World Cup 2026: Iranian players secure visas but some football officials still without
The Iranian national football team is set to arrive in North America for the World Cup after finally securing travel documents, but a dispute over U.S...
Large-scale military actions between Armenia and Azerbaijan in 2025 are unlikely happened, but clashes along the borders remain a distinct possibility. It is highlighted in the first public report from Armenia‘s Foreign Intelligence Service (FIS).
“In the absence of a peace treaty and established interstate relations, the risk of localized tensions and border escalations persists,” – the report noted, while progress in the delimitation and demarcation of borders between the two neighbouring countries “could help reduce these risks.”
The report, titled “On External Security Risks to Armenia,” placed significant emphasis on the normalization of relations with Azerbaijan and said that bilateral negotiations between Armenia and Azerbaijan will remain “the most effective” this year following to frequent high-level talks and communication around the peace agreement, border delimitation, humanitarian and other issues.
Based on its assessment of developments in 2023 and 2024, FIS predicts that Azerbaijan will continue strengthening its military capabilities through new arms acquisitions and military infrastructure, “working on the transition to more mobile units.”
Azerbaijan’s President Ilham Aliyev, in an interview with Russian news agency RIA Novosti, announced that the country will have a record-breaking military budget for 2025.
“This amounts to approximately five billion dollars. We have no choice. At least 60 percent of this sum would not have been spent if these threats did not exist. We would have allocated it to rebuilding Karabakh, social benefits, and other needs. But we are compelled to do this, and we will do it.”
Aliyev added that he considers the arms race a destructive path: “I believe this is a harmful course. First of all, Armenia cannot sustain an arms race with us, even though they receive the majority of their weapons from the West for free or on credit, which will, of course, eventually be forgiven. But even under these circumstances, they cannot keep up with us.”
At the same time, both sides “significant progress” made on the peace treaty between Azerbaijan and Armenia, with 15 out of 17 articles already agreed upon.
Counting is underway in Armenia's elections. The results of the vote are set to determine the political direction of the country of three million people for the next few years. Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan is hoping to fend off challenges from several pro-Russia candidates to secure a third term.
Armenian authorities arrested six candidates from the pro-Russian Strong Armenia bloc on Saturday, one day before voters were due to take part in parliamentary elections.
More than 6,000 people gathered outside a vote-counting centre in Seoul on Friday night, demanding this week’s local elections be repeated after ballot shortages left some voters unable to cast their ballots.
Azerbaijan's Foreign Ministry has confirmed the number of casualties its citizens suffered as a result of the 5 June drone attacks on the cargo ships Natra and Zircon in the Sea of Azov. In a statement, it said four Azerbaijani citizens were killed and four others were injured.
The U.S. said it struck Iranian radar sites on Qeshm Island and in Goruk after intercepting four drones, while Iran's Revolutionary Guards said they launches retaliatory strikes on four tankers in the Strait of Hormuz and targeted U.S. bases in the Gulf.
Azerbaijan's Foreign Ministry has confirmed the number of casualties its citizens suffered as a result of the 5 June drone attacks on the cargo ships Natra and Zircon in the Sea of Azov. In a statement, it said four Azerbaijani citizens were killed and four others were injured.
The United Nations has warned that Afghanistan has one of the highest maternal mortality rates in the world, with around 600 mothers dying for every 100,000 live births.
In a workshop surrounded by the wreckage of war, workers in Gaza are giving a second life to small leisure boats once used for family outings and swimming trips.
A seven-month-old Palestinian baby has been killed and his parents injured after Israeli forces fired at a vehicle in Hebron, Palestinian health officials say.
The U.S. said it struck Iranian radar sites on Qeshm Island and in Goruk after intercepting four drones, while Iran's Revolutionary Guards said they launches retaliatory strikes on four tankers in the Strait of Hormuz and targeted U.S. bases in the Gulf.
You can download the AnewZ application from Play Store and the App Store.
What is your opinion on this topic?
Leave the first comment