Advanced aviation equipment headlines Airshow China

A broad array of advanced aerospace equipment will take center stage at the 15th China International Aviation and Aerospace Exhibition, or Airshow China, which opens in south China's Zhuhai City on Tuesday.

There are 25 percent more exhibits this year than in the last show, the Aviation Industry Corporation of China (AVIC) said at a press conference on Monday.

During the exhibition, AVIC will showcase over 260 exhibits across a 20,000-square-meter display area. According to Li Qingtang, a board member of AVIC, the new-generation stealth fighters J-20S and J-35A, developed by AVIC, will make their debut alongside Russia's Su-57.

"Many of these aviation technologies are being progressively unveiled and incorporated into military forces, continually enhancing the country's combat capabilities. China has become one of the few countries in the world that can develop and produce information-based aerospace weaponry and equipment on a systematic and large-scale basis," Li said.

The Haolong space cargo shuttle and other cutting-edge civil aviation technologies will also make their first public appearances.

Drones are another major highlight of this exhibition and advanced models, including the Wing Loong-X and Yunying, will demonstrate the full capabilities of unmanned aerial systems in an outdoor exhibition area.

China's domestically developed multifunctional helicopter - the AC332 - will also perform a flight demonstration, offering a unique aerial perspective alongside a helicopter from the China Media Group.

"The full-spectrum display of drones domestically and internationally, with nearly 50 exhibits, presents a large-scale immersive panorama of China's aviation industry. Fully utilizing advanced multimedia interactive technology and innovative display methods, it aims to promote the development of aviation technology, drive the sharing of aerospace achievements, uphold national interests and national dignity, and showcase the power and spirit of China," said Wu Jiwei, a spokesperson for AVIC.

Advanced aviation equipment headlines Airshow China

Iranian Foreign Minister Seyed Abbas Araghchi said on Monday that the situation in Iran is "under total control" following violence linked to protests that spiked over the weekend.

Addressing foreign diplomats in Tehran, the foreign minister noted that armed terrorist groups had infiltrated the protests, attempting to divert them from their legitimate course. He claimed that evidence has been gathered showing Iranian security forces being shot at, with the aim of causing further casualties. He accused the United States and Israel of exploiting the unrest to interfere in Iran's internal affairs.

Araghchi further stated that the government is closely monitoring developments on the streets, emphasizing that "the situation has come under control." He also affirmed that internet services, curtailed during the unrest, would be restored after coordination with security agencies.

The government has engaged in dialogue with merchants and protest representatives and initiated reforms to address grievances related to price hikes and currency depreciation. Iran has taken a series of actions and measures to respond to the demands of peaceful demonstrators, the foreign minister said.

Earlier on Sunday, Araghchi said that clear evidence links recent riots and vandalism of public facilities in Iran to the Israeli intelligence agency Mossad. This came after former U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo mentioned Mossad agents operating on Iran's streets in a social media post. The Iranian foreign minister asserted that police are being attacked by "terrorists" acting under the direction of Israeli operatives, whom Pompeo publicly acknowledged.

The protests initially erupted over a sharp depreciation of the rial and sweeping subsidy reforms. Iranian authorities have blamed the unrest on foreign-linked agents and U.S. sanctions.

Iranian foreign minister says situation "fully under control," accuses Israeli intelligence of stoking unrest