Nepal’s National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Authority has raised the number of people missing after the Aug. 26 floods to 6,150. The revised total is 971 higher than the previous figure of 5,179. Officials said updated records from affected districts drove the increase after verification. Authorities have also recovered 1,403 bodies since the disaster struck. The floods and debris flows caused extensive damage across northern Nepal, particularly near the border with China.
The shortlist includes players from leading clubs across Europe and other major competitions. Paris Saint-Germain has one of the strongest contingents in the men’s field. Its nominees include Dembélé, Hakimi, Marquinhos, Nuno Mendes, João Neves, Fabián Ruiz, Vitinha and Khvicha Kvaratskhelia. Bruno Fernandes, Declan Rice, Michael Olise, Lautaro Martínez and Sadio Mané also earned places. France Football administers the Ballon d’Or and applies a season-based assessment period to each edition.
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The U.S. dollar remained subdued during early trading, supporting dollar-priced precious metals. A weaker dollar reduces the cost of gold for buyers using other currencies. Meanwhile, the benchmark U.S. 10-year Treasury yield remained elevated near 4.84%. Gold does not pay interest, making changes in bond yields important for precious metals markets. Brent crude also held above $100 a barrel after crossing that level during the previous session.
The visit marks the first state visit to Germany by a UAE president. Sheikh Mohamed is in Germany for meetings with the country’s senior political leadership. The UAE president traveled with a senior delegation covering foreign affairs, trade, industry, defence, national security and advanced technology. German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier will receive Sheikh Mohamed at Villa Borsig on Thursday as the official program continues. The two presidents will hold talks with their delegations after the ceremonial welcome. Germany’s government says their talks will cover economic relations, the strategic partnership and regional peace and stability. Energy and technology also form established parts of UAE-Germany cooperation. Abu Dhabi renewable energy company Masdar owns a 49% stake in Germany’s 476-megawatt Baltic Eagle offshore wind farm. The project became fully operational in July 2025 and can supply electricity to about 475,000 homes.
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.
Business
Spot gold declined 1 percent to $4,249 per ounce, hitting multi-session lows under the weight of higher sovereign yields and restrictive monetary policy. Higher interest rates have increased the opportunity cost of holding physical bullion, prompting institutional portfolios to reallocate capital into fixed-income assets.
The U.S. dollar remained subdued during early trading, supporting dollar-priced precious metals. A weaker dollar reduces the cost of gold for buyers using other currencies. Meanwhile, the benchmark U.S. 10-year Treasury yield remained elevated near 4.84%. Gold does not pay interest, making changes in bond yields important for precious metals markets. Brent crude also held above $100 a barrel after crossing that level during the previous session.
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.
Travel
Etihad Airways will launch year-round flights from Abu Dhabi to Saudi Arabia’s Red Sea coast on Oct. 4, 2026. The service will connect Zayed International Airport with Red Sea International Airport in Tabuk Province. Etihad will start with one weekly flight, then increase the route to two flights a week from Oct. 25. The journey will take just over three hours, adding a sixth Saudi destination to Etihad’s network.
Indonesia reopened Jakarta’s main airport and several regional airports Tuesday after volcanic ash from Anak Krakatau disrupted air travel. Nearly 3,000 flights across Indonesia felt the impact. Anak Krakatau remained active Tuesday, with monitors recording three smaller eruptions during the morning.
Air Arabia boosts its Sharjah-Bangkok routes to 28 weekly flights, introducing a fourth daily non-stop service starting October 25, 2026. The increased frequency aims to meet growing regional travel demand and enhance schedule flexibility for leisure and business travelers. The airline’s expanded operations in Thailand include 49 weekly non-stop flights between Sharjah and Thai destinations, strengthening air connectivity between the Arabian Gulf and major Southeast Asian centers. Airbus A320 and A321 aircraft will service the route, equipped with amenities such as the SkyTime in-flight entertainment system and SkyCafe catering service.
The carrier’s seasonal performance highlights expanding passenger capacity and higher load factors across primary long-haul routes connecting North America, Europe, the Middle East, and the Asia-Pacific region. Operational updates released through international aviation channels indicate that forward bookings for the upcoming holiday travel window remain elevated across both premium cabins and economy class. Industry observers note that the sustained passenger volume underscores structural resilience across international long-haul aviation markets.
Technology
The iPhone Duo uses Super Retina XDR displays on both sides, with ProMotion and Always-On support. Apple rates peak outdoor brightness at 3,000 nits for both screens. A nano-texture finish on the inner panel reduces glare and makes the fold crease less visible, according to Apple. Grade 5 titanium forms the enclosure, while the precision hinge uses more than 100 components. Apple also gives the iPhone Duo an IP68 rating for water and dust resistance. Apple designed iOS 27.1 to work across the phone’s open and closed configurations. Split View lets users run two apps side by side, a first for the iPhone. Users can also open two windows of the same app and save app pairs for later use. The inner screen can show two Home Screen pages and a vertically scrolling Today View. Touch ID sits in the side button and works whether the device is open or folded.
Apple has unveiled the iPhone Duo, its first foldable iPhone, with sales set to begin October 23. The new model opens to a 7.6-inch inner screen and carries a 5.4-inch outer display. Apple says the larger panel offers the biggest screen yet on an iPhone. U.S. prices start at $1,999 for 256GB of storage. Preorders begin October 16 across more than 70 countries and regions.
The iPhone 18 Pro camera system adds four selectable aperture settings to control lighting and depth of field. Its main camera supports apertures of f/1.48, f/1.8, f/2.8 and f/4.0. The system also includes 48-megapixel Ultra Wide and Telephoto cameras. New Pro controls allow adjustments to aperture, shutter speed and white balance inside the Camera app. Users can also view a histogram while composing photos or videos.
The United States is expanding domestic battery production as it works to reduce dependence on China. The larger challenge sits deeper in the supply chain. China still dominates battery materials, processing and key manufacturing technologies used worldwide. U.S. factories have added capacity, but many depend on imported components and refined minerals. That gap has placed graphite, cathodes, anodes and lithium iron phosphate materials at the center of Washington’s battery push.
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 linked to fraudulent schemes and failing businesses. The package says AI will supplement existing keyword searches and support earlier alerts, investigations and enforcement when complaint data indicate serious risks.
Luxury
Rolex introduces the latest addition to its esteemed collection with the unveiling of the new Oyster Perpetual Rolex Deepsea model. Breaking tradition, this iteration marks…
The Rolex Oyster Perpetual Day-Date, a beacon of horological prestige, marries the elegance of 18 ct gold or 950 platinum with groundbreaking innovation. Since its launch…
The 53rd edition of the Watch & Jewellery Middle East Show, unveiled its treasures on January 31st in Sharjah. This prestigious event, a collaboration between Expo…