Beijing
Chinese refineries increased purchases of Russian Urals oil, taking advantage of India's refusal of preferential batches due to Washington's increased trade tariffs. Urals exports to China almost doubled in August, while they significantly decreased to India.
Two aides to North Korean leader Kim Jong Un visited Beijing in July and August. The visits are likely related to construction projects and the normalization of economic ties.
At least 10 people have died and 33 are missing due to sudden floods in northwestern China. Heavy rains since Thursday have caused floods and landslides, leaving more than 4,000 people without communication.
US President Donald Trump is considering whether to punish Russia. Instead, he announced a summit with Putin. Trump also informed European leaders about a possible meeting with Putin and Zelensky, for which Moscow, it seems, has not provided sufficient assurances.
China refused to stop purchasing oil from Iran and Russia, citing national energy interests. Beijing stated that coercion and pressure would not succeed.
In eastern Australia, cities found themselves under the thickest layer of snow in decades, leading to floods, stranded vehicles, and power outages for thousands of homes. The cold front brought up to 40 cm of snow, causing over 1455 incidents.
Tropical storm "Wipha" caused large-scale floods and landslides in Thailand, killing at least six people and affecting over 230,000. Since July 21, heavy rains have flooded 12 provinces, mainly in the north and center of the country.
China's capital suffered from extremely heavy rainfall, which caused the death of 44 people in the city, as well as the disappearance of 9. The Beijing authorities admitted gaps in their readiness for extreme weather conditions. In total, according to media reports, about 60 people died in northern China.
In northern China, including Beijing, 543. 4 mm of precipitation fell from July 23 to 28, almost equal to the annual norm, causing floods and landslides. As a result of the bad weather, at least 38 people died, more than 80,000 were evacuated, and the infrastructure suffered significant damage.
The leaders of Thailand and Cambodia have agreed to a cessation of hostilities after the deadliest border conflict in a decade. The talks took place in Malaysia, facilitated by Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim and with the participation of US and Chinese representatives.
Heavy rains in northern China have killed four people and left eight missing, forcing thousands to evacuate. Beijing authorities have issued the strongest flood warning as precipitation is expected to continue until Tuesday morning.
Northern China, including Beijing and Hebei province, has been hit by heavy rains, resulting in the death of two people and the evacuation of thousands of residents. Record rainfall, floods, and landslides have been recorded, as well as power and communication outages in some areas.
The Beijing Meteorological Agency has issued a warning for landslides and mudslides for 10 districts of the city after heavy rains. Over 46,000 people have been affected, 4,655 evacuated, and 13 rivers have exceeded flood warning levels.
At the UN, the US reminded Russia of Trump's 50-day ultimatum regarding peace in Ukraine and accused China of supplying dual-use goods used in the war. Russia continues to attack civilians despite the UN resolution.
Chinese engines are secretly supplied to the Russian drone manufacturer IEMZ Kupol through shell companies, which has allowed for an increase in the production of Harpy-A1 attack drones despite Western sanctions. The new Chinese firm Beijing Xichao International Technology and Trade began supplying L550E engines to Kupol after sanctions were imposed on Xiamen Limbach Aviation Engine Co.
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and European Council President António Costa met with Chinese leader Xi Jinping in Beijing. They urged China to use its influence on Russia to end its aggressive war against Ukraine, acknowledging that relations between Beijing and Brussels have reached a "watershed moment."
The number of companies and organizations compromised by the security vulnerability on Microsoft SharePoint servers has grown to 400. Most of the victims are in the US, including the National Nuclear Security Administration.
The European Union plans to impose 30% tariffs on American goods worth about 100 billion euros if the US follows through on its threat of tariffs after August 1. This will include industrial goods, cars, and whiskey, affecting a third of American exports to the EU.
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and European Council President António Costa will meet with the leaders of Japan and China. In Tokyo, agreements on cooperation in the defense industry and economic security are planned to be signed, while no significant agreements are expected from the summit in Beijing.
Press Secretary of the President of the Russian Federation, Dmitry Peskov, stated that he does not rule out the possibility of a meeting between Vladimir Putin and Donald Trump in Beijing, although Trump's visit to China has not been officially confirmed. Putin is preparing for a trip to Beijing, which is on his schedule.
China is considering inviting Donald Trump to the September parade commemorating the end of World War II. Vladimir Putin has also confirmed his presence.
Chinese company Pop Mart, creator of the popular Labubu dolls, expects profit growth of 350% and revenue to triple in the first six months of the year. This is due to global demand for Labubu, which has caused a frenzy and a resale market.
Chinese leader Xi Jinping pledged to strengthen support for Russia in multilateral forums after meeting with the Russian Foreign Minister. This happened after US threats to impose tariffs on Moscow's trading partners.
NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte called on world leaders trading with Moscow to encourage Putin to peace in Ukraine. This is related to the threat of secondary tariffs imposed by President Trump, who also plans to increase military aid to Ukraine.
Donald Trump, at a closed-door donor event in 2024, stated that he threatened Vladimir Putin to "bomb Moscow" if he invaded Ukraine. He allegedly made a similar warning to Chinese leader Xi Jinping regarding Beijing.
German Chancellor Friedrich Merz plans his first visit to China to ease relations after prolonged tension. The trip, expected in October, has symbolic significance for maintaining bilateral relations and restoring contacts.
The European Union calls on China to help end Russian aggression against Ukraine. China's support for Russia's military efforts negatively affects relations between the EU and China.
Asian stock markets are stable, while the dollar strengthens and oil prices fall after the US announced increased tariffs for 14 countries, including Japan and South Korea, starting August 1. The European Union will not receive new increased tariffs.
Vladimir Putin and Xi Jinping will not attend the BRICS summit in Brazil on July 6, indicating a loss of interest in the organization. Putin has an arrest warrant from the ICC, and Xi Jinping allegedly has a "scheduling conflict."
China is finalising new safety regulations for driver assistance systems, which could give it an edge over global rivals. This contrasts with the US market, where such regulation is the focus of criticism.