Category: Azer News

The Armenian government has imposed a temporary ban on the import of tomato paste, including products from countries belonging to the Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU), AzerNEWS reports, citing foreign media.

The decision was adopted at a government meeting on July 30, 2026, and will take effect on August 3. The measure will remain in force for six months and also applies to the transportation of tomato paste from EAEU member states.

According to the government, the restriction is aimed at creating equal competitive conditions for economic operators importing tomato paste and local producers using domestically sourced tomatoes.

The authorities noted that restrictions imposed by several countries on the export and transit of Armenian-origin plant products have resulted in a decline in fruit and vegetable exports, including greenhouse-grown tomatoes.

Previously, Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan said that restrictions on exports of Armenian products were not only a problem for Yerevan but also a challenge for the entire Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU).

Problems with the supply of Armenian goods to Russia began in late May, when Russia’s Federal Service for Veterinary and Phytosanitary Surveillance (Rosselkhoznadzor) began gradually imposing restrictions on imports of various categories of products, citing violations of veterinary and phytosanitary requirements. The restrictions were successively extended to flowers, vegetables, fruits and fish products, followed by a ban covering almost all Armenian-origin products subject to quarantine controls. As of July 27, Russia also completely suspended imports of Armenian dairy products.

Artificial intelligence is expected to become one of the key drivers of Azerbaijan’s digital transformation over the coming years. By assigning specific state agencies to oversee AI development across 12 priority sectors, the government aims to establish clear institutional responsibilities while accelerating the adoption of AI-driven solutions in public administration and the economy.

The strategy envisions improvements in areas ranging from healthcare and education to finance, transport and public services, with a particular focus on strengthening the country’s AI ecosystem, developing local expertise and enhancing public service delivery.

However, questions remain over how quickly these ambitions can be translated into practical results, whether the planned timeframe is realistic, and how different institutions will coordinate AI implementation across interconnected sectors.

To discuss these issues, AzerNEWS spoke with Ilkin Ahmadov, an artificial intelligence and business process automation specialist, who shared his views on the opportunities and challenges surrounding Azerbaijan’s AI Strategy for 2025-2028:

– In your opinion, which sector will see the greatest impact from artificial intelligence?

– I believe artificial intelligence will have the greatest impact on public services, healthcare, and education. These are the sectors where millions of pieces of information are processed every day, thousands of decisions are made, and the highest level of interaction with citizens takes place. In healthcare, AI will not replace doctors, but it will significantly accelerate diagnostic processes, improve the analysis of medical images, and support the early detection of diseases. This will save time for patients while also making healthcare systems more efficient. Education is another area undergoing a major transformation. Around the world, personalized learning models are becoming increasingly common. AI can analyze each student’s learning pace, identify strengths and weaknesses, and adapt teaching methods accordingly. This is far more effective than the traditional ‘one-size-fits-all’ approach.

However, I believe the most visible transformation will occur in public services because they directly affect citizens’ daily lives. Automating application processing, document verification, responding to citizen inquiries, and supporting administrative decision-making can make interactions with government institutions much faster and more convenient. One point deserves particular emphasis. People often imagine artificial intelligence as humanoid robots or futuristic technologies. In reality, the most effective AI is invisible. Citizens simply notice that a service which previously took a week is now completed in a day, or that hours spent waiting in line have been reduced to just a few minutes. The success of AI will not be measured by people saying, ‘We are using artificial intelligence.’ It will be measured by people saying, ‘Our lives have become easier.’

Artificial intelligence is also becoming an increasingly important economic tool. Today, AI is no longer just another technological innovation, it is a driver of global competitiveness. Countries that integrate AI effectively are more productive, use resources more efficiently, and make faster, better-informed decisions. In the future, I believe countries will not be divided into those that develop AI and those that do not. Instead, the distinction will be between those that successfully implement AI and those that fail to do so. From this perspective, Azerbaijan’s decision to prioritize sectors such as public services, healthcare, education, finance, transport, and other strategic areas is the right approach. Improvements in these sectors will be directly felt by citizens while also contributing to stronger economic competitiveness and a more advanced AI ecosystem.

– The 2025-2028 strategy covers a relatively short period. How realistic is it to move from pilot projects to full-scale implementation within three years?

– Three years can be both a long and a short period when it comes to technology. If the objective is to transform the entire public sector into an AI-powered ecosystem, three years would clearly not be enough. However, if the goal is to develop practical solutions in carefully selected priority areas and demonstrate measurable results, then the timeframe is entirely realistic. Experience from leading countries shows that successful AI transformation has never happened overnight. Governments typically begin with pilot projects, evaluate their performance, refine the models, and only then move toward large-scale implementation.

In my opinion, the real issue is not how many pilot projects are launched. Any organization can develop dozens of pilots. The more important question is how many of those projects become part of everyday operations. That is the true measure of success. By 2028, I hope to see functioning AI systems rather than hundreds of presentations. One of the greatest risks facing AI initiatives worldwide is what experts call ‘pilot purgatory’, projects that produce promising results but never move beyond the testing stage because of poor data quality, inadequate legal frameworks, limited infrastructure, or a shortage of qualified professionals. For Azerbaijan, I do not believe technology itself will be the biggest challenge. The more pressing issues will be improving data quality, advancing the digitalization of public institutions, and developing a workforce capable of working with AI technologies. Artificial intelligence is only as reliable as the data it receives. Poor-quality data inevitably leads to poor-quality outcomes.

Therefore, I see the 2025-2028 period primarily as a phase of building the country’s AI infrastructure. If Azerbaijan succeeds in standardizing databases, improving information exchange between government institutions, strengthening its pool of AI specialists, and introducing practical AI services that citizens can genuinely benefit from, the strategy can already be considered a success. Ultimately, the strategy should not be evaluated by the number of AI projects announced, but by the improvements people experience in their everyday lives. If citizens receive faster public services, doctors diagnose illnesses more quickly, and teachers gain better tools to assess students, then AI will have fulfilled its purpose. The strategy itself places strong emphasis on phased implementation, human capital development, infrastructure, and ecosystem building. Recent efforts to define measurable performance indicators also suggest that Azerbaijan is aiming for results-driven implementation rather than simply launching pilot initiatives.

– How will assigning responsible institutions to the 12 priority sectors help address cross-sector coordination challenges? Is there a need for a unified monitoring mechanism?

– I believe identifying responsible state institutions at the outset is a crucial step. One of the main reasons large-scale digital transformation projects fail is the absence of clearly defined responsibilities. It must be clear who is responsible, who makes decisions, and who evaluates results. However, artificial intelligence differs from many other technologies because it rarely operates within the boundaries of a single institution. Financial services are connected to the broader economy. The economy is linked to public services. Public services rely on cybersecurity and data protection. Healthcare interacts closely with social protection. These sectors are deeply interconnected.

If every institution develops AI projects independently without exchanging information or coordinating efforts, the overall effectiveness of AI implementation will be significantly reduced. That is why a unified coordination and monitoring mechanism is essential. It is encouraging that the adopted strategy already establishes a legal framework for this. Overall coordination has been assigned to the Cabinet of Ministers, while monitoring and evaluation will be carried out by the Center for Analysis of Economic Reforms and Communication. This provides an institutional foundation for overseeing AI implementation across different government bodies. At the same time, the practical implementation of this framework will be equally important. For example, all responsible institutions should work with common key performance indicators (KPIs), standardized data-sharing protocols, regular public reporting on AI projects, and mechanisms to prevent duplicate initiatives that perform the same function.

The greatest asset of AI is not software, it is high-quality data. If each institution keeps its data isolated within its own systems, artificial intelligence will only realize a fraction of its potential. Going forward, Azerbaijan should focus as much on governance as it does on technology. Today, the global AI race is not being won by those who develop the most sophisticated algorithms. It is being won by those who build the strongest data governance systems. I believe this should become Azerbaijan’s primary priority as well. Such an approach fully aligns with both the objectives of Azerbaijan’s AI Strategy and international best practices in AI governance.

The first day of the 15th Gabala International Music Festival, held on the initiative and organised by the Heydar Aliyev Foundation, with the support of the Ministry of Culture of the Republic of Azerbaijan, the Baku Music Academy named after Uzeyir Hajibeyli and Gilan, was marked by a special presentation. A ballet gala concert was held under the open sky on the evening of 29 July. This unforgettable evening, featuring famous ballet stars, presented the beauty and elegance of classical ballet to the audience.

The gala concert was watched by officials, cultural figures, art lovers and members of the public, according to AzerNEWS.

Honoured Artist of Azerbaijan and principal soloist of the Mariinsky Theatre Timur Askerov, principal soloist of the same theatre Renata Shakirova, soloists of the Bavarian State Ballet Frederik Stukviš and Zhanna Gubanova, premier of the Bolshoi Theatre ballet company Artem Ovcharenko and first soloist Anna Tikhomirova, soloists of the Vienna State Ballet Alessandro Frola and Madison Young, and soloists of Dutch National Ballet Jessica Xuan and Vsevolod Maievskyi performed on stage.

During the approximately one-and-a-half-hour gala concert, works by world-famous composers were staged. The audience watched excerpts from popular ballets, including Ludwig Minkus’s Don Quixote, Sergei Prokofiev’s Romeo and Juliet, Adolphe Adam’s Giselle and other beloved ballets.

On the second day of the festival, the audience will be presented with the programme An Introduction to Vietnam’s National Vocal Genres performed by Vietnam’s Bronze Drum Ensemble, while that evening, performances by soloists of Uzbekistan’s Tashkent Zebolari Folk Dance Ensemble and a performance by the Bek Doyrachilar Ensemble will be presented.

On 31 July, a concert by the Chamber Orchestra of the DOST Inclusive Development and Creativity Centre will be held under the artistic direction of Honoured Artist Emil Afrasiyab and conducted by Mustafa Mehmandarov. People’s Artist Teyyub Aslanov (mugham singer), as well as Dayanat Mammadov (tenor), Farid Abdullayev (tar), Gulnaz Talibova (soprano), Khatira Hajiyeva (soprano), Muslim Muslimzade (mugham singer), Ravana Aghamirova (soprano), Samid Khudarly (tenor), Sara Huseynova (soprano), Sabina Asgarova (soprano) and Samad Novruzov (tenor) will perform works by Azerbaijani and world composers at the concert.

That evening, Gabala will also bring together lovers of mugham. Popular mugham singers – Honoured Artists Bayimkhanim Valiyeva and Teyyar Bayramov, as well as Mugham Competition laureates Miralam Miralamov and Kamila Nabiyeva – will perform at the concert.

On the fourth day of the festival, 1 August, Austrian pianist Alexander Maria Wagner and Luong To Nhu, one of the well-known figures in classical music and piano in Vietnam, will perform at the Chamber Music Evening.

Another special feature of that evening will be the concert programme Beloved Music Pieces from World Films. The Scorrendo Orchestra, under the artistic direction and baton of Mustafa Mehmandarov, will perform music from The Last Pass, I Want Seven Sons, The Godfather, Meeting, The Bodyguard, Schindler’s List, James Bond and other films.

On 2 August, the stage will be given to students of the Baku Music Academy named after Uzeyir Hajibeyli. The concert presented by the young musicians will feature works by Azerbaijani and European composers.

On the same day, the Moldovan Fluiera? Folk Song and Dance Ensemble, whose chief choreographer is Yuri Bivol, and Moldova’s Millenium ethno-pop group will also perform before the audience.

The International Music Festival will conclude on 3 August with a concert by the Azerbaijan State Symphony Orchestra named after Uzeyir Hajibeyli, led by Honoured Artist Fuad Ibrahimov. People’s Artists Azer Zeynalov (tenor) and Samir Jafarov (tenor), Honoured Artist Elnara Mammadova (soprano), as well as Lala Murshudlu (soprano), will perform at the concert.

Held since 2009, the Gabala International Music Festival has for years brought together various figures from the world of music in one place, becoming an important destination for international cultural dialogue. This music platform is not only a celebration of classical works, but also an intercultural bridge that brings peoples together, transcends borders and is remembered for unforgettable moments filled with music.

President of the Republic of Azerbaijan, Ilham Aliyev sent a congratulatory letter to King Mohammed VI of Morocco.

According to AzerNEWS, the letter reads:

“My Dear Brother,

On my own behalf and on behalf of the people of Azerbaijan, I extend my sincerest congratulations and best wishes to you and, through you, to your brotherly people on the occasion of national holiday of the Kingdom of Morocco.

We attach particular importance to Azerbaijan-Morocco relations, which are based on historical roots and good traditions.

I am confident that we will continue to make joint efforts to further strengthen the friendly ties uniting our countries and peoples and to successfully continue our mutually beneficial cooperation.

On this auspicious day, I wish you robust health, happiness, success in your high state activities, and lasting peace and prosperity to your brotherly people.”

Nearly 10,000 people have died in Germany in 2026 as a result of the effects of unusually high temperatures, AzerNEWS reports.

According to a weekly report by the Robert Koch Institute (RKI), which operates under Germany’s Federal Ministry of Health, an estimated 9,800 deaths had been linked to extreme heat. This figure is higher than the number recorded during any full calendar year since 2016.

The institute noted that the previous highest level of heat-related deaths over the past decade was recorded in 2018, when approximately 9,000 people died as a result of extreme temperatures.

More than 5,000 of the estimated deaths in 2026 occurred during the second half of June, when temperatures in many parts of Germany approached 40 degrees Celsius.

In June, Germany already experienced a record-breaking heatwave with temperatures of 40 degrees or more in many regions.

Azerbaijani canoeist Tatyana Smilovenko has secured a silver medal at the Paddle Europe Junior and Under-23 Canoe Sprint Championships, held in Hungary, AzerNEWS reports.

Tatyana Smilovenko achieved an impressive result in the women’s C-1 500-meter event, finishing among the top competitors in the single-canoe category and earning a place on the podium.

The Paddle Europe Junior and Under-23 Canoe Sprint Championships are one of the most important continental competitions for young canoe sprint athletes.

The 2026 edition took place in Szeged, Hungary, at the Maty-ér Regatta Course.

The championship brought together Europe’s strongest junior and Under-23 athletes competing in kayak and canoe sprint events.

The competition featured national teams from across Europe, with athletes racing in standard sprint distances, including 200m, 500m, and 1000m.

Azerbaijani canoe and rowing athletes have achieved notable success on the international stage, earning medals and representing the country with strong performances at European and world-level competitions.

Over recent years, athletes in canoe sprint and rowing have continued to improve their results, demonstrating Azerbaijan’s growing potential in water sports.

The Azerbaijan Water Sports Federation plays an important role in supporting the growth of these sports in the country.

The Azerbaijan Water Sports Federation (AWSF) oversees and supports athletes competing in various water sports disciplines, including rowing (academic rowing), canoeing, kayaking, and other water sports activities aimed at expanding participation and promoting youth development.

The main objectives of the Azerbaijan Water Sports Federation are to develop water sports across Azerbaijan, prepare and support national teams, increase participation among children, teenagers, and young athletes, represent Azerbaijan at international competitions, and promote the popularity and accessibility of water sports.

Mediated negotiations between Israel and Hamas in Egypt are “making progress,” the Times of Israel reported on Thursday, citing an anonymous diplomatic official, AzerNEWS reports.

The source said the two sides are working on implementing a roadmap that “offers a balanced and pragmatic path forward,” including disarming the Palestinian organization and handing its authority over to a technocratic government.

The source added that the roadmap “creates a process for the elimination of all tunnels, depots of weapons, and any weapons production facilities” in the Gaza Strip, stressing that all Hamas infrastructure will be removed at its end.

Trkiye’s unemployment rate fell to a historic low of 7.6% in June, according to data released by the Turkish Statistical Institute (TurkStat). The latest figures showed a decline in unemployment, an increase in employment and continued expansion of the labor force, reinforcing the positive momentum in Trkiye’s labor market.

TurkStat reported that the number of unemployed people aged 15 and over fell by 168,000 compared with the previous month, bringing the total to 2.69 million. During the same period, employment increased by 227,000 to 32.73 million, while the employment rate rose by 0.3 percentage points to 48.9%.

The unemployment rate stood at 6.5% for men and 9.8% for women. Meanwhile, the employment rate reached 66.1% among men and 32% among women, reflecting continued differences in labor market participation.

The labor force expanded by 58,000 people in June to 35.42 million, pushing the labor force participation rate up to 52.9%. Participation reached 70.7% for men and 35.4% for women.

Youth unemployment, covering the 15-24 age group, also recorded a notable improvement, falling by 1.8 percentage points to 12.8%. The rate was estimated at 10.4% for young men and 17.3% for young women. In addition, the broader labor underutilization rate, which includes unemployment, underemployment and the potential labor force, declined by two percentage points to 28.8%.

Commenting on the latest figures, Vice President Cevdet Yilmaz said Trkiye has maintained a stable labor market, with the unemployment rate remaining in single digits for the 38th consecutive month. He noted that the government continues to support businesses through financing programs, including increasing the Investment Commitment Advance Loans program to 750 billion Turkish liras ($18.5 billion) and introducing a new $5.3 billion financing package for the manufacturing sector.

Yilmaz added that the combined value of favorable financing for investment and working capital has reached $21.1 billion. He also said labor-intensive industries continue to receive monthly employment support of $75 per worker, provided jobs are preserved, while workforce development programs targeting young people, women and groups with lower labor force participation are being further expanded.

Head of the Government of Dagestan Magomed Ramazanov visited the Yarag-Kazmalyar automobile checkpoint on the border with Azerbaijan to review ongoing modernization works, AzerNEWS reports.

According to the official portal of the Government of the Republic of Dagestan, the checkpoint provides Russia with road links to Azerbaijan and, through Azerbaijan, to Iran, India, the Caspian region and other countries across Asia. The facility is considered one of the key links of the North-South International Transport Corridor.

Large-scale reconstruction of the checkpoint began in 2020.

The facility’s throughput capacity increased by 11% in 2025. Currently, up to 640 freight vehicles pass through the checkpoint each day.

Modern digital systems are also being introduced for customs control. Under the modernization plan, the time required to inspect a single freight vehicle is expected to be reduced to 10 minutes by the end of 2026.

Ukraine’s Air Force shared in its latest social media update on Wednesday that the Russian military launched a total of 80 attack drones “and loitering munitions overnight, including Shahed, Gerbera, Italmas, Banderol, and decoy drones”, AzerNEWS reports.

Ukraine’s defense systems were put to work, with a total of 65 unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) intercepted. However, 14 of the drones managed to hit ten targets across Ukraine. In addition, the debris from downed drones fell in two locations.