Author: khaleejpress.com

TOKYO, JAPAN / MENA Newswire / – Japan’s new car sales rose 1.8% in the first half of 2026, marking a second straight first-half gain for the domestic auto market. Automakers sold 2,387,189 new vehicles from January through June, including minivehicles. The increase followed a stronger second quarter, after the market opened the year with softer first-quarter demand. Industry data released Wednesday showed a broad but modest recovery across Japan’s vehicle market. The Japan Automobile Dealers Association and the Japan Light Motor Vehicle and Motorcycle Association compiled the figures for registered vehicles and kei-class minivehicles. Registered vehicles include standard passenger…

SEOUL, SOUTH KOREA / MENA Newswire / – South Korea’s exports topped US$100 billion in a single month for the first time in June, setting a national record as semiconductor shipments nearly tripled. The Ministry of Trade, Industry and Resources said exports rose 70.9% from a year earlier to US$102.25 billion. Imports climbed 30.1% to US$66.10 billion. The result gave Asia’s fourth-largest economy a monthly trade surplus of US$36.15 billion, also a record for the country. The June figure made South Korea the fourth country to pass US$100 billion in monthly exports, after Germany, China and the United States. Average…

AMMAN, JORDAN / MENA Newswire / – The World Bank approved a US$700 million loan for Jordan to support private investment, job creation and economic reforms. The financing falls under the Jordan Growth and Competitiveness Development Policy Financing II program. It supports steps linked to the country’s Economic Modernization Vision and focuses on business conditions, access to finance, digital services, green finance and energy sector reforms. The World Bank’s Board of Executive Directors cleared the loan after Jordan recorded 2.8 percent real GDP growth in 2025. The country also kept a sovereign credit rating upgrade first secured in 2024, its…

MEXICO CITY / MENA Newswire / – Mexico advanced to the FIFA World Cup Round of 16 on Tuesday. The co-host beat Ecuador 2-0 at Mexico City Stadium. Julián Quiñones scored in the 22nd minute. Raúl Jiménez added the second goal nine minutes later. The win sent Mexico through from the Round of 32 in front of more than 80,000 fans. It also ended a long knockout-stage drought. Mexico had not won a World Cup knockout match since its 1986 victory over Bulgaria on home soil. Mexico took control before halftime with a fast and direct attack. Roberto Alvarado set…

ATLANTA, GEORGIA / MENA Newswire / – England reached the FIFA World Cup 2026 round of 16 after captain Harry Kane scored twice late in a 2-1 win over Congo DR at Atlanta Stadium on Wednesday. Congo DR led through Brian Cipenga’s seventh-minute goal and held that advantage at halftime. Kane equalized in the 75th minute, then scored again in the 86th to complete England’s comeback in the Round of 32. Cipenga gave Congo DR an early lead with a low right-footed finish from the left side of the area. The chance followed a long pass from Chancel Mbemba that…

KINSHASA, DR CONGO / MENA Newswire / – The Democratic Republic of the Congo reported 1,307 confirmed Ebola cases and 377 deaths late Monday, marking another rise in the outbreak in the country’s east. Authorities have recorded cases in Ituri, North Kivu and South Kivu provinces. The latest count keeps the Ebola outbreak in DR Congo among the country’s most serious current public health emergencies. The outbreak involves Bundibugyo virus disease, a type of Ebola virus disease. The World Health Organization says this species has no approved vaccine or specific treatment. Care focuses on early detection, isolation, infection control, safe…

SEOUL, SOUTH KOREA / MENA Newswire / – Foreign tourist spending in South Korea reached a record 1.41 trillion won, or about $911 million, in May, as inbound card use rose sharply from a year earlier. The Korea Tourism Organization said spending by foreign visitors increased 73.7 percent year on year. May also marked the third straight month that foreign tourist spending stayed above 1 trillion won. The record came during a period of higher inbound travel to South Korea. Foreign arrivals reached 1.95 million in May, up 19.4 percent from a year earlier. In the first five months of…

NEW DELHI, INDIA / MENA Newswire / – Amazon CEO Andy Jassy met Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi in New Delhi and announced plans to invest $48 billion in India from 2026 to 2030. The plan includes an additional $13 billion for artificial intelligence and cloud infrastructure. The new commitment follows Amazon’s earlier $35 billion India investment plan announced in 2025. Amazon said the added funding will expand Amazon Web Services data center capacity in Mumbai and Hyderabad. The company said the investment will support cloud computing, AI services and digital tools for businesses, startups and public sector users. The…

BENGALURU, INDIA / MENA Newswire / – Indian investigators said one of the country’s largest gold exporters paid its managing director about Rs17,000 a month, roughly $180, despite reporting consolidated revenue of about Rs7.7 lakh crore. The Directorate of Enforcement said it found the pay detail during searches at nine premises in Bengaluru and Mumbai. The searches began on June 23 under the Foreign Exchange Management Act. The agency said the probe covers suspected foreign exchange violations involving Rajesh Exports Ltd. and connected persons. Investigators said the company failed to produce records for foreign transactions. Those records covered imports, exports,…

HOUSTON, TEXAS / MENA Newswire / – Portugal turned a clear ranking gap into a straightforward 5-0 win over Uzbekistan in FIFA World Cup 2026 Group K at Houston Stadium. Portugal entered the match ranked fifth by FIFA, while Uzbekistan stood 50th and was playing its first World Cup. The result moved Portugal to four points from two matches. Portugal started fast and kept steady control after its opening draw with DR Congo. Cristiano Ronaldo scored in the sixth minute, ending a 10-match World Cup and European Championship scoring drought for Portugal. The goal came against the 50th-ranked team after…