Category: Azer News

Azerbaijan’s rich cultural heritage, music, traditional dances, cuisine and customs have been showcased at a series of cultural festivals held in Norway.

Caucasus Culture – 2026 festival was held in Oslo with the support of the committee and organized by the Azerbaijan House in Oslo and the Norwegian Azerbaijanis’ Youth Organization (NAYO)

The festival highlighted the cultural diversity of Azerbaijan and the peoples of the Caucasus, attracting members of the Azerbaijani community, representatives of various communities and local residents. Performances by dancers from the Ritm Dance Group, invited from Azerbaijan, drew considerable interest from the audience.

Azerbaijani national music also featured prominently in the programme. Shabnam Huseyn, a kamancha player, soloist with the Dresden Symphony Orchestra and member of the Norwegian Musicians’ Union, performed traditional Azerbaijani compositions.

Students of the Nizami Ganjavi Azerbaijani-language weekend school in Oslo performed songs dedicated to their homeland and peace, while student Salim Abbaszade presented drawings reflecting Azerbaijani national values.

An exhibition featuring Azerbaijan’s state symbols, examples of kelaghayi headscarves, national attributes and other cultural items was also held during the festival, giving visitors an opportunity to learn more about the country’s rich heritage.

The ERAS Festival, another multicultural event held in Oslo, also brought Azerbaijan’s national heritage to the forefront alongside the cultures, music and traditions of different peoples.

The Ritm Dance Group’s performances of Azerbaijani traditional dances were met with enthusiastic applause, while Shabnam Huseyn’s kamancha performances of national music added to the artistic programme.

Following the music and dance performances, Ramil Aliyev, Chairman of the Azerbaijan House in Oslo, spoke to participants about Azerbaijani music and culture. He also invited guests to visit Azerbaijan and discover the country’s rich historical and cultural heritage.

The promotion of Azerbaijani culture in Norway continued at the ‘Children of the World’ cultural festival.

At the event, NAYO presented information about Azerbaijan’s rich cultural heritage, national music and traditional dances.

The colourful performances by the Ritm Dance Group, which participated at the invitation of the Azerbaijan House in Oslo with the support of the Azerbaijan State Committee for Work with the Diaspora, were among the highlights of the festival.

On August 31, President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev and First Lady Mehriban Aliyeva attended the opening ceremony of the 6th World Nomad Games, held in Bishkek, the capital of Kyrgyzstan.

One of the main goals of the World Nomad Games is to promote values such as friendship, unity, and mutual respect that have united various peoples for centuries. The event serves as an important international platform for demonstrating, preserving, and passing on to future generations the heritage, culture, ancient traditions, and national values of nomadic civilization. Bringing together representatives from various countries, the Games will feature competitions in traditional sports historically developed by nomadic peoples, including equestrian sports, wrestling, archery, and others.

As part of the event, which will continue until September 6, the cultural heritage and national traditions of the participating countries will also be presented.

The Board of the Azerbaijan Filmmakers Union has held a meeting to discuss the union’s current activities, organizational matters, membership issues and preparations for its upcoming conference.

The meeting concluded with the adoption of several decisions.

The Board unanimously decided to temporarily entrust Shafiga Mammadova with the duties of chairperson of the Azerbaijan Filmmakers Union.The date of the union’s upcoming conference was also discussed, with the event scheduled to take place on September 11.

The Board further decided to review and update the union’s membership list based on the submitted list, as well as consider terminating the membership of certain members.

The resignation applications submitted by Board member and Executive Secretary Ali Isa Jabarov were also reviewed and accepted by the Board.

In addition, the Board unanimously approved Shafiga Mammadova as the sole candidate for chairperson of the Azerbaijan Filmmakers Union.

The decisions adopted at the meeting are aimed at streamlining the union’s organizational activities and ensuring preparations for the upcoming conference.

Founded in 2012, the Azerbaijan Filmmakers Union (AUF) focuses on the development of local cinema as an integral part of national culture and world cinema.

Azerbaijani cinema has come to be an internationally recognized modern art, enjoying huge popularity and recognition at international film festivals, which frequently award the national films.

Over the past years, more than 300 films and 1,200 documentaries, as well as hundreds of cartoons, have been filmed.

The Azerbaijan Filmmakers Union is a member of the Confederation of Unions of Cinematographers of the CIS and Baltic States.

Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) has vowed to launch a missile response following what it described as an early morning attack by the United States on Lark Island.

In a statement issued by its Public Relations Department, the IRGC said the attack had killed and wounded Iranian military personnel and civilians. It did not provide specific figures for the casualties.

The IRGC described the reported strike as an act of aggression by what it called the ‘American-Zionist enemy’ and said Iran would retaliate.

‘The sons of Islamic Iran will respond to this aggression, and the aggressor will be punished,’ the statement said.

The IRGC also accused Washington and Israel of seeking to restore their influence in the region and shape public opinion, but provided no evidence for those claims.

The statement came after the reported attack on Lark Island, which is located in Iran’s southern Hormozgan province in the Persian Gulf, close to the strategic Strait of Hormuz.

The IRGC did not specify when or how the promised missile response would be carried out.

The development raises the prospect of a further escalation between Iran and the United States amid heightened tensions in the region.

The Azerbaijan Mine Action Agency (ANAMA) has released information on mine clearance operations carried out by organizations involved in demining activities in the liberated territories between August 24 and 31.

According to ANAMA, demining operations conducted last week in Tartar, Aghdara, Kalbajar, Aghdam, Khojaly, Khankendi, Khojavand, Lachin, Shusha, Fuzuli, Gubadli, Jabrayil, and Zangilan resulted in the detection and disposal of 161 anti-personnel mines, 29 anti-tank mines, and 689 other unexploded ordnance items.

A total of 2,048.7 hectares of territory were cleared of mines and other unexploded ordnance.

Humanitarian demining remains a critical component of Azerbaijan’s post-conflict recovery strategy. Large areas of land in these regions remain contaminated with mines and unexploded ordnance, posing a significant threat to civilians and slowing the pace of reconstruction projects and the safe return of internally displaced persons.

Israel and Greece have signed a pound 3 billion ($3.5 billion) defence agreement under which Israel will build a comprehensive, multi-layered air defence network for Greece, dubbed ‘Achilles Shield.’ The deal is the largest defence export agreement in the history of Israel-Greece relations and one of the largest in Israel’s history.

The system will combine several Israeli-made platforms, including David’s Sling, BARAK MX and SPYDER, alongside MMR multi-mission radars and a new national command-and-control system designed to integrate Greece’s air defence capabilities. A separate pound 26 million agreement will provide Rafael’s Drone Dome systems for protection against drones.

The programme is designed to provide layered protection against ballistic missiles, aircraft, cruise missiles and unmanned aerial vehicles, marking the first time Israel’s Defence Ministry is supplying a complete integrated defence array covering such a broad range of aerial threats.

The agreement also includes expanded defence-industrial cooperation, with Israel expected to transfer technology and expertise to Greek industry. Greek companies are reportedly expected to receive around pound 700 million of the deal’s value as subcontractors.

The deal comes as Greece undertakes a major military modernisation programme amid long-standing tensions with neighbouring Trkiye and a rapidly changing security environment in the Eastern Mediterranean. Athens has outlined plans to invest around pound 28 billion in defence capabilities through 2036, including new aircraft, warships and air-defence systems.

The ‘Achilles Shield’ system is expected to become operational within approximately 35 months, with deliveries taking place in stages.

European natural gas prices have climbed to their highest level since early 2023 amid renewed tensions in the Middle East.

October gas futures at the Dutch TTF hub rose 4.4% to pound 69.9 per megawatt-hour, marking their highest level since January 2023.

According to Gas Infrastructure Europe (GIE), gas storage facilities across Europe are currently 64.7% full, below the historical average for this time of year.

Analysts say the latest price increase is mainly linked to concerns that the renewed fighting in the Middle East could disrupt LNG exports from the Gulf. There are also growing concerns about Europe’s gas reserves ahead of the winter, as storage levels remain below the seasonal average.

Milder weather expected across Europe in early September could help keep gas demand in check. However, relatively low storage levels, uncertainty over LNG supplies from the Gulf and risks surrounding the Strait of Hormuz are continuing to push prices higher.

The conflict could also affect LNG shipments from major Gulf producers, including Qatar, and create further uncertainty in the global gas market. If exports from the region remain disrupted for a prolonged period, European buyers could face stronger competition from Asian countries for available LNG cargoes.

Analysts warn that a long-term disruption to LNG exports from the Gulf could lead to further increases in European gas prices in the coming months.

The fourth stage of the Beach Wrestling World Series has concluded in Baku, with Azerbaijan’s wrestlers securing seven medals at the competition.

The event was held at the Sea Breeze resort, where Vusal Aliyev (80 kg), Ashraf Ashirov (90 kg) and Jamal Feyziyev (+90 kg) won gold medals. Nargiz Samadova (60 kg) and Sahib Dadashov (80 kg) claimed silver, while Javid Niftalizade (80 kg) and Ramiz Hasanov (90 kg) took bronze.

Azerbaijan’s men’s team topped the team standings with 84 points, followed by Georgia with 62 points and Ukraine with 45. In the women’s team standings,

Azerbaijan finished second with 40 points. Ukraine took first place with 100 points, while Spain finished third with 24 points.

The competition, held in Azerbaijan for the first time, brought together 55 wrestlers from 14 countries.

The final stage of the World Series will take place on September 26-27 in Katerini, Greece.

The world champions will be determined based on the points accumulated across all stages of the series.

Note that beach wrestling is one of the youngest internationally organized disciplines of wrestling. It combines traditional wrestling techniques with competition on sand, creating a faster and more accessible format that is particularly suited to outdoor venues and coastal locations. The discipline was formally established in its modern form in 2004, while the first Beach Wrestling World Championship was held in Turkiye in 2006.

Since 2019, the sport’s senior world champions have been determined through the annual Beach Wrestling World Series, which brings together leading athletes across several international stages.

Unlike traditional wrestling, beach wrestling is contested entirely on its feet, with no ground wrestling. Bouts take place on a circular sand area and generally last three minutes, with athletes scoring points by forcing an opponent to touch the sand with a knee or upper body or by pushing them outside the competition area. The discipline places particular demands on balance, strength, endurance and explosive movement because athletes must perform techniques on an unstable surface.

Azerbaijan has quickly become a strong force in beach wrestling. The country began developing the sport in an organized way in 2019, when the Azerbaijan Wrestling Federation launched a dedicated programme.

By 2022, Azerbaijani U17 and U20 wrestlers had won world and European titles, and the country went on to produce several world champions.

Azerbaijan’s first major success came in 2019, when Oyan Nazariani won the +90 kg title in the first Beach Wrestling World Series season.

He became Azerbaijan’s first world champion in the discipline. Ibrahim Yusubov and Ramiz Hasanov later added to the country’s international success, with Yusubov becoming the first wrestler to win four consecutive World Series titles.

Beach wrestling has also continued to grow in Azerbaijan at the national level. In 2025, women’s events were added to the national beach wrestling championships, giving more female wrestlers the chance to compete and develop in the sport.

Approximately one in thirteen children in Haiti aged between 6 months and 5 years old are suffering from acute malnutrition, according to the UNICEF’s official website.

The prevalence of global acute malnutrition in children in Haiti aged 6 to 59 months, defined as moderate or severe wasting or nutritional swelling, has increased from 5.1 per cent to 7.4 per cent from 2023 to 2026.

‘The findings emerge against a backdrop of prolonged insecurity, economic hardship and humanitarian needs that continue to constrain families’ access to sufficient nutritious food, health care and nutrition services,’ said UNICEF Deputy Representative in Haiti, Yannig Dussart. ‘Preventing and treating malnutrition in Haiti requires urgent action and attention by stakeholders and actors to ensure children can access the lifesaving services they need.’

Acute malnutrition, which occurs when children do not receive enough nutritious food or suffer from repeated illness, can rapidly become life-threatening without timely treatment. Children affected by severe acute malnutrition are at high risk of death, particularly when combined with illness and limited access to medical care.

Between 2023 and 2025, grave violations against children, which include denial of access to humanitarian support and attacks on schools and hospitals where children receive nutritional services, have tripled.

Despite these worsening trends in acute malnutrition, the survey shows progress in other indicators. The prevalence of chronic malnutrition, or stunting, among children under five declined from 22.8 per cent in 2023 to 17.3 per cent in 2026. Early initiation of breastfeeding increased from 48 per cent in 2023 to 68.0 per cent in 2026, while exclusive breastfeeding rose from 17.5 per cent to 33.0 per cent.

UNICEF and its partners are working with the Ministry of Public Health and Population to scale up the screening and treatment of malnourished children, including through community health workers and mobile teams operating in hard-to-reach and insecure areas. A fuller analysis of the survey results, combined with an Integrated Food Security Phase Classification for Acute Malnutrition (IPC-AMN), is expected in the coming month and will guide the humanitarian and development response.

As humanitarian needs continue to worsen in Haiti, UNICEF is urgently calling for increased support to address a funding gap of more than 64 per cent for nutrition interventions under its 2026 Humanitarian Action for Children (HAC) appeal. Sustained investment is critical to prevent, detect, and treat acute malnutrition, maintain the supply of Ready-to-Use Therapeutic Foods (RUTF), and expand access to essential nutrition services for vulnerable children and women. With adequate resources, UNICEF and its partners can save lives, protect children from the devastating consequences of malnutrition, and ensure that those most at risk receive the care and support they urgently need.

Azerbaijan will be represented by 14 judokas at the European Junior Judo Championships. The tournament will take place in Podgorica, Montenegro, from September 3 to 6.

The national team will compete in 10 weight categories, with nine boys and five girls included in the squad.

The boys’ team will be led by head coach Rustam Alimli, assisted by coaches Elkhan Rajabli and Abdulhaqq Rasulllu. The women’s team will be headed by head coach Amina Abdellatif, with Sasha Herkenrat-Vimar serving as senior coach.

A total of 410 judokas from 44 countries are expected to compete at the championships, including 226 boys and 184 girls.

In the women’s competition, Nargiz Ahmadova and Gulgez Musayeva will compete in the 48 kg category. Aysun Mammadova will represent Azerbaijan in the 52 kg category, while Ayten Verdiyeva and Khadija Gadesheva will compete in the 57 kg category.

In the men’s competition, Ayhan Mirzazada will compete in the 60 kg category, Muhammad Musayev in the 66 kg category and Abil Yusubov in the 73 kg category. Jasur Ibadli and Mehdi Abbasov will compete in the 81 kg category.

Aslan Kotsoyev and Suleyman Shukurov will represent Azerbaijan in the 90 kg category. Davud Namazli will compete in the 100 kg category, while Ramazan Ahmadov will take part in the +100 kg category.