Category: Azer News

Azerbaijan’s Minister of Digital Development and Transport, Rashad Nabiyev, held talks with Assel Zhanassova, Deputy Head of the Presidential Administration of the Republic of Kazakhstan, focusing on the expansion of bilateral cooperation in transport, logistics and digital infrastructure.

AzerNEWS reports that during the meeting, the two sides reviewed the current state of cooperation between Azerbaijan and Kazakhstan and explored opportunities for further development in strategically important sectors.

Particular attention was given to the advancement of the Middle Corridor, including measures aimed at enhancing its competitiveness and increasing its role as a key Eurasian trade route. The discussions also covered the modernization and expansion of port and transport infrastructure, broader adoption of digital platforms, simplification of road freight transportation procedures, and the implementation of a new ferry project.

The talks highlighted the growing importance of Azerbaijan-Kazakhstan cooperation in strengthening regional connectivity and improving trade links across the Caspian region.

Turkiye’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs has expressed serious concern over drone attacks targeting commercial vessels owned by Turkish businesses in the Black Sea, AzerNEWS reports.

According to a statement released by the ministry, the merchant ships Yasar and Nadejda came under attack on August 3 after departing Russia’s Port of Novorossiysk.

Several crew members, including Turkish nationals, were injured in the incident.

The ministry emphasized that ensuring the safety and security of Turkish citizens remains a top priority, adding that the condition of the injured is being closely monitored.

Ankara also voiced growing concern over the continued expansion of military hostilities between Russia and Ukraine into the Black Sea, warning that the conflict is increasingly affecting civilian maritime traffic.

The Foreign Ministry cautioned that, unless preventive measures are taken to curb the escalation, the deteriorating security situation could have serious consequences, including threats to global food security.

Pakistan has invited senior Iranian negotiators to visit Islamabad as soon as possible to discuss the resumption of suspended direct talks with the United States and diplomatic efforts to resolve tensions, AzerNEWS reports.

According to Pakistani media, Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar discussed regional and international issues during a phone call with his Iranian counterpart, Abbas Araghchi. The Iranian foreign minister also briefed Pakistan’s foreign policy chief on talks between Tehran and Muscat aimed at restoring navigation through the Strait of Hormuz.

Meanwhile, Pakistan National Assembly Speaker Ayaz Sadiq invited Iran’s chief negotiator, Bagher Ghalibaf, to visit Pakistan. However, no exact date has been set for the Iranian officials’ visit to Islamabad.

The latest contacts came after US President Donald Trump on Saturday called off planned military strikes against Iran. Trump said US allies had urged him to postpone the attacks and that reaching an agreement was inevitable.

On Monday, Pakistani government sources said that no date or location had yet been determined for the resumption of suspended direct talks between the two sides. They added that Pakistan and Qatar were in contact with Washington and Tehran to determine the date and venue for the direct negotiations.

Kyrgyzstan and Uzbekistan have begun the organizational and technical procedures required for the official transfer of the villages of Chon-Kara and Tash-Dobo, which previously belonged to Uzbekistan’s Fergana Region, as part of their border demarcation agreements.

AzerNEWS reports that a joint working group that started operations on August 3 is registering residents and carrying out the necessary documentation process in the two villages.

Once the registration process is completed, the approximately 2,500 residents-most of whom are ethnic Kyrgyz-will be granted Kyrgyz citizenship.

Under the terms of the agreement, Kyrgyzstan will compensate Uzbekistan by transferring an equivalent area of land, completing a key step in the implementation of the two countries’ border settlement deal.

Yemen’s Houthi movement has claimed responsibility for a drone strike targeting Najran Airport in southern Saudi Arabia, AzerNEWS reports.

According to a statement published on the official Telegram channel of the Ansar Allah movement, the attack was carried out using an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV).

The Houthis said the strike was launched in response to what they described as Saudi Arabia’s use of drones to violate Yemeni airspace over the Saada and Hajjah governorates.

“We declare that any violation of our airspace will not go unanswered,” the group said in its statement.

The claim has not been independently verified, and Saudi authorities had not immediately commented on the reported attack.

Wildberries is continuing to strengthen its presence in Kazakhstan by constructing two major logistics centers in Almaty and Astana with a combined area of more than 260,000 square metres, AzerNEWS reports.

The announcement was made by Kazakhstan’s Minister of Trade and Integration, Arman Shakkaliyev, during a government briefing.

According to the minister, the largest facility is being built in Almaty and will cover approximately 160,000 square metres, while a second logistics complex of around 100,000 square metres is under construction in Astana. Both projects are expected to be completed and become operational in the first quarter of 2027.

At present, Wildberries operates in Kazakhstan by leasing around 46,000 square metres of warehouse space. The new logistics hubs will significantly increase the company’s storage capacity, allowing it to process orders more efficiently and reduce delivery times for customers across the country.

Shakkaliyev also noted that the Ministry of Trade and Integration has not received any official requests from Wildberries regarding the construction of additional warehouse facilities beyond the two projects currently underway.

The expansion reflects the rapid growth of e-commerce in Kazakhstan, where demand for online shopping continues to rise. Larger logistics centers are expected to improve supply chains, create new jobs, and support local businesses by making product distribution faster and more efficient.

Kyrgyzstan has officially banned the cremation of human remains following the signing of amendments to the country’s law “On Burial and Funeral Services” by President Sadyr Japarov, AzerNEWS reports.

Under the new legislation, all legal provisions allowing the burial of urns containing human ashes have been removed, while previous regulations recognizing cremation as a method of human burial have been declared invalid.

The revised law introduces a new definition of “cremation,” limiting the term exclusively to the sanitary incineration of biological materials generated through medical activities. As a result, crematoriums are now legally defined as specialized facilities used for the thermal disposal of medical biological waste rather than for the cremation of deceased individuals.

The amendments also clarify procedures for the burial of unidentified or unclaimed bodies, as well as aborted and stillborn fetuses. According to the law, these remains will be buried by specialized funeral services in designated sections of cemeteries with the approval of the relevant internal affairs authorities.

In addition, a separate section of the legislation now regulates the establishment and operation of crematoriums, specifying that such facilities may only be used for the sanitary destruction of biological materials produced by medical institutions.

The changes reflect Kyrgyzstan’s traditional and religious approach to funeral practices. As a predominantly Muslim country, burial has long been the customary method of laying the dead to rest, while cremation has remained extremely rare. Supporters of the amendments say the new law brings the legal framework into line with the country’s cultural and religious traditions, while also providing clearer rules for the handling of medical biological waste.

Marvel Studios’ Spider-Man: A Brand New Day has become one of the biggest cinematic events of 2026, earning approximately $355 million at the North American box office during its opening weekend, AzerNEWS reports.

In the film industry, the term ‘opening weekend’ usually refers to the period from Thursday – when premieres begin in many countries – through Sunday. This initial box office performance is considered one of the most important indicators of a movie’s commercial success and audience interest.

According to Variety, Spider-Man: A Brand New Day achieved the second-biggest opening in Hollywood history, ranking just behind another Marvel blockbuster, Avengers: Endgame. The new Spider-Man movie earned $355 million in the United States and Canada, while international markets contributed an additional $573 million. As a result, the film’s worldwide opening total reached an impressive $927 million.

For comparison, Avengers: Endgame, released in 2019, opened with around $357 million in North America and earned approximately $1.2 billion worldwide during its debut period, excluding inflation.

Although Spider-Man: A Brand New Day narrowly missed surpassing Avengers: Endgame in total opening weekend revenue, it managed to set a new record for first-day earnings in North America. The film collected $167 million on its first day in the United States and Canada, beating Avengers: Endgame, which earned about $157 million on its first day in 2019.

The movie marks Tom Holland’s fourth solo appearance as Peter Parker. Directed by Destin Daniel Cretton, the film also features Zendaya, Sadie Sink, Jon Bernthal, and Jacob Batalon. The previous installment, Spider-Man: No Way Home, became one of the most successful superhero films ever, earning around $1.91 billion worldwide.

The worldwide premiere of Spider-Man: A Brand New Day took place on July 31. According to The Hollywood Reporter, the production budget was estimated at $225 million, while the global marketing campaign reportedly cost around $309 million. One of the most unusual promotional moves was the participation of Argentine football superstar Lionel Messi in one of the film’s advertising videos, helping the movie reach an even wider audience.

The film’s record-breaking debut once again demonstrates the enormous popularity of the Spider-Man franchise. With a beloved character, a large international fan base, and Marvel’s powerful marketing strategy, A Brand New Day has quickly become one of the most talked-about releases of the year.

A team of researchers from the Chinese Academy of Launch Vehicle Technology (CALT) has proposed a new two-stage method for dealing with large asteroids that could potentially threaten Earth, AzerNEWS reports.

The proposed strategy involves using a high-speed metal projectile to create a deep crater on the asteroid’s surface. In the second stage, a spacecraft would deliver a nuclear device into the crater and trigger a controlled underground explosion. Scientists believe that placing the explosive charge beneath the surface could significantly increase the effectiveness of the impact compared with a simple surface explosion.

According to a report published in the journal Space: Science and Technology, computer simulations show that a 3-megaton nuclear explosion – roughly equivalent to the power of about 200 Hiroshima bombs – could completely break apart an asteroid around 100 meters in diameter. The researchers also discovered that placing the charge approximately 30 meters below the asteroid’s surface could more than triple the asteroid’s trajectory change compared with a shallow explosion.

This approach could provide a more powerful alternative to traditional asteroid-deflection methods, which usually focus on gently changing an asteroid’s path rather than destroying it. One example of such technology is NASA’s DART mission, which successfully tested the ability to alter the orbit of a small asteroid moon by using a spacecraft impact.

However, scientists emphasize that using nuclear devices in space would be a last-resort option. The main goal of planetary defense programs is to detect potentially dangerous objects as early as possible and redirect them safely before they become a serious threat.

With thousands of near-Earth asteroids being monitored by space agencies around the world, developing reliable defense strategies remains an important challenge for modern astronomy and space exploration.

Turkiye’s Supreme Military Council (YAS) has approved a series of senior military appointments and promotions during its annual meeting chaired by President Recep Tayyip Erdogan in Ankara.

AzerNEWS reports that the meeting, held on August 4, was attended by Vice President Cevdet Yilmaz, National Defense Minister Yasar Gler, Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan, Chief of the General Staff Selçuk Bayraktaroglu, and other senior government and military officials.

Among the key decisions announced following the meeting, Rafet Dalkiran was appointed as the new Commander of the Turkish Air Force.

The council also approved a broad promotion package, elevating 25 generals and admirals to higher ranks. In addition, 69 colonels were promoted to the rank of general or admiral, as part of a wider leadership rotation across Turkiye’s armed forces.

The personnel changes are scheduled to take effect on August 30, 2026.

The annual Supreme Military Council meeting is one of the most significant events in Turkey’s defense establishment, determining promotions, retirements, and senior command appointments within the Turkish Armed Forces.