Category: Azer News

On September 1, First Lady of the Republic of Azerbaijan Mehriban Aliyeva, together with First Lady of the Kyrgyz Republic Aigul Zhaparova, First Lady of the Republic of Trkiye Emine Erdogan, First Lady of the Republic of Uzbekistan Ziroat Mirziyoyeva, and First Lady of the People’s Republic of China Peng Liyuan, visited the Ala Archa State Residence in Bishkek.

First Lady of the Kyrgyz Republic Aigul Zhaparova welcomed First Lady of the Republic of Azerbaijan Mehriban Aliyeva and the other first ladies.

As part of the cultural program organized at the Ala Archa State Residence, the first ladies viewed an exhibition featuring handicrafts by masters of Kyrgyz folk decorative and applied arts.

The exposition introduced the honored guests to the rich cultural heritage, unique traditions, centuries-old craftsmanship, and national character of the Kyrgyz people.

The exhibition also featured felt products, traditional household items, works by folk artisans, and other handicrafts reflecting the diversity of Kyrgyz decorative and applied arts.

A concert program was also prepared for the guests. Creative ensembles and performers presented musical and dance numbers reflecting the beauty of national culture, the richness of traditions, and the hospitality of the Kyrgyz people.

The possibility of a meeting between the leaders of the United States and North Korea has grown following a significant reduction in the scale of joint US-South Korean military exercises and President Donald Trump’s remarks that he plans to meet North Korean leader Kim Jong Un this year.

According to South Korean lawmaker Yoon Kun-young, who spoke after a closed-door briefing by the National Intelligence Service (NIS), North Korea and the United States are showing possible signs of progress toward restarting dialogue.

However, officials stressed that there has been no official confirmation of any concrete or direct contact between Pyongyang and Washington.

“As for a summit between North Korea and the United States, experts assess that talks could take place at any time,” Yoon Kun-young told reporters.

It should be noted that in mid-August, US President Donald Trump recalled his good relationship with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un and ordered a reduction in the scale of military exercises with South Korea. At the time, Trump called these maneuvers too expensive and said they sent an “inappropriate and hostile” signal to North Korea, while emphasizing his relationship with its leader, Kim Jong Un.

The Wall Street Journal reported that Trump had asked his aides to arrange a meeting with the North Korean leader in the autumn of this year.

Elgiz Alizade, Vice President of the Azerbaijan Capoeira Federation, headed the first international judging course organized by the World Capoeira Federation (WCF) in Samsun, Turkiye.

The course brought together representatives from several countries and focused on the international judging system, competition rules and assessment criteria. Participants took part in both theoretical and practical training.

The WCF’s appointment of Alizade as the head of its courses and seminars reflects the international confidence in his professional expertise and experience. It also represents an important step in promoting Azerbaijani capoeira internationally and strengthening Azerbaijan’s role within the WCF.

Elgiz Alizade’s appointment demonstrates the growing recognition of Azerbaijani professionals within the international capoeira community.

The course provided participants with a common framework for judging and evaluating performances, helping promote consistency in competitions held under WCF rules.

The Azerbaijan Capoeira Federation (ACF) is the national governing body responsible for the development and promotion of capoeira in Azerbaijan. It was officially established in 2007, marking the beginning of a formal organizational framework for the sport in the country.

Capoeira began gaining popularity in Azerbaijan in the late 1990s, following the release of the film Only the Strong, which sparked interest in the art form among young people. The first capoeira school in the country was opened in Sumqayit by Emin Gurbanov, while the first school in Baku was established in 2000 by Taleh Orujov, who played an important role in the early development of capoeira in the capital.

Since its establishment, one of the ACF’s main objectives has been to develop capoeira as both a sport and a cultural practice in Azerbaijan. The federation organises regular training programmes, seminars, competitions and Batizado belt examinations, providing practitioners with opportunities to develop their skills and formally progress through different levels.

The ACF also supports local clubs, coaches and referees, contributing to the development of a structured capoeira network across the country.

International cooperation is another important part of the federation’s activities. Azerbaijani capoeiristas regularly participate in international workshops and championship events, while Azerbaijan has also hosted major competitions, including World Capoeira Federation World Championships in Baku.

Azerbaijan is one of the founding members of the World Capoeira Federation (WCF), an international organisation that works to establish common standards for competition rules, coaching certification and referee training in capoeira worldwide.

Édouard Léon Raoul Balladur, a former French prime minister of Armenian descent, has died at the age of 97.

Balladur served as France’s prime minister from March 1993 to May 1995 under Socialist President François Mitterrand, becoming the final prime minister of Mitterrand’s presidency.

During his tenure, Balladur oversaw a series of major economic reforms, including the privatisation of several state-owned companies, as France pursued a more market-oriented economic policy.

Born in Turkiye’s Izmir, Balladur entered French politics after a career in public service and became one of the prominent figures of the centre-right. His political career reached its peak in 1995, when he ran for president after serving as prime minister.

His presidential campaign, however, ended in defeat. Balladur finished third in the first round of the 1995 election, behind fellow conservative Jacques Chirac and Socialist candidate Lionel Jospin. Chirac went on to win the presidency and remained in office until 2007.

Balladur’s defeat was particularly notable because Chirac had previously been his political ally. Their rivalry during the 1995 presidential campaign became one of the defining contests of France’s post-Mitterrand political era.

Balladur subsequently withdrew from frontline national politics but remained an influential figure within France’s conservative political establishment.

His family said a private Mass would be held following his death but did not provide further details.

Unity is the foundation for the future development of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) and for achieving lasting peace, development and shared prosperity, Kyrgyz President Sadyr Japarov said at the SCO summit in Bishkek.

Japarov noted that this year’s summit coincides with the SCO’s 25th anniversary and that Kyrgyzstan’s chairmanship has been held under the theme “25 Years of the SCO: Together Towards Sustainable Peace, Development and Prosperity.”

“Over a quarter of a century, the SCO has transformed from a mechanism for building trust along borders into one of the world’s leading international organizations, proving its effectiveness and relevance,” Japarov said.

According to the president, SCO member states now account for more than 40 percent of the world’s population and approximately one-quarter of global GDP.

Japarov emphasized that nearly 200 events had been held during Kyrgyzstan’s chairmanship. During this period, cooperation in security was strengthened, economic and transport connectivity was expanded, cultural and humanitarian ties were deepened, while digital development and artificial intelligence were added to the organization’s practical priorities.

The Kyrgyz president stressed that marking the SCO’s 25th anniversary should not only be an opportunity to review the organization’s achievements over the past quarter-century, but also to open a new chapter focused on lasting peace, joint development and shared prosperity.

“I am confident that we will be able to develop coordinated decisions that serve the interests of our peoples. May this anniversary year become a starting point for a new stage in the development of our organization,” Japarov added.

“A little over a year ago, Azerbaijan and Armenia initialed the text of the peace agreement, putting an end to a 30-year conflict,” said President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev in his speech at the SCO Plus format meeting.

The head of state noted that, thus, the South Caucasus region, which was once a zone of long-standing conflict, is becoming a zone of peace.

The Culture Ministry’s Scientific, Methodological and Qualification Center for Culture (MEMIM) has prepared, for the first time, a curriculum for art schools and centers in the field of photography.

The curriculum is designed to introduce new content and systematic approach to the teaching of photography, while helping young people develop knowledge and creative skills in the field.

The curriculum was developed with the participation of professional photography specialists. It was prepared by professional photographer Rauf Umudov, a member of the Board of the Gilavar Photo Club.

The document was reviewed by renowned Azerbaijani photographers Rashad Mehdiyev, Chairman of the Board of the Gilavar Photo Club Public Association and an internationally acclaimed photographer, and Rufat Abas, founder and editor of Fotoqrafika magazine. Fariz Yunisli, head of a sector at MEMIM, served as the editor of the curriculum.

The introduction of photography as a new field of study in art schools is particularly significant given the 165-year history of photography in Azerbaijan.

The initiative is also an important indication of the state’s attention to and support for the development of photography as an art form.

Production at industrial zones managed by Azerbaijan’s Economic Zones Development Agency reached 1.94 billion manats (approximately $1.14 billion) in the first half of 2026, marking an 8.6% increase compared with the same period of 2025.

Taleh Guliyev, head of the agency’s International Cooperation and Public Relations Department, said that 554.7 million manats (approximately $326.3 million) worth of products manufactured in the industrial zones were exported during the reporting period.

Guliyev highlighted the tax and customs incentives available to companies operating in Azerbaijan’s industrial parks, saying they are intended to reduce investors’ costs, expand production capacity and encourage new investment.

Under the existing framework, residents of industrial parks are exempt from property, land and profit taxes for 10 years from the date of registration.

In addition, machinery, technological equipment and devices imported for production purposes are exempt from VAT and customs duties for 10 years.

‘These privileges create additional incentives for optimizing investors’ costs, expanding production capabilities and attracting new investments,’ Guliyev said.

“Azerbaijan is already supplying petroleum products to Armenia and providing transit for third-country cargo,” said President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev in his speech at the SCO Plus format meeting.

“We are working together with Armenia to increase the volume of mutual trade, expand the range of goods, and create new overland transport links,” the head of state added.

British political commentator Milo Yiannopoulos has been deported from the United States after being arrested by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) for overstaying his visa.

Yiannopoulos, 41, was arrested on Thursday, August 27, at Louis Armstrong New Orleans International Airport, according to US authorities.

The US Department of Homeland Security (DHS) confirmed his removal the following day, describing Yiannopoulos as an ‘illegal alien from the United Kingdom’ and stating that he had been returned to Britain.

Yiannopoulos is a prominent right-wing political commentator who has previously voiced strong support for tougher US immigration enforcement, including aggressive border controls and mass deportations.

His deportation has drawn attention in US political circles because of his outspoken advocacy for immigration restrictions while he himself was removed for violating US immigration rules.