Category: Azer News

Passenger transport between Nakhchivan and Igdir, Turkiye, is continuing via specially allocated buses following the temporary suspension of flights at Nakhchivan International Airport.

As reported by AzerNEWS, citing the Azerbaijan Land Transport Agency (AYNA), the initiative is aimed at facilitating travel for Azerbaijani citizens between the capital and Nakhchivan. Air connections have been arranged from Baku to Igdir, while transport between Igdir and Nakhchivan is provided free of charge by AYNA using specially assigned buses.

The agency said that seven large-capacity buses operate between Nakhchivan bus terminal and Igdir airport, with additional backup vehicles available if needed.

Since March 5, a total of 19 trips have been completed, transporting 673 passengers between Nakhchivan and Igdir. The service continues to operate.

The measures follow a drone attack on Nakhchivan International Airport on March 5. According to the Ministry of Defence of Azerbaijan, technical assessments revealed that Iran’s armed forces sent four unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) to carry out attacks in the Nakhchivan region. One drone was neutralized by Azerbaijani units, while the others targeted civilian infrastructure, including a secondary school.

Fortunately, the drone aimed at the school did not reach its target and crashed nearby, exploding. Four civilians were injured in the incident.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Azerbaijan issued a statement demanding that Iran immediately clarify the situation, provide an explanation, and take urgent measures to prevent similar incidents.

Iran’s ambassador to Azerbaijan, Mojtaba Damirchilu, was summoned to the ministry, and a strong protest was delivered to the Iranian side.

President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev expressed his gratitude to the President of Kazakhstan, Kassym-Jomart Tokayev, for his post on X supporting Azerbaijan following Iran’s drone strike on Azerbaijan’s Nakhchivan.

According to AzerNEWS, the post shared on X by President Ilham Aliyev reads:

I express my gratitude to the President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev for his condemnation of the attacks on Nakhchivan by the state of Iran and his support for our country, in the spirit of brotherly and allied relations between Azerbaijan and Kazakhstan.

Qatar Airways has announced that it will operate a limited number of repatriation flights from Hamad International Airport on Saturday, AzerNEWS reports, citing the company.

According toinformation, the special flights will depart from Doha to several major European destinations, including London, Paris, Madrid, Rome, and Frankfurt.

The flights are primarily intended to assist stranded passengers, with priority given to families, elderly travelers, and individuals with urgent medical or compassionate travel needs.

The airline stressed that the operation of these repatriation flights does not indicate a full resumption of normal services, as Qatari airspace remains temporarily closed.

The limited flights are part of Qatar Airways’ efforts to assist vulnerable passengers during the ongoing airspace disruption while regular flight operations remain suspended.

Azerbaijan’s Foreign Minister Jeyhun Bayramov held talks with Kubanychbek Omuraliev, Secretary-General of the Organization of Turkic States (OTS), on the sidelines of the Informal Meeting of the Council of Foreign Ministers, AzerNEWS reports, citing the MFA’s official X account.

The meeting focused on the regional security situation, with particular attention to Iran’s drone attacks against Azerbaijan.

Both sides emphasized the importance of strengthening coordination and advancing practical cooperation among Turkic States.

It should be noted that the Azerbaijani Foreign Minister departed for Turkiye this morning.

The government of Azerbaijan has launched urgent measures to evacuate its citizens from several Gulf countries after airspace closures triggered by ongoing military escalation in the Middle East.

As reported by AzerNEWS, according to a statement from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Azerbaijan, emergency evacuation procedures began immediately after several Gulf states closed their airspace due to the deteriorating security situation in the region.

Diplomatic missions in the affected countries were instructed to compile lists of Azerbaijani citizens requiring evacuation. Initial registration indicates that around 1,000 Azerbaijani nationals across five countries requested assistance. This includes 490 people in the United Arab Emirates, 220 in Saudi Arabia, 200 in Qatar, 23 in Bahrain, and 26 in Kuwait.

The United Arab Emirates, particularly the city of Dubai, is one of the main tourist destinations for Azerbaijani citizens. Following negotiations between Azerbaijan’s Consulate General in Dubai and flydubai, flights on the Dubai-Baku route resumed temporarily after limited reopening of UAE airspace. Between March 3 and March 5, a total of 755 Azerbaijani citizens returned home on these flights.

However, with UAE airspace currently closed again, authorities are preparing alternative plans to bring back the remaining citizens.

Saudi Arabia has become the second major evacuation point. On March 4, 2026, a special flight operated by Azerbaijan Airlines evacuated 193 Azerbaijani citizens from the city of Jeddah. The flight also carried several ethnic Azerbaijanis holding other citizenships, bringing the total number of evacuees on that flight to 207.

Additionally, Azerbaijani citizens registered in Qatar, Bahrain, and Saudi Arabia were transported by buses organized by diplomatic missions to Jeddah. From there, another AZAL flight on March 7, 2026, returned 203 passengers to Baku.

Meanwhile, to facilitate the return of citizens located in Iran, the Operational Headquarters under the Cabinet of Ministers of Azerbaijan authorized land crossings into Azerbaijan. So far, around 300 Azerbaijani citizens have entered the country from Iran by land.

Dubai International Airport has temporarily suspended operations following missile and drone attacks by Iran on the United Arab Emirates, AzerNEWS reports.

It should be noted that a video showing a drone attack on Dubai Airport was circulated on social media earlier this morning. The video is also provided here.

According to a statement from the UAE Government Media Office, the temporary closure aims to ensure the safety of passengers, airport personnel, and airline crew members.

‘To ensure the safety of passengers, airport staff, and airline crews, Dubai International Airport (DXB) is temporarily suspending operations,’ the statement said.

Earlier, the UAE’s flagship carrier Emirates canceled all flights to and from Dubai and warned travelers not to go to the airport.

The suspension comes amid escalating tensions in the region following Iran’s military actions targeting UAE territory.

Scientists at the University of Buffalo (USA) have developed an innovative method for recycling flexible plastics, which could significantly expand the possibilities for reusing the most common types of plastics-polyethylene (PE) and polypropylene (PP), AzerNEWS reports.

The findings of the study have been published in the journals Polymers, International Journal of Heat and Mass Transfer, and Journal of Polymer Science.

Polyethylene and polypropylene are part of the polyolefin family, the most widely used plastics in the world. They are found in packaging, food containers, plastic films, and various other materials. However, flexible plastic films remain among the most difficult types of waste to recycle because they do not respond well to traditional mechanical recycling methods and often end up in landfills or polluting the environment.

According to recent statistics, in 2024, over 359 million tons of plastic were produced worldwide, with polyolefins accounting for more than half of this volume.

A team of researchers led by Professor of Chemical Engineering Pascal Alexandridis is investigating solvent-based recycling technology. The method involves dissolving plastic materials in specially selected solvents, then isolating purified polymers from the solution. This approach allows polyolefins to be separated from multilayer materials while removing additives and impurities.

Professor Alexandridis explains that this solvent-based method opens new avenues for efficient plastic waste management, enabling useful materials to re-enter the economic cycle. Unlike pyrolysis, which breaks down plastics thermally, this approach preserves polymer chains, making the resulting material reusable in new products.

To optimize the technology, the researchers examined polymer dissolution at the microscopic level, combining laboratory experiments with computer modeling. They discovered that polypropylene granules first lose their crystalline structure, after which the dissolution process begins. They also developed a model for polyethylene dissolution, allowing them to predict how different polymer regions behave and how solvents penetrate at various temperatures. Additionally, a specialized experimental setup enables real-time observation of polyethylene’s structural changes using infrared spectroscopy.

The team believes that this technology could complement existing recycling methods. Currently, less than 10% of plastic waste is recycled worldwide, largely due to complex multilayer materials that are difficult to separate. Solvent-based recycling could purify polymers and return them to production, reducing plastic disposal and incineration.

Interestingly, the principles behind this research could have applications beyond recycling. For instance, they could help in developing advanced polymer materials or controlled drug delivery systems, demonstrating how innovations in one field can ripple across others.

Amid the ongoing crisis in the Middle East, Azerbaijan has carried out another evacuation operation for citizens whose flights were canceled due to the regional situation.

As reported by AzerNEWS, the evacuation was conducted on March 7, transporting Azerbaijani citizens safely from Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, to Baku.

A Boeing 787 Dreamliner aircraft operated by Azerbaijan’s national carrier Azerbaijan Airlines (AZAL) landed at Heydar Aliyev International Airport, bringing back more than 200 citizens.

AZAL stated that, as the country’s national airline, it continues to carry out flights safely and in accordance with procedures established by relevant authorities, ensuring the orderly implementation of evacuation operations during the current regional situation.

At least 23 people have died in Nairobi following heavy rains that caused widespread flooding, authorities reported.

As reported by AzerNEWS, according to a statement from the Kenyan police, released on Saturday afternoon, the torrential downpour led to severe floods that damaged property, blocked roads, and forced residents to evacuate their homes.

Police confirmed that nearly 30 people were rescued, but many drowned after being swept into rivers, while others were fatally electrocuted.

The Kenyan military has been deployed to assist stranded residents, while several flights to Nairobi’s airport were either canceled or redirected to Mombasa.

Authorities have urged residents to avoid flooded streets and drainage channels, while emergency teams have been assisting drivers and pedestrians stranded in the water.

The Kenya Meteorological Department had previously warned of sustained heavy rainfall, potential urban flooding, and reduced visibility. Water levels in rivers are expected to remain high until March 9, posing ongoing risks for the city.

Senior Iranian official Ali Larijani has claimed that Iranian forces captured several American soldiers, accusing Washington of attempting to hide the incident.

In a message posted on X on Saturday, Larijani said he had received reports that multiple US troops had been taken prisoner. He alleged that US authorities were instead describing the soldiers as having been killed in action.

‘Despite their futile efforts, the truth cannot remain hidden for long,’ Larijani wrote.

The United States quickly rejected the allegation. A spokesperson for United States Central Command (CENTCOM) told Al Jazeera that no American soldiers had been captured and described the claim as false.

The spokesman said Iran’s statement was another example of what Washington called ‘misleading and deceptive’ narratives from Tehran.

Tensions across the region have intensified since February 28, when the United States and Israel launched large-scale air strikes against Iran. The attacks reportedly killed more than 1,000 people, including Iran’s Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, senior military officials, and civilians.

The conflict has sparked widespread instability in the region, with Tehran carrying out retaliatory strikes against US-linked targets and military facilities.