SportsGianni Infantino is fighting to preserve his position as FIFA president. Sweden and Wales have pulled their national federations’ backing for his bid to win another term, while the English Football Association is reportedly preparing to do the same. Their withdrawals follow comparable rebukes from UEFA and CONCACAF. Fans and clubs have reacted angrily to Infantino’s now-abandoned proposal to sell private investors shares in World Cup profits.
PoliticsTaiwan’s Mainland Affairs Council chief Chiu Chui-cheng says cross-strait relations are currently high-risk. He says Chinese pressure on Taiwan now covers military, economic, legal and cognitive domains. Beijing maintains that official dialogue can resume only on the basis of the 1992 Consensus and the one-China principle. Chiu says communication channels have not been completely severed, with Taiwan using official contacts, existing agreements and civilian exchanges to sustain interaction and manage risks. The interview also examines why Taiwan rejects Beijing’s stated framework.
BBC Chinese
Politics1:16:11President Trump delivered remarks on Aug. 5, 2026. The event took place in Las Vegas, Nevada.
PoliticsMichigan Democrats are voting in a Senate primary that has drawn attention far beyond the state. The contest has become a proxy battle over the Democratic Party’s direction ahead of the November midterm elections. Its significance is heightened by Michigan’s status as a swing state. The state holds one of the few Senate seats that Republicans could potentially flip and win. The high-profile race is therefore being watched as a test of the party’s future.
PoliticsNegeri Sembilan held its state assembly election on August 1. Barisan Nasional and Perikatan Nasional maintained their cooperation and jointly won 25 seats, taking back control of the state from Pakatan Harapan and advancing the conservative Malay “Blue Wave.” Pakatan Harapan, led by Prime Minister Anwar, secured only 11 seats, six fewer than in the previous election. Transport Minister and Democratic Action Party secretary-general Anthony Loke also unexpectedly lost the seat he had held for 13 years. The podcast examines whether the wave could spread across West Malaysia and deepen pressure on Anwar’s government.
WorldRear Admiral Takao Kobayashi of Japan’s Maritime Self-Defense Force thanked Voice of America for its broadcasts. He said he began listening to VOA to study English when he was in junior high school. During the 2026 Rim of the Pacific exercise, Kobayashi served as deputy commander of the Combined Special Operations Task Force. He worked alongside the United States and more than 30 other countries in coordinated operations.
VOA Chinese
WorldDuring the Rim of the Pacific military exercise, Japanese Maritime Self-Defense Force Rear Admiral Takuo Kobayashi spoke with VOA. He said Taiwan is very close to Japan and that the Japanese force is closely watching developments in the Taiwan Strait. Kobayashi also responded to questions about the current security situation in the Indo-Pacific.
VOA Chinese
CultureThe message opens with a cinema-style request for audiences to silence their cell phones. It then invites them to sit back before welcoming them to the “Golden Age.” The wording is brief and promotional, evoking a film screening or cultural experience.
World29:53President Trump said he prefers resolving the conflict with Iran through diplomacy, while warning that the United States is prepared to take military action. He also said Washington is negotiating with Iran to reopen the Strait of Hormuz, with Iran’s regime and nuclear program included in the talks. Myanmar’s detained former leader Aung San Suu Kyi met representatives of the International Committee of the Red Cross on August 3. In Mumbai, Tibetan exiles living in India protested China’s Law on Promoting Ethnic Unity and Progress.
VOA Chinese
WorldPresident Donald Trump discussed a U.S.-Iran ceasefire and called the moment Iran’s “last chance” to sign an agreement. The United States and Japan worked together to stabilize the yen, while Trump described the move as a “friendship signal” to Japan. Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi visited earthquake-hit Kumamoto and thanked the United States, China and Taiwan for their assistance. A month after Tibetan activist Loga Jangtsen’s self-immolation, memorials and protests were held in New York and India. A U.S. congressional delegation also visited Taiwan and Japan, stressing freedom in the Indo-Pacific.
VOA Chinese
PoliticsJohn King is breaking down key primary election results from Michigan, Virginia, Washington and other states at CNN’s Magic Wall. The live analysis also includes questions from viewers. People can submit questions and continue following results and analysis of the Michigan and Missouri primaries through the CNN app.
CNN
PoliticsPresident Trump signed an executive order on Aug. 3, 2026. The White House announced the signing. No further details about the order were provided.
WorldMigrants in Spain’s Ceuta enclave have been escorted back to Morocco. The report gives no further details about the scale of the operation, the authorities involved or the reasons for the return.
ScienceHungary has reduced production at its only nuclear power plant to 10 percent and is expected to shut the facility later this week. Record-low levels on the Danube are affecting several other countries as well. Rupert Read, co-founder of the Climate Majority Project, offers his view on whether climate change alone explains the situation.
PoliticsAfter weeks of no direct contact, Donald Trump says the United States and Iran will restart talks within hours. He is voicing confidence that a major breakthrough is close at hand. Hannan Hussain of Initiate Futures examines the options available to Trump as he seeks an agreement with Iran. The focus is on the imminent talks and the possibility of a significant breakthrough.
WorldWildfires are raging across Greece. The fires are threatening homes in affected areas, as the flames continue to spread with potentially serious consequences for residents. The situation has placed nearby properties at risk.
World0:52Wildfires have swept through eastern Washington during what authorities describe as an extraordinary season. More than 60,000 people have been evacuated, while at least 600 homes, businesses and other structures have been destroyed. The Spokane Area fire consists of three separate blazes. Firefighters have not yet contained it.
SportsHundreds of spectators gathered in Pacifica, California, to watch the World Dog Surfing Championships. The event is now being held for the 10th year. More than 20 canine competitors entered the ocean and showed off their surfing abilities. The competition placed the dogs at the center of the sporting spectacle.
PoliticsReform UK is holding a press conference in Westminster, London. Party leader Nigel Farage is speaking at the event alongside home affairs spokesman Zia Yusuf. The gathering focuses on the party’s public presentation in Westminster. Coverage of the conference is available to watch live.
EconomyChina is known for producing globally popular goods, yet domestic spending is falling well short of the government’s hopes. A weak property market, persistently high youth unemployment and fragile consumer confidence are encouraging many households to save rather than spend. That preference is making it harder for China to move away from an economic model reliant on exports. Beijing has introduced measures including consumer subsidies and a five-year plan to expand consumption, but the response has not produced the results expected. The broader question is whether weak consumption is temporary or reflects deeper structural problems.
BBC Chinese
WorldRomanian naval forces carried out a controlled explosion in the Danube. The blast destroyed a rock so that the flow of a large volume of water could be redirected. The water was sent toward the Old Danube and the Cernavodă nuclear power plant. The operation was intended to help provide cooling for the facility.
CultureDr Hong Ri Han, who holds a doctorate in medical sciences from Oxford University and a master’s degree in pharmacology from the University of Cambridge, earned the Master of Wine qualification in 2025. Since the certification was established in 1953, only about 420 people worldwide have achieved it, with a pass rate of roughly 15 percent. He spent seven years and about S$70,000 completing the demanding programme. He hopes more Singaporeans will see wine as a wider world of culture and terroir, rather than only prestige estates and appearances.
PoliticsPresident Trump held a brief exchange with reporters aboard Air Force One on Aug. 2. The aircraft was traveling to Joint Base Andrews during the press gaggle.
PoliticsAndy Burnham has promised to pursue efforts against small boat crossings with determination. His pledge focuses on tackling the crossings and presents the issue as a priority requiring sustained action.