Iran said the Strait of Hormuz would remain closed unless the United States accepts conditions put forward by Tehran, rejecting US claims that Washington has totally controlled the strategic waterway.

US President Donald Trump said on social media on Wednesday that "the USA has complete control of the Strait of Hormuz," calling the ongoing US naval blockade a "wall of steel" and declaring that "Iran is powerless to do anything about it."

The US Central Command said on Wednesday that American forces continued enforcing a maritime blockade against Iran. As of August 12, the operation had forced 59 commercial vessels to reroute, disabled three vessels and boarded two others for inspections, according to the command.

Iran's Persian Gulf Strait Management Authority said on Wednesday that repeated claims by US officials that the Strait of Hormuz had reopened did not reflect reality.

"The Strait of Hormuz remains closed and will not be reopened unless the United States accepts the conditions proposed by Iran," the authority said.

The latest developments came as US-Iran negotiations remained deadlocked, with the two sides still divided over issues including the status of the Strait of Hormuz, Iran's nuclear program, compensation for the conflict and the unfreezing of Iranian assets held overseas.

Earlier, after Iran demanded that the US pay compensation for the military conflict and made it one of the conditions for reopening the strait, Trump unexpectedly issued a counterclaim on August 10, demanding that Iran pay compensation for the deaths of US service members over decades.

Several Iranian diplomatic missions abroad have since rejected Trump's claims.

The Iranian Embassy in Tunisia listed 19 alleged US actions against Iran, including the July 3, 1988 downing of Iran Air Flight 655 by a US Navy cruiser and a February 28 attack on a school in Minab, Iran, which Tehran attributed to the US. The embassy said in a social media post that over the past century, the US has directly or indirectly caused the deaths of hundreds of thousands of Iranians.

The Iranian Embassy in South Africa also said on social media that the US should compensate Iran for what it described as more than seven decades of hostile actions, interference and exploitation, including coups, sanctions, the downing of an Iranian passenger plane over the Persian Gulf, interference in Iran's internal affairs and the assassination of Iranian leaders and senior officials.

Regarding Trump's claim that Iran should compensate the families of victims of the USS Cole attack, US analysts noted that the October 2000 bombing of the US Navy destroyer in Yemen's port of Aden, which killed 17 American service members, had been attributed by the US Federal Bureau of Investigation to al-Qaida, not Iran.

Meanwhile, according to Qatari media reports on Tuesday, Charles Kupchan, a former special assistant to US President Barack Obama, described Trump's demand for compensation from Iran as "a joke."

Amid rising tensions, UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres on Wednesday called for dialogue and negotiations to reach a comprehensive and lasting settlement to the conflict in the Gulf and the Red Sea.

Farhan Haq, the UN chief's deputy spokesperson, said Guterres was closely monitoring developments related to the Middle East conflict, including the situation in and around the Strait of Hormuz and the Red Sea.

"The secretary-general remains convinced that a comprehensive and durable settlement can only be reached through dialogue and negotiations," Haq said. "Such a settlement would help restore stability and confidence across the region, while also safeguarding the navigational rights and freedoms in and around the Strait of Hormuz and in the Red Sea."

The Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) has become the second-largest on record, the World Health Organization (WHO) warned on Wednesday, as confirmed cases rose to 4,449 with 2,061 deaths.

The latest figures released on Wednesday by the DRC's public health authorities showed that the overall case fatality rate stood at 46.3%. A total of 716 patients remain in isolation or hospital care, while 886 people have recovered.

At a press briefing in Geneva, WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said the outbreak had gained a significant head start before it was detected and that response efforts were still struggling to catch up. 

About 90% of all confirmed cases and 80% of deaths have been reported in Ituri Province, where sustained transmission continues, according to the WHO.

Tedros said a high proportion of deaths continue to occur in communities rather than treatment centers, while many cases are being detected outside known contact lists, indicating that transmission chains remain unidentified.

The outbreak, caused by Bundibugyo ebolavirus, was declared by the DRC government on May 15.

Chikwe Ihekweazu, executive director of the WHO Health Emergencies Programme, said investigations suggest the virus may have been circulating for two to three months before the outbreak was formally detected, although the exact start of transmission remains under investigation.

(With input from Xinhua News Agency)

Russian President Vladimir Putin on Wednesday cautioned that NATO's plans to deploy new weapons in the Asia-Pacific region pose a threat to Russia.

"We see that the potential for conflict is growing here. NATO is seeping into the region, new military-political blocs are being formed, and new weapons systems are being deployed and planned for deployment here, which pose threats to our country as well," Putin said during the final stage of the Pacific Fleet's exercises in Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk.

Speaking of the regional changes, he noted that Japan has classified Russia as a source of major threats for the first time. He assured that Russia does not have any claims against Japan.

According to official NATO statements, security in the Euro-Atlantic and Indo-Pacific is seen as increasingly linked, especially since the start of the Ukraine conflict in 2022. This prompted Japan and NATO to enhance collaboration through the Individually Tailored Partnership Programme. Japan has also established a Diplomatic Mission to NATO in January 2025.

In late June, the US Typhon mid-range missile system was temporarily deployed to the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force Kanoya Air Base in Kagoshima Prefecture for the US-hosted Valiant Shield 2026 military exercises. Since the beginning of the Ukraine conflict, Japan has also been contributing to NATO's Comprehensive Assistance Package for Ukraine.

Putin added that geopolitical tensions are also rising in the Arctic and noted that Russia has always advocated its readiness for international cooperation along the Northern Sea Route.

US President Donald Trump said Wednesday that White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt will leave her position at the end of August.

Leavitt is leaving "so she can spend more time with her beautiful young children and family," Trump said in a social media post.

"Karoline will now be one of my top outside advisors, and an influential voice within the Republican Party, as we work to defy History, and conclusively win the Midterm Elections," Trump said.

Leavitt is the youngest person ever to serve as the White House press secretary.

Iraqi Prime Minister Ali al-Zaidi on Wednesday told visiting Commander of US Central Command Brad Cooper that September 30 remains the firm deadline for ending the US-led coalition's military mission in Iraq and completing its troop withdrawal.

In a meeting in Baghdad, both sides affirmed their full and final agreement to conclude the coalition's military mission in accordance with the consensus reached during al-Zaidi's visit to Washington in mid-July, according to a statement by al-Zaidi's media office.

Al-Zaidi said that October 1 will mark a new era for Iraq, as the country becomes free of foreign military presence and exercises full national sovereignty over its territory, the statement said.

He also said that confining arms exclusively to state authority in accordance with the law remains an essential prerequisite for safeguarding Iraq's sovereignty, stability, and future development.

In 2014, the Islamic State group seized vast territories across Iraq's west and north. The US-led coalition to combat the extremist group was subsequently formed and deployed forces to Iraq.

Al Jazeera, citing an Iraqi source, reported Wednesday that the commander of the Quds Force in Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, Esmail Qaani, made an unannounced visit to Baghdad earlier this week and held behind-the-scenes meetings with political and security leaders, as well as commanders of Shia paramilitaries to discuss the Iraqi government's plan to disarm the armed groups.

Africa is bracing for the possible impacts of a powerful El Nino event that could develop through 2026 and continue into 2027, raising concerns over extreme weather, food security and livelihoods across the continent.

El Nino occurs when sea surface temperatures in the central and eastern tropical Pacific Ocean become unusually warm. The warming can alter atmospheric circulation and disrupt weather patterns thousands of kilometres away.

"There have been observations by the US meteorological agencies around the Pacific Ocean. Whenever the ocean warms up, there is a lot of rearrangement in terms of the climate and how it affects us here in East Africa. What has been observed currently is that there is a four-to-five chance that it's going to be a super El Nino," according to Dr James Mumina, a research scientist at the University of Sussex.

What could it mean for Africa?

The effects of El Nino vary across the continent, depending on the region, season and interaction with other climate systems.

CGTN visited the IGAD Climate Prediction and Applications Centre, where weather experts are crunching decades of weather-related data, which is particularly significant for countries including Kenya, Somalia, Uganda, Tanzania, Ethiopia and South Sudan, where millions of people depend on seasonal rains for farming and livestock.

"For the upcoming October to December season, which is an important rainfall season particularly for Kenya, Somalia, southern Ethiopia, Uganda, Rwanda, Burundi and Tanzania, El Nino is likely to result in above-normal rainfall," Hussein Said, a meteorologist at the IGAD Climate Prediction and Applications Center said.

The region is already experiencing significant climate variability, with some areas facing drought while others contend with flooding and intense rainfall.

"For the October to December season, the signals are even stronger. El Nino will have a stronger impact during the October to December season compared to the current season. We have an over 80% chance that the season is going to be above normal," Said added.

Turning forecasts into action

According to climate experts, the key concern is not only how strong the El Nino becomes, but whether governments and communities can act early enough to reduce its impact.

Seasonal forecasts can help authorities pre-position emergency supplies, strengthen flood preparedness, advise farmers on planting decisions, protect water resources and prepare health facilities for potential emergencies.

"The first gap is the last mile between a forecast and a decision. In OND 2023, and again during the devastating long rains of March to May 2024 in Kenya, which killed around 300 people and affected 42 of our 47 counties, the forecasts were broadly right. What lagged was converting them into evacuations, pre-positioned supplies and pre-emptive water management," Dr. Mumina said.

For communities, timely and accessible information can help people make decisions before extreme weather strikes.

"What IGAD is doing is trying to transition the region from more response-oriented, reactive approaches to proactive approaches. IGAD has developed a regional roadmap on anticipatory action, which means that based on a forecast, you start acting. You don't wait for the drought or floods to impact communities or their assets," said Dr. Ahmed Amdihun, Head of Disaster Risk Management at IGAD.

As scientists continue to monitor the evolving El Nino conditions, governments across Africa are being urged to strengthen preparedness and ensure climate warnings reach communities in time.

The African Union has called for collective preparedness through stronger early warning systems, advising that climate inaction could cost some African economies over 5% of their GDP.

Contributed by Regina Mulea

The Chinese and Indonesian navies have completed a naval navigation exercise in waters east of China's Taiwan Island on Wednesday, according to Chinese military authorities.

The exercise involved the Chinese naval vessel Honghe and Indonesian Navy frigate KRI I Gusti Ngurah Rai, a military statement said.

During the exercise, the two warships formed a naval formation and conducted practical drills covering maritime communications, formation maneuvers and underway replenishment.

Following a prearranged exercise plan, the two sides maneuvered flexibly, coordinated closely and successfully fulfilled all scheduled objectives, the statement said.

It added the exercise demonstrated the two navies' willingness and capability to conduct practical cooperation and jointly contribute to regional peace and stability.

The EU High Representative and 26 countries issued a joint statement on August 12, 2026, calling on Iran to listen to its people and taking meaningful steps toward ensuring respect for human rights.

Russian President Vladimir Putin said on Wednesday that ​Russia will respond in kind if European countries ‌seize Russian merchant vessels, the TASS state news agency reported.

The comments come as the EU intensifies pressure on Russia's vessels, expanding sanctions against hundreds of ​vessels and detaining some ships and their crews ⁠for checks. Some European governments have said they are ​exploring tougher maritime enforcement measures against ships suspected of ​sanctions evasion.

TASS cited Putin as saying of those measures: "Of course, this is nothing short of piracy and banditry. And if ​this is actually put into practice, we will be ​forced to respond in kind."

Putin reportedly said that ‌any ⁠Russian retaliatory action would not be limited to those waters where Russian ships were seized, but "will happen wherever we deem it necessary and appropriate."

TASS also cited him as accusing NATO of making ​inroads into the Asia-Pacific region, and creating tension ​in the ⁠Arctic.

"NATO is making inroads into the region, new military-political blocs are being formed, and new weapons systems that ⁠pose ​a threat to Russia are being ​deployed or are slated for deployment," it cited him as saying.

In 1972, then Chinese Premier Zhou Enlai presented White Rabbit milk candies as a state gift to visiting US President Richard Nixon. More than half a century later, the Shanghai sweet is making another journey abroad – this time through its wrapper.

Earlier this month, an X user posted two photographs. One featured a White Rabbit candy in its familiar red, blue and white wrapper; the other showed the paper unfolded and laid flat.

"This absolute masterstroke of graphic design..." wrote the user.

Within days, the post had drawn about 6 million views and 265,000 likes. The replies were soon filled with images of White Rabbit tattoos, T-shirts, phone cases and wrappers preserved in notebooks.

The two moments tell different stories about how Chinese culture travels. Once presented as a diplomatic gift, White Rabbit is now being discovered, shared and remade by ordinary people.

A design rediscovered

For many Chinese, the overseas excitement came as a surprise. What was being celebrated as a design discovery was simply the wrapper of a childhood sweet – once flattened inside schoolbooks and kept for its faint milky scent, or discarded after the candy was eaten.

Now, this object so deeply embedded in Chinese people's cultural consciousness has entered another sphere, where people are admiring it, collecting it, and making it their own. What a heartening development!

White Rabbit adopted its current name and rabbit design in 1959, replacing an earlier Mickey Mouse design used by a Shanghai candy factory. Its wrapper received a national packaging award in 1983 and remains in use ever since.

Unfolded, it has the coherence of a miniature poster. At the center, a white rabbit sits against a red background. Rows of smaller blue-and-white rabbits run along either side while Chinese characters share the space with English lettering.

Zhang Di, a professor at Renmin University of China who studies cross-cultural content diffusion, told The Straits Times that the design's visual language requires no specific cultural knowledge for interpretation and is aesthetically accessible across cultures. Viewers can be drawn in before they know its history.

The history gives the image another layer. In China, White Rabbit evokes an era when sweets were scarce, and it was a special treat during family gatherings and festivals, its milky flavor and chewy texture a delight for young children. By contrast, today's young overseas consumers often encounter it in a different context. To them, it looks fresh precisely because its classic design has endured: a piece of commercial art untouched by the polished uniformity of much contemporary packaging.

Its handmade quality may also hold new appeal. At a time when AI can produce a polished picture in seconds, the hand-drawn rabbit and old-fashioned lettering bear the imprint of a particular designer and era. Wu Weihua, a professor at the Communication University of China, has argued that vintage designs with cultural depth can resonate in an age increasingly filled with AI-generated content.

Yet enduring design alone cannot explain why a wrapper overlooked for decades has suddenly captured so much attention.

Why now?

The rediscovery comes amid growing overseas curiosity about China. Social media users in the West have recently embraced "Chinamaxxing," adopting habits such as drinking hot water and wearing house slippers. Chinese apps, games, food brands and toys have also become more visible abroad.

As Chinese products become more familiar overseas, consumers may begin to look beyond their practical uses. Curiosity about an object can prompt questions about its design, history and origins.

Algorithms accelerate that process. Zhang said recommendation systems have carried content from Chinese diaspora communities to wider audiences, turning a wrapper associated with one community's memories into an image seen on millions of screens.

The result is a broader picture of Chinese culture abroad. Alongside ancient monuments, martial arts and cuisine, ordinary objects are entering the conversation. Reproduced on clothes, phone cases and even skin, the White Rabbit wrapper has shed its original function and become a visual symbol in its own right.

A quiet influence

Formal cultural promotion usually begins by explaining why something matters. Online discovery often works in reverse. Someone first notices the rabbit, saves the photograph or buys the candy. Questions about its origin come later. The encounter feels like a discovery rather than a lesson.

White Rabbit has pursued collaborations and launched new products over the years, yet the element attracting attention today is the very part it chose not to replace. Shi Anbin, a professor at Tsinghua University who studies China's cultural influence, sees the design's longevity as evidence that original Chinese designs can cross generational and cultural boundaries.

Its appeal suggests that going global does not always require a brand to hide where it came from. The wrapper that caught the world's attention was not redesigned for an international audience. It was the same wrapper that generations of Chinese children had peeled from their candy.

This brings the story back to the two photographs. In the first, the wrapper still held the sweet. In the second, it's been unfolded for a closer look.

The sweet would soon disappear. The image has already begun another journey.

Global oil demand is forecast to grow by 600,000 barrels per day (bpd) in 2026 year-on-year, down from last month's assessment, said the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) on Wednesday.

OPEC made the forecast in its latest monthly oil market report. In its previous report in July, the organization estimated a global oil demand growth of 800,000 bpd year-on-year for 2026.

Despite the lower forecast for 2026, the report continued to revise up its forecast for 2027, with global oil demand estimated to rise by about 2.2 million bpd year-on-year, compared with the previous estimate of 1.9 million bpd year-on-year.

As the campaign season comes to an end, Zambia is now counting down to Thursday's general elections.

Voters will head to the polls on August 13 to elect the president, members of parliament and local government representatives. About 8.8 million voters are registered to cast their ballots.

The campaign period has seen candidates crisscross the country seeking support from voters, with the cost of living, economic reforms, jobs and living conditions among the key issues shaping the race.

Incumbent President Hakainde Hichilema, who came to power in 2021 after defeating the late President Edgar Lungu, is defending his record as he seeks another five-year mandate.

His government has pointed to economic reforms and efforts to stabilize the country's finances, while opponents have criticized the administration over persistent economic pressures facing households.

The main opposition challenge is being led by Brian Mundubile of the Tonse Alliance.

Fourteen candidates are running for president, although the race has largely been viewed as a contest between Hichilema and Mundubile.

With input from local agencies.

At the Seventy‑Two Wonder Tower scenic area in Zhangjiajie, you can often spot a young girl chatting with foreign visitors. Eight‑year‑old Li Anqi is a native of Zhangjiajie. She enjoys acting as an English guide, introducing foreign tourists to Tianmen Mountain, the Zhangjiajie Grand Canyon, as well as traditional Chinese culture. To her, this is a wonderful chance to share the voice of her hometown.

Located in northwest Hunan Province of central China, Zhangjiajie is famed for its distinctive quartz-sandstone pillars, mist-wrapped peaks, and deep ravines that inspired the floating "Hallelujah Mountains" in the blockbuster Avatar.

In the first half of 2026, Zhangjiajie welcomed 699,200 inbound tourists, generating $79.41 million in foreign exchange revenue. With its warm and welcoming hospitality, the city is attracting more and more international visitors.

Scientists used an AI called "Evo" to design whole viruses from scratch. Don't worry: they infect bacteria, not humans – and could become the antibiotics of the future as drug resistance grows.

But some experts warn it's an "urgent" biosecurity concern: AI-generated DNA can slip past existing safety screening. Once AI can write biological code – who decides what it's allowed to design?

(Sun Dan, Gao Yun and Gong Zhe contributed to the story. Cover by Li Wenyi)

At least 15 people died and 27 remain missing after an overcrowded ferry on Zimbabwe's Lake Kariba capsized on Tuesday, authorities said on Wednesday.

The boat overturned after hitting strong waves.

According to Zimbabwe's Civil Protection Unit (CPU), the boat was carrying 114 adult passengers, five crew members and some children, despite having a capacity of 90 people.

Rescue teams were deployed to search for the remaining passengers.

Video released by Zimbabwe's state broadcaster ZBC showed speedboats heading towards what appeared to be the overturned vessel, while a helicopter flew overhead. An underwater search-and-rescue team was also deployed as emergency crews scoured the vast lake.

Lake Kariba lies along the border between Zimbabwe and Zambia and is one of Africa's largest reservoirs.

With input from local media.

The Supreme Court of the Republic of Korea (ROK) on Wednesday upheld a ruling ordering a Japanese company to pay 80 million won (about $56,500) to the family of an ROK national forced into labor by Japan during World War II, Yonhap News Agency reported.

The family members of Min Moon-sik, a forced labor victim, filed a damages suit against Nippon Steel Corp. in April 2019. In February 2022, a lower court ruled against the plaintiffs, saying their right to seek damages had expired under the statute of limitations. However, in September 2024, an appeals court overturned the lower court's ruling and ordered the defendant to pay 80 million won in compensation.

The case marked the top court's latest ruling in favor of families of forced labor victims since its landmark 2018 ruling that found Japanese companies liable for damages to such victims.

During Japan's 1910-1945 colonial rule, large numbers of Koreans were forcibly taken to Japan to work as laborers. For years, ROK forced labor victims and their family members have filed multiple lawsuits seeking compensation from Japan. However, the Japanese government and relevant companies have refused to pay, arguing that the issue of claims was "settled" under the 1965 bilateral treaty signed between the ROK and Japan.

In October 2018, the supreme court ordered Nippon Steel and Sumitomo Metal Corp. to pay 100 million won each to four ROK nationals who were subjected to forced labor during World War II. The court found that the 1965 bilateral treaty between the ROK and Japan, signed when the two countries normalized diplomatic relations, did not prevent ROK forced labor victims from exercising their individual rights to seek damages.

China's car exports topped 1 million units in July for the second month running, and new energy vehicles (NEVs) are driving the boom.

NEVs made up more than half of exports for two months in a row, with 553,000 cars shipped overseas, up 145.5% on last year.

Total exports hit 1.043 million, up 81.3% year on year, according to the China Association of Automobile Manufacturers (CAAM).

China's auto industry broke the 1 million-unit barrier in June, and held it in July, after shipping over 900,000 in April and May.

That is no accident. China's full industrial chain, from lithium processing and battery manufacturing to electric motor controls and final assembly, gives the country a cost and capacity edge few can match, a CAAM official said.

Smart features like driver-assistance systems and AI-powered cockpits are helping win overseas buyers, the official added.

"Exports are becoming a key stabilizer and core growth engine," said Chen Shihua, deputy secretary-general of CAAM.

The independent counsel of the Republic of Korea (ROK) on Wednesday indicted former President Yoon Suk-yeol for justifying his martial law declaration, according to local media.

The team of a second special counsel Kwon Chang-young, who led investigations into leftover martial law allegations and other corruptions, indicted Yoon on charges stemming from his directive to spread messages to allied countries justifying his short-lived martial law declaration.

The emergency martial law was declared by Yoon on the night of December 3, 2024, but was revoked hours later by the National Assembly.

Yoon was accused of ordering the dissemination of distorted messages to major allies, including the United States, between December 3 and 4, 2024, to validate the legitimacy of the failed martial law.

The special counsel team concluded that Yoon abused his power by forcing the presidential national security office and the foreign ministry to perform duties outside their legal obligations.

Shin Won-sik, former presidential national security advisor, was indicted without detention on charges of conspiring with Yoon to distribute the justification messages.

Yoon was sentenced to life in prison in February this year for the insurrection coming from his martial law declaration and 30 years in prison in June for the general treason relevant to the infiltration of drones into the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK).

He was indicted under detention in January 2025 as a suspected ringleader of the insurrection, becoming the ROK's first sitting president to be arrested and indicted.

China's homegrown C919 large passenger aircraft landed safely at the new Ulaanbaatar airport in Mongolia on Wednesday afternoon after departing from Beijing Capital International Airport, marking the completion of the aircraft's first scheduled international commercial passenger flight.

A grand water salute ceremony was held at the airport. Passengers gradually disembarked from the aircraft, watched a unique ethnic dance performance, and were greeted by a procession of attendants dressed in traditional Mongolian attire.

This is the first international route opened for the C919 since the aircraft entered commercial operation, marking the official transition of China's domestically developed mainline passenger jet into a new era of regular international operations.

According to available information, the international route is operated under flight numbers CA723/CA724, with daily scheduled flights connecting Beijing and Ulaanbaatar.

As China's first domestically developed large passenger jet for civilian use, the C919 has been successfully operated on multiple domestic routes since entering commercial service. It has gained widespread market recognition due to its reliable flight performance, comfortable cabin experience and high safety standards.

The operation of this flight on the China-Mongolia international route demonstrates that the C919 has successfully passed the verification of bilateral international civil aviation operating standards, thereby officially acquiring the qualification for regular international commercial passenger operations.

China's domestically developed C919 large passenger aircraft has officially begun regular international commercial operations, with its inaugural flight departing from Beijing for Ulaanbaatar on Wednesday afternoon.

Air China's CA723 took off from Beijing Capital International Airport at 3 p.m. local time for the two-hour trip. Upon arrival in the capital of Mongolia, the aircraft is expected to receive a water cannon salute, the highest ceremonial honor in civil aviation, to mark the historic milestone.

As of August 10, the C919 had served 57 routes linking 25 cities and had handled more than 7.5 million passenger trips, official data showed.

The aircraft has also been featured at major international airshows, including two editions of the Singapore Airshow and one in Dubai.

The International Energy Agency (IEA) on Wednesday cut its forecast for global oil demand in 2026, citing the continued closure of the Strait of Hormuz and elevated fuel prices that are weighing on consumption.

In its Oil Market Report for August, the IEA forecast global oil demand to decline by 1.6 million barrels per day (mb/d) in 2026, 510,000 barrels per day more than its July estimate.

Global oil supply rose by 2.4 mb/d to 101.5 mb/d in July, but remained 6.3 mb/d below year-earlier levels. Renewed hostilities and maritime disruptions in July and early August undermined efforts to restore supply, prompting the IEA to cut its forecast for oil supply in the third quarter by 1.7 mb/d from its previous report.

Gulf oil production increased by 2.5 mb/d in July to 23.9 mb/d, following a 3.7 mb/d increase in June, but remained 8.3 mb/d below pre-war levels. With an agreement enabling the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz and unhindered transit through the Bab el-Mandeb Strait still elusive, the IEA lowered its supply forecasts for the rest of the year. Global oil supply is now expected to fall by 4.3 mb/d in 2026 to 102 mb/d, the report said.

Benchmark crude prices surged to a two-month high in July as the recovery in oil supplies from the Gulf reversed course following the breakdown of the mid-June Iran-US ceasefire agreement. Oil prices traded within an unusually wide range of $40 per barrel in July, driven by sudden shifts in diplomatic expectations, it said.

The IEA said elevated fuel prices were putting further downward pressure on oil consumption. Global oil demand is projected to expand by 2.4 mb/d in 2027.

The 49th escort fleet of the Chinese People's Liberation Army Navy on Wednesday morning departed from a military port in Sanya, south China's Hainan Province, bound for the Gulf of Aden and waters off Somalia to carry out escort missions in the region.

The fleet consists of the guided-missile destroyer Kunming, the guided-missile frigate Yueyang and the comprehensive supply ship Luomahu, with dozens of special operations personnel and two helicopters on board.

The deployment marks the Kunming's first escort mission.

The fleet will take over duties from the 48th escort fleet, which set sail in October last year.

In line with relevant United Nations Security Council resolutions, China has maintained a regular naval escort presence in the Gulf of Aden and Somali waters since 2008 to safeguard the security of international shipping routes, escort Chinese and foreign vessels, and rescue, protect or assist ships in distress.

China on Tuesday strongly rejected US criticism over a joint statement concerning China's notification of a ballistic missile launch, accusing Washington of using the Conference on Disarmament as a platform for "political manipulation and applying double standards."

China's Ambassador for Disarmament Affairs Li Chijiang made the remarks at a meeting on Tuesday, responding to comments by the US representative regarding China's intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) test launch from a submarine in July.

The US representative accused China of not providing pre-launch notification of the July 6 test to all the countries concerned, and of giving those notified only two hours' notice at most. Li said the US had unfairly criticized China's goodwill gesture of providing advance notification of the missile test, calling the accusations "typical political manipulation and blatant double standards."

He noted that the US criticism was groundless, saying Washington had cited the voluntary political commitment of the Hague Code of Conduct Against Ballistic Missile Proliferation (HCOC) to demand that China provide advance notifications of missile launches. However, China is not a member of the HCOC and is therefore not bound by its provisions.

Li said China has always conducted ICBM test activities in a safe, standardized and responsible manner. By notifying the United States and other countries in advance, China had taken prudent and reasonable measures to ensure that the tests did not harm the interests of any country, demonstrating its responsible approach and goodwill.

"China's goodwill measures should not be held hostage to geopolitical calculations," he said.

Li also criticized the US over its own record on missile testing, saying the US, as the country with the largest number and highest frequency of ICBM tests in the world, has no standing to lecture China on the issue.

He said China has conducted only three ICBM tests to date, the fewest among the five nuclear-weapon states. Meanwhile, he accused the US of investing heavily in nuclear force expansion and promoting arrangements such as "nuclear sharing" and "extended deterrence," which he said pose serious risks to international peace and security.

"The US has failed to earnestly fulfill its responsibilities regarding missile launch notifications and has no right to criticize China's goodwill gesture of providing advance notification," Li said.

Reaffirming China's nuclear policy, Li said China remains committed to peaceful development, follows a self-defensive nuclear strategy, maintains its nuclear capabilities at the minimum level required for national security, and does not engage in any form of nuclear arms race.

"China's nuclear capabilities are an indispensable force for preventing nuclear war, safeguarding global peace and security, and maintaining strategic stability," he said.

Li stressed that China's legitimate and reasonable efforts to modernize its national defense should not be questioned, urging the US to reflect on its own actions and take measures that genuinely contribute to global peace and stability.

Established following the first UN Special Session on Disarmament in 1978, the Geneva-based Conference on Disarmament is the world's only multilateral disarmament negotiating body. It has 65 member states and holds three sessions each year, focusing on issues including nuclear disarmament, preventing an arms race and reducing the risk of nuclear war.

China on Tuesday called on the international community to take urgent action to curb escalating violence in the Palestine-Israel conflict, save civilian lives and uphold justice.

Speaking at an emergency meeting of the UN Security Council on the Palestine-Israel issue, China's Permanent Representative to the United Nations Fu Cong expressed deep concern over the recent escalation in the situation in the occupied Palestinian territories and sorrow over the growing civilian casualties caused by continued violence.

"Against the backdrop of increasing instability in the region, the Palestinian issue must not be ignored or marginalized," Fu said, urging the international community to act swiftly to contain the violence, protect innocent lives and safeguard fairness and justice.

He said the situation in the West Bank and Gaza has sharply deteriorated in recent months, with the Palestinian people enduring increasingly severe hardships. The fundamental reason, he said, lies in the failure to uphold basic principles of international law and the long-standing disregard for the Palestinian people's rights to survival and development.

The international community must further build consensus, correct actions and rhetoric that deny or infringe upon the legitimate rights of the Palestinian people, ensure equal rights for Palestinians and uphold international fairness and justice, Fu said.

Fu called on Israel to halt settlement activities in the West Bank, curb settler violence and ensure accountability. He also expressed concern over the humanitarian situation in Gaza, calling on Israel and relevant parties to sincerely and fully implement the Gaza ceasefire agreement.

He also urged Israel to abide by international humanitarian law and lift restrictions on humanitarian aid access, while calling on influential countries to take concrete steps to ease tensions.

Fu stressed that the two-state solution remains the only viable path to resolving the Palestinian issue. The international community should fully respect the will of the Palestinian people and work toward the early realization of an independent Palestinian state, he said.

"China has always stood on the side of peace, justice and conscience on the Palestinian issue," Fu said, adding that China will continue to support the Palestinian people's legitimate pursuit of national rights and work for an early end to their suffering and a return of stability and peace to the region.

The US and Yemen's Iran-aligned Houthis reported separate attacks on shipping on Tuesday as prospects for ending the months-old Iran ​war appeared to dim, with Tehran saying the Strait of Hormuz would remain closed unless Washington accepts its conditions.

The attacks, in the Gulf ‌of Oman leading to the strait and at the entrance to the Red Sea – both vital choke points for global oil supplies, come as the war shows no signs of ending despite Pakistani Defense Minister Khawaja Asif saying on Tuesday that the US and Iran are close to an agreement that could ensure lasting peace in the region.

Oil prices gained and global shares retreated amid renewed pessimism about a quick end to the conflict. Brent crude futures climbed 1.4% to settle at $88.91 per ​barrel and US crude rose 1.3% to $83.20.

The attacks

At the southern end of the Red Sea, four crew members were killed in a suspected Houthi attack on a small ​cargo vessel in the Bab el-Mandeb Strait on Tuesday, Yemen's Transport Ministry said. Two Yemeni rescuers from an anti-Houthi military group were also killed, Yemen's Coast Guard said.

The fatalities aboard the Egyptian-owned Tihamah would be the first deaths on shipping by Houthis since the Iran war began.

The Houthi-run ​news agency Saba reported that the group, which said last month it would impose a naval blockade on Saudi Arabia in the Red Sea, attacked a Saudi ship carrying military ​equipment in the Bab el-Mandeb Strait. It did not name the ship, and there was no immediate Saudi response to the report.

The US military, meanwhile, said a US Navy MH-60 helicopter fired two Hellfire missiles to disable the steering gear of a Panama-flagged cargo ship.

The ship ignored repeated warnings to stop violating a naval blockade on Iranian ports, the US Central Command said.

Stepped up rhetoric

Both Iran and the United States have stepped up rhetoric in the past two days.

Iran's top ​security official, Mohsen Rezaei, said on Tuesday that the vital Strait of Hormuz shipping route will remain closed unless the US accepts Iran's conditions to end the war – the release of Iran's frozen assets and ‌an end to conflicts throughout the region, including in Lebanon and Gaza.

"As long as America does not ​change its behavior and does not accept Iran's conditions, the Strait of Hormuz will not be opened," Rezaei said, according to the ​semi-official Tasnim news agency.

That followed a new demand from Trump on Monday that Iran should pay compensation for people killed in 50 years of wars, attacks and protests.

Throughout the conflict, Trump has alternated between threats of escalation and claims that a peace deal is imminent.

In an interview released late on Monday, he suggested the uncertainty could last for a while, saying he might just "bop along" and let Tehran fail economically, or hit them "really, really hard."

"I'm sort of negotiating," Trump told Real America's Voice.

The comments from Rezaei were the strongest indication the Strait of Hormuz would not reopen to shipping anytime soon.

There was no immediate comment from Washington on Iran's latest comments.

Uncertain future

Raising the prospect of further escalation, Mohammad Reza Naqdi, an adviser to the commander ​of Iran's Revolutionary Guards, said on Iranian state TV on Tuesday that the corps was developing the ​ability to carry out operations "on enemy soil."

"We need to be able to move the operations to the enemy's soil, whenever this is needed and ordered," he said. "This is the characteristic of the offensive doctrine that has ​to be attained."

Despite the threats and tit-for-tat strikes, the 60-day window established by the 14-point US-Iran Memorandum of Understanding sets to reach its formal expiration deadline on August 18.

Su Xiaohui, an expert at the China Institute of International Studies, noted neither the US nor Iran is willing to restart a full-scale war and both hope to seek greater room for maneuver as far as the respective demands and current situations of the US and Iran are concerned.

Su said although a comprehensive solution remains relatively difficult, continuing the negotiation process is in the best interests of both the US and Iran, therefore, there is still room for them to reach a temporary agreement.

(With input from agencies)

US President Donald Trump said on Wednesday he secretly switched planes in ‌Türkiye last month at the direction of the US Secret Service, but that the plane he ultimately flew on was still more vulnerable than Air Force One.

Following a NATO summit in Ankara, Trump was transferred from Air Force One to a military ​plane via a catering truck in an extraordinary deception prompted by an Iranian assassination threat, US media ​reported.

The White House did not disclose the change and it remained a secret until the Washington Post first reported it on Monday. Some media commentators questioned whether the operation left Trump's aides and ​journalists traveling with him at risk aboard the plane presumed to be carrying the president.

"I think actually the ​plane that I flew on was at greater risk," Trump told reporters on Tuesday. "I think it was at greater risk because that would be the plane I think that they would be more likely to go for."

After a day of social media ​memes portraying Trump as hiding out in the catering truck, the US president said he was following the direction of the Secret Service, the agency that protects ‌the president.

"Well, it's only up to Secret Service. I just follow what they'd like to do, so I go by Secret Service and the military," Trump said.

"I guess there was a threat out there. I didn't really ask too much about it. I get a lot of threats," Trump said.

The White House said at the time that ​the president was flying aboard ​Air Force One from Türkiye to Britain. But moments after Trump boarded the plane, he left it in secret via the catering truck and boarded another aircraft for the flight to ​Britain, the Washington Post said on Monday, quoting unnamed sources.

Trump had taken a newly renovated ​Qatari-donated jet to Ankara for the NATO summit but unexpectedly announced he would use an older Air Force One when departing the country, a move that prompted questions about the newer plane's security.

The trip to NATO was the first international travel for ​the new plane, whose speedy upgrades triggered questions over its cost ​and security, and took place as hostilities escalated with Iran, which borders Türkiye.

Türkiye's parliament on Monday approved a legal framework for the disarmament and reintegration of the Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK), a key step toward ending a decades-long conflict.

Of 562 lawmakers present, 468 voted in favor and 88 against, with six abstentions after nearly 10 hours of debate, highlighting the political sensitivity of the initiative.

The draft legislation, submitted earlier this month, was endorsed by Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan's ruling alliance and also received backing from the pro-Kurdish DEM Party and other opposition groups.

The government has said the legislation is designed to facilitate the disarmament process than grant a general amnesty.

It allows lower-ranking PKK members not involved in killings or other serious crimes to return to Türkiye from northern Iraq under specified legal conditions, while excluding jailed PKK founder Abdullah Ocalan, senior PKK leaders and those serving aggravated life sentences.

The conflict between the PKK and the Turkish state, which began in 1984, has claimed more than 40,000 lives, according to widely cited estimates.

In May 2025, the PKK announced its decision to disarm and disband, following its founder Abdullah Ocalan's call to end the armed struggle.

(Cover: Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK) fighters stand to attention during a ceremony in the Qandil area of northern Iraq, October 26, 2025. /VCG)

The US State Department on Monday announced that it has revoked more than 175,000 visas since January 2025, when US President Donald Trump began his second term.

"The majority of these visas were revoked due to law enforcement encounters for a range of criminal activity, with assault, driving under the influence, theft and drug crimes being the leading causes," the department said in a statement.

"A significant share of visas were revoked for reckless driving, sexual assault, child abuse, fraud and embezzlement, and other crimes," the statement said.

"A US visa is a privilege, not a right. The department remains committed to using every tool available to protect our communities from those who abuse it," the statement added.

Since Trump returned to the White House, his administration has tightened immigration policies, cracking down on undocumented immigrants and increasing scrutiny of US visa holders.

(Cover: State Department seals are seen at an entrance to State Department headquarters in Washington, DC, July 8, 2026. /VCG)

The death toll from a magnitude-7.5 earthquake that struck western Colombia on Monday has risen to 132, with more than 570 others injured, the Colombian government said in its latest update.

The Chinese Embassy in Colombia said it had not received any reports of Chinese citizens killed or injured. 

The death toll from a magnitude-7.5 earthquake that struck western Colombia on Monday has risen to 132 nationwide, with more than 570 others injured, the Colombian government said in its latest update.

"The national government has all of its capabilities deployed to protect lives, assist affected communities and deliver aid wherever it is needed," Colombian President Abelardo de la Espriella said in a national address around 1 p.m., upon declaring a national state of emergency.

"The first priority is rescuing the people ​trapped under the rubble."

The heaviest casualties appeared concentrated in Risaralda, part of Colombia's coffee-growing region. Pereira, the department's capital, suffered extensive damage, with rescue workers continuing to search collapsed buildings for survivors.

Mauricio Andrade, a firefighter in Cali, told Reuters his team had rescued two adult women and two children from a collapsed building. He added that his team was preparing to rescue more people from the rubble.

"They are alive," he said. "We are making space so we can free them and get them out."

The Colombian government earlier Monday declared a state of national disaster to respond to the impact of the earthquake.

According to the Colombian Geological Service, the quake struck at 7:34 a.m. in western Colombia. Its epicenter was near San Jose del Palmar, in the department of Choco, at a depth of 96 kilometers.

The Chinese Embassy in Colombia said it had not received any reports of Chinese citizens killed or injured. 

Colombia sits along the seismically active Pacific Ring of Fire and records thousands of mostly minor earthquakes each ​month.

Northwestern University seismologist Suzan van der Lee told Reuters the quake's powerful magnitude, inland location and strike-slip motion may have amplified damage in populated valleys despite its considerable depth.

"This one was far below the crust, and in theory it shouldn't cause as much shaking. At this magnitude, it did actually cause a lot of shaking," she said.

(With input from agencies)

In Canada, at least one person has died in a wildfire in British Columbia.

An 80-year-old woman died while trying to escape the out-of-control Bald Range fire in one of Canada’s top wine-producing regions – one of thousands of people who received evacuation orders over the weekend.

The growing blaze has so far burned more than 13,000 hectares. CGTN's correspondent Mark Niu has the latest.

For more, check out our exclusive content on CGTN Now and subscribe to our weekly newsletter, The China Report.

The White House has announced more tariffs aimed at China – this time, targeting a key component used in solar panels and computer chips. Part of the President Trump’s tariff push that is causing friction with trading partners and driving up costs for U.S. consumers and businesses. CGTN’s Jim Spellman reports.

For more, check out our exclusive content on CGTN Now and subscribe to our weekly newsletter, The China Report.

The 2026 China AI Gala aired nationwide on Sunday, Aug. 9.

The event showcases a dynamic fusion of technology and art, featuring human-machine performances, intelligent installations, and other innovative programs.

The gala also unveiled the 2026 AI Figures of the Year, recognizing outstanding individuals at the forefront of AI innovation. 

For more, check out our exclusive content on CGTN Now and subscribe to our weekly newsletter, The China Report.

Zambians vote on Thursday, August 13, in a closely watched presidential election. Up to 8.7 million registered voters will decide whether President Hakainde Hichilema's economic reforms deserve another term or whether the opposition can turn widespread discontent into a comeback.

Although 14 candidates are on the ballot, analysts say the race has narrowed into a two-horse contest between Hichilema and Brian Mundubile, a 55-year-old former minister and lawyer. 

Here is a look at the leading hopefuls:

Hakainde Hichilema

Zambian President Hakainde Hichilema, 64, won the presidency in 2021 on his sixth attempt, defeating then-President Edgar Lungu by a wide margin after years as the country's main opposition leader. He won 59.02% of the vote.

His victory came as Zambia was grappling with a severe debt crisis and economic difficulties. His government has since overseen debt restructuring and an improvement in key economic indicators, although many households continue to struggle with the cost of living.

On the campaign trail, he embraced the youth catchphrase "Salt Sana" — or "more salt" — urging voters to "add more flavour" by re-electing him for a second and final five-year term.

Brian Mundubile

Brian Mundubile, 55, a lawyer and former minister, has emerged as Hichilema's main opposition challenger after being selected as the presidential candidate of the Tonse Alliance. The alliance later merged with the PF-Pamodzi Alliance, with constitutional lawyer Makebi Zulu as Mundubile's running mate.

Mundubile served as Northern Province minister and later as government chief whip under Lungu's Patriotic Front administration. His campaign has drawn on the political legacy of the late former president while portraying the opposition alliance as a vehicle for change.

He has focused heavily on the cost of living and persistent poverty, arguing that improvements in economic indicators have not translated into sufficient relief for ordinary Zambians.

Harry Kalaba

Former Foreign Affairs Minister Harry Kalaba, 50, is seeking the presidency for a second time as leader of the Citizens First party. Kalaba left Lungu's government in 2019 and later contested the 2021 presidential election, finishing third with 25,231 votes, or 0.52% of the total.

He has returned to the race promising a stronger performance and is campaigning as an alternative opposition voice, although his campaign has been overshadowed by Mundubile's growing profile.

Iran released a series of satellite images on Sunday showing before-and-after views of sites it said were targeted by missile strikes on US military facilities and locations linked to US interests in several Middle East countries, according to posts by Fars News Agency on X. 

The eight sets of images, based on information marked on the pictures, showed targets in the United Arab Emirates, Kuwait, Iraq and Syria. They also included an oil refinery in the UAE that Iran claimed was linked to US economic interests.

Iran did not provide specific details about when the alleged missile strikes took place, nor did it disclose when the satellite images were captured.

A Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson on Monday said that actions have been taken in accordance with the law against over 100 Philippine nationals illegally working or living in China. 

Spokesperson Guo Jiakun made the remarks when answering a related media question.

Guo said China's national immigration authorities have made consistent efforts to strengthen supervision of foreigners illegally entering, living or working in China and carried out special operations in accordance with the law.

While carrying out the special operations, China's immigration staff acted in a standard and civil manner and ensured the protection of the rights and interests of the foreign nationals concerned, he said.

Editor's note: Talk Africa is a weekly talk show that brings together guests from across Africa and beyond to discuss pressing African issues and global topics, amplifying the continent's voice and showcasing diverse perspectives and independent thinking. This episode explores ECOWAS' long-standing pursuit of a single regional currency to replace the CFA franc and other national currencies across the bloc.

West Africa's pursuit of economic integration stands at a historic crossroads as the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) reaffirmed its target to launch the Eco single currency by 2027.

This monetary shift offers an unprecedented opportunity to eliminate trade barriers and spark unified economic growth.

However, the path remains controversial, with stiff macroeconomic hurdles, member state opt-outs, and lingering sovereignty disputes surrounding the French-backed CFA franc threatening the timeline.

A History of Broken Promises

This regional ambition is heavily burdened by a history of false starts.

First conceptualized decades ago, the Eco's implementation has been systematically derailed and postponed at least five times, with prominent missed deadlines in 2003, 2005, 2010, 2015, and 2020.

The recurring delays stem from member states' persistent failure to meet strict macroeconomic convergence criteria, compounded by global shocks such as the COVID-19 pandemic.

This continuous cycle of procrastination has fueled widespread skepticism about whether the new timeline is a realistic fiscal target or simply another administrative mirage.

"Achieving full consensus before launching the Eco is practically impossible because every country within the region operates under entirely different geopolitical interests," Dr. Pippie Hugues, Policy Analyst at the Governance and Democracy Division of the Nkafu Policy Institute, told CGTN.

However, he remains hopeful that 2027 could be the “magic year,” given the phased approach that allows countries to join once they meet the agreed economic conditions.

Regional geopolitics & economic realities

This ideological divide highlights a fundamental disagreement over how to launch the currency.

Dr. Daniel Amateye Anim, Chief Economist at the Policy Initiatives for Economic Development, acknowledges that meeting strict targets—including single-digit inflation, a 3% fiscal deficit-to-GDP ratio, and long-term debt sustainability, has historically been a challenge.

However, he argues that waiting for every single nation to achieve a perfectly stable, uniform macroeconomic environment will permanently stall the currency's progress, meaning the region must move forward despite these economic imbalances.

This creates a sharp contrast with the geopolitical roadblock raised by Dr.Ndongo Samba Sylla, Africa Regional Director of the International Development Economics Associates.

Dr. Sylla maintains that fragmented political realities and competing national interests make regional consensus on a common currency virtually impossible.

“There is no interest for countries to share the same currency,” Dr. Sylla says, noting that Nigeria accounts for more than two-thirds of the region's GDP. “Even if it were feasible, it would just be a new name for the Nigerian currency.”

Lessons from the Eurozone

Drawing lessons from the Eurozone, Dr. Sylla warns that launching a single currency without a unified political federation or central fiscal authority would be a historical mistake. This raises a crucial question about the region's existing monetary infrastructure.

Dr. Anim advocates for continental "trial and error," urging African nations to learn by intensifying and infusing the Pan-African Payment and Settlement System (PAPSS) directly into the Eco's economic model to build momentum.

Conversely, Dr. Sylla views this payment alternative not as a stepping stone, but as a total replacement for a doomed monetary project. He points out that crucial foundation work—such as central bank statutes, localized payment infrastructure, and physical banknotes—remains entirely non-existent for a 2027 rollout.

Doubling down on his Eurozone warning, Dr. Sylla maintains that without a unified West African political foundation to manage joint spending, a regional currency is logically dead on arrival.

Breaking Neocolonial Ties

Despite these steep structural arguments, the drive for monetary sovereignty remains a powerful motivator.

Among the 12 member states of ECOWAS after the withdrawal of Mali, Niger and Burkina Faso, five of them still use French-backed CFA Franc, which is pegged to Euro.

“I think this is the time for us to get out of this French neocolonial method and try to see how we can adopt an African perspective." says Dr.Hugues.

To support this sovereignty, Dr. Anim emphasizes that the region must establish a functional central bank backed by robust foreign reserves to meet citizen demand, while simultaneously shifting away from import-driven vulnerabilities by prioritizing local manufacturing, value addition, and intra-African trade.

Unification or Cooperation?

Instead of forcing a flawed monetary union that has triggered constant postponements since 1983, Dr. Sylla proposes shifting toward regional monetary cooperation—specifically utilizing common payment and settlement systems to clear cross-border trade without relying on the US dollar.

Ultimately, the future of West African integration may hinge on redefining the goal itself. While proponents see the 2027 Eco launch as a vital step toward breaking colonial shackles and forcing economic discipline, critics argue the region must stop chasing the illusion of monetary unification.

A Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson on Monday said China does not recognize the so-called "Arunachal Pradesh" illegally set up by India.

Spokesperson Guo Jiakun made the remarks when asked to comment on the report that India issued on August 7 the "standard names" of 27 locations in the so-called "Arunachal Pradesh."

"Zangnan region is China's territory," Guo said, adding that India's move of attempting to replace names long used by China with its so-called "standard names" is illegal, null and void. Still less will it change the fact that Zangnan region belongs to China, he noted.

Fees should be charged for maritime services provided in the Strait of Hormuz, Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baghaei said on Monday.

He made the remarks at a weekly press conference in response to a question about whether fees for maritime services had been discussed during negotiations between Iran and Oman on the designation of a new route in the vital waterway.

"Generally, when you provide maritime services, you must be reimbursed for them," Baghaei said.

"At this stage, we do not discuss such details," he said, adding that the discussions were continuing and "certain technical points" would be discussed.

Baghaei said the negotiations between Iran and Oman "are being held smoothly and constructively," noting that mechanisms would be established to ensure safe shipping, address environmental issues, provide maritime services and combat crimes in the strait.

Under a potential agreement to be reached between the two sides, the existing northern and southern routes in the strait would be replaced by an intermediate one, he said, adding that the new route would be used temporarily until Iran and Oman agree on a new traffic separation scheme.

Baghaei attributed the closure of the Strait of Hormuz to US and Israeli "military aggression" against Iran, saying its reopening hinges on the elimination of the conditions imposed on Iran.

The broader debate over potential fees in the Strait of Hormuz has drawn differing international views.

Oman has said it does not support imposing transit fees on ships passing through the Strait of Hormuz, but has left open the possibility of charges related to maritime services such as navigational safety, emergency response and anti-pollution measures.

The United States has opposed any tolls or fees for transiting the waterway, arguing that the strait is an international shipping route.

The International Maritime Organization (IMO) has also said it opposes mandatory fees for passage through straits used for international navigation.

(With input from agencies)

A magnitude-7.5 earthquake struck Colombia on Monday, according to the China Earthquake Networks Center (CENC).

Head of the Libyan Presidential Council Mohamed al-Menfi and Prime Minister of the Government of National Unity Abdul-Hamed Dbeibah on Sunday stressed that unifying the military institution is a key cornerstone for consolidating Libya's security, stability and sovereignty.

In a speech marking the 86th anniversary of the establishment of the nucleus of the Libyan Army, observed annually on August 9, al-Menfi stressed the continuation of efforts aimed at unifying the military institution.

Despite the challenges facing Libya, the country is moving forward with efforts to complete all steps toward unifying the military institution and strengthening its national structure, al-Menfi said.

He added that the military should operate "under unified civilian leadership" to protect the country, safeguard its security and stability, and preserve its sovereignty and resources, "away from political disputes and divisions."

For his part, Dbeibah said in a statement published on his official Facebook page that "a unified national army remains one of the pillars of the state and one of the most important guarantees of its security, stability and sovereignty."

"There can be no fully-fledged state amid multiple armed forces or weapons operating outside state institutions," he said, stressing that unifying the military institution, consolidating its professionalism, and placing weapons under the authority of the state and the law "remain among the priorities of the state-building project that Libyans aspire to."

Libya on Sunday marked the 86th anniversary of the establishment of the nucleus of its army, one of the first building blocks in the development of its military institution.

The country has experienced a prolonged military division between forces aligned with the country's eastern and western factions. Since the 2011 fall of longtime leader Muammar Gaddafi, the country has been divided between the Tripoli-based Government of National Unity and the eastern administration, which is backed by the eastern-based Libyan National Army.

Several Chinese listed companies have reported receiving US tariff refunds and interest since early July, as the United States moves to return duties imposed under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA).

Guizhou Tyre Co., Ltd. said on August 7 that its overseas wholly owned subsidiary had received a total of $11.98 million in tariff refunds and interest from US Customs and Border Protection (CBP).

On July 8, Zhejiang Huahai Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd. said it had received a total of $14.23 million in tariff refunds, which were expected to affect its 2026 net profit by about 96.87 million yuan based on the yuan's central parity rate that day. On the same day, Hitevision Co., Ltd. said its subsidiary had received $4.07 million in tariff refunds.

Canature Health Technology Group Co., Ltd. said on July 13 that it had received $4.55 million in tariff refunds, including interest.

On July 28, WINBO-Dongjian Automotive Technology Co., Ltd. said it and its wholly owned subsidiary had received $3.39 million in tariff refunds and interest.

Greenworks (Jiangsu) Co., Ltd. and Newtechwood Corporation have also said they had received partial tariff refunds, without disclosing the amounts. Shenzhen Hello Tech Energy Co., Ltd., Hansong (Nanjing) Technology Limited, and Zhejiang Dingli Machinery Co., Ltd. said they had submitted refund applications or started the relevant procedures.

The refunds come as the US Supreme Court ruled on February 20 that President Donald Trump's tariff policies under the IEEPA are unconstitutional. The unilateral tariff measures have drawn opposition both at home and abroad, with concerns that they violate international trade rules and undermine the global trading order.

By the end of July, the Trump administration had returned around $100 billion of tariffs to US importers, a court document stated. The CBP was projected to hand out up to $175 billion of IEEPA tariffs in total, according to an earlier estimate issued by Penn Wharton Budget Model at the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania.

A Chinese maritime court has successfully mediated a dispute that had arisen from a collision between two foreign vessels near the Strait of Hormuz, China's Supreme People's Court (SPC) said on Monday.

The case, involving claims reaching 180 million yuan (about $26.5 million), was handled by the Guangzhou Maritime Court (GMC) in south China's Guangdong Province under the guidance of the SPC. It involved the Antigua-and-Barbuda-flagged "Adalynn" and the Liberia-flagged "Front Eagle," both owned and operated by foreign enterprises, according to an SPC statement.

The two ships collided in June 2025, in waters near the Strait of Hormuz. While "Front Eagle" was undergoing repairs in Guangdong's Shenzhen, the owner of "Adalynn" applied to the GMC for an order to arrest the vessel.

Both foreign parties agreed to have the GMC hear the case and selected Chinese law as the governing law for resolving the substantive issues in dispute.

The GMC organized four pretrial meetings between October 2025 and July 2026 and held a public hearing on July 14, 2026, the statement said, adding that it also introduced maritime technical investigators to help ascertain facts regarding the collision, as no official authority had conducted an investigation into the accident and no official conclusions were available.

Through the fact-finding process, the court reconstructed the course of the collision, which helped clearly determine the parties' respective liabilities, according to Wu Guining, the presiding judge of the case.

"In this case, we introduced an innovative mechanism of maritime technical investigators. This helps us overcome the technical difficulties of accidental ship collision cases," Wu told CGTN Frontline. "Through technical investigation, we can quickly establish the facts."

Wu said the case "fully demonstrates China's professional capacity in trying major, complex and difficult cross-border cases."

Through the court's mediation, the relevant parties reached a settlement, and the court organized the liability fund distribution in late July.

Bilov Viacheslav, representative of the shipowner of the "Adalynn," said the company decided to submit the dispute to a Chinese court because of their trust in the impartiality and fairness of the country's legal and judicial systems, a choice that was ultimately proven right.

"The main reason why we decided to sue with Chinese law and jurisdiction is because we wanted an absolutely fair, unprejudiced and unbiased approach," Viacheslav told CGTN Frontline.

He also said that he was impressed by the efficiency of the Chinese court and the professionalism of Chinese maritime experts.

"It would be five out of five," he said of the court's "excellent performance."

(With input from Xinhua)

(Cover: File photo of ships in the Strait of Hormuz as seen from Khasab, Musandam Governorate, Oman, June 2025. /VCG)

As part of CGTN's special series Inside El Niño, this report turns to Brazil's historic cocoa-growing region of Bahia, where producers are closely watching a strong El Niño take shape in the Pacific after the last major event devastated harvests with severe drought. On traditional farms where cocoa has been cultivated for generations under the shade of the Atlantic Forest, the crop's sensitivity to dry spells means any disruption during its long production cycle can sharply reduce yields and hit farmer livelihoods hard. While the industry continues to manage the lingering effects of past fungal outbreaks that once cut production dramatically, researchers are advancing drought-tolerant varieties and shifting cultivation toward drier areas as a long-term strategy for crop security. With Brazil aiming to supply quality specialty cocoa and chocolate to growing markets such as China, the stakes extend beyond local plantations to global supply chains and the economic resilience of the communities that depend on this climate-vulnerable crop.

As part of CGTN's special series Inside El Niño, this report turns to Australia's sugarcane heartland in Far North Queensland, where growers are preparing for a possible super El Niño that could deliver much hotter temperatures and prolonged dry conditions across the world's driest inhabited continent. In the Burdekin region, the country's sugarcane capital, water is already a critical and costly input for irrigation, and extended drought would sharply raise expenses while threatening yields on farms that form the economic backbone of many regional communities. With about 80 percent of Australia's sugar exported and the remainder supplying domestic food and beverage producers, the industry faces added pressure from recent rises in diesel and fertiliser costs alongside a roughly 30 percent drop in global sugar prices due to oversupply. The combination leaves many growers struggling as production costs outpace returns, raising concerns not only for the next harvest but for the long-term viability of an export sector that also plays a growing role in global food and fuel security.

With 100 days to go before the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) economies gather in Shenzhen for their annual leaders' meeting, China's host year has moved from setting broad priorities to turning months of talks across trade, connectivity, digital economy and other fields into concrete outcomes.

The 2026 APEC agenda began taking shape in February, when senior officials and delegates from the 21 member economies met in Guangzhou for the first Senior Officials' Meeting and related events, officially kicking off the "China Year."

The meetings covered about 60 sessions on issues ranging from digital transformation and services competitiveness to investment, supply chains and customs modernization.

Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi, speaking at the opening, identified openness, innovation and cooperation as the three priorities for the year, calling for work toward a substantive outcome document at the leaders' meeting and greater progress in areas including trade and investment, connectivity, digital economy and inclusive development.

The agenda then shifted toward implementation in May, when the second Senior Officials' Meeting was held in Shanghai and the APEC Ministers Responsible for Trade Meeting in nearby Suzhou. Against a backdrop of trade uncertainty and changing supply chains, officials discussed regional economic integration, trade facilitation, supply chain resilience and digital trade.

The Suzhou meeting produced a joint statement in which representatives reaffirmed support for advancing the long-term vision of a free trade area of the Asia-Pacific while also stressing the importance of the multilateral trading system and digital economy cooperation.

Other strands of the APEC agenda have since moved into more specialized areas. Meetings on finance, tourism, connectivity, digital development and other sectors have sought to translate broad political commitments into technical cooperation, with economic and technical cooperation focusing on areas such as digitalization, skills, energy, healthcare and inclusive growth.

Artificial intelligence has emerged as a particularly prominent part of that work. APEC Digital Weeks in Chengdu in July brought together officials, businesses and experts for discussions on AI, data, digital connectivity and digital inclusion. The Digital and AI Ministerial Meeting issued a joint statement, while a high-level AI forum called for deeper exchanges and cooperation on the development and application of AI.

That progression gives the final 100 days a different character from the opening months of the host year. The challenge is no longer simply to identify areas of common interest, but to narrow differences, consolidate proposals and produce outcomes that can command consensus among economies with diverse interests and levels of development.

Wang said in March that China's central task as host was to translate the goal of building an Asia-Pacific community into action, with the Shenzhen meeting expected to produce broad consensus, clear priorities and workable steps.

For the remaining months, that means pushing forward cooperation on trade and investment, connectivity, innovation and development while deepening work on the digital economy and AI. It also means maintaining momentum across the various APEC working groups and ministerial mechanisms so that their results can feed into the leaders' discussions.

The 33rd APEC Economic Leaders' Meeting will be held in Shenzhen in November, concluding a year of meetings across several Chinese cities. The outcome will provide a test of whether a wide-ranging agenda can be turned into a set of practical areas of cooperation at a time when the Asia-Pacific economy faces trade frictions, technological change and wider uncertainty.

Global ocean surface temperatures reached a record high for July as developing El Nino conditions helped drive exceptionally warm waters across the tropical Pacific, the European Union's Copernicus Climate Change Service (C3S) said on Monday.

The average sea surface temperature across the extra-polar oceans, between 60 degrees south and 60 degrees north latitude, reached 20.96 degrees Celsius last month, beating the previous July record of 20.89 degrees Celsius set in 2023, the C3S said.

Sea temperatures were exceptionally high across a large part of the tropical Pacific, where El Nino conditions are present and forecast to strengthen in the coming months.

Waters around Europe were also unusually warm, with record July sea surface temperatures along the Atlantic and western Mediterranean, where widespread strong or severe marine heat waves developed, the C3S said.

Globally, July was the joint second warmest July on record, tied with 2024 and behind 2023. The average surface air temperature was 16.90 degrees Celsius, or 1.47 degrees Celsius above the estimated pre-industrial average for the 1850-1900 period.

Western Europe, meanwhile, experienced its hottest June-July period on record after enduring a succession of heat waves since May, according to the C3S.

The region's average temperature over the two months was 21.62 degrees Celsius, 2.79 degrees Celsius above the 1991-2020 average and above the previous record set in 2022.

"July 2026 was the third consecutive month of exceptional heat in western Europe," said Samantha Burgess, strategic lead for climate at the European Centre for Medium-Range Weather Forecasts.

Persistent high-pressure systems trapped heat over the region, while dry soils reduced natural cooling and allowed temperatures to rise further, she said.

Dry conditions in May and June also persisted and intensified across much of western and central Europe in July. France, Spain, parts of Germany and Britain reported exceptionally low rainfall or soil moisture.

River flows fell well below average across much of the dry regions, with the Seine, Rhine and Danube particularly affected, putting pressure on water supplies, irrigation, river transport, ecosystems and energy production.

The combination of persistent heat and drought also contributed to exceptional wildfire activity across western Europe in terms of both burned area and emissions, C3S said.

"Climate change is increasingly bringing the kinds of hot and dry conditions that favour large, high-intensity wildfires in southern Europe while extending the fire season northwards," said Laurence Rouil, director of the Copernicus Atmosphere Monitoring Service.

Larger fires can send smoke higher into the atmosphere, allowing it to travel further and affect air quality thousands of kilometers away, Rouil said.

Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan said on Saturday that the newly signed Makkah Joint Defense Agreement does not target Iran, clarifying that the deal is defensive in nature and aimed at protecting signatories from external "attacks."

In an interview with Türkiye's Anadolu Agency, Fidan said "there is no common threat that we have put in writing," adding that the deal does not target any country that does not attack its signatories.

"Iran is not in the crosshairs of this agreement," he said.

A day after Saudi Arabia, Türkiye and Pakistan signed the trilateral defense agreement, Ebrahim Azizi, head of the Iranian Parliament's National Security and Foreign Policy Commission, warned that any "miscalculation" against Iran would be met with a response.

Fidan noted that preparations for the deal had been underway for nearly two years and eight months, involving signatories and other regional countries.

Several countries have shown interest in joining the deal, voicing confidence that Egypt, said Fidan, which he called a "natural partner," will "be among us in the next stage."

He said the deal is "technically similar to NATO's Article 5 on collective defense, allowing members to benefit from each other's protective support."

A country under attack will need to make a request for assistance and determine the type of support needed, ranging from intelligence and logistics to ammunition or military units, depending on the scale of the threat, he said.

The alliance will have a political and military committee comprising foreign and defense ministers and chiefs of general staff, with a secretariat in Saudi Arabia overseeing implementation, he said.

The deal, signed on Friday by Saudi Arabia, Türkiye and Pakistan in the Saudi city of Makkah, stipulates that any armed attack against one of the three countries will be considered an attack against them all.

The timing of the signing has been widely seen as inseparable from the heightened geopolitical tensions in the Middle East.

(With input from Xinhua)

China's Kuaishou Gaming (KSG) won the Honor of Kings World Cup at the Esports World Cup 2026 in Paris, France, on Saturday, defeating fellow Chinese team AG.AL 4-3 in a seven-game final. The victory marks KSG's first international title.

The Honor of Kings competition began on July 30, with 20 clubs taking part. Both KSG and AG.AL advanced to the final without dropping a single game in the group and knockout stages.

The two teams have faced each other several times in previous competitions, with both sides recording wins. AG.AL, however, had generally held the upper hand.

The best-of-seven final got off to a fast start, with KSG taking the opening game. AG.AL responded with a narrow win in the second game to level the series, but KSG quickly adjusted its strategy and regained the lead by winning the third.

AG.AL then found its rhythm and won the next two games in a row to move within one game of the title at 3-2. Facing elimination, KSG fought back in the sixth game with targeted attacks that effectively contained AG.AL's offense. AG.AL made a late push to turn the game around, but KSG held on to force a decisive seventh game.

The Esports World Cup 2026 opened in Paris on July 6 and will run through August 23. This year's Esports World Cup is the first edition to be held outside Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.

The event features more than 2,000 professional players and over 200 clubs from more than 100 countries and regions, competing across 25 tournaments and 24 games for a record prize pool of more than $75 million.

(Cover: Kuaishou Gaming (KSG) wins the Honor of Kings World Cup at the Esports World Cup in Paris, France, August 8, 2026. /Esports World Cup)

The body that oversees the International Criminal Court (ICC) has urged Chad and Venezuela to reconsider their decisions to withdraw from the court, warning that their departures could undermine global efforts to fight impunity.

In a statement issued on Friday from The Hague, the Assembly of States Parties said it viewed the withdrawal announcements "with concern" and called on both countries to remain members of the court. The assembly encouraged them to address any concerns through dialogue within the ICC system rather than leaving the institution.

The appeal comes as the court faces its most significant wave of withdrawal announcements since it was established in 2002. Five countries have said they intend to leave the ICC since last year, amid renewed international pressure on the tribunal.

Chad announced its withdrawal on July 27, arguing that the court's record had been uneven and disproportionately focused on Africa. Officials noted that six of the seven suspects currently in ICC custody are linked to African cases.

Venezuela announced its withdrawal three days earlier. Foreign Minister Felix Plasencia told the United Nations that the decision, ordered by Interim President Delcy Rodríguez, was "firm and irrevocable" and accused the court of geographic bias against Africa and Latin America.

Under the Rome Statute, the ICC's founding treaty, a withdrawal takes effect one year after notification. 

A departing state remains bound by its obligations during that period, and existing investigations and proceedings can continue. 

The ICC's investigation into Venezuela is therefore expected to proceed regardless of the withdrawal announcement.

Chad and Venezuela join Burkina Faso, Mali and Niger, which announced plans to leave the court last year.

The ICC has also faced mounting pressure from the administration of US President Donald Trump, which has pledged a broad effort to curb the court's authority.

US officials have criticized the ICC over its arrest warrant for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in connection with alleged war crimes in Gaza, as well as the court's investigation into alleged crimes involving foreign forces, including US personnel, in Afghanistan.

(With input from wires)

China and Thailand on Monday issued a joint statement between the two countries' governments towards a China-Thailand community with a shared prosperous future.

Please see the attachment for the full text of the joint statement. 

Full text: Joint Statement between the Government of the People's Republic of China and the Government of the Kingdom of Thailand towards a China-Thailand Community with a Shared Prosperous Future

A reconciliation committee of the French parliament agreed on a bill on Monday to ban access to social media for ‌those under 15 years of age.

French President Emmanuel Macron has said he wants the ban to be in force by the start of the school year in early September. 

France would follow Australia, which enacted the ​world's first ban for under-16s on platforms including ​Meta Platforms' Facebook, Snap's Snapchat, Bytedance's TikTok and Alphabet's YouTube in December.

Macron has drummed up support for the ban in the European Union and elsewhere. European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen has recently ‌supported limiting children's access to social media in the 27-country bloc.

The reconciled text will be discussed on Tuesday in the Lower House and later in the Senate.

The information technology minister will establish a list of the social networks banned for children and teenagers younger than 15 years old.

Social media platforms will have to set up systems of age verification approved by the French privacy regulator.

The bill would also ban the use of smartphones in high schools.

The United States is imposing a tariff of 50% on a wide range of Canadian products in response to what it called Canada's "discriminatory treatment" of US cars, alcohol and dairy, ​according to the White House.

US President Donald Trump signed three proclamations to impose the tariffs ​under a nearly century-old trade law, Section 338 of the Tariff Act of ⁠1930, which allows for tariffs of up to 50% on imports from specific countries.

The ​products covered by the tariffs range from wine to hockey sticks to cement, according to a White ​House fact sheet. The new tariffs would also apply to a variety of other items including dairy products, swimming pools, furniture, fishing rods, seeds, clothing and wigs.

"While the administration continues to secure fair and reciprocal trade deals with our ​trading partners, Canada, unlike other partners and allies, continues to retaliate against the United States for ​its efforts to rebalance trade and protect US industry in national-security sensitive sectors," US Trade Representative Jamieson Greer said in ‌a ⁠statement.

The office of Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

The announcement comes just days after Trump blamed Canada for wildfire smoke spreading across the United States and threatened to add the "incalculable cost" of dealing with the pollution to existing tariffs on Canadian goods.

​The tariffs announced on ​Monday take effect on ⁠August 19 and apply regardless of whether goods qualify under the US-Mexico-Canada Agreement, though energy, potash, fish, critical minerals and products already covered by Section ​232 tariffs are exempt.

The White House cited Canada's "protectionist" dairy system as ​well as ⁠tariffs and quotas on cars imported to Canada from the US but not from other countries as among the reasons for the tariffs. It also cited the fact that most Canadian provinces have halted the ⁠sale of ​US alcohol, which they did in response to previous ​US tariffs.

The White House said Canadian imports of US motor vehicles dropped by 22% and imports of US alcoholic beverages ​declined by 81% over the past year.

A train attendant in the city of Hengyang in China’s Hunan Province saved a child from almost falling down the platform.

Watch this heroic act.

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The 2026 FIFA World Cup concluded after 104 matches across the United States, Canada, and Mexico, marking the first tournament with 48 teams and setting new attendance records. While the expanded competition delivered memorable matches and surprise performances, it was also overshadowed by off-field controversies. 

Visa restrictions affected some players, officials, and fans, while FIFA faced criticism over its decision to overturn the suspension of U.S. player Folarin Balogun after intervention from President Donald Trump. Rising ticket prices also drew complaints. 

Despite the challenges, nearly seven million fans attended the tournament, making it the best-attended FIFA World Cup in history. 
 

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Spain captured its second FIFA World Cup title after defeating defending champion Argentina in the 2026 final in MetLife Stadium. Fans from both nations arrived confident of victory, but Spain controlled the match from start to finish. 

Argentina failed to register a shot throughout regulation, and its challenge became even harder after Enzo Fernández was sent off late in the game. Ferran Torres scored the decisive goal in extra time, capping a tournament in which Spain’s defense conceded just one goal.

 The victory concludes an expanded World Cup featuring 48 teams, 104 matches, and record attendance

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United Nations member states gathered in New York to review progress on the Sustainable Development Goals, focusing on clean water and sanitation, affordable energy, industry and infrastructure, sustainable cities, and global partnerships. António Guterres warned that a financing gap exceeding $4 trillion annually is threatening progress toward the 2030 targets, with only a fraction of goals currently on track. 

China presented recommendations on behalf of the Group of Friends of the Global Development Initiative, calling for stronger international cooperation and greater support for developing countries. Member states concluded the forum by reaffirming their commitment to achieving the SDGs despite ongoing financial challenges. 

For more, check out our exclusive content on CGTN Now and subscribe to our weekly newsletter, The China Report.

As the World Artificial Intelligence Conference in Shanghai concludes on Monday, July 20, CGTN's Zhang Yingzhe spoke with Yangos Hadjiyannis, the chief experience director of Multimodal Media Lab in Vancouver, Canada about the importance of the conference and Chinese President Xi Jinping's speech.

As the World Cup frenzy ends, FIFA is continuing to honor its pledge to build 1,000 mini pitches for children around the world. The pledge was made by FIFA President Gianni Infantino in 2024 and so far 100 permanent mini pitches have been built. CGTN's Dan Williams spoke with FIFA Chief Member Associations Officer Elkhan Mammadov at a temporary mini pitch in New York City's Central Park.

Russian President Vladimir Putin signed a decree on Monday extending visa-free entry for Chinese citizens through December 31, 2027.

China announced in May that it would extend visa-free entry for Russian citizens through December 31, 2027, as part of efforts to facilitate people-to-people exchanges between the two countries.

Chinese Premier Li Qiang on Monday congratulated Andy Burnham on assuming office as British prime minister.

Li said that China and Britain are both permanent members of the United Nations Security Council and major economies in the world, adding that strengthening dialogue and cooperation between the two countries not only serves the development of both sides but also injects stability into global peace.

He expressed his readiness to work with Prime Minister Burnham to strengthen exchanges, enhance mutual trust, promote cooperation in various fields, and push forward the long-term, stable and comprehensive strategic partnership between China and Britain so as to better benefit the two countries and their peoples.

Hungary's Prime Minister Peter Magyar said on Sunday that he will meet chess grandmaster Judit Polgar on Monday to ask her to serve as the country's new president.

In his Facebook post, Magyar described Polgar as a figure "synonymous with talent and perseverance," adding that the country needs "unity, peace and a president of whom every Hungarian can be proud."

He said the presidency represents "the highest form of service" and that he would consider it an honor if Polgar accepted the nomination.

Born in Budapest in 1976, Polgar is a Hungarian chess grandmaster and a five-time Chess Olympiad champion.

Hungarian President Tamas Sulyok on Saturday signed the country's 17th constitutional amendment, triggering the end of his mandate as head of state.

A key suspect behind the kidnapping and murder of a Chinese citizen in the Philippines was repatriated to China from the United States on Monday, the Ministry of Public Security said.

According to the ministry and media reports, two individuals including a Chinese national surnamed Xia were lured to the Philippines in June 2024, where they were abducted and later killed by a criminal gang.

Investigation found that the suspect, surnamed Liu, was a major culprit in the case and had fled to the United States, the ministry said.

Chinese police worked closely with law enforcement agencies in the United States, the Philippines and the Republic of Korea throughout the investigation, which led to the issue of an Interpol Red Notice for Liu.

Chinese police also communicated with US law enforcement agencies and shared evidence with them on several occasions, in order for them to arrest and repatriate the suspect, according to the ministry.

Acting on information and evidence provided by the Chinese side, US law enforcement agencies arrested Liu in October 2024 before returning him to China on Monday, the ministry said.

The case represents the latest outcome of law enforcement cooperation between China and the United States in implementing the important consensus reached by the two heads of state, and another successful case for China and the United States to jointly crack down on cross-border crime, the ministry said. 

The United States and Iran continued exchanging strikes across the Middle East on Monday, with both sides expanding attacks on each other's targets in the region. As military confrontation intensified, Tehran said diplomatic channels remained active, confirming it had received proposals from mediators on a possible ceasefire and the resumption of negotiations.

The latest developments came as Iran and the United States traded accusations over a series of attacks, raising concerns that the confrontation could further spread across the region.

Iran says it received proposals from mediators

Iran has received proposals from mediators, Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmaeil Baghaei said on Monday.

Baghaei made the remarks at a weekly press conference in Tehran without giving details, when asked whether he could confirm reports about new proposals from Qatar for the revival of US-Iran negotiations and a 10-day ceasefire.

Baghaei stressed that Iran's diplomatic efforts remain active alongside its military responses to US attacks, while condemning recent US strikes against civilian infrastructure, including bridges and medical centers, as violating "people's rights to life, security and human dignity."

Regarding the peace memorandum of understanding signed with Washington on June 18, he said the agreement's "text is completely clear," and Washington has no pretext to breach its promises under it.

He said Tehran adhered to a "commitment for commitment" principle until Washington repeatedly violated its commitments, prompting Tehran to cease its own obligations.

On the Strait of Hormuz, he affirmed Iran's resolve to exercise its sovereignty over the waterway and prevent any "misuse" against its interests.

Washington and Tehran exchange attacks, deepening regional tensions

Despite the reported diplomatic moves through mediators, military actions between the two sides continued to escalate.

Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) said on Monday that its forces had launched missile and drone strikes earlier in the day against US assets and facilities in Jordan and Kuwait in retaliation.

In statements published on its official news outlet Sepah News, the IRGC said it struck with ballistic missiles the US Boeing C-17 Globemaster III and Boeing P-8 Poseidon aircraft at an airport in Jordan's port city of Aqaba, and heavily damaged a number of them.

It added its forces attacked with drones and destroyed an American early warning radar system in Kuwait, and targeted a warehouse of equipment and aircraft parts as well as a hangar of MQ-9 Reaper drones at the Ali Al Salem Air Base, setting on fire a number of the unmanned aerial vehicles.

The IRGC said the attacks were in retaliation for the US frequent aggressions against Iran's territory.

In a post on social media platform X early Monday, US Central Command (CENTCOM) said its forces had "successfully completed the ninth consecutive evening of strikes against Iran."

It added, "CENTCOM assets targeted Iranian military command centers, air defense and coastal surveillance sites, maritime capabilities, missile and drone launch sites, and communications networks to further diminish Iran's ability to attack commercial vessels and civilian mariners transiting the Strait of Hormuz."

In another statement released early Monday, the IRGC reiterated its warning that as long as the United States continues its "malicious actions" in the West Asia region, the Strait of Hormuz will not be safe for the shipment of oil, gas and chemical fertilizers.

As the confrontation deepened, Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian also adopted increasingly strong rhetoric to describe the state of relations with Washington, saying his country is in "full-scale war" with US.

Regional countries voice concerns as conflict risks spreading

As the exchanges of strikes intensified, the widening conflict has raised concerns among countries across the region over the risk of further escalation.

The General Command of the Bahrain Defense Force said on Monday that its air defense systems intercepted and destroyed multiple Iranian aerial attacks against the kingdom.

In a statement, the General Command urged the public to exercise caution, avoid approaching any unfamiliar or suspicious objects left from the attacks' remnants, and report them immediately.

It condemned what it called Iran's "systematic hostile approach," saying the "deliberate use of missiles and drones to target civilians and private property" violates international humanitarian law.

Meanwhile, an Iraqi armed group warned that any further escalation could trigger a broader confrontation involving US interests across the Middle East.

The group warned it would directly engage in military action against US targets if Washington "expands its aggression against Iran."

The Islamic Resistance in Iraq, an umbrella group for pro-Iranian militias, said it would target all US "interests and bases" in Iraq and the wider region with "full force and determination" in the event of an escalation.

The group also noted it did not carry out any attacks against US bases in Iraq and the region during the past few days.

CENTCOM confirmed on Sunday that a US service member was killed and another wounded in action in northern Iraq during a controlled detonation of unexploded ordnance from a downed Iranian one-way attack drone on Saturday.

(With input from Xinhua)

Morocco plans to expand its hotel capacity by 60,000 beds, equal to about a fifth of its current total, by the time the country co-hosts the 2030 World Cup, its tourism minister said.

The North African country is taking advantage of the publicity it received from its quarter-final run in the 2026 FIFA World Cup in addition to becoming the first African and Arab side to reach the semi-finals in Qatar four years ago.

Officials want to leverage the renewed attention into lasting gains for the country's tourism industry, which employs hundreds of thousands of Moroccans and contributes about 7% of gross domestic product.

"We see the 2030 FIFA World Cup as an accelerator, not an end in itself," Tourism Minister Fatim-Zahra Ammor told the media.

The government is investing more than 190 billion dirhams (about $20 billion) to build and expand rail, road, airports, stadiums and other urban infrastructure ahead of the 2030 tournament, where Morocco is one of three main co-hosts with Portugal and Spain.

The number of matches each of them will host has yet to be decided.

Morocco has already added 45,000 hotel beds over the past four years, bringing the current total to a little over 300,000, official data shows.

The North African country welcomed nearly 20 million tourists last year, making it the most visited destination in Africa. It aims to attract 26 million visitors by 2030.

Morocco's central bank expects tourism revenue to reach a record 161 billion dirhams ($17.14 billion) in 2027, from 138 billion dirhams ($14.78 billion) in 2025. More air routes from Europe have also boosted the sector.

The country is also seeking to diversify tourism beyond traditional destinations such as Marrakech and Agadir.

This includes making the capital Rabat – with its centuries-old monuments, museums and sports facilities – a hub for cultural events, sports events and business travel, Ammor said.

"We need to make investments that create lasting value for Moroccan tourism," she said.

(With input from Reuters)

Senegalese President Bassirou Diomaye Faye has assumed the chairmanship of the Authority of Heads of State and Government of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) for a one-year term.

Faye was elected chairman at the 69th Ordinary Session of the ECOWAS Authority of Heads of State and Government, held on Sunday in Freetown, the capital of Sierra Leone, succeeding Sierra Leonean President Julius Maada Bio, who previously held the rotating position.

According to the Senegalese presidency, Faye described the regional economy as "resilient but still vulnerable" and West Africa as "a region weakened by terrorism," underscoring the need for institutional reform.

He urged the bloc to operationalize its regional counter-terrorism force, pool resources, strengthen its financial autonomy, and better protect communities affected by insecurity.

The one-day summit focused on the future of regional integration, the political and security situation in West Africa, institutional reform, and the financial sustainability of the regional bloc.

Birame Diop, Senegal's former minister of the armed forces and former chief of the general staff of the Senegalese armed forces, was also appointed as president of the ECOWAS Commission for the 2026-2030 term.

Diop will assume office on September 1 at the ECOWAS Commission headquarters in Abuja, Nigeria.

On July 17, a freight train bound for Poland departed from Alataw Pass in Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, marking the 10,000th China-Europe Railway Express service to transit through the twin ports of Alataw and Khorgos in Xinjiang in 2026.

"Smart customs" and 24/7 border services have reduced clearance for exported goods to one hour (down from six) and for imported goods to under 16 hours (from two-three days), while border checks are reduced to under 20 minutes. Over 50 trains –  carrying over 200 types of goods – run daily across more than 220 routes to 21 countries and regions.

As the industry moves from large language models to real-world deployment, the conversation at the World Artificial Intelligence Conference (WAIC) in Shanghai has turned to what lies beneath: computing infrastructure, operating systems and security.

CGTN spoke with the representatives from three companies across the AI stack, who offer a glimpse of China's AI ecosystem in the making.

Hygon Information Technology builds the computing foundation. Its Sugon 8000 all‑domestic AI supercluster, unveiled at the conference, combines the company's general‑purpose CPU with its DCU accelerator. 

"China's intelligent computing industry has reached a turning point – moving from 'usable' to becoming scalable," said Zeng Chao, vice president of Hygon. 

STEPX is redefining how agents run. The company's STEPX Neo, the first large‑model‑native agentic phone, runs on Step AOS – an operating system rebuilt from the ground up for AI agents. 

"The Agent era is one of human‑machine symbiosis," said a technical expert at STEPX who preferred to be named Michael. "In the past, people operated devices. Now, people express intent, and agents complete complex tasks." 

STEPX has partnered with Meituan, Alipay and Didi, using A2A protocols to deliver its agent services. 

Fisherman Info focuses on the security layer. 

"AI agents operate across applications and devices, which demands system‑level guarantees for data sovereignty, privacy and traceability," said Guo Jingyu, CEO of Fisherman Info. 

The company provides full‑lifecycle data protection and compliance solutions, ensuring that every layer from chips to applications is auditable and controllable.

Chinese Premier Li Qiang held talks with Prime Minister of the Kingdom of Thailand Anutin Charnvirakul in Beijing on Monday.

Noting China and Thailand are close neighbors with a long history of friendly exchanges, Li said that under the strategic guidance of the leaders of the two countries, the building of China-Thailand community with a shared future is constantly deepening and solidifying, opening up broader prospects for bilateral cooperation.

Li said China is willing to further carry forward traditional friendship with Thailand, consolidate political mutual trust, strengthen mutual support, promote mutually beneficial cooperation in various fields to a higher level, and continuously enhance the well-being of the two peoples.

China stands ready to strengthen the synergy of development strategies with Thailand, pursue high-quality Belt and Road cooperation, maintain sound growth momentum of bilateral trade, expand cooperation in emerging fields, and work together to promote common prosperity, Li added.

He expressed the hope that Thailand will provide a sound business environment for Chinese enterprises, adding that the two sides should further strengthen cooperation in law enforcement and security.

Anutin, who is on his first official visit to China, said that the two heads of states' meeting last year has injected new impetus into bilateral relations, adding that Thailand is willing to maintain close high-level exchanges with China, make good use of dialogue mechanisms, promote cooperation in a variety of fields, and strive for more practical achievements in bilateral partnership.

Thailand firmly adheres to the one-China policy and will never support any act of "Taiwan independence," Anutin said. He also noted that Thailand will intensify its efforts to crack down on cross-border crimes, and create a safe and sound environment for Chinese tourists and enterprises.

Thailand welcomes the four major global initiatives proposed by China and is willing to enhance communication and coordination with China on multilateral platforms, he said.

After their talks, the two leaders witnessed the signing of documents concerning cooperation in areas including trade, science and technology, artificial intelligence education, aerospace and media.

The China Coast Guard (CCG) on Monday stated that the Philippine side has distorted facts and falsely accused China after Philippine personnel maliciously attacked Chinese law enforcement personnel in waters near Ren'ai Jiao.

According to a CCG statement, the incident occurred at around 9 a.m. on Monday, when a small CCG patrol boat was conducting a routine patrol in waters near China's Ren'ai Jiao. A Philippine vessel illegally grounded at Ren'ai Jiao released two rubber boats, which approached the Chinese vessel at high speed in a dangerous manner.

The statement pointed out that, ignoring multiple clear warnings from the Chinese side, the Philippine rubber boats approached the Chinese patrol vessel in a dangerous manner and went on to encircle and ram it. During the incident, Philippine personnel were the first to maliciously attack Chinese law enforcement personnel with paddles, long poles and other tools.

The Chinese side took measures to stabilize the situation on site in accordance with the law and regulations, including issuing verbal warnings, maneuvering to avoid the collision and taking reciprocal countermeasures, while exercising maximum rationality and restraint, the statement read.

The CCG stressed that the Philippine side's attempt to falsely accuse China completely reverses right and wrong, urging the Philippines to immediately cease its infringement, provocation and false publicity.

The CCG will continue to carry out rights-protection and law enforcement activities in accordance with the law in China's Nansha Qundao (the Nansha Islands), including Ren'ai Jiao, and their adjacent waters, and resolutely safeguard national territorial sovereignty and maritime rights and interests, the statement added.

Public support for Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi's cabinet dropped sharply by 10 percentage points from June to 41%, falling below the disapproval rate, which climbed to 44%, a nationwide opinion poll by Mainichi Shimbun showed on Sunday.

According to the poll conducted on Saturday and Sunday, the approval rating for the Takaichi cabinet declined from 51% in the June 20-21 survey to 41%, marking the first time it has fallen below 50% in the Mainichi Shimbun survey since the prime minister took office in October last year.

Meanwhile, the proportion of respondents who did not support the cabinet rose by 9 percentage points, from 35% to 44%.

This marks the second major Japanese media poll last week in which support for the Takaichi cabinet fell below 50%.

A separate poll released by Jiji Press last Thursday found the cabinet's approval rating at 49%, down 5.3 percentage points from the previous month.

China consistently observes the purposes and principles of the UN Charter and firmly supports the cause of the UN, said Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi on Monday.

Wang, also a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, made the remarks when meeting with Carolyn Rodrigues-Birkett, Guyana's permanent representative to the United Nations and a candidate for the next UN secretary-general, in Beijing.

Rodrigues-Birkett said that no matter how the situation may evolve, multilateralism is not optional, but imperative for the international community.

She expressed support for the United Nations General Assembly Resolution 2758 and said she will adhere to the one-China principle. She also hailed the four major global initiatives proposed by China and its efforts to advocate for the establishment of the World Artificial Intelligence Cooperation Organization.

Rodrigues-Birkett said she will continue to push for the reform of the UN to make it more agile and efficient, to uphold fairness and justice and to place sustainable development at the center of the international agenda.

Wang said all parties expect the next secretary-general to lead the UN in confronting difficulties and challenges, and to play the role due to the position in the cause of international peace and development.

"The UN is not perfect, but without the UN, the world will be worse," he said.

Noting this year marks the 55th anniversary of the restoration of the lawful seat of the People's Republic of China at the UN, Wang said no matter how the international situation may change, China has always been and will continue to be a builder of world peace, a contributor to global development and a defender of international order.

He said China will take part in the selection of the next UN secretary-general in a responsible and constructive manner, and supports the selection of a secretary-general who will uphold the UN Charter, demonstrate outstanding competence, act with fairness and integrity and shoulder responsibilities with commitment, in accordance with the UN Charter.

US forces completed a ninth consecutive night of strikes against Iran, the US Central Command (CENTCOM) said late Sunday.

"CENTCOM assets targeted Iranian military command centers, air defense and coastal surveillance sites, maritime capabilities, missile and drone launch sites, and communications networks to further diminish Iran's ability to attack commercial vessels and civilian mariners transiting the Strait of Hormuz," it said on social media platform X.

Iran launched a new wave of missiles from the western province of Lorestan toward "enemy targets," the official news agency IRNA reported on Monday.

The semi-official Fars news agency reported on the same day that several explosions were heard in southern Iran's Hormozgan and Bushehr.

The Sudanese government has rejected US sanctions imposed over allegations that its army used chemical weapons in the conflict with the Rapid Support Forces (RSF), describing the measures as unilateral and illegal.

In a statement, Sudan's Foreign Ministry urged the United States to follow established international legal procedures and honor its bilateral obligations by presenting any evidence supporting the allegations.

The ministry accused Washington of bypassing recognized international mechanisms and undermining international legitimacy by imposing what it called unlawful measures based on "false claims" against the Sudanese Armed Forces.

The government reiterated its longstanding denial of the chemical weapons allegations, saying they are baseless and rely on anonymous media sources.

The United States announced on July 17 that additional sanctions over the allegations would take effect on Monday, July 20, 2026.

The sanctions include economic, financial and trade restrictions, requiring the US to oppose international loans as well as financial and technical assistance to Sudan, while exempting core food assistance and urgent humanitarian aid.

The US administration has said the Sudanese government failed to comply with the requirements of the Chemical and Biological Weapons Control and Warfare Elimination Act within the three-month deadline.

With input from wires

Britain's new Prime Minister Andy Burnham ⁠said on Monday the country needs to regain stability and pledged to set out new measures this week ‌to help tackle the cost of ‌living before setting out a ‌new 10-year plan for the country later ‌this year.

"Britain needs to show the world that we can regain our stability once again," ⁠Burnham ‌said during his speech outside No. 10 Downing Street after he was officially appointed as prime minister.

"We have not been good enough, and we need ‌to be better," he said. Promising Britons "some breathing space ​now," he said the government would set out some measures to tackle the high cost of living and how it plans to fund them.

"We will help ⁠more young people ⁠into work by changing the education ​system and giving ​them more support, more ‌mental health support, and we will ‌build more council homes," he said.

Burnham officially became Britain's new prime minister on Monday after a meeting with King Charles III at Buckingham Palace, who invited him to form a government.

Burnham pledged ⁠to use his premiership as a "circuit-breaker for Britain," arguing that a new model was needed to rebuild the country, which has been in political turmoil since voting in 2016 to leave the European Union.

Burnham promises 10-year plan, but not for several months

Just over an hour after his predecessor and Labor colleague Keir Starmer made his farewell speech to say "My work is done," the 56-year-old former Greater Manchester mayor entered Downing Street, where he said his team would tackle his ​first priority: to end rough sleeping.

The major challenges will then lie ahead.

After unveiling his cabinet, which had become the subject of much debate in the Labor Party, he must then tackle a long list of problems, ranging from high levels of illegal immigration to underperforming utility firms.

A key first decision was Burnham's choice of John Healey as finance minister after Rachel Reeves became one of several Starmer allies to leave the cabinet. Friction in this axis of government has brought down previous administrations.

Healey, 66, resigned from Starmer's government last month ​after accusing him of failing to invest enough money in its military and leaving the country "well short" of what it needed to protect itself in a dangerous world.

Labor lawmakers welcomed the move, saying it would signal to US President ​Donald Trump and NATO that Britain was serious about funding defense, and that keeping Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood in her role would mean she could press on with her reforms to try to control illegal immigration.

Energy secretary and former Labor leader Ed ‌Miliband, who had ⁠once been considered a front-runner to become finance minister, was appointed foreign secretary.

Breaking with politics of the past

The departures of several Starmer allies signaled Burnham's intent to break with what he describes as the politics of the past, and usher in a new more agile cabinet to deliver on policy more quickly and more boldly.

After being ousted by his own lawmakers a month ago, Starmer stepped aside earlier in the day saying his work as prime minister was "the privilege of my life" and that he wished Burnham every success, with "my full support."

Burnham did not refer to Starmer in his speech, instead focusing on how he will bring change. But he acknowledged that some of his program would take ​time.

In his short address, thin on policy detail, Burnham said ​he would release a long-term plan for the ⁠next decade within months and repeated his pledge to build more public housing and to help bring down welfare spending to fund higher defense investment. Opposition parties suggested he would need to win a national election to get a mandate to implement it.

But he promised to unveil more immediate measures on Tuesday to ease everyday pressures on Britons, ​and explain how he will pay for them.

Speaking to reporters later on Monday, Burnham said he was finalizing the details of those measures which he described as "things that people ​will feel and feel quite ⁠quickly."

Underlining the sensitivity of Burnham's plans to the financial markets, sterling slipped and British borrowing costs rose on his comment that he would stick to the previous government's fiscal rules although he would look to use any flexibility within them.

'King of the north'

Dubbed 'King of the North' for his dogged defense of the Manchester region's interests, Burnham received messages of congratulation from foreign leaders, including European leaders who called for closer ties.

His first phone call was with Trump, when Burnham suggested a visit to Manchester.

"The ⁠prime minister also ​underlined his commitment to defense and security," a Downing Street spokesperson said in a statement, adding that Burnham had outlined Britain's commitment to ​securing the movement of shipping in the Strait of Hormuz.

Yet initially, Burnham's focus is very much on domestic issues.

Labor lawmakers see Burnham as one of the few figures capable of tackling the threat from veteran Brexit campaigner Nigel Farage's populist Reform UK – something they doubted the unpopular Starmer could do.

"Let ​us make this the moment when Britain starts to believe again," he said. "The moment we bring back hope."

(With input from Reuters)

With 48 teams and 1,248 players competing across 104 games, football legends and rising stars delivered an unforgettable summer. 

The 2026 FIFA World Cup came to a thrilling end with Ferran Torres scoring the winner in extra time as Spain edged Argentina 1-0 in the final to lift the trophy.

Held from June 11 to July 19, the tournament was jointly hosted by the United States, Canada and Mexico and was the first edition to feature 48 teams. 

The graphics below explore the tournament through the lens of games, players and goals.

Teams

Players

Goals

Data editor: Chen Rong

Designer: Zhu Shangfan

Copy editor: Bhargab Sarmah

Andy Burnham officially became Britain's new prime minister on Monday after years of political experience shaped both in Westminster and as mayor of Greater Manchester.

After nine years as a popular mayor of Manchester and earning the moniker "King of the North," Burnham has brought his own priorities and values to the national stage – a vision of expanding nationwide what has been achieved in the northwestern English city.

His political approach has focused on decentralizing power, strengthening regions and creating a more balanced economy across Britain.

From Westminster insider to 'King of the North'

As Burnham began his premiership, he has started to shrug off the joke that framed his early career in Westminster: "A Blairite, a Brownite and a Corbynite walk into a pub. 'What would you like, Andy?' asks the barman."

The 56-year-old first entered Parliament in 2001 and later served in senior government roles, including as Secretary of State for Health, representing different strands within the Labour Party before leaving Westminster in 2017.

But it was his move to local government that reshaped his political identity.

After becoming the first elected mayor of Greater Manchester in 2017, Burnham spent nine years leading the city region and earned the nickname "King of the North." His focus on improving transport links, expanding urban housing, investing in new industries and knowledge-based growth became the blueprint for his national agenda.

Greater Manchester was an early beneficiary of devolution, gaining greater powers and resources from the central government. During Burnham's tenure, the region attracted investment and partnerships with private companies, while Manchester's GDP expanded by about 3.1% annually on average in recent years, around twice the rate of the UK over the same period.

His approach, often described as "Manchesterism" or "Burnhamism" and labeled "business-friendly socialism," is built around the idea that Britain's highly centralized system should give more power to local and regional governments to drive growth more fairly and efficiently.

In outlining his agenda for government, Burnham has pledged to "rewire" the state, with plans including decentralizing power, taking key services into public ownership, creating more training and job opportunities for young people and building more social housing.

'Making everyday life easier'

Alongside his long-term plans for economic reform, Burnham has said his government's top priority is to tackle the cost of living and make everyday life easier for people.

The phrase has become one of the newer themes in his political messaging, reflecting his focus on easing the pressures facing households, particularly on everyday costs.

Burnham has argued that government should not only pursue long-term growth but also help people feel immediate improvements in their living standards, including through stronger public services, greater economic security and support for communities facing financial pressures.

Hard power

Beyond Britain's shores, Burnham's views are largely unknown and untested, but he has linked national security with his domestic economic vision.

He has called for building "a Britain that is more resilient, confident and principled."

He says Britain must use defense and other sectors to reindustrialize, and "generate economic growth and create apprenticeships and jobs in communities that have seen opportunities drain away."

He also calls for "reducing foreign dependency, securing inward investment and building new industrial partnerships with allies" and strengthening ties with European countries.

"Reindustrialisation through defence – and other sectors – is critical for both our economic and national security, building resilience in all our places. It will be a core priority for me," he writes.

It is also notable that one of his closest advisers is Jim O'Neill, the economist who famously coined the term BRIC and has been a strong proponent of the localizing agenda Burnham has put at the core of his politics.

O'Neill has suggested that the UK needs to rely less on the United States and strengthen ties with developing economies. He added that Britain "should be open to increasing its trade with countries like China."

A national test

So what will Burnham do in office? On specifics, many questions remain.

But as he takes charge of the country, his ambition is clear: localize, take power from the center, give cities and regions the chance to become stronger economic cores, and in doing so make Britain a more equal and resilient country.

At the same time, his ability to deliver immediate improvements to people's everyday lives will be closely watched.

"Imagine" was a theme running through Burnham's keynote speech on his vision for the country – now his ideas are being tested on a much bigger scale.

Editor's note: Ankit Prasad is a biz commentator. The article reflects the author's views and not necessarily those of CGTN.

The greatest show on Earth concluded in dramatic fashion on Sunday in New Jersey with Spain emerging world champions against Argentina, but several time zones ahead, the watch party in China went on all night. In what has been the biggest World Cup by many metrics, most notably in terms of structure with its 48 teams, and with FIFA projecting tournament revenues in excess of $9 billion, one of the most astounding stats was to be found on the CMG live stream that this author was hooked on to for a majority of the 104 matches.

At the climax of the FIFA World Cup Final, the concurrent viewers counter read an incredible 90 million, with the comments-box moving so fast it was impossible to read. And that was just one of the many streams on offer, for a match that kicked off at 3 a.m. in Beijing time. The 2022 World Cup in Qatar had witnessed China account for almost half (49.8%) of all hours of viewing on digital and social platforms globally, as per FIFA. While this edition's numbers will be collated, evidence suggests Chinese football fans have put in their best effort to keep that record intact -- vouched for by the bleary eyes in offices and surge in football-related consumption on-ground and in the data. The interest is abundant, and this is despite factors being far from ideal.

Consumption levels up as China watches World Cup 2026

The last 6 weeks have flown by in a World Cup frenzy. As often happens when the showpiece event comes around every four years, it's not only the football devout who are watching. The World Cup transcends all manner of boundaries, the most obvious of which is nationality. There often is no real logic behind whom a fan decides to support. Ask any random group who they're cheering for and you're likely to get as many answers as there are people.

In the lead-up to the World Cup I had noticed pop-up stores selling merchandise of various teams crop up at heavy-footfall pedestrian centers. The interiors of some of Beijing's subway trains were also branded for the World Cup, with the cab floor painted to resemble a football pitch and larger-than-life cut-outs of some of the competing superstars emblazoned on the walls.

It's not even limited to watching. Clearly unsatisfied at just being spectators, many people took to the field to emulate their heroes. For the last month, this author has spent every Saturday evening at a futsal turf near the Temple of Heaven in Beijing. My teammates and opponents have been an assorted bunch of people of all ages and professions: a young lawyer who is a dashing winger, a middle-aged advertising executive with an eye for goal, a silver-haired businessman with a very accurate heading ability. There are often 18 people who join in to play on a pitch that is meant for 6 vs 6, so creative tournament formats have to be applied to ensure everyone gets enough game-time. And you have to confirm your presence for a Saturday session as early as Tuesday because there's a rush to book the court.

Beyond hobbyists, high-profile regional amateur leagues also took the spotlight. The Northeast Super League created a carnival atmosphere and was a superhit with the fans. Match tickets were also clubbed with entry to historic attractions and retail offers. A person going to watch a match in Shenyang could add a visit to Marshal Zhang's Mansion and the Shenyang Imperial Palace for no extra cost, making it a more rounded and leisurely tourist weekend.

Restaurants, pubs and theaters across the country also pulled out all the stops. Many had offers on food and drink, for fans to come over in the middle of the night to watch their teams on the big screen and have a great time, win or lose. For the final itself, for those who preferred to go out rather than the ubiquitous house-party barbecue with friends, several establishments advertised creative "free-flow" and extended happy-hour deals. Take a walk around town at any time, and a screen with either a live match or highlights would never be far.

Chinese tech & production delivers at World Cup 2026

Importantly, this time, the World Cup even transcended the realm of sports in a sense. If Qatar 2022 was the winter tournament of influencers, North America 2026 has been the tournament of technology. VAR has played a role in most matches, now aided by several sensor-based systems. 

Aileen Zhang, a senior executive at Lenovo, told CGTN in great detail during a live-stream how the Chinese company had implemented the automatic offside detection system. This included not just setting up the relevant infrastructure at all tournament venues, but also making millimeter-accurate avatars of each player at the World Cup. 1,263 players were photographed from 36 different angles in a herculean task which Aileen and her team clearly relished.

In general, from branding and sponsorship to specific partnerships and technology, Chinese firms were deeply embedded in the 2026 FIFA World Cup. Life-sized Labubu figures became the first Chinese IP to debut at a World Cup at the opening match, going viral on social media. Hisense screens were used by the match referees pitchside to consult the VAR. As per reports, Chinese firms contributed as much as 20% of FIFA's sponsorship income for World Cup 2026.

Outside the stadia, Chinese technology also played a role in enriching the fan experience during their commutes to-and-fro matches. Chinese-made EV buses as well as an urban light rail system provided safe and comfortable travel for local fans as well as visitors from around the world in Mexico's venues. 

And then there's the merchandise. Yiwu, the epicenter of football merchandise, pulled out all the stops for this edition. There was a 39% year-on-year increase in exports of sporting goods and equipment during the first two months of this year. If you purchased a football scarf, toy, wristband, jersey or any other licensed gear, there is a good chance it originated in Yiwu.

What this tells us: We've just scratched the surface

From the experience of the 39-day tournament, it becomes clear once again that the intersection of the World Cup and China's economy makes for very interesting analysis. There is overwhelming interest in absolute terms across different areas, which may shift up or down based on multiple factors. But it appears to be sticky and has critical mass. The elephant in the room, therefore, is -- what if all the factors were positive and the stars aligned? What if viewers not just in China but also elsewhere had even more reason to watch, engage, and consume when the World Cup comes around?

FIFA has made the right noises by suggesting the World Cup could be further expanded in coming editions. The jump from 32 to 48 teams was a success, with many World Cup debutants giving a good account of themselves and even achieving the odd memorable result. If anything, there is a sporting reason to go further, as the group stage of the 2026 edition had the lowest stakes and the least jeopardy in history, and that is a format issue that must be sorted.

The fact that FIFA is more openly and creatively embracing both inclusivity as well as football's commercial potential, via various reforms both on and off the pitch, underscores the need to continue to view the World Cup as a work-in-progress. Tournament participation and fan interest are a virtuous circle. To put it simply, four of the five most populous nations in the world didn't have teams playing in the 2026 World Cup, and yet, they may offer diehard fan bases with exciting potential. The question every football fan, sports administrator and economist must ask together is:

What if they do participate? 

...and then they must work out a solution.

Keir Starmer has formally resigned as British Prime Minister after a meeting with King Charles III at Buckingham Palace on Monday.

According to the established procedure, Starmer officially stepped down as prime minister after the king accepted his resignation.

Earlier in the day, Starmer delivered his farewell speech outside No. 10 Downing Street before heading to Buckingham Palace, marking the beginning of the political transition.

In his speech, Starmer said Britain was now "stronger and fairer," urged the country not to "succumb to that division," and wished Andy Burnham, who is set to be his successor, "every success," saying he had his "full support."

Starmer announced on June 22 that he would step down as leader of the Labour Party and remain in office as prime minister until his successor was chosen.

On July 17, the Labour Party announced that Andy Burnham had been elected as its new leader. Under the UK's parliamentary system, the leader of the party that commands a majority in the House of Commons automatically becomes prime minister, meaning no general election is required.

Starmer's resignation comes as Labour begins a new chapter under Burnham's leadership, with the new prime minister set to take charge of the government after receiving the king's appointment.

What if artificial intelligence (AI) could help scientists make discoveries never before imagined?

That's one of the themes at this year's World Artificial Intelligence Conference (WAIC) in Shanghai. It's called AI for Science. Simply put, it means using AI to accelerate scientific research.

And it's no longer just an idea. China's homegrown 3D scientific computer, Tianqiong, is already putting AI for Science into action. By combining AI with ultra-fast scientific computing, it helps researchers solve problems in days that once took months.

See, AI acts like a powerful research partner – analyzing massive amounts of data, identifying hidden patterns, and uncovering new possibilities that humans might otherwise overlook.

And the technology is evolving rapidly. At the conference, the Chinese Academy of Sciences unveiled ScienceOne Omni 2.0, an upgraded AI model built specifically for scientific research. Unlike general-purpose AI, it's designed to help scientists work across disciplines – from biology to materials science – with more accurate and reliable support. So why should you care?

Because some scientific questions are simply too complex for humans to solve alone. By uncovering hidden patterns and generating new ideas, AI could help us make breakthroughs faster – and even explore questions we didn't know how to ask before.

AI isn't just changing how we work. It's changing how we discover. And that's why AI for Science is becoming one of the most exciting frontiers of AI.

Music has a way of bringing people together. At Renmin University of China, young people from China, the United States and the United Kingdom gathered for a special choir exchange. They shared the stage, exchanged stories and connected through the power of music. Beyond the performance itself, this was a moment of cultural exchange, where different backgrounds met, friendships grew, and music became a bridge between young hearts.

Join CGTN reporter Wang Tao as he explores how a simple tune brought young people from different countries closer together. And the conversation doesn't end here. We want to hear from you: What does China look like in your eyes? Create a video and share China in your own way – through your talent, creativity, or personal stories. Post your video with #GenCoolChallenge and let the world see China from your perspective.

Iran finished the 2026 World Cup undefeated — but their biggest battle wasn't on the pitch. Visa bans. Overnight stay restrictions. Daily cross-border travel on match days. More than a dozen staff denied entry to the US. "It was as if two different World Cups were taking place," said Iran's technical coach.

West African leaders have signed an agreement approving the construction of a gas pipeline linking Nigeria to Morocco at a summit of regional bloc ECOWAS in Sierra Leone's capital Freetown.

The pipeline is designed to transport up to 30 billion cubic ​metres (bcm) of natural gas a year from Nigeria ​and west Africa through 13 West African countries ⁠to Morocco, according to a joint statement by ​Morocco’s hydrocarbons and mining agency ONHYM and Nigeria's state ​oil firm NNPC.

Of that capacity, 15 bcm a year will be made available to Moroccan and European markets through an existing ​pipeline that links Morocco to Spain, the statement said.

The next phase includes creating a "project company" based in Casablanca and a governing authority headquartered in Abuja before investors are brought on board and a final investment decision is taken.

Construction is expected to begin in 2028, with the first gas deliveries targeted for 2031, according to sources.

The project, first proposed during Moroccan King Mohammed VI's visit to Abuja in 2016, is estimated to cost around $27 billion.

China wrapped up the Japan Open with one title and one runner-up finish after Feng Yanzhe and Huang Dongping claimed the mixed doubles crown, while Jia Yifan and Zhang Shuxian narrowly missed out on the women's doubles trophy at the BWF World Tour Super 750 event in Tokyo on Sunday.

The top-seeded Feng and Huang defeated Tang Chun Man and Tse Ying Suet from China's Hong Kong SAR (Special Administrative Region) 21-14, 14-21, 21-15 in a gripping mixed doubles final.

The mainland duo took control early to grab the opening game, before Tang and Tse responded with an identical scoreline to force a decider. With the match finely balanced, Feng and Huang picked up the pace late in the third game to pull clear, earning China's only title at this event.

After their victory, Feng and Huang praised the opposing team's experience and ability to adapt throughout the match. They added that both pairs stayed fully focused in the deciding game, while limiting their own mistakes proved to be the key to gaining the upper hand.

China came within a point of lifting a second trophy in the women's doubles final. Jia and Zhang dominated Kim Hye-jeong and Kong Hee-yong 21-14 in the opening game, but the duo from the Republic of Korea responded 21-15 to level the contest. The deciding game turned into a marathon thriller, with neither side able to break away before Kim and Kong edged out a dramatic 30-29 finish to capture the title.

In other action, P.V. Sindhu swept past Japan's Akane Yamaguchi 21-17, 21-17 to become the first Indian to win the women's singles title at this event, while France's Christo Popov beat Japan's Koki Watanabe 21-11, 21-19 to clinch the men's singles crown.

Indonesia's Fajar Alfian and Muhammad Shohibul Fikri completed the list of champions after putting away the ROK's Kim Won-ho and Seo Seung-jae 21-19, 21-17 in the men's doubles final.

Spain are world champions once again after substitute Ferran Torres scored in the 106th minute to seal a hard-fought 1-0 victory over reigning titleholders Argentina in the 2026 FIFA World Cup final in East Rutherford, New Jersey, on Sunday. The triumph sealed the country's second men's title on international football's grandest stage, while also completing another historic chapter under coach Luis de la Fuente.

For long stretches, the title match showcased tactical discipline rather than attacking flair. Spain controlled possession and dictated the tempo, but struggled to turn that dominance into goals against an Argentina side which defended deep and limited spacing. The breakthrough finally arrived in extra time when Nico Williams headed Pedro Porro's pass into the path of Torres, who reacted quickest to fire in the winner.

Spain finished with 20 attempts, including 12 on target, while Argentina failed to register a shot for 115 minutes. The task became even more difficult for the defending champions after Enzo Fernandez was sent off for a second yellow card in second-half stoppage time, leaving the Albiceleste to play extra time with 10 men.

The contest briefly boiled over after the final whistle as tempers flared between players, but La Roja's celebrations quickly took center stage. Torres, whose introduction from the bench changed the game, dedicated the winning goal to the entire country.

"It was a goal scored by 47 million people – it wasn't even mine or from the 26 players," Torres said. "It was destined to happen; it was meant to be a winner."

The victory also marked another milestone for De la Fuente. At 65, he became the oldest coach to win the FIFA World Cup, adding the global title to the UEFA European Championship crown Spain claimed under his leadership in 2024. His men also extended their unbeaten run to 38 matches, the longest ever by a European or South American men's national team.

Spanish captain Rodri was named the tournament's Golden Ball winner after anchoring La Roja's midfield throughout their unbeaten campaign, while France forward Kylian Mbappe clinched the Golden Boot with 10 goals, becoming the first player to win the award at two FIFA World Cups.

"I'm so proud of this generation of footballers who have grown up with this philosophy, remained true to it, made it even better and set an example as a team and a family," De la Fuente noted. "Looking back and thinking about them, we've won everything, absolutely everything, with this generation of players."

As the 2026 World Artificial Intelligence Conference (WAIC) and High-Level Meeting on Global AI Governance concluded in Shanghai on Monday, one feature stood out: a striking surge in the presence of Global South nations.

One of the four-day conference's most concrete outcomes was the creation of the World Artificial Intelligence Cooperation Organization, the world's first intergovernmental international organization to cope with AI opportunities and challenges.

Within just one year of China's proposal, 29 founding members, spanning Asia, Africa, Latin America and Europe, signed the agreement on July 16 at a ceremony also attended by UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres.

The roster of signatories, including Kazakhstan, Laos, Pakistan, Russia, Indonesia as well as China, shared two commonalities: they have all integrated AI into their national development plans and they all belong to the Global South.

Why are developing nations turning to Beijing to navigate the frontier of AI development and governance? The consensus in Shanghai points to two compelling pillars: China's unique combination of "hard" technological strength and "soft" governance philosophy.

Action-oriented AI that helps bridge the gap

The first magnet drawing Global South partners is China's strength in action-oriented, people-centered AI technology, balancing innovation with on-the-ground delivery.

A prime example was the MAZU system, China's AI-powered meteorological early warning solution, an upgraded version of which was formally handed over to Djibouti at a meteorological sub-forum of WAIC. China has also announced that it will enable 30 countries to use the system in the next five years.

Ismail Nour, director-general of Djibouti National Meteorological Agency, hailed the system as a lifeline for his drought- and flood-prone semi-arid nation, crediting shared Chinese satellite data and AI computing power with safeguarding lives and underpinning economic development for his country during an interview with China Media Group (CMG).

Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev led a large delegation of telecom giants, AI startups, equipment makers and academics to WAIC, sealing over 70 commercial deals worth more than $15 billion with Chinese counterparts.

Designating 2026 the "Year of Digitalization and Artificial Intelligence," Tokayev said his country stands ready to pursue all-round cooperation with Chinese partners across a wide spectrum of areas, including investment, localized technology development, joint scientific research, talent cultivation and others.

He also voiced confidence that collaboration between Kazakhstan and China in artificial intelligence, digital infrastructure and high-performance computing will serve as the central pillar steering the next phase of their bilateral strategic partnership.

A UN report released earlier this month laid bare a structural imbalance: Cutting-edge AI capacity has nearly doubled since April 2024, with more than 1 billion people globally utilizing conversational AI tools each week, yet the Global South trails far behind advanced economies in AI access and adoption levels.

As part of efforts to address such gaps, China, a global leader in AI development, has pledged to provide developing countries with 5,000 opportunities in AI training and seminar programs in the next five years. It has also rolled out actionable frameworks, translating the Global AI Governance Initiative it first proposed in 2023 into concrete plans covering inclusive capacity building, cross-border coordination and ethical guardrails.

Shahbaz Khan, director and representative to the UNESCO Regional Office for East Asia, told CMG that China's commitment to providing 5,000 AI training slots is a profound move that empowers these nations to build their own AI data and application systems under open-source standards.

Public goods based on open-source principles

China has also renewed its pledge to the international community to consistently act as a provider of global public goods in AI sector during the conference.

Open-source technology stands out as a core keyword featured in nearly all outcome documents released at the event, representing a tangible Chinese initiative to advance worldwide AI sharing. According to Xinhua, China's open-source large AI models, whose source code, training and other data are publicly available, have been downloaded more than 10 billion times in total, topping all other countries worldwide.

Blade Nzimande, minister of science, technology and innovation of South Africa, told CMG that China has committed comprehensive supporting resources as his country is preparing to launch an AI center.

Rather than acting as a patronizing donor, China functions as an equal partner that leverages its technological strengths to deliver practical support, said Nzimande.

Zeng Yi, a professor at Renmin University of China, noted that since the central tenet of the UN 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development is leaving no one behind, open-source development will constitute an indispensable strategy for extending AI benefits to all populations.

From the outset, China has positioned AI as an empowering technology to advance the building of a community with a shared future for mankind, Zeng told CMG. He noted that China has promoted and amplified the value of open-source AI concepts on an unprecedented and far-reaching global scale.

Addressing the WAIC opening ceremony on July 17, Guterres praised China's contributions to global AI governance and hailed the open-source strategy of China as "an enormous global success."

Read more:

For humanity: China's AI philosophy garners broad international backing

World reacts: China's proposals bring new momentum to global AI governance

As the world marks International Moon Day on July 20, lunar exploration is gaining new momentum. Governments and space agencies are expanding scientific research, testing new technologies and strengthening international partnerships as they prepare for the next phase of exploring the Moon.

One of the most closely watched missions is China's Chang'e-7, scheduled for launch in the second half of 2026. The spacecraft and its Long March-5 carrier rocket have arrived at the Wenchang launch site, south China's Hainan Province, for final assembly and testing ahead of the mission.

Targeting the Moon's south pole, Chang'e-7 will conduct environmental and resource surveys, search for water ice in permanently shadowed craters, and demonstrate technologies such as precision landing and hopping exploration, which could support future lunar missions.

International cooperation has become an important feature of the mission. Chang'e-7 will carry six scientific payloads developed by partners from Egypt, Bahrain, Italy, Russia, Switzerland and Thailand, together with the International Lunar Observatory Association.

The mission is also expected to provide scientific and technological support for the future International Lunar Research Station, an initiative designed to advance long-term lunar research through global collaboration.

China's upcoming mission reflects a broader trend in lunar exploration. As more countries pursue scientific discovery and peaceful cooperation in space, the Moon is increasingly becoming a shared destination for expanding knowledge, developing new technologies and paving the way for humanity's deeper exploration of the solar system.

In southern China's island province of Hainan, futuristic innovations are moving from labs to reality in cutting-edge technology and affordable healthcare, backed by the Hainan Free Trade Port's preferential policies.

At Hainan University, Professor Huang Zhong's team has built a bionic fish that can swim 50 metres in under 20 seconds, beating the previous world record of 22.16 seconds.

Inspired by living organisms, robots like fish and snakes have the potential to work in extreme environments, from deep-sea exploration to radiation-prone industrial sites. 

Huang envisions brain-computer interfaces that could enable human-machine symbiosis, potentially assisting stroke patients or enabling remote deep-sea operations. He says his team also wants to leverage this platform, as the Free Trade Port offers an ideal testing ground for open-source data and marine robot facilities.

Meanwhile, a biotech firm based in the capital city of Haikou has localized a cartilage-regeneration therapy once deemed irreversible. This makes therapy affordable for ordinary patients by reducing costs.

The team turned bovine cartilage into a decellularized matrix and demonstrated that this material can effectively support cartilage cell growth.

Using this, the team has confirmed regrowth in over 60 patients, according to Zeng Sheng, founder of Susheng Biotech.

Zeng noted that the material, which costs roughly $1,000 (a little over 6,700 yuan) per gram overseas, is now available in Hainan for about $68 (460 yuan) per gram.

This price drop is partly thanks to waived import duties there and a 15% corporate tax rate, one of the lowest in the world.

International patients from the Middle East and Southeast Asia are already coming for treatment, he said.

A local pharmaceutical company in Hainan brought a chemotherapy-protection drug to market just 17 months after US approval, compared with the usual three to five years.

Local production slashed the price from $1,400 (close to 9,500 yuan) in the US to $68 (460 yuan) in China.

Yu Qingzhu, chairman of Simcere, said that in 2025 the company signed an intellectual property export deal worth $5 billion with a US firm, effectively using Hainan as its gateway to global markets.

From deep-sea biomimicry to cell regeneration and cross-border drug innovation, Hainan is proving that institutional reform and scientific research can work hand in hand – turning breakthroughs into accessible benefits for patients worldwide. The story here has only just begun.

Executive Producer: Zhang Jingwen

Producer: Yang Sha

Directors: Lu Wei, Zhong Xia

Virtual Art Director: Tan Lei

Copy Editors: Laurie Lew, Liao Dong 

Videographers: Chen Yizhe, Gao Shengwei, Chen Jiazheng

Cover Image Designer: Jia Jieqiong

Russia on Sunday launched strikes across 149 locations in Ukraine and claimed control of a residential settlement in the Dnipropetrovsk region, while Ukraine launched long-range attacks on fuel infrastructure inside Russia and on oil tankers in the Black Sea, marking the latest wave of tit-for-tat attacks between the two countries.

The Russian Defense Ministry said in its daily battlefield briefing that its forces had captured Vilne, a settlement located in Ukraine's eastern Dnipropetrovsk region.

Utilizing Oniks anti-ship missiles, air-launched cruise missiles and loitering munitions, Russian forces struck multiple key infrastructure sites, the ministry said. In addition to shore and port infrastructure, Russian forces used aircraft and drones to target several military vessels, according to Xinhua News Agency.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy confirmed long-range strikes against Russian domestic targets on Sunday.

The Security Service of Ukraine carried out attacks on three major oil depots in Russia's southern Stavropol region, while Ukrainian military forces struck another fuel facility in the same region, according to Zelenskyy.

He added that Ukrainian forces launched precision strikes that hit three Russian oil tankers operating in the Black Sea.

Earlier on Sunday, Ukrainian authorities reported a massive overnight missile assault by Russian forces, which fired more than 40 missiles of various types, with the majority directed at Kyiv, Ukraine's capital city.

The latest exchange of strikes underscores what analysts describe as an escalating pattern of mutual aerial offensives between Russia and Ukraine, in a conflict that began on February 24, 2022.

In recent weeks, Ukraine has significantly ramped up long-range attacks targeting Russia's crude oil and fuel infrastructure, seeking to cripple the country's energy logistics networks and undermine its military supply capabilities. In response, Russia has imposed a temporary ban on diesel exports effective until July 31 to stabilize domestic supplies.

Meanwhile, Russia has also intensified ballistic missile strikes on Kyiv and other major Ukrainian cities in recent weeks. The development comes as Ukraine grapples with a critical shortage of US-designed air defense systems, weakening its capability to intercept incoming missile and drone attacks.

Read more:

Trump suggests Russia ready for Ukraine peace deal as battlefield tensions escalate

(Cover: A Russian self-propelled multiple rocket launcher Uragan (Hurricane) is fired toward Ukrainian positions at an undisclosed location in Ukraine, July 18, 2026. /VCG)

The US fire authorities on July 18 raised the national wildfire preparedness level to Level 5, the highest on the country's five-tier scale, as dozens of large wildfires strained national firefighting resources.

The US National Interagency Coordination Center (NICC) listed 73 uncontained large fires nationwide, including 17 new incidents reported in the past day.

A total of 22 complex incident management teams and 17,683 firefighters and support personnel were assigned to active incidents, the NICC said in its latest national situation report.

The Northwest Geographic Area was at Preparedness Level 5 and accounted for 36 uncontained large fires, 13 of the country's 17 new large incidents and 10 committed incident management teams, the federal report said.

The region recorded 58 new fires during the past day and had 5,860 personnel assigned across 37 incidents, supported by 151 crews, 382 fire engines and 31 helicopters. The concentration of new fires made the Northwest the nation's most active wildfire region, it said.

In Oregon, the East Evans Creek Road fire threatened numerous structures and communications infrastructure, with evacuations and closure of roads, areas and trails in effect, authorities said. The Salmon and Olive Butte fires also threatened homes and critical infrastructure, while the Akawa Butte fire prompted evacuation orders as firefighters reported extreme fire behavior.

In Washington state, the Lyons Ferry fire threatened numerous structures and forced evacuations and closures.

The Rocky Mountain Geographic Area remained at Preparedness Level 4 with seven uncontained large fires, six of them in Colorado, according to the report. The Gold Mountain, Elk, Willow and Ferris fires threatened homes, other structures and infrastructure as firefighters continued suppression efforts.

In northern Minnesota, rainfall moderated fire activity, but federal authorities said homes, communications facilities and energy infrastructure remained under threat. The Bear Trap fire burned about 140 square km, while the Sioux fire burned about 44 square km and destroyed three structures.

The Little Knife fire, burning northeast of Grand Marais, crossed the international border from Canada into the United States, authorities said.

Four military C-130 aircraft equipped with the Modular Airborne Fire Fighting System continued supporting wildfire operations nationwide, the report said. Two aircraft were assigned to Klamath Falls, Oregon, and one each to San Bernardino and Santa Maria in California.

Wildfires have burned about 15,600 square km across the United States this year, about 33% above the 10-year average, according to the NICC. The fires have affected more than 20 states, with the heaviest activity concentrated in the Northwest, the Rocky Mountains, the Great Basin and parts of the Upper Midwest.

The National Interagency Fire Center Predictive Services forecast hot, dry and breezy conditions across the inland Northwest, northern California and the western Great Basin in the coming days. It also forecast a mix of wet and dry thunderstorms across parts of the Great Basin, Colorado, Wyoming and Montana.

The annual Aspen Security Forum has concluded in Colorado. Among the many foreign policy and national security issues discussed this week, artificial intelligence was a particular focus.

CGTN’s Hendrik Sybrandy reports from Aspen.

For more, check out our exclusive content on CGTN Now and subscribe to our weekly newsletter, The China Report.

The twin earthquakes that struck Venezuela on June 24 have so far led to over 5,000 deaths, and more than 800 buildings have been seriously damaged. Over 21,000 people are now living in temporary camps. 

In Caracas, many buildings are still considered unsafe. 

Stephen Gibbs is in Caracas speaking with residents affected.

For more, check out our exclusive content on CGTN Now and subscribe to our weekly newsletter, The China Report.

The FIFA World Cup Final takes place on Sunday, July 19.  

Spain faces Argentina for football’s most prestigious prize. 

The match takes place in New Jersey, just across the river from New York City, and even the experts are finding it difficult to predict a winner, as CGTN’s Dan Williams reports.

For more, check out our exclusive content on CGTN Now and subscribe to our weekly newsletter, The China Report.

The United States launched new strikes against Iran, US Central Command said, after it earlier announced that two US military personnel were killed in Jordan and another was ​missing following an Iranian attack.

Before the strikes on Saturday, Iran's supreme leader said Washington would pay for "seeking to escalate the conflict."

US Central Command said in a statement that the airstrikes began ‌at 6 p.m. ET (2200 GMT), at President Donald Trump's direction.

"The strikes are designed to further degrade Iran's ability to threaten commercial shipping in the Strait of Hormuz and swiftly punish Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps forces who launched attacks against American service members in Jordan last night," it said, without providing further details.

Iran's Mehr news agency said the US carried out an attack near Sirik in southern Iran, adding that no casualties or damage to infrastructure have been reported.

The US and Iran have intensified attacks since an interim ​ceasefire deal signed a month ago fell apart last week, raising the possibility of a return to all-out war.

US Central Command said the two deaths occurred on Friday and that a third US service ​member was missing in action. The announcement brought the number of US service members killed since the war began to 16, while more than 420 have been ⁠wounded.

US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth posted on X: "Their sacrifice only stiffens our resolve."

Iran appeared to target Saudi Arabia as well as other US Gulf allies and Jordan on Saturday after US attacks on Iranian bridges, power facilities ​and other infrastructure.

In a written statement carried by the official social media accounts of Iran's supreme leader and Iranian state media, Ayatollah Mojtaba Khamenei said US actions have shown that Trump's signature was "utterly worthless and ​devoid of credibility."

The statement warned of "even heavier costs and further humiliation" for the United States. The White House did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

Khamenei's whereabouts remain a mystery.

The conflict, which began when the US and Israel launched strikes on Iran at the end of February hoping to disable its missile program, has led to major disruption to energy supplies, fears over global inflation and a battle for control of the Strait of Hormuz.

Iranian strikes reported in Kuwait, Bahrain, Jodan, Saudi Arabia

On ​Saturday, Kuwait came under sustained attack, with the armed forces saying they had intercepted Iranian ballistic missiles and drones, and that some firefighters and oil sector workers had been injured while responding to the attacks.

Iran's IRGC ​said it had struck a US military support center at Kuwait's Camp Arifjan and destroyed a radar facility at Ali Al Salem Air Base. Kuwait Petroleum Corporation later said one of its oil facilities had been hit in "repeated Iranian attacks," causing ‌significant damage ⁠and some injuries, according to the state news agency.

The IRGC also targeted a site in Bahrain where US combat aircraft were gathered at Sheikh Isa Air Base and an intelligence data center, Iranian media said.

The Guards also destroyed at least two US fighter aircraft and three other aircraft during a missile and drone attack early on Saturday on the US base in Al Azraq, Jordan, according to Iranian state TV.

Reuters could not independently verify the reports.

Saudi Arabia's early warning system issued alerts early on Saturday urging residents of Al-Kharj and Yanbu to seek shelter. Al-Kharj, east of Riyadh, is home to a military base that hosts US troops, while Yanbu, on the Red Sea, ​has a key oil export terminal.

Two people briefed on ​the matter said an Iranian missile attack, the ⁠first on Saudi Arabia in more than three months, had triggered the alerts. The government media office did not respond to a request for comment.

The IRGC made no mention of any attack on Saudi Arabia.

The US State Department issued a worldwide travel alert for Americans abroad on Saturday, citing heightened tensions in the Middle East "with the ​potential for unforeseen escalation." The advisory said flight cancellations and periodic airspace closures could disrupt travel.

Earlier, US Central Command said it had ​hit Iranian surveillance sites, military ⁠logistics infrastructure, underground weapons storage and maritime capabilities.

US air strikes early on Saturday killed three people and wounded eight others in the southern Hormozgan Province, which borders the Strait of Hormuz, while two bridges and a road tunnel were damaged, Iranian state TV reported.

Iran's Health Ministry said on Saturday that 50 people had been killed and more than 500 wounded in US strikes on the country over the past three weeks.

Battle for control of the strait

Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmaeil Baghaei accused the United States of seeking ⁠control over the ​Strait of Hormuz, which usually handles around one-fifth of the world's oil supply.

Both sides have taken aim at shipping traffic, with ​the US saying it is enforcing a naval blockade and Iran saying it targets vessels violating its rules on navigating the strait.

The European Union and Gulf states called on Iran to immediately and unconditionally halt all attacks and interference with maritime navigation and to keep the ​strait open without conditions or fees, according to a joint statement reported by Saudi state TV on Saturday.

Luhut Binsar Pandjaitan, chairman of Indonesia's National Economic Council, stated recently that Indonesia will take steps to strengthen investor confidence, noting that China's support and assistance are indispensable, and there are broad prospects for investment cooperation between the two countries.  

He made the remarks when attending the G20 Bali Global Blended Finance Forum in May. 

Luhut noted that with rapid development, Indonesia's national development has entered a new phase, making it vital for the country to expand foreign investment and introduce advanced technologies. 

Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto has explicitly demanded fostering a favorable business environment for foreign investment and instructed that necessary measures be taken to boost investor confidence.

Luhut said that investment cooperation with China and Indonesia has deepened in recent years. Experience shows that China not only possesses advanced technology but is also willing to share its development experience with Indonesia genuinely, rather than merely offering verbal promises. 

In the future, Indonesia will increase investment in areas such as digital infrastructure, artificial intelligence, healthcare and the construction of international financial centers. China's support and assistance will be indispensable, and the two sides have vast potential for investment cooperation, Luhut added. 

Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi met with Vince Henderson, foreign minister of the Commonwealth of Dominica, in Shanghai on Saturday.

Wang, also a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, welcomed Henderson, who is in China to attend the World Artificial Intelligence Conference.

Wang said China stands ready to strengthen coordination and cooperation within the World Artificial Intelligence Cooperation Organization with developing countries, including Dominica, and foster steady and robust growth of the organization.

Guided by the consensus reached by the leaders of the two countries, China stands ready to work together with Dominica to strengthen alignment of development strategies and deepen mutually beneficial cooperation, Wang said.

Dominica supports China in closely cooperating with the United Nations to promote artificial intelligence as a fair and inclusive international public good, Henderson said, adding that Dominica is ready to deepen cooperation with China across all sectors.

China on Thursday released a new edition of its annual collection of international artificial intelligence cooperation case studies, featuring 10 examples of China's AI cooperation with partners around the world.

Published for the third consecutive year by the National Development and Reform Commission together with relevant government agencies, the collection covers a wider range of countries and regions, showcases more diverse "AI Plus" application scenarios and places greater emphasis on people-centered, AI-for-good cooperation, presenting China's experience and solutions for global AI development.

One featured case focuses on the Milan Cortina 2026 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games, where Alibaba Cloud helped power a range of AI-driven services.

Based on the Qwen large language model, the International Olympic Committee launched its first official Olympic AI assistant, supporting Games operations in 119 languages while providing real-time information for officials, delegations and spectators.

AI technologies also transformed Olympic broadcasting with intelligent replay systems and immersive visual effects, making Winter Olympic events more accessible and engaging for audiences worldwide.

Another case highlights MAZU, an AI-powered meteorological early warning solution developed under the China Meteorological Administration.

Introduced in Djibouti in 2025, the system combines AI forecasting models, observations from China's Fengyun meteorological satellites and localized weather data to deliver earlier warnings for heat waves, strong winds and heavy rainfall.

The technology has strengthened weather services for ports and cities, helping improve disaster preparedness in the Horn of Africa. Following its deployment, the solution has also been introduced in countries including Pakistan, Ethiopia and the Solomon Islands.

The collection also features an AI-assisted cervical cancer screening system developed by Wuhan Landing Intelligence Medical Co., Ltd. Combining portable scanners, cloud computing and AI analysis, the technology enables rapid pathological screening even in areas lacking specialist doctors.

Already deployed in 12 countries, including Pakistan, Brazil, Ghana, Vietnam and Cambodia, the system has provided screening services to more than 13 million women, improving access to early diagnosis while helping reduce public healthcare costs.

The remaining seven cases demonstrate the expanding role of Chinese AI across a broad range of sectors. They include AI-enabled Earth science exploration, smart farming for Brazilian family farms, autonomous driving in the United Arab Emirates, low-carbon telecommunications in Indonesia, AI applications for Malaysia's rubber industry, intelligent power grid management in Chile and marine biopharmaceutical research jointly conducted by China and Egypt.

Together, the projects illustrate how international AI cooperation is supporting scientific innovation, industrial development and public well-being across different regions of the world.

Final preparations are under way for a star-studded closing ceremony that will be staged before Argentina and Spain compete for the 2026 FIFA World Cup title on Sunday.

Post Malone will headline the show, with Laura Pausini, Nicole Scherzinger, Robbie Williams and online personality IShowSpeed also included in the performance lineup. The artists have been rehearsing at the final venue as organizers complete the production before international sports biggest spectacle which is expected to attract a viewership of more than one billion people across the length and breadth of the planet. 

Actor Tom Cruise is scheduled to make a special appearance. The Hollywood star attended matches earlier in the tournament and previously took part in a stunt at the closing ceremony of the Paris Olympics in 2024.

Jennifer Hudson will perform the United States national anthem before kickoff. The closing ceremony is scheduled to begin at 1:30 p.m. local time, 90 minutes before the final starts. 

FIFA said the production will recognize the journey of the 48 participating teams across 16 host cities in Canada, Mexico and the United States. Spectators have been encouraged to arrive early, with supporters inside the venue expected to play an active role in the show.

The ceremony is being produced with Balich Wonder Studio under Marco Balich, who also worked on the opening and closing ceremonies at the 2022 World Cup in Qatar. There is also set to be a "superbowl" like half-time show featuring performances from Shakira, Madonna and boy-band BTS. While the show is set to be at least 11 minutes, it will extend the half-time break to at least 20-25 minutes which has attracted criticism from some fans as such breaks usually do not exceed 15 minutes. Critics have argued that the show which will be the first of its kind at a World Cup final negatively impacts upon the values of the game. 

Argentina will attempt to retain the trophy they won in 2022, while Spain is seeking another world title after lifting the trophy for the first time in 2010.

Communist Party of China (CPC) senior official Cai Qi and premier of the Cabinet of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) Pak Thae Song attended and delivered speeches at the reception commemorating the 65th anniversary of the signing of the China-DPRK Treaty of Friendship, Cooperation and Mutual Assistance in Beijing on Friday.

Cai, a member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee and a member of the Secretariat of the CPC Central Committee, said that over the past 65 years, China-DPRK friendship has stood the test of shifting international landscapes, and bilateral relations have kept pace with the times and grown stronger.

Noting that the top leaders of both parties and countries, with far-sighted vision and a commitment to building on past achievements, have jointly steered China-DPRK relations into a new historical era, Cai said China stands ready to work with the DPRK to take the important consensus reached by the two leaders as the fundamental guideline and strategic orientation, carry forward the traditional friendship, and strive to elevate the socialist causes and traditional friendly cooperative relations of the two countries to new heights.

Pak, who is leading a party and government delegation to China for an official visit, said that over the past 65 years, the DPRK and China have acted in the spirit of the treaty, supporting each other and cooperating closely in the endeavor to safeguard and advance their shared socialist cause.

The DPRK is willing to work with China to deepen cooperation across all sectors, and write a new chapter in DPRK-China friendly cooperative relations, said Pak, who is also a member of the Presidium of the Political Bureau of the Central Committee of the Workers' Party of Korea and Vice President of the State Affairs Commission of the DPRK.