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Russia has begun slowing down the Telegram messaging application, with Roskomnadzor, Russia’s federal communications regulator, set to implement par...
Armenia has announced plans to allocate 150 billion drams (approximately $400 million) to the development of its defence industry for the 2026–2028 period, in a significant move to strengthen its national security.
The Armenian Defence Minister Suren Papikyan, said the decsion marks a major step towards improving the country's military capabilities and fostering local defence production.
The allocation comes as part of a broader strategy to diversify Armenia's military procurement markets and reduce reliance on foreign suppliers.
The government says it has recognised the growing need to boost domestic production and increase the availability of locally manufactured military equipment.
Papikyan underscored the importance of creating a more self-sufficient defence sector and highlighted the progress Armenia has already made in this area.
He noted that, in 2022, the government signed contracts worth 5.5 billion drams with local companies. However, the current agreements have grown substantially, reaching a total of 170 billion drams, with the majority of the products already delivered.
This financial commitment signals Armenia's long-term investment in its defence infrastructure, which is crucial given the region's security dynamics. It also represents a shift towards developing a robust defence industry that can meet both current and future military needs.
U.S. President Donald Trump has criticised American freestyle skier Hunter Hess after the athlete said he felt conflicted about representing the United States at the Winter Olympics in Italy, sparking a public clash that highlights growing political tensions surrounding the Games.
U.S. skiing great Lindsey Vonn underwent surgery in an Italian hospital on Sunday after her attempt to win Olympic downhill gold ended in a violent crash just seconds into the race at the Milano Cortina Winter Games.
JD Vance arrived in Armenia on Monday (9 February), becoming the first sitting U.S. Vice President to visit the country, as Yerevan and Washington agreed to cooperate in the civil nuclear sector in a bid to deepen engagement in the South Caucasus.
The death toll from the collapse of two residential buildings in the northern Lebanese city of Tripoli has risen to 15, state media said on Monday, as rescue teams wrapped up search operations and officials warned that more people could still be missing.
António José Seguro’s decisive victory over far-right challenger André Ventura marks an historic moment in Portuguese politics, but analysts caution that the result does not amount to a rejection of populism.
A scheduled visit to Ankara this week by Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis will seek to “resolve all our problems at the table,” Ömer Çelik, a spokesman for Türkiye’s ruling AK Party, has said.
The European Union is preparing a further expansion of its sanctions against Russia, with Central Asia emerging for the first time as a distinct point of focus.
Azerbaijan and the United States signalled closer economic ties on Monday (9 February) as President Ilham Aliyev hosted a delegation from the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, highlighting the country’s investment appeal and growing interest from American companies.
“Peace is not just about signing treaties - it’s about communication, interaction and integration,” Sultan Zahidov, leading adviser at the AIR Center, told AnewZ, suggesting U.S. Vice President JD Vance's visit to the South Caucasus could advance the peace agenda between Azerbaijan and Armenia.
Representatives of Azerbaijan’s civil society have sent an open letter to U.S. Vice President JD Vance, urging support for the right of return of Western Azerbaijanis displaced from Armenia, ahead of his visit to Azerbaijan on 10 February.
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