On the night of July 28-29, 2022, Russia committed a terrorist act in the Olenivka colony, where about 50 Ukrainian prisoners of war were killed and about 140 were wounded. In Ukraine, July 29 is the Day of Remembrance for Fallen Soldiers of the Special Operations Forces.
The Trump administration did not allow Taiwan's President Lai Ching-te to stop over in New York on his way to Central America after protests from China. This decision raised concerns about a softening of the US position towards China.
US Senator Lindsey Graham stated that Russian President Vladimir Putin was mistaken in his calculations regarding Donald Trump. He emphasized that the Kremlin's inability to negotiate indicates a lack of desire to end the war, and Russia's allies must be held accountable.
Audi's after-tax profit in the first half fell by 37. 5% to 1.3 billion euros, marking the third consecutive annual decline. The company lowered its turnover forecast for the current year to 65-70 billion euros, expecting significantly lower sales profitability.
Leaders of Thailand and Cambodia arrived in Malaysia for urgent talks to end the five-day border conflict. Representatives from the USA, China, and ASEAN joined the dialogue, and the initiative for a ceasefire belongs to US President Donald Trump.
Three women will be prosecuted in Lviv region for illegal import and sale of electronic cigarettes from China. The goods, without excise duty or with counterfeit marks, were stored in warehouses in Lviv for further sale.
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.
The US and China will resume talks in Stockholm on August 12 to try to resolve long-standing economic disputes and extend a tariff truce. Without a deal, global supply chains could face new shocks from a sharp increase in US tariffs.
Russia has depleted its vast stockpiles of Soviet-era weapons, leading to a reduction in supplies from military depots to the front lines to 2022 levels. The country is increasingly dependent on supplies from China, North Korea, and Iran to support its defense industry and army.
Brent and WTI crude futures rose after the US reached a trade agreement with the EU and may extend the tariff pause with China. This dispelled fears about the negative impact of tariffs on economic activity and fuel demand.
Andriy Kovalenko, head of the Center for Countering Disinformation at the National Security and Defense Council of Ukraine, stated that there will be no classic World War III, as the world lives in a state of constant undeclared war. He noted that wars are waged in proxy forms, locally, fragmented, in cyberspace, and in the information field.
Alina Komashchuk won a bronze medal at the World Fencing Championships in Tbilisi, which was her first individual medal at a world championship. The Ukrainian athlete defeated several strong opponents, losing in the semifinals to a Polish sabre fencer.
Ukraine has imposed sanctions against over 90 Russian companies that extract rare earth metals for the Russian military-industrial complex. Additionally, 18 packages of European sanctions have been synchronized, targeting the shadow tanker fleet and 53 individuals and legal entities.
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.
President Zelenskyy signed a decree on new personal sanctions against dozens of individuals and legal entities from Russia, China, Iran, and the UAE. The restrictions apply to companies involved in the extraction and processing of rare earth metals for drone production and the supply of military-purpose technologies to the Russian military-industrial complex.
Chinese company Huawei Technologies has unveiled the Atlas 900 A3 Superpod AI-based computing system, which is almost twice as fast as Nvidia GB200. This cluster, costing $8 million, consumes four times more power and uses five times more chips than Nvidia's solution.
US President Donald Trump called the leaders of Thailand and Cambodia, urging them to cease hostilities that erupted at the beginning of the week, and warned about the absence of trade agreements. Both countries face economic challenges, including the threat of high US tariffs, and Thailand, which depends on exports, has not yet concluded agreements with the US.
Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk stated that NATO and the US estimate Russia and China's readiness for open confrontation with the West by 2027. He received this information from the Commander of NATO's Allied Forces in Europe, General Alexus Grynkewich.
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.
The Australian government has signed a treaty with the United Kingdom to strengthen cooperation on AUKUS nuclear submarines for the next 50 years. This treaty will allow for comprehensive cooperation on the design, construction, operation, maintenance, and disposal of SSN-AUKUS submarines.
Global electric vehicle sales grew by 37% in the first half of 2024, reaching 5. 9 million units. China remains the dominant market with 3.7 million new EVs, while Europe recorded a record 1.2 million sales.
At the UN, the US called on China to stop exporting dual-use goods to Russia that are used in the war against Ukraine. China responded that it is not a party to the conflict and accused the US of trying to shift blame.
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 automaker Zeekr, part of the Geely group, plans to expand its operations in the EU despite the imposed tariffs. The company is preparing to enter the markets of Germany, Great Britain, France, Italy, and Spain within the next 12-24 months.
Vietnam's Ministry of Public Security has agreed to purchase two Lockheed Martin helicopters, a key security deal with the US following the lifting of the arms embargo. This deal, worth over $100 million, comes amid trade talks between the countries.
Tropical storm Wipha caused severe floods in the central Vietnamese province of Nghe An, killing at least three people and leaving one missing. Over 3,700 homes were submerged, and 1,600 hectares of rice paddies were damaged.
Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Guo Jiakun stated that cooperation between China and Russia is not directed against other states and should not be influenced by third parties. This was a response to EU calls for China to limit trade and industrial cooperation with Russia amid the war in Ukraine.
The European Automobile Manufacturers' Association called for additional incentives for electric vehicles after the largest drop in new car sales in 10 months in June. New EV registrations fell by 5.1% to 1.24 million, indicating a slowdown in demand growth.
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.
Indian company Ideal Detonators Private Limited supplied military-grade explosive octogen to Russia in December for $1. 4 million. This happened despite US warnings of possible sanctions against organizations supporting Russia's war efforts.
