Italy will not join Trump’s Board of Peace, foreign minister says
Italy will not join U.S. President Donald Trump’s Board of Peace because of constitutional constraints, Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani said on Wedn...
The Azerbaijani government has announced its proposed 2025 state budget, prioritizing socio-economic development, national security, and post-conflict reconstruction in line with the directives of President Ilham Aliyev.
The Azerbaijani government has announced its proposed 2025 state budget, prioritizing socio-economic development, national security, and post-conflict reconstruction in line with the directives of President Ilham Aliyev. The budget also aligns with the nation's Strategy for Socio-Economic Development (2022-2026), emphasizing rebuilding efforts in Karabakh and Eastern Zangezur, reintegrating liberated territories, and facilitating the safe return of displaced persons.
Finance Minister Samir Sharifov presented the budget plan to the Azerbaijani Parliament on November 25, highlighting its total projected expenditures of 41.4 billion manat ($24.3 billion). Of this amount, 27.7 billion manat ($16.2 billion), or two-thirds, will be directed toward key national priorities.
Sharifov noted that 4 million manat ($2.3 million), representing 9.7 percent of the total budget expenditures, is allocated to the First State Program for the Great Return. This funding will focus on developing residential areas and villages in liberated territories as part of ongoing reconstruction efforts.
A significant portion of the budget—8.4 billion manat ($4.9 billion), or 20.3 percent—is earmarked for enhancing the country’s military capabilities and modernizing its defense sector. This figure marks a 17.8 percent increase from the 2024 forecast and a substantial 43.4 percent rise compared to 2023, underscoring Azerbaijan's commitment to strengthening its national security infrastructure.
"The proposed budget reflects Azerbaijan's dedication to achieving its strategic goals, ensuring stability, and fostering sustainable development," Sharifov stated in his address.
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 United States and Azerbaijan signed a strategic partnership in Baku on Tuesday (10 February) encompassing economic and security cooperation as Washington seeks to expand its influence in a region where Russia was once the main power broker.
Buckingham Palace said it is ready to support any police investigation into allegations that Prince Andrew shared confidential British trade documents with late sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, as King Charles expressed “profound concern” over the latest revelations.
“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.
Türkiye experienced one of its most severe droughts in the past half century in 2025, with conditions now showing signs of becoming long-term and structural, climate expert Mikdat Kadioglu told Anadolu.
Plans to merge Tbilisi State University and Georgian Technical University have been scrapped by Georgia’s Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze, who backed down on the proposed move after days of backlash from lecturers and students.
Afghanistan’s humanitarian situation remained severe throughout 2025, with millions still struggling to meet basic needs, according to a new report by the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC).
Uzbekistan is combining renewable energy expansion with sweeping land restoration, installing solar stations in local communities while rehabilitating degraded farmland to spur rural development and climate-smart growth, the government has announced.
The United States and Azerbaijan signed a new strategic partnership agreement in Baku on Tuesday, expanding cooperation on defence, energy security, artificial intelligence and economic ties.
The United States and Azerbaijan signed a strategic partnership in Baku on Tuesday (10 February) encompassing economic and security cooperation as Washington seeks to expand its influence in a region where Russia was once the main power broker.
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