live Iran, U.S. make competing claims over control of Strait of Hormuz
Iran says the Strait of Hormuz remains under its control, rejecting U.S. President Donald Trump’s claim of “total control” over t...
German Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul will travel to Brussels on Monday for meetings with NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte, Indian Trade Minister Piyush Goyal, and other senior policymakers, a spokesperson for the Foreign Ministry confirmed.
The visit follows Wadephul’s decision to postpone a planned trip to China, originally scheduled for Sunday, after Beijing confirmed only one of his requested meetings — a move widely seen as reflecting growing tension between Berlin and Beijing over trade and security.
In Brussels, Wadephul is also expected to meet European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, EU Trade Commissioner Maroš Šefčovič, and EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas, according to the spokesperson.
Discussions will focus on continued support for Ukraine, as well as strengthening European security and defence cooperation within the EU and NATO frameworks. Another major topic will be international trade, including efforts to secure a stable supply of key raw materials such as rare earths and computer chips, both of which have faced global bottlenecks.
India’s Trade Minister Piyush Goyal, who is in Brussels for trade policy talks, will also meet Wadephul. The EU and India are aiming to finalise a free trade agreement by the end of the year.
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.
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.
Millions of people across Spain and Iceland are preparing on Wednesday to witness a rare total solar eclipse, when the moon will pass directly between Earth and the Sun, briefly turning daylight into darkness along a narrow path.
Start your day informed with AnewZ Morning Brief. Here are the top news stories for the 12th of August, covering the latest developments.
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.
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.
Russia has accused Ukraine of threatening global grain supplies after recent strikes on Black Sea agricultural infrastructure, while Moscow carried out a new overnight attack on Ukraine’s major Danube port of Izmail.
Russian President Vladimir Putin has used Pacific Fleet drills to criticise Japan, NATO and possible Western moves against Russian commercial ships. He made the comments during his first visit to Iturup, a Japan-claimed island at the end of the Kuril chain near the island of Hokkaido.
You can download the AnewZ application from Play Store and the App Store.
What is your opinion on this topic?
Leave the first comment