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 ...
The United Kingdom announced on Wednesday (October 29) that it has signed a new agreement with Vietnam aimed at tackling illegal migration, describing it as the strongest deal Hanoi has ever concluded with another country.
The agreement is designed to streamline deportation procedures, cutting bureaucratic delays and allowing the UK to more swiftly return individuals with no legal right to remain. British officials say the deal marks a major step forward in the government’s efforts to reduce irregular migration flows.
Prime Minister Keir Starmer said the number of illegal arrivals from Vietnam had already fallen by half but insisted that further progress was needed.
“Today’s agreement shows that through international cooperation — not shouting from the sidelines — we can deliver for the UK and for working people,” Starmer said in a statement.
The accord comes amid ongoing UK efforts to forge bilateral partnerships with countries in Asia and Africa to manage migration, speed up returns, and strengthen enforcement against people-smuggling networks.
London said the deal reflects a broader diplomatic approach focused on collaboration rather than confrontation, aiming to deliver both humanitarian protection and border security.
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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