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....
Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan said Armenia’s territorial integrity cannot be separated from that of its neighbours, responding to accusations over the 2020 war made by former presidents Kocharyan and Sargsyan.
Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan has pushed back against accusations that his leadership provoked the 2020 war with Azerbaijan. The claims were made by former presidents Robert Kocharyan and Serzh Sargsyan at a university event, criticising his handling of negotiations.
During a Q&A in parliament, Pashinyan rejected their statements, saying their approach showed “disrespect” and reiterating his decision to formally recognise the territorial integrity of Armenia by acknowledging the borders of neighbouring states.
He argued that his predecessors had long adopted positions that escalated tensions, referencing the 2016 Four-Day War, the stalled Madrid Principles, and the proposed “Meghri for Karabakh” exchange. He also pointed to a 2018 speech in which Sargsyan warned that Armenia should prepare for military conflict.
Pashinyan’s comments mark another chapter in Armenia’s internal debate over the war, as the government shifts towards formalising peace with Azerbaijan while distancing itself from the legacy of past leadership.
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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