Iran signs €500 million arms deal with Russia to restore air defences, FT reports
Iran has signed a secret €500 million arms deal with Russia to rebuild air defences, weakened during last year’s war with Israel, the Financial Ti...
Afghanistan’s Acting Foreign Minister, Amir Khan Muttaqi, met with Qatar’s Prime Minister and Foreign Minister, Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani, during an official visit to Doha aimed at enhancing bilateral cooperation.
The high-level talks focused on strengthening diplomatic engagement, regional collaboration, and economic ties between the two nations, according to a statement by Afghanistan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
Sheikh Mohammed emphasized the “close and brotherly” relationship between Qatar and Afghanistan and expressed optimism over Afghanistan’s growing role in regional affairs. He encouraged deeper private sector collaboration and expanding trade as a cornerstone of future relations.
Muttaqi, in turn, thanked Qatar for its ongoing support and highlighted Doha’s critical role in Afghanistan’s foreign policy. He praised Qatar’s efforts in mediating dialogue between the Afghan authorities and the international community, particularly its facilitation of peace talks and humanitarian support. The Afghan minister proposed new Qatari investments in Afghanistan’s development and commercial infrastructure and advocated for measures to boost bilateral trade.
Qatar has played a pivotal diplomatic role in Afghanistan’s modern history. It hosted the Taliban’s political office and facilitated the landmark peace deal with the United States in 2020. Since then, Doha has remained a key venue for international engagement with Afghanistan’s de facto authorities, including recent UN-led discussions on Afghanistan’s humanitarian and political future.
Despite strong political relations, trade remains modest. According to the United Nations COMTRADE database, Qatar imported approximately $1.17 million worth of goods from Afghanistan in 2023. Both sides have signaled a shared commitment to expanding the relationship beyond diplomacy to include economic development, signaling a long-term vision for regional stability and mutual prosperity.
A seven-month-old Japanese macaque has drawn international attention after forming an unusual bond with a stuffed orangutan toy after being rejected by its mother.
Divers have recovered the bodies of seven Chinese tourists and a Russian driver after their minibus broke through the ice of on Lake Baikal in Russia, authorities said.
President Donald Trump said on Saturday (21 February) that he will raise temporary tariffs on nearly all U.S. imports from 10% to 15%, the maximum allowed under the law, after the Supreme Court struck down his previous tariff program.
Pakistan said it carried out cross-border strikes on militant targets inside Afghanistan after blaming a series of recent suicide bombings, including attacks during the holy month of Ramadan, on fighters it said were operating from Afghan territory.
Iran announced on Saturday (21 February) that it has designated the naval and air forces of European Union member states as “terrorist entities” in a reciprocal move after the EU blacklisted the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC).
Further Iran-U.S. nuclear talks are scheduled in Geneva on Thursday (26 February) as diplomacy resumes over Tehran’s nuclear programme following earlier mediation efforts. But will the talks move Iran-U.S. negotiations closer to a deal, and what should be expected from the meeting?
China says it's making a "full assessment" of the U.S. Supreme Court's tariff ruling and urged Washington to lift "relevant unilateral tariff measures" on its trading partners, the Chinese commerce ministry said in a statement on Monday (23 February).
Start your day informed with AnewZ Morning Brief. Here are the top news stories for the 23rd of February, covering the latest developments you need to know.
A “Victory will be ours” banner was hung on the Russian Embassy in Seoul, ahead of the fourth anniversary of Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine. It remains on display despite a request from the South Korean Foreign Ministry on Sunday (22 February) for its removal, sparking widespread criticism.
North Korea’s Workers' Party of Korea has re-elected Kim Jong Un as general secretary during the party congress in Pyongyang state media reported.
You can download the AnewZ application from Play Store and the App Store.
What is your opinion on this topic?
Leave the first comment