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...
Indonesian police have fired tear gas into crowds of protesters near two universities in a major regional city, student bodies and authorities said on Tuesday, adding new tensions to deadly protests that have rocked the country since last week.
Student bodies of the Islamic University of Bandung, known locally as UNISBA, and nearby Pasundan University, over 140 kilometres west of Jakarta, said on social media that authorities fired tear gas canisters into crowds near the campuses on Monday evening.
Police emphasised they did not enter the campuses, while UNISBA’s Dean described the site as a medical hub for protesters. Students accused authorities of using excessive force, causing breathing difficulties and attempting to silence dissent.
The protests, which began in Jakarta over lawmakers’ perks, have spread nationwide and turned violent after a police vehicle killed a motorcycle taxi driver.
At least eight people have died, according to officials. President Prabowo Subianto warned security forces would act firmly against escalations. Human Rights Watch criticised the authorities for treating the protests as acts of treason or terrorism and called for investigations.
Meanwhile, the director of the legal aid group Lokataru Foundation was reportedly arrested by police.
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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