US intercepts, takes custody of Iranian-flagged cargo ship: CENTCOM

U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) said Sunday that U.S. forces intercepted and took custody of an Iranian-flagged cargo ship in the Gulf of Oman, which Iran denounced as an act of piracy, vowing to retaliate.

According to CENTCOM, the guided-missile destroyer USS Spruance intercepted the vessel, identified as M/V Touska, as it transited the north Arabian Sea at 17 knots en route to Bandar Abbas, Iran.

CENTCOM said U.S. forces issued multiple warnings over a six-hour period, informing the ship that it was in violation of a U.S. naval blockade near the Strait of Hormuz.

Spruance disabled Touska's propulsion by firing several rounds into its engine room. U.S. marines later boarded the non-compliant vessel, which remains in U.S. custody.

Iran's Khatam al-Anbiya Central Headquarters on Monday warned Iran will "soon respond" to U.S. "armed maritime piracy", according to Press TV.

In retaliation for the U.S. seizure of its vessel, Iran carried out drone attacks on U.S. warships, causing the U.S. forces to retreat, according to state-run IRIB and the semi-official Mehr news agency.

Iran's official news agency IRNA said on Sunday that the country has rejected taking part in the second round of the peace talks with the United States, which were reportedly to be held in Pakistan soon.

On Feb. 28, Israel and the United States launched joint attacks on Tehran and several other Iranian cities, killing Iran's then Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, along with senior military commanders and civilians. Iran responded by launching waves of missile and drone strikes targeting Israel and U.S. bases and assets in the Middle East, and exercising tight control over the Strait of Hormuz.

A ceasefire was achieved between the warring parties on April 8, followed by lengthy talks between the Iranian and U.S. delegations in Islamabad, Pakistan, on April 11 and 12. After the peace negotiations in Islamabad collapsed, the United States imposed its own blockade on the waterway.

US intercepts, takes custody of Iranian-flagged cargo ship: CENTCOM

The first phase of the 139th China Import and Export Fair, also known as the Canton Fair, closed on Sunday with a record number of overseas buyers, the organizer said.

As of 5 p.m. on Sunday, about 167,000 overseas buyers from 216 countries and regions had attended the offline exhibition, up 5.9 percent from the same period of the previous edition, according to the China Foreign Trade Center.

The turnout, the highest for any first phase of the fair, underscored the resilience and vitality of China's foreign trade, it said.

The first phase of the fair, themed "advancing manufacturing," featured more than 25,000 booths, 740,000 products and over 12,000 exhibitors.

AI smart appliances, drones, new energy vehicles, and precision CNC machine tools were all on display. Spanning intelligent manufacturing, new energy, and high-end equipment, the showcase highlights the innovation capacity and vitality of China's advanced industrial system.

A total of 324 new product launch events were held, providing companies with an effective platform for networking and collaboration.

"We want to expand our relationship, and also bring innovation from here to Germany much faster, or to do European market much faster," said Kevin Klingler, a German purchaser.

This year's fair is being held in three offline phases in Guangzhou, south China's Guangdong Province, and will run through May 5. The second phase, scheduled from April 23 to 27, will focus on "quality home life," including building materials, furniture, household products, gifts and decorations.

Established in 1957, the Canton Fair takes place twice a year in Guangzhou. It is the longest-running of several comprehensive international trade events in China, and it has been hailed as the barometer of China's foreign trade.

Int'l buyers hit record for 1st phase of China's Canton Fair