News
Turkish Airlines Eyes Yerevan Route as Ankara and Yerevan Pursue Reconciliation
Turkish Airlines has announced plans to launch flights to Armenia’s capital Yerevan, signalling a fresh step in the ongoing thaw between Ankara and Yerevan after decades of strained relations. The proposal comes amid a series of diplomatic moves aimed at normalising ties between the two neighbours, who remain without formal diplomatic relations.
In a regulatory filing on Tuesday, Turkey’s flag carrier said it intends to operate the new route provided there is sufficient passenger demand. The announcement follows a meeting earlier this month in Armenia between the special envoys of both governments, where they discussed expanding connectivity and people-to-people exchanges.
Turkey’s special envoy, Serdar Kılıç, travelled to Armenia via a land border that has been closed to civilian traffic for more than 30 years. Following the meeting, Armenia’s Foreign Ministry said the two sides had agreed to carry out preparatory work that would allow additional airlines to launch services between the countries beginning in the summer of 2026.
The push to reopen air links comes against the backdrop of a broader reconciliation effort. Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan travelled to Ankara in June, where he held talks with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan — a rare high-level meeting between leaders of the two countries. Both sides have indicated a willingness to pursue dialogue despite deep historical grievances.
The long-standing dispute centres on the mass killings of Armenians by Ottoman forces in 1915. Yerevan recognises the events as genocide, a term rejected by Ankara, which acknowledges that Armenians died but insists the deaths occurred amid civil unrest during World War I. The lack of consensus has long stymied efforts to build trust and establish formal diplomatic ties.
Air connectivity, however, has gradually been restored in recent years. Turkish budget airline Pegasus and Armenia’s FlyOne launched direct flights between the two countries in 2022, marking the first commercial services in decades. Turkish Airlines’ entry into the market would significantly expand options for travellers, given its role as one of the world’s largest carriers with an extensive international network.
Analysts say the move could boost trade, tourism and cultural exchanges, while also serving as a symbolic gesture of goodwill. However, they caution that long-term progress will depend on political will on both sides and the ability to navigate sensitive historical and regional issues.
For now, Turkish Airlines’ plans remain contingent on demand and regulatory approval. But the proposal underscores the gradual momentum building behind the normalisation process, which, if successful, could reshape ties between the two neighbours after years of division.
News
Investigation Underway After Goa Nightclub Fire Kills at Least 25
Authorities in the Indian state of Goa have opened an investigation into a nightclub fire that killed at least 25 people, including several tourists, in one of the region’s most popular party districts. Six others were injured in the blaze, which broke out shortly after midnight in Arpora, a nightlife hub about 25 kilometres from the state capital, Panaji.
Goa Chief Minister Pramod Sawant confirmed the death toll in a statement posted on X, saying the victims included many of the club’s kitchen staff and a small number of visiting tourists. He added that all the injured were in stable condition and receiving medical treatment. Rescue teams recovered all bodies from the site.
Early reports from local police, cited by the Press Trust of India, indicated that a gas cylinder explosion triggered the fire. Witnesses, however, told the agency that the blaze appeared to start on the club’s first floor, where nearly 100 tourists were dancing at the time. As smoke and flames swept through the building, many people ran toward the lower floor, where they became trapped along with staff members.
Sawant said a formal inquiry would determine the exact cause and whether the club complied with fire safety regulations. He pledged strict action against anyone found responsible, writing on X that any negligence uncovered by investigators would be “dealt with firmly”.
Eyewitnesses described scenes of panic as patrons attempted to flee the burning building. “We rushed out of the club only to see that the entire structure was up in flames,” said Fatima Shaikh, who was inside when the fire began.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi offered condolences in a message on X, calling the incident “deeply saddening” and wishing the injured a swift recovery.
Local media reported that the club’s location along the Arpora River backwaters posed challenges for emergency crews. A narrow approach road forced fire engines to park about 400 metres from the entrance, slowing their response. Reports also revealed that the building had previously received a demolition notice after officials found it lacked a construction permit. That order was later withdrawn by senior state authorities, according to Arpora councillor Roshan Redkar.
Incidents involving gas cylinders and electrical faults are not unusual in India and often lead to heavy casualties, prompting renewed calls for stronger enforcement of safety standards. Opposition leader Rahul Gandhi criticised the tragedy as a “criminal failure of safety and governance” and urged a transparent investigation to establish accountability and prevent future disasters.
The probe into the fire is expected to assess structural safety, emergency exits and compliance with existing regulations as authorities work to piece together how the late-night gathering turned into one of the deadliest incidents in the state in recent years.
News
White House Unveils “Media Hall of Shame” Portal as Attacks on Press Intensify
News
Russia Launches Massive Overnight Barrage on Ukraine as Peace Talks With U.S. Continue
-
Entertainment1 year agoMeta Acquires Tilda Swinton VR Doc ‘Impulse: Playing With Reality’
-
Business2 years agoSaudi Arabia’s Model for Sustainable Aviation Practices
-
Business2 years agoRecent Developments in Small Business Taxes
-
Home Improvement1 year agoEffective Drain Cleaning: A Key to a Healthy Plumbing System
-
Politics2 years agoWho was Ebrahim Raisi and his status in Iranian Politics?
-
Business1 year agoCarrectly: Revolutionizing Car Care in Chicago
-
Sports1 year agoKeely Hodgkinson Wins Britain’s First Athletics Gold at Paris Olympics in 800m
-
Business1 year agoSaudi Arabia: Foreign Direct Investment Rises by 5.6% in Q1
