China

Wang Yi and Dmytro Kuleba will discuss the development of China-Ukraine cooperation and issues of mutual interest. China will continue to support the peaceful resolution of the conflict in Ukraine through dialog.

Ukraine's Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba is making his first visit to China since the start of Russia's full-scale invasion. He plans to hold detailed talks with his Chinese counterpart on ways to achieve a just peace.

The US Department of Defense considers russia's military presence in the Arctic a potential threat. The Pentagon is also concerned about China's growing activity in the region and calls for strengthening security through partnership with NATO.

Ukraine's agricultural exports increased by 5% to $12. 45 billion in the first half of 2024. The EU remains the main importer, and exports to Africa increased 1.7 times.

China has significantly reduced the volume of semiconductor supplies to russia after the new US sanctions. From January to may 2024, the supply of advanced components through Hong Kong fell by 28%, and through mainland China - by 19%.

Heavy rains and flash floods have killed at least 20 people in China. In Shaanxi province, 12 people were killed by a bridge collapse, and about 30 are missing after cars ended up in the river.

The US Space Force is planning to deploy a new ground-based system to jam enemy satellite signals. The first 11 out of 24 terminals will be installed by the end of the year to protect US troops during conflicts.

In Shaanxi province in northern China, a bridge collapsed as a result of sudden heavy rain and flooding. According to the state-run Xinhua news agency, 11 people were killed in the incident.

Today, on July 20, all space enthusiasts can join the celebration of International Moon Day. It was on July 20, 1969, that American astronauts Neil Armstrong and Edwin Aldrin first set foot on the surface of the Earth's satellite.

A fire broke out in a 14-story department store in the Chinese city of Jigong, Sichuan Province. The incident killed 16 people, caused significant material damage, and enveloped the neighborhood in thick smoke.

Due to Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban's uncoordinated visits to Moscow and Beijing during Hungary's presidency of the EU Council, some countries are considering boycotting ministerial meetings or handing over the presidency to another country.

German Chancellor Olaf Scholz is planning a surprise visit to Belgrade on Friday to attend the signing of a cooperation agreement between the EU and Serbia on lithium imports, essential for the EU's digital and green transition.

IMF warns of severe global financial uncertainty as risks of sustained inflation rise, higher interest rates, trade disputes, and election-related policy uncertainty.

The United States cannot predict the development of Russian-Chinese relations, as well as China's role as Russia's main strategic partner, including potential support for the Russian defense industry.

Hungary cannot be stripped of its EU Council presidency, despite Orban's controversial visits to China and Russia, but EU countries can publicly boycott his policies.

Ohio Senator J. D. Vance, Donald Trump's vice presidential nominee, has opposed U.S. military aid to Ukraine but does not support a Russian invasion, and has previously made derogatory remarks about Trump before becoming one of his staunchest allies.

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen canceled the visit of the EC board to Budapest due to recent events related to Hungary's presidency of the EU Council, and the EC will be represented at informal meetings of the Council only at the level of senior civil servants.

Customs officers at the Orlivka checkpoint found and temporarily seized more than 22 tons of Russian-made auto parts that were hidden in a truck that arrived from China via Romania and was intended for delivery to a Ukrainian company.

President Zelenskiy said he does not see Western countries pushing Ukraine to negotiate with russia, but acknowledged that some leaders would like to do so.

China's economic growth slowed to 4. 7% in the second quarter of 2024, the slowest since early 2023, due to a sharp contraction in household spending and the ongoing downturn in the real estate market.

Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban presents the "Orban Plan" for peace talks to EU leaders after visiting Ukraine, Russia, and China on a "peacekeeping mission.

Italy plans to restore nuclear power by adopting a law that will allow investment in small modular nuclear reactors that can be commissioned within 10 years, so that by 2050 nuclear energy will account for at least 11% of the country's total electricity consumption.

NATO and Japan have agreed to conduct joint exercises in Euro-Atlantic waters and to increase intelligence sharing out of concern that events similar to the war in Ukraine could occur in Asia.

China imposes sanctions on six U. S. companies and freezes the assets of their top officials over arms sales to Taiwan.

In Japan, more than 200 defense officials, including top military commanders, were disciplined for mishandling classified information and other incidents.

Several EU countries, including Sweden, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, and Finland, will boycott ministerial meetings organized by Hungary during its presidency of the EU Council to protest Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban's meetings with Vladimir Putin and Xi Jinping.

In 2024, international travel spending in Europe reached a record 800 billion euros, up 37% from before the pandemic, driven by increased demand from American and East Asian travelers.

Taiwan's Ministry of Defense is closely monitoring China's intensified military exercises near the Shandong aircraft carrier amid rising tensions between the two countries.

Due to the US sanctions, the Chinese company Wison New Energies ceased its operations in Russia and refused to supply modules for Novatek's Arctic LNG 2 project, which forced the project to delay gas exports from the first production line.

Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán's "peacekeeping mission" visits to Moscow and Beijing during Hungary's EU presidency have angered the EU, which may strip Hungary of its presidency within weeks because Orbán's diplomacy undermines the bloc's unity against Russia's invasion of Ukraine.