live Iran closes Strait of Hormuz again over U.S. blockade, state media says- Saturday 18 April
Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps (IRGC) said in a Saturday statement that the Strait of Hormuz has...
Azerbaijan is hosting high-level discussions with the Organization of Turkic States in Gabala, where officials are reviewing preparations for the upcoming summit and discussing ways to enhance cooperation on peace, regional connectivity, and sustainable development.
The event brings together senior representatives of the Organization of Turkic States and Azerbaijani officials to strengthen political dialogue, economic coordination, and cultural exchange among Turkic nations. Headquartered in Istanbul, the Organization of Turkic States unites Azerbaijan, Türkiye, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, and Uzbekistan as full members, with Hungary, Turkmenistan, and the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus holding observer status. Established in 2009 and renamed in 2021, the OTS works to advance integration, connectivity, and shared progress across the Turkic world.
President Ilham Aliyev meets Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán in Gabala
Talks covered cooperation in energy, investment, agriculture, and tourism, as well as Hungarian companies’ involvement in the reconstruction of Soltanli village in Azerbaijan’s Jabrayil district.
President Ilham Aliyev meets OTS Secretary-General in Gabala
President Ilham Aliyev met with Kubanychbek Omuraliev, Secretary-General of the Organization of Turkic States, in Gabala. The sides discussed cooperation between Azerbaijan and the OTS and reviewed preparations for the 12th Summit of Heads of State, to be held in Gabala under the theme “Regional Peace and Security.”

Omuraliev congratulated President Aliyev on the outcomes achieved in Washington, in the presence of U.S. President Donald Trump, regarding the peace agenda between Azerbaijan and Armenia. President Aliyev expressed gratitude and reaffirmed Azerbaijan’s commitment to peace and cooperation within the Turkic world. The Secretary-General thanked Azerbaijan for supporting the organization’s international standing and expressed confidence that the upcoming summit would further promote friendship and partnership among member countries.
President Ilham Aliyev meets OTS Council of Elders Chairman in Gabala
President Aliyev also received Binali Yıldırım, Chairman of the OTS Council of Elders. The meeting focused on cooperation among Turkic states and the role of the Council in supporting unity and shared initiatives.

President Aliyev praised Yıldırım’s long-standing contributions to strengthening ties within the Turkic world, while Yıldırım expressed appreciation for Azerbaijan’s consistent support of the organization. The discussion reflected the close strategic and fraternal relations between Azerbaijan and Türkiye.
President Ilham Aliyev meets TRNC President in Gabala
President Aliyev met with Ersin Tatar, President of the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus, who thanked Azerbaijan for its support and recalled his previous meetings with President Aliyev, including participation in the informal OTS Summit in Shusha.

President Aliyev reaffirmed Azerbaijan’s continued support for the TRNC, while President Tatar congratulated him on progress made in advancing the peace agenda between Armenia and Azerbaijan in Washington. The leaders also highlighted the TRNC’s role as an OTS observer and the significance of the Gabala Summit in expanding cooperation within the Turkic world.
The past 24 hours of the Russia-Ukraine war have seen a drastic escalation in both aerial bombardment and frontline losses.
Iran reopened the Strait of Hormuz to commercial shipping on Friday (17 April) for the first time since the U.S. and Israel killed Iran's ex-Supreme Leader in air strikes, triggering the Middle East conflict, at the end of February. A U.S. blockade on Iranian ports, however, remains in force.
Russia published addresses of manufacturers allegedly producing drones or components for Ukraine on Wednesday (15 April), warning European countries against plans to step up UAV supplies to Kyiv.
Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps (IRGC) said in a Saturday statement that the Strait of Hormuz has returned to its "previous state" under the control of its "armed forces," citing the ongoing U.S. blockade on Iranian ports.
Netflix shares fell sharply on Friday after the streaming group issued a weaker-than-expected outlook and said chairman and co-founder Reed Hastings will step down from the board.
Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa has said his country could provide a “safe corridor” and “alternative route” for regional energy shipments, as supply disruptions continue to affect the wider Middle East.
An average of at least 47 women and girls were killed each day during the war in Gaza, according to new figures released by UN Women.
China is seeking to strengthen and upgrade its cooperation with Turkmenistan, focusing on what officials describe as “high-quality development” across a range of sectors.
Kazakhstan plans to boost trade with Afghanistan from $500 million to $3 billion, backed by infrastructure and transit projects designed to strengthen regional connectivity and improve access to global markets.
A low-profile diplomatic visit to Tbilisi may prove more consequential than it first appears, as representatives of France, Germany and Poland meet figures across Georgia’s political spectrum, signalling that Brussels is watching closely ahead of a key EU foreign ministers’ meeting.
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