CNBC reports Iran's inflation rate has surged to 89% and food prices have risen 164%. Mehrdad Sepahvand, a former economic adviser to Iran's central bank, said households—particularly low-income families and young people—are under severe pressure from soaring inflation, high unemployment and limited job opportunities.

On Aug. 20 six Shanghai municipal departments jointly issued a notice, effective Aug. 21, 2026, loosening rules on housing provident fund withdrawals for home purchases. Eligible depositors who have purchased housing in the city and either do not have a housing provident fund personal mortgage in the city or have not used the fund to offset mortgage repayments may withdraw for home-purchase purposes once per calendar year (previously once within five years from property-right certificate issuance); the withdrawal amount is limited to no more than the portion of the purchase price paid with the depositor’s own funds.

Kyiv Mayor Vitali Klitschko said on Aug. 20 that Russian ballistic missile strikes overnight on Aug. 19-20 killed eight people, wounded others and cut power to parts of the capital.