Category: Azer News

The teams that will compete in the “See Breeze 2026” International Beach Polo Tournament, scheduled for September 11-13, have been presented.

The announcement was made during a presentation ceremony.

Speaking at the event, the federation’s Secretary General Elvin Mammadkhanov wished the participating teams success and expressed hope that the strongest team would emerge victorious.

Reto Gaudenzi, President of World Polo, invited the teams from Switzerland, Great Britain, Azerbaijan and Russia to the stage in turn, after which the players posed for a group photo.

The tournament’s opening match will take place on September 11 at 16:00, with Red Star and St. Moritz facing each other on the sand. In the second match of the day, local side Elite Polo Club will meet Moscow Polo Club.

The tournament will conclude on September 13.

The peace process between Azerbaijan and Armenia is advancing faster than many had expected, and a final peace agreement could be signed well before the end of US President Donald Trump’s current term, US Congressman Abraham Hamadeh said.

Hamadeh, a Republican representative from Arizona, made the remarks in an interview with RFE/RL Washington correspondent Alex Raufoglu on September 9.

The congressman visited Azerbaijan in June and Armenia in August, where he held meetings with the leadership of both countries. Speaking about the prospects for a final settlement, Hamadeh said the process was moving at a faster pace than anticipated and expressed confidence that an agreement could be reached during Trump’s presidency.

Hamadeh also discussed the ‘Trump Route for International Peace and Prosperity’ (TRIPP), saying the initiative should be viewed as more than an economic project.

According to the congressman, the route could help establish stronger political and economic links between Azerbaijan and Armenia while encouraging increased trade and investment from Western countries in the South Caucasus.

Hamadeh rejected Russian statements about the potential security implications of TRIPP, describing Moscow’s claims as ‘classic Russian disinformation.’

Alexei Shevtsov, Deputy Secretary of the Russian Security Council, has claimed that implementation of the project could create conditions for the United States to establish military forces and intelligence bases on Armenian territory.

‘This is classic Russian disinformation. They are trying to destabilize Armenia, a democratic country. Armenia is one of the most stable democracies in the region. Moscow is currently attempting to discredit Pashinyan among certain segments of Armenian society,’ Hamadeh said.

He argued that Russia’s influence in Armenia remains stronger than in other South Caucasus countries and questioned Moscow’s reliability as a regional partner.

‘Russia’s influence in Armenia is stronger compared to other Caucasus countries. The Russians cannot be trusted. Their attention is currently focused primarily on the war in Ukraine. They realize that a major vacuum has emerged, and the US is now filling that void,’ the congressman said.

Hamadeh added that Azerbaijanis and Armenians increasingly see cooperation with Washington as preferable to cooperation with Moscow.

‘Azerbaijanis and Armenians prefer cooperating with the US rather than Russia. We are more reliable. We are the party making peace possible. Russia has held sway in these countries but has failed to live up to the expectations of either,’ he said.

The congressman also said he expects the US presence in the South Caucasus to extend beyond the current Trump administration.

Hamadeh believes Washington’s engagement with the region will be long-term rather than limited to Trump’s current term in office.

A two-day visit by representatives of the diplomatic corps accredited in Azerbaijan to Karabakh and East Zangezur began on September 11, accompanied by Hikmet Hajiyev, Assistant to the President of Azerbaijan and Head of the Foreign Policy Affairs Department of the Presidential Administration.

The visit involves a 150-member delegation representing 58 countries and nine international organizations.

During the visit, diplomatic representatives will tour Khankendi and Shusha cities, as well as the Aghdara and Kalbajar districts, to observe large-scale reconstruction, development and infrastructure projects being implemented under the leadership of President Ilham Aliyev.

The delegation will also examine social and economic infrastructure projects, as well as the current condition of historical and cultural heritage sites and measures being taken to preserve and restore them.

This is the 22nd visit by representatives of the diplomatic corps to Azerbaijan’s territories liberated from occupation since 2020.

Dr Ruth Bar, the woman at the center of Benjamin Netanyahu’s high-profile 1993 affair scandal, has broken more than three decades of silence, revealing new details about her relationship with the Israeli prime minister and his early political ambitions.

Bar, who worked as Netanyahu’s strategic and public relations adviser, spoke to Maariv journalist Ben Caspit as she prepares to publish a new book on behavioral psychology and decision-making.

Her relationship with Netanyahu became public in January 1993, when he appeared on live television and acknowledged having an extramarital affair with Bar after saying he had been threatened with the release of a videotape allegedly showing the two together.

Bar largely withdrew from the public spotlight following the scandal. More than 30 years later, she has returned to discuss the relationship and the political environment surrounding Netanyahu’s rise.

Bar recalls Netanyahu’s early ambitions

Bar described Netanyahu as a politician who, from an early stage, was convinced he was destined for national leadership.

She said her first impression of Netanyahu, which remained unchanged during the three years she worked with him, was an ‘extreme, almost frightening sense of superiority.’

According to Bar, Netanyahu appeared convinced long before becoming prime minister that he was destined to lead the country and considered himself intellectually and politically superior to those around him.

She recalled that former members of his staff would later refer to him as an ’emperor,’ but said she had already observed what she considered a similar attitude during the early 1990s.

Bar said this sense of superiority was also reflected in Netanyahu’s descriptions of other public figures. She recalled him referring to senior military commanders, Israel Defense Forces chiefs of staff, journalists and government officials as ‘clerks,’ or pkeidim, in what she characterized as a dismissive tone.

She also said Netanyahu tended to describe political rivals as ‘small, pathetic and insignificant,’ rather than viewing them as legitimate competitors.

Bar says Netanyahu saw himself as superior to US presidents

Bar told Caspit that Netanyahu’s perceived sense of superiority extended beyond Israeli politics.

According to her account, he believed he was intellectually and strategically superior even to US presidents.

At the same time, Bar said Netanyahu was adept at concealing that attitude from the public. She described a contrast between his private demeanor, where he could be openly dismissive of people around him, and his public persona, which she characterized as polished and charismatic.

She also recalled an incident that, in her view, illustrated Netanyahu’s sensitivity to public recognition.

Bar said Netanyahu once arrived at a campaign meeting in a dark and irritable mood, but his demeanor changed almost immediately after he opened a newspaper and saw a large photograph of himself.

The image appeared to lift his mood, she recalled, suggesting to her how strongly public visibility and recognition affected him.

Following her association with Netanyahu, Bar went on to build a career in behavioral psychology, strategic consulting and branding.

Her later clients included former Prime Ministers Ehud Barak and Ehud Olmert, former senior Likud politician Dan Meridor and major corporate institutions, including Bank Hapoalim.

Her decision to speak publicly again coincides with the publication of her 600-page book, Brain Under the Influence (Moah Tahat Hashpa’ah), which examines behavioral psychology, decision-making and the factors that influence human behavior.

Bar’s interview with Caspit brings one of the most controversial episodes of Netanyahu’s early political career back into public discussion more than three decades after his televised confession.

The Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) has designated former New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani as an ‘anti-Muslim extremist’ following remarks the Muslim advocacy organization described as ‘bigoted.’

CAIR announced the designation on Wednesday, citing comments Giuliani made during a Newsmax interview earlier this week in which he criticized New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani and questioned his attendance at a September 11 memorial ceremony.

‘It offends me that he’s coming,’ Giuliani said of Mamdani’s planned participation in Friday’s 9/11 memorial service.

During the interview, Giuliani also claimed that Muslims were taking over parts of the United States and Europe.

‘They (Muslims) want to dominate us. That’s what they’re taught the day they begin their extremist religious education. Mamdani is a clear supporter of that. All of the Muslims he supports are murderers,’ Giuliani said.

CAIR Research and Advocacy Director Corey Saylor said the organization’s designation was based on what it described as Giuliani’s long-standing criticism of Muslims.

‘Mr Giuliani has a decades-long record of targeting our community simply because of our faith, and we are designating him an anti-Muslim extremist as a result of his hateful views,’ Saylor said in a statement.

Giuliani, who previously served as an adviser to US President Donald Trump during his first administration, has been among the critics of Mamdani’s attendance at the 9/11 memorial.

Asked about Giuliani’s comments on Monday, Mamdani declined to directly respond to the former mayor’s criticism. Instead, he said the week should remain focused on those affected by the September 11 attacks.

‘I want this week to be focused on the families whose loved ones were stolen from them 25 years ago in the horrific act of terror of September 11, and a focus also on the first responders who did everything they could,’ Mamdani said.

Meanwhile, a petition calling for Mamdani not to attend the memorial has attracted more than 100,000 signatures. Organizers argue that his past statements, political associations and political views are incompatible with what they regard as the solemn purpose of the ceremony.

New York City Councilwoman Vicky Paladino, who is promoting the petition alongside Queens Republican Councilwoman Joann Ariola, held a press conference on the steps of City Hall on Tuesday.

Paladino said she was demanding that Mamdani stay away from the memorial, arguing that ‘he does not belong there.’

According to Russian media outlets, Ukrainian forces carried out a missile strike on the Russian city of Volgograd.

The attack damaged a residential apartment building, while two men, aged 55 and 42, were injured and hospitalized, according to Volgograd Region Governor Andrey Bocharov.

Debris from the strike was also reported to have fallen on the territory of an industrial facility in southern Volgograd.

The reports did not provide further details about the type of missile used or the extent of the damage.

Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said Lithuania could come under the sights of Russian nuclear weapons if it allows its allies to deploy nuclear weapons on its territory.

“This could have been predicted. It would be a very serious escalation in terms of tensions. After all, if you deploy nuclear weapons on your territory, they are aimed at someone,” Peskov said in an interview with Russia’s Channel One.

Dmitry Peskov was responding to a question about Lithuania’s readiness to remove from its Constitution a provision banning the deployment of nuclear weapons on its territory.

Lithuania has for years debated whether to repeal the constitutional provision prohibiting the stationing of nuclear weapons in the country.

In July, President Gitanas Nauseda convened a meeting with the leaders of parliament and government, as well as representatives of parliamentary factions. Following the meeting, he said there was broad consensus that the constitutional provision was outdated and should be repealed.

In May, Lithuanian Parliament Speaker Juozas Olekas said that, given the current geopolitical situation, the country should consider amending the Constitution to allow nuclear weapons to be deployed in Lithuania.

The debate comes amid heightened security concerns in the Baltic region and discussions within NATO over strengthening the alliance’s deterrence capabilities.

Azerbaijan’s banking sector has the lowest exposure to geopolitical risks among banks in Central Asia and the South Caucasus, according to a recent report by Moody’s.

The rating agency attributes the sector’s resilience to Azerbaijan’s limited economic and financial ties with Russia, the support provided by hydrocarbon revenues amid higher oil prices, and the stability offered by the manat’s effective peg to the US dollar.

More broadly, Moody’s said economies across Central Asia and the South Caucasus remain vulnerable to the indirect effects of geopolitical developments, particularly through inflation. Higher prices for energy, food and other commodities could delay monetary policy easing, keeping interest rates and borrowing costs elevated.

‘Banks with a significant share of lending to individuals and small and medium-sized enterprises are particularly vulnerable to inflationary pressure,’ the report states.

Kazakhstan’s banking sector would be particularly sensitive to a further increase in inflation, Moody’s said, as higher prices would put additional pressure on household purchasing power.

‘Persistent price pressures and high interest rates on loans are hindering improvements in the operating environment for banks by limiting credit demand and borrowers’ debt-repayment capacity. A prolonged period of high interest rates could also exert pressure on banks in Kyrgyzstan, where large and rapidly growing retail loan portfolios increase sensitivity to changes in household financial conditions,’ Moody’s analysts said.

The agency also warned that a rise in regional geopolitical risks or a significant global economic slowdown could trigger capital outflows from Central Asian and Caucasian economies, putting pressure on national currencies. Moody’s does not currently anticipate such a scenario.

‘This would fuel inflation and increase the debt burden of banks in Central Asia and the Caucasus that hold significant currency risk exposures. Banks in Azerbaijan are the least exposed to this risk, as the manat is effectively pegged to the US dollar, which helps shield the economy and the banking system from exchange rate volatility,’ the report states.

According to Moody’s, exporters across the region, particularly oil and gas producers, are generally better positioned to withstand currency depreciation because foreign-currency revenues provide a natural hedge against expenses denominated in local currencies.

Kazakh companies are also considered relatively resilient. Following several currency shocks, non-export-oriented firms have reduced the risk of mismatches between revenues and debt obligations by shifting toward local-currency financing.

Uzbek companies, by contrast, remain more exposed to currency risks because they continue to hold significant amounts of foreign-currency debt, Moody’s said.

Higher oil prices strengthen Azerbaijan’s fiscal position

Moody’s said operating conditions for banks and companies across Central Asia and the South Caucasus remain broadly favorable, with the region benefiting from economic opportunities created by the changing geopolitical landscape.

‘The shift of economic activity away from Russia toward other destinations, government initiatives to diversify economies, and gradually improving access to international capital markets continue to have a positive impact on both sectors. Furthermore, higher oil prices are fostering increased trade flows and strengthening the fiscal positions of oil-exporting nations such as Kazakhstan (Baa1, stable outlook) and Azerbaijan (Baa3, positive outlook). We also expect that strengthened regulation will support banking sector performance,’ the report states.

At the same time, Moody’s cautioned that geopolitical uncertainty continues to present risks that may have a relatively low probability but potentially significant consequences.

‘Despite successfully weathering the volatility, the ongoing war between Russia and Ukraine continues to pose risks for banks and companies due to existing structural ties with Russia in the areas of energy infrastructure, trade, and remittances. A decline in economic activity in Russia could lead to increased risks regarding bank assets and funding. The potential imposition of secondary sanctions on entities with ties to Russia negatively affects foreign partner confidence and access to counterparties,’ Moody’s analysts said.

The rating agency said the conflict in the Middle East has no direct negative impact on banks and companies in Central Asia and the South Caucasus. However, it noted that indirect risks are more pronounced, although they remain manageable.

‘A long-standing conflict that periodically intensifies could fuel inflation by driving up global prices for energy, food, and other resources. This, in turn, could delay or limit interest rate cuts and hinder companies’ access to long-term financing. A slowdown in economic growth among key partner countries could lead to a decline in exports, transit volumes, and foreign direct investment,’ the report states.

Despite these risks, Moody’s said banks and companies in the region retain sufficient financial capacity to absorb external shocks.

‘Capital and liquidity buffers within the banking systems of countries in the region have strengthened over the past four years, supported by favorable operating conditions. Furthermore, the majority of the companies we assessed do not carry a heavy debt burden and possess adequate liquidity reserves. Ongoing market reforms, strengthened regulation, and continued state support for strategic development programs further reinforce the resilience of both sectors,’ the report states.

Azerbaijan’s national archery team made a strong showing at the Belarusian National Championships held in Mogilev.

The competition began on September 8 and featured 120 athletes. Azerbaijan was represented under the guidance of head coach Natig Fazilov and technical director Vladimer Lekveishvili.

Fatima Huseynli and Yaylagul Ramazanova were among the team’s representatives and recorded strong results at the championships.

In the women’s individual event at 70 metres, Fatima Huseynli produced an outstanding performance, scoring 632 points in the qualification round to finish ahead of all her rivals and claim the gold medal.

Yaylagul Ramazanova won the silver medal in the same category. Huseynli also secured a bronze medal in the mixed team event, partnering Belarusian archer Kirill Firsov.

The winning athletes will receive their medals on September 11.

The Belarusian National Archery Championships are the country’s main national competition in archery, determining the strongest Belarusian archers in individual and team events.

The championship programme includes different distances and competition formats, including individual, team and mixed-team events. In 2026, the championship brought together more than 120 athletes from across Belarus.

Russian President Vladimir Putin stated on Friday that Western adversaries of the BRICS are trying to reclaim their former leadership “by all means.”

“The West, trying to maintain leadership, is trying to directly and aggressively affect logistics, destroy infrastructure, and seize ships,” Putin said at the BRICS summit in New Delhi and declared that the global economy has changed, as the “old leaders” have been replaced by “new locomotives of development.”

Additionally, the Russian president noted that BRICS countries account for half of global economic growth and warned that sanctions will lead to recession. He also stated that BRICS “does not want to withdraw into itself” and is prepared to collaborate “profitably with the whole world.”