Category: Azer News

Despite repeated warnings, it is with regret that cases continue to be recorded in which citizens of the Republic of Azerbaijan travel to various armed conflict zones and high-risk areas, as well as cases in which they are killed or sustain bodily injuries of varying degrees.

This was announced in a statement published by the press service of the Azerbaijani Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

The Ministry emphasized that, in particular, due to the ongoing military operations in the Black Sea basin, the existing threats to civilian shipping, and the use of unmanned aerial vehicles, missiles, and other weapons, the security situation in the region remains extremely fragile. Given the geographical scope and intensity of the military operations, the risks to civilian vessels and their crew members have increased significantly.

“In this regard, we once again urge citizens of the Republic of Azerbaijan to refrain from travelling to areas where military operations are ongoing or where the security situation remains unstable, engaging in employment activities in such areas, or working on means of transport operating along these routes, including maritime vessels.

At the same time, we recommend strict adherence to official travel advisories and, where necessary, contacting the diplomatic missions and consular offices of the Republic of Azerbaijan,” the statement reads.

Poland is preparing to take a major step into the space industry by developing its first domestically built spacecraft. Prime Minister Donald Tusk announced the initiative during a briefing with journalists, AzerNEWS reports.

According to Tusk, the project is part of Poland’s broader commitment to the European Space Agency (ESA), of which the country is a contributing member. One of the key objectives of this cooperation is the development of Poland’s first spacecraft, designed to support future European space missions.

“This is a landmark project that will strengthen Europe’s space capabilities by enabling more reliable transportation between Earth and orbit, satellite servicing, in-orbit refueling, and other advanced operations,” Tusk said.

Meanwhile, Finance and Economy Minister Andrzej Domanski announced that Poland has decided to double its investment in the country’s space sector, aiming to accelerate technological innovation and support domestic aerospace companies.

Experts note that the global space economy is expected to exceed $1 trillion over the coming decades, making investments in spacecraft, satellite technologies, and space infrastructure increasingly important. If successful, the project could position Poland as one of the emerging players in Europe’s rapidly growing aerospace industry.

The first meeting under the OPEC+ Charter of Cooperation is being held in Baku, marking a significant milestone in energy cooperation between OPEC members and participating non-OPEC oil-producing countries, AzerNEWS reports.

The meeting brings together representatives of the countries participating in the OPEC+ Declaration of Cooperation (DoC).

The OPEC+ framework is based on the Declaration of Cooperation, signed on December 10, 2016, which established a partnership between OPEC member states and leading non-OPEC oil producers. The agreement currently unites 13 OPEC members and 11 non-OPEC countries, including Azerbaijan.

The deal entered into force on January 1, 2017, introducing a mechanism for voluntary oil production adjustments aimed at stabilizing the global oil market during periods of supply-demand imbalance.

To oversee compliance with the agreement, participating countries established the Joint Ministerial Monitoring Committee (JMMC), which continues to monitor oil market developments and assess members’ adherence to their production commitments.

Azerbaijan’s Foreign Ministry has congratulated Trkiye on Democracy and National Unity Day, AzerNEWS reports.

A post was published on the ministry’s official X account.

“We commemorate with deep respect and reverence the cherished memory of the martyrs who sacrificed their lives in defense of democracy, national will, and unity, and express our gratitude to the heroic veterans. Congratulations on Democracy and National Unity Day!” the ministry said in its publication.

Investments in fixed capital in Azerbaijan totaled 9.295 billion manat ($5.47 billion) in January-June 2026, marking a 13.8% increase in real terms compared to the same period last year, according to the State Statistics Committee, AzerNEWS reports.

The committee reported that investments in the oil and gas sector rose by 34.3% in real terms to 3.164 billion manat ($1.86 billion), while investments in the non-oil and gas sector increased by 5.5% to 6.132 billion manat ($3.61 billion).

By sector, investments in production industries climbed by 22.1% in real terms to 5.042 billion manat ($2.97 billion). Investments in the service sector grew by 9.3% to 2.955 billion manat ($1.74 billion).

Meanwhile, investments in the construction of residential buildings declined by 2.7% in real terms, totaling 1.298 billion manat ($764 million) during the reporting period.

Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan will visit Ukraine on Wednesday for talks focused on strengthening bilateral ties, advancing efforts toward a lasting peace, and enhancing regional security, AzerNEWS reports, citing Anadolu.

During the visit, Fidan is expected to be received by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and hold meetings with senior officials, including Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha, Head of the Office of the President of Ukraine Kyrylo Budanov, Secretary of the National Security and Defense Council Rustem Umerov, national leader of the Crimean Tatars Mustafa Dzhemilev, and Chairman of the Mejlis of the Crimean Tatar People Refat Chubarov.

Hakan Fidan is expected to exchange views on steps to further develop Trkiye-Ukraine relations across various fields, particularly in the areas of economy, energy, and defense, as well as on measures to deepen the strategic partnership between the two countries.

According to the information, the Turkish foreign minister will reaffirm Ankara’s support for Ukraine’s independence, sovereignty, and territorial integrity. Fidan is also expected to emphasize the importance of continuing diplomatic efforts to achieve a just and lasting peace in Ukraine and reiterate Trkiye’s readiness to contribute to efforts to bring Ukraine and Russia back to the negotiating table.

During the talks, Fidan is also expected to highlight the importance of preventing the Russia-Ukraine conflict from spreading to the Black Sea, ensuring safe navigation in the region, and reducing tensions.

In addition, the minister will discuss the participation of Turkish companies in Ukraine’s reconstruction through their existing investments and projects. He is also expected to reiterate Trkiye’s position regarding the illegal annexation of Crimea and stress the importance of further steps to strengthen the rights of the Crimean Tatar community.

It should be noted that European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen is currently visiting Ukraine.

On July 15, President of the Slovak Republic Peter Pellegrini, who is on an official visit to Azerbaijan, visited the Alley of Honors to pay tribute to National Leader Heydar Aliyev, the architect and founder of the modern independent Azerbaijani state, AzerNEWS reports.

The Slovak President laid a wreath at the National Leader’s grave.

President Peter Pellegrini also laid flowers at the graves of prominent ophthalmologist and academician Zarifa Aliyeva, outstanding statesman Aziz Aliyev, and Professor Tamerlan Aliyev.

U.S. Senator Lindsey Graham died suddenly on Saturday, as reported, apparently just hours after a phone conversation with President Donald Trump in which he said he still had important work to complete, AzerNEWS reports.

According to Axios, Graham had spent his final weeks advancing a number of foreign policy initiatives, including efforts to promote the normalization of relations between Saudi Arabia and Israel.

During the call, Graham reportedly briefed Trump on his recent visit to Ukraine, where he toured a military drone production facility and met with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. The two also discussed proposed sanctions against Russia that Graham hoped the Senate would pass.

Trump later told reporters that Graham had sounded tired during the conversation but otherwise appeared to be in good condition. The president said they had also discussed advancing the SAVE Act, a voter identification bill, through Congress.

According to Axios, Graham had also dismissed concerns about his health during a separate conversation with a person close to him, saying he planned to see a doctor after a scheduled appearance on NBC’s Meet the Press on Sunday.

“I can’t die now. I still need to do the Russia sanctions, get Iran sorted out, and do Israeli-Saudi normalization,” Graham reportedly said during the phone call, according to the publication.

Following the senator’s reported death, Trump ordered U.S. flags to be flown at half-staff nationwide through the following Saturday. South Carolina Governor Henry McMaster reportedly appointed Graham’s sister, Darline Graham Nordone, to serve the remainder of his Senate term.

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen announced in a speech in Kyiv on Wednesday to commemorate Ukraine’s Statehood Day that Ukraine and the EU had struck a “drone deal” to combine Kyiv’s experience with Europe’s industrial potential to increase production, AzerNEWS reports.

“We need to combine ?our strengths. Together, we can work on joint production. On making all of the components of the system work. And we can provide both defense industrial bases with the impetus needed to decisively step up investment and production,” Von der Leyen added. “This deal bring together Ukrainian ingenuity and Europe’s industrial scale.”

Her visit coincides with at least 20 injuries and six fatalities reported by regional officials from Russian strikes around Ukraine.

Previously, Ukraine was set to use a part of its defense aid funds from the European Union (EU) to acquire drone parts from Chinese companies, the Financial Times reported on Wednesday, citing two people familiar with the matter.

According to the outlet, the EU allocated a pound 6 billion defense loan to Ukraine in case of military emergencies and has approved purchases of Chinese components if other alternatives are unavailable.

The alleged decision may prove significant in relations between Russia and China, which have a developed military cooperation and are set to hold joint naval drills later this month.

Despite the EU’s strategic aim of reducing its dependence on Chinese supply chains, immediate military needs appear to have prompted this regulatory exception. The EU has allocated a pound 6 billion defence loan for urgent military procurements, explicitly permitting the use of these funds for Chinese components where no domestic alternatives are available. This situation highlights a strategic complexity, as Chinese components are also integral to Russian military capabilities.

The procurement appears to emphasise Ukraine’s immediate military needs, suggesting that short-term priorities take precedence over long-term supply chain diversification.

Market behaviour suggests that the news could increase the perceived likelihood of Ukraine strengthening its military capabilities, which could in turn influence the situation regarding Crimea.

The World Para Taekwondo Federation has announced its latest athlete world rankings, AzerNEWS reports.

Several Azerbaijani para taekwondo athletes have improved their positions in the new rankings.

Paralympic champion Imamaddin Khalilov has retained the top spot in the men’s 70 kg weight category with 495.75 points.

Paralympic bronze medalist Sabir Zeynalov (58 kg) climbed to second place after increasing his ranking score to 381.15 points, thanks to the two gold medals he won at tournaments held in June.

Amin Aliyev (63 kg) moved up one position to 21st place with 52.91 points.

Competing in the same weight category, Amin Shikhaliyev is ranked 23rd with 39.71 points.

In the women’s rankings, Samaya Hasanova (47 kg) climbed two places to 20th with 42.32 points.

Meanwhile, Orkhan Jafarov (80 kg) maintained his 24th-place position with 45.83 points.

Azerbaijan made its Paralympic Games debut at the 1996 Summer Paralympics in Atlanta, competing in track and field and powerlifting. In the same year, the National Paralympic Committee was established.

Since 1996, national paralympians have taken part in many international competitions and six Paralympic Games. They enriched the country’s medal haul with multiple awards.

The Azerbaijani Paralympic team has made significant progress since the Tokyo 2020 Games, where they won 14 medals, including 4 gold, 4 silver, and 6 bronze.

Notable athletes, including Olympic gold medalists Lamiya Valiyeva and Said Najafzade, proudly represented their countries by waving their national flags during the official country parade at the closing ceremony of the Summer Paralympic Games.

At the Paris 2024 Summer Paralympic Games, the Azerbaijani team won a total of 11 medals (4 gold, 2 silver, and 5 bronze), competing across seven different sports