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"After confirming Colombia's failure to implement concrete and effective border security ‌measures, Ecuador is compelled to take sovereign action," the government said in a statement.

The South American country had late February raised tariffs to 50%, up from a level of 30% it first imposed at the end ​of January. It has justified the measures by saying Colombia is not doing enough to fight drug trafficking ​near the shared border.

Colombia did not immediately announce reciprocal measures but top officials blasted the ⁠latest measures on social media.

"This is simply a monstrosity," Colombian President Gustavo Petro said on X, adding that it ​suggested trade agreements in the Andean region had lost their value, and his foreign minister should move for greater integration ​with Central America, the Caribbean and South America's Mercosur bloc.

These are the expectations due to the rise in oil prices this year.

In 2027, amid declining export revenues, the current account surplus is projected to decrease to 3.5% of GDP, the ADB notes.

At the end of 2025, the current account surplus of the country's balance of payments was recorded at $3.48 billion, equivalent to 4.6% of GDP.

The leading Dutch banking group ING Group estimates Azerbaijan's current account surplus in 2026 at 6.5% of GDP, and in 2027 at 1.7% of GDP.

International rating agency Moody's forecasts the current account surplus in 2026 at 5% of GDP, and for the following year at 5.2% of GDP.

Compared to September estimates, the forecast for 2026 was revised upward by 2.2 percentage points. The forecast estimate for 2027 had not been previously published.

The increase in fuel costs in January 2026, as well as the rise in transport service tariffs in October 2025, will create short-term inflationary pressure. Based on this, inflation in 2026 is expected to reach 5.7%, and starting from 2027, amid declining oil prices, it is expected to fall to 4.9%, the report notes.

According to the State Statistical Committee data, average annual inflation in Azerbaijan in 2025 was 5.6% compared to 2.2% in 2024.

According to forecasts by Azerbaijan's Ministry of Economy, the average annual inflation in the country in 2026 will be 4.8%, and in 2027, 4.5%. According to the latest forecasts of the Central Bank of Azerbaijan (February 2026), annual inflation this year will be 5.5%, and in 2027, 4%.

The UN, in turn, forecasts inflation in Azerbaijan at 3.1% this year. The World Bank expects average annual inflation in Azerbaijan in 2026 at the level of 2.3%.

The international rating agency Moody's forecasts average annual inflation in Azerbaijan this year at the level of 3%, Fitch Ratings at 4.6%, and Fitch Solutions at the level of 5.5% in 2026, and 4.8% in 2027.

The largest banking group in the Netherlands, ING Group, forecasts annual inflation in Azerbaijan at the level of 5% in 2026, and 5.5% in 2027.

The forecast for Azerbaijan's economic growth in 2026 has not changed compared to the September estimate, while the figure for 2027 has been presented by the bank for the first time. Thus, the average annual GDP growth rate of the republic for the 2026-2027 period is estimated at 1.9%.

The slowdown in growth compared to the previous year will occur against the backdrop of declining oil production, the ADB states.

According to the bank's estimates, the agricultural sector will show growth of 1.4% in 2026 and 1% in 2027, while industrial production will increase by only 0.2% and 0.1%, respectively.

The state budget deficit is expected to be at the level of 2.2% of GDP in 2026 and 2.1% in 2027, says the report.

In 2026, transfers from the State Oil Fund (SOFAZ) will amount to 9.3% of GDP, while state budget expenditures will reach 30.3% of GDP, of which 10.2% will account for public capital investments," the ADB notes.

It should be recalled that Azerbaijan's Ministry of Economy forecasts GDP growth in 2026 at the level of 2.9%, in 2027 at 3.3%, while the Central Bank expects the country's economic growth at the level of 2.4% in the current year and 2.9% in 2027.

Estimates from international rating agencies vary: S&P Global expects growth in 2026 at the level of 2%, Fitch Ratings at 2.5%, Moody's at 2.5%, and the IMF at 2.1%.

The largest banking group in the Netherlands, ING Group, forecasts Azerbaijan's economic growth at the level of 2.5% in 2026 and 3% in 2027, while the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development forecasts 2% in 2026 and 2.5% in 2027.

According to World Bank forecasts, Azerbaijan's GDP growth rate will be 2% in 2026 and 1.8% in 2027.

According to UN estimates, Azerbaijan's economic growth will be 2.7% in 2026 and 2.6% in 2027.

According to Fitch Solutions' expectations, Azerbaijan's real GDP growth in 2026 will be 2.5%.

In 2025, Azerbaijan's economy grew by 1.4%.

"The Trump Route for International Peace and Prosperity (TRIPP) remains a top priority for the United States, with the potential to unleash peace and prosperity in the South Caucasus region and beyond. The Trump Administration remains committed to making TRIPP a reality," the spokesperson noted.

"It will allow unimpeded international and intrastate connectivity in the region, expanding opportunities for increased economic growth and prosperity," the State Department spokesperson said.

"The ultimate objectives of TRIPP are to strengthen the prosperity and security of Armenia and Azerbaijan and expand U.S. commercial opportunities by expanding regional trade and connectivity, as well as to create new transit links from Central Asia and the Caspian to Europe," the spokesperson concluded.

The leaders discussed the ceasefire and the security situation in the region.

In the conversation, Erdoğan noted that Türkiye had exerted intensive efforts alongside relevant countries in the process leading to the ceasefire.

President Erdoğan emphasized that the upcoming negotiations, set to begin in the coming days, must be utilized to the utmost degree to achieve lasting peace and stability. He also said his country stands ready to provide all manner of contributions alongside friendly nations in this new phase as well.

Expressing once again his condolences and sorrow to the people of Iran for their losses, the president stated that Türkiye's goal is to establish a new climate of sound judgment and dialogue in our region.

Kutum has been under RSF control since the early months of the conflict that began in April 2023. The town has faced repeated drone strikes, suspected to be carried out by the Sudanese army, targeting RSF positions, the local rural hospital, and the main market.

Local sources told Sudan Tribune that at least 40 people died and over 100 were injured when a drone hit a home during a wedding ceremony in the Al-Salam neighbourhood. The strike reportedly destroyed dozens of houses, leaving many families displaced.

Alaeddine Naqd, spokesperson for the "Tasis" coalition, a political body aligned with the RSF, claimed in a statement that a Sudanese army drone strike killed 56 people, including 17 children, and wounded 107 others.

Naqd described the attack as an extension of the army's "racist approach" and called on Sudanese citizens to denounce the armed forces and support the coalition to end what he termed "terrorism."

The temporary truce will begin at 4 pm Moscow time on Saturday, April 11, and last until the end of the day on Sunday, April 12.

"By the decision of the Supreme Commander-in-Chief... V.V. Putin, in connection with the approaching Orthodox feast of Easter (the Resurrection of Christ), a ceasefire is declared from 16:00 (13:00 GMT) on 11 April until the end of the day on 12 April 2026," the Kremlin's statement said.

The two ministers spoke over the phone, according to Turkish diplomatic sources.

Iran and the US announced a two-week ceasefire on Tuesday aimed at paving the way for a final agreement to end the war, which has left thousands dead and wounded since February 28.

The first round of formal negotiations is likely to take place in Islamabad on Saturday.

The statement comes on the 40th day since Ali Khamenei's assassination.

In a message broadcast on state television, Khamenei emphasized that Iran does not seek conflict.

However, he made it clear that the country will not forfeit its rights under any circumstances.

The US and Israel launched military operations against Iran on February 28. As a result, Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and a number of high-ranking officials were killed. In response, Iran began striking targets it had identified in Saudi Arabia, Qatar, the United Arab Emirates, Oman, Bahrain, Iraq, and Cyprus, where US and allied military bases are located, alongside Israel.

Iran, the US, and their allies reached an agreement on a two-week ceasefire on the night of April 8, 2026. Iran stated that during this period, safe passage through the Strait of Hormuz would be ensured in coordination with the country's armed forces and taking into account technical limitations.

Previously, the regions declared emergencies on a regional scale.

On Thursday, Kurenkov, the minister of natural resources and the construction minister arrived in Makhachkala to coordinate the response effort.

Heavy rains on March 28 and on April 4-5 led to massive flooding in Dagestan. The regional authorities imposed a state of emergency in Makhachkala, Khasavyurt, Buynaksk, Dagestanskiy Ogni, Kaspiysk and in the Derbent, Karabudakhkent, Khasavyurt, Gumbetovsky, Babayurt, Novolakskoye and Kaytagsky districts.

A rise in water levels flooded over a section of a federal highway in Dagestan's Derbent district. A dam failure in Gedzhukhskoye Reservoir prompted the evacuation of more than 4,000 people from four of the district's areas. According to the latest data, the floods left six people dead and more than 6,200 injured. Criminal cases have been opened to investigate the deaths.

Currently, 1,091 houses, 1,146 land plots and 70 road sections remain flooded in eight Dagestani settlements.

Pashinyan welcomed the minister's visit and underlined the strategic nature of the partnership between Armenia and Kazakhstan, his office said in a readout.

He said that recent high-level bilateral visits have given fresh momentum to the development of broad-based cooperation between the two countries, adding that this is also reflected in the substantive bilateral agenda.

Pashinyan also said that regional developments are having a positive impact on cooperation between Armenia and Kazakhstan, particularly through the railway connection established via Azerbaijan, Russia and Georgia, which he said is creating new opportunities to expand trade and economic ties.

Kosherbayev conveyed the warm greetings of Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev to the Armenian prime minister and said he had held productive discussions with Armenian partners on all issues of mutual interest.

He expressed confidence that the newly established rail link would significantly expand bilateral trade and economic cooperation.

Kosherbayev also stressed the importance of unblocking regional transport routes and reaffirmed Kazakhstan's support for the TRIPP initiative.

Pashinyan and Kosherbayev also discussed the development of cooperation in infrastructure, construction, agriculture, technology, air connectivity and tourism.

Report informs, citing FIFA, that a total of 170 referees will operate at the World Cup.

The list includes 52 head referees, 88 assistant referees, and 30 video assistant referees, six of whom are women. This is considered the highest number in the history of World Cups and is 41 more than the figure recorded at the 2022 World Cup tournament.

In addition, for the first time in history, fans will be able to watch replays of episodes from the referees' perspective through cameras mounted on the referees.

A total of 48 teams will participate in the FIFA World Cup 2026, which will be held from June 11 to July 19 this year.

While the situation remains fluid and highly uncertain, the economic and social impact of the conflict is already being felt across many of the Bank's economies in the form of disrupted trade routes, energy and commodity shocks, weakened investor confidence and broader costs to the population. The magnitude of the impacts, however, will depend on how the situation evolves in the coming weeks and months.

The Bank's conflict response will focus on those economies that are directly affected – Iraq, Jordan, Lebanon, and the West Bank and Gaza, as well as a first group of affected neighbouring countries, including Egypt, Türkiye, Armenia and Azerbaijan.

Overall, the EBRD aims to deploy €5 billion in investments in these economies in 2026. The volume of conflict response investment will be demand driven due to the fast-changing nature of the situation.

"The EBRD also stands ready to provide support to all other economies where it operates that are affected by the broader economic security issues, as well as emerging macroeconomic impacts," reads the statement.

EBRD President Odile Renaud Basso said: "We are well placed to provide countercyclical responses. In a time of rising uncertainty, we are stepping up where others may pull back, while maintaining sound banking fundamentals. We are here to support economies, clients and people in our countries of operation in tough times."

The approach will comprise two phases: providing immediate relief by supporting economic activity, fostering financial sector stabilisation and ensuring the continuity of essential services, and laying the foundations for growth and a sustainable recovery in the affected economies.

"The response will strengthen energy security through targeted liquidity support for energy utilities in the short term and accelerate the transition towards more diversified, resilient and domestically anchored energy systems," the EBRD said.

Continued assistance to state‑owned enterprises will ensure the uninterrupted provision of essential goods and services, amid work on the longer-term reform agenda to strengthen resilience and economic governance.

In the private sector, to address disruptions to energy markets and agrifood value chains, the Bank will provide working capital and liquidity to help firms absorb market volatility and continue operating. Today, for instance, the EBRD Board approved a project to support Lebanon's retail chain. Longer term, the EBRD will support well‑functioning infrastructure, trade routes and food security, alongside investments in digital solutions that underpin economic connectivity and growth.

The Bank's investment response will be accompanied by robust policy dialogue, targeted technical assistance and advisory support for governments, clients and small and medium-sized enterprises, helping them to adapt, grow and contribute to a more resilient and inclusive economy.

The EBRD will work in close coordination with governments donors, international financial institutions and development finance institutions, and will seek to mobilise donor support to help economies weather shocks and emerge stronger and more resilient.

The Bank will draw on its strong track record in the region. Since starting operations in the southern and eastern Mediterranean in 2012, the EBRD has invested more than €26.5 billion in 489 projects there. In Türkiye, the EBRD is one of the key institutional investors, having committed over €23 billion across the country since 2009, largely in the private sector.

According to him, other states in the Caucasus region can also be involved in the trilateral dialogue format at the political and inter-parliamentary level.

Kurtulmuş, who considers the development of relations between Azerbaijan and Armenia a sensitive issue, stated:

"Ankara has, from the beginning, considered it possible to create an environment of cooperation among all states in the region. In this regard, the main difficulty was related to the occupation of Azerbaijan's Karabakh region. The liberation of Azerbaijani territories from occupation has created a new balance of power in the South Caucasus. Türkiye considers the rapprochement between Azerbaijan and Armenia, especially the recent steps, very positive and important. We hope that a long-term peace environment will soon be established in the South Caucasus."

It was noted that thanks to the tireless efforts of the First Lady of Azerbaijan, President of the Heydar Aliyev Foundation Mehriban Aliyeva, Azerbaijan's ancient art of carpet weaving was inscribed on UNESCO's Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity in 2010.

The Lithuanian PM familiarized herself with the unique collection exhibited in the Museum, demonstrating Azerbaijan's carpet weaving techniques.

The unique samples of pilled carpets representing Azerbaijan's seven main carpet weaving schools, including Guba, Baku, Shirvan, Ganja, Gazakh, Karabakh and Tabriz, are also showcased in the Museum.

PM Ruginienė also viewed the carpet weaving process at the museum.

Subsequently, the Lithuanian premier was informed about the Azerbaijani national clothing, including kelaghayi - a traditional Azerbaijani women's silk headwear.

Additionally, the Lithuanian official viewed the "Victory" carpet displayed here, dedicated to the Azerbaijani landmark victory claimed during the 44-day Patriotic War.

The Lithuanian PM then signed the museum's guestbook.

He stated that sound reasoning should currently prevail, and the parties need to be constructive on this matter.

Fidan also added that the two-week temporary ceasefire between Washington and Iran may not be sufficient: "If both sides agree, the period can be extended."

Report informs that within the framework of the trip, the ABA delegation first held a meeting with the Japanese Bankers Association (JBA).

At the meeting, the ABA delegation came together with the JBA leadership and experts from relevant organizations.

The ABA was represented at the meeting by President Zakir Nuriyev, Executive Director Yunus Abdulov, and representatives of the Central Bank of Azerbaijan, the country's leading banks, and the Azerbaijan Credit Bureau.

The Japanese side was represented by JBA Deputy Chairman and Chief Executive Director Yasuyuki Matsumoto and his team – Masayuki Saegusa, Yoji Oki, Ayako Suwa, and Reo Takizawa.

During the meeting, Matsumoto provided information about the Japanese banking system, the country's macroeconomic situation, payment infrastructure, and development directions of digital banking.

The ABA delegation, in turn, informed the other side about digitalization processes in the Azerbaijani banking sector, expansion of payment systems, reforms carried out in the finance and banking sector, and the existing regulatory framework.

Within the framework of the trip, the delegation also participated in a number of high-level business meetings with the Japanese Banks' Payment Clearing Network, Cooperation Agency for Anti-Money Laundering, Mizuho Bank, Money Forward, Inc., and the Bank of Japan.

During the meetings, the parties conducted extensive exchanges of views on advanced international practices in the banking sector, digital assets, application of artificial intelligence technologies in the financial sector, and increasing transparency of financial transactions.

"The results achieved within the framework of the trip are of great importance in terms of further expanding cooperation between the banking sectors of Azerbaijan and Japan, implementing innovative approaches, and supporting institutional development," the statement says.

"The negotiations will focus on disarming Hezbollah and establishing peaceful relations between Israel and Lebanon," the prime minister said.

This announcement came just minutes before Hezbollah launched a barrage of rockets, triggering sirens in northern Israel.

The negotiations, expected to begin next week, will be conducted between Israeli ambassador to the United States Yechiel Leiter and Lebanese ambassador to the United States Nada Hamadeh Moawad, Israeli sources told The Jerusalem Post.

Michel Issa, the US ambassador to Lebanon, is expected to mediate the talks, sources said.

He noted that relations between Serbia and Azerbaijan are based on strategic cooperation between the two countries and have particularly developed in recent years, thanks to the excellent personal relations between the two countries' presidents, Aleksandar Vučić and Ilham Aliyev:

"The development of cooperation with Azerbaijan in the energy sector is of great importance for Serbia, and here we are observing not only the strengthening of existing cooperation, but also the emergence of entirely new joint energy projects."

According to the expert, the planned natural gas power plant with high electricity generation capacity near the Serbian city of Niš is one of the most important projects for the country during the energy transition period:

"In this transition process, electricity is considered one of the main carriers and plays an important role in the future development of the country's economy. The same approach applies to the natural gas sector. Serbia has great potential for the development of its gas infrastructure, and we need natural gas from all our friends and partners. In this regard, Azerbaijan undoubtedly ranks among the top priorities."

The contract signed within the framework of delivering Azerbaijani gas to Serbia via the Bulgaria–Serbia interconnector has been extended until the end of 2026.

This was announced on April 8 during a meeting in Baku between Sahil Babayev, co-chair of the Intergovernmental Commission on Trade and Economic Cooperation between Azerbaijan and Serbia, and a delegation led by Serbia's Minister of Mining and Energy Dubravka Đedović Handanović.

According to him, Armenia intends to develop mutual relations in all areas of common interest with the countries of the region, including trade-economic and investment cooperation.

"I must particularly emphasize one key direction of economic development of our countries and regions: interconnectivity. I am confident that joint efforts to further develop transport and logistics infrastructure will contribute to the best realization of the region's economic potential and the strengthening of interregional cooperation," Mirzoyan emphasized.

He also added that Armenia is committed to the peace agenda in the South Caucasus:

"We also highly appreciate Kazakhstan's readiness to support efforts in this direction."

Yermek Kosherbayev, in turn, noted that Armenia is Kazakhstan's reliable partner in the South Caucasus.

He stated that Astana is committed to further developing cooperation with Yerevan within the framework of the established strategic partnership.

Euronews notes that government representatives and industry experts are focusing on urban planning models such as mixed-use construction, green planning, and infrastructure integrated into daily life.

Large-scale reconstruction and new city creation projects serve as a platform for post-conflict recovery and urban development, the report states.

According to assessments by officials cited in the report, the key factor is cooperation between state institutions and international partners.

The urban population continues to grow, which is why such initiatives should broaden discussions on how cities can adapt to economic, environmental, and social changes, says Euronews.

WUF13 will be held in Baku on May 17-22.

"Lavrov expressed hope that the negotiation process would be successful and welcomed the achievement of a two-week ceasefire agreement between the US and Iran," the Russian MFA said.

In turn, Araghchi thanked Moscow for its principled position on the situation in the Persian Gulf at the UN Security Council.

"Moscow supports extending the ceasefire agreement in the conflict around Iran to Lebanon as well," the Russian MFA said.

The goalkeeper pulled an outstanding performance in the first leg of the quarter-final match against Real Madrid (Spain) (2:1).

Neuer surpassed David Raya (Arsenal), Khvicha Kvaratskhelia (PSG) and Julian Alvarez (Atletico) in the voting.

Following a session chaired by President Joseph Aoun at Baabda Palace, the government tasked the Lebanese Armed Forces and security agencies with strengthening the state's full control over Beirut and limiting the possession of arms exclusively to legitimate forces.

"Preserving the safety of citizens and their property requires immediate action," Prime Minister Nawaf Salam said, according to the National News Agency, calling for the decision to be implemented without delay.

"We are tired of statements of condemnation," Aoun said, noting that Lebanon had hoped to be included in the ceasefire, but recent positions suggested otherwise. He added that he and Salam are engaging with "a number of Lebanon's friends around the world" to press for giving Lebanon the same opportunity granted to the United States and Iran to reach a ceasefire and move toward negotiations.

Aoun stressed that the Lebanese state alone has the authority to negotiate. "We will not accept anyone negotiating on our behalf," he said.

The developments come after the United States and Iran reached a ceasefire agreement, but Israeli strikes continued across Lebanon, with the death toll from Wednesday's attacks surpassing 200 killed and more than 1,000 wounded, according to Lebanese health authorities.

The meeting was attended by delegations led by Speaker of the Northern Cyprus Turkish Assembly, Head of the Northern Cyprus-Azerbaijan inter-parliamentary friendship group Ziya Ozturkler and Head of the Türkiye-Azerbaijan inter-parliamentary friendship group Samil Ayrim.

During the conversation, it was emphasized that these relations are being successfully continued at the parliamentary level as representatives of the peoples, and it was noted that our legislative bodies cooperate both on a bilateral basis and in a trilateral format.

In this regard, the importance of the trilateral format of the Azerbaijan-Türkiye-Northern Cyprus inter-parliamentary relations working groups was emphasized, and it was brought to attention that the regular meetings held within this cooperation format serve the development of inter-parliamentary cooperation, the protection of common interests, and the strengthening of solidarity.

Speaker Sahiba Gafarova noted that the discussions to be held in Baku over two days within the trilateral format will contribute to the further deepening of cooperation among the countries' parliaments.

Speaker of the Northern Cyprus Assembly Ziya Ozturkler expressed his gratitude for Azerbaijan's solidarity, friendship, brotherhood, and support shown to Northern Cyprus, and assessed the establishment of a friendship group with Northern Cyprus in the Azerbaijan Milli Majlis as an important step.

Head of the Türkiye-Azerbaijan inter-parliamentary friendship group Shamil Ayrim stated the importance of continuing relations between friendly and brotherly countries at the parliamentary level as well, and shared his views on further expanding relations in the trilateral format.

At the meeting, an exchange of views was held on other issues of mutual interest.

Report informs, citing TASS that sources said the talks are scheduled for Saturday rather than Friday.

Earlier, Pakistan's Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif had proposed holding the meeting in Islamabad on April 10.

The delegation also included Chairman of the International Information Committee of the Kazakh Ministry of Foreign Affairs Yerlan Zhetibayev and Attaché of the Embassy of the Republic of Kazakhstan in Baku Temirlan Bakhytzhan.

Report Director Fuad Huseynaliyev provided detailed information about the news agency's activities during the meeting. He noted that the agency, which is part of the Global Media Group, is guided in its work by the principle of accuracy in reporting, which is why it is the most cited media outlet in Azerbaijan today. He also spoke about the companies within the holding's structure.

In this context, he emphasized that Report and the Baku TV channel, also part of Global Media Group, signed a memorandum of cooperation last autumn with one of Kazakhstan's largest media outlets - the Khabar Agency.

Deputy Minister Rustam Ali, for his part, spoke about the main objectives of the Kazakh delegation's visit to Azerbaijan and the meetings held in Baku, noting with satisfaction that active cooperation in the media sphere has been established between our countries. He also emphasized that our countries have the potential to expand interaction in this area.

"As for initiatives, this year, alongside active work in the mass media sphere, a significant number of digitalization projects are being implemented. Head of State Kassym-Jomart Tokayev pays special attention to this area, including the integration of artificial intelligence technologies into all spheres. In this regard, we are also interested in developing cooperation and promoting relevant initiatives. We believe that a roadmap needs to be developed in this direction," Ali said.

Rustam Ali emphasized that by decree of President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev, 2026 has been declared the Year of Digitalization and Artificial Intelligence in Kazakhstan. According to him, in his address to the people of Kazakhstan, President Tokayev noted that the country has been tasked with transforming into a fully digital nation within three years. The implementation of AI should become a key element of economic development, contributing to labor productivity growth, the formation of export-oriented sectors, and Kazakhstan's integration into the global digital economy chains.

He also noted the presence of successful AI companies in the country that are currently implementing projects not only in Kazakhstan but also in the countries of the Organization of Turkic States.

Kazakhstan's Ministry of Foreign Affairs representative Yerlan Zhetibayev, in turn, emphasized that the country's foreign policy agency pays special attention to working with foreign correspondents accredited in Kazakhstan. According to him, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and other government bodies of Kazakhstan strive to promptly respond to inquiries from journalists of foreign countries, which allows for the dissemination of objective information about Kazakhstan.

At the meeting, Report's Editor-in-Chief Namiq Mailov particularly emphasized the need to use artificial intelligence not as a tool for producing news, but as an auxiliary means designed to support and facilitate the work of journalists.

During the discussions, the topic of the importance of intercultural interaction between the countries was also raised, and the mutual interest of young people in Azerbaijan and Kazakhstan in each other's culture and historical heritage was emphasized. Deputy Editor-in-Chief Azizov recalled that in the center of Baku, on the Seaside Boulevard, in March 2026, the Embassy of Kazakhstan organized a cultural mass event dedicated to the Novruz holiday, which generated great interest and active participation from residents of Azerbaijan's capital and visitors to the city.

The parties also highly praised the established level of friendly and trusting relations between the two countries, emphasizing their stable and progressive nature in both the political and economic spheres. The meeting participants noted that bilateral interaction is based on the principles of mutual respect, equality, and consideration of each other's interests.

Fuad Huseynaliyev also expressed gratitude to the Kazakh side at the meeting for their solidarity and support in connection with the crash of the AZAL airline plane near Aktau. He noted the assistance of citizens and various agencies of Kazakhstan in carrying out the rescue operation and ensuring an objective, transparent investigation of this tragic incident.

Following the meeting, the Kazakh delegation viewed the conditions created in the editorial office and the agency's activities.

"The work is being carried out consistently based on the First State Program on the Great Return to the Liberated Territories, approved by the relevant Decree of the country's President Ilham Aliyev. Modern technological equipment meeting contemporary standards has been installed and put into operation for the purpose of providing telecommunications services in the city center of Khojavand district, the towns of Girmizi Bazar and Hadrut, and the villages of Sos, Khojavand, Guzeykhirman, Guneykhirman, Khanoba, and Taghverdi, covering 4,496 households of the district. As a result, telecommunications services, including internet, in the Khojavend territory have covered a total of 344 households and 14 business entities," she noted.

According to the press secretary, the construction of 25 trunk lines planned within the framework of the stage envisaged for 2025 of the project for the Karabakh region has been successfully completed: "The fiber-optic trunk network with a total length of nearly 1,000 kilometers plays the role of the main base ensuring the sustainability and security of the communication infrastructure in the region. Communication infrastructure has been established in a total of 9 cities and 29 villages and towns in the liberated territories. In these areas, 8,905 new subscribers (8,422 households and 483 business entities) have been connected to the network."