Israel, Colombia announce mutual visa exemption from September
Israel and Colombia will waive advance visa requirements for travellers from 1 September as the two countries move to restore diplomatic and econom...
A tragic stampede at the Maha Kumbh Mela in Uttar Pradesh, India, has left at least seven people dead and ten others injured as thousands gathered for a sacred ritual in Prayagraj.
The incident occurred as massive crowds assembled at the festival, one of the largest religious gatherings in the world, where millions take part in ritual baths in the holy rivers. Authorities report that the chaos broke out unexpectedly, triggering a deadly rush that led to multiple casualties.
Emergency responders quickly arrived at the scene, with ambulances transporting the injured to nearby hospitals. Security forces worked to restore order as officials launched an investigation into the cause of the stampede.
Local authorities have yet to confirm what led to the disaster, though overcrowding and panic are often key factors in such incidents at large religious events. The government has deployed additional security personnel to manage the situation and prevent further unrest.
The Maha Kumbh Mela, held every twelve years, draws millions of devotees seeking spiritual purification. This year’s event, marked by tragedy, has raised concerns about crowd control and festival safety measures. Officials are expected to review security protocols to prevent similar incidents in the future.
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.
Start your day informed with AnewZ Morning Brief. Here are the top news stories for the 19th of August, covering the latest developments.
Start your day informed with AnewZ Morning Brief. Here are the top news stories for the 20th of August, covering the latest developments.
South African human rights and environmental groups have urged the government to block Israeli-linked Navitas Petroleum from acquiring a stake in a major offshore oil block, citing concerns over the war in Gaza and environmental risks.
Israel and Colombia will waive advance visa requirements for travellers from 1 September as the two countries move to restore diplomatic and economic relations following years of tensions over the war in Gaza.
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.
The United States imposed fresh sanctions on Hezbollah on Thursday, redesignating the Lebanese group over what Washington described as its actions on behalf of the Iranian government and targeting 10 people accused of moving cash for the group.
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.
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