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...
Start your day informed with AnewZ Morning Brief: here are the top news stories for the 29th of January, covering the latest developments you need to know.
Trump threatens Iran with 'far worse' attack over nuclear deal
U.S. President Donald Trump has issued a stark warning to Iran, threatening a military strike "far worse" than previous actions if Tehran refuses to negotiate a new nuclear deal that excludes weapons development. As a U.S. naval armada approaches the region, Iranian officials have responded defiantly, stating their armed forces are ready to retaliate against American and Israeli targets, whilst simultaneously expressing openness to a fair agreement free from coercion.
Starmer meets Xi in Beijing to reset UK-China ties
In the first visit by a British Prime Minister to China since 2018, Keir Starmer met with President Xi Jinping in Beijing on Thursday to discuss deepening economic cooperation and resetting diplomatic relations. Amidst global uncertainty fuelled by President Trump’s protectionist policies, the two leaders agreed to collaborate on cracking down on people-smuggling gangs and improving trade. The meeting comes amid tensions over UK security restrictions on Chinese technology and previous criticisms of Beijing’s human rights record.
Iran seeks to avoid escalation with Trump
Former Turkish diplomat Melih Demirtaş told AnewZ that Iran is likely to exercise caution to avoid further escalation with the United States and Israel, despite its bold rhetoric and recent internal unrest. With regional powers such as Saudi Arabia and the UAE refusing to allow their airspace to be used for strikes on Tehran, Demirtaş emphasised the critical need for diplomacy to prevent the current standoff from spiralling into a broader conflict.
Israel buries final hostage as Gaza 'painful chapter' closes
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu declared the end of a "painful chapter" as Israel buried Ran Gvili, the last remaining hostage recovered from Gaza, fulfilling a key condition of the U.S.-brokered peace deal agreed last October. The 24-year-old police officer, whose remains were returned alongside 20 living hostages earlier this week, was laid to rest in a ceremony attended by hundreds, marking a moment of national closure that paves the way for the reopening of the Rafah crossing and the next phase of the ceasefire agreement.
Kremlin guarantees Zelenskyy's safety for Moscow talks
The Kremlin has reiterated its invitation for Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy to visit Moscow for peace negotiations, with aide Yury Ushakov assuring that his safety would be guaranteed. While Russian forces continued overnight with drone and missile strikes on Ukrainian cities, Moscow insisted that any high-level meeting must be meticulously prepared to yield concrete results. Also the Kremlin dismissed Zelenskyy’s counter-proposal for President Vladimir Putin to visit Kyiv as unfeasible due to the International Criminal Court (ICC) arrest warrant against the Russian leader.
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.
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.
Five years after Evergrande's debt crisis rattled global markets, founder Hui Ka Yan has been sentenced to life in prison, marking a dramatic new chapter in the downfall of China's former property giant.
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