Uzbekistan, Azerbaijan target $1 billion in trade by 2030
Uzbekistan and Azerbaijan are drawing up a new programme aimed at boosting bilateral trade to $1 billion by 2030, as the two countries move to deep...
Israeli forces shot dead two Palestinians in the West Bank during a raid, despite the men appearing to surrender and being unarmed.
The men were seen leaving a building surrounded by Israeli forces, lifting their shirts and lying on the ground in apparent surrender, before being reportedly directed back inside and shot at close range.
The Palestinian Ministry of Health confirmed that 26-year-old Montasir Abdullah and 37-year-old Yusuf Asasa were killed in the incident.
The Israeli military and police issued a joint statement saying an investigation had been launched after firing on the individuals. The statement did not explain why the shooting occurred, nor did it mention that the men had lain on the ground before being sent back inside.
Military and police officials said the operation in the Jenin area targeted individuals wanted for “illegal activities, including throwing explosives and firing at security forces.” The two men were reportedly linked to an “illegal group” in Jenin, though no charges or evidence were disclosed.
Israel’s far-right National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir later expressed full support for the military and police units involved in the shooting.
The Jenin raid is the latest in a series of Israeli operations across northern West Bank cities. On Wednesday, Israeli forces carried out an operation in the nearby city of Tubas.
Palestinian armed group Hamas, which agreed to a ceasefire with Israel in Gaza last month, condemned the killings in Jenin as “executions” and called on the international community to halt what it described as Israel’s “escalating field executions.” The group did not claim the two men as members.
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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