Chinese scientists have transformed human stem cells into dopamine neurons, which reduce depressive behavior in mice. This discovery could form the basis for cell therapy for neuropsychiatric disorders.
Latvia, Finland, and Lithuania have banned or restricted real estate purchases by Russian citizens for national security reasons. Estonia, Norway, and the state of Texas are also considering similar measures.
Oil prices were little changed after falling earlier in trading. The US did not put further pressure on Russia to limit oil exports after the leaders' meeting.
Republican Senator Lindsey Graham believes that the next step in American diplomacy regarding the war in Ukraine should be economic pressure on Moscow. He proposes imposing tariffs on countries that buy Russian energy resources and calls on China to influence Putin.
Donald Trump proposed holding a trilateral Ukraine-US-Russia summit on August 22. Putin is making demands for territorial concessions from Ukraine and recognition of Russia's sovereignty over captured Ukrainian territories.
The meeting between the US and Russian presidents in Alaska did not yield public results regarding an end to the war in Ukraine. Details of the conversations, particularly in the limousine, remained undisclosed, raising concerns about possible agreements.
Donald Trump said he is not considering immediate tariffs on China for buying Russian oil, but may do so "in two or three weeks. " He threatened sanctions against countries buying Russian oil if the war in Ukraine is not stopped.
About 3,000 foreigners from 86 countries are fighting for the Russian Federation, despite the expiration of their contracts. The vast majority of mercenaries come from Central Asia.
On August 16, the world celebrates a number of holidays, including Homeless Animals Day, International Geocaching Day, World Kite Day, and Men's Beauty Day. Also on this day, the Third Savior, or Nut Savior, is celebrated.
The United States is considering imposing sanctions against Rosneft and Lukoil to force Russia to end the war in Ukraine. These measures are aimed at cutting the Kremlin's energy revenues if negotiations fail.
In the first half of 2025, "Rusal" incurred a net loss of $87 million. This was due to rising costs, interest payments, and currency fluctuations.
Intel shares rose 7% after reports that the Trump administration was discussing acquiring a stake in the company. This is related to plans to revive American chip manufacturing and Intel's Ohio plant.
China has banned foreign companies from hoarding rare earth elements used in electric motors. Beijing controls exports to prevent stockpiling abroad, maintaining influence in the sector.
The Chinese MG4 with a semi-solid-state battery went on sale. Prices and specifications will be announced in September, with deliveries expected by the end of 2025.
Russia is facing financial difficulties due to India's reduction in oil purchases. Moscow is offering Urals oil to China at a discount, but Beijing will not be able to fully compensate for the lost volumes.
China is imposing sanctions against Lithuanian UAB Urbo Bankas and AB Mano Bankas. This is in response to EU measures against two Chinese financial institutions that cooperated with Russia.
Ether shows a surge in demand, raising the total market capitalization to a record $4. 2 trillion. Bitcoin is trading above $120,600, Ether is approaching its 2021 record.
In July, global electric vehicle sales grew by only 21%, the lowest figure since January. The reason was the slowdown in the growth rate of the Chinese market, while Europe and other regions showed significant growth.
The US is installing tracking devices on high-tech Nvidia and AMD chips to prevent their illegal diversion to China. The Chinese leadership is urging domestic companies to avoid using American AI chips.
OpenAI's new GPT-5 AI model, released on August 7, has faced a number of problems, including technical glitches and user complaints about deteriorating performance. The release also revealed some users' emotional dependence on chatbots, leading to cases of "ChatGPT psychosis."
In Jianyu, hundreds of people protested after a brutal beating of a 14-year-old girl, accusing the authorities of being too lenient towards the attackers. The incident caused outrage on social media and cast doubt on the credibility of local officials.
China hopes for the participation of all interested parties in peace talks regarding the war in Ukraine. This comes ahead of the summit between Donald Trump and Vladimir Putin in Alaska on August 15.
OPEC raised its forecast for global oil demand in 2026 by 100,000 barrels per day, to 1. 38 million barrels per day. At the same time, the forecast for supply growth from non-OPEC+ countries decreased, especially due to the expected reduction in US shale oil production.
The presidents of China and Brazil, Xi Jinping and Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, discussed international politics and called for joint resistance to US "unilateralism" and "protectionism. " The leaders agreed to strengthen coordination within BRICS and the "G20," as well as deepen partnership to strengthen the unity of Global South countries.
Donald Trump has softened his stance on the head of Intel after previously demanding his resignation. Now Tan will cooperate with the US government to overcome losses in the chip business.
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.
Oil prices rose on Tuesday after the extension of the US-China tariff truce. This eased fears about the impact of the trade war on fuel demand.
US President Donald Trump signed an order postponing high tariffs on Chinese goods for 90 days. This was the result of negotiations between the US and China that took place in Stockholm.
Vladimir Putin will visit the USA for the first time in 18 years for a summit with Donald Trump in Alaska. The Kremlin seeks to avoid new sanctions and is looking for diplomatic ways to resolve the war in Ukraine.
Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk stated that US-Russia talks on Ukraine will not change the assessment of Russian policy. He emphasized that borders cannot be changed by force, and Ukraine must participate in decision-making.
