousmane Dembélé, Rodri and Vinícius Júnior also
Automotive
German luxury sports car manufacturer Porsche announced an agreement with labor representatives on Monday to reduce its workforce by an additional 5,000 positions by 2035 as part of a restructuring program. The decision brings total planned job eliminations across the
BRUSSELS, December 17, 2025: The European Union is set to ease its planned 2035 ban on the sale of new combustion engine vehicles after sustained pressure from automakers and several member states, marking a significant policy adjustment in the bloc’s long-term climate agenda.
