According to the Ministry of Economy…

Azerbaijan has appointed its trade representative to China.Teymur Nadiroglu will be Azerbaijan`s second trade representative abroad as earlier this year the country appointed its first trade representative to Russia, according to the Ministry of Economy.Nadiroglu has work experience in the areas of investment, accounting, business development and financial planning in Azerbaijan, USA and China.Trade between Azerbaijan and China was one billion US dollars last year.

Oil prices have fallen on the world markets

On NYMEX (New York Mercantile Exchange) cost of the US light crude oil decreased $0.16 to stand at $47.24. Price of the Brent crude oil at the London ICE (Intercontinental Exchange Futures) fell $0.16 to trade at $49.31.The price of a barrel of Azeri Light crude oil decreased $0.89 to stand at $49.63 on the world markets.

999 media representatives from 34 countries applied for accreditation

A total of 999 media representatives from 34 countries have applied for accreditation to cover the Islamic Solidarity Games in Baku, Kamran Talibov, Head of Press Operations at Baku 2017, told. According to him, 252 of those who applied are representatives of the foreign media, while 747 represent local media. The majority of those who applied for accreditation are from Turkey, Saudi Arabia, Algeria, Iran and Pakistan, said Talibov. Others applied from the Netherlands, Poland, US, Germany, UK, Russia and France, he added.Athletes from Islamic countries will be representing their nations over 10 days of competition across 20 different sports which include 23 disciplines (Athletics and Para Athletics, Aquatics – Diving, Aquatics – Swimming, Aquatics – Water Polo, Basketball 3x3, Football, Gymnastics – Artistic, Gymnastics – Rhythmic, Wushu, Table Tennis, Handball, Judo and Blind Judo, Wrestling – Greco, Wrestling – Freestyle, Shooting, Tennis, Volleyball, Boxing, Zurkhaneh, Karate, Taekwondo and Weightlifting) in 16 world-class sporting venues in Baku.Baku was awarded the Games at the General Assembly of the Islamic Solidarity Sports Federation (ISSF) in Jeddah in July 2013.

Said of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs…

Media representatives and participants of the 4th Islamic Solidarity Games with accreditation will enter Azerbaijan without visa, said spokesman of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Hikmat Hajiyev.According to Hajiyev about 1000 foreign media representatives had applied for media accreditation for the Games. The majority of the forms have already been approved and the process continues.

To host “Youthvision” II international song contest

"Youthvision" II International Song Contest to be organized by the Ministry of Youth and Sports and the Azerbaijan Student Youth Organizations' Union (ASYOU) will be held in Baku on April 21.The aim of the contest is to establish the conditions for revealing and realization of creative potential and for efficient organization of leisure of youth, support and development of international relations in the sphere of youth policy.80-90 representatives from various countries are expected to come to Baku to participate in international song contest.

According to the Hellenic National Defense General Staff…

Four people died and one was injured when a Greek military helicopter crashed on Wednesday, according to Anadolu Agency.The UH-1H-type craft disappeared from radar in the early hours of Wednesday, according to the Hellenic National Defense General Staff.The crash site is in northwest Greece.Sergeant Major Vasiliki Plejida was found seriously injured by rescue personnel and was taken to a military hospital in the northern city of Thessaloniki.The four dead officers have been identified as: Major-General Ioannis Tzanidakis; Colonel Thomas Adamou; Major Dimosthenis Goulas; and Lieutenant Konstantinos Chatzis.The helicopter disappeared while on a scheduled flight from Larissa to Kozani with a total of five personnel onboard.An investigation has been launched.

According to Reuters…

Emirates [EMIRA.UL], the largest international airline by passenger traffic, said on Wednesday it was cutting flights on five U.S. routes after restrictions imposed by President Donald Trump's administration weakened demand from the Middle East, according to Reuters.Since taking office, Trump has signed two executive orders banning refugees and citizens from several Muslim-majority countries from visiting the United States. Although both moves were blocked by U.S. judges, some travelers have been deterred.The U.S. administration also introduced new security measures in March banning electronic devices larger than a mobile phone from being taken into aircraft cabins on direct flights to the United States from several Middle East locations."The recent actions taken by the U.S. government relating to the issuance of entry visas, heightened security vetting and restrictions on electronic devices in aircraft cabins have had a direct impact on consumer interest and demand for air travel into the U.S.," an Emirates spokeswoman said."Over the past three months, we have seen a significant deterioration in the booking profiles on all our U.S. routes, across all travel segments," the Emirates spokeswoman said.Under changes announced in a statement on Wednesday, Emirates said direct flights to Fort Lauderdale and Orlando would drop to five a week in May from daily flights, while Seattle and Boston flights would be reduced to a daily service in June from two a day.Twice daily Los Angeles flights would also be reduced in July to one a day, Emirates said.

On the settlement of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict…

"The Azerbaijani, Russian and Armenian FMs are expected to meet," spokesperson for Russia's Foreign Ministry Maria Zakharova has told a briefing in Moscow as she responded to a question on the settlement of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict.Zakharova also noted that the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict will be discussed during the meeting of Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov with OSCE Secretary General Lamberto Zannier to be held on April 26.

The Armenian armed units violated ceasefire with

The Armenian armed units violated ceasefire with Azerbaijan a total of 112 times throughout the day, Azerbaijan`s Defense Ministry said.Armenian armed forces, located on nameless hills in Ijevan region, in Berdavan, Barekamavan, Dovekh villages of Noyemberyan region, in Chinari, Aygedzor, Mosesgekh villages and on nameless hills in Berd region subjected to fire the positions of the Azerbaijani Armed Forces located in Jafarli, Bala Jafarli, Kamarli and Gaymagli villages of Gazakh region, in Aghbulag, Munjuglu, Aghdam, Alibeyli villages and on nameless hills in Tovuz region.The positions of Azerbaijani Armed Forces were also fired from the Armenia-occupied districts of Azerbaijan, including Goyarkh and Yarimja villages in Tartar district, Merzili, Garagashli, Bash Garvand and Yusifjanli villages in Aghdam district, Gorgan, Horadiz, Garakhanbayli, Ashagi Seyidahmadli and Ashaghi Veysalli villages in Fuzuli district, Kuropatkino village in Khojavand district, as well as nameless hills in Goranboy, Goygol, Tartar, Fuzuli and Khojavand districts.

TAP is a part of the Southern Gas Corridor

The Trans Adriatic Pipeline (TAP), which will transport Azerbaijani gas to Europe, is an important infrastructure supporting decarbonization, Italy’s Environment Minister Gian Luca Galletti stated.At his words, Italy’s energy strategy is focused on renewables and natural gas.TAP is a part of the Southern Gas Corridor, which is one of the priority energy projects for the European Union.As is known, TAP project envisages transportation of natural gas from Azerbaijan's Shah Deniz Stage 2 to the EU countries.The pipeline will connect to the Trans Anatolian Natural Gas Pipeline (TANAP) on the Turkish-Greek border, run through Greece, Albania and the Adriatic Sea, before coming ashore in Italy's south.TAP will be 878 km in length (Greece 550 km, Albania 215 km, Adriatic Sea 105 km, and Italy 8 km). Its highest point will be 1,800 meters in Albania’s mountains, while its lowest point will be 820 meters beneath the sea.TAP’s shareholding is comprised of BP (20%), SOCAR (20%), Snam S.p.A. (20%), Fluxys (19%), Enagás (16%) and Axpo (5%).