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 ...
Executive Director of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Secretariat Eduardo Pedrosa said China is expected to host the APEC summit in 2026, noting that the country’s future policy priorities will play a key role in shaping the regional agenda.
Speaking to China Central Television (CCTV) on the sidelines of the APEC CEO Summit in Gyeongju, Republic of Korea, Pedrosa said member economies are watching closely to see how Beijing defines its next phase of development and engagement with the Asia-Pacific region.
“We'll have to wait till the Chinese government comes out with its priorities,” Pedrosa said. “We're looking for more openness, a focus on innovation and on cooperation as well. Connectivity has been something that China has focused on over the past 10 years at least, building throughout its rail network. Are there lessons that can be learned through their own domestic processes as well?”
He added that China’s trade transformation over the past few decades offers valuable insights into how economies adapt to global shifts. “What is China exporting now compared to 25 years ago? All of our economies go through changes. So, it'll be interesting to hear through the next plan and through the APEC hosting what we can learn from that,” he said.
China’s previous APEC hosting in 2014 in Beijing underscored themes of regional connectivity and trade liberalisation. The 2026 summit is expected to further expand discussions on innovation, digital economy, and sustainable growth as member economies navigate a rapidly changing global landscape.
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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