News
The International Fund for Houbara Conservation has initiated a new support scheme for Emirati houbara breeders during ADIHEX 2026. This Houbara Breeders Support Initiative is designed for those managing existing houbara production facilities as well as individuals planning to establish new ones. It offers participants access to expert knowledge, hands-on training, and technical support. The program emphasizes responsible breeding practices, animal welfare, biosecurity, and effective management techniques across houbara breeding operations.
UAE President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan welcomed Kurdistan Region Prime Minister Masrour Barzani in Abu Dhabi on Tuesday. The meeting concentrated on the relationship between the United Arab Emirates and Iraq, with special focus on the Kurdistan Region. Leaders explored ways to enhance collaboration and promote development and prosperity for their populations. UAE Vice President, Prime Minister and Ruler of Dubai, Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, also participated in the discussions.
Business
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 of 100. Prices also increased 0.2% from July. The Ministry of Data and Statistics released the August figures on September 2.
Korea’s August exports saw a significant rise of 68.7% to $98.25 billion, marking the 15th straight month of trade expansion for Asia’s fourth-largest economy. Exports of semiconductors soared 209% year-on-year to reach a record high of $46.65 billion, driven by ongoing capital expenditure initiatives among leading global technology companies. Energy and chemical sectors also contributed to the overall monthly growth, with petroleum product exports increasing by 65.3% and petrochemical exports growing by 12.2%. Exports to major trading partners showed widespread growth, with shipments to China jumping 119.3% and exports to the United States increasing by 89.3%.
India’s economy grew 7.8% in Q1 FY27 as manufacturing, services and investment expanded. The Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation reported the real gross domestic product at ₹81.36 lakh crore for the quarter. This compares with ₹75.46 lakh crore in the same quarter last year. Nominal GDP reached ₹88.27 lakh crore, marking a 10.3% increase from ₹80 lakh crore. Real gross value added, another indicator of economic activity, grew 8.2% to ₹73.82 lakh crore. Meanwhile, nominal GVA increased 11.5% to ₹80.53 lakh crore. Manufacturing saw a 9.2% rise during the period, while financial, real estate, and professional services expanded by 12.1%. Agriculture, livestock, forestry, and fishing grew by 3.6%. Household consumption also rose by 7.1%, reaffirming its vital role in domestic demand. Investment strengthened as well, with gross fixed capital formation nearly increasing by 12% compared to the previous year. Its share of nominal GDP reached 34.3%, up from 31.4% in the same quarter last year.
Japan stocks remain in focus as Nikkei volatility meets rising bond yields and rate concerns. By the end of the trading day, the Nikkei rebounded significantly, closing at 66,311.93, which was 93.63 points lower, or 0.14%. This closing level was well above the morning low and represented the session’s peak. The Topix concluded at 4,156.29, up 0.23%, reversing its early decline. As the trading progressed, market breadth improved, with 131 Nikkei stocks advancing, 91 declining, and three remaining unchanged. This recovery sharply narrowed the morning decline, which had briefly exceeded 2%.
Indonesia expands sports investment coordination through a new business licensing framework. The pact unites the Ministry of Investment and Downstreaming with the Ministry of Youth and Sports regarding business licensing. It also involves promoting investments and providing services for companies engaged in sports-related sectors. Their collaboration will utilize Indonesia’s Online Single Submission system, known as OSS. Additionally, the ministries will coordinate efforts in compliance oversight, regulatory alignment, and data sharing. This framework aims to foster investment development within Indonesia’s sports sector, without establishing a domestic industry target of US$521 billion. Thohir mentioned that the global sports industry is valued at about US$521 billion, which equates to roughly 8,000 trillion rupiah. He also stated that the industry experiences an annual growth rate of approximately 8%. This figure does not include sport tourism, which he estimated to be nearly US$600 billion worldwide. Indonesian officials have recognized both sports and sport tourism as key economic areas involving events, travel, and supporting businesses. The agreement provides an administrative framework to facilitate investments in these sectors.
The signing took place at Egypt’s Cabinet of Ministers headquarters in El Alamein on Aug. 26, 2026. Egypt’s Supply and Internal Trade Minister Sherif Farouk, who also leads GASC, was present at the signing. Khadim Abdullah Al Darei, co-founder and managing director of Al Dahra, attended as well. The release did not specify wheat quantities, shipment timelines, origins, or a pricing method for purchases made under this deal. The financial framework originated in August 2023, when ADEX and Egyptian authorities established a revolving wheat import program. The total allocated amount was US$100 million, with the possibility of annual renewals over five years, reaching a maximum of US$500 million. Egypt’s ministries of international cooperation and finance joined GASC in the initial setup. The 2026 supply agreement now serves as the operational basis for GASC’s wheat acquisitions from Al Dahra within the financing scheme.
Technology
Japan is strengthening its efforts to combat investment scams by implementing a new system that leverages artificial intelligence to identify warning signs more promptly. The Consumer Affairs Agency unveiled this initiative on September 1. The AI will scrutinize consumer complaints for language patterns and indicators associated with fraudulent schemes and failing companies. The report indicates that AI will complement traditional keyword searches, facilitating earlier alerts, investigations, and enforcement actions when complaint data reveal significant risks. Japan expands AI-powered checks to detect investment fraud through consumer complaint data. This AI system will analyze approximately 900,000 consultation records annually from PIO-NET, Japan’s national consumer complaint database. It will compare new complaints with contextual information and key phrases extracted from previous cases. The system is designed to identify solicitation techniques, business structures, and early signs of collapse. Additionally, it can detect common patterns across multiple operators, even if a complaint does not explicitly mention a financial loss. The initiative targets schemes promising high returns or dividends that gather funds from numerous consumers before collapsing. Authorities cited cases involving overseas financial products, foreign real estate investments, and arrangements connected to deposited goods, such as USB devices. Japan also intends to gather more information from websites, social media, and specialized consultations. The government has stated that methods of fraud and money laundering have become more diverse and sophisticated. Expansion of AI tools enhances early warning capabilities With the new package, officials will use AI findings to issue early warnings concerning specific methods, products, or services. They can also support pre-contract discussions for
China’s digital industry generated a total revenue of 20.71 trillion yuan in the initial half of 2026, marking a 13.6% increase compared to the same period the previous year. The sector’s net profit reached 1.79 trillion yuan, a 19.3% rise. The growth rate of revenue accelerated by 4.1 percentage points from the same period last year. The profit margin for the industry was 8.6%, up by 0.7 percentage points. The top 10 provincial-level markets collectively generated 17.21 trillion yuan in revenue, showing a 13.2% increase. Central China’s digital industry revenue reached 2.86 trillion yuan, an increase of 28.3% from the previous year. China had established 52 intelligent computing facilities equipped with over 10,000 accelerator cards by the end of June. Revenue from major electronic information manufacturers reached 12.15 trillion yuan, a 17.8% rise.
The United Nations urges accelerated efforts to shield children and young people from the increasing online threats. An upcoming UN issue brief highlights key concerns such as disinformation, hate speech, harassment, algorithmic bias, and artificial intelligence. It also emphasizes risks associated with data gathering, targeted behavioral advertising, and digital systems designed to capture attention. These warnings come as young individuals increasingly depend on online platforms for education, social interaction, information, and civic engagement.
On Tuesday, Japan successfully launched the H3 rocket carrying the Michibiki No. 7 navigation satellite. The flight, identified as H3 Flight No. 9, took off at 4:23:31 a.m. Japan time from the Tanegashima Space Center. The Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency, or JAXA, confirmed that the satellite was separated approximately 29 minutes and four seconds after launch. The agency also stated that the rocket adhered to its planned trajectory and successfully placed QZS-7 into its designated orbit.
