Morning Brief - 20 August 2026
Start your day informed with AnewZ Morning Brief. Here are the top news stories for the 20th of August, covering the latest developments. ...
The United Kingdom has completely lifted its arms embargo on Azerbaijan and Armenia, according to a written statement by Minister for Europe, North America and the Overseas Territories Stephen Doughty, published on the UK Parliament’s website.
London said it welcomes progress in the peace process between the two countries, calling it “an important step toward peace and stability.”
Doughty recalled the trilateral summit held in Washington on August 8, attended by U.S. President Donald Trump, Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev, and Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan, after which a peace treaty was initialed and a joint declaration signed.
Based on that agreement, the UK has decided to upgrade its relations with both Azerbaijan and Armenia to the level of strategic partnership in trade, security, and defense.
“Given the progress achieved, we believe the 1992 OSCE embargo is no longer relevant,” Doughty said. “The UK is fully lifting its arms embargo on Armenia and Azerbaijan. This will help strengthen security cooperation and support both nations in protecting their sovereignty and territorial integrity, including against hybrid threats.”
He added that export licenses will continue to be reviewed individually under strict criteria, and The United Kingdom will closely monitor developments in the South Caucasus, expressing hope the move will pave the way for lasting peace and prosperity in the region.
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.
Two days inside Uzbekistan’s newsrooms, hospitals, factories and technology hubs reveal a country eager to show how it is changing — while that transformation is still under way.
Syrian Foreign Minister Asaad al-Shaibani arrived in Islamabad on Wednesday for a two-day visit, marking the first trip by Syria’s top diplomat to Pakistan in 19 years as Damascus seeks to deepen ties with the country.
More than a year after Pakistan and India were involved in their most serious military confrontation in decades, a key airspace restriction between the nuclear-armed neighbours remains in force.
Uzbekistan has unveiled a sweeping package of business reforms, including easier access to loans, $1 billion in export support, a three-year moratorium on most inspections and stronger protections for entrepreneurs.
Afghan business representatives are seeking new trade and investment opportunities at Iran’s 26th International Building Industry Exhibition, as they look to expand ties with Iranian and international companies.
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