Category: Azer News

‘Covering 90% of the Asian continent and bringing together 28 member states, the Conference on Interaction and Confidence Building Measures in Asia is regarded as a significant and unique dialogue platform that contributes to peace, security and stability in the region and helps strengthen mutual trust and cooperation among member countries to promote sustainable development,’ President Ilham Aliyev said in his address to the participants of the CICA Media Forum on ‘Building Trust through Media in a Polarized World,’ organized by the Media and Broadcasting Council.

‘Chairing this organization over the past two years, Azerbaijan has spared no effort to enhance CICA’s institutional capacities, broaden practical joint activities, and further increase the role of this organization in the system of international relations, while demonstrating determination and consistency in advancing mutual confidence-building measures,’ the head of state emphasized.

A Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on cooperation in artificial intelligence solutions and related digital technologies has been signed between Azerbaijan’s Ministry of Digital Development and Transport and SpaceXAI.

The agreement provides for exploring the use of AI solutions based on SpaceXAI’s Grok models in government services and other priority areas of Azerbaijan’s digital transformation. The main goal is to develop higher-quality, more accessible and efficient public services.

The memorandum is not limited to a single area of application and will cover government institutions more broadly. The parties will jointly assess opportunities for using artificial intelligence and consider expanding successful solutions across the public sector.

The signing ceremony was attended by Deputy Minister Rashad Hasanov and representatives of SpaceXAI, including Dustin Yelinek, Head of Global Government Affairs and Latin America; Reem Sadek, Global Government Affairs and Market Development Lead for the Middle East, North Africa and Trkiye; and Neil Perkins, Head of Market Access, Global Government Affairs.

During the meeting, Rashad Hasanov stressed that Azerbaijan has moved from discussing AI to implementing it, noting that the MoU with SpaceXAI will explore using its AI capabilities to improve government services and integrate solutions into the national digital infrastructure.

Dustin Yelinek said the company was pleased to work with the ministry to bring Grok to government and help provide faster, higher-quality services to citizens.

The parties also agreed to collaborate in strengthening local capacity, sharing knowledge and expertise, and developing relevant skills. The aim is to ensure that AI solutions contribute to Azerbaijan’s long-term national digital development goals.

Azerbaijani Prime Minister Ali Asadov has met with World Aquatics President Husain Al-Musallam.

The press service of Azerbaijan’s Cabinet of Ministers said the meeting focused on the significance of hosting the World Aquatics Swimming World Cup in Baku for the first time.

The sides noted that holding the competition in Azerbaijan would help strengthen the country’s standing in international sport and raise interest in swimming domestically.

The meeting also covered the development of swimming in Azerbaijan, the country’s modern sports infrastructure and its experience in hosting major international competitions.

Asadov and Al-Musallam also discussed the development of cooperation between Azerbaijan and World Aquatics and possible ways to expand the partnership in the future.

The World Aquatics Swimming World Cup is being held at the Baku Aquatic Palace from October 1 to 3, with 216 swimmers from 44 countries taking part.

Baku is the opening stop of the 2026 Silk Road Tour, which will continue in Tashkent from October 8 to 10 and conclude in Astana from October 15 to 17. The Baku competition is the first World Aquatics event to be held in Azerbaijan.

A regional forum titled “Middle Corridor: The Next Stage”, organized by the World Bank Group, is being held in Georgia to discuss ways to unlock the Middle Corridor’s full economic potential.

Representatives of governments, the private sector, international organizations and other stakeholders from Azerbaijan, Georgia, Armenia, Kazakhstan and Trkiye are participating in the forum.

As part of the event, the World Bank presented a report titled “Integration: World-Class Trade Logistics along the Trans-Caspian International Transport Route.” The report assesses challenges facing trade flows, infrastructure, logistics efficiency and sectoral policies along the Middle Corridor, while outlining priority actions for governments and the private sector.

The report also examines nine countries involved in the Middle Corridor and assesses how coordinated investments, reforms and stronger institutions could transform the route into a more competitive and sustainable trade corridor by 2040.

The document emphasizes that the Middle Corridor has the potential to become a driving force for trade between Asia and Europe, economic diversification and regional integration. However, its long-term success will depend not only on building new infrastructure but also on improving the corridor’s overall efficiency.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu shared in a statement to Fox News on Thursday that “in a few days” Israel will be able to say whether or not the co-pilot who allegedly tried to crash the Flydubai flight has any connections to Iran.

Netanyahu went on to share that the co-pilot, who attacked the other pilot on the plane, is of Omani origin and has undergone “Islamist radical indoctrination.” He added that at present, it is too early to tell if he is tied to Tehran.

Nonetheless, the Israeli prime minister insisted that there are indications that Iran and its proxies want to strike Israel.

Israeli National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir stated on Thursday that his department will call for the extradition of the copilot of Flydubai Flight FZ1073, who seemingly tried to crash the plane with almost 180 Israelis on board.

Ben-Gvir remarked in a statement that he will consult the Justice Ministry and other diplomatic agencies to “use all means available” to bring the suspect before an Israeli court. “Someone who planned to crash a plane and murder 180 Israelis should be extradited to Israel and pay the heaviest price here,” he wrote. “Anyone who tries to murder or harm Israelis will be pursued by the State of Israel and held to account anywhere in the world.”

Israel does not have an extradition agreement, nor official relations, with either Saudi Arabia, where the plane landed and where the suspect has allegedly been detained, or his home country of Oman.

The Louvre is strengthening its security following last year’s theft of French crown jewels, with the museum’s new director, Christophe Leribault, seeking to establish what he describes as a new “culture of security” across the institution.

Leribault, who was appointed president-director of the Louvre in February 2026, outlined the museum’s security efforts in an interview with the Financial Times. The measures form part of the museum’s response to the October 2025 robbery and its wider modernization programme.

On October 19, 2025, two burglars broke into the Galerie d’Apollon and stole eight 19th-century jewels from the French Crown Jewels collection. The stolen pieces included jewellery associated with Queen Marie-Amelie and Queen Hortense, Queen Marie-Louise and Empress Eugenie. The Louvre estimated the value of the stolen jewellery at pound 88 million. The jewels have not been recovered.

The robbery exposed weaknesses in the Louvre’s security infrastructure. An administrative investigation by France’s Ministry of Culture found a long-term underestimation of the structural risk of theft and intrusion, as well as insufficient security equipment, particularly for external surveillance. It also called for changes to security governance, procedures, equipment and staff training. At the same time, the ministry said the procedures and protocols had been followed by the museum staff present during the robbery and that the alarms had functioned.

The museum had also received a security warning shortly before the robbery. A confidential report dated August 29, 2025 identified security weaknesses, according to reporting by Le Monde. The report was issued about six weeks before the theft.

The Louvre has since accelerated security work. Measures include additional surveillance, perimeter protection, improvements to access points and stronger security coordination. The museum’s security master plan is estimated by the Louvre at pound 80 million. The plan includes the modernization of security control posts, expanded perimeter protection and other technical measures, with implementation continuing through 2026 and beyond.

The scale of previous security investment has also come under scrutiny. A parliamentary record citing findings by the French Court of Auditors states that the Louvre had spent pound 105.5 million on acquiring artworks between 2018 and 2024, while pound 3 million had been committed to the pound 83 million security master plan at the time of the audit. The same record said that only 39% of the museum’s rooms were equipped with video surveillance. The pound 83 million figure reflects the amount cited in the audit, while the Louvre subsequently describes the security master plan as an pound 80 million programme.

The security measures are being implemented alongside the Louvre’s much larger modernization project, “Louvre – Nouvelle Renaissance”. The programme, estimated at pound 1.1 billion, includes major infrastructure work, a new entrance and an expanded space for Leonardo da Vinci’s Mona Lisa. Leribault has said the modernization will also address security, visitor flows, climate-related risks and ageing infrastructure.

The Galerie d’Apollon reopened to visitors on July 22, 2026, nine months after the robbery. The Louvre said the collection of precious objects previously held there had been removed, allowing visitors to focus on the gallery’s painted and sculpted decoration. The space has returned to its original ceremonial function.

The robbery also comes amid wider concerns about security at European cultural institutions. Leribault told the Financial Times that the nature of threats facing museums is changing, with criminal groups increasingly using aggressive methods. The Louvre is therefore carrying out its security programme while continuing with its broader transformation.

Nearly a year after the robbery, the stolen jewels remain missing. The Louvre is now continuing its security upgrades while moving forward with a major modernization programme intended to reshape one of the world’s most visited museums.

It is possible to triple trade along the Middle Corridor and halve transit times by 2030, Azerbaijan’s Economy Minister Mikayil Jabbarov said on Thursday at the CAMCA Regional Forum in Baku.

“Forms of energy consumption are changing. Oil played the leading role in the past, followed by gas. Today, we are talking about a green energy corridor for the same customers and the same markets. The difference is that this time we are working more closely with our neighbours and the wider region, particularly the countries on the eastern side of the Caspian Sea. Our partners to the west of Azerbaijan continue to participate in and support this process,” he stated.

Jabbarov noted that Azerbaijan’s lack of direct access to the open sea had pushed the country to pay particular attention to connectivity.

“On the one hand, Azerbaijan is a landlocked country. On the other hand, this feature has created a certain natural selection. It has meant placing a strong emphasis on connectivity to reduce our geographic vulnerability and being willing to invest in this area,” the minister emphasized.

He said the development of the Port of Alat, the Baku-Tbilisi-Kars railway, Azerbaijan’s shipbuilding industry, as well as investments in ports and relevant terminals abroad, were all part of this strategy.

“The same applies to energy infrastructure, pipelines and fibre-optic connectivity, where we believe there is even greater potential. According to the World Bank’s 2023 assessment, if the necessary investments are made and efficiency measures are implemented, continued efforts to improve connectivity could triple trade along the Middle Corridor and halve transit times by 2030,” Jabbarov added.

According to him, Central Asia has remained Azerbaijan’s fastest-growing regional trading partner over the past five years.

Azerbaijani boxers will compete at the U17 European Boxing Championships, which will begin in Budva, Montenegro, on October 3.

A total of 21 Azerbaijani athletes, including eight girls and 13 boys, will take part in the nine-day competition.

The tournament is expected to feature nearly 500 boxers representing 40 countries.

Boxing is known as one of the oldest sports in the history of humankind.

The earliest evidence of boxing dates back to Egypt around 3,000 BC.

This sport was introduced to the ancient Olympic Games by the Greeks in the late 7th century BC.

In 1924, the International Amateur Boxing Federation (FIBA) was established.

Since 1946, it has been referred to as the International Boxing Association (AIBA). Boxing made its Olympic debut at the 1904 Games in St. Louis.

In 1926, the boxing championship was held for the first time in Azerbaijan, where national boxers took first place.

Since 1992, the Azerbaijani Boxing Federation has been a full member of the International Boxing Association (AIBA).

Azerbaijani boxers have won many prestigious awards at many international championships.

Aghasi Mammadov has entered Azerbaijan’s history of boxing as the first national boxer to win a gold medal at the world championship.

Another Azerbaijani boxer, Fuad Asadov, was among the medallists at the 2004 Summer Olympic Games.

Many times, Azerbaijan has been chosen as the host country for major boxing championships.

The AIBA Youth World Championships were held in Baku in 2019. This world championship was the first licensed youth tournament to qualify for the 2010 Olympic Games held in Singapore.

The country also hosted the 2011 AIBA World Boxing Championships, which was the first major qualifying event for the London 2012 Olympic Games.

The longstanding defense partnership between ASELSAN and Azerbaijan has entered a new phase with the signing of a term sheet agreement at the Azerbaijan International Defence Exhibition (ADEX 2026) targeting the establishment of a strategic production facility in Nakhchivan, Azerbaijan. The company has also signed a framework agreement with the Ministry of Defense of Azerbaijan, expressing its intention to procure ALP 100 Multifunction AESA Air Surveillance Radar systems from ASELSAN to meet the requirements of the Azerbaijani Air Force.

Through the term sheet agreement between ASELSAN, ASELSAN BAKÜ LLC, and NOVASIS LLC, the partners announce their intention to establish a strategic production facility in Nakhchivan, expanding Azerbaijan’s domestic defense manufacturing capabilities, advancing technology transfer and strengthening Azerbaijan’s defense industrial infrastructure.

The planned facility is expected to facilitate the transfer of advanced manufacturing technologies for ASELSAN’s Laser Guidance Kits (LGK), TOLUN precision-guided munitions, and KORKUT air defense systems, contributing to the development of Azerbaijan’s indigenous defense industry. This potential collaboration also aims to foster a highly skilled workforce and support the integration of domestically produced munitions into current and future Unmanned Combat Aerial Vehicle (UCAV), fighter jet, and trainer aircraft platforms in the Azerbaijani inventory.

The agreements signed at ADEX further build on ASELSAN’s enduring partnership with Azerbaijan and reflect the two countries’ shared commitment to advancing defense cooperation and technological capabilities, as ASELSAN President and CEO Ahmet Akyol underlined: ‘Our long-lasting partnership with Azerbaijan is steadily evolving to new horizons. By declaring our will to extend production capabilities for our systems like LGK, KORKUT and TOLUN to Nakhchivan, we aim to support our allies in building a resilient, localized defense infrastructure. Furthermore, the framework agreement for the ALP 100 Multifunction AESA Air Surveillance Radar represents another important step in our cooperation. Our contribution to providing critical technologies, including advanced radar systems, will further strengthen our ties and support Azerbaijan in enhancing its defense capabilities. This collaboration reflects a shared commitment to regional stability and helps ensure that our cutting-edge technologies are closely tuned to the operational needs of the Azerbaijani armed forces.’

At ADEX 2026, ASELSAN is also showcasing a broad portfolio of advanced defense technologies spanning counter-drone systems, air defense, airborne solutions, electronic warfare, radar, and secure communications. The portfolio includes solutions such as the KORKUT 100/25 air defense system, ASELFLIR 600 electro-optical system, TOLUN precision-guided munition, KORAL electronic warfare system, and MURAD and FULMAR radar family, alongside advanced communication and guidance technologies. Together, these solutions demonstrate ASELSAN’s integrated approach to addressing evolving operational requirements across multiple domains.

The death toll from an avalanche that struck a base camp in the Himlung Himal area of the Himalayas on September 27 has risen to 11, according to The Himalayan Times.

The avalanche hit the base camp located at an altitude of around 4,900 meters near Himlung Himal, a 7,126-meter peak in Nepal. Search and rescue teams have continued operations in the area following the incident, despite challenging conditions at the high-altitude site.

According to the newspaper, rescuers have recovered the bodies of four more people, bringing the confirmed death toll to 11. Seven bodies had previously been found at the site.

Search and rescue operations are continuing for five people who remain missing. Authorities and rescue teams are working to locate those still unaccounted for and determine whether anyone else may have been affected by the avalanche.

Rescuers had earlier evacuated 10 people who were found alive in the camp area. The survivors were transported by helicopter from the high-altitude location.

The incident has highlighted the risks faced by climbers and expedition teams operating in the Himalayas, where sudden avalanches and severe weather conditions can pose significant dangers, particularly at high elevations.