ADVERTISEMENT

       Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, whose NATO-member country has sought to balance its close relations with both Ukraine and Russia, offered during a visit on Friday from Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy to host a peace summit between the two countries.

       Erdogan, who has repeatedly discussed brokering a peace deal, said at a news conference in Istanbul following his meeting with Zelenskyy that he hoped Russia would be on board with Turkey’s offer.

       “Since the beginning, we have contributed as much as we could toward ending the war through negotiations," Erdogan said. "We are also ready to host a peace summit in which Russia will also be included.”

       Ukraine remains firm on not engaging directly with Russia on peace talks, and Zelenskyy has said multiple times the initiative in peace negotiations must belong to the country which has been invaded.

       Zelenskyy said any peace negotiations must align with a 10-point plan he has previously suggested, which includes food security, restoration of Ukraine’s territorial integrity, the withdrawal of Russian troops, release of all prisoners, a tribunal for those responsible for the aggression, and security guarantees for Ukraine.

       The Ukrainian leader expressed hope that at the inaugural peace summit expected to be held this year in Switzerland, the possibility of reopening all Ukrainian ports, not only in Odesa but also in Mykolaiv in southern Ukraine, will be considered.

       Zelenskyy, who visited shipyards where corvettes for the Ukrainian navy are being built, said on X that agreements were reached on joint defence projects with the Turkish government and corporations. He said on Telegram that they also agreed to simplify trade and remove barriers to business.

       Erdogan said the two discussed stability in the Black Sea shipping corridor and he reiterated Turkey’s support for Ukraine’s “territorial integrity, sovereignty and independence.”

       The visit comes as Zelenskyy and other officials continue to press other nations for more munitions and weaponry to halt the advance of Russian troops trying to make deeper gains into the Ukraine-held western part of the Donetsk region and also penetrating into the Kharkiv region north of it in the third year of war.

       Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba said in Vilnius, Lithuania, where he was attending a meeting of the foreign ministers of France, Lithuania, Latvia and Estonia, that "drop by drop” aid to Ukraine no longer works.

       “If things continue as they currently happen, it’s not going to end well for all of us,” Kuleba said. "What is required is an unrestricted and timely supply of all types of weapons and ammunition to ensure that Ukraine beats Russia and the war in Europe does not spill over.”

       An envoy from China, which has frustrated Ukraine and its Western allies by boosting trade with Russia and portraying the conflict and its causes largely from Moscow’s point of view, was in Kyiv on Thursday during a European visit for talks on settling what it calls the Ukraine crisis. Li Hui, the special representative for Eurasian affairs, met with officials from Russia, the EU, Switzerland and Poland before his stop in Ukraine and was scheduled to go on to Germany and France.

       Shortly after Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, Turkey hosted a meeting between the Russian and Ukrainian foreign ministers as well as unsuccessful talks between negotiators from the two countries aimed at ending the hostilities.

       Later in 2022, Turkey, along with the United Nations, also brokered a deal between Russia and Ukraine that allowed the shipment of millions of tons of Ukrainian grain through the Black Sea. Russia, however, pulled out of the deal last year, citing obstacles to its export of food and fertilisers.

       ADVERTISEMENT

       Greek lawmakers approved sweeping reforms early on Saturday that will end the state monopoly on university education, breaking what powerful left-wing student groups have long regarded as a major taboo.

       Hours before the vote, which began Friday evening and ended after midnight, protesters attacked police outside parliament with petrol bombs and firecrackers as some 18,000 people demonstrated in central Athens against the proposed legislation.

       Police charged a few dozen violent demonstrators and fired tear gas. A police statement said nine members of the public and seven officers were injured, while three suspected rioters were arrested.

       Friday's rally followed weeks of demonstrations that included scores of university building occupations by students. Nevertheless, opinion polls indicate that most Greeks agree with the creation of privately-run universities.

       Lawmakers present in the 300-seat parliament voted 159-129 in favour of the bill. Announcement of the result was delayed until after midnight by three lawmakers from a small left-wing party, who remained seated and studied a printout of the draft law for over two hours after everyone else had cast their ballots and left. The party had earlier said it would vote against the bill.

       Greece’s centre-right government has argued that the reform would help attract skilled workers back to the country.

       “We must say a resounding ‘yes’ to this measure … as a guarantee of greater freedom and greater access to knowledge for all Greek students,” Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis told parliament ahead of the vote.

       At Friday's rally – which was mostly peaceful – the students were joined by a small group of pro-Palestinian demonstrators and marchers from an event marking International Women's Day.

       “This government wants to privatise everything ... but at the same time, the cost of living is going up and up and our wages remain pitiful,” Anna Adamidi, a philosophy student, told Associated Press. “The private sector comes in and dismantles public (education), making use of resources that they will pay nothing for.”

       Opposition parties were broadly against the bill, arguing that it violates the constitution and could create a two-tier system for students.

       Education reforms in Greece are often politically charged, with university activism historically linked to pro-democracy movements but also later used as a refuge for violent protest groups.

       Although some private higher education is already legal in Greece, the new law would make degrees from vetted private institutions equivalent to public universities. Overseas universities would be allowed to open branches in Greece using a non-profit status, despite charging tuition fees.

       More than 650,000 students are currently enrolled at state-run universities in Greece and an additional 40,000 are studying abroad, according to Education Ministry officials who briefed lawmakers before this week’s debate.

       The Mitsotakis government, early in its second term and with a huge lead in opinion polls, has carried out several major reforms in recent weeks, including legalising same-sex marriage and introducing a postal vote for the upcoming European Parliament elections in June.

       ADVERTISEMENT

       On Friday, the judo family celebrated International Women’s Day, a day to honor the remarkable contributions of women around the globe. It’s a call to action for gender equality, to challenge bias, and to Inspire Inclusion.

       Before the final block, opening speeches were given by the Governor of Upper Austria, Thomas Stelzer; Director General of the International Judo Federation, Vlad MARINESCU; President of Austrian Judo Federation, Martin Poiger and Markus Achleitner, Minister for Economy and Sports of Upper Austria, who also welcomed the judo family to Linz.

       An amazing performance from Serbia’s Marica PERISIC deep into golden score, saw her eventually claim the win over Julie BEURSKENS to take -57kg gold.

       Awarding the medals was Upper Austria Governor Thomas STELZER.

       At -48kg, Mitsuki KONDO of Japan defeated her compatriot Wakana INAGAKI to take her first medal on the World Judo Tour.

       Director General of the International Judo Federation Vlad MARINESCU awarded the medals.

       At -60kg, Spain’s reigning world champion and world ranked number one, Francisco GARRIGOS, saw off the challenge of Frenchman Cedric REVOL. Throwing for waza-ari before securing a vice-like pin to take the title.

       Upper Austria Minister of Economy & Sports Markus ACHLEITNER was on hand to award the medals.

       “It’s my first time here in Austria,” said Garrigos. “Everything was great, I’d really like to come here again next year.”

       Larissa PIMENTA and Binta NDIAYE contested the -52kg final. It was the Brazilian Pimenta who succeeded in throwing for ippon and was absolutely delighted

       Awarding the medals was IJF General Treasurer Naser AL TAMIMI.

       “I love the energy here,” said Pimenta. “There was one time in the final after the osae-komi when the kids were all cheering for me, it gave me so much strength”.

       Keita HADANO of Japan took the gold medal at -66kg finally countering Israel’s Baruch SHMAILOV in golden score

       Israel Judo Association President Moshe PONTI awarded the medals.

       This amazing ippon from Vache ADAMYAN was the standout technique of the day - what an inspiration for the local fans!

       Join us again on Saturday for more judo action from Linz, the heart of a region celebrated for its stunning landscapes and vibrant culture.