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...
The National Weather Service issued an Extreme Heat Warning for Los Angeles and surrounding areas on Thursday, 21 August, with temperatures expected to reach the mid-30s°C and exceed 38°C in some locations.
Health officials warned that prolonged exposure to extreme heat can cause heat exhaustion and heatstroke, particularly for older adults, children, and outdoor workers.
The City of Los Angeles advised residents to stay cool by staying hydrated and limiting direct sun exposure between 10:00 a.m. and 4:00 p.m. Cooling centres have been set up at local parks, recreation areas, and libraries.
The Los Angeles Fire Department said it is monitoring the heat closely and has pre-deployed resources to high-risk areas, including water tankers, strike teams, additional dispatchers, and a water-dropping helicopter. The Los Angeles County Fire Department is taking similar precautions, holding daily briefings before sending out strike teams.
Residents and visitors are finding ways to cope.
“Neck fans, they do help a lot because they blow a little cool air and have a cooling system with them,” said Michael Malone, a street vendor selling fans on Hollywood Boulevard. “It just keeps you cooler when you’re doing your stroll down Hollywood.”
Families are also seeking relief. An unidentified woman visiting a downtown fountain said, “We exhausted the beach so we came here today. I got up very early this morning to get the chores done then came out here.”
For some holidaymakers, it's been a challenging time being out all day.
“So we were in the city hall and then we saw the park and we decided to stroll through it to the concert hall and all the way here we thought, 'Very hot.' And then we arrived here at the fountain and suddenly it was quite nice," explained tourists Linnea Ueberle and Finn Scheuble. "We thought it’s a perfect place to cool down with the fountain.”
According to the National Weather Service, LA could see August highs surpassing records set in 2019.
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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