China

In the Middle Ages, a real hunt for black cats was launched in Western Europe. It was believed that black cats were the helpers of sorcerers and witches in their magical rituals.

The birthplace of kites is China, where they appeared about three thousand years ago. Kites were mostly made in the form of mythological creatures.

Cardinal Matteo Zuppi had a telephone conversation with Li Hui on the situation in Ukraine. The parties expressed their concern and emphasized the need for dialogue to achieve a just peace.

The Ukrainian MMA national team won first place at the World Championship in the UAE among children, youth and juniors. The team won 33 medals in three age categories, becoming the best among 700 athletes from 47 countries.

North Korea will open its borders to foreign tourists for the first time in 5 years. Tours will start in December 2024 in Samjiyon, and then likely spread throughout the country.

The Pentagon has expressed concern about Russia's increased cooperation with Iran, North Korea and China in the arms sector. Of particular concern is Russia's intention to purchase weapons and ammunition from these countries for the war in Ukraine.

Calligraphy originated almost simultaneously with writing more than five thousand years ago in Mesopotamia. The art of calligraphy combines ancient traditions that have developed over thousands of years in different cultures.

A US military intelligence analyst has pleaded guilty to selling military secrets to China. He was arrested at a base in Kentucky for passing information about US defense and weapons to a person from Hong Kong.

Kyiv customs officers prevented an attempt to import 23 tons of Russian auto parts into Ukraine. The confiscated parts worth UAH 5.7 million were handed over to the Azov brigade to repair vehicles.

Ukraine increased its food exports to 4. 2 million tons in July, twice as much as last year. The increase comes despite a drop in production due to the war, but the trend is not guaranteed to continue.

The Chinese Foreign Ministry commented on the situation in the Kursk region of the Russian Federation, calling on the parties to adhere to the principles of de-escalation. China will continue to liaise with the international community for a political settlement of the crisis.

Ukraine finished in 22nd place in the medal standings of the 2024 Olympics, its best result in 12 years. The United States won the medal standings, outperforming China in terms of the number of silver medals.

The Philippines and China have exchanged accusations after their planes collided over the disputed territory of the South China Sea.

The upper stage of China's Long March 6A rocket exploded in low Earth orbit after launching 18 Internet satellites. A field of more than 700 pieces of debris was created, threatening to collide with more than 1,000 satellites.

The Ukrainian gymnasts finished their performances at the Olympic Games, taking 7th place in the group all-around. The team scored 68.950 points, losing its medal chances due to errors in the three-ribbon and two-ball routine.

The Philippine and Vietnamese coast guards conducted joint exercises in the South China Sea. The crews simulated firefighting, rescue operations and medical response, emphasizing the humanitarian nature of the cooperation.

At the 2024 Olympics in Paris, Ukrainian athletes won 11 medals: 3 gold, 4 silver and 4 bronze. Two days before the end of the Games, Ukraine ranks 15th in the medal standings.

The deficit of Ukraine's foreign trade in goods in January-July 2024 amounted to USD 16. 5 billion, which is 18.7% more than last year. Imports amounted to $39.1 billion, exports to $22.6 billion, with the largest imports from China and exports to Poland.

In July, China suffered economic losses of $10. 1 billion due to natural disasters, mainly rains and floods. 26.4 million people were affected, 328 were killed or went missing, and thousands of homes and crops were damaged.

Microsoft has identified four Iranian hacker groups trying to influence the US presidential election. They are spreading disinformation, discrediting the authorities and sowing doubts about the integrity of the election process.

A former Canadian diplomat was detained in Switzerland on suspicion of spying for China.

The Deputy Head of the OP met with a delegation from the Brazilian Chamber of Deputies. The parties discussed the Peace Formula, participation in the Crimean Platform and Brazil's presidency of the G20.

The UK is planning to build a radar station to track China and Russia's activities in space. The Darc project is part of the Aukus defense pact between the UK, the US, and Australia.

Russia and China plan to use barter trade in the fall due to payment problems. This will allow them to circumvent Western sanctions and reduce the visibility of transactions for regulators.

On August 8, Ukrainian Olympians will compete in rhythmic gymnastics, sport climbing, rowing, modern pentathlon, wrestling, and weightlifting. The day before, Oleksandr Khyzhniak won a gold medal in boxing.

The White House has called on Turkey to stop exporting American goods to Russia that could be used for military purposes. The US is threatening consequences if Ankara does not take steps to stop the illegal trade.

China's Special Representative Li Hui suggested that Indonesia work together to resume dialogue on Ukraine. Indonesia praised China's role in facilitating a political settlement of the "crisis in Ukraine.

Oleksandr Ishchenko, a prisoner of war of the Azov Brigade, died in Russian captivity due to blunt force trauma to his chest. The deputy commander of the brigade called on the international community to pay attention to the violation of the Geneva Convention.

The US and Australian ministers called on countries with influence over Russia, especially China, to help end the war in Ukraine. They condemned the Russian-North Korean partnership and warned of the consequences.

In July 2024, Ukraine exported $3 billion worth of goods, mainly to the EU and China. The most exported products were wheat, rapeseed, barley, and ores, with Poland, Spain, Germany, and China as the main partners.