Data released by Venezuelan authorities on the 4th show two recent strong earthquakes have killed 2,954 people.

China Coast Guard spokesperson Jiang Lue said on July 4 the Xiu Shan vessel relieved the Daishan vessel and continued law-enforcement patrols east of Taiwan. Since June the Daishan detachment has carried out patrols, inspections and fisheries protection and rescue operations to safeguard navigation and fishing activities and protect the lawful rights and safety of Chinese fishermen, including those from Taiwan. The coast guard said it will continue to strengthen enforcement in waters under Chinese jurisdiction and resolutely defend national territorial sovereignty and maritime rights.

The New York Times, citing four people familiar with the talks, reports Iranian President Pezeshkian visited Supreme Leader Mujtaba Khamenei during final negotiations after Khamenei hesitated to approve a preliminary U.S.-Iran ceasefire. Pezeshkian told Khamenei the U.S. maritime blockade was choking Iran’s economy and said he would resign if the deal was rejected; central bank governor Abdolnaser Hemmati warned in a letter of a severe budget crisis, saying key food and medical supplies would be exhausted by end‑August if the blockade continued and that Iran could not sell oil at required volumes or find alternative trade routes. Those interventions were cited as pivotal in Khamenei’s eventual support; Khamenei said he opposed the deal in principle but instructed the president to proceed if the Supreme National Security Council backed it — Pezeshkian said the council approved the agreement 12‑1.