News
IFHC Initiates Support for UAE Houbara Breeders ABU DHABI, UNITED ARAB EMIRATES / RankWire.AI / – The International Fund for Houbara Conservation has introduced a new support program aimed at Emirati houbara breeders during ADIHEX 2026. This Houbara Breeders Support Initiative is designed for those managing existing breeding projects as well as individuals planning to establish new facilities, offering access to expert knowledge, hands-on training, and technical support. Its emphasis is on ethical breeding practices, animal welfare, biosecurity, and effective management across houbara breeding activities. IFHC houbara breeder initiative supports training, welfare and biosecurity across the UAE. Ekthar Wildlife Development will oversee the initiative, handling its scientific and technical aspects. Ekthar also functions as the strategic operational partner for IFHC centers, programs, and projects within the UAE and internationally. The program leverages Ekthar’s conservation and operational experience to support participating breeders. Launched at the 23rd Abu Dhabi International Hunting and Equestrian Exhibition, the initiative aims to bring together falconers, breeders, and organizations involved in wildlife, heritage, and conservation efforts. Participants who wish to join must undergo a detailed assessment process beforehand to evaluate their readiness and identify areas where they might need additional support; registration alone does not guarantee acceptance. IFHC requires applicants to successfully complete this assessment before final entry, establishing a clear procedure for both experienced
Business
In August, South Korea’s foreign exchange reserves experienced their most significant monthly growth ever, reaching a total of $442.28 billion by month’s end, according to the Bank of Korea. This represented a $14.33 billion rise from $427.95 billion recorded at the close of July, marking the largest monthly increase since the data series began in 1971 and the highest level since May 2022.
Travel
South Korea welcomed over 2 million international visitors in July 2026, with inbound travel remaining above pre-pandemic figures. The Korea Tourism Organization reported a total of 2,093,223 foreign arrivals for the month, reflecting a 20.8% increase from 1,733,199 in July 2025. This number also represents 144.6% of the July 2019 figure, before the COVID-19 pandemic significantly impacted global travel. Foreign visitor arrivals in South Korea rose 20.8% year on year in July. Compared to July 2024, the total grew by 48.6% from 1,408,499 foreign visitors, with notable gains across South Korea’s main inbound markets. China continued to be the largest source, with approximately 777,000 travelers, followed by visitors from Japan, Taiwan, the United States, and Hong Kong. Japan contributed around 330,000 visitors, and Taiwan accounted for about 261,000. The United States sent roughly 150,000 travelers, while Hong Kong’s arrivals totaled approximately 76,000. Each of these five markets surpassed its July 2019 numbers, with Chinese arrivals increasing by 49.6%, Japanese by 20.2%, and Taiwan recording the largest percentage growth at 129.4% from its 2019 level.
Sports
Spain sent Portugal out of the FIFA World Cup with a late 1-0 win, ending Ronaldo’s sixth tournament and long pursuit of the title.
Norway reached the FIFA World Cup last eight after a 2-1 win over Brazil, with Haaland scoring twice and Neymar netting late.
Australia exited the FIFA World Cup 2026 after Egypt won 4-2 on penalties following a 1-1 Round of 32 draw in Arlington at Dallas Stadium.
Spain kept a clean sheet and advanced from the World Cup Round of 32 after goals by Oyarzabal and Porro ended Austria’s run in Los Angeles.
Mexico reached the FIFA World Cup Round of 16 with a 2-0 victory over Ecuador, keeping its unbeaten run and clean-sheet record intact.
Brazil booked a Round of 16 place at World Cup 2026 after Casemiro and Martinelli erased Japan’s first-half lead in Houston from the Round of 32.
Portugal moved to four points in Group K after a 5-0 win over Uzbekistan, whose first World Cup campaign remained difficult.
Norway’s 3-2 victory over Senegal put Haaland on four World Cup 2026 goals and sent the team into the Round of 32 from Group I after two wins.
Health
Congo’s Ebola response expands as Bundibugyo transmission remains active. This epidemic has become Congo’s most extensive and deadliest Ebola outbreak ever, ranking as the second-largest worldwide after the 2014-2016 West Africa epidemic. Ituri remains the epicenter of the crisis, responsible for roughly 85% of cases and 88% of fatalities. Tedros highlighted that many deaths involve individuals not registered as known contacts, indicating ongoing transmission chains that health teams are still missing. Community deaths and unsafe burials continue to pose major challenges to controlling the outbreak. According to Africa CDC, over 60% of fatalities in the recent seven-day period occurred within communities. Health officials also report delays in detecting infections and admitting patients to treatment centers. The latest government figures show 1,439 recoveries and a case fatality rate of 48.6%, underscoring the severe impact of the Bundibugyo virus. Transmission persists throughout eastern Congo Active transmission persists in 51 health zones, despite signs of a recent decline in case numbers. Four zones have not reported new cases for over 42 days and have interrupted transmission, while an additional five have experienced more than 21 days without new cases. Public health officials warn that the recent decrease is too recent to confirm that the Ebola outbreak nationwide is under control. The WHO has expanded testing, treatment, and field support efforts across affected regions, delivering over 330 tonnes of emergency supplies and deploying more than 300 experts. Laboratory capacity has increased
Technology
Japan is enhancing its efforts to combat investment scams by implementing a new artificial intelligence-based system designed to identify warning signs at an earlier stage. The Consumer Affairs Agency announced this initiative on September 1, stating that it will analyze consumer complaints for language patterns and indicators associated with fraudulent activities and failing enterprises. According to the agency, AI will complement existing keyword searches, enabling quicker alerts, investigations, and enforcement actions when complaint data reveal significant risks.