Black Sea attacks choke grain exports and drive up global prices
Escalating attacks on Black Sea ports, cargo vessels and export infrastructure have crippled a vital global grain trade route, threatening supplies...
Prime Time opens with the resumption of direct military talks between the United States and China after months of limited contact, as both sides try to manage rivalry and reduce the risk of miscalculation in the Indo-Pacific. The programme examines why communication channels went quiet, what has changed, and how tensions around Taiwan and the South China Sea continue to shape the relationship.
Attention then turns to global business and economy updates, including major developments in the entertainment industry, mixed signals from the U.S. jobs market, shifting inflation trends in the UK, a paused U.S.-UK technology deal, a major data breach investigation in South Korea, and signs of cooling demand in China’s collectible toy market.
The programme also covers growing political pressure in Slovakia, where thousands have taken to the streets to protest proposed legal changes that critics say weaken democratic oversight, with demonstrations expanding to include the country’s Hungarian minority.
Later, the focus moves to Azerbaijan, as President Ilham Aliyev visits the United Arab Emirates for talks on energy, economic cooperation, and investment, alongside his attendance at the Games of the Future in Abu Dhabi. The discussion highlights deepening Azerbaijan-UAE ties, renewable energy ambitions, and broader regional connectivity.
Diplomatic tensions in the Middle East are also in focus, with renewed talks in Paris involving the United States, France, and Saudi Arabia amid rising Israel-Lebanon tensions and concerns over Hezbollah’s role in Lebanon.
The programme concludes with global updates, including tougher U.S. measures against Venezuela, Ukraine’s push for war compensation mechanisms in Europe, worsening humanitarian conditions in Afghanistan, energy cooperation in Central Asia, infrastructure projects linking China to the region, refugee flows from eastern Democratic Republic of Congo, and developments following the Bondi Beach attack in Australia.
U.S. President Donald Trump says Washington is not seeking an extension of its memorandum of understanding with Iran, claiming the U.S. already controls the Strait of Hormuz through its naval blockade.
The collective-defence agreement between Türkiye, Saudi Arabia and Pakistan signals that regional powers no longer want to rely solely on external security guarantees. Whether it becomes a stabilising deterrent or another axis of rivalry remains unresolved.
Shipping through the Strait of Hormuz has slowed, according to the latest data, as uncertainty over the waterway’s reopening kept most shipowners away. Six commodity vessels crossed the strait on Tuesday, down from nine the day before and below the 10-day daily average of 11.
Iran has said the Strait of Hormuz will remain closed until the U.S. fulfils the terms of an interim deal, including lifting the maritime blockade and sanctions and releasing Iran’s frozen assets.
Ukraine has targeted at least 20 Wildberries warehouses across Russia since 18 July, disrupting a major logistics network. Kyiv says the strikes aim to disrupt alleged military-linked supplies, while the attacks have caused billions of dollars in losses and wider economic pressure.
On 12 August, AnewZ’s Daybreak focused on the aftermath of Colombia’s devastating earthquake, tensions surrounding Iran and the Strait of Hormuz, growing Russia-North Korea military cooperation and security and environmental challenges across the Caspian and Black Sea regions.
On 11 August, AnewZ’s Daybreak examined U.S. President Donald Trump’s new demands for Iran, Russia-Iran cooperation and regional connectivity through the South Caucasus alongside key political, security and climate developments worldwide.
On 10 August, AnewZ’s Daybreak focused on developments in Gaza, Lebanon-Israel negotiations, Iran’s position on talks with Washington and the latest global security and climate-related challenges.
On 7 August, AnewZ's Daybreak focused on the Iran war, escalating violence in Yemen and a deadly migrant crisis in Spain's Ceuta enclave.
The 8 August commemorative edition of AnewZ's Context looked back on the year since the Washington breakthrough, examining how the initialling of the Azerbaijan-Armenia peace agreement and the launch of the Trump Route for International Peace and Prosperity have reshaped regional politics.
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