Category: Azer News

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 Automobile Federation (AAF) organized a classic car exhibition and parade on Sunday.

Vice-President of the Heydar Aliyev Foundation Leyla Aliyeva and Arzu Aliyeva, AAF President Anar Alakbarov, Minister of Youth and Sports Farid Gayibov, as well as other prominent figures and residents, joined the event.

The event began with a classic car display at the Seaside National Park, showcasing over 100 vehicles manufactured before 1986.

The lineup featured registered participant cars alongside select pieces from the permanent exhibition at the Heydar Aliyev Center.

A longtime favorite among Baku residents, the exhibition featured a classic car parade.

A classic car rally routed through the capital’s main streets and avenues before concluding in the Sea Breeze area. The classic car exhibition at Marina Bay brought a distinct retro charm to the Caspian shore.

The exhibition showcased cars from various eras, including preserved vehicles that hold special commemorative value for their owners.

In an interview with AZERTAC, classic car driver Nuhbala Dadashov said that his 1967 Volga GAZ-21 holds deep personal significance for his family, adding that his father brought the vehicle home from Saratov on March 19 of that year.

The retro cars captivated the visitors of the exhibition.

Speaking to AZERTAC, visitor Fidan Efendi shared her passion for classic cars, saying that these events generate huge interest and it is wonderful to host these exhibitions in the country.

In an interview with AZERTAC, “Living Legend” award winner Royana Seyfali noted that this was her first time participating in the exhibition with her 1986 Mercedes-Benz W126 S-Class. Royana said she kept the car simply as a keepsake, adding, “I never intended to display it, so finally joining the exhibition is wonderful.”

The rally at Marina Bay concluded with car owners receiving awards across multiple categories.

Winners were honored across various categories, including ‘Veteran of the Exhibition,’ ‘Gold Standard,’ ‘Living Legend,’ ‘Rare Pearls,’ ‘Style Icon of the Era,’ ‘Spirit of the Era,’ ‘Vintage Elegance,’ ‘Guardian of Traditions,’ ‘Legend of Racing,’ ‘Iron Aristocrat,’ ‘Hardworking Legend,’ ‘People’s Favorite,’ ‘Voice of the Era,’ and ‘Time Capsule’.

From August 24 to 28, the price of one troy ounce of gold (31.1034768 grams) in Azerbaijan decreased by AZN 96.679 ($56.87), or 1.2%.

According to data from the Central Bank of Azerbaijan (CBA), the average weekly price of gold rose by AZN 321.9307 ($189.37), or 4.3%, compared with the previous week, reaching AZN 7,857.4748 ($4,622.04).

Meanwhile, the price of one troy ounce of silver increased by AZN 0.0427 ($0.0251), or 0.03%, over the week. Its average weekly price climbed by AZN 4.78828 ($2.82), or 4.3%, to AZN 116.8486 ($68.73).

The price of one troy ounce of platinum declined by AZN 58.123 ($34.19), or 1.8%, during the week. However, its average weekly price rose by AZN 137.5147 ($80.89), or 4.5%, to AZN 3,161.9558 ($1,859.97).

Meanwhile, the price of one troy ounce of palladium increased by AZN 3.4085 ($2.01), or 0.1%. Its average weekly price went up by AZN 36.5738 ($21.51), or 1.6%, compared with the previous week, reaching AZN 2,287.5965 ($1,345.64).

The Azerbaijani manat remained stable against the U.S. dollar during the week of August 24-28, with the weekly weighted average exchange rate holding at 1.7000 manat per $1.

According to calculations based on data from the Azerbaijan Central Bank (CBA), the manat recorded mixed movements against other major currencies during the week.

The official exchange rate against the euro declined by 0.0063 manat, while the weekly weighted average rate rose by 0.00648 manat from the previous week to 1.9822 manat per pound 1.

Against the Russian ruble, the manat’s official rate for 100 rubles fell by 0.0795 manat. The weekly weighted average rate decreased by 0.00124 manat compared with the previous week, reaching 2.0195 manat per 100 rubles.

The manat also strengthened slightly against the Turkish lira. Its official exchange rate decreased by 0.0002 manat, while the weekly weighted average rate fell by 0.00018 manat to 0.0353 manat per lira.

The United Nations (UN) General Assembly expressed serious concern in a resolution adopted in 2010 over the growing number of cases of enforced disappearances worldwide. Such cases include the arrest, detention and abduction of individuals.

Under the same resolution (A/RES/65/209), the General Assembly declared August 30 the International Day of the Victims of Enforced Disappearances.

Enforced disappearances have become part of strategies aimed at creating an atmosphere of terror and, according to experts of the UN General Assembly, have evolved into a global problem.

Various public organizations are involved in addressing the issue of missing persons. Traditionally, on this day, these organizations appeal to governments to take all possible measures to prevent and eliminate such cases.

An important instrument in this effort is the International Convention for the Protection of All Persons from Enforced Disappearance, adopted in 2006.

The problem remains unresolved. Hundreds of thousands of cases of enforced disappearance have yet to be investigated, while new cases continue to occur every year. The disappearance of people against their will is one of the most serious and grave violations of human rights.

Enforced disappearance causes severe suffering both for victims and their families. Victims are often subjected to torture and live under constant threat to their lives. Their relatives, unable to obtain information about the fate of their loved ones, remain between hope and despair, waiting anxiously for news for years and, in some cases, never receiving it.

Victims who are deprived of legal protection and effectively “disappeared” from society are stripped of all their rights and become entirely dependent on those who abducted them. Even when a person ultimately survives and escapes this nightmare, the physical and psychological wounds caused by violence, along with the lasting effects of cruelty and torture that often accompany it, never fully heal.

Children may also be among the direct or indirect victims of enforced disappearances. The disappearance of a child constitutes a direct violation of several provisions of the Convention on the Rights of the Child, including the right to recognition of their identity. A child who loses one of their parents as a result of enforced disappearance also suffers a serious violation of their rights.

For this reason, on the International Day of the Victims of Enforced Disappearances, activists and public organizations call on civil society to draw attention to the issue and take all necessary measures within their means to help eliminate it.

4,010 people registered as missing as a result of Armenia’s military aggression against Azerbaijan

The Republic of Azerbaijan has faced the humanitarian issue of persons missing as a result of armed conflict, as well as the broader problem of war victims, since Armenia’s military aggression against Azerbaijan began in 1988. For many years, Azerbaijani citizens and state institutions have worked tirelessly to address the moral and psychological consequences of this grave situation.

During the First Karabakh War, amid intensive military operations, and throughout the occupation period from 1994 to 2020, Armenian armed formations committed crimes of ethnic cleansing and genocide. Azerbaijani civilians were killed on a mass scale, while those taken prisoner or hostage were held in inhumane conditions and subjected to horrific torture, deprivation and treatment contrary to the principles of humanity. These circumstances resulted in Azerbaijani citizens going missing and their fate remaining unknown. Despite all the difficulties, issues concerning war victims, including citizens who were taken prisoner or hostage and those who went missing, have remained under the constant attention of National Leader of the Azerbaijani people Heydar Aliyev and, subsequently, President Ilham Aliyev. According to data as of June 30 this year, 4,010 people have been registered by the State Commission on Prisoners of War, Hostages and Missing Persons as missing as a result of Armenia’s military aggression against Azerbaijan. Of these, 4,004 went missing during the First Karabakh War, while six disappeared during the 44-day Second Karabakh War in 2020. Of the 4,010 missing persons, 3,228 are military personnel and 782 are civilians. Among the civilians, 71 are minors, 288 are women and 319 are elderly people.

Under the framework agreement on the “Collection and Centralized Management of Ante Mortem Information on Missing Persons”, signed in 2008 between the State Commission on Prisoners of War, Hostages and Missing Persons and the Delegation of the International Committee of the Red Cross in Azerbaijan, the collection of biological samples from close relatives of missing Azerbaijani citizens began in 2014. Since 2023, this work has been carried out by the Genetic Research Center established within the Main Department of Military Medicine of the State Security Service on the instructions of President Ilham Aliyev. According to data as of June 30 this year, biological samples from 11,542 donors connected to persons missing as a result of Armenia’s military aggression against Azerbaijan have been collected and systematized. DNA profiles obtained from the collected biological samples are extracted and archived by the Genetic Research Center of the Main Department of Military Medicine of the State Security Service.

The nearly 30-year occupation of Azerbaijan’s internationally recognized sovereign territories prevented the fate of missing Azerbaijani citizens from being established. Following the 44-day war in 2020 and the anti-terror measures carried out in 2023, identifying burial sites belonging to missing citizens in the liberated territories, together with conducting the necessary excavation and exhumation work, became the foremost task assigned to the State Commission by President Ilham Aliyev. Accordingly, intensive searches for burial sites belonging to missing persons, along with excavation, exhumation and identification of discovered human remains, have been conducted in these territories since February 2021.

According to data as of June 30 this year, human remains believed to belong to 893 missing persons have been discovered. Since search and excavation operations began in the liberated territories, 32 mass graves have been identified. Human remains believed to belong to 253 individuals have been recovered from these mass graves and exhumed in the presence of representatives of the investigative authorities.

Azerbaijani football club Qarabag have completed another signing, bringing Brazilian midfielder Diego Rosa to the team on loan from Cypriot side APOEL.

According to information provided by Qarabag, negotiations with APOEL have been successfully concluded, with the 23-year-old joining the Aghdam-based club on a one-year loan deal.

The agreement also gives Qarabag the option to make Rosa’s transfer permanent at the end of the loan period.

Rosa joined Manchester City from Brazilian club Gremio in 2021. During his career, he has also played for Lommel in Belgium, Vizela in Portugal, and Brazilian clubs Bahia and Internacional. He moved to APOEL in 2025.

At international level, Rosa has represented Brazil at U-16 and U-17 level.

The burgeoning strategic alliance between Azerbaijan and Uzbekistan has rapidly evolved from traditional diplomatic goodwill into one of the most consequential economic and geopolitical partnerships in modern Eurasia. Bound by a shared Turkic heritage, mutual geopolitical alignment, and a common vision for trans-Caspian connectivity, Baku and Tashkent are actively constructing an economic axis designed to bridge the South Caucasus directly with Central Asia. At the very core of this bilateral synergy lies energy co-development, a strategic pillar that not only promises to transform both domestic economies, but also provides the foundational platform for Azerbaijan’s broader global energy ambitions.

The centerpiece of this deepening bilateral relationship is the State Oil Company of the Republic of Azerbaijan’s (SOCAR) ambitious entry into Uzbekistan’s upstream sector. Under a landmark Production Sharing Agreement (PSA) executed alongside Uzbekneftegaz, SOCAR has officially assumed the role of operator to explore and develop six investment blocks across the resource-rich Ustyurt Plateau. Backed by an estimated $2 billion investment footprint, the project targets reserves of up to 100 million tons of oil and 35 billion cubic meters of natural gas.

This venture offers profound mutual advantages for both nations. For Uzbekistan, bringing in Azerbaijani technical teams allows Tashkent to leverage decades of Caspian deep-reservoir engineering expertise to unlock unexploited reserves, modernize local extraction infrastructure, and satisfy rising domestic industrial demand. For Azerbaijan, securing a major operational foothold in the Ustyurt basin reinforces its economic footprint in Central Asia while creating long-term commercial synergies. Crucially, as these Central Asian assets mature, they naturally strengthen the volume and viability of the Middle Corridor, consolidating Azerbaijan’s position as the primary transit and logistics bridge connecting Eurasian energy flows to global markets.

Yet, SOCAR’s expansion into Uzbekistan represents far more than a successful bilateral commercial deal. It marks a historic turning point in the institutional evolution of Azerbaijan’s state oil enterprise. For an entire generation, SOCAR was viewed primarily as a domestic steward-responsible for managing the Caspian Sea’s offshore reserves, safeguarding sovereign energy security, and making downstream investments in regional refining hubs such as Trkiye’s STAR Refinery or retail distribution networks across Georgia and Central Europe.

The Ustyurt project signals that this traditional model has evolved. SOCAR is no longer merely an exporter of Azeri Light or a domestic asset holder; it is actively transforming into an agile, multi-asset international upstream operator capable of managing complex exploration and production projects across foreign jurisdictions.

This operational maturity and strategic confidence are simultaneously being demonstrated across multiple high-stakes maritime basins around the world. In the Eastern Mediterranean, SOCAR has embedded itself into one of the globe’s most vital gas supply corridors by acquiring a 10 percent equity stake in Israel’s producing Tamar field. Furthermore, in partnership with international energy majors, SOCAR secured an operator role for offshore exploration blocks located near the giant Leviathan field.

Expanding its reach even farther west into the Atlantic Ocean, SOCAR acquired a 10 percent interest from Italian major Eni in Côte d’Ivoire’s offshore Baleine project. As SOCAR’s first major upstream venture in Sub-Saharan Africa, the Baleine entry demonstrates that Baku’s corporate development strategy is no longer constrained by geographic proximity or historical trade paths. Instead, the company is actively bidding for tier-one, low-carbon-intensity deepwater assets alongside established global supermajors.

The economic and strategic rationale underpinning this aggressive geographical diversification is both clear and compelling. First, building a international upstream portfolio across Central Asia, the Middle East, and West Africa systematically insulates Azerbaijan’s sovereign balance sheet from localized geological depletion curves in legacy Caspian basins. Balancing early-stage exploration in Uzbekistan with cash-generative producing assets in Israel and Africa creates a resilient, multi-tiered revenue model.

Second, operating in complex third-party legal, regulatory, and technical environments raises SOCAR’s institutional engineering and environmental standards to the highest international benchmarks. It confirms to international capital markets that Azerbaijani technical expertise is fully portable and competitive on a global scale.

Ultimately, the strategic journey that began by deepening bilateral ties across the Caspian Sea with Uzbekistan now extends to the Mediterranean and the Atlantic. By marrying bilateral economic statecraft in its immediate neighborhood with high-value upstream asset acquisitions worldwide, Azerbaijan is proving that its national energy enterprise can successfully project both economic influence and operational excellence far beyond its traditional boundaries.

Speaker of Azerbaijan’s Parliament Sahiba Gafarova delivered a video address to the Second Inter-Parliamentary Speakers’ Conference in Phnom Penh, Cambodia, held under the theme “Solidarity for Peace and Shared Prosperity: Strengthening International Law and Resolving Conflicts Peacefully.”

Gafarova expressed confidence that the Inter-Parliamentary Speakers’ Conference, established in 2025, will continue to develop as an open and effective platform for parliamentary leaders. She said the organisation could play an important role in advancing parliamentary diplomacy and supporting the conference’s goals of promoting peace, respect for international law, peaceful conflict resolution and shared prosperity.

She noted that armed conflicts, geopolitical tensions and humanitarian crises continue to threaten lives, slow development and deepen inequality. According to Gafarova, lasting peace cannot be achieved by individual countries acting alone, while sustainable prosperity requires international cooperation.

The Parliament Speaker stressed that peace should be grounded in international law and called for consistent adherence to the principles of the UN Charter. She also highlighted dialogue, negotiations and other peaceful methods as essential tools for settling disputes.

Gafarova further underlined the role of parliaments in these efforts. She said parliamentary diplomacy can help reduce tensions, build trust between countries and contribute to the peaceful settlement of conflicts.

Assistant to the President of Azerbaijan and Head of the Foreign Policy Affairs Department of the Presidential Administration Hikmat Hajiyev has shared a message marking August 30, the International Day of the Victims of Enforced Disappearances.

He made the remarks in a post on his X account:

Assistant to the President of Azerbaijan and Head of the Foreign Policy Affairs Department of the Presidential Administration Hikmat Hajiyev has shared a message marking August 30, the International Day of the Victims of Enforced Disappearances.

“For Azerbaijan, the fate of missing persons remains a matter of profound humanitarian and national importance. 4,010 Azerbaijani citizens remain registered as missing as a result of the former Armenia-Azerbaijan conflict.

The issue remains under the close and constant attention of H.E. President Ilham Aliyev. In line with the responsibilities set by the Head of State, the State Commission continues its systematic efforts to locate, recover and identify missing Azerbaijani citizens and return their remains to their families after decades of uncertainty.

Witness testimonies are being verified, suspected burial sites investigated, mass graves excavated, and recovered remains examined through forensic and DNA analysis. To date, 32 mass graves have been discovered, and 328 missing persons have been identified through DNA analysis.

In this regard, the provision by Armenia of accurate and comprehensive information on the fate of missing Azerbaijanis, including the locations of burial sites, remains essential. Such cooperation is first and foremost a humanitarian obligation and is indispensable to bringing an end to the decades-long uncertainty endured by thousands of families.

Despite difficult terrain and weather conditions, as well as the dangers posed by mines and unexploded ordnance, search operations continue with all available resources and advanced technologies. Every family has the right to know the fate of their loved ones. Every missing person has a name. Every family deserves an answer.”

Spotify has introduced Playlist Notes, a new feature that allows listeners and the streaming platform’s editors to add written context to items in playlists.

With the new feature, Spotify editors can explain why a particular song was selected, highlight its cultural significance or provide additional context about its place in a playlist. The company has also introduced Editor Profiles, allowing listeners to see an editor’s favourite tracks and albums as well as the playlists they work on.

Listeners can also use Playlist Notes on playlists they create or collaborate on. On mobile devices, users can add notes to songs, podcast episodes and audiobooks they have added to a playlist. The notes can be used to preserve a personal memory, recommend a particular track or explain why an item was chosen.

To add a note, users can open a playlist they own or collaborate on, tap the three-dot menu next to a track, podcast episode or audiobook, select Add note and save their text. Anyone who can view the playlist can also see the note.

User-created Playlist Notes are rolling out on iOS and Android in more than 100 markets, although availability may vary. Editor Notes and Editor Profiles are initially rolling out to Free and Premium users aged 16 and older in the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, Ireland, Australia and New Zealand.

Spotify’s editorial notes are initially available on several major playlists, including Today’s Top Hits, RapCaviar, Hot Country, All New Pop, mint and Fresh Finds Hip-Hop. Users can access available notes by tapping the Notes option at the top of participating playlists.

The new feature builds on User Notes, which Spotify introduced in July to let listeners add personal notes to individual tracks. Playlist Notes expands that idea to podcasts and audiobooks while also bringing written explanations from Spotify’s own editorial team into selected playlists.