The PBOC held its H2 2026 work meeting, instructing a steady deepening of financial reform and opening-up. It said it will actively but prudently expand central-bank currency swap lines and local‑currency settlement cooperation; support and ease foreign institutions’ participation in panda bond issuance; coordinate offshore RMB market development, support Shanghai in boosting cross‑border and offshore financial services and consolidate Hong Kong’s offshore RMB hub role; deepen facilitation of cr

On Aug 2, a major Ukrainian e-commerce platform said its main distribution warehouse in Brovary, Kyiv region, was struck by Russian drone attacks for the second time within 24 hours. The company reported no casualties and said operations and customer services were uninterrupted. It described the repeated strikes as targeted attacks on its logistics infrastructure; Russia had no immediate comment.

Trump canceled planned strikes on Iran after requests from Iran and other Middle Eastern states, CNN reported; sources said Saudi Crown Prince phoned Trump to express concern. Military analyst and former USAF colonel Cedric Leighton said both Saudi Arabia and Iran have incentives to avoid escalation: disruptions to the Strait of Hormuz have imposed economic strain on Saudi Arabia, and Riyadh’s diplomatic engagement likely contributed to Trump’s pause. Leighton added that after five months of conflict Iran faces economic and military pressure, and any diplomatic pressure from Tehran may reflect an effort to buy time to preserve itself.