Australia returns ancient Chinese statue heads stolen from imperial tombs
Australia has returned two ancient stone statue heads to China, more than 30 years after they were taken from imperial tombs in central China....
British Steel has secured a multi-million-pound order to supply rail for a major high-speed railway in Türkiye. Backed by UK Export Finance, the deal will see 36,000 tonnes of rail used on a 599km line between Ankara and İzmir, prompting the company to resume round-the-clock production.
The eight-figure contract has been awarded by ERG International Group, which is delivering the Ankara–İzmir High-Speed Rail Project on behalf of the Turkish government. Once completed, the line will be operated by Turkish State Railways.
The new high-speed railway is expected to reduce journey times between Ankara and İzmir by more than 10 hours. It will also help cut carbon emissions by providing a cleaner alternative to road and air travel.
For British Steel, the contract represents a significant commercial milestone. The scale of the order has led to the creation of 23 new roles and the resumption of 24/7 rail manufacturing operations at its Scunthorpe site for the first time in more than a decade.
Lisa Coulson, Chief Commercial Officer at British Steel, described the agreement as a prestigious win that underlines the company’s global competitiveness.
“The deal highlights British Steel’s capability to deliver sustainable track systems for major infrastructure projects and reinforces its importance as the UK’s only rail manufacturer,” Coulson said.
The new contract comes after the UK government took control of British Steel’s plant in Scunthorpe in April to prevent its closure.
Industry Minister Chris McDonald said the order was positive news for UK steelmaking and aligned with the government’s Steel Strategy.
“Every tonne of British-made steel used in projects at home and abroad helps sustain skilled employment and reinforces its quality for the world’s most ambitious engineering projects,” he said.
The Middle East conflict remains tense as diplomatic efforts continue alongside renewed Houthi attacks. Iran says it remains open to mediation, while the Saudi-led coalition says it intercepted a ballistic missile fired towards the kingdom.
Evacuations and the provision of humanitarian aid in the Russian-occupied southern Ukrainian town of Oleshky have begun, a senior Ukrainian official said on Friday. In a statement on Telegram, David Arakhamia said a six-day ceasefire was holding, and that more details would follow.
Rescuers searched the wreckage of two high-speed trains in central Spain on Thursday as the death toll rose to a provisional 74, making it the country's second fatal high-speed rail disaster this year.
Russian President Vladimir Putin said Russia remains willing to rebuild relations with European countries but warned that any wider conflict on the continent would leave no winners, as he commented on recent diplomatic contacts with Nordic leaders and growing security concerns in the Baltic region.
Qatari mediators returned to Tehran on Friday as part of efforts to reach a deal between the U.S. and Iran, according to an official briefed on the talks.
Demonstrators carrying Iranian flags and placards supporting the hijab gathered outside the Azerbaijani Embassy in London.
Opium poppy cultivation in Afghanistan surged by 330 per cent in 2026 despite a four-year ban, the United Nations said on Thursday. Afghan authorities disputed the findings, while Japan urged continued support for farmers seeking alternative livelihoods.
Central Asia could gain up to $640 million a year from closer energy cooperation, but strained electricity grids threaten to limit those gains, with Kazakhstan particularly exposed to regional power shortages and growing pressure on its network.
Georgia and Azerbaijan are stepping up efforts to boost trade, strengthen transport links between Asia and Europe and resolve a longstanding border dispute, as both countries seek to deepen their strategic partnership.
People travelling between Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan and Azerbaijan could soon be able to pay for purchases using their usual banking apps. Central banks from the five countries are working on linking their national payment systems.
You can download the AnewZ application from Play Store and the App Store.
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