Hong Kong

Chinese scientists have discovered a new coronavirus, HKU5, in bats that uses the ACE2 receptor, similar to COVID-19. The virus is capable of infecting human cells and can be transmitted through intermediate hosts.

Donald Trump announced that he expects Chinese leader Xi Jinping to visit the United States. The President also announced the possibility of concluding a new trade agreement between the two countries and discussing TikTok.

In Italy, fraudsters used artificial intelligence to imitate the voice of the Minister of Defense to lure money from billionaires. The criminals asked to transfer about a million euros, allegedly for the ransom of Italian journalists.

The European Union plans to blacklist 25 Chinese companies for circumventing sanctions against Russia. Companies from China and Hong Kong will be banned from supplying goods from the EU because of their assistance to the Russian military.

The US Postal Service has temporarily stopped accepting parcels from China and Hong Kong due to the intensification of the trade war. The decision is related to Trump's new customs restrictions on low-value goods.

U. S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio announced that China has a plan to close the Panama Canal in the event of a conflict with the United States. Panama categorically denies the transfer of control over the canal to China.

The President of Panama has declared that negotiations on the return of the Panama Canal to US control are impossible. He hopes to discuss other issues of cooperation with the US Secretary of State during his upcoming visit.

An Air Busan passenger plane catches fire at Gimhae International Airport before departing for Hong Kong. All 176 passengers and crew members were evacuated, and three were injured during the evacuation.

American companies have increased imports of goods from China due to the threat of new tariffs from Trump. In December, the volume of shipments increased by 14.5%, reaching 451 thousand containers.

A Chinese vessel flying the flag of Cameroon is suspected of damaging an undersea communications cable off the coast of Taiwan. Taipei has asked South Korea for help in investigating the incident as the vessel is heading to the port of Busan.

The Cameroon-flagged cargo ship Shunxing 39, owned by a Chinese company, damaged a communication cable near the port of Keelung. Taiwan asked South Korea for help in investigating the incident.

Russian distributors use the Texas Instruments API to order chips through third countries. During the year, orders were made for 6 6 million, of which 4 4 million was for military companies.

Crypto entrepreneur Justin Sun bought an art object "comedian" at Sotheby's auction-a banana taped to the wall. During a press conference in Hong Kong, he ate the fruit, comparing it to NFT.

In September 2024, India reduced imports of Russian diamonds from $112 million to $1. 5 million due to G7 sanctions. Belgium, Hong Kong and the UAE became the main suppliers of diamonds to India.

Hong Kong's High Court sentenced 45 opposition leaders to prison terms of up to 10 years. The verdict is related to charges of “undermining state security” by participating in protests against Chinese influence.

A new study has revealed a slowdown in life expectancy growth in countries with the longest-lived populations. It also states that the increase in the number of centenarians does not lead to a significant increase in overall life expectancy.

The US Secretary of State accused China of supporting the Russian defense industry. Blinken said that this contradicts Beijing's statements about its desire for peace in Ukraine.

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.

Since the beginning of the war, the NBU has transferred over UAH 35. 9 billion for defense needs from a special account. As of August 1, 2024, the account balance exceeded UAH 1.3 billion.

Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba visited Hong Kong. He called on local authorities to take measures to prevent Russia from using Hong Kong to circumvent sanctions imposed for its aggression against Ukraine.

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%.

In the United States, a russian man was sentenced to 3 years in prison for money laundering and smuggling military microelectronics for russia. He ran a network of front companies in Hong Kong to illegally purchase technology.

Taiwan warns its citizens against traveling to China because of Beijing's threats to execute "ardent" supporters of Taiwan's independence.

According to a study by Julius Baer Group Ltd, Singapore remains the most expensive city in the world, followed by Hong Kong and London.

Hong Kong recorded the hottest summer solstice in the last 40 years - 34°C. Meteorologists warn of a hotter-than-usual summer due to climate change and a series of periods of extreme heat.

The NATO Secretary General warned that China will face consequences if it continues to support Russia's war in Ukraine.

Russian companies facing difficulties in trading with China due to Western sanctions are increasingly using cryptocurrencies such as Tether and barter transactions to circumvent financial restrictions.

A 37-year-old former British Marine accused of spying for Chinese intelligence has been found dead in a park near London under unclear circumstances.

France and the Netherlands propose that the EU impose sanctions on any financial institution worldwide that helps the Russian military obtain prohibited goods or dual-use technology.

On Wednesday, the price of bitcoin fell slightly to $62,000, despite the weakening dollar and a small positive movement.