Editor's choice
News
Rutte visits Ukraine on first working trip as NATO chief

Rutte visits Ukraine on first working trip as NATO chief

NATO's new Secretary General Mark Rutte visited Kyiv on Thursday (3 October). It is Rutte's first working trip since officially taking office earlier this week. Earlier, Rutte announced that Ukraine's NATO membership would be one of the spearheads of his policy.
Editor's choice
News
New research finds environmental degradation across the South Caucasus

New research finds environmental degradation across the South Caucasus

A new study entitled "Biodiversity, Conservation and Sustainability in Asia" by Münir Öztürk, Volkan Altay and Recep Efe has found that environmental degradation across the South Caucasus is affecting public health, water and food security. The three countries of the South Caucasus - Armenia, Azerbaijan and Georgia - have environmental legislative frameworks but lack effective practices to promote sustainable growth. The main areas of concern identified by the research are soil erosion, deforestation and poorly planned urbanisation. 
Editor's choice
News
Increase in cooperation between Vietnam and Azerbaijan

Increase in cooperation between Vietnam and Azerbaijan

Politburo member Nguyen Xuan Thang met the Azerbaijani ambassador in Hanoi on Tuesday (1 October). Thang said that this year marks a big anniversary in the relationship between Vietnam and Azerbaijan. It is the 65th anniversary of President Ho Chi Minh's visit to Baku. Thang reaffirmed Vietnam’s commitment to strengthening its friendship and cooperation with traditional allies like Azerbaijan. 
Editor's choice
News
Armenia to increase military spending 

Armenia to increase military spending 

The Armenian government plans to increase military spending by about 20 per cent, equivalent to 110 billion drams (about $286 million). According to the proposed state budget for 2025, the Ministry of Defence will receive 664.6 billion drams (about $1.7 billion). Military expert Leonid Nersisyan, a researcher at the Armenian analytical centre APRI, describes this defence spending as unprecedented. However, he points out that despite the increased budget, Yerevan still lags far behind Baku in terms of military spending. Military spending remains lower than social spending in the state budget. Although the gap in military spending between Armenia and Azerbaijan is narrowing, with Armenia now trailing by a factor of two instead of five or six as it did in 2013, the difference remains significant.
Editor's choice
News
US to provide $20 million in security assistance to Armenia

US to provide $20 million in security assistance to Armenia

The United States has announced a $20 million aid package to strengthen Armenia's cyber, border and energy security, USAID Administrator Samantha Power announced at a Democracy Delivers Initiative event in New York. The event, co-hosted by US Secretary of State Antony Blinken, was attended by Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan.
Editor's choice
News
UN General Assembly - 79th session in New York

UN General Assembly - 79th session in New York

The UN General Assembly has begun its 79th session in New York. World leaders gathered to underline their goals, although many voices against the UN structure could not be overheard. Amid ongoing conflicts in Gaza, Ukraine, Sudan and most recently Lebanon, the session focused largely on the UN's ineffectiveness in its primary role - peacekeeping.
Editor's choice
News
Hezbollah rocket targets Tel Aviv for first time, Israeli intelligence headquarters targeted

Hezbollah rocket targets Tel Aviv for first time, Israeli intelligence headquarters targeted

The Lebanese militant group Hezbollah fired a rocket at the Israeli city of Tel Aviv on Wednesday morning (25 September) for the first time since the Gaza war broke out almost a year ago. It is also Hezbollah's deepest strike inside Israel. The militant movement's target was the headquarters of Mossad, Israel's secret service. The missile was intercepted by Israel.
Editor's choice
News
China's commerce minister claims new EU tariffs on electric cars will hurt trade

China's commerce minister claims new EU tariffs on electric cars will hurt trade

China's Commerce Minister Wang Wentao has expressed concern that the European Union's decision to impose tariffs on electric vehicles (EVs) will "seriously hamper" trade and investment cooperation and negatively affect both China and Germany. During talks with German Vice-Chancellor and Economics Minister Robert Habeck on Tuesday (17 September), Wang stressed the importance of finding a solution in line with World Trade Organization rules to avoid escalating trade tensions between China and the EU. The European Commission is considering final tariffs of up to 35.3% on Chinese-made electric vehicles, on top of the standard 10% import duty on cars.