live U.S.-Iran standoff continues as Hormuz shipping and diplomacy remain uncertain
Shipping traffic through the Strait of Hormuz remains limited on Thursday, with no increase in vessel crossings as U.S.-Iran talks to res...
In a significant milestone for Syria’s recovery, Syrian Air launched its first domestic flight on Wednesday after the ousting of President Bashar al-Assad.
Syrian Air marked a major milestone in the country's recovery by launching its first domestic flight on Wednesday.
The flight, bound for Aleppo from Damascus International Airport, carried 43 passengers, including journalists.
This flight marks the first domestic route since Assad's removal from power on December 8, after insurgent forces, led by the Islamist group Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), took control of the capital.
Saad Kheir Beik, director of internal flights at Damascus Airport, confirmed that all operational preparations are in place. “All staff are ready, the planes are ready, and we are working on resuming international flights once we complete some operational procedures,” he said.
The resumption of domestic air travel signals a pivotal moment in Syria’s ongoing transformation as the country begins to rebuild in the wake of a 13-year civil war. The world is closely watching to see if Syria’s new rulers can stabilize the nation as the country remains divided along sectarian and ethnic lines.
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 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.
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.
Start your day informed with AnewZ Morning Brief. Here are the top news stories for the 19th of August, covering the latest developments.
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.
Australia on Thursday condemned Israel’s decision to close its criminal investigation into the deaths of Australian aid worker Zomi Frankcom and six World Central Kitchen colleagues killed in Gaza in April 2024.
North Korea has fired more than 10 short-range ballistic missiles after U.S. President Donald Trump reduced American participation in joint military exercises with South Korea in an effort to revive dialogue with Pyongyang.
Georgia’s foreign trade data for January-July 2026 shows Kyrgyzstan, China and Russia as its top three export markets, highlighting its Middle Corridor ambitions and complex economic ties with Moscow.
Kazakhstan will vote on 23 August in its first parliamentary election under the new Constitution, choosing 145 members of the new Kurultai under a fundamentally changed electoral system based entirely on party lists.
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