live Israel-Lebanon ceasefire to be extended by three weeks, Trump says - Friday, 24 April
The ceasefire between Israel and Lebanon will be lengthened by three weeks, U.S. President Donald Trump said in a post on social media website...
Armenia’s Security Council Secretary Armen Grigoryan says progress in talks with Azerbaijan is helping the country manage economic and security pressures as regional conflicts and alliances shift.
Speaking at the Delphi Economic Forum in Greece on Wednesday (22 April), he pointed to recent diplomatic steps, including a draft peace agreement and the Washington Declaration, aimed at normalising relations after years of tension between the neighbours.
Armenia and Azerbaijan have fought intermittently since the late Soviet period, including wars over Nagorno-Garabagh. In recent years, both sides have moved towards a formal peace framework, backed by international mediation.
"Yerevan has come close to signing a peace agreement with Baku. The Washington Peace Declaration signed with Azerbaijan brought real peace to our region. It also increased our ability to deal with the difficulties created by regional conflicts that affect us negatively," Grigoryan said.
Grigoryan said Armenia’s energy market has remained relatively stable despite volatility in global prices.
Fuel costs rose earlier this year but have broadly returned to end-of-last-year levels, he said.
He said the stability was partly due to growing economic cooperation with Azerbaijan, including fuel imports that have supported domestic supply.
Armenia has limited domestic energy resources and has traditionally relied on Russia and Iran for gas, oil products and electricity.
That dependence has left the country exposed to external shocks.
Since the start of the war in Ukraine, Russia’s energy sector has come under greater strain, including from infrastructure strikes and rising domestic demand, which have affected export capacity.
Sanctions and restrictions linked to Iran have added further uncertainty over supply routes and pricing.
Grigoryan said broader geopolitical tensions continue to shape energy markets.
He said developments in the Middle East, particularly involving Iran, have had a direct impact on global oil flows.
He highlighted disruptions such as the closure of the Strait of Hormuz, a key transit route for a large share of the world’s oil shipments.
Such disruptions can quickly affect fuel prices in smaller, import-dependent economies like Armenia.
According to Grigoryan, closer economic ties with Azerbaijan have helped ease some of these pressures.
Fuel imports linked to this cooperation have supported supply and reduced the impact of global price swings on the domestic market.
This comes as both countries explore broader economic links alongside political negotiations.
The U.S. military has intercepted at least three Iranian-flagged tankers in Asian waters and is redirecting them away from their positions near India, Malaysia and Sri Lanka, shipping and security sources said on Wednesday, exclusively to Reuters.
Iran’s Revolutionary Guards targeted three vessels, seizing two of them for alleged maritime violations and transferring them to Iranian shores, as U.S. President Donald Trump said Washington is extending its ceasefire with Iran until Tehran submits a proposal.
Two local trains collided head-on north of Copenhagen on Thursday (23 April), injuring 17 people, five of them critically, according to emergency services.
The U.S. military is redirecting at least three Iranian-flagged tankers after intercepting them in Asian waters near India, Malaysia and Sri Lanka, shipping and security sources said on Wednesday. Meanwhile, Tehran said U.S. breaches, blockades and threats are undermining “genuine negotiations.”
The European Union is preparing its 20th round of sanctions against Russia over the war in Ukraine. The measures are close to being approved, after earlier delays linked to energy concerns in Slovakia and Hungary eased following repairs to the Druzhba oil pipeline.
In a parliamentary vote on Wednesday (22 April), Turkish lawmakers approved legislation designed to protect minors from harmful online content. Passed after lengthy deliberations, the measure includes an outright ban on social media use by children under 15.
Residents in central Gaza are preparing to vote in municipal elections this weekend, marking the first ballot in the Strip since 2006. The vote in Deir al-Balah is being watched closely as a rare indication of public sentiment, including towards Hamas.
United Nations experts have urged the Indian authorities to release Jagtar Singh Johal, who was arrested in Punjab in late 2017 and has remained in prison since. Allegations have been made that he was tortured and threatened with death in custody.
Central Asian leaders have warned that worsening water shortages now pose a direct threat to regional stability, urging coordinated action and stronger international engagement.
The European Union says its envoy Gilles Bertrand raised concerns over women’s rights, regional security and cross-border tensions during a visit to Kabul, while Afghan officials urged more development aid, trade access and continued dialogue.
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