Afghanistan, Belarus agree to deepen industrial cooperation
Afghanistan and Belarus have agreed to advance joint industrial projects, investment and technical cooperation following talks in Minsk, as Kabul s...
Türkiye has deployed an airborne warning and control aircraft to Lithuania this week as part of NATO security measures, after a series of Russian drone and jet incursions into allied airspace.
The Turkish Defence Ministry said on Thursday that the AWACS aircraft had been carrying out missions over Lithuania from 22 to 25 September under NATO assurance measures. The radar planes are designed to spot low-flying drones and other threats that ground systems may miss.
Lithuania, Estonia, Denmark and Poland have all reported violations of their airspace by Russian drones or fighter jets in recent weeks. Poland has shot down several drones, while Lithuania’s parliament authorised its armed forces on Tuesday to down any unmanned aerial vehicles entering its skies.
Western officials say Moscow is probing NATO’s readiness and resolve.
Estonia and Poland have already asked the alliance to trigger Article 4 consultations, which allow members to discuss threats to their security.
NATO has reinforced its eastern flank following the incursions, with the new deployment adding to air policing and surveillance missions already in place.
Türkiye, which has the second largest army in the alliance, has sought to balance relations with Russia and the West.
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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