China

On June 24-25, a NATO summit will be held in The Hague, where the main issues will be a new defense budget of 5% of GDP and the war in Ukraine. Spain has expressed reluctance to increase spending, and a meeting of the Ukraine-NATO Council is not planned.

Donald Trump plans to meet with leaders of Indo-Pacific countries during the NATO summit in the Netherlands to expand security cooperation. The meeting will discuss coordination of actions and defense spending, which NATO plans to increase to 3.5% of GDP, and with additional indicators to 5%.

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio called on China to convince Iran not to close the Strait of Hormuz, an important shipping route. This move could have serious economic consequences and lead to rising oil prices.

Iran's closure of the Strait of Hormuz could provoke an increase in oil prices to $100-120 per barrel, which would harm global stock and currency markets but strengthen Russia's position. Experts point to the differing impact this would have on the global economy.

Chinese company Pop Mart, which created the Labubu toy, has become a global leader in the toy market, surpassing the value of Hasbro and Mattel. Its success is based on the "blind box" model, which stimulates collecting and repeat purchases, but raises concerns among authorities due to risks for minors.

The Chinese real estate market is experiencing a deep crisis, exacerbated by population decline and slowing urbanization. According to Goldman Sachs, demand for new housing in China's urban areas will fall to a quarter of 2017 peak levels.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy announced new international sanctions against Russia and the strengthening of domestic sanctions work against individuals cooperating with the Russian Federation. This comes amidst Russia's efforts to isolate Ukraine from the United States and cut off military aid.

The Trump administration demands Asian allies, including South Korea, spend up to 5% of GDP on defense. This could lead to significant increases in defense budgets and disputes over their military presence.

Toyota Motor Corporation plans to raise prices on some Toyota and Lexus car models in the US, starting next month. This increase, averaging $270 and $208 respectively, is part of a regular price review taking into account market conditions and competition.

Ministry of Youth and Sports of Ukraine, Sports Committee of Ukraine, and Underwater Sports Federation called for the suspension of Russian "neutral" athletes Kateryna Mykhailushkina and Oleksii Fedkin from participating in the XII World Games in Chengdu, China. It has been established that the mentioned athletes and their coach are members of the Central Sports Club of the Russian Army.

China reached record crude oil reserves of 1. 18 billion barrels to protect against disruptions from the Middle East. This allows refineries to maneuver in conditions of potential disruptions in oil supply, particularly from Iran.

The price of Brent crude oil could potentially rise to $90 per barrel if the Strait of Hormuz is blocked, but a prolonged halt to shipping is unlikely, according to Citigroup Inc. analysts. This closure would affect daily global oil production and cause a sharp jump in prices.

Shares of Pop Mart, maker of Labubu toys, fell by 8% after criticism from the Communist Party over "blind boxes," leading to a loss of $4 billion in market value. The company was accused of encouraging repeat purchases through a hidden content mechanism, especially for minors.

Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov stated that there are no intentions to conclude a truce with Ukraine due to "strategic superiority. " Andriy Kovalenko from the National Security and Defense Council emphasized that this is a message to the West, which does not understand the Russian mentality and must use force.

Shanghai has commissioned its first large methanol-powered container ship, with a capacity of over 16,000 containers. The ship will reduce CO₂ emissions by 120,000 tons annually.

These aircraft are command posts for managing the Armed Forces during nuclear war, protected from nuclear explosion, have strategic communication systems, and ensure vital activity on board for a long time.

China has become a key supplier to the Kremlin's war machine, reflected in the use of Chinese components in Shahed drones and other weapons. This enables the aggressor to intensify shelling of Ukraine, despite Western sanctions and Beijing's public statements.

EU countries have agreed to increase the European Investment Bank's annual lending limit to €100 billion and triple financing for the defense industry. The bank also plans to invest €70 billion in technological innovation and renewable energy sources.

SIPRI report shows growing global tensions and regional conflicts. The nuclear stockpile has increased, and disarmament is becoming less attainable.

Russian President Putin and PRC leader Xi Jinping will meet on September 2 in Beijing. The next day, both leaders will take part in celebrations marking the 80th anniversary of the victory over Japan.

Iran has sharply increased oil exports following the escalation of the conflict with Israel. The country seeks to maintain revenues by dispersing tankers and ensuring supply stability through the Strait of Hormuz.

Huawei Patents Sulfide-Based Solid-State Battery Providing Up to 3000 km Range. The battery has an ultra-fast charging time of just five minutes, causing concern among competitors.

The head of the Central Bank of China announced the emergence of a new currency order, where the yuan will compete with the dollar. China strives for a multipolar system against the background of trade disputes with the United States.

Ukraine will not receive an invitation to NATO at the summit in The Hague next week. The issue is not on the agenda, no breakthrough decisions are expected.

Volodymyr Gorbulin believes that Ukraine has the moral right to review the Budapest Memorandum and create nuclear weapons with European partners due to Russian aggression. He proposes to join efforts with Western European countries.

The White House has allowed TikTok to operate in the US for another 90 days to allow time for the sale of the company's stake. Trump wants Americans to be able to use TikTok safely.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs organized a visit of foreign diplomats to the site of the Russian strike on a building in Kyiv. Representatives of more than 60 missions saw the consequences of Russian terror in Ukraine.

The Chinese leader called on the parties to de-escalate and expressed China's readiness to help restore peace in the Middle East. China has begun evacuating its citizens from Israel and Iran.

Two oil tankers collided in the Strait of Hormuz, causing a fire. The crews of both vessels were successfully evacuated, and no oil spill was recorded.

During the G7 summit, Ursula von der Leyen criticized China for undermining global trade through subsidies to companies. She called on G7 countries to combat China's dominance in the raw materials sector.