Afghanistan, Belarus agree to deepen industrial cooperation
Afghanistan and Belarus have agreed to advance joint industrial projects, investment and technical cooperation following talks in Minsk, as Kabul s...
World leaders, policymakers, and innovators have gathered in Kazakhstan for the Astana International Forum 2025 as over 70 countries unite under the theme “Connecting Minds, Shaping the Future.”
Kazakhstan is hosting the Astana International Forum 2025 under the theme “Connecting Minds, Shaping the Future,” with President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev in attendance. The forum attracts participants from over 70 countries, including government officials, business leaders, international organizations, academics, and more than 100 foreign media representatives.
As a global platform, the forum unites top voices from governments, international organizations, businesses, and academia to tackle the world’s most urgent challenges. This year’s agenda covers vital topics such as energy security, climate action, geopolitical cooperation, international trade, technological innovation, and sustainable development. These issues highlight the interconnected nature of today’s global landscape and emphasize the importance of cross-sector collaboration.
High-profile speakers include Rwandan President Paul Kagame, North Macedonian President Gordana Siljanovska-Davkova, Council of Europe Secretary General Alain Berset, FAO Director-General Qu Dongyu, and Ban Ki-moon, Chair of the Global Green Growth Institute and former UN Secretary-General. The session was moderated by Julia Chatterley.
Leaders emphasized regional connectivity and supply chain stability as key drivers of development. Ban Ki-moon spotlighted Kazakhstan’s role as a vital transit hub linking Europe and Asia.He cited initiatives like the Middle Corridor and Belt and Road as crucial to unlocking regional economic potential.
Experts also stressed the need for strengthened international cooperation and digital transformation to build resilient economies capable of addressing climate change and geopolitical challenges. Kazakhstan’s major investments in transport infrastructure further solidify its position as a strategic logistics hub for Eurasian trade.
With broad participation across sectors, the Astana International Forum 2025 embodies a shared vision of leveraging connectivity, innovation, and sustainability to foster a more inclusive and prosperous future for Kazakhstan, Eurasia, and beyond.
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.
Shipping traffic through the Strait of Hormuz remains limited on Thursday, with no increase in vessel crossings as U.S.-Iran talks to resolve the conflict remained stalled. Nine commodity vessels transited the key waterway on Wednesday, unchanged from the previous day, according to Kpler data.
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.
Start your day informed with AnewZ Morning Brief. Here are the top news stories for the 19th of August, covering the latest developments.
Afghanistan and Belarus have agreed to advance joint industrial projects, investment and technical cooperation following talks in Minsk, as Kabul seeks Belarusian machinery and support to develop domestic manufacturing.
Uzbekistan and Azerbaijan are drawing up a new programme aimed at boosting bilateral trade to $1 billion by 2030, as the two countries move to deepen economic and industrial ties.
Syria says it assured Israel that Türkiye had no plans to establish a military presence at the Abu al-Duhur airbase before Israeli forces struck the site on Tuesday.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has issued his strongest warning yet over Türkiye's growing military role in Syria, saying Israel will not accept Turkish forces expanding their presence further south.
Azerbaijan’s support for Ukraine could provide a model for neighbouring countries seeking to strengthen their sovereignty, the director of development at an organisation supporting Ukraine’s armed forces has told AnewZ.
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