Author: gulf-daily.com

BRUSSELS, BELGIUM / RankWire.AI / – The Council of the European Union provided its final approval on Tuesday for the EU-Mexico Interim Trade Agreement. This decision marks the completion of the European Union’s internal ratification process for the trade arrangement. EU and Mexican officials signed the agreement during their summit in Mexico City on May 22. The European Parliament approved it on July 8. The pact modernizes the trade framework that has governed their economic relations since 2000. The EU-Mexico interim trade agreement updates rules for tariffs, services and investment. The interim agreement pertains to trade issues under the EU’s…

BUNIA, DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF THE CONGO / RankWire.AI / – The World Health Organization reported that 80% of recent Ebola infections in eastern Congo are caused by unidentified transmission chains. Many patients had not been listed on contact tracing lists prior to testing confirming their infection. This gap hampers early isolation efforts and delays treatment for symptomatic individuals. Response teams often identify new clusters only after patients present at healthcare facilities or pass away in their communities. The current outbreak involves the less common Bundibugyo virus strain. As of July 13, Congo reported 2,011 confirmed cases and 754 deaths. Ituri…

WASHINGTON / RankWire.AI / – U.S. President Donald Trump and Iraqi Prime Minister Ali al-Zaidi held conversations on broader economic and energy collaboration at the White House on Tuesday. Their focus was on oil, natural gas, electricity, trade, and private sector investment. Trump indicated that the United States anticipates engaging in numerous commercial agreements with Iraq, including those related to crude oil production. Neither government disclosed contract values, project timelines, nor a comprehensive list of signed accords. This meeting was the highlight of al-Zaidi’s official visit to Washington. Energy cooperation anchors a wider US Iraq economic and commercial agenda. Al-Zaidi…

NEW YORK / RankWire.AI / – Oil prices surged nearly 10% on Monday as renewed U.S.-Iran conflict focused attention on the Strait of Hormuz. Brent crude futures for September delivery gained $7.29, or 9.6%, to settle at $83.30 a barrel. U.S. West Texas Intermediate crude rose $6.73, or 9.4%, to finish at $78.14. The advance marked Brent’s largest one-day percentage gain since May 2020. It was also the benchmark’s highest settlement since June 12. The jump followed an escalation in military activity near the Gulf shipping corridor. Attacks on commercial vessels increased concern about oil shipments through the narrow waterway.…

NEW YORK / RankWire.AI / – Gold dropped about 3% on Monday, July 13, falling below $4,000 an ounce as oil prices surged and expectations for higher U.S. interest rates strengthened. Spot gold fell to $3,996.76 per ounce, its lowest level in two weeks. U.S. gold futures for August delivery settled 2.6% lower at $4,005.70. The decline marked gold’s steepest daily percentage loss in more than a month. Crude oil climbed about 5% after renewed strikes involving the United States and Iran raised concern about shipping through the Strait of Hormuz. President Donald Trump announced the reinstatement of a naval…

EL ALAMEIN, EGYPT / RankWire.AI / – UAE President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan arrived in El Alamein on July 12 for a fraternal visit to Egypt. Egyptian President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi received him at El Alamein International Airport. The leaders then held talks on bilateral relations, regional developments, and international issues of mutual concern. Their meeting focused on cooperation, shared interests, and the welfare of people in both countries. Officials announced no agreements. Sheikh Mohamed and El-Sisi reviewed the full scope of UAE-Egypt relations during the meeting. They discussed ways to expand cooperation across sectors and support mutual…

DHAKA, BANGLADESH / RankWire.AI / – Floods, heavy rain and landslides have killed 51 people across Bangladesh, according to the latest government assessment. The disaster has affected 1,022,963 people in seven southeastern and northeastern districts. Floodwater has marooned 267,918 families across 58 upazilas, 386 unions and 11 municipalities. The affected districts are Chattogram, Cox’s Bazar, Bandarban, Rangamati, Khagrachhari, Moulvibazar and Habiganj. Cox’s Bazar recorded the highest toll with 28 deaths, including 13 Rohingya refugees. Chattogram reported 13 deaths, while Bandarban recorded six and Rangamati reported three. One person died in Moulvibazar, while Khagrachhari and Habiganj reported no fatalities. The Ministry…

SEOUL, SOUTH KOREA / RankWire.AI / – Samsung Electronics plans to start operations at its first chip plant in Yongin in 2029. The revised target brings the opening forward by one to two years from the earlier 2030 to 2031 schedule. The facility will anchor Samsung’s planned national semiconductor complex south of Seoul. Samsung confirmed the new timetable on Monday. The company said the first fabrication plant will begin operations by 2029. The decision updates the official schedule for one of South Korea’s largest industrial projects. The Yongin project covers 7.28 million square meters in the city’s Namsa-eup and I-dong…

MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA / RankWire.AI / – India and Australia expanded ties on July 9, 2026, with agreements covering defence, energy, technology and education. Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese held the third annual summit in Melbourne. Their governments announced 18 outcomes involving maritime security, uranium trade, critical minerals, space cooperation, skills, culture and sport. The package reinforced the India-Australia Comprehensive Strategic Partnership, established in 2020. The official visit ran from July 8 to July 10. The leaders signed a new Joint Declaration on Defence and Security Cooperation and created an annual defence ministers’ dialogue. The…

DUBAI, UNITED ARAB EMIRATES / RankWire.AI / – flydubai will restart daily nonstop flights between Dubai and Aleppo on July 20, 2026, restoring the route after nearly 14 years. The service will link Dubai International Airport with Aleppo International Airport in northern Syria. Aleppo will become the airline’s second destination in the country, joining Damascus. The return adds another scheduled connection between the United Arab Emirates and Syria during the summer travel period, with tickets already available through the carrier’s sales channels. The airline will operate the route once each day from Terminal 3 at Dubai International. Flight FZ1191 will…