130 Nigerian schoolchildren freed after Niger State kidnapping
The Nigerian government has confirmed the release of a further 130 schoolchildren abducted from a Catholic school in Niger State in November, completi...
Azerbaijan marked the fifth anniversary of its victory in the Second Karabakh War with a grand military parade at Azadliq Square in Baku today.
The event, which commemorated the liberation of occupied territories and the restoration of national sovereignty, saw a distinguished gathering of leaders, including Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev, First Lady Mehriban Aliyeva, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, and Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif.
In his opening remarks, President Ilham Aliyev expressed national pride, extending his congratulations to the Azerbaijani people. He celebrated the victory as a momentous achievement for the country, underlining the importance of solidarity during the 2020 conflict. Aliyev highlighted Türkiye’s unwavering support from the start of the war, noting that President Erdoğan’s public backing sent a powerful message to the world. He also spoke about the strengthening of Azerbaijan’s ties with Türkiye through the Shusha Declaration, which established a bilateral alliance.
President Aliyev reviewed the 44-day war, calling the liberation of Shusha the turning point that broke the backbone of the Armenian forces. He reminded the audience that Armenia’s capitulation on 9 November, 2020, restored Azerbaijan’s territorial integrity and dignity.
Aliyev also highlighted the ongoing reconstruction in the liberated regions, with over 60,000 people already resettled, marking the success of the “Great Return” programme. In his closing remarks, the President reaffirmed Azerbaijan’s sovereignty over Karabakh and East Zangezur, declaring that the Azerbaijani flag would forever fly over these lands.
Solidarity and Justice: Messages from Pakistan and Türkiye
Pakistan’s Prime Minister, Shehbaz Sharif, also delivered a message of solidarity during the parade. Sharif praised Azerbaijan’s victory in Karabakh as a triumph for sovereignty and self-determination, declaring it a victory for all peoples fighting for justice. He reaffirmed Pakistan’s steadfast support for Azerbaijan throughout the conflict and beyond.
Meanwhile, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan emphasized the enduring friendship between Azerbaijan and Türkiye. In his speech, Erdoğan recalled the words of Azerbaijani poet Məmməd Araz, reflecting on the deep-rooted sense of patriotism shared between the two nations. Erdoğan quoted the poet’s call for unity, with each word of Araz’s verse echoing the sentiment that the homeland — Vətən — is the rallying cry of all Azerbaijanis, living or fallen.
The death toll from Hong Kong’s deadliest fire in decades has risen to 161, after forensic analysis confirmed one more victim among the charred remains at Wang Fuk Court in Tai Po, more than three weeks after the blaze began, authorities said on Saturday.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is set to meet President Donald Trump on 29 December in Florida, where he is expected to present a package of military options regarding Iran, Israel’s public broadcaster KAN reported on Saturday.
The United States seized a second merchant vessel carrying oil off the coast of Venezuela in international waters on Saturday, as part of Washington’s sanctions enforcement campaign, according to the Department of Homeland Security.
US intelligence assessments indicate that Russian President Vladimir Putin continues to seek full control of Ukraine and to expand Russia’s influence in parts of Europe formerly under Soviet rule, contradicting repeated claims that Moscow poses no threat to the continent.
A major power outage swept across San Francisco on Saturday, leaving up to 130,000 customers without electricity, disrupting traffic and forcing some businesses to close temporarily, officials said.
Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan announced the arrival of the first rail shipment of Azerbaijani petrol on Friday, calling the delivery — the first such transfer between the two countries in decades — a sign that “peace has now become a reality”.
AnewZ has launched a new investigations unit with the premiere of The Oligarch’s Design, a long-form documentary marking the debut of AnewZ Investigations, its cross-border reporting initiative.
Iran’s renewed call for international burden sharing in hosting Afghan refugees has revived a familiar narrative - that refugees are an economic strain rather than a source of long-term value. Analysts say this framing overlooks decades of contribution by Afghan refugees across the region.
Uzbek President Shavkat Mirziyoyev’s official visit to Tokyo represents more than a strengthening of bilateral relations; it is a strategic step that broadens the economic and diplomatic horizons of the region.
The United States has suspended the Diversity Visa Lottery programme, commonly known as the Green Card lottery, after a deadly shooting at Brown University.
You can download the AnewZ application from Play Store and the App Store.
What is your opinion on this topic?
Leave the first comment