Global Express | August 19, 2026 Ship attacked in Strait of Hormuz kills crew member as Trump calls strait open

1. Ship attacked in Strait of Hormuz kills crew member

A cargo ship came under attack while exiting the Strait of Hormuz, killing one crew member. Maritime security agencies said the attack occurred amid the escalating US-Iran war, in the latest assault on shipping in the world's most vital oil transit route.

Despite the attack, US President Donald Trump insisted on Tuesday that Hormuz is "open and operating." Data shows ship traffic through the chokepoint has plunged, deepening market concerns over global energy supplies and maritime security.

2. UAE suspends trade with Iran after missile attack

The United Arab Emirates announced on Tuesday that it had suspended all trade, commercial exchanges and financial transactions with Iran until further notice. The UAE defence ministry said Iran fired two ballistic missiles toward the Gulf state, in what marked Iran's first known direct strike on the UAE.

The UAE said the move came in response to escalating regional tensions. Analysts note that Abu Dhabi is one of Iran's key trading partners, and the suspension could deal a major blow to Iran's economy.

3. Russian missile attack kills 10 in northeast Ukraine

A Russian missile attack killed at least 10 people and wounded 18 in the village of Pechenihy in Ukraine's northeastern Kharkiv region on Tuesday. President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said Russian forces launched a "brutal attack" on a busy intersection with a post office and stores, surrounded only by residential buildings.

Zelenskyy vowed that Ukraine would "definitely respond." Preliminary reports said Russia used two Banderol cruise missiles. The same day, Moscow said Ukraine launched 620 drones at the Russian capital, as strikes on each other's home territory intensify.

4. US, South Korea scale back military drills

South Korea and the United States have scaled back their annual joint military drills. The Ulchi Freedom Shield exercise, which began on August 17, has been cut from 11 days to five and will now end on August 21, with field training also reduced.

The change followed US President Donald Trump's order on Sunday for a "substantial reduction," citing his "very good relationship" with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un. Analysts worry the move could weaken the alliance's deterrence.

5. US debt set to hit $40 trillion

The US national debt is likely to surpass $40 trillion this week, months earlier than forecasters expected. Analysts say the milestone is partly driven by billions of dollars in lost revenue from President Donald Trump's invalidated tariffs.

Rising bond yields are also pushing up government borrowing costs. Market watchers say the $40 trillion threshold is another warning sign of mounting pressure on America's fiscal sustainability.

6. Asian stocks slump as chip selloff deepens

Asian stocks tumbled on Wednesday as a semiconductor selloff deepened. South Korea's KOSPI plunged 5.5% to 6,495.1 points, after falling as much as 6.4% earlier, with Samsung Electronics and SK Hynix both sliding sharply.

Analysts say the global chip selloff, surging bond yields and firmer oil prices amid Middle East tensions all soured investor sentiment, dragging down Japan's Nikkei and other major regional markets.

7. Gold mine collapse kills 30 in Central African Republic

A gold mining site collapsed on Tuesday in the western part of the Central African Republic, killing at least 30 miners and leaving others trapped. Authorities and residents said it was an artisanal mining site, and rescuers are searching for survivors.

The collapse occurred in the Abba region. Artisanal mining is a vital source of livelihood locally, but poor safety oversight has made such accidents a recurring tragedy.

8. Ebola cases in Congo exceed 5,000

The number of confirmed Ebola cases in the Democratic Republic of Congo has exceeded 5,000. Government data shows 5,021 cases have been logged so far, with the death toll at 2,378, surpassing the previous worst outbreak in 2018-2020.

The outbreak is caused by the Bundibugyo species of Ebola, which has no approved vaccines or treatments. Health officials warn that weak infrastructure, community resistance and instability are hindering efforts to contain the disease.

9. Unitree soars in stock market debut

Unitree Robotics, the world's biggest humanoid robot maker, made its stock market debut in Shanghai on Wednesday, with shares closing up more than 460%. Offered at 150.80 yuan each, the stock closed at 845 yuan.

Founded in 2016 and based in Hangzhou, Unitree shipped more than 5,500 humanoid robots last year and posted a net profit of 278 million yuan in 2025. It is the first humanoid robot maker to list in mainland China, marking a milestone for the country's robotics ambitions.

10. China dispatches earthquake relief to Colombia

China's emergency humanitarian earthquake relief supplies arrived at El Dorado International Airport in Bogotá on August 18. Chinese Ambassador Zhu Jingyang joined Colombian officials in a handover ceremony at the airport.

The shipment, about 80 tonnes in total, includes generators, water purification vehicles, disinfectors, solar lighting equipment, tents and blankets. A magnitude-7.4 earthquake struck western Colombia on August 10, and China has also pledged emergency cash assistance.