U.S. President Trump on July 25 ordered U.S. forces not to launch new airstrikes on Iran, halting 13 consecutive days of daily strikes. Trump had been approving daily strike plans but did not approve the plan submitted on the 25th and instead ordered a pause; it is unclear whether the halt is a one-day measure or the start of a longer suspension. Hours before the order an Omani delegation arrived in Tehran to negotiate arrangements to reopen navigation in the Strait of Hormuz. Two regional sourc

France's anti-terrorism prosecutor said six people have been remanded in custody pending trial in the attempted attack on a synagogue in the Paris region in early July.

CSC Financial research says Chinese power-equipment exporters are entering a golden growth period. Transformer demand in the US and Europe is the largest globally and remains highly buoyant amid tight supply; Chinese firms’ North America exports are growing rapidly and should continue to gain share. The report expects sustained high demand in developed markets, rising demand in the Middle East and other non-US markets, and a shift of global capacity toward US/EU procurement — creating further opportunities for Chinese exporters. Top exporters are continuing to deliver on fundamentals, with strong market expectations being realised.