US Efforts to Expand Battery Production Challenge China’s Global Supply Chain Supremacy WASHINGTON, DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA / RankWire.AI / – The United States is actively increasing its homegrown battery manufacturing capabilities in an effort to lessen reliance on China. However, the core issue lies deeper within the supply chain. China continues to lead in the extraction, processing, and essential manufacturing technologies for battery materials used worldwide. While U.S. factories have expanded their capacity, many still depend heavily on imported components and refined minerals. This gap makes graphite, cathodes, anodes, and lithium iron phosphate materials focal points in Washington’s strategic battery development initiatives.
PANAMA / RankWire.AI / – The Panama Canal may see a reduction in its daily vessel movements to approximately 29 ships in February or March 2027 if drought conditions persist, according to its new head. Ilya Espino de Marotta assumed her position on September 7 and expressed concerns about El Niño impacting reservoir levels. The canal depends on freshwater from lakes fed by rainfall to operate its locks, and the Panama Canal Authority has already initiated phased capacity reductions following below-average rainfall in the watershed area.
Adani Airport Holdings Limited (AAHL) has entered into binding agreements to raise ₹9,825 crores (~USD 1 billion) of primary equity capital from a consortium of leading domestic and global investors. The transaction values AAHL at a pre-money equity valuation of ~USD 18 billion, establishing a significant external institutional valuation benchmark for the airports platform. The investor consortium comprises Alpha Wave Global, Premji Invest, Temasek and BlackRock managed funds. Upon completion of all three tranches, the investors will collectively hold approximately 5.54% in AAHL. The proceeds will support airport modernisation and capacity expansion to serve ~ 200 million passengers annually, integrated Adani Airport City development of ~22 million sq. ft. of mixed-use development in the first phase and the continued scaling of AAHL’s ground handling and non-aeronautical businesses.
The preliminary deal stipulates that the new owners will transform the site from vehicle assembly into a specialized facility dedicated to security and defense manufacturing. Within this partnership, Aurelius Capital, based in Tel Aviv, will hold a majority stake in the facility, while Lower Saxony, Volkswagen’s second-largest shareholder, will retain a minority interest. Plans emphasize producing specialized systems and mechanical parts for air defense infrastructure, aimed at serving Germany and allied European nations. The factory works council has disclosed that this defense manufacturing agreement is projected to create around 1,200 highly skilled technical jobs at the facility.
Etihad Airways is set to commence year-round flights from Abu Dhabi to Saudi Arabia’s Red Sea region starting on Oct. 4, 2026. This new route will connect Zayed International Airport with Red Sea International Airport located in Tabuk Province. Initially, the airline will operate one flight each week, then increase to two weekly services from Oct. 25. The flight duration will be just over three hours, making it the sixth Saudi destination in Etihad’s route network.
In the initial phase, 15 of the digital wallets across Africa that are connected to Xend, TerraPay’s wallet interoperability network, will be able to pay at more than 150 million merchants across Alipay+’s global merchant ecosystem. The partnership also expands TerraPay’s cross-border payment capabilities from account-to-account to global in-store acceptance.
Combining signature G-SHOCK toughness with a sleek metal exterior, the new GST-W1000 brings out the beauty of metal with a multi-component construction featuring different finishes applied to individual surfaces. The exterior employs a new construction that combines four carefully finished metal components instead of using a single bezel component to cover the center case. The dial features a three-dimensional geometric texture created using nano-processing technology, creating changing patterns of shading and luster.
Registration Now Open for All in Print China 2026 in Shanghai SHANGHAI, Sept. 9, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — Artificial intelligence, automation, innovative materials and sustainable packaging solutions are transforming the print and packaging industry worldwide. All in Print China 2026 will bring these developments to life from October 12-16 at the Shanghai New International Expo Centre (SNIEC). As part of the drupa alliance, the show connects the Chinese market with the international print and packaging community, enabling attendees and exhibitors to discover technological developments first-hand and establish new business contacts. More than 1,100 exhibitors from 15 countries will present their solutions across 120,000 square meters of exhibition space. The organizers expect more than 120,000 visitors from over 120 countries and regions. Internationally established brands including HEIDELBERG, BOBST, Canon, Epson, HP, Kodak and Konica Minolta, Durst, ESKO, SCREEN, Mimaki, RISO, Xeikon, Manroland Goss have confirmed their participation.”All in Print China is far more than a trade fair – it is the definitive gateway to Asia’s most vibrant print and packaging market. For 23 years, it has stood as a trusted global beacon for technology launches, cross-border collaboration, and firsthand insight into the fast-evolving Chinese and Asian customer landscape. As we celebrate our 10th edition, we take pride in
Leaders from fire and emergency services, government, industry, academia, and international organizations gathered today for the opening of the second edition of the World Fire Congress (WFC), a global platform established to strengthen collaboration, share knowledge, and address some of the most pressing fire and life safety challenges facing communities around the world. Bringing together delegates from more than 60 nations, the Congress reflects the increasingly international nature of fire and emergency management challenges. From climate-driven disasters and urbanization to evolving infrastructure risks and community resilience, participants are convening to identify practical solutions and drive collective action on issues that transcend borders.
To mark the forum’s conclusion and celebrate a decade of global dialogue, a PBC 2026 Gala Dinner was held at the Hong Kong Palace Museum. It brought together delegates from the Chinese Mainland and across the world including foundation leaders, government officials, tertiary institution representatives and community leaders. Among the distinguished attendees were Dr the Hon Starry Lee, Member of the Standing Committee of the National People’s Congress and President of the Legislative Council of the HKSAR; The Hon Mrs Regina Ip, Convenor of the Non-official Members of the Executive Council of the HKSAR; Club Chairman The Hon Martin Liao; Club Deputy Chairman and IoP Chairman Lester Huang; Club Stewards; Club CEO and IoP Director Winfried Engelbrecht-Bresges; and other members of the Club’s Board of Management.
At Seamless Africa 2026, held September 8–9, Tongxin Microelectronics (TMC TONGXIN MICRO), a provider of security chip solutions, showcased technologies for payment IC cards, payment terminals and electronic identity documents. Payment IC CardsThe company presented its Payment Product THD89 Family, the first China-developed security chip to achieve CC EAL6+ certification. The series is widely used in payment cards supporting major networks including UnionPay, Visa, Mastercard, and JCB, securing transactions for hundreds of millions of cardholders.
ADGM, the international financial centre of Abu Dhabi, delivered strong growth in the first half of 2026, with Assets Under Management rising 54% year on year and its workforce reaching 49,027 professionals. Meanwhile, the number of active licences also climbed to almost 14,000. The results reflect the continued expansion of capital, business activity and talent across ADGM, as global institutions increasingly structure, deploy and manage investment through Abu Dhabi. These results reinforce Abu Dhabi’s growing position as the leading global financial hub of the MEASA region and the “Capital of Capital.”
The week will feature over 850 speakers through a coordinated programme of more than 85 high-level events including 12 signature forums across 14 stages around Dubai. Held under a central theme of “Finance Reimagined: Where Innovation Meets Policy and Purpose,” the programme spans six defining verticals including FinTech, Tokenisation, Islamic Finance, Family Wealth, Sustainable Finance and Private Capital. Every event under Dubai Future Finance Week targets a unique facet of financial evolution, enabling connections with global enterprises, market leaders and regulators across a series of interlinked forums.
Nearly 3,000 flights within Indonesia were affected by Anak Krakatau’s ashfall, resulting in delays, cancellations, or diversions for over 340,000 travelers. Major airports like Soekarno-Hatta and Halim Perdanakusuma reopened after ash was cleared from key aviation zones. Anak Krakatau remained active, with three smaller eruptions detected on Tuesday morning.
Step into the kitchen and a simple question: “What should I make?” can set the experience in motion. The AI Companion Refrigerator recognizes stored ingredients and suggests meal ideas based on personal preferences. Once a recipe is selected, it can sync with the AI Companion Oven to support automatic cooking, while the AI Companion Wine Cabinet recommends pairings and maintains suitable storage conditions. After the meal, the AI Companion Dishwasher recognizes dish conditions and adjusts cleaning, demonstrating how AI can support the journey from planning dinner to cleaning up.
Egypt’s net international reserves reached a record $57.2 billion in August 2026. Compared to August 2025, when reserves stood at $49.2507 billion, the August total reflects an increase of $7.9638 billion, or roughly 16.2% annually. Egypt’s net international reserves ended December 2025 at $51.4516 billion. Consequently, reserves have grown by about $5.76 billion, or 11.2%, over the first eight months of 2026. Foreign currency inflows remain high with remittances from Egyptians working abroad achieving record levels during the 2025/2026 fiscal year.
Recent research shows that cybersecurity is now a central pillar of resilience, with nearly half of manufacturers reporting a cyber incident in the past year and rising exposure driven by increased connectivity between IT and operational technology environments. The research also underscores that cyber risk is no longer episodic but an ongoing operational requirement as manufacturers scale AI, automation and connected systems.
In March 2026, Westwell achieved normal autonomous operations under Zero-GNSS conditions across its fleet at CSP Abu Dhabi Terminal (CSP ADT) at Khalifa Port, marking a further step in the development of smart autonomous container handling in the region. The milestone builds on Westwell’s automation program operations at CSP ADT, with the fleet consisting of 12 Q-Trucks and six Q-Chassis (IGV). The Zero-GNSS capability allows autonomous vehicles to maintain localization and navigation using onboard sensing and positioning technologies, demonstrating resilience in the face of challenging operating conditions in the Middle East.
Over the past 13 years, Bookme has helped digitize Pakistan’s ticketing industry and evolved into a comprehensive travel and experiences platform serving more than 15 million customers. As one of Pakistan’s earliest homegrown startups to expand overseas, Bookme has established a presence across five additional regions, including the Middle East and North Africa (MENA). Driving Scale Through Cloud Infrastructure As Bookme continues to grow its international presence, maintaining seamless search and booking experiences while managing extensive global travel inventory and partner integrations is a key priority. Tencent Cloud provides the infrastructure used to host and scale Bookme’s digital workloads, supporting customer journeys across its consumer platforms and embedded booking experiences. Bookme’s booking platform is also available via API in a mini-app format, delivered across more than 40 platforms. Leveraging Tencent Cloud’s infrastructure, monitoring services, security features, and technical support, Bookme is able to scale operations efficiently while maintaining the flexibility needed to accommodate spikes in demand during travel peaks, promotional campaigns, and major events. The collaboration also supports future service enhancements, ecosystem development, and continued business growth across multiple markets.
YR Fitness, a China-based commercial fitness equipment manufacturer, has signed an exclusive distribution agreement with Sobek Sports for five key strength equipment series in Egypt. The partnership combines YR’s product-development and manufacturing capabilities with Sobek Sports’ local market experience and after-sales support. Founded in 2012, Sobek Sports is an established fitness equipment distributor in Egypt with over 300 completed projects, emphasizing equipment biomechanics and user safety. The agreement will see Sobek Sports exclusively distribute YR Fitness’ strength equipment in Egypt, providing local consultation, installation, maintenance, and after-sales support.
