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The upcoming meeting between Russian President Vladimir Putin and U.S. President Donald Trump in Budapest represents a significant opportunity to achieve peace in Ukraine, Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban has said.

According to AZERTAC, Orban emphasized that ‘today, Hungary is the only European country where there is a real chance that U.S.-Russia talks could lead to peace.’

The Hungarian leader reaffirmed his government’s readiness to continue its peacekeeping and mediation efforts, underlining Hungary’s growing role as a potential diplomatic bridge between East and West.

The National Library of Azerbaijan has inaugurated a virtual exhibition and a traditional book fair titled ‘October 18 – Day of Restoration of State Independence.’

Azernews reports that the virtual exhibition features books, articles, and photographs that shed light on the restoration of Azerbaijan’s independence, the consolidation of sovereignty, and key milestones in the country’s statehood history. Visitors can explore materials highlighting the realities of independent and sovereign Azerbaijan, as well as publications dedicated to the nation’s Independence Restoration Day.

The traditional exhibition, meanwhile, offers readers access to an extensive collection of books in Azerbaijani and foreign languages. These works analyze Azerbaijan’s historic struggle for independence, examine major political events along that journey, and illuminate the people’s enduring will for freedom. The displays also explore the foundations of state-building and the far-reaching outcomes of Azerbaijan’s regained independence.

Azerbaijani football club Neftchi Baku has signed a major name to bolster its attacking lineup – Cameroon national team forward Vincent Aboubakar.

According to Azernews, the black-and-whites have reached an agreement with the 33-year-old striker, who arrived in Baku to join the team.

The club announced the transfer through a video shared on its social media accounts, in which Aboubakar greeted the fans and expressed his excitement about playing for Neftchi.

Aboubakar has previously played for several prestigious clubs, including FC Porto (Portugal), Al-Nassr (Saudi Arabia), and Besiktas (Trkiye). His most recent club was Hatayspor, another Turkish side.

The experienced forward is expected to bring international quality and leadership to Neftchi’s attack as the club continues to strengthen its lineup for upcoming competitions.

On October 17, First Vice-President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Mehriban Aliyeva, along with family members, and Sister Raffaella Petrini, President of the Governorate of Vatican City State, participated in a tree planting ceremony in the Vatican Gardens.

The pomegranate tree, a gift from the Azerbaijani side to the Holy See, symbolizes the source of life, family integrity, abundance, and fertility in Azerbaijan. It was mentioned that the pomegranate, which has many useful properties, is widely used in various aspects of the Azerbaijani culture.

The pomegranate tree planted in the Vatican Gardens, which are of great historical, architectural and religious importance, will embody the friendship and cooperation between Azerbaijan and the Holy See.

Expressing her profound gratitude to Mehriban Aliyeva for this valuable gift from the Azerbaijani side, Sister Raffaella Petrini, President of the Governorate of Vatican City State, underlined that it will become a crucial symbol of the friendship and cooperation consistently advancing between the two countries.

The Azerbaijani national amputee football team played its latest match in Group C of the Nations League, held in Baku, Azernews reports.

The Azerbaijani side faced off against Israel at the Bayil Arena. The encounter proved to be a tightly contested one, with neither team managing to find the back of the net, ending in a goalless draw. Both sides demonstrated strong defensive play and determination, with several missed chances keeping the scoreline level until the final whistle.

This result follows Azerbaijan’s impressive 3-0 victory over Belgium the previous day, a win that boosted the team’s confidence and standings in the group. The national squad has shown remarkable progress and resilience throughout the tournament, reflecting the growing strength of amputee football in the country.

Azerbaijan will continue its campaign on October 19 with two crucial matches against the Netherlands and Ukraine. Victories in these games could secure the team a top spot in the group and a place in the next stage of the competition, as they aim to make their mark in European amputee football.

On October 17, First Vice-President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Mehriban Aliyeva met with Cardinal Pietro Parolin, Secretary of State of the Vatican.

First Vice-President Mehriban Aliyeva expressed her pleasure at meeting Cardinal Pietro Parolin again and congratulated the Catholic world on the occasion of the ‘Jubilee Year.’

She thanked the Secretary of State for his participation in the COP29 event held in Azerbaijan in November last year and hailed the dynamic expansion of cooperation between Azerbaijan and the Holy See in recent years.

Emphasizing that Azerbaijan embodies the values of religious tolerance and multiculturalism as both state policy and a societal norm, Mehriban Aliyeva spoke about the work carried out by the Heydar Aliyev Foundation within the framework of cooperation with the Holy See. She noted the great potential for further developing bilateral relations. Speaking about the relations with the Catholic community in Azerbaijan, the First Vice-President said: ‘The issue raised during the Secretary of State’s visit to Azerbaijan in November last year-the construction of a second Catholic Church in our country-has found a positive resolution. A positive decision on this matter has already been made by President Ilham Aliyev, and construction of the second Catholic Church in the capital will begin in the near future.’ Mehriban Aliyeva underlined that Cardinal Pietro Parolin is regarded in Azerbaijan as a close friend of the country and its people and expressed gratitude for his contributions to the successful and steady development of bilateral cooperation.

Cardinal Pietro Parolin expressed his honor at seeing First Vice-President Mehriban Aliyeva again and conveyed his deep appreciation to the Azerbaijani state and personally to President Ilham Aliyev for efforts in strengthening relations with the Holy See. He described his meeting with President Ilham Aliyev during his visit to Azerbaijan at COP29 as a gesture of respect toward the Vatican. Highlighting the projects implemented with the support of the Heydar Aliyev Foundation, the Cardinal praised the cooperation and the exemplary relations between the state and the Catholic community in Azerbaijan. ‘The construction of a second Catholic Church in Baku is a highly commendable development, and for that, we are grateful to Azerbaijan. This is yet another manifestation of the care and respect shown to all religions in your country. Azerbaijan serves as an example for many countries in this regard,’ he said.

The Cardinal also noted that the awarding of Bishop Vladimir Fekete, Apostolic Prefect of the Catholic Church in Azerbaijan, with the ‘Friendship’ Order by President Ilham Aliyev is another sign of respect toward the Holy See.

Pietro Parolin congratulated Azerbaijan on the signing of the Joint Declaration by Azerbaijan, Armenia, and the United States on August 8 in Washington and on the initialing of the peace treaty between Armenia and Azerbaijan. He reaffirmed the Vatican’s unequivocal support for peace in the region.

Expressing her gratitude to Cardinal Pietro Parolin for his congratulations, First Vice-President Mehriban Aliyeva highly valued the outcomes of the Washington Summit, emphasizing that the leaders of Azerbaijan and Armenia remain committed to the peace agenda and expressing hope for the establishment of lasting peace in the region.

Ramiz Mehdiyev has been relieved of his membership in the Security Council of Azerbaijan, Azernews reports.

President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev signed the relevant decree.

Mehdiyev was included in the Security Council by the Presidential decree dated October 23, 2019.

The Sabail District Court of Baku has made a decision in the criminal case against Mehdiyev.

The court granted the petition regarding Mehdiyev, who was brought to criminal responsibility for particularly serious crimes, and chose a preventive measure in the form of house arrest for a period of four months.

He is accused under Articles 278.1 (actions aimed at seizing state power), 274 (treason) and 193-1.3.2 (legalization of property obtained by criminal means) of the Criminal Code of Azerbaijan.

First Vice-President of Azerbaijan Mehriban Aliyeva has shared a post on her social media accounts on the occasion of the Day of Restoration of Independence, Azernews reports.

The post reads: ‘May Azerbaijan’s state independence, sovereignty, and the peace and tranquility in our country be eternal!’

Iran said on Saturday that it was no longer bound by restrictions on its nuclear program as a landmark 10-year deal between it and world powers expired, though Tehran reiterated its ‘commitment to diplomacy,’ Azernews reports, citing Arab News.

The 2015 deal – signed in Vienna by Iran, China, Britain, France, Germany, Russia and the United States – saw the lifting of international sanctions against the Islamic republic in exchange for restrictions on its nuclear program.

But the pact had already been in tatters after Washington unilaterally withdrew during President Donald Trump’s first term, with Iran later pulling back from its commitments.

The reimposition last month of UN sanctions at the urging of three of the deal’s European signatories rendered the accord effectively moot.

From now on, ‘all of the provisions (of the deal), including the restrictions on the Iranian nuclear program and the related mechanisms are considered terminated,’ Iran’s foreign ministry said in a statement on the day of the pact’s expiration.

‘Iran firmly expresses its commitment to diplomacy,’ it added.

Western powers have long accused Iran of secretly seeking nuclear weapons – something it has repeatedly denied, insisting its nuclear program is solely for civilian purposes such as energy production.

The deal’s ‘termination day’ was set for October 18, 2025, exactly 10 years after it was enshrined in the UN’s Security Council resolution 2231.

The accord capped Iran’s uranium enrichment at 3.67 percent in exchange for sanctions relief and provided for strict supervision of its nuclear activities by the UN’s nuclear watchdog, the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA).

But Washington left the deal in 2018 and reinstated sanctions, after which Tehran began stepping up its nuclear program.

According to the IAEA, Iran is the only country without a nuclear weapons program to enrich uranium to 60 percent. That is close to the threshold of 90 percent required for a bomb, and well above the level needed for civilian nuclear use.

‘Irresponsible actions’

In July, Iran suspended cooperation with the IAEA following the war with Israel, with Tehran pointing to the agency’s failure to condemn Israeli and US strikes on its nuclear facilities.

The unprecedented bombing campaign by Israel and the retaliation by Iran during the 12-day war derailed ongoing nuclear negotiations between Tehran and Washington.

At the initiative of France, Britain and Germany, widespread UN sanctions against Iran returned into force in late September for the first time in a decade.

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said in a letter addressed to the United Nations on Saturday that the expiration of the 2015 deal renders the sanctions ‘null and void.’

Britain, France and Germany accuse Iran of not cooperating with the IAEA and would like it to return to negotiations with the United States.

‘Iran’s efforts to revive the exchanges (with the IAEA) that led to the agreement in Cairo were also sabotaged by the irresponsible actions of the three European countries,’ the Iranian foreign ministry said in Saturday’s statement, referring to a recent framework to resume cooperation.

‘The political relations between Azerbaijan and Kazakhstan today are distinguished by a high degree of strength and mutual trust,’ President Ilham Aliyev said during his interview with Kazinform News Agency.

‘Over the past decades, based on the historical bonds of brotherhood, friendship, and mutual support, as well as on the solid foundation of our shared Turkic identity, similar cultural traditions, and spiritual values of our peoples, we have built relations of genuine strategic and allied partnership,’ the head of state emphasized.