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...
Russian state-sponsored hackers are actively targeting Western organizations supporting Ukraine, prompting a joint cybersecurity warning from the UK, US, and several allies, according to sources.
Britain, along with allies including the United States, has issued a joint advisory warning of a Russian state-backed cyber campaign targeting organisations involved in supporting Ukraine. The alert, released on Wednesday, highlights a growing threat to Western logistics, technology firms, and critical infrastructure.
According to the UK’s National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC), the cyber operations are being carried out by Russia’s military intelligence service and pose a significant risk to entities delivering aid to Ukraine.
“This campaign presents a serious risk to targeted organisations, particularly those providing assistance to Ukraine,” said Paul Chichester, Director of Operations at the NCSC.
The advisory, released in coordination with the US, France, Germany, and other NATO allies, said sectors such as defence, IT services, maritime transport, airports, ports, and air traffic management systems have also been targeted in multiple NATO countries.
Officials are urging organisations across these sectors to review the guidance and take immediate steps to bolster their cybersecurity.
“We strongly recommend organisations familiarise themselves with the threat landscape and take action using the mitigation strategies outlined in the advisory,” Chichester added.
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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