live U.S. clears way for $2.7 billion sale of air-defence development upgrades to Ukraine
The U.S. State Department approved a potential $2.7 billion military sale to Ukraine for air-defence develo...
White House announced on Friday the formation of a technocratic committee to oversee the transition of power in the Gaza Strip as part of President Donald Trump's 20-point plan to end the conflict in the territory.
The National Committee for the Administration of Gaza (NCAG) will be led by Dr. Ali Sha’ath, a former Palestinian deputy minister, described as “a widely respected technocratic leader who will oversee the restoration of public services, rebuild civil institutions, and stabilise daily life in Gaza, while laying the foundation for long-term governance.”
An executive board of international figures will support the committee, including Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan; Trump’s special envoy Steve Witkoff; Jared Kushner; former UK Prime Minister Tony Blair; UAE Minister of State for International Cooperation Reem Al-Hashimy; veteran Qatari diplomat Ali Al-Thawadi; and Egypt’s intelligence chief Hassan Rashad. A founding board to guide Trump’s Board of Peace will also include Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Witkoff, Kushner, Blair, billionaire Marc Rowan, World Bank head Ajay Banga, and U.S. political adviser Robert Gabriel.
The announcement follows the start of the second phase of the Gaza ceasefire plan, which will focus on demilitarisation, technocratic governance, reconstruction, a full Israeli withdrawal, disarmament of Hamas, and deployment of an International Stabilisation Force (ISF). The first phase, which began in October 2025, halted the war, enabled a partial Israeli withdrawal, facilitated hostage exchanges, and allowed limited humanitarian aid into Gaza.
Palestinians have said Israel has repeatedly violated the ceasefire, which followed the conflict that left more than 71,000 dead, mostly women and children, and more than 171,000 injured. Since the truce, at least 450 Palestinians have been killed and more than 1,200 injured, according to the Gaza Health Ministry.
Russian air strikes injured 13 and damaged buildings in the Ukrainian capital of Kyiv and in the Black Sea port city of Odesa in the early hours of Thursday, officials said on the Telegram messaging app.
Iran's Revolutionary Guards Navy said a Togo-flagged oil tanker was struck while attempting to make an “illegal passage” through the Strait of Hormuz, Iranian state media said early on Friday.
U.S. President Donald Trump said on Wednesday he hoped the war against Iran was nearing its end and that Tehran wanted to reach a deal, but Iran dismissed his comments as “mixed signals” as the conflict approaches its seventh month.
The European Union will disburse €3.3 billion ($3.8 billion) to Ukraine for missiles and drones, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said after a phone call with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy.
Here's your AnewZ Daily Brief for 18 September 2026. These are the top five stories making headlines in the field of science.
The U.S. State Department approved a potential $2.7 billion military sale to Ukraine for air-defence development upgrades, along with related equipment and services, the department said in a congressional notification late on Friday.
U.S. President Donald Trump said on Friday that additional news organisations could be barred from the White House, hours after announcing bans on CNN, MS NOW and Politico over coverage he described as “fake news”.
U.S. President Donald Trump announced an agreement with Denmark and Greenland on Friday that would significantly expand Washington’s military presence on the Arctic island and give the United States what he described as permanent authority over its security.
The European Union will disburse €3.3 billion ($3.8 billion) to Ukraine for missiles and drones, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said after a phone call with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy.
Russia’s first State Duma election since the full-scale invasion of Ukraine is testing the country’s political system as voters choose a new parliament amid wartime and economic pressures.
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