According to Hürriyet, Türkiye’s S-400 air defense systems are being delivered to the Gulf states and have already been sold to a third country. Some sources claim that the buyer is the United Arab Emirates, while others say that Qatar has purchased the systems. The newspaper notes that both countries need air defense systems…
Russia introduced a ban on diesel exports on Wednesday as part of a raft of measures to support the domestic fuel market after systematic Ukrainian drone attacks on oil refineries triggered gasoline shortages and price spikes, Reuters reports. Drivers in many regions are facing hours-long lines to refuel, as intensifying Ukrainian strikes on Russian…
US President Donald Trump said on July 8 that he currently sees no reason to send ground forces to Iran. He said this during a meeting with Ukrainian leader Vladimir Zelensky on the sidelines of the NATO summit in Ankara. “No, there’s no point in me doing that. <…>Why would I send [ground troops]…
US President Donald Trump said that despite the complexity of the situation, significant progress has been made in the war in Ukraine in recent weeks. During talks with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky at the NATO summit in Ankara on July 8, Trump commented on his contacts with the presidents of Ukraine and Russia. He…
NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte addressed Russian leader Vladimir Putin during the Alliance summit in Ankara, warning the Kremlin leader not to provoke the bloc. “Don’t fool with us. Don’t play with us. We will never attack anyone. We will only defend our way of life, our democracy, and our territory,” Rutte said, addressing…
Reuters. French President Emmanuel Macron met on Tuesday (July 7) with his Syrian counterpart Ahmed al-Sharaa in Damascus after blasts rocked Syria’s capital. Two bombs exploded near a hotel in Damascus where Macron had spent the night, but his office said he did not hear the explosions. Syrian authorities said 18 people were…
EU Enlargement Commissioner Marta Kos posted photos on her social media page, announcing that she had made jam from Armenian apricots. “This is jam I made from Armenian apricots. Apricots are symbolic of a shift that is taking place in Armenia. At last month’s election, the majority of Armenians voted for parties that…
Belarusian leader Alexander Lukashenko said Belarus would not send its troops to fight in Ukraine but simultaneously blamed Western countries for prolonging the war and increasing military tensions in Europe. Speaking at a ceremony honoring graduates of Belarusian military academies on Monday, July 6, Lukashenko claimed an international “war party” was determined to keep…
The Ambassador of the Republic of Armenia Narek Mkrtchyan, the U.S. State Department’s Special Envoy to Monitor and Combat Antisemitism Yehuda Kaplun, and Rob Garson, President of the American Association of Jewish Lawyers and Jurists, hosted a “Shabbat Lunch” at the Armenian Embassy dedicated to the 250th anniversary of the United States. The event was…
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni discussed bilateral relations, defense cooperation, and regional and global developments during a phone call. In a statement issued on Friday, July 3, Turkey’s Directorate of Communications said Erdogan emphasized the importance of strengthening cooperation between the two countries in all areas, particularly in…
Iran’s foreign minister corroborated US media reports that Washington warned Tehran Israel may have had its chief negotiators on a target list during April talks in Islamabad, the same talks that produced the framework deal signed on 17 June, Euronews reports. Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi has confirmed media reports that officials in Washington…
Iran’s Supreme Leader, Mojtaba Khamenei, will not attend the funeral ceremonies of his father, former Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, because of security concerns, Ayatollah Hakim Elahi, Khamenei’s representative in India, has stated. He said the risk posed by alleged Israeli threats and surveillance has made the new leader’s public appearance “dangerous,” ANI reports. …
Reuters. Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his Japanese counterpart Sanae Takaichi on Thursday (July 2) pledged to boost their two countries’ cooperation in artificial intelligence, defence, energy, and economic ties. Takaichi is on a three-day visit to New Delhi as the two Asian partners hold their 16th annual summit. Bilateral trade between…
The death toll from the devastating earthquakes in Venezuela has risen to 2,295. More than 11,000 people have been injured. According to the President of the National Assembly, Venezuelan and foreign rescue teams, along with volunteers, have pulled nearly 6,500 people alive from the rubble. The magnitude 7.2 and 7.5 earthquakes struck on June 24,…
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen on Wednesday announced a €20 million ($22.7 million) program to promote peace in the South Caucasus region as she embarked on a visit to Azerbaijan. The “peace-fostering program” was announced by von der Leyen at a joint press conference in Baku following talks with President Ilham Aliyev….
Afghanistan’s Taliban regime said they have carried out strikes on targets along the border with Pakistan, injuring several people in Pakistan’s southwestern Balochistan province. Pakistan’s military said it had shot down four rudimentary drones and warned any further provocation “would receive a befitting response”. The BBC has been unable to independently confirm the attack….
The Russian government is set to suspend traffic through several railway checkpoints on its borders with Finland, Estonia, and Latvia starting July 1, according to a government order, The Kyiv Independent reports. The order did not provide a reason for the closures. The statement, published on June 30, says Russia will “temporarily suspend”…
Azerbaijan is on the verge of establishing a media “super-regulator” with unprecedented powers, Reporters without Borders said in an announcement. Published on the organizations website, it reads: The bill creating a Media and Broadcasting Council — examined by Parliament at its second reading on Tuesday, 30 June — would concentrate the regulation, funding, training…
Recep Tayyip Erdogan is seeking to leverage the upcoming NATO summit to press for deeper Turkish involvement in Europe’s defence architecture, calling for the removal of restrictions on defence trade among NATO allies. Speaking on Monday to parliamentary delegates from all 32 NATO member states in Istanbul, the Turkish president said that Turkey’s contributions…
Eleven people have died after a civilian aircraft carrying skydivers crashed in the town of Tomblaine in eastern France, local officials said, BBC reports. The pilot and all 10 passengers were killed, including five instructors and five people who were preparing to skydive for the first time. The plane, which was being used…
Finnish President Alexander Stubb signed amendments to the country’s Nuclear Energy Act allowing the import, transit and transportation of nuclear weapons through Finland, the Finnish Parliament said. The law will take effect July 1. The legislation removes previous restrictions on such activities and adapts Finnish law to the country’s new security environment following…
The heatwave scorching western Europe is the most severe and widespread ever and is only possible due to the climate crisis driven by fossil fuel burning, scientists have said, The Guardian reports. Almost half of Europe’s 850 largest cities are also enduring their worst ever heat stress, a combination of temperature and humidity, they…
Iran on Friday condemned a joint statement issued by the US secretary of state and Gulf Cooperation Council foreign ministers, describing it as “interventionist, irresponsible and provocative.” In a statement, the Iranian Foreign Ministry criticized positions outlined in the joint communique issued after the GCC-US ministerial meeting in Bahrain on June 25 and warned…
The death toll from the Venezuela earthquakes has risen to 589 and the number of injured is now 2,980, according to acting President Delcy Rodríguez. A previous official update said 235 people had been killed and 4,300 were injured. Two powerful earthquakes rocked Venezuela within seconds of each other on Wednesday. The second…
The U.N. International Maritime Organization paused its operation to escort ships through the Strait of Hormuz on Thursday after a vessel reported an attack, reigniting concerns about whether a preliminary deal to end the Iran war will hold, Reuters reports. Taiwan’s Evergreen Marine (2603.TW), opens new tab said on Friday its ship was hit…
The Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe adopted a resolution expressing serious concern over the systemic suppression of dissent in Azerbaijan. The resolution highlights the country’s low ranking in the Press Freedom Index and notes the existence of a restrictive legislative framework targeting media outlets, political parties, and non-governmental organizations. The report condemns…
The Chamber of Deputies, the lower house of the Romanian parliament, has approved a draft law on unification with Moldova. This was reported on June 24 by the Romanian agency Agerpres. The authors of the material clarify that the draft law was submitted to parliament on April 14, but the chairman of the Romanian…
US President Trump declared defiantly Wednesday that Iran is not charging fees for transiting the Strait of Hormuz. He did not mention, however, Iran’s plans to manage traffic through the vital shipping route in conjunction with Oman in the future – which Tehran and Muscat have said could involve “costs” for shippers. “Iran has…
Another batch of wheat has been sent to Armenia via transit through the territories of Azerbaijan and Georgia. Ten railcars of wheat will be delivered from Russia. According to Azerbaijani media reports, the train departed at 18:00 from the Balajari station of Azerbaijan Railways CJSC. It will pass through Georgia and then continue on…
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen is preparing to travel to Armenia next week, according to three people familiar with the plans, Poiltico reports. The EU delegation, which will also include Enlargement Commissioner Marta Kos, will visit Armenia in a high-profile show of support for Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan after his pro-European party…
