China accuses Philippines of ‘disrupting’ South China Sea stability
China’s military said on Friday it had conducted a routine patrol in the South China Sea from 23 to 26 February, accusing the Philippines of “disr...
Top diplomats from Armenia and Azerbaijan will convene in Qatar this Saturday for a high-profile panel discussion aimed at cementing the peace process between the historic South Caucasus rivals.
Within the framework of the Doha Forum 2025, the event will feature a joint appearance by Armen Grigoryan, Secretary of the Security Council of Armenia, and Hikmet Hajiyev, Assistant to the President of Azerbaijan. The discussion, scheduled for December 6, marks a continuing effort to normalise relations following the turbulent events of recent years.
Focus on the ‘Washington Agreement’
According to the forum’s official agenda, the session is titled “Armenia–Azerbaijan Lasting Peace: The Washington Agreement and a Shared Future.” The dialogue will centre on the practical steps arising from the Washington Agreement—a diplomatic framework that has evidently become central to the current detente between Yerevan and Baku.
The officials are expected to openly discuss the content of the agreement and the joint diplomatic efforts that led to its formation. Crucially, the conversation will look forward, addressing how the accord can contribute to wider regional stability, reconciliation, and the unlocking of new economic and cooperative opportunities in the South Caucasus.
A Rare Public Platform
While officials from both sides have met frequently in closed-door negotiations facilitated by Western and regional powers, sharing a public stage to discuss a "shared future" signals a shift in tone.
The panel will be moderated by David Hearst, co-founder and editor-in-chief of Middle East Eye. The session is scheduled to run from 13:00 to 13:30 (Yerevan time).
Context of the Conflict
This meeting comes against the backdrop of a complex road to peace. Following the 2020 war and Azerbaijan’s restoration of full sovereignty over the Karabakh region in 2023, the two nations have been engaged in protracted talks to delineate borders and open transport links. The reference to a "Washington Agreement" suggests a pivotal role played by U.S. mediation in finalising the terms of the current diplomatic architecture.
Earlier, Armen Grigoryan confirmed via social media that he would depart for Doha on a working visit on December 5 specifically to participate in this discussion with Mr Hajiyev, underscoring the high priority both administrations are placing on communicating the benefits of peace to the international community.
The death toll from heavy rains and flooding in Brazil’s Minas Gerais state has risen to 46, authorities said, with 21 people still reported missing. The storms triggered landslides and widespread flooding, displacing thousands across Juiz de Fora and Uba.
UK police have concluded searches at Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor’s former residence in Windsor Great Park as part of an investigation into alleged misconduct in public office.
The U.S. Embassy in Jerusalem says it will provide on-site passport and consular services to settlers based in the West Bank on Friday 27 February. The move marks the first time American consular officials have offered such services to settlers, U.S. officials said on Tuesday.
The situation in Cuba was heating up and called for restraint following a deadly incident involving a Florida-registered speedboat off the coast of the Caribbean island, the Kremlin said on Thursday (26 February).
A group of sick and injured Palestinians and their caregivers left Gaza through the Rafah border crossing on Wednesday (25 February) for medical treatment abroad, as limited evacuations continue under tight restrictions.
China’s military said on Friday it had conducted a routine patrol in the South China Sea from 23 to 26 February, accusing the Philippines of “disrupting” regional peace and stability by organising joint patrols with countries outside the region.
Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova on Thursday (26 February) accused Ukraine of threatening Europe’s energy security by halting oil flows through the Druzhba oil pipeline to Hungary and Slovakia.
U.S.-brokered talks on the Russia–Ukraine war ended in Geneva on Thursday, with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy saying there is “more readiness” for the next trilateral meeting and that it is likely to be held in Abu Dhabi in early March, though the date has not been finalised.
Iran’s top diplomat said that the next round of nuclear talks is expected in less than a week after what he described as “progress in the most serious exchanges” between Tehran and Washington. The statement follows the third round of nuclear talks on Thursday (26 February) in Geneva.
Mexico’s President Claudia Sheinbaum on Thursday thanked FIFA and its president, Gianni Infantino, for reaffirming that the country’s 2026 World Cup host venues will remain unchanged, following violence that erupted after the killing of a major cartel leader.
You can download the AnewZ application from Play Store and the App Store.
What is your opinion on this topic?
Leave the first comment