SBS News

US Treasury Chief Predicts Iran Agreement Possible Soon Without Confirming Toll Status Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent predicted that an agreement with Iran regarding the opening of the Strait of Hormuz could be reached on the 4th or 5th local time. SBS Aug 4, 2026 10:57 PM

Qatar: 'No Plans for Direct US-Iran Talks… Contact Maintained via Mediators' According to foreign media outlets including Reuters, Majid bin Mohammed Al Ansari, spokesperson for Qatar's Ministry of Foreign Affairs, told reporters that day, "There are currently no schedules involving direct talks between the two countries." However, he explained, "We are fulfilling our role as a mediator alongside other regional partners, including Oman, to exchange views between the two sides." Regarding the possibility of reopening the Strait of Hormuz, Al Ansari stated that the efforts of the mediator nations are focused on seeking short-term solutions. SBS Aug 4, 2026 10:55 PM

Japanese Government Push to Designate Kumamoto Earthquake as Special Disaster According to a high-ranking Japanese government official, the government has entered into coordination to designate the Kumamoto earthquake as a severe disaster during a Cabinet meeting on the 7th. SBS Aug 4, 2026 10:52 PM

Over 9,000 Hospitalized Due to Heatstroke in Japan Amid Severe Heatwave Over Past Week According to data compiled by Japan's Fire and Disaster Management Agency under the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications, 9,180 people across the country were transported to hospitals for heatstroke during the one-week period from July 27 to August 2. SBS Aug 4, 2026 10:50 PM

Backlash Mounts Over Japanese Politician's "Beer Party" Despite Knowing of Kumamoto Earthquake On the day a major earthquake struck Kumamoto, a Japanese politician sparked controversy by holding a fundraising event featuring food, drinks, and performances. SBS Aug 4, 2026 10:29 PM

"Dokdo is Japanese land" for 22nd consecutive year... also checking China's military power In its defense whitepaper released for the first time since the launch of the Takaichi cabinet, the Japanese government has repeated its unjustified claim that Dokdo is Japanese territory. SBS Aug 4, 2026 10:29 PM

China Conducts AI Airstrike Drills... AI Race Expands to Battlefield China has already integrated AI into large-scale airstrike drills. Amid controversy over the United States using AI in warfare, China is also accelerating the military application of AI, signaling that the AI hegemony competition between the US and China is now expanding to the battlefield. SBS Aug 4, 2026 10:29 PM

Taiwan to Begin 'Anti-Invasion' Drills Tomorrow as China Steps Up Pressure with Air Patrols On August 4, just a day before the start of the Taiwanese military drills, the Chinese military mobilized fighter jets, drones, and warships to conduct joint combat readiness patrols around Taiwan, stepping up pressure. SBS Aug 4, 2026 7:46 PM

Italy Closes Borders First Over Ceuta Crisis... Meloni's Approval Ratings Behind the Motive? According to local media such as ANSA news agency on the 4th , the Italian Ministry of Interior stated that the number of migrants who entered Italy by sea this year decreased by 55% compared to the same period last year. SBS Aug 4, 2026 6:43 PM

Why Did 60,000 People Swim Across? The Full Story of the Ceuta Border Crisis July 30. Some 60,000 Moroccans swam across to flood the Spanish territory of Ceuta. SBS Aug 4, 2026 6:30 PM