Egypt’s net international reserves reached a record $57.2 billion in August 2026. This signifies an increase of $7.96 billion compared to August 2025, or around 16.2% growth annually. Remittances from Egyptians abroad hit a record high in the 2025/2026 fiscal year, totaling approximately $47.3 billion. Foreign currency inflows have remained high, with June alone recording about $4.2 billion in remittances. Reserve levels have hit consecutive monthly peaks throughout 2026, with reserves surpassing previous nominal highs each month.
Worsening air pollution triggered by regional peatland fires forced Malaysia to enact an emergency declaration in Sarawak’s Serian district as the Air Pollutant Index breached the extreme 500 mark. Reaching a peak API reading of 519, the hazardous conditions led educational and health administrators to suspend classes across 647 schools to protect students and staff. Federal authorities are coordinating emergency mitigation measures, including cloud-seeding sorties and mask distributions, as agricultural fires burning across neighboring Indonesian Kalimantan continue to transport thick smoke plumes across shared maritime borders.
Business
Egypt’s net international reserves reached a record $57.2 billion in August 2026. This signifies an increase of $7.96 billion compared to August 2025, or around 16.2% growth annually. Remittances from Egyptians abroad hit a record high in the 2025/2026 fiscal year, totaling approximately $47.3 billion. Foreign currency inflows have remained high, with June alone recording about $4.2 billion in remittances. Reserve levels have hit consecutive monthly peaks throughout 2026, with reserves surpassing previous nominal highs each month.
News
Worsening air pollution triggered by regional peatland fires forced Malaysia to enact an emergency declaration in Sarawak’s Serian district as the Air Pollutant Index breached the extreme 500 mark. Reaching a peak API reading of 519, the hazardous conditions led educational and health administrators to suspend classes across 647 schools to protect students and staff. Federal authorities are coordinating emergency mitigation measures, including cloud-seeding sorties and mask distributions, as agricultural fires burning across neighboring Indonesian Kalimantan continue to transport thick smoke plumes across shared maritime borders.
Health
Congo’s Ebola response expands as Bundibugyo transmission remains active. This outbreak marks Congo’s largest and deadliest Ebola event ever recorded, ranking as the second-largest outbreak worldwide after the 2014-2016 epidemic in West Africa. Ituri continues to be the epicenter, accounting for approximately 85% of cases and 88% of fatalities. Tedros highlighted that many deaths involve individuals not listed as known contacts, indicating that transmission pathways are still being missed by health teams. Community fatalities and unsafe burial practices remain significant hurdles in containing the outbreak. According to Africa CDC, over 60% of deaths in the past week occurred within communities. Delays in detecting infections and transferring patients to treatment centers have also been reported by health officials.
