Category: Azer News

An iPhone 17 Pro has survived a fall from more than 30 kilometres above the ground, setting a Guinness World Records title in an extreme test carried out in Sweden.

The phone was fitted with RHINOSHIELD’s AirX case and lifted into the stratosphere by a high-altitude balloon. It reached an altitude of 30,607 metres (100,416 feet) before being released for a free fall.

The descent lasted around 25 minutes. During the test, the phone and case were exposed to temperatures between -40°C and -60°C, as well as atmospheric pressure of roughly one percent of the pressure at sea level. No additional heating or protective equipment was used.

After the fall, the team used GPS tracking to locate the phone in the Swedish wilderness. The device was recovered and examined by a Guinness World Records adjudicator.

The iPhone remained operational. It could be switched on and off, make calls and take photographs, while its exterior showed no significant damage.

The successful test earned RHINOSHIELD and its AirX case the Guinness World Records title for the highest drop of a mobile phone in a phone case from a natural landform.

The test was carried out in partnership with UK aerospace company Sent Into Space. The project was designed to push the AirX case far beyond conventional drop testing and demonstrate its performance under extreme cold, low pressure and impact conditions.

Azerbaijan and Bulgaria are exploring new opportunities to expand scientific cooperation. President of the Azerbaijan National Academy of Sciences (ANAS), Academician Isa Habibbayli, discussed the issue during a visit to the Bulgarian Academy of Sciences, where he met with its President Evelina Slavcheva and members of the Academy’s Presidium.

The discussions focused on strengthening ties between the two academies and developing joint scientific projects in areas of mutual interest and priority for both countries. Particular attention was given to cooperation in architecture, archaeology, ethnology, folklore, art history and other fields of the humanities.

The meeting also resulted in an agreement to update the existing framework agreement between the two academies and prepare a new document outlining their future cooperation.

During the visit, Academician Isa Habibbayli presented members of the Bulgarian Academy of Sciences’ Presidium with the book ‘Gabrovo Humor and Sheki Laughter’. The publication was prepared as a joint project of the Literature Institute named after Nizami Ganjavi, the Institute of Folklore and the Sheki Regional Scientific Center under ANAS, together with the Bulgarian Academy of Sciences.

Vice President of the Bulgarian Academy of Sciences Professor Emanuel Mutafov and Professor Ina Aneva, Scientific Secretary of the Department of Biodiversity, Bioresources and Ecology, also addressed the meeting. They highlighted the importance and prospects of expanding joint research initiatives between the two academic institutions.

As part of his visit, Habibbeyli familiarized himself with the work and experience of the Institute for Literary Studies, the Institute of Ethnology and Folklore Studies, and Akademika Library of the Bulgarian Academy of Sciences.

He also visited the ‘Cosmogony: From Mythology to Cosmonautics’ exhibition organized by the Institute of Ethnology and Folklore Studies, exploring the links between ancient ideas about the universe, mythology and humanity’s journey toward space exploration.

The Azerbaijan National Academy of Sciences (ANAS) is the country’s highest state scientific institution, responsible for coordinating and advancing fundamental research across a broad range of disciplines. Established in 1945 as the Academy of Sciences of the Azerbaijan Soviet Socialist Republic, it has operated as the Azerbaijan National Academy of Sciences since Azerbaijan regained its independence in 1991.

Headquartered in Baku, ANAS oversees a network of research institutes and scientific centers specializing in the natural sciences, social sciences, humanities, engineering, earth sciences, information technologies, and biomedical research. Among its leading institutions are the Institute of Manuscripts, the Institute of Literature, the Institute of History and Ethnology, the Institute of Archaeology and Anthropology, and the Institute of Information Technology.

Alongside its research mission, ANAS is responsible for preserving Azerbaijan’s historical and cultural heritage, including ancient manuscripts, archaeological collections, and archival materials. It also promotes international scientific cooperation through partnerships with academies, universities, and research organizations around the world.

The Aurigid meteor shower will be active from August 28 to September 5, reaching its peak activity on September 1.

According to the Astrophysics Department of the Faculty of Physics at Baku State University, the Aurigids are notable for their high-speed meteors and intriguing origin. The source of the meteor shower is the long-period comet C/1911 N1 (Kiess), which was discovered in 1911 by American astronomer Carl Clarence Kiess. The comet belongs to a class of long-period comets that orbit the Sun approximately once every 2,000-2,100 years.

As the comet approaches the Sun, dust and small rock particles released from its surface through sublimation – the process by which a substance changes directly from a solid to a gas without becoming liquid – spread along its orbit. As Earth passes through this stream of particles each year, meteors become visible in the atmosphere.

Aurigids enter Earth’s atmosphere at a speed of approximately 66-67 kilometers per second. Their high velocity produces bright but short-lived streaks of light in the sky. Most of the meteors completely burn up at an altitude of 70-100 kilometers and do not reach the Earth’s surface.

The apparent point from which the meteors emerge, known as the radiant, is located in the constellation Auriga. In reality, the meteoroids travel through space in nearly parallel directions, but from an observer’s perspective, they appear to originate from the same point in the sky.

From Baku, the most favorable time to observe the Aurigids will be during the night from August 31 to September 1, particularly from midnight until dawn. During this period, the radiant will rise sufficiently high above the horizon. Since the radiant can reach a maximum altitude of approximately 61 degrees in Baku, observers may see an average of around five meteors per hour under suitable conditions.

In 2026, moonlight will somewhat interfere with observations during the peak of the Aurigid meteor shower. As a result, some of the fainter meteors may not be visible, and the actual number of observable meteors could be lower.

A telescope is not required to observe the meteor shower. The best results can be achieved with the naked eye under clear skies, away from city lights. Rather than looking directly at the radiant, observers are advised to focus on an area of the sky approximately 30-40 degrees away from it, where meteor trails tend to appear longer and more distinct.

Russia’s Rostov region came under a large-scale Ukrainian drone attack early Saturday, with strikes reported in Rostov-on-Don and several surrounding districts, according to regional authorities.

Rostov Region Governor Yuriy Slyusar said drones targeted the regional capital as well as the Aksai, Bagaevsky and Neklinovsky districts.

In Aksai, a strike hit an area housing logistics facilities operated by Ozon and DNS. Ozon confirmed that one of its logistics centres in the Rostov region had been attacked, saying a small fire broke out but was quickly extinguished. Employees had been evacuated before the incident and no casualties were reported.

Ozon suspended operations at the affected facility and redirected incoming deliveries to other warehouses. The company also temporarily halted operations at a second logistics centre in the area as a precaution, despite the facility itself not being damaged.

Two separate fires were reported near DNS commercial properties in Aksai. Local reports placed one of the fires at 180 Novocherkassk Highway, Building 3, close to the Ozon logistics centre.

Ukrainian monitoring channels also claimed that the Midel shipbuilding and repair plant in Aksai was targeted and that a vessel caught fire at the facility. Those claims have not been independently confirmed.

The overnight drone threat also disrupted air travel across several Russian regions. Russia’s Federal Air Transport Agency imposed temporary restrictions on arrivals and departures at airports including those serving Kazan, Bugulma, Samara, Cheboksary, Saratov, Ulyanovsk, Penza, Krasnodar and Kaluga.

Slyusar said seven people were injured in the attack. Four, including two children, were taken to hospitals in Rostov-on-Don, with one child reported to be in serious condition. Three other people sought medical assistance in Aksai.

Drone debris damaged two apartment buildings in the Veresaevo residential complex in Rostov-on-Don’s Proletarsky district, according to regional authorities. Windows were also shattered in private homes in Bagaevsky district, while debris was found at warehouse premises in Aksai and a forest area caught fire.

Ukrainian open-source analysts have attributed some of the damage to residential buildings in Rostov to Russian air-defence activity, although that assessment has not been independently verified.

Russia’s Defence Ministry said its air-defence forces intercepted and destroyed 313 Ukrainian fixed-wing drones overnight across Russian territory, Crimea and the Azov and Black seas. It said drones were detected over Belgorod, Bryansk, Voronezh, Kaluga, Kursk, Lipetsk, Rostov and Tula regions, as well as the Moscow region, Krasnodar Krai and Tatarstan.

Azerbaijan’s AzerEnerji OJSC exported products worth $7.5 million in January-July 2026. This represents an increase of $3.5 million, or 87.5%, compared with the same period last year.

The figures were published in the August edition of the ‘Export Review’. The monthly analytical publication is prepared by the Center for Analysis of Economic Reforms and Communications.

It provides information and analysis on Azerbaijan’s export performance, including trends in non-oil and non-gas exports.

AzerEnerji OJSC is Azerbaijan’s largest electricity producer. It is also one of the country’s key energy companies.

The company is responsible for electricity generation and transmission. It plays a central role in maintaining the stability and reliability of the national power system.

Vin Diesel has announced that filming on the final installment of the Fast and Furious franchise is expected to begin in December.

Diesel, who has played Dominic Toretto since the first film in 2001, shared the update as work continues on the next chapter of the long-running action series.

The upcoming film is planned as the final main installment of the franchise, bringing the story of Toretto and his family to a close after more than two decades on screen.

Further details about the production, including the full cast and plot, have yet to be revealed. Fans are nevertheless expecting the final film to bring back several familiar characters as the series heads toward its conclusion.

The Fast and Furious franchise has grown from a film centred on street racing into one of Hollywood’s biggest action series, spanning multiple films and international box-office successes.

Diesel’s latest announcement puts the final movie’s production on a clearer timeline, with cameras expected to start rolling in December 2026.

The death toll from the devastating floods that struck Nepal, along the border with China, on August 26 has risen to 734, while 2,498 people remain missing.

The figures were released by Nepal’s agency responsible for emergency management.

Chinese state media, meanwhile, reported that 16 people had died and 546 were missing on the Chinese side. This brings the overall toll from the disaster to 750 deaths and 3,044 missing people.

On Sunday, Nepalese authorities urged rescue teams operating in the area along the Chinese border to exercise caution as water levels rose again.

The National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Authority said in a warning: ‘We have received reports that the flow of floodwaters in the Bote Koshi River in Rasuwa District has increased again.’

The authorities further warned: ‘Therefore, all personnel involved in search, rescue and relief operations, people staying in riverside areas, as well as everyone else in the affected areas, particularly Rasuwa, Nuwakot, Dhading and Chitwan districts, are urged to exercise caution.’

According to the US Geological Survey, the disaster occurred on the morning of August 26 along the China-Nepal border after a glacier collapsed, triggering a massive surge of water and debris downstream.

Azerbaijan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs has extended its congratulations to the people and government of Turkiye on the occasion of the Republic of Trkiye’s Victory Day, celebrated on August 30.

The ministry published the congratulatory message on its social media account:

“We commemorate with deep respect the cherished memory of our martyrs who sacrificed their lives for Turkiye’s independence, sovereignty and territorial integrity, and proudly celebrate the historic Victory achieved through the unwavering will, determination and heroism of our brotherly people.

Happy Victory Day!” the ministry said.

The Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant could completely lose its electricity supply within the next 10 days unless external power is restored or additional diesel fuel is delivered, International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) Director General Rafael Grossi warned.

“Without the restoration of external power supply or additional deliveries of diesel fuel in the near future, the plant could face a total loss of electricity supply in approximately 10 days,” the IAEA press service quoted Grossi as saying.

The Zaporizhzhia plant is the largest nuclear power station in Europe by installed capacity. Located near Enerhodar in Ukraine’s Zaporizhzhia region, it consists of six VVER-1000 reactors with a combined capacity of around 6 GW.

The plant has not generated electricity since September 2022, with all six reactor units placed in shutdown mode.

The IAEA has been unable to access the plant’s fuel storage facility since March 2025, citing security concerns raised by the administration controlling the facility.

Ukraine’s Ambassador to Ankara, Nariman Celal, was summoned to the Turkish Foreign Ministry following attacks on two Turkish-operated vessels in the Black Sea.

The move came after the Turkish-operated vessel Lider Bordo Mavi was struck off the coast of Tuapse on Aug. 26. The following day, the Lider Kocatepe, which had been dispatched to tow the damaged vessel, was also targeted, Anadolu reported.

During the meeting, Trkiye conveyed its strong reaction to the attacks and stressed the need to ensure the safety of people, property, navigation and the environment in the Black Sea.