live U.S.-Iran standoff continues as Hormuz shipping and diplomacy remain uncertain
Shipping traffic through the Strait of Hormuz remains limited on Thursday, with no increase in vessel crossings as U.S.-Iran talks to res...
A winter storm brought heavy snow and freezing temperatures to over 60 million people across the US Indiana, Ohio, and the mid-Atlantic are bracing for up to 30 centimeters of snow and icy conditions.
Indiana's first snowstorm of the year hit on Sunday, blanketing the state with heavy snow and freezing temperatures. The National Weather Service issued a winter storm warning through Monday evening, predicting snow accumulations of 15 to 23 cm, along with a glaze of ice. This storm affected over 60 million people across more than a dozen states, from Kansas to New Jersey, bringing snow, ice, and freezing conditions.
Cincinnati, Ohio, was particularly hard hit, with snowfall expected to reach 18 to 25 centimeters. Other major cities, including Indianapolis, Washington, and Philadelphia, closed schools in advance due to the storm's impact. The storm is moving toward the mid-Atlantic, with Washington, D.C. bracing for heavy snow and bitter cold as the US Congress prepares to certify Donald Trump's election as president on Monday.
Blizzard conditions were reported in Kansas and northwestern Missouri, where roads were covered in snow and ice, prompting warnings to avoid travel. Freezing rain in parts of Kentucky and West Virginia created hazardous ice accumulations. As the storm moves out, Arctic air will follow, with temperatures -12 to -6 degrees Celsius, below average across much of the East Coast and Great Plains. Several states, including Kansas and Kentucky, have declared states of emergency.
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 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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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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