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....
Ankara and Tbilisi pledged to enhance "strategic partnership" in pursuit of peace in the Black Sea and Caucasus regions, as Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan hosted his Georgian counterpart, Mikheil Kavelashvili, in Ankara on Tuesday.
Speaking at a joint press conference with his Georgian counterpart, President Erdoğan said, “We, as Türkiye and Georgia, will continue to act shoulder to shoulder for cooperation, peace and development in our region and beyond. This vision we have displayed during today’s talks proves our determination to build not just today, but also the future in our region.”

The joint press conference was held following the bilateral meeting at the Presidential Complex, where the two parties discussed the security of the Black Sea, peace processes in the Caucasus, the conflict between Russia and Ukraine, and the humanitarian disaster in Gaza.
"Türkiye and Georgia are two strategic partners connected not only by their proximity as neighbours but also by deep historical, cultural, and human ties" Turkish leader said.
President Erdoğan emphasised that “cooperation in the defence industry and military fields” was amoung key matters on the agenda, adding that Türkiye, Azerbaijan, and Georgia are advancing regional peace and cooperation through trilateral mechanisms in foreign policy and security.
The president also noted that Türkiye planned to host the next Trilateral meeting of Foreign Ministers in the near future as well as a Trilateral Speakers of Parliament Meeting.
“Given the current geopolitical realities, regional cooperation has become even more crucial for promoting peace, stability, and the development of our countries. In this context, the Azerbaijan-Georgia-Türkiye trilateral format serves as a strong example of how nations that respect each other’s sovereignty and territorial integrity can work together effectively and successfully—ready to implement major projects that benefit the entire region,” Kavelashvili stated.
Addressing security concerns, Georgian leader highlighted Ankara's efforts in contributing to finding dialogue possibilities between Ukraine and Russia and its role in establishing peace in Black Sea region.
Stating that Türkiye and Georgia host the Baku-Tbilisi-Kars railway project, and share oil and natural gas lines of strategic importance, President Erdoğan said that Ankara and Tbilisi will work on fostering trade and investment relations.
"Our country has been the biggest trade partner of Georgia for 17 years in a row is an obvious proof that our trade relations have been built upon strong foundations” he stated.
President Erdoğan noted that the two countries had achieved their previously set goal of a $3 billion trade volume in recent years. He also highlighted the significance of direct Turkish investments in Georgia and the $5.5 billion worth of projects undertaken by Turkish contracting companies in the country.

Kavelashvili stated that he had extended an invitation to the Turkish leader to visit Georgia and expressed hope that a meeting of the High-Level Strategic Cooperation Council would be held in the near future.
“Türkiye’s support is extremely important for Georgia, particularly with regard to its territorial integrity and sovereignty,” he added.
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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