APA News Agency

🇦🇿🇲🇻 Visa-Free Regime Between Azerbaijan And Maldives Enters Into Force The necessary domestic procedures for the entry into force of the “Agreement between the Government of the Republic of Azerbaijan and the Government of the Republic of Maldives on mutual visa exemption for holders of ordinary passports,” signed on September 24, 2025, in New York City, have been completed, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs @AzerbaijanMFA told APA. The agreement enters into force on April 29, 2026, in line with its relevant provisions. Under the agreement, citizens of Azerbaijan holding valid ordinary passports and citizens of the Maldives holding valid ordinary passports are exempted from the visa requirement to enter, leave or transit through the territory of the other party, as well as to stay in that territory for a period not exceeding 90 (ninety) days from the date of entry. #Azerbaijan #Maldives

🇺🇸🇮🇷 Trump Again Threatens Iran: No More Mr. Nice Guy #US President Donald Trump @realDonaldTrump has once again threatened #Iran, APA reports. "No more Mr. Nice Guy," Donald Trump said on his Truth Social account, referring to himself. "Iran can’t get their act together. They don’t know how to sign a nonnuclear deal. They better get smart soon," he noted.

🇳🇱🇦🇿🇦🇲 Ambassador: Netherlands Supports Peace Process Between Azerbaijan And Armenia The Netherlands supports the peace process between #Azerbaijan and #Armenia, the Ambassador of the Netherlands to Azerbaijan @NLinAzerbaijan, Marianne de Jong, said at a press conference today, APA reports. She said the peace process would pave the way for trade, connectivity, and development. The ambassador also highly appreciated Azerbaijan’s support for #Ukraine: “Azerbaijan’s constructive efforts to promote stability are recognized,” she noted. The diplomat emphasized that trade between Azerbaijan and the Netherlands increased to nearly half a billion dollars last year, and that there are significant opportunities to develop cooperation in water management, agriculture, and connectivity. Marianne de Jong also stated that cooperation between the Netherlands and Azerbaijan in the field of justice has strengthened. The ambassador expressed optimism about the future of bilateral relations between the two countries.

🇬🇧🇺🇦 King Charles Praises NATO And Urges Defence of Ukraine In key Speech During Trump Visit King Charles @RoyalFamily has extolled the importance of Britain’s “special relationship” with the #US in a speech to Congress that made pointed reference to the importance of NATO @NATO, the defence of #Ukraine and the climate crisis, The Guardian @guardian reports. In a speech that will be read as a veiled plea to Donald Trump to return to the US’s traditional European alliances and restore his country’s role as a defender of liberal values, Charles said: “America’s words carry weight and meaning, as they have since independence. The actions of this great nation matter even more.” Charles’s appearance before the joint session of Congress – the first such royal address in 35 years – was billed as the centrepiece of his four-day state visit to the United States, where he and Queen Camilla are taking part in celebrations to mark the 250th anniversary of independence. And he urged “unyielding resolve” in the cause of “Ukraine and her most courageous people” in order to “secure a truly just and lasting peace”.

🇹🇷✈️🇦🇿 🗓️ 27 Nisan - 2 Mayıs 2026 Tek millet, iki devlet, tek yürek. 💪 TURAZ Kartalı Tatbikatı, Hava Kuvvetleri Komutanlığımıza bağlı 191’inci Jet Filo Komutanlığı unsuru 3 adet F-16 uçağı ve 79 personelin katılımıyla Azerbaycan’da icra ediliyor. #MillîSavunmaBakanlığı

Trump Blasts German Chancellor Over Iran Nuclear Comments U.S. President Donald Trump @realDonaldTrump on Tuesday criticized German Chancellor Friedrich Merz @_FriedrichMerz, accusing him of suggesting “it’s OK for #Iran to have a nuclear weapon,” APA reports. “He doesn’t know what he’s talking about! If Iran had a nuclear weapon, the whole world would be held hostage. I am doing something with Iran, right now, that other nations, or presidents, should have done long ago,” Trump said in a post on Truth Social. The U.S. president also took aim at #Germany’s domestic situation, arguing that the country is “doing poorly, both economically and otherwise.”

Google, Pentagon Reach Confidential AI Agreement ✅ @Google has reached a confidential agreement with the United States Department of Defense @DeptofWar to provide artificial intelligence models designed to process classified information. According to The Information, the contract includes clear restrictions: the technology cannot be used for mass surveillance or to develop autonomous weapons that operate without human oversight. The agreement also specifies that #Google will not have the authority to influence or veto government operational decisions. In a statement, the company said it collaborates with government institutions on both classified and non-classified projects.

🇶🇦 Qatar MFA: Use of Strait of Hormuz as pressure tool unacceptable #Qatar supports #Pakistan’s mediation efforts between the #UnitedStates and #Iran and considers the use of the #StraitofHormuz as a pressure tool in the ongoing confrontation unacceptable, said spokesperson for the Qatari Ministry of Foreign Affairs @MofaQatar_EN Majed Al-Ansari @majedalansari at a press conference, APA reports. “We do not see a problem in this mediation and support the continuation of negotiations,” he said. Al-Ansari also emphasized that preventing ships from passing through the Strait of Hormuz or using the strait as a means of pressure is unacceptable.

🇺🇸🇮🇷 Trump: Iran Says It Is In “State of Collapse,” Seeks Reopening of Strait of Hormuz US President Donald Trump @realDonaldTrump said on Truth Social that #Iran has informed #Washington it is in a “state of collapse” and is seeking the reopening of the #StraitofHormuz as it works to resolve its leadership situation, APA reports.

🇦🇪 UAE leaves OPEC And OPEC+ In Huge Blow To Global Oil Producers' Group The United Arab Emirates said on Tuesday it quit #OPEC and OPEC+, dealing a heavy blow to the oil exporting groups and ​their de facto leader, #SaudiArabia, at a time when the #Iran ‌war has caused a historic #energy shock and unsettled the #globaleconomy, Reuters @Reuters reports. The stunning loss of the UAE, a longstanding OPEC member, could create disarray and weaken the group, ​which has usually sought to show a united front despite internal ​disagreements over a range of issues from geopolitics to production quotas.

🏆🇮🇷 Iran To Participate İn The World Cup, Government Spokesman Says "Iran will take part in the 2026 FIFA World Cup," said Iranian government spokesperson Fatemeh Mohajerani today at a press conference, APA reports. She confirmed that Iran’s national team will participate in the World Cup and added that preparations for the tournament are underway. The 2026 #FIFAWorldCup will be held in the summer of 2026 in the #UnitedStates, #Canada, and #Mexico. Iran is set to compete in Group G against Belgium, Egypt, and New Zealand.

🇮🇱🇮🇷 Mossad Chief: Israel Obtained Iran’s Strategic And Tactical Intelligence Mossad chief David Barnea says the agency has penetrated “the core of the enemy’s secrets” and carried out “groundbreaking” operations in #Iran and beyond, during a ceremony honoring outstanding missions from 2025, The Times of Israel @TimesofIsrael reports. Speaking at the Mossad headquarters last night, Barnea highlighted what he described as a shift in the agency’s role during wartime, saying it has become a more offensive and effective organization alongside the @IDF in campaigns against Iran and its proxy terror group Hezbollah. “We obtained strategic and tactical intelligence at the core of the enemy’s secrets,” he said. “We demonstrated new and groundbreaking operational capabilities in target countries.”

Russian, Iranian, Belarusian Officials Push Diplomatic Path on Conflict ✅ Andrei Belousov held talks in #Kyrgyzstan with #Iran’s Deputy Defence Minister Reza Talaei-Nik, reaffirming #Moscow’s stance that the Iran-related conflict should be resolved strictly through diplomacy, according to TASS. He expressed confidence that Russia and Iran would continue supporting each other. Talaei-Nik also traveled to Belarus, where he met Defence Minister Viktor Khrenin. The Belarusian Defence Ministry, cited by BelTA, said both sides agreed the only viable solution is a return to political and diplomatic negotiations and intensifying dialogue efforts. The statement added that the meeting highlighted mutual interest between Minsk and Tehran in deepening cooperation. Meanwhile, in Moscow, President Vladimir Putin met Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi @araghchi praising Iran’s resilience under pressure from the United States and #Israel, and pledging continued Russian support for #Tehran.

🇦🇿 President Ilham Aliyev @presidentaz: #Azerbaijan’s financial and economic situation is stable.

Czechia–Azerbaijan friendship and cooperation are being reaffirmed, and excellent prospects are opening up before us.

#INTERVIEW: Czech Republic To Explore Investment Opportunities In Azerbaijan’s Liberated Territories 🇨🇿🇦🇿 The #Czech Republic intends to explore investment opportunities in #Azerbaijan’s liberated territories, said Prime Minister @strakovka of the Czech Republic Andrej Babiš @AndrejBabis in an interview with APA Information Agency, Azerbaijan Television and APA TV during his official visit to Azerbaijan. He noted that this issue was discussed with Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev and that they are ready to participate in projects. “We intend to explore investment opportunities in these territories,” Andrej Babiš emphasized. shorturl.at/VgfSm

🇦🇿 President Ilham Aliyev: Azerbaijan’s Financial And Economic Situation Is Stable “Azerbaijan’s financial and economic situation is stable. For many years—already nine years—our currency has been stable,” said President Ilham Aliyev @presidentaz during his speech at the #Azerbaijan-#Czechia business forum, APA reports. “In fact, it has remained unchanged. One dollar is 1.7 manat since 2017. And I think this is an important indicator for any potential investor, local or foreign,” the head of state emphasized.