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...
President Alar Karis of Estonia in his speech on day 2 of the UN General Assembly, urged international pressure to be put on Russia saying, 'it is evident Russia has no intention of agreeing to a ceasefire'.
President Karis said that Russia's continued actions in Ukraine is undermining the credibility of both the U.N Security council and the entire United Nations as a whole.
He also accused the Moscow of targeting Ukrainian civillian spaces including Kindargatens, hospitals, schools and nurseries with missiles, drones, mines and other weapons.
He then claimed that Russia was abducting and deporting Ukrainian children, erasing their identity and forcing them into and
"The human suffering in Ukraine has reached unprecedented levels... has documented the death of at least forty thousand civillians including almost one thousand children...
The death toll increases every year, month week and day" he said.
He said the increasing violation of European airspaces were an escalation and a stark reminder of Russia's agrresion not only toward Ukraine but against the security of the entire region.
Karis also called the recent violation of Estonian airspace a "hostile act".
He pleddged support for Ukraine in its fight to retain territorial intergrity.
IRAN
Iran has no intention to build nuclear weapons, Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian told the U.N. General Assembly on Wednesday, just days before international sanctions could be reimposed on his country over Tehran's nuclear ambitions.
"I hereby declare once more before this assembly that Iran has never sought and will never seek to build a nuclear bomb. We do not seek nuclear weapons," Pezeshkian said.
On August 28, Britain, France and Germany launched a 30-day process to reimpose U.N. sanctions that ends on September 27, accusing Tehran of failing to abide by a 2015 deal with world powers aimed at preventing it from developing a nuclear weapon.
The European powers have offered to delay reinstating sanctions for up to six months to allow space for talks on a long-term deal if Iran restores access for U.N. nuclear inspectors, addresses concerns about its stock of enriched uranium, and engages in talks with the United States.
Pezeshkian accused the so-called E3 of triggering the process to return international sanctions on Iran at "the behest of the United States of America."
UKRAINE
President Volodymyr Zelenskyy of Ukraine has called on the international community to act in the war against Russia and brace up for an international arms race.
He spoke of Taliban taking over in Afghanistan and some drug cartels overtaking Governments citing them as examples of collapse of international law globally.
Paid tribute to Iryna Zarutska who was brutally murdered in America and said that weapons are evolving faster than humans are.
He accused Russia of advancing war tech referencing the recent cyber attack that grounded flights and caused disruptions in European airports.
He urged the international community to act fast in an "arms race" to prevent a total break down of law and order and cause serious damage.
"The world moves too slowly to protect itself."
“It’s only a matter of time before drones are fighting drones... all by themselves, fully autonomous.”
“We are now living through the most destructive arms race in human history” as a result of artificial intelligence.
He says at the end of his speech that "Peace depends on all of us".
SPAIN
His majesty Don Felipe VI of Spain opened the floor on the second day of the United States General Assembly currently ongoing in New York. He spoke about the UN, Russia - Ukraine war and Israel and Gaza.
"Peace in Europe will not be possible without justice and accountabiility he said in reference to Russia's 2022 invasion of Ukraine.
King Felipe added that "Spain will continue to push for a just end to war".
"We can't remain silent and look away from the bombings, displacements and killings, these are anborrent acts that stand in contrast to everything this forum represents"
On the ongoing in Gaza, he asked that Israel must remember their strong ties, referring to Sephardic jews who were granted Spanish citizenship.
When we speak to Irsael we speak to brothers and sisters...we cry out to the Israeli government, 'stop this massacre now'.
"We condemn the actions of Hamas, we recognize Israel's right to self defence but ask that Israel uphold humanitarian law throughout Gaza and the West Bank"
He also called for a release fo all hostages still being held by Hamas.
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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