Category: Azer News

Russian forces carried out more than 1,000 attacks across 54 settlements in Ukraine’s Zaporizhzhia region over the past 24 hours, leaving 16 people injured, including a child, AzerNEWS reports, citing Ukrainian officials.

Ivan Fedorov, head of the Zaporizhzhia Regional Military Administration, said the attacks continued through Tuesday morning and targeted communities across the region.

“Over the past day, the occupying forces carried out 1,011 strikes on 54 settlements in the Zaporizhzhia region. As a result of attacks on the city of Zaporizhzhia and the surrounding district, 16 people, including one child, were injured,” Fedorov wrote on Telegram.

He added that Russian forces launched 17 airstrikes on the region overnight.

In addition, Ukrainian authorities recorded the flight of 691 unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) of various types during the reporting period.

On July 14, President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev held an expanded meeting with President of the Slovak Republic Peter Pellegrini in Shusha, AzerNEWS reports.

President Ilham Aliyev said: Dear guests, welcome to Azerbaijan. Welcome to Garabagh. I am very glad to see you. First of all, thank you for your hospitality. I have very good memories of my official visit to your country last year and of our discussions. I’m glad that we are continuing our active dialogue. I am also glad that you are accompanied by a very big delegation with very prominent figures of your administration and the government. We also have a big team and this actually demonstrates the scope of work, bilateral agenda, and those directions of our joint activity in which we see progress and where we want to see additional progress. We just had a tête-à-tête exchanging views on many issues, now we’ll continue with delegations, so I’m absolutely sure that this visit will give additional boost to our partnership.

It’s a special pleasure to host you in Garabagh. Tomorrow you will be in Baku. We will visit also the smart village which is being now developed by a Slovak company – another good demonstration of our strong bonds. Reconstruction here in Garabagh is now one of the main priorities for our government. Therefore, participation of Slovakian specialists is of extreme importance. We will cover many issues on our agenda today. Once again welcome and thank you for accepting my invitation.

President of Slovakia Peter Pellegrini said: Thank you very much Mr. President. It is a great honor for us to be back in Azerbaijan with such a strong delegation, and once again I would like to thank you for your invitation.

I also have in my memory your visit in Bratislava, which was a historical one in our diplomatic relationships. Of course, I really appreciate your idea to meet not in Baku but here in Garabagh, in Shusa. We are really impressed; though we have only been here for a few hours since last night, we are already impressed by the work that has been done in the few years since liberation, and the infrastructure projects. We are really proud that Slovakia is part of this. We are only one of two foreign countries which are participating in these important projects. We hope that the Slovak experts will also continue working in the coming years on some other new projects here.

The Azerbaijan women’s national chess team has held a training camp in Shabran as part of preparations for the 46th World Chess Olympiad, which will take place in September in Samarkand, Uzbekistan, AzerNEWS reports.

The training sessions were led by team captain Nijat Abasov and coach Gadir Huseynov.

Following the training camp, members of the national team met with the leadership of the Azerbaijan Chess Federation (ACF).

President of the Azerbaijan Chess Federation, Mahir Mammadov was briefed on the team’s preparation program and discussed the tournaments the chess players are expected to participate in before the prestigious international competition.

The women’s national team includes Ulviyya Fataliyeva, Govhar Beydullayeva, Khanim Balajayeva, Gunay Mammadzada, and Gulnar Mammadova.

The World Chess Olympiad will be held from September 15 to 27 in Samarkand, bringing together leading chess players from around the world.

Founded in 1926, the Azerbaijan Chess Federation (ACF) has played a pivotal role in shaping the country’s strong chess tradition.

The ACF organizes national and international tournaments, provides training programs, and supports the growth of chess at all levels, from school children to grandmasters.

The Federation is also responsible for the success of its national teams, which have consistently performed well in prestigious competitions such as the Chess Olympiad and the World Chess Championship.

Kyrgyzstan has introduced a temporary ban on the export of crude oil and petroleum products by road and rail in an effort to stabilize the domestic fuel market. The restriction will remain in place until the country’s internal demand is fully met or until common oil and petroleum product markets are established within the Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU), AzerNEWS reports.

The decision was approved by a resolution of the Kyrgyz Cabinet of Ministers. The restrictions apply to a wide range of petroleum products, including gasoline, diesel fuel, and other fuels classified under the EAEU Harmonized System (HS) codes.

However, the ban does not cover certain products such as naphtha, fuel oil, and heating oil. Their export is still permitted if they are sent abroad for processing on the condition that the resulting products are later imported back into Kyrgyzstan.

The restrictions also do not apply to fuel contained in the standard tanks of vehicles crossing the country’s borders, allowing normal international transportation operations to continue.

In addition, the government has introduced temporary rules for regulating the import of oil and petroleum products. Until April 1, 2027, some existing import regulations have been suspended, while strict requirements remain in place regarding transportation safety, tax registration of suppliers, and the availability of necessary documentation.

According to the Cabinet of Ministers, these measures are aimed at strengthening Kyrgyzstan’s energy security, preventing possible fuel shortages, and ensuring stable supplies for consumers and businesses.

Experts note that Kyrgyzstan, which relies heavily on fuel imports, is taking steps to reduce the risks associated with fluctuations in global energy prices and regional supply disruptions. The move also reflects broader efforts by EAEU member states to coordinate energy policies and improve stability in fuel markets.

Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Saar said on Tuesday that his country is ready to implement an agreement on two “pilot zones” in Lebanon, referring to the withdrawal of Israeli troops and the deployment of the Lebanese military in two small areas currently held by Israeli forces, AzerNEWS reports.

Saar’s comments came ahead of the beginning of the new round of peace talks between Israel and Lebanon, set to start today in Rome.

“We are ready to move forward implementing these two pilot zones. I hope and tend to believe that this round of discussions in Rome will promote it,” Saar told journalists in Jerusalem.

Azerbaijan and Turkmenistan have reaffirmed their commitment to strengthening bilateral economic ties, with officials discussing new initiatives to boost trade, investment and business cooperation during the 9th meeting of the Azerbaijan-Turkmenistan Joint Intergovernmental Commission, AzerNEWS reports.

According to AZPROMO, Executive Director Yusif Abdullayev met with Azat Nazarov, Deputy Chairman of the Turkmenistan Chamber of Commerce and Industry, and Yusup Gylyçdurdyyev, Head of the Ashgabat City and Ahal Province Department of the Union of Industrialists and Entrepreneurs of Turkmenistan.

The meeting, attended by Samad Hasanov, Azerbaijan’s Trade Representative for Central Asian countries, focused on expanding bilateral trade, identifying products with strong mutual export potential, and enhancing cooperation between the two countries’ business communities.

The two sides also explored plans to organize a Turkmen business mission to Azerbaijan in the near future. The proposed visit could include an exhibition showcasing Turkmenistan’s export-oriented products, providing new opportunities for business partnerships and trade promotion.

In addition, officials exchanged views on establishing an Azerbaijan-Turkmenistan Business Council by the end of this year, a move expected to create a permanent platform for deeper commercial and investment cooperation between the two countries.

Imprisoned former Georgian President Mikheil Saakashvili has announced plans to launch sweeping reforms of the opposition United National Movement (UNM), saying he will lead a new “Council of Reformers” aimed at fundamentally reshaping the party, AzerNEWS reports.

In a statement published on Facebook, Saakashvili said the council would “effectively build a new party and undertake the fundamental transformation of the UNM, bringing it into a new fighting shape.”

The announcement came on Wednesday, the same day the mandates of all elected UNM officials, including party chair Tina Bokuchava, expired, fueling debate over the party’s future leadership and organization.

Although Saakashvili holds no formal position within the UNM, he remains one of its most influential figures. He is currently serving prison sentences on multiple convictions handed down under the ruling Georgian Dream government, while additional legal cases against him remain pending.

“People are dissatisfied with the current state of the opposition and are demanding change. Therefore, we are launching fundamental and systemic reforms,” Saakashvili wrote.

He said the proposed council would operate as a public platform open to “professionals and patriots” from both inside and outside the UNM, including individuals who have previously avoided party politics. According to Saakashvili, the body would function on a fully horizontal basis, with equal participation and a greater role for younger members.

Saakashvili named television presenter and anti-government activist Nanuka Zhorzholiani as the council’s executive secretary, describing her as his principal liaison with emerging opposition figures he has been unable to meet while imprisoned.

Zhorzholiani later confirmed on Facebook that the council would move forward, indicating it would exist outside the party’s formal structures. She said it would be open to “patriots of any profession, age or experience,” including people who are not UNM supporters but share the goal of defeating Georgian Dream.

The discussion over reforming the UNM began in June, when Saakashvili first called for the party’s “revitalization” and “radical reforms.” At the time, he announced that Zhorzholiani would join the reform process with his full support.

Zhorzholiani later revealed that Saakashvili had initially offered her the position of party chair, although she said she declined the role. Bokuchava subsequently dismissed the claim, describing it as “political gossip.”

Kazakhstan’s gross domestic product (GDP) grew by 4.1% in the first half of 2026, according to Prime Minister Olzhas Bektenov, who presented the country’s socio-economic results for January-June during a meeting with President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev, AzerNEWS reports.

Bektenov noted that the strongest contribution to economic growth came from the manufacturing sector, where output increased by 9.8%. Strong growth was also recorded in construction (15.2%), transportation (7.1%), trade (5.7%), agriculture (4.4%), and communications (4.3%).

Investment activity also remained robust. Investment in fixed assets reached 9.5 trillion tenge (approximately $20.3 billion), while private investment rose by 21.4%, reflecting continued business confidence and expanding economic activity.

To further diversify the economy, the government plans to launch 200 manufacturing projects this year with a combined value of 1.7 trillion tenge (around $3.6 billion). The projects are expected to create approximately 17,000 permanent jobs, strengthening Kazakhstan’s industrial base.

The Prime Minister also updated the President on major infrastructure initiatives, including the construction of a second airport in Astana, the second phase of the Tarlan Astana project, and several large-scale highway developments. In the housing sector, Kazakhstan aims to commission 20 million square meters of new housing this year.

In agriculture, total output is projected to reach 15 trillion tenge (approximately $31.7 billion), while the country’s total cultivated area has expanded to 23.8 million hectares, supporting long-term food security and export potential.

President Tokayev was also briefed on the implementation of a comprehensive household income growth program, measures to contain inflation-which stood at 10.3% year-on-year in June-and reforms in social and migration policy. According to the government, the optimization of inefficient social benefit programs is expected to save more than 800 billion tenge (around $1.6 billion) annually, allowing resources to be redirected toward more targeted social support and development initiatives.

Slovak President Peter Pellegrini departed Fuzuli International Airport for Baku by plane on July 14, AzerNEWS reports.

Samir Rzayev, Chairman of the Board of Azerbaijan Airlines (AZAL), briefed the Slovak president at Fuzuli International Airport on the Fuzuli, Zangilan and Lachin international airports.

President Pellegrini was seen off by Azerbaijan’s Foreign Minister Jeyhun Bayramov, Emin Huseynov, the Azerbaijani president’s special representative in the Aghdam, Fuzuli and Khojavand districts, and other officials.

Trade turnover between Armenia and Russia declined by 20.5% in the first five months of 2026 compared with the same period last year, according to data released by Armenia’s Statistical Committee, AzerNEWS reports.

Russia remained Armenia’s largest trading partner during the reporting period, although bilateral trade continued to weaken amid ongoing Russian restrictions on Armenian imports and what appears to be a significant decline in the re-export of Russian precious metals and gemstones.

According to the official data, trade between the two countries totaled nearly $2.2 billion in January-May 2026, down from almost $2.8 billion during the same period of 2025-a decrease of approximately $570 million.

Russia’s share of Armenia’s total foreign trade also declined, falling from 35.1% to 28%.

Trade between the two countries had expanded rapidly following Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022, driven in part by increased re-export activity and changes in regional trade flows.