Headline News

The lineup for the FIFA World Cup round of 32 is now complete, following the final Group J matches on Saturday. The knockout phase begins with South Africa facing Canada, while five-time champions Brazil take on Japan.

Croatia secured a place in the FIFA World Cup round of 32 with a 2-1 victory over Ghana in their final Group L match on Saturday. In the other match of the group, England beat Panama 2-0.

Venezuelan National Assembly President Jorge Rodriguez says the number of deaths from the earthquakes that struck Venezuela on Wednesday has risen to 1,430. He said tens of thousands of people are still working around the clock on search and rescue operations.

International rescue teams and humanitarian aid are arriving to support relief efforts in Venezuela, with China also announcing emergency assistance.

The US and Iran have traded accusations of violating last week's Memorandum of Understanding as both sides exchanged fresh military strikes, raising tensions in the region.

World Cup debutant Cape Verde has advanced to the knockout stage as Group H runner-up after a goalless draw with Saudi Arabia. In the other fixture of the group, Spain beat Uruguay 1-0 to qualify for the round of 32 as group winner on seven points.

The Democratic Republic of the Congo has reported over 1,200 confirmed cases of Ebola, including 321 deaths, since the outbreak was declared in mid-May. The World Health Organization says contact tracing in the country is reaching more people.

Venezuelan National Assembly President Jorge Rodriguez says the number of deaths from the powerful twin earthquakes that struck Venezuela on Wednesday has risen to 920. He said over 870 international rescue workers are assisting relief operations in the country.

Media reports say the United States and Iran have established a communication channel aimed at preventing any military confrontation in the Strait of Hormuz.

Hot, dry weather and shifting winds are fueling 37 uncontained wildfires across the western US, with an area larger than the Caribbean nation of Jamaica burned nationwide this year.

China's first railway linking Xizang to the national rail network has carried more than 104 million passengers and transported 824 million tons of cargo over the past 20 years.

An AFP estimate shows that more than 100 million people in Europe experienced temperatures above 35 degrees Celsius on Thursday. A report has linked 212 deaths within four days in Spain with the heat wave.

The strong earthquakes in Venezuela have killed at least 188 people, including two Chinese nationals. The Venezuelan acting president has announced a 200-million-US-dollar fund for reconstruction. China said it is ready to provide assistance.

Chinese motorcycle maker ZXMOTO has expanded into the European market, shipping more than 200 motorcycles to Poland and preparing another 330 for Spain as demand grows following its success in international racing events.

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.

Iran's negotiating team says Tehran and Washington have finalized a draft on waivers of Iranian oil sanctions after talks in Switzerland. A member from the Iranian team also said talks on other issues will not proceed if strikes on Lebanon continue.