Protest outside Azerbaijani Embassy in London features Iranian flags and hijab placards
Demonstrators carrying Iranian flags and placards supporting the hijab gathered outside the Azerbaijani Embassy...
Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan has called for a renewed round of Russia-Ukraine peace talks during a two-day visit to Kyiv, as Ankara seeks to revive its role as a mediator and advance efforts towards a negotiated end to the war.
On Thursday, Fidan met Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha to discuss Türkiye's diplomatic efforts to end the war, security in the Black Sea and bilateral ties between Kyiv and Ankara.
Speaking at a joint press conference, Fidan called for the continuation of the Türkiye-brokered Istanbul negotiation process, highlighting Ankara's ongoing efforts to bring both sides back to the negotiating table.
Türkiye, he told reporters, was working on "new ideas and approaches", which, he said, could help overcome the current diplomatic deadlock.
Since the war began in 2022, Türkiye has hosted several rounds of direct Russia-Ukraine talks.
It has also sought to maintain relations with both sides while consistently voicing support for Ukraine's territorial integrity.
Sybiha, for his part, said Türkiye could potentially host a future meeting between Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and Russian President Vladimir Putin.
"We believe that only a meeting at the leaders' level can give fresh momentum to the peace process," he said, adding that Türkiye could be "one of the main venues" for talks.
According to Sybiha, Ukraine remains "ready for a ceasefire", although Kyiv hopes to secure international security guarantees as part of any eventual settlement.
Black Sea security also topped the agenda during Thursday's discussions.
Türkiye controls access to the Black Sea through the Dardanelles and Bosporus straits and has consistently sought to prevent the conflict from spreading further across the region.
In 2022, Ankara helped broker the Black Sea Grain Initiative, which allowed Ukrainian agricultural exports to reach global markets before Russia withdrew from the agreement the following year.
Fidan is also expected to meet Zelenskyy during his visit to Kyiv, along with representatives of the Crimean Tatar community.
Beyond the war, Türkiye and Ukraine have continued to deepen their economic and defence ties.
Ukraine recently ratified a long-awaited free trade agreement with Türkiye, while Turkish companies are expected to play a key role in the country's post-war reconstruction.
Fidan's visit underscores Türkiye's efforts to position itself as a key intermediary in the conflict, leveraging its NATO membership and its relations with Moscow in pursuit of a negotiated settlement.
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.
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.
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.
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.
UN human rights experts comprising a group including Special Rapporteurs and independent experts who are part of the UN Human Rights Council, have criticised French authorities over their handling of nationwide student protests.
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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