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...
Russia claims to have struck Ukrainian targets in Kherson using BM-21 rocket systems.
The Russian Defense Ministry announced on Thursday that its forces had carried out strikes on Ukrainian positions in the Kherson region. According to the ministry, the attacks targeted areas on the right bank of the Dnipro River, utilizing BM-21 Grad multiple rocket launcher systems. The claims have not been independently verified, and Ukraine has not commented on the alleged strikes.
Kherson has remained a critical battleground since the onset of the war, given its strategic location in southern Ukraine. Control over the region directly influences supply routes and access to the Black Sea, making it a focal point of military operations for both Russian and Ukrainian forces.
The conflict, which began on February 24, 2022, with Russia's so-called "special military operation," has resulted in widespread devastation across Ukraine. Russia justifies its actions by claiming it is protecting Russian-speaking populations in eastern Ukraine, a narrative rejected by Kyiv and its Western allies as baseless and illegal.
In recent months, Ukraine's military has conducted counteroffensives in the south, reclaiming portions of the Kherson region that had been under Russian occupation. Despite these gains, the region continues to witness frequent shelling, with civilians bearing the brunt of the violence.
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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