Economic growth across developing Asia and the Pacific will moderate to 5.0% in 2026 from 5.5% in 2025. The Asian Development Bank raised its 2026 forecast by 0.1 percentage point from its July estimate. Growth should edge up to 5.1% in 2027, according to the September Asian Development Outlook. Strong investment, government stimulus and technology exports tied to artificial intelligence spending continue to support regional activity. The regional inflation forecast for 2026 fell to 4.2%, compared with 4.3% in the July outlook. The 2027 inflation projection rose slightly to 3.5% from 3.4%. Both figures remain above the 3.0% inflation rate recorded across developing Asia and the Pacific in 2025. Price stabilization measures have limited some consumer impacts from high energy costs, while elevated global energy prices continue to pressure household and business expenses across much of the region. The outlook identifies conflict and extreme weather among the main risks facing economies across the region. Continued disruptions linked to conflicts in the Middle East and Ukraine have kept global energy prices high and volatile. A very strong El Niño could also reduce agricultural production and hydropower generation in affected economies. The report also lists renewed trade policy uncertainty, tighter financial conditions and a sharp repricing of AI-related equities among additional downside risks.
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Heavy rain began affecting Hainan on September 11 as a South China Sea tropical depression interacted with cold air. The system brought widespread downpours to the island, with the heaviest rain falling across southern and central areas. Baoting, Wuzhishan, Wanning, Qionghai and Lingshui were among the locations facing significant rainfall. Rivers rose and water accumulated in several communities as the rain continued.
Government price cuts are failing to reach many shoppers in Lahore, where retailers continue charging well above official rates. The gap covers chicken, vegetables and fruit across several markets. Consumers are facing the increases as Pakistan deals with renewed inflation and higher fuel costs. Official data show that household expenses are rising across several categories, adding pressure to families already paying more for basic food and transport.
The UAE president traveled with a senior delegation covering foreign affairs, trade, industry, defence, national security and advanced technology. It includes Foreign Minister Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan and Industry and Advanced Technology Minister Sultan Al Jaber. Foreign Trade Minister Thani Al Zeyoudi and Minister of State Lana Nusseibeh are also part of the delegation. Several presidential advisers and other senior UAE officials accompanied Sheikh Mohamed to Berlin.
The international measure focuses directly on the widely utilized Mercator map projection, which was originally developed in the 16th century by Flemish cartographer Gerardus Mercator for maritime navigation purposes. While effective for nautical direction, the mathematical scaling of the Mercator model progressively exaggerates landmass sizes farther from the equator while compressing regions near it. According to documentation published by the United Nations General Assembly, these technical distortions continue to permeate modern educational textbooks, news media broadcasts, digital mapping platforms, and official government publications worldwide.
Business
July produced about $4.5 billion in remittances, up 20% from roughly $3.8 billion in July 2025. Earlier months also recorded year-on-year gains. January inflows reached about $3.5 billion, compared with $2.9 billion a year earlier. February remittances climbed to about $3.8 billion from $3.0 billion in February 2025. Together, January and February accounted for about $7.3 billion of the seven-month total. The first two months exceeded their year-earlier combined level by about $1.4 billion.
China left its benchmark lending rates unchanged in September, extending a period of stable borrowing costs. The one-year loan prime rate remained at 3.0%, while the over-five-year rate stayed at 3.5%. Banks commonly use the longer-term benchmark when pricing mortgages. The September fixing kept both rates at the same levels seen in August. The figures remain central to loan pricing across China’s banking system.
Travel
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.
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. More than 340,000 travelers faced delays, cancellations or diversions during the disruption. Nearly 3,000 flights across Indonesia felt the impact. Authorities reopened Soekarno-Hatta International Airport after winds cleared ash from critical aviation areas. Anak Krakatau remained active Tuesday, with monitors recording three smaller eruptions during the morning.
The expanded Bangkok operations complement the airline’s existing schedule to Thailand, which includes 21 weekly non-stop flights between Sharjah and Phuket. With the addition of the fourth daily Bangkok frequency, Air Arabia will operate a combined total of 49 weekly non-stop flights between its primary Sharjah hub and Thai destinations. The route expansion strengthens air connectivity between the Arabian Gulf and major Southeast Asian tourism and trade centers.
Sports
Messi returns to the Ballon d’Or shortlist after missing the nominee lists in 2024 and 2025. The Argentina international owns a record eight men’s Ballon d’Or titles. He last won the award in 2023. Cristiano Ronaldo remains absent from the shortlist for a fourth consecutive edition. Brazilian forward Raphinha also does not feature among the 2026 candidates. Dembélé enters this year’s contest as the defending men’s winner after claiming the 2025 Ballon d’Or.
Health
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. Researchers identified the germline variant, known as EGFR T790M, as one of the most powerful inherited risk factors for lung cancer discovered to date. The mutation occurs in the epidermal growth factor receptor gene, which regulates cell growth and division across pulmonary tissue. Data compiled by the National Cancer Institute shows the mutation occurs in approximately 1 out of every 15,850 people in the United States.
Automotive
The decision brings total planned job eliminations across the company to approximately 9,000 positions, representing roughly 21 percent of its 42,066 workforce. Company leadership confirmed that Porsche to cut 5,000 more jobs under restructuring plan negotiations following months of talks between management and labor councils. The initiative aims to bolster operational efficiency as the vehicle producer confronts declining market share in Asia, elevated global tariffs, and sluggish demand for electric vehicles.