Trade between Azerbaijan and the U.S. reached $296.2 million in the first quarter of 2026, more than doubling compared with the same period last year, according to Azerbaijan’s State Customs Committee.
The United States has expanded its naval blockade on Iran, allowing forces to stop, search and seize vessels suspected of carrying “contraband”, as Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth warned U.S. forces are ready to resume combat if no deal is reached.
Anti-corruption authorities in Armenia have arrested 14 people linked to a pro-Russian opposition party on suspicion of vote buying, just weeks before June’s parliamentary elections.
Armenia is entering a tense election period, with Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan warning that rivals risk pushing the country back towards conflict, while urging voters to remain on a path towards peace with Azerbaijan.
Iran has raised the idea of charging ships to pass through the Strait of Hormuz, drawing sharp attention due to the waterway’s vital role in global energy supply and the legal questions involved.
Turkish police have detained 83 people for “glorifying crime and criminals” following two school shootings this week, including an attack in Kahramanmaraş in which a 14-year-old student killed at least nine people before taking his own life.
The U.S. has warned it could impose sanctions on buyers of Iranian oil and expects China to halt purchases as Washington intensifies enforcement of a maritime blockade on Iran.
Azerbaijan has recorded its first-ever imports from Armenia, signalling a tentative shift in economic ties between the two neighbours.
Kazakhstan and Türkiye are intensifying efforts to expand economic cooperation, setting a target to increase bilateral trade to $15 billion as both countries build on steady growth and broaden investment ties.
Kuwaiti authorities have detained U.S.-Kuwaiti journalist Ahmed Shihab-Eldin, who has not been seen for six weeks, according to a media watchdog, as Gulf states intensify a crackdown on war-related filming and online posts.
Baku has hosted a major regional conference focused on strengthening the role of women in economic development, leadership and sustainability across Asia.
Turkish Defence Minister Yaşar Güler has warned that the ongoing regional conflict could escalate further, describing the Iran–U.S. ceasefire as “fragile.”
Afghanistan and Uzbekistan have agreed to strengthen research and policy cooperation following a roundtable in Tashkent focused on trade, connectivity and regional ties, according to official statements from both sides.
Dubai’s most iconic hotel, the Burj Al Arab, is set to close for the first time since opening in 1999 as it begins an extensive 18-month refurbishment aimed at preserving its status as a global symbol of luxury.
Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan has said that the opening of railway transit routes through Azerbaijan has helped shield Armenia’s economy from the wider impact of regional instability linked to the crisis in the Strait of Hormuz.
Türkiye is reeling after a second school shooting in as many days, after a 14-year-old student killed nine people - eight pupils and one teacher - and wounded 13 others at a middle school in the south-eastern province of Kahramanmaraş on Wednesday, officials said.
The Centre of Islamic Civilisation in Uzbekistan has been officially recognised by Guinness World Records as the world’s largest museum dedicated to Islamic civilisation.
Azerbaijan and Russia have announced a formal settlement over the 2024 crash of an Azerbaijan Airlines (AZAL) Embraer 190 near Aktau, confirming that all outstanding issues, including compensation, have been resolved.
A vast undersea power link across the Black Sea is gaining momentum, strengthening Georgia’s ambitions to become a key energy bridge between East and West.
Azerbaijan’s Foreign Minister Jeyhun Bayramov has met Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Mikhail Galuzin in Baku for bilateral talks, covering political, economic, humanitarian and regional security issues, the Azerbaijani Foreign Ministry said.
