Australia condemns Israel over closure of Gaza aid worker case
Australia on Thursday condemned Israel’s decision to close its criminal investigation into the deaths of Australian aid worker Zomi Frankcom ...
Armenia’s Foreign Ministry has rejected speculation that Pakistan could recognise Armenia as a United Nations member state, saying the issue is not under discussion.
Foreign Ministry spokesperson Ani Badalyan noted that diplomatic relations between Yerevan and Islamabad had already been formally established in line with the UN Charter, making any talk of “recognition at the UN” irrelevant. She stressed that both countries now intend to develop bilateral cooperation and expand dialogue on multilateral platforms such as the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO), the Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU), and other forums of shared interest.
Her comments followed reports citing diplomatic sources who claimed Pakistan was preparing to recognise Armenia in exchange for support for its accession to the EAEU. One UN-based source described Islamabad’s intention as real, while another diplomat called the prospect “realistic,” though he cautioned that procedural steps could take weeks or months. He added that the recent peace agreement between Armenia and Azerbaijan had removed earlier obstacles.
Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov also welcomed the resumption of contacts between Yerevan and Islamabad, describing it as “a step forward.”
The shift comes after Armenian Foreign Minister Ararat Mirzoyan and his Pakistani counterpart Ishaq Dar signed a communiqué establishing diplomatic ties on 31 August during the SCO summit in China — a landmark moment in relations. For decades, the two countries had no formal ties due to Pakistan’s position on the Karabakh conflict, with Armenia even listing Islamabad as a security threat.
That has now changed following the peace accord initialled by Armenia and Azerbaijan in Washington on 8 August, after which both sides declared peace had been achieved, opening the way for regional rapprochement.
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.
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.
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.
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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