The United Nations (UN) relief agency expressed concern after attacks in South Sudan killed six humanitarian workers in July, warning that rising violence severely threatens vital aid operations across the country.

DUBAI, Aug. 12 (Xinhua) -- Growing financial connectivity between the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and China, driven by the wider use of the renminbi (RMB), digital payments and cross-border financial services, is set to become a key driver of bilateral trade and investment, a senior banker in the UAE has said.As more Chinese companies establish themselves in the UAE, financial infrastructure will become increasingly important, Raheel Ahmed, group chief executive officer of the National Bank of Ras Al Khaimah, also known as Rakbank, told Xinhua in a recent interview.Over the coming years, RMB internationalization, local currency settlement, trade finance, capital market connectivity and digital finance will be the main pillars of China-UAE financial cooperation, he added.Founded in 1976 and headquartered in the northern emirate of Ras Al Khaimah, Rakbank is one of the UAE's longest-established banks and has served Chinese clients for more than two decades.In the past, the UAE was primarily a trading hub and a distribution center for Chinese companies, he observed. Today, we are seeing more and more Chinese companies using the UAE as a regional platform for growth, investment and innovation.Additionally, Chinese companies are increasingly looking beyond traditional economic hubs such as Dubai and Abu Dhabi, Ahmed said, noting that around 400 Chinese companies now operate in Ras Al Khaimah, drawn by its competitive operating costs, well-developed industrial infrastructure, strong logistics connectivity and supportive government policies.As Chinese companies deepen their local presence, banks are increasingly expected to provide broader financial services.According to Ahmed, Rakbank now serves about 6,500 Chinese clients, including more than 2,400 companies. Its localized proposition includes 17 Chinese-speaking colleagues across the bank.The bank also supports RMB settlement, connects with Chinese mobile payment platforms to enable instant remittances, provides RM...

BAGHDAD, Aug. 12 (Xinhua) -- Four unidentified drones crashed in various areas of Erbil, the capital of Iraq's semi-autonomous Kurdistan region, on Wednesday, causing material damage but no casualties, a Kurdish security source said.An unidentified drone crashed into a residential house in the Soran area, causing material damage and shattering the windows of nearby houses, the source told Xinhua on condition of anonymity.The source added that two drones crashed near the Khalifan area, while the fourth crashed near the Harir area, igniting a grass fire. Civil defense teams rushed to the scene and brought the fire under control, the source said, adding that no casualties were reported.Iraq's Kurdistan region has recently seen a rise in drone and missile attacks amid regional tensions linked to the ongoing confrontation between the United States and Iran.

SANAA, Aug. 12 (Xinhua) -- Yemen's Houthi group launched a fresh ballistic missile attack on the Red Sea port city of Mocha on Wednesday, stepping up its attacks on areas controlled by the internationally recognized government, pro-government media reported.The pro-government Aljoumhouriya TV cited a port official as saying that two missile strikes hit the maritime pier, causing further damage to port facilities. There were no immediate reports of casualties.The latest attack came after two Houthi missile and drone attacks in Mocha since Sunday, leaving eight people, including four government soldiers, dead and dozens of others wounded, according to government sources.The Houthis have said their recent strikes on Mocha targeted gatherings and positions of Saudi-backed forces, accusing them of preparing military operations against Houthi-held areas.The Houthis have sharply intensified missile and drone attacks on government-held areas in Yemen and Saudi-linked targets in recent weeks, raising fears that the military escalation could unravel the relative calm that has largely prevailed since a United Nations-brokered truce took effect in 2022.