Category: Azer News

International credit rating agency Moody’s Ratings has reaffirmed the Baa3 long-term issuer rating of Azerbaijan’s State Oil Company (SOCAR), AzerNEWS reports.

In its latest report, the agency said the rating reflects SOCAR’s baseline credit assessment (BCA) of ba2, Azerbaijan’s Baa3 foreign-currency sovereign rating, the government’s full ownership of the company, the strong financial interdependence between SOCAR and the state, and the high likelihood of government support should the company encounter financial difficulties.

The agency said SOCAR’s baseline credit profile is supported by the company’s strategic role in Azerbaijan’s oil and gas sector and its importance to the national economy. Moody’s also highlighted the company’s solid financial performance, strong credit metrics, and close ties with the Azerbaijani government, which maintains substantial financial reserves and has the capacity to provide support if necessary.

At the same time, Moody’s pointed to several factors that constrain SOCAR’s credit profile. These include declining hydrocarbon production, the company’s growing mergers and acquisitions activity, corporate governance considerations, exposure to fluctuations in global oil prices, and the high concentration of its operations in Azerbaijan.

Several guests who attended a reception hosted by the French Embassy in Armenia to mark France’s National Day on July 14 have reportedly been hospitalized, AzerNEWS reports.

According to local media, many attendees of the Bastille Day celebration sought medical assistance after the event and were diagnosed with an intestinal infection.

In a statement issued on July 18, the French Embassy in Armenia confirmed that a number of guests who attended the July 14 reception had reported symptoms consistent with food poisoning.

“Guests who attended the reception held at the Embassy of France on the occasion of the National Day on July 14, 2026, have informed us that they experienced symptoms of food poisoning,” the embassy said.

The embassy expressed its sincere apologies to those affected and stated that it hopes the cause of the illness will be identified. It added that the matter has been referred to the Ministry of Health of the Republic of Armenia.

Among the attendees at the reception was Armenian Deputy Prime Minister Mher Grigoryan, along with other government officials and diplomatic representatives.

The exact cause of the reported food poisoning has not yet been determined, and Armenian health authorities are expected to investigate the incident.

The United States has officially closed its Consulate General in Peshawar, Pakistan, AzerNEWS reports.

The announcement was made in a statement published on the diplomatic mission’s official X account.

According to the statement, responsibility for diplomatic engagement with Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Province has been transferred to the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Affairs Unit (KPU) at the U.S. Embassy in Islamabad.

The U.S. Department of State first announced plans to gradually close the Peshawar Consulate in early May. The decision was made with consideration for the safety of diplomatic personnel and the need to allocate resources more efficiently.

The closure marks the end of the consulate’s operations, with its responsibilities now being handled through the U.S. Embassy in Pakistan’s capital.

As a result of consular measures by the Embassy of Azerbaijan in Ukraine, the body of Samad Nasrullayev, captain of the “Atlas Bey” vessel, was repatriated to Azerbaijan, AzerNEWS reports, citing the Azerbaijani Foreign Ministry’s post on X.

“The body of Samad Nasrullayev, captain of the “Atlas Bey” vessel, was sent to our country on July 17 as a result of the relevant consular measures and coordination efforts undertaken by the Embassy of the Republic of Azerbaijan in Ukraine,” the ministry said.

The Foreign Ministry once again expressed its deepest condolences to the captain’s family and loved ones.

“May he rest in peace,” the statement added.

A new international organization dedicated to advancing global cooperation in artificial intelligence (AI) will be headquartered in Shanghai, following the signing of a founding agreement by representatives of 29 founding member states, AzerNEWS reports.

According to a statement from China’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the new World Organization for AI Cooperation will operate as an independent intergovernmental international organization in accordance with the purposes and principles of the United Nations Charter.

The ministry said the organization will be guided by the principles of extensive consultation, joint contribution, and shared benefits, while placing human interests at the center of its work. Its mission will be to promote international cooperation and global governance in the field of artificial intelligence, ensuring the technology develops in a healthy, orderly, secure, and equitable manner for the benefit of all humanity.

The founding agreement was signed during a ceremony attended by Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi, who signed the document on behalf of the Chinese government.

The 29 founding members include Kazakhstan, Pakistan, Russia, Indonesia, Laos, and 24 other countries.

The signing ceremony was also attended by UN Secretary-General António Guterres, along with representatives of several governments and international organizations.

Two U.S. service members were killed in Jordan on July 17, AzerNEWS reports.

“On July 17, two U.S. service members in Jordan were killed in action as U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) and partner forces defended against Iranian ballistic missile and drone attacks,” CENTCOM said in a social media post.

According to CENTCOM, one additional U.S. service member remains missing following the incident.

The command also said that four other U.S. troops were evacuated to hospitals in Jordan for medical treatment. They have since been discharged, while other personnel who sustained minor injuries have returned to duty with their units.

A magnitude 5.0 earthquake struck the Battalgazi district of Trkiye’s Malatya province, AzerNEWS reports.

According to the country’s Disaster and Emergency Management Authority (AFAD), the earthquake occurred at 06:20 local time.

The earthquake’s epicenter was located at a depth of 15.59 kilometers.

The tremor was felt in the neighboring provinces of Elazig, Adiyaman, Tunceli, and Sanliurfa.

Minister of Environment, Urbanization and Climate Change Murat Kurum said on Turkish social media platform NSosyal: “Following the earthquake in Battalgazi, there have been no adverse findings so far, but we are evaluating all reports.”

There have been no immediate reports of casualties or damage resulting from the quake.

United States military on Friday denied Iranian claims that it killed a “large number” of American soldiers in a strike on a command center in the Al Tanf region of southern Syria, AzerNEWS reports.

In a post shared on X, the US Central Command stated that the Iranian assertion is false, adding that “no U.S. troops in the region have recently been killed or captured.” The attack on the facility located near the Iraq border is the first of its kind since the beginning of the regional war.

The Syrian Armed Forces primarily use the Al-Tanf base, but the US troops maintain a heavy presence since the 2016 intervention in the country’s civil war.

Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov accused on Friday Europe, together with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, of trying to steer United States President Donald Trump away from understandings reached between Washington and Moscow at the Alaska summit, AzerNEWS reports.

“We accepted Trump’s proposals in Alaska, and his European allies – and, of course, Mr. Zelenskyy himself – are trying to steer him away from these proposals,” Lavrov told reporters, adding that Russia demonstrated its goodwill regarding the conflict in Ukraine “many times” in the past ten years.

The top Russian diplomat also commented on the ongoing war in Iran, noting that security risks in the Middle East persist and calling on all involved parties to halt hostilities.

Paraguayan politician and businessman Rolando Segovia Páez has called for closer cooperation between Azerbaijan and Paraguay during his first official visit to Baku, emphasizing the untapped potential for expanding bilateral relations in trade, investment, education, and cultural exchange, AzerNEWS reports.

During his visit, Segovia Páez expressed support for establishing an Honorary Consulate of Azerbaijan in Ciudad del Este, Paraguay’s second-largest city and the economic center of the strategically important Triple Frontier region shared with Brazil and Argentina. According to him, such a diplomatic presence would contribute to raising Azerbaijan’s profile in Latin America while creating new opportunities for business cooperation and people-to-people contacts.

He noted that Ciudad del Este serves as one of Paraguay’s principal commercial hubs, making it well positioned to facilitate economic and investment partnerships between the two countries. Segovia Páez also stressed the importance of promoting academic and cultural cooperation, including initiatives that introduce Azerbaijan’s history, culture, tourism potential, and economic achievements to wider audiences in South America.

As part of his visit, Segovia Páez attended the 4th Shusha Global Media Forum, where he joined media representatives, policymakers, and experts from dozens of countries in discussions on the evolving global information landscape. He praised Azerbaijan for hosting the international event, describing the forum as an important platform for dialogue, the exchange of ideas, and strengthening cooperation among media professionals from different regions.

Segovia Páez also commended Azerbaijan’s growing international role, highlighting the country’s efforts to promote regional connectivity, intercultural dialogue, and balanced international engagement.

The visit reflects growing interest in expanding contacts between Azerbaijan and Latin America, with both sides exploring new avenues for cooperation across economic, educational, and cultural sectors.