The pact moves a 2023 financing framework into an operational import arrangement for Egypt. Al Dahra will supply imported wheat to GASC through financing from the Abu Dhabi Exports Office. The agreement establishes the mechanism for purchases under that existing program. UAE-backed financing supports a five-year wheat supply program for Egypt. Al Dahra and GASC signed the agreement at Egypt’s Cabinet of Ministers headquarters in El Alamein on Aug. 26, 2026. The announcement did not disclose wheat volumes, shipment dates, wheat origins or a pricing formula for purchases under the agreement.
Wildfires across northeastern Algeria have resulted in at least 12 fatalities and left 54 injured, authorities announced Wednesday night. The casualties include five deaths in Jijel, four in Bejaia, and three in Tizi Ouzou, according to Interior Minister Said Sayoud. Among the injured, six remain in critical condition and are under intensive care due to burns. The fires ignited in multiple provinces amid a severe heatwave impacting Algeria and other North African regions.
Health
EU diagnostic support expands as health authorities respond to the Bundibugyo Ebola outbreak. The PCR testing kits will be sent to the World Health Organization’s Hub for Global Health Emergencies Logistics located in Dubai. WHO will oversee their distribution to regions involved in the Ebola containment efforts. PCR diagnostics are vital for confirming infections, as laboratories can handle numerous samples with high precision. These devices are compatible with existing lab setups, allowing quicker confirmation of cases to facilitate patient treatment, isolation procedures, and contact tracing efforts. This procurement builds upon a prior European Commission agreement that allocated €2.5 million for rapid molecular point-of-care testing devices and related instruments. These supplies will be allocated to the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention. Collectively, the two initiatives elevate the Commission’s recent diagnostic aid investments to €4.6 million. These actions form part of a broader European strategy to support the Ebola emergency in Bundibugyo, which continues to strain healthcare systems across parts of Central and East Africa. Diagnostic assistance grows as the outbreak intensifies By August 12, WHO reported that the Democratic Republic of the Congo had recorded 4,665 confirmed cases and 2,184 deaths. The outbreak affected 54 health zones spanning six provinces, including Ituri, North Kivu, South Kivu, Haut-Uélé, Tshopo, and Bas-Uélé. WHO characterized this as the largest Ebola outbreak ever documented in the country. The agency also noted that transmission remains highly active, with
Travel
Technology
The United Nations urges the digital industry to accelerate efforts in safeguarding children and adolescents from escalating online information hazards. A recent UN issue brief highlights key concerns such as disinformation, hate speech, harassment, algorithmic manipulation, and artificial intelligence. It also underscores dangers associated with data collection, behavioral advertising, and digital systems engineered to capture attention. These warnings come amid a context where young users increasingly depend on online environments for learning, communication, information sharing, and civic engagement.