Headline News

China and the United States have agreed to establish a trade council to discuss tariff reductions and expand economic cooperation, according to China's Commerce Ministry.

Former Japanese PM Yukio Hatoyama has demanded that PM Sanae Takaichi apologize for her Taiwan remarks, warning that Japan must honor the 1972 Japan-China Joint Statement and not support "Taiwan independence."

Mexico concluded its World Cup group stage run with a clean sheet after beating the Czech Republic 3-0. The co-host is in the knockouts along with South Africa, who secured second place in the group by defeating South Korea 1-0.

The USGS estimates that more than 10,000 people could have been killed in strong earthquakes in Venezuela. The South American country has declared a state of emergency, with acting President Delcy Rodriguez announcing the closure of an airport that serves Caracas.

Brent crude for August delivery hit a low of 73.22 US dollars per barrel at one point in the morning session on Wednesday. Expectations for smoother oil flows through the Strait of Hormuz have boosted market sentiment after the signing of a US-Iran Memorandum of Understanding to end the war.

Western Europe is in the grip of a record-setting heatwave that has killed dozens of people. In Britain, the Met Office issued only the second extreme-heat weather warning in history. The heatwave is also moving into more northerly parts of the continent.

Papua New Guinea has suspended imports of Australian poultry and eggs after two cases of the deadly H5N1 strain of avian influenza involving migratory birds were detected in Western Australia.

The Los Angeles City Council has unanimously advanced an ordinance to halt new oil and gas drilling and phase out all existing production over the next 20 years.

China's LineShine computer in Shenzhen displaced top-ranked US computer El Capitan on the TOP500 ranking, marking the first time since 2017 that a Chinese computer has topped a list sometimes viewed as a measure of a nation's technological prowess.

Addressing the opening plenary of Summer Davos in northeast China, Chinese Premier Li Qiang says the country's artificial intelligence sector has experienced "explosive growth."

SpaceX says it has fired a new un-crewed reentry vehicle into low-Earth orbit. The Starfall Demo mission aims to enable future commercial in-space manufacturing and rapid cargo delivery through space.

Cristiano Ronaldo has become the first player to score in six World Cups as his brace helped Portugal thrash Uzbekistan 5-0. Tuesday's game was the 230th of Ronaldo's international career, which is the most in history.

Senior Chinese diplomat Wang Yi also noted the importance of respecting national sovereignty while attending the Meeting of BRICS National Security Advisors and High Representatives on National Security.

Iran and Oman have said they are committed to ensuring safe passage through the Strait of Hormuz. A joint statement said the two countries will establish a joint working team to discuss the management of shipping in the strait.

Eastern Air Logistics has launched its first all-cargo route from Shanghai to London to deepen China-Europe trade ties. A flight departed from Pudong on Tuesday carrying 96 tons of goods, including e-commerce parcels and electronics.

The Chinese commerce ministry has announced measures to enhance the automotive after-market segment. It says the measures aim to remove unreasonable restrictions and better meet diversified needs of the people.

China Eastern Airlines has resumed direct flights between Shanghai and Stockholm after a six-year suspension. The service between the Chinese metropolis and the Swedish capital will operate three times a week.

A report unveiled at the Summer Davos forum shows that technologies with huge impact are moving off screens and into the physical systems that underpin modern economies. The top 10 emerging technologies of 2026 include everything-to-grid energy, direct lithium extraction and passive radiative cooling materials.

Andy Burnham has been sworn in as Labour Member of Parliament in Britain, after signaling his intention to take part in the race to find a successor to Prime Minister Keir Starmer. Starmer said he will step down after the Labour leadership contest is completed.

Chongqing is boosting the capacity of its China-Europe freight train services to meet growing demand for automobile exports, using new high-capacity containers to reduce the transport cost per vehicle.

The Chinese commerce ministry has released an action plan to stabilize and optimize foreign investment utilization. The plan prioritizes expanding market access in services, finance and pharmaceuticals, among other sectors.

Chinese Premier Li Qiang will attend the 17th Annual Meeting of the New Champions in Dalian on Tuesday and Wednesday. He will address the Opening Plenary of the event, also known as the "Summer Davos."

Pressure intensified after Andy Burnham won a by-election to return to parliament, emerging as the frontrunner to replace Keir Starmer as leader of the Labour Party. Allies cited Starmer's 2024 general election mandate to serve until 2029.

A statement by mediators Qatar and Pakistan says US-Iran talks in Switzerland have made progress, including a mechanism on further technical negotiations. The statement said all sides agreed to set up a high-level committee to oversee progress.

Neymar has completed a full training session with Brazil's World Cup squad as he prepares for his first international appearance in almost three years.