China
Russia-China trade turnover rises 26.3% in seven months
Trade in goods between Russia and China rose 26.3% year-on-year to $159.2bn in January-July 2026, the Russian Trade Mission in China said on August 7, citing Chinese customs data, Vedomosti reported.
China-led EV boom cuts global oil demand by 1.7mn barrels a day
Electric vehicles displaced about 1.7mn barrels a day (b/d) of oil consumption worldwide in 2025, up from 0.4mn b/d in 2020, according to the International Energy Agency's Global EV Outlook 2026, published in June.
Renewables top global energy growth for first time in 2025 as US emissions jump
Renewables were the single largest source of global energy-supply growth in 2025, outpacing coal, oil and gas for the first time this century outside a recession year, according to the Energy Institute's Statistical Review of World Energy
China becomes first country to pass 4TW of power generation capacity
China's installed power generation capacity has passed 4 terawatts (TW), the National Energy Administration (NEA) said on June 25 - making it the first country to reach the milestone.
Argentina renews $19bn China swap line for five more years
Argentina’s central bank has renewed its currency swap agreement with the People’s Bank of China for five years, extending the facility to 2031 and locking in more than $19bn of support for the country’s international reserves.
Pentagon drafts new nuclear strategy weighing tactical weapons against Russia, China
The US Department of Defense is drafting a new nuclear strategy weighing tactical nuclear weapons against Russia and China, NBC News reported on August 5, landing against a backdrop of Russia's 2024 doctrine loosening and 2026 nuclear signalling,...
China expands its presence in Uzbekistan
China-Central Asia Monitor: July 24-30.
Global textile trade's hidden water costs threaten emerging market supply chains
Countries including Bangladesh, Pakistan, India and Uzbekistan have sought to move up global textile value chains but climate change and water scarcity make traditional production models increasingly vulnerable, says Chatham House report.
China leads global humanoid robot investment race as US moves to ban Chinese machines
Humanoid robotics has become one of the fastest-growing corners of the global technology industry - and one of the newest fronts in the US-China tech rivalry.
China expands nuclear build as capacity overtakes France
China has approved the construction of eight more nuclear reactors, extending the country's rapid expansion of atomic power as newly completed units enter service and installed capacity moves ahead of France for the first time.
Mega Chinese IPO threatens South Korea chip dominance
A major Chinese IPO in flash memory manufacturing has disrupted the global data storage market, challenging established East Asian tech giants.
Ukraine’s attacks on Wildberries will hit foreign traders for tens of millions, says company CEO
Businesses across Central Asia and countries including Belarus, Armenia and China will feel the pain, ecommerce boss adds.
DRC cobalt exports to China may have contained up to 5,000 tonnes of uranium, study finds
The peer-reviewed study raises concerns over weak monitoring and undeclared radioactive material in the global mineral supply chain.
China's stalling car market masks a record global EV surge - IEA
Global electric car sales rebounded sharply in the second quarter of 2026, rising 35% quarter-on-quarter to record levels in 50 countries, even as overall car sales fell around 5% y/y in the first half of the year on weaker demand in China and the US
Emerging-market ratings have absorbed the Iran war so far, but the buffers are thinning - Fitch
Emerging-market sovereign ratings have proved largely resilient to the US-Iran war in the first half of 2026, Fitch Ratings finds in its Global Emerging Markets Credit Brief for 3Q26 even though the outlook for a third is deteriorating.
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Number of people living in each city - OWID
Most of the world’s fastest-growing megacities will soon be in Africa. Many cities across East Asia and Latin America have grown quickly over the last few decades.
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Digital Silk Road: Chinese and Kazakhstan-based tech companies ink multibillion-dollar agreements
Freedom Holding Corp says it is gaining access to tech from leading Chinese businesses while building infrastructure to adapt and scale it across Central Asia.
Taiwan to protest to South Africa over ETA designation
Although Taiwanese travellers are not yet eligible to use the ETA system, the online application lists Taiwan as "Taiwan, China" in the drop-down menu for the passport country of issue.
Slovak InoBat seeks Nasdaq listing through SPAC merger
CEO Marian Boček says Nasdaq listing would allow InoBat to expand manufacturing capacity and pursue transatlantic growth.
Hungary reviews BYD deal after revealing billions in undisclosed state support
Government suspects ex-PM Viktor Orban's administration committed over €175mn in state-funded infrastructure investment and an undisclosed direct subsidy to Chinese electric vehicle maker BYD.