Armenia to allocate $400 million to develop defence industry
In a significant move to strengthen its national security, Armenia has announced plans to allocate 150 billion drams (approximately $400 million) to t...
Chinese President Xi Jinping has pledged to boost mutual investment and deepen economic cooperation with Russia, as Moscow faces growing Western sanctions and trade pressure.
Speaking in Beijing on Tuesday during talks with Russian Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin, Xi said China and Russia would continue strengthening ties despite a “turbulent external environment”, according to state broadcaster CCTV.
The meeting took place at the Great Hall of the People, a day after Chinese Premier Li Qiang also met Mishustin in Hangzhou and voiced support for enhanced cooperation and joint security efforts.
Xi said safeguarding and advancing the China-Russia relationship was a “strategic choice for both sides” and pointed to potential growth in sectors such as energy, agriculture, aerospace, the digital economy and green development.
Mishustin called for continued efforts to support joint investment projects, according to Russia’s TASS news agency.
The talks come as Russia seeks to stabilise economic ties with its main strategic partner following a decline in bilateral trade. China, which had been a key buyer of Russian oil, saw state firms pause seaborne purchases last month due to U.S. sanctions on major Russian producers Rosneft and Lukoil, Reuters reported.
Trade between the two countries reached a record $240 billion in 2023, but has slowed in recent months amid U.S. pressure on China over its commercial and technological links with Moscow.
In a joint communique published on Tuesday, China and Russia vowed to “respond appropriately to external challenges” and reinforce cooperation “in all spheres”.
Russia also reaffirmed its support for the “one-China” policy and its opposition to “Taiwan independence”, aligning with Beijing’s long-standing position. Taiwan’s government has rejected China’s sovereignty claim, asserting that the island’s future must be decided by its people.
Xi and Russian President Vladimir Putin declared a “no-limits” partnership in February 2022, shortly before Moscow launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine. Since then, Beijing has become a key economic lifeline for Russia, with increased yuan-based settlements and deepening energy ties.
Real Madrid have parted ways with coach Xabi Alonso, appointing former defender Álvaro Arbeloa as his replacement.
Timothée Chalamet won the Golden Globe for best male actor in a musical or comedy on Sunday for his role in Marty Supreme, beating strong competition in one of the night’s most closely watched categories.
Hawaii’s Kīlauea volcano is showing increased activity, with lava flowing from two summit craters and flames, smoke and ash rising from the caldera.
Israel has sharply escalated its warnings to Lebanon amid rising regional tensions linked to Iran, according to a report by the Lebanese newspaper Nida Al Watan.
Iranian authorities have taken steps to disrupt access to Starlink satellite internet, according to users and digital-rights groups, in what appears to be the latest effort to tighten control over people’s access to the internet inside the country.
In a significant move to strengthen its national security, Armenia has announced plans to allocate 150 billion drams (approximately $400 million) to the development of its defence industry for the 2026–2028 period.
Canada’s Prime Minister Mark Carney is departing for China (13 January) for the first time since 2017, after years of strained diplomatic relations between the two countries that began in the late 2010s with disputes over trade, national security and human rights significantly weakened their ties.
The U.S. will invest $115 million in counter-drone measures to bolster security around the FIFA World Cup and America’s 250th Anniversary celebrations, the Department of Homeland Security said on Monday, the latest sign of governments stepping up drone defences.
Start your day informed with AnewZ Morning Brief: here are the top news stories for the 13th of January, covering the latest developments you need to know.
Japan and South Korea have held high-level talks aimed at strengthening security cooperation and deepening economic ties, against a backdrop of rising tensions in East Asia.
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