Author: Anadolu Agency

Amazon Web Services (AWS), the cloud computing arm of US-based e-commerce giant Amazon, announced a significant investment of over $5 billion in Mexico to develop a new data center in the country. Mexico’s Economic Minister Marcelo Ebrard said this investment could add $10 billion to the country’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP) over the next 15 years and create 7,000 jobs. The announcement was made during Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum’s morning briefing, where an Amazon delegation, led by Paula Bellizia, vice president for Latin America at AWS, shared details of the project. “Today we are here with you, Madam President, to…

Germany on Tuesday warned of heightened security threats over Russia’s “hybrid warfare,” claiming it is especially targeting the country’s arms industry. “We are Ukraine’s biggest supporter in Europe, that’s what (Russian President Vladimir) Putin is after. We are therefore assuming an increased threat situation and are talking to companies about better protection – especially in the defense industry,” Interior Minister Nancy Faeser told the daily Suddeutsche Zeitung newspaper. “The security situation has worsened significantly. Putin is acting absolutely unscrupulously,” she added. Faeser pointed to what she called Putin’s “brutality” with which he “wages his war of aggression against the Ukrainian…

Russia’s top diplomat on Tuesday said Moscow is ready to study US President-elect Donald Trump’s proposals for peace in Ukraine after he takes office next week. “When Trump, having become president, finally formulates his position on Ukrainian affairs, of course, we will study it,” Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov told a press briefing in Moscow. Trump says he wants settle the longstanding conflict swiftly. According to his special envoy Keith Kellogg, the goal is to end the war, which is set to enter its third year in February, in the near term, in 100 days. Lavrov said Russia so far has…

The Istanbul Financial Center (IFM) and Hong Kong Financial Services Development Council have signed a cooperation deal to share expertise between the two financial hubs, aiming to develop joint projects and create new opportunities, according to the Turkish center. The IFM seeks to strengthen Türkiye’s position in global financial markets with modern infrastructure. The partnership combines Hong Kong’s deep-rooted financial experience and presents significant potential for innovative solutions and sustainable growth for both Istanbul and Hong Kong. The agreement includes setting up training programs, delegation visits, expert exchanges, organizing joint promotional events, and cooperation in technology. Ahmet İhsan Erdem, the…

Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said on Tuesday that while it is Armenia’s sovereign right to pursue EU accession, the country’s leadership has to carefully weigh the potential benefits and consequences, drawing parallels to Ukraine’s experience. Speaking at a news conference in Moscow, Lavrov reiterated Moscow’s position, earlier explained by Deputy Prime Minister Alexey Overchuk, who argued Armenia’s initiation of discussions on a draft bill to begin its EU membership application signals a move toward withdrawing from the Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU). “Membership in the EU and the EAEU are fundamentally incompatible. They operate under different customs systems and tariffs,…

Germany’s Defense Minister Boris Pistorius made a surprise visit to Ukraine’s capital Kyiv on Tuesday. The visit was initially reported by Ukrainian and German media, although neither Kyiv nor Berlin has officially confirmed it yet. Details about the purpose or agenda of the trip remain sparse. According to sources, the minister intends to discuss the continuation of German military assistance to Ukraine amid the ongoing Moscow-Kyiv war since February 2022. He is also expected to get acquainted with the current situation on the ground.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy submitted on Tuesday a bill to the parliament seeking approval of his decrees on extending the period of martial law and general mobilization. The document proposes extending martial law in Ukraine starting at 5.30 a.m. (0330GMT) on Feb. 8, 2025 for another 90 days. Similarly, it suggests extending the period of general mobilization, also by 90 days, beginning on the same date. Zelenskyy imposed martial law on Feb. 24, 2022, two days after Russian President Vladimir Putin announced the beginning of Moscow’s “special military operation” in Ukraine. Since then, he has extended army rule several times.

A Russian court on Tuesday fined Google over 8 billion rubles (approximately $78 million) for not complying with previous penalties given to the US-based company. A magistrate from Moscow’s Nagorny District found Google guilty of evading the implementation of an administrative penalty, said a statement by the press service of courts in the Russian capital on Telegram. The statement said the company was fined just over 8 billion Russian rubles for the offense. It did not specify the administrative penalty the company was found guilty of. In December, Russian President Vladimir Putin accused Google and YouTube, both of which are…

Britain on Tuesday reiterated its support for an inclusive political process and said they are reviewing Syria sanctions along with allies at the moment. UK Foreign Secretary David Lammy said it is vital that the new Syria includes representation for all of its people and that all Syrians see themselves represented in the government. “WE ARE SUPPORTING AN INCLUSIVE POLITICAL PROCESS THAT MUST RESPECT THE RIGHTS OF ETHNIC AND RELIGIOUS MINORITIES, AND WE WILL CONTINUE IN OUR EFFORTS,” he said during a Foreign Office questions session in the House of Commons. When asked whether the UK is planning to lift…

Six people were allegedly shot dead by police in Mozambique during protests on the first day of the inauguration of new members of parliament, according to the elections monitoring group Plataforma DECIDE. The group said three deaths were reported in the Zambezia province and as many in the Inhambane province on Monday, bringing the death toll to 300 since the start of demonstrations. Opposition presidential candidate Venancio Mondlane who is disputing the outcomes of the Oct. 9 elections called for three days of fresh protests starting on Monday. Mozambique has been gripped by protests since Oct. 21, when the ruling…