One dead, six injured in blast at Europe’s largest port
One person has been killed and six others injured after an explosion at a petroleum storage facility at the Port of Rotterdam, prompting an investi...
Czechs will head to the polls in a parliamentary election that could reshape the country’s political future. The vote will show whether Czechia remains closely tied to the European Union and NATO or leans toward Moscow.
Polling stations across Prague and the country will open at 2pm local time as citizens choose all 200 members of the lower house. Voting runs through to Saturday, with parties needing at least 5% of the vote to enter parliament under the proportional system.
The frontrunner is 71-year-old billionaire and former prime minister Andrej Babiš. His populist ANO party runs on tax cuts, higher wages, and ending support for Ukraine’s membership bid. However, despite leading in polls, ANO is unlikely to win a majority, making coalition talks crucial.
Prime Minister Petr Fiala’s pro-Western Spolu coalition pushes for continued alignment with the EU and NATO. On the fringes, far-right SPD seeks an EU exit referendum, while far-left Stačilo opposes NATO and rejects military aid to Kyiv. Smaller parties including the Pirates, STAN, and Motorists for Themselves could influence coalition outcomes.
Polls put ANO at roughly 30–32%, Spolu at about 20%. The election outcome will shape the next government, with preliminary counts expected Saturday afternoon and near-complete results later on 4 October.
Disruption in the Strait of Hormuz has increased the strategic importance of Bab al-Mandab, raising fears that instability in both waterways could trigger a wider global energy and trade crisis.
Flights at Catania airport in Sicily will remain suspended until early Friday as ash from Mount Etna continues to disrupt air travel, following hundreds of cancellations and diversions over the past week.
Iran and the United States remain at loggerheads over efforts to agree a permanent end to the war in the Gulf, according to a senior Iranian source who said there had been no progress in talks to revive the interim deal agreed in June and define a timeframe to implement it.
Iran says the Strait of Hormuz remains under its control, rejecting U.S. President Donald Trump’s claim of “total control” over the strategic waterway and insisting it will not reopen until Washington fulfils its commitments under an interim deal.
Start your day informed with AnewZ Morning Brief. Here are the top news stories for the 12th of August, covering the latest developments.
One person has been killed and six others injured after an explosion at a petroleum storage facility at the Port of Rotterdam, prompting an investigation into the cause.
Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas met Türkiye’s President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan on Wednesday for talks focused on Gaza, Palestinian statehood and regional security.
Taiwan staged military defence drills on Wednesday as China concluded joint naval exercises with Indonesia in waters east of the island.
Washington’s counter-narcotics push is expanding as Colombia’s new conservative government backs deeper security cooperation.
Meta said it had removed more than 750,000 Facebook and Instagram accounts suspected of belonging to Australians under 16, as the country’s internet regulator weighs enforcement action over its teen social media ban.
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