China launches new test satellite

China successfully sent a new test satellite into space from the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center, located in the country's northwest, on Friday.

The Shiyan-33 satellite was launched at 12:11 (Beijing Time) aboard a Long March-2C carrier rocket, with the Yuanzheng-1S (Expedition-1S) upper stage attached to the rocket. The satellite has successfully reached its preset orbit.

This was the 635th flight mission of the Long March carrier rocket series.

Global economic growth is projected to ease to 2.9 percent in 2026 from 3.3 percent in 2025, before edging up to 3.0 percent in 2027, the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) said in its latest Economic Outlook on Thursday.

The report said that the evolving conflict in the Middle East will test the resilience of the global economy. A prolonged period of higher energy prices would add markedly to business costs, raise consumer price inflation, and have adverse consequences for growth.

According to the report, economic growth in the United States will moderate from 2.0 percent in 2026 to 1.7 percent in 2027, as strong AI-related investment is gradually offset by a slowdown in real income growth and consumer spending.

In the Eurozone, economic growth is expected to ease to 0.8 percent in 2026, as higher energy prices weigh on activity, before rising to 1.2 percent in 2027, supported by stronger defense spending.

The report said that the global economic outlook remains highly uncertain. The projections were based on the assumption that current disruptions to global energy supply will gradually moderate from mid-2026 onwards. Persistent disruptions to exports from the Middle East could push energy prices even higher, aggravate shortages of key commodities, add to inflation, and reduce growth.