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 ...
Ukraine has agreed on key elements of a post-war reconstruction plan in talks with Jared Kushner and other top U.S. officials, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said on Wednesday (10 December), during ongoing peace efforts to reach a settlement in the nearly four-year war.
Zelenskyy said he had held talks focusing on an "economic document" at a meeting with Kushner, Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent and BlackRock CEO Larry Fink.
Proceeding with reconstruction of Ukraine has become a major element in discussions on a settlement, along with security guarantees and concerns over territory.
"The principles of the economic document are completely clear and we are fully aligned with the American side," Zelenskiy said.
"An important common principle is that for reconstruction to be of high quality and economic growth after this war to be tangible, real security must be at the core. When there is security, everything else is there too," Zelenskyy added.
Zelenskyy joined in the discussions by Prime Minister Yulia Svyrydenko, other Ukrainian officials and senior military officers, and said work was proceeding on the "fundamental document" of 20 points aimed at ending the war.
He said two other associated documents dealt with security guarantees and economic issues.
A key point in plans for the reconstruction of Ukraine has been the establishment of an investment fund for sectors including rare metals - sought by the United States, with Svyrydenko playing a key role in setting it up.
The leaders of Britain, France and Germany held a call on Wednesday with Trump to discuss Washington's latest peace efforts to end the war in Ukraine, in what they said was "a critical moment" in the process.
Kushner has emerged as a central figure in the process of negotiating a peace settlement between Ukraine and Russia.
Alongside President Donald Trump's envoy Steve Witkoff, he attended five hours of Kremlin talks last week with Russian President Vladimir Putin and then later discussions with a Ukrainian delegation in Florida.
Members of the 'Coalition of the Willing' group of nations backing Ukraine, led by European Union member states, are to meet on Thursday, the French presidency said.
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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