US Navy-led Joint Maritime Information Coordination Centre says a US maritime blockade applies to all vessels regardless of flag.

Foreign Ministry spokesman Lin Jian said at a regular briefing that the 2026 World Artificial Intelligence Conference and High-Level Conference on Global AI Governance will be held July 17-20 in Shanghai under the theme Intelligent Partners Co-creating the Future. President Xi will attend the opening and will deliver a keynote laying out China’s policy positions and governance principles on AI development. China has broadly invited government officials, industry, academia and international organization leaders; the ministry said it expects the event to serve as a platform to build trust, reach consensus and deepen cooperation to promote healthy, safe and orderly AI development.

A July 3-8 survey of 56 economists shows the median euro-area 2026 growth forecast was cut to 0.5% from 0.7% a month earlier and below the ECB baseline of 0.8%, citing renewed Middle East hostilities. Respondents also lowered 2028 growth expectations while leaving next year’s forecast unchanged. Median inflation this year is seen at 2.8%, slightly down from last month after an earlier oil-price fall but still above the ECB’s 2% target. Economists expect the ECB to raise rates again in September and to enact its first cut in September 2027.