Azerbaijan forces started shelling on Armenian territory killing at least 49 Armenian soldiers. Turkiye firmly sided with Azerbaijan telling Armenia to "cease its provocations" against Baku.

Armenia-Azerbaijan border clash: Turkiye backs Azerbaijan, accuses Armenia of 'provocation'

Turkish social media app Havrita “Bark Map” that locates stray dogs has stirred up controversy after it led to an increase in people hunting down & poisoning the animals.

Why 'Bark Map' App which locates stray dogs is stirring up controversy in Turkiye

Turkiye President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has voiced his displeasure towards what he called the West's 'provocative' policies towards Russia. Erdogan's comment has come just when the European Union is thinking about a price cap on Russian gas.

Russia is a major supplier of natural gas to Europe and has been leveraging its position to exert political pressure on the continent in light of the Ukraine war. The EU has already imposed economic sanctions on Russia.

In order to cut Russia's revenue source, European countries are planning on a price cap on Russian gas.

Russian President Vladimir Putin has reacted angrily and has threatened 'no oil, no gas' to any country that decides to put price cap on Russian energy products. He was speaking at Eastern Economic Forum in Russia's far-east city Vladivostok.

Putin has also threatened a relook at the Ukrainian grain export deal. He said that he would contact Turkish President Erdogan to discuss amendment to the deal to decide which countries can receive grain shipments.

Also Read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/putin-threatens-no-gas-no-oil-in-case-prices-are-capped-513740">Putin threatens 'no gas, no oil' in case prices are capped</a>

Ukraine is a major producer of grains and stoppage of grain exports has been said to potentially cause a global food crisis.

Deal to allow Ukrainian grain shipments to reach other countries was struck in July. Turkey and the United Nations had brokered the deal.

(With inputs from agencies)

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Turkiye President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has voiced his displeasure towards what he called the West's 'provocative' policies towards Russia. Erdogan's comment has come just when the European Union is thinking about a price cap on Russian gas.

Turkiye President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has voiced his displeasure towards what he called the West's 'provocative' policies towards Russia. Erdogan's comment has come just when the European Union is thinking about a price cap on Russian gas. Russia is a major supplier of natural gas to Europe and has been leveraging its position to exert political pressure on the continent in light of the Ukraine war. The EU has already imposed economic sanctions on Russia. In order to cut Russia's revenue source, European countries are planning on a price cap on Russian gas. Russian President Vladimir Putin has reacted angrily and has threatened 'no oil, no gas' to any country that decides to put price cap on Russian energy products. He was speaking at Eastern Economic Forum in Russia's far-east city Vladivostok. Putin has also threatened a relook at the Ukrainian grain export deal. He said that he would contact Turkish President Erdogan to discuss amendment to the deal to decide which countries can receive grain shipments. Also Read | Putin threatens 'no gas, no oil' in case prices are capped Ukraine is a major producer of grains and stoppage of grain exports has been said to potentially cause a global food crisis. Deal to allow Ukrainian grain shipments to reach other countries was struck in July. Turkey and the United Nations had brokered the deal. (With inputs from agencies) You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here. WATCH WION LIVE HERE ×

Erdogan calls Western policies towards Russia 'provocative', Putin threatens relook at grain deal

On The West Asia Post with Ghadi Francis: + Decoding the deadly violence in Iraq + What are Muqtada Al-Sadr's ambitions? + Why does US still have forces in Syria? + Ancient Iranian rug tradition gets a makeover Every Friday at 8.30 pm IST | 3 pm GMT

The West Asia Post: Decoding Iraq's deadly violence | How Erdogan controlled Turkish media

Reuters report revealed how the media is controlled and analysts believed that crackdown could worsen soon. As per the report, Turkiye's opposition media is being targeted by govt bodies.

Reports: How Turkish media is drowning in censorship

At least 32 people have been killed in 2 separate road accidents in south-eastern Turkey. Vehicles crashed into first responders who were attending earlier accidents in the Gaziantep province.

Vehicles crash into first responders, at least 32 dead in 2 road accidents in Turkiye

United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres on Saturday (August 20) inspected a grain ship anchored off Turkish coast. A boat took the secretary general from Istanbul to the grain ship. The ship was chartered by the United Nations to transport Ukrainian grain on the southern shores of Istanbul.

Ukraine, a leading producer of foodgrains&nbsp;has been under attack from Russia since February 24 this year. The invasion created obstacles in the path of grain export from Ukraine raising the spectre of global food crisis. But a deal was brokered by the UN and Turkey between Ukraine and Russia that resulted in agreement for safe passage for grain ships from and to Ukraine.

The agreement also guarantees Russia a right to sell fertilisers and agricultural products despite western sanctions. Guterres said that Russian fertilisers and agricultural products should be able to reach global markets 'unimpeded'. He warned of a global food crisis next year should this not happen.

"It is important that all governments and the private sector cooperate to bring them to market," he said from the Joint Coordination Centre (JCC).

The JCC oversees the implementation of the Ukrainian grain export agreement signed in July by Kyiv and Moscow.

Also Read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/pro-ukrainian-saboteurs-played-a-role-in-blasts-at-russian-military-sites-report-508696">Pro-Ukraine saboteurs played a role in blasts at Russian military sites: Report</a>

"What we see here in Istanbul and in Odessa is only the more visible part of the solution. The other part of this package deal is the unimpeded access to the global markets of Russian food and fertiliser, which are not subject to sanctions," Guterres said, adding that despite this, Russian fertiliser and agricultural exports still faced "obstacles."

"Without fertiliser in 2022, there may not be enough food in 2023. Getting more food and fertiliser out of Ukraine and Russia is crucial to further calm commodity markets and lower prices for consumers," he said. &nbsp;

(With inputs from agencies)

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United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres on Saturday (August 20) inspected a grain ship anchored off Turkish coast. A boat took the secretary general from Istanbul to the grain ship.

United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres on Saturday (August 20) inspected a grain ship anchored off Turkish coast. A boat took the secretary general from Istanbul to the grain ship. The ship was chartered by the United Nations to transport Ukrainian grain on the southern shores of Istanbul. Ukraine, a leading producer of foodgrains has been under attack from Russia since February 24 this year. The invasion created obstacles in the path of grain export from Ukraine raising the spectre of global food crisis. But a deal was brokered by the UN and Turkey between Ukraine and Russia that resulted in agreement for safe passage for grain ships from and to Ukraine. The agreement also guarantees Russia a right to sell fertilisers and agricultural products despite western sanctions. Guterres said that Russian fertilisers and agricultural products should be able to reach global markets 'unimpeded'. He warned of a global food crisis next year should this not happen. "It is important that all governments and the private sector cooperate to bring them to market," he said from the Joint Coordination Centre (JCC). The JCC oversees the implementation of the Ukrainian grain export agreement signed in July by Kyiv and Moscow. Also Read | Pro-Ukraine saboteurs played a role in blasts at Russian military sites: Report "What we see here in Istanbul and in Odessa is only the more visible part of the solution. The other part of this package deal is the unimpeded access to the global markets of Russian food and fertiliser, which are not subject to sanctions," Guterres said, adding that despite this, Russian fertiliser and agricultural exports still faced "obstacles." "Without fertiliser in 2022, there may not be enough food in 2023. Getting more food and fertiliser out of Ukraine and Russia is crucial to further calm commodity markets and lower prices for consumers," he said. (With inputs from agencies) You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here. WATCH WION LIVE HERE ×

UN chief inspects Ukraine grain ship off the coast of Turkey

On The West Asia Post with Ghadi Francis: + Iran nuclear deal closer than ever? + Israel, Turkey to normalise ties + The plot whispers that triggered Iraq's power struggle + A look at the India-Middle East food corridor Every Friday at 8.30 pm IST | 3 pm GMT

The West Asia Post: Can the world salvage the Iran nuclear deal?

Amid the growing concerns over shelling around Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant, United Nations general secretary Antonio Guterres met Ukraine and Turkey's President.

Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant talks: UN chief meets Turkish, Ukrainian Presidents

President Recep Tayyip Erdogan on Thursday threw Turkey's support behind Ukraine and warned of the danger of "another Chernobyl" disaster erupting at a nuclear power plant held by invading Russian forces.

The Turkish leader met his Ukrainian counterpart, Volodymyr Zelensky, in Lviv just two weeks after flying to Sochi for talks with Russian President Vladimir Putin, during which the two sides pledged to boost economic cooperation.

But Erdogan told reporters that NATO member Turkey remained firmly on Ukraine's side in the conflict and would continue its diplomatic efforts to end the fighting.

"While continuing our efforts to find a solution, we remain on the side of our Ukrainian friends," Erdogan said.

His talks with Zelensky and visiting UN chief Antonio Guterres—both men's first since Russia's February invasion—came with global alarm rising about fighting that has raged around Ukraine's Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant.

The Russian-held facility has been experiencing days of shelling.

"We are worried. We do not want another Chernobyl," said the Turkish leader.

Erdogan only mentioned Putin once in his comments to reporters.

"We discussed the exchange of prisoners of war and our initiatives in this regard," Erdogan said.

"We will continue to talk about that with Putin."

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President Recep Tayyip Erdogan on Thursday threw Turkey's support behind Ukraine and warned of the danger of "another Chernobyl" disaster erupting at a nuclear power plant held by invading Russian forces.

President Recep Tayyip Erdogan on Thursday threw Turkey's support behind Ukraine and warned of the danger of "another Chernobyl" disaster erupting at a nuclear power plant held by invading Russian forces. The Turkish leader met his Ukrainian counterpart, Volodymyr Zelensky, in Lviv just two weeks after flying to Sochi for talks with Russian President Vladimir Putin, during which the two sides pledged to boost economic cooperation. But Erdogan told reporters that NATO member Turkey remained firmly on Ukraine's side in the conflict and would continue its diplomatic efforts to end the fighting. "While continuing our efforts to find a solution, we remain on the side of our Ukrainian friends," Erdogan said. His talks with Zelensky and visiting UN chief Antonio Guterres—both men's first since Russia's February invasion—came with global alarm rising about fighting that has raged around Ukraine's Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant. The Russian-held facility has been experiencing days of shelling. "We are worried. We do not want another Chernobyl," said the Turkish leader. Erdogan only mentioned Putin once in his comments to reporters. "We discussed the exchange of prisoners of war and our initiatives in this regard," Erdogan said. "We will continue to talk about that with Putin." WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here.

Turkey stands ‘on the side of Ukraine’, says Recep Tayyip Erdogan

Israel and Turkey announced the resumption of full diplomatic ties, following years of strained relations between the West Asian nations. Molly Gambhir tells you more.

WION Fineprint: Israel, Turkey to restore full diplomatic ties

In the southeastern Turkish province of Sanliurfa, thousands of scorpions are kept in clear plastic boxes and line the walls of a breeding laboratory, waiting to be milked for their pricey venom that is used to make medicines.

Turkish scorpion breeding lab milk arachnids for their expensive venom

Turkiye's President Recep Tayyip Erdogan flagged off a new drilling mission to the Mediterranean amid rising tensions with Greece. Erdogan also promised to carry out his much-hyped military operation in northern Syria. Palki Sharma decodes the Turkish president's two-front escalation.

Gravitas: Erdogan raises tensions in the Mediterranean and Syria

In an attempt to show the world that its treatment of Uyghur Muslims is not as barbaric as the world media reports it to be, China has allowed a Turkish delegation to visit the Xinjiang province, the ground zero for the genocide of the minority group.

Reportedly, on the sidelines of the ongoing Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) foreign ministers meeting in Cambodia, Chinese foreign minister Wang Yi told his Turkish counterpart Mevlut Cavusoglu that&nbsp;“China has always taken an attitude of being open and transparent on issues related to Xinjiang."

The Chinese minister added that Bejing will communicate closely with Ankara to chalk out an itinerary for the visit. Meanwhile,&nbsp;Cavusoglu added that Turkey was firmly following the one-China policy not only on the Taiwan question but also on issues concerning Xinjiang.

A time when Erdogan batted for the Uyghurs

It is pertinent to note that there was a time when Turkish President&nbsp;Recep Tayyip Erdogan was an outspoken activist for the rights of the Uyghur Muslims. While the world had barely known about the plight of the Muslim community, Erdogan in 2009 had dubbed it a 'genocide'.

Read More:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/leaked-documents-reveal-chinas-plot-to-oppress-the-uyghur-muslims-493121">Leaked documents reveal China's plot to oppress the Uyghur Muslims</a>

However, since then,&nbsp;Erdogan has become a miniature self of Jinping by emulating a similar autocratic system in his country. Ruling with an iron fist by dividing the society on polarising communal issues means that Erdogan and Turkey have kept mum on the genocide of Uyghurs.

Thus, the visit by Turkish delegates aims to do nothing for the rights of Uyghurs but&nbsp;bring closer two leaders who have the same vision of ruling a landmass by mistreating the minorities.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;

China is hiding the truth

It is pertinent to note that&nbsp;UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Michelle Bachelet visited Xinjiang in May to investigate the allegations of widespread abuse.

While Beijing thumped its chest that the visit was positive and achieved practical results, media reports suggested that&nbsp;Bachelet's visit was tampered with and that she was not allowed to speak to detained Uyghurs. Furthermore, the civil rights societies blamed&nbsp;Bachelet for being too soft on the Chinese.

"I should state from the outset what this visit was – and what it wasn’t. This visit was not an investigation – official visits by a High Commissioner are by their nature high-profile and simply not conducive to the kind of detailed, methodical, discreet work of an investigative nature."&nbsp;Bachelet had said during the visit.&nbsp;

As reported by WION, Xi Jinping on multiple occasions has made it clear that Islam can only exist in China if it is reformed according to Chinese orientation.&nbsp;

Read More:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/xi-jinping-says-that-islam-in-beijing-must-be-chinese-in-orientation-498073">Xi Jinping says that Islam in China must be Chinese in orientation</a>

(With inputs from agencies)

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In an attempt to show the world that its treatment of Uyghur Muslims is not as barbaric as the world media reports it to be, China has allowed a Turkish delegation to visit the Xinjiang province, the ground zero for the genocide of the minority group.

In an attempt to show the world that its treatment of Uyghur Muslims is not as barbaric as the world media reports it to be, China has allowed a Turkish delegation to visit the Xinjiang province, the ground zero for the genocide of the minority group. Reportedly, on the sidelines of the ongoing Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) foreign ministers meeting in Cambodia, Chinese foreign minister Wang Yi told his Turkish counterpart Mevlut Cavusoglu that “China has always taken an attitude of being open and transparent on issues related to Xinjiang." The Chinese minister added that Bejing will communicate closely with Ankara to chalk out an itinerary for the visit. Meanwhile, Cavusoglu added that Turkey was firmly following the one-China policy not only on the Taiwan question but also on issues concerning Xinjiang. A time when Erdogan batted for the Uyghurs It is pertinent to note that there was a time when Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan was an outspoken activist for the rights of the Uyghur Muslims. While the world had barely known about the plight of the Muslim community, Erdogan in 2009 had dubbed it a 'genocide'. Read More: Leaked documents reveal China's plot to oppress the Uyghur Muslims However, since then, Erdogan has become a miniature self of Jinping by emulating a similar autocratic system in his country. Ruling with an iron fist by dividing the society on polarising communal issues means that Erdogan and Turkey have kept mum on the genocide of Uyghurs. Thus, the visit by Turkish delegates aims to do nothing for the rights of Uyghurs but bring closer two leaders who have the same vision of ruling a landmass by mistreating the minorities. China is hiding the truth It is pertinent to note that UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Michelle Bachelet visited Xinjiang in May to investigate the allegations of widespread abuse. While Beijing thumped its chest that the visit was positive and achieved practical results, media reports suggested that Bachelet's visit was tampered with and that she was not allowed to speak to detained Uyghurs. Furthermore, the civil rights societies blamed Bachelet for being too soft on the Chinese. "I should state from the outset what this visit was – and what it wasn’t. This visit was not an investigation – official visits by a High Commissioner are by their nature high-profile and simply not conducive to the kind of detailed, methodical, discreet work of an investigative nature." Bachelet had said during the visit. As reported by WION, Xi Jinping on multiple occasions has made it clear that Islam can only exist in China if it is reformed according to Chinese orientation. Read More: Xi Jinping says that Islam in China must be Chinese in orientation (With inputs from agencies) Watch WION's live TV here:

China invites Turkey to visit Xinjiang, the ground zero of Uyghur Muslims genocide

A Russian and Ukrainian team on Wednesday completed a high-stakes inspection of the first shipment of grain from Ukraine since the Kremlin's invasion five months ago helped spark a global food crisis.

The checks aboard the Sierra Leone-flagged Razoni in Istanbul were being watched closely for signs of how well the first agreement signed by Moscow and Kyiv since Russia invaded its pro-Western neighbour can hold.

A deal brokered by Turkey and the United Nations last month lifted a Russian naval blockade of Ukraine's Black Sea cities and set terms for millions of tonnes of wheat and other grain to start flowing from Ukraine's filled silos and ports.

Ukraine exports roughly half of the sunflower oil used on the world market and is one of the world's main supplies of grain.

An almost complete halt to its exports helped push up global food prices and make imports prohibitively expensive in some of the poorest countries in the world.

The Razoni is due to deliver more than 26,000 tonnes of maize to Lebanon -- a crisis-wracked country that&nbsp;imports more than 80 percent of its wheat from Ukraine and Russia.

The ship sailed through a specially designated corridor in the mine-infested waters of the Black Sea before reaching the northern edge of the Bosphorus Strait on Tuesday.

A team of 20 inspectors from the two warring parties and the UN and Turkey strapped on orange helmets and boarded the ship early Wednesday for a check that officials said lasted less than 90 minutes.

Arms depot&nbsp;

The 186-metre (610-foot) long vessel is now due to sail down the Bosphorus Strait in the heart of Istanbul before moving on to the Marmara and Aegean seas.

The UN secretary general's spokesman, Stephane Dujarric, said he hoped for "more outbound movement" from Ukraine on Wednesday.

Kyiv says at least 16 more grain ships are waiting to depart.

But it also accuses Russia of stealing Ukrainian grain in territories seized by Kremlin forces and then shipping it to allied countries such as Syria.

But Turkish hopes that the grain deal could help build trust and lead to ceasefire talks have so far proved futile.

Russia has continued to pound southern Ukrainian cities near the Black Sea with missiles and pressed on with its grinding ground assault across the east.

Officials in Mykolaiv said no one was killed Wednesday in shelling on one of the southern city's supermarkets that came just days after the region's grain mogul and his wife died in a targeted strike on their house.

Moscow said on Wednesday that it had destroyed another foreign arms deport in western Ukraine -- a region the furthest removed from the fighting.

Donetsk evacuations&nbsp;

Kyiv has launched mandatory evacuations from the eastern Donetsk region -- now bearing the brunt of Russia's offensive -- because the government does not expect to be able to provide it with heat in the cold winter months.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has urged the estimated 200,000 remaining residents of the Donetsk region to leave.

Kyiv's forces have been pressing a counter-offensive to drive out the Russians from the southern Kherson region near the Kremlin-annexed Crimea peninsula.

The Ukrainian presidency said it had "liberated" seven more villages in the region while 53 remained under Russian control.

Ukraine has been bolstered by more supplies of Western weapons -- particularly long-range rockets -- ahead of the planned push to retake Kherson city.

The United States announced a new tranche of weapons worth $550 million for Ukraine's forces.

These include longer-range ammunition for increasingly important HIMARS rocket launchers and artillery pieces.

Ukraine is using the HIMARS and similar Western weapons to smash Russian arms depots and break down its lines of ground communication across the east.

'Justice'&nbsp;

The Russians have been unable to seize any major village or city since gaining full control of the Donbas war zone's smaller Lugansk region in early July.

Zelensky told US President Joe&nbsp;Biden&nbsp;in a message that "the word 'HIMARS' has become almost synonymous with the word 'justice' for our country".

Russia has responded by stepping up its propaganda battle against the West and Kyiv.

Its supreme court this week labelled Ukraine's Azov regiment a "terrorist" organisation -- a decision that could pave the way for captured fighters to face lengthy jail terms.

Azov fighters were among 2,500 Ukrainian soldiers who surrendered in May after weeks of fierce resistance at the Azovstal steel plant in devastated Mariupol.

The regiment -- which was incorporated into Ukraine's national guard in 2014 -- is demonised by Moscow for alleged far-right links.&nbsp;

Its members were among 50 Ukrainian servicemen killed last week in an attack on a jail holding prisoners of war in Russian-occupied territory.&nbsp;

Ukraine accuses Moscow of deliberately executing the detainees.

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A Russian and Ukrainian team on Wednesday completed a high-stakes inspection of the first shipment of grain from Ukraine since the Kremlin's invasion five months ago helped spark a global food crisis.

A Russian and Ukrainian team on Wednesday completed a high-stakes inspection of the first shipment of grain from Ukraine since the Kremlin's invasion five months ago helped spark a global food crisis. The checks aboard the Sierra Leone-flagged Razoni in Istanbul were being watched closely for signs of how well the first agreement signed by Moscow and Kyiv since Russia invaded its pro-Western neighbour can hold. A deal brokered by Turkey and the United Nations last month lifted a Russian naval blockade of Ukraine's Black Sea cities and set terms for millions of tonnes of wheat and other grain to start flowing from Ukraine's filled silos and ports. Ukraine exports roughly half of the sunflower oil used on the world market and is one of the world's main supplies of grain. An almost complete halt to its exports helped push up global food prices and make imports prohibitively expensive in some of the poorest countries in the world. The Razoni is due to deliver more than 26,000 tonnes of maize to Lebanon -- a crisis-wracked country that imports more than 80 percent of its wheat from Ukraine and Russia. The ship sailed through a specially designated corridor in the mine-infested waters of the Black Sea before reaching the northern edge of the Bosphorus Strait on Tuesday. A team of 20 inspectors from the two warring parties and the UN and Turkey strapped on orange helmets and boarded the ship early Wednesday for a check that officials said lasted less than 90 minutes. Arms depot The 186-metre (610-foot) long vessel is now due to sail down the Bosphorus Strait in the heart of Istanbul before moving on to the Marmara and Aegean seas. The UN secretary general's spokesman, Stephane Dujarric, said he hoped for "more outbound movement" from Ukraine on Wednesday. Kyiv says at least 16 more grain ships are waiting to depart. But it also accuses Russia of stealing Ukrainian grain in territories seized by Kremlin forces and then shipping it to allied countries such as Syria. But Turkish hopes that the grain deal could help build trust and lead to ceasefire talks have so far proved futile. Russia has continued to pound southern Ukrainian cities near the Black Sea with missiles and pressed on with its grinding ground assault across the east. Officials in Mykolaiv said no one was killed Wednesday in shelling on one of the southern city's supermarkets that came just days after the region's grain mogul and his wife died in a targeted strike on their house. Moscow said on Wednesday that it had destroyed another foreign arms deport in western Ukraine -- a region the furthest removed from the fighting. Donetsk evacuations Kyiv has launched mandatory evacuations from the eastern Donetsk region -- now bearing the brunt of Russia's offensive -- because the government does not expect to be able to provide it with heat in the cold winter months. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has urged the estimated 200,000 remaining residents of the Donetsk region to leave. Kyiv's forces have been pressing a counter-offensive to drive out the Russians from the southern Kherson region near the Kremlin-annexed Crimea peninsula. The Ukrainian presidency said it had "liberated" seven more villages in the region while 53 remained under Russian control. Ukraine has been bolstered by more supplies of Western weapons -- particularly long-range rockets -- ahead of the planned push to retake Kherson city. The United States announced a new tranche of weapons worth $550 million for Ukraine's forces. These include longer-range ammunition for increasingly important HIMARS rocket launchers and artillery pieces. Ukraine is using the HIMARS and similar Western weapons to smash Russian arms depots and break down its lines of ground communication across the east. 'Justice' The Russians have been unable to seize any major village or city since gaining full control of the Donbas war zone's smaller Lugansk region in early July. Zelensky told US President Joe Biden in a message that "the word 'HIMARS' has become almost synonymous with the word 'justice' for our country". Russia has responded by stepping up its propaganda battle against the West and Kyiv. Its supreme court this week labelled Ukraine's Azov regiment a "terrorist" organisation -- a decision that could pave the way for captured fighters to face lengthy jail terms. Azov fighters were among 2,500 Ukrainian soldiers who surrendered in May after weeks of fierce resistance at the Azovstal steel plant in devastated Mariupol. The regiment -- which was incorporated into Ukraine's national guard in 2014 -- is demonised by Moscow for alleged far-right links. Its members were among 50 Ukrainian servicemen killed last week in an attack on a jail holding prisoners of war in Russian-occupied territory. Ukraine accuses Moscow of deliberately executing the detainees. WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here.

First Ukrainian grain shipment completes checks in Turkey

Turkey said the first shipment of grain had left the Odessa port for Lebanon and will reach Istanbul on Tuesday. According to Ukraine authorities, the ship is carrying 26,000 tonnes of corn.

First ship carrying Ukrainian grain leaves Odessa Port

- Indian designer Rahul Mishra tells how Indian fashion is now going global - We take you inside a luxury pet hotel where pooches are having a gala time! - Old school is now cool, our favourite trends are coming back!

The Good Life | Rahul Mishra: Striking gold in Paris | Decoding 'Turkey Teeth' trend

The 'Turkey teeth' trend has garnered 130 million views on TikTok. WION tells you the cost of a 'perfect smile'.

The Good Life: Decoding the 'Turkey'

The Good Life: Decoding the Turkey teeth trend

Protests have erupted near Turkish embassy in Iraq after several have been killed and dozens wounded in a suspected Turkish artillery attack in the Northern Iraq.

Several people killed in attack on Northern Iraq, protesters gather near Turkish embassy

Iraqi Prime Minister Mustafa al-Kadhemi declared a day of national mourning Thursday after nine holidaymakers were killed in the bombardment of a Kurdish hill village he blamed on neighbouring Turkey. The bodies were to be flown to Baghdad from the Kurdish regional capital Arbil to be handed over to the families for burial in their hometowns in southern and central Iraq, a Kurdish official said.

Thursday's shelling in the Zakho district village of Parakh also wounded 23 people, the majority of them domestic tourists seeking respite from the heat of the plains in the mountains of the Kurdish north.

The deaths in a village pleasure garden prompted several dozen angry demonstrators to protest outside the Turkish visa office in Baghdad early Thursday, despite a heavy police presence.

An AFP journalist reported that loudspeakers blared patriotic songs as protesters chanted slogans demanding the expulsion of the Turkish ambassador.

"We want to burn down the embassy.&nbsp;The ambassador must be expelled," said demonstrator Ali Yassin, 53. "Our government is doing nothing."

There were similar protests on Wednesday night in the Shiite shrine cities of Najaf and Karbala and in the southern city of Nasiriyah.

In an unusually strong rebuke, the prime minister warned Turkey on Wednesday that Iraq reserves the "right to retaliate", calling the artillery fire a "flagrant violation" of sovereignty -- a line echoed by the north's autonomous regional government.

Iraq said it was recalling its charge d'affaires from Ankara and demanded an official apology from Turkey along with "the withdrawal of its armed forces from all Iraqi territory".

The Turkish foreign ministry denied responsibility for the bombardment, saying these "kinds of attacks" were committed by "terrorist organisations".

Ankara launched an offensive in northern Iraq in April dubbed "Operation Claw-Lock", which it said targets fighters from the Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK).

The PKK has kept up a deadly insurgency for Kurdish self-rule in southeastern Turkey since 1984 and Ankara and its Western allies blacklist the group as a "terrorist organisation".

For the past 25 years, the Turkish army has maintained dozens of outposts across Iraq's Kurdish north as part of its campaign against the rebels. There have been sporadic calls for their removal.

Iraq and Turkey are key trade partners but Ankara's successive offensives against PKK rear bases in the north have been a persistent thorn in relations. 
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Iraqi Prime Minister Mustafa al-Kadhemi declared a day of national mourning Thursday after nine holidaymakers were killed in the bombardment of a Kurdish hill village he blamed on neighbouring Turkey.

Iraqi Prime Minister Mustafa al-Kadhemi declared a day of national mourning Thursday after nine holidaymakers were killed in the bombardment of a Kurdish hill village he blamed on neighbouring Turkey. The bodies were to be flown to Baghdad from the Kurdish regional capital Arbil to be handed over to the families for burial in their hometowns in southern and central Iraq, a Kurdish official said. Thursday's shelling in the Zakho district village of Parakh also wounded 23 people, the majority of them domestic tourists seeking respite from the heat of the plains in the mountains of the Kurdish north. The deaths in a village pleasure garden prompted several dozen angry demonstrators to protest outside the Turkish visa office in Baghdad early Thursday, despite a heavy police presence. An AFP journalist reported that loudspeakers blared patriotic songs as protesters chanted slogans demanding the expulsion of the Turkish ambassador. "We want to burn down the embassy. The ambassador must be expelled," said demonstrator Ali Yassin, 53. "Our government is doing nothing." There were similar protests on Wednesday night in the Shiite shrine cities of Najaf and Karbala and in the southern city of Nasiriyah. In an unusually strong rebuke, the prime minister warned Turkey on Wednesday that Iraq reserves the "right to retaliate", calling the artillery fire a "flagrant violation" of sovereignty -- a line echoed by the north's autonomous regional government. Iraq said it was recalling its charge d'affaires from Ankara and demanded an official apology from Turkey along with "the withdrawal of its armed forces from all Iraqi territory". The Turkish foreign ministry denied responsibility for the bombardment, saying these "kinds of attacks" were committed by "terrorist organisations". Ankara launched an offensive in northern Iraq in April dubbed "Operation Claw-Lock", which it said targets fighters from the Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK). The PKK has kept up a deadly insurgency for Kurdish self-rule in southeastern Turkey since 1984 and Ankara and its Western allies blacklist the group as a "terrorist organisation". For the past 25 years, the Turkish army has maintained dozens of outposts across Iraq's Kurdish north as part of its campaign against the rebels. There have been sporadic calls for their removal. Iraq and Turkey are key trade partners but Ankara's successive offensives against PKK rear bases in the north have been a persistent thorn in relations. WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here.

Angry Iraq mourns dead from shelling blamed on Turkey

At least nine people were killed and 23 were injured in an attack in northern Iraq's autonomous kurdistan, authorities say that everyone who died were tourist.

Iraq accuses Turkey of attack that killed nine in Kurdistan, Ankara denies involvement

Iran's president will host his Russian and Turkish counterparts on Tuesday for talks on the Syrian war in a three-way summit overshadowed by fallout from the Russian invasion of Ukraine, where the three leaders will also discuss nuclear deal.

Iran to host Putin and Erdogan for talks over Ukraine war & nuclear deal

Vladimir Putin visited Iran for his second foreign trip since the war broke out in Ukraine. The Russian president is expected to discuss the Syrian war, western sanctions and arms trade with the leaders of Iran and Turkey. Palki Sharma decodes Putin's objectives in West Asia.

Gravitas: Putin visits Iran as Ukraine war intensifies

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