Australia condemns Israel over closure of Gaza aid worker case
Australia on Thursday condemned Israel’s decision to close its criminal investigation into the deaths of Australian aid worker Zomi Frankcom ...
A week before Germany's general election, thousands of demonstrators gathered in Berlin to rally for democracy and against the far right. With tensions high ahead of the crucial vote, protestors sent a strong message of resistance.
As the anti-immigrant, far-right Alternative for Germany party continues to gain support, protesters took to the streets of Berlin on Sunday to voice their opposition. The rally followed U.S. Vice President JD Vance’s call for Germany to reconsider its stance on working with far-right parties. His remarks further heightened political tensions ahead of the election.
Police estimated the crowd at 30,000, while organizers claimed it was closer to 38,000. Protesters carried placards opposing the AfD, which is expected to finish second in the election. Organizers urged action against extremism, racism, anti-Semitism, and social injustice, and called for a strong defense of democratic values.
Amid the demonstration, activists encouraged people to vote in the upcoming election, warning against the normalization of far-right rhetoric.
The CDU-CSU alliance, led by former Chancellor Angela Merkel, is expected to lead the election. Meanwhile, the AfD has gained significant support in the polls and is projected to achieve a record-breaking 20 percent of the vote.
The elections to the German Bundestag will take place on 23 February.
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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