Category: Azer News

On August 26, First Vice-President of the Republic of Azerbaijan and President of the Heydar Aliyev Foundation Mehriban Aliyeva, together with her daughters Leyla Aliyeva and Arzu Aliyeva, attended the opening of nursery-kindergarten No. 352 in Baku’s Nasimi district.

Executive Director of the Heydar Aliyev Foundation Anar Alakbarov provided information about the work carried out at the nursery-kindergarten.

The facility, designed to accommodate 116 children, has operated as the Republican Specialized Nursery-Kindergarten for hearing-impaired children since 1972. It now operates as nursery-kindergarten No. 352.

With the support of the Heydar Aliyev Foundation, the building underwent major renovations, and a new block was constructed.

While a special group for hearing-impaired children has been retained at the nursery-kindergarten, all necessary conditions have been created for children to receive preschool education and care. An additional two-story block with a capacity of 36 children has been constructed for hearing-impaired children.

The nursery-kindergarten features an audiologist’s office, playrooms and bedrooms, sports, event, music and dance halls, a medical room, dressing rooms, and teachers’ rooms. The audiologist’s office, classrooms and playrooms have been equipped with the necessary furniture and equipment.

Outdoor play and sports areas have also been set up for children, while gazebos have been installed on the grounds.

Zahra Pezeshkian sent a congratulatory letter to the First Vice President of Azerbaijan, Mehriban Aliyeva, on the occasion of her birthday.

According to AzerNEWS, the letter reads:

“To Mrs. Mehriban Aliyeva, First Vice-President of the Republic of Azerbaijan

My dear and kindhearted sister.

On the occasion of your birthday, it is my distinct honor and pleasure to convey my sincerest congratulations and best wishes to you.

Your outstanding, visionary and tireless efforts across the social, cultural and international spheres have always served as an inspiration and a source of pride.

I am extremely delighted that the deep roots of friendship and brotherhood exist between the friendly, brotherly and neighborly countries of Iran and Azerbaijan, and that the women of both our nations play a vital role in preserving this shared cultural heritage.

On this remarkable and joyous day, I sincerely wish you a happy and long life, robust health and continued success, as well as progress and prosperity to the friendly and brotherly Republic of Azerbaijan.

Shavkat Mirziyoyev, President of the Republic of Uzbekistan congratulated Azerbaijan’s First Vice President Mehriban Aliyeva on the occasion of her birthday.

According to AzerNEWS, the letter reads:

Dear Mehriban Arif gizi,

I sincerely congratulate you on the occasion of your birthday.

On this remarkable day, I would like to express my deep respect and sincere admiration for your multifaceted state and public activities aimed at ensuring the welfare of the Azerbaijani people, advancing education, science, culture, and art, as well as preserving and promoting Azerbaijan’s rich historical and cultural heritage.

In Uzbekistan, you are held in special regard and esteem, and your constant and attentive efforts to deepen Uzbekistan-Azerbaijan relations are highly appreciated.

The sincere and warm relations between our families are a source of particular joy. I am confident that this atmosphere of friendship and mutual respect is a vivid expression of the true ties of brotherhood that unite Uzbekistan and Azerbaijan today.

I am convinced that your personal involvement will continue to contribute significantly to strengthening humanitarian and cultural ties between our countries, bringing our peoples closer together, and preserving our rich shared heritage for future generations.

Dear Mehriban Arif gizi, I sincerely wish you robust health, inexhaustible energy, happiness, and prosperity, and the brotherly people of Azerbaijan peace and sustainable progress.

On August 26, Valentina Matviyenko, Speaker of the Federation Council of the Federal Assembly of the Russian Federation, made a phone call to First Vice-President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Mehriban Aliyeva.

The Speaker of the Federation Council of the Federal Assembly of the Russian Federation congratulated First Vice-President Mehriban Aliyeva on her birthday and wished her robust health and continued success.

Valentina Matviyenko fondly recalled her warm meetings with First Vice-President Mehriban Aliyeva and highlighted her role in strengthening friendly relations between Azerbaijan and Russia.

First Vice-President Mehriban Aliyeva expressed her gratitude for the attention and congratulations.

Starting September 15, 2026, new rules governing entry and exit procedures will come into effect in China. The changes are aimed at strengthening border controls and addressing cases involving citizens and foreigners who violate Chinese laws or pose potential risks to national security.

Under the new provisions, Chinese citizens who commit illegal or criminal acts abroad that threaten China’s national security or interests may temporarily lose the right to leave the country after returning home. Depending on the circumstances, the restriction can last from six months to three years.

Similar measures may apply to Chinese citizens who have been subject to administrative detention for illegally crossing the border or obtaining travel and identity documents through deception or other fraudulent means.

At the same time, reports circulating on social media about a five-year travel ban for any Chinese citizen who violates the laws of another country are misleading. The new regulations do not introduce such an automatic punishment. Restrictions depend on the nature of the violation and the specific circumstances of each case.

The rules also establish separate restrictions for foreigners. People who commit certain violations of China’s immigration or border-control laws may be prohibited from entering the country for a period ranging from one to five years.

The changes are part of China’s broader efforts to strengthen the management of cross-border travel and improve cooperation between immigration authorities and other government agencies. The authorities are also placing greater emphasis on preventing fraud involving passports, visas and other travel documents.

Interestingly, the new rules highlight how modern border control is becoming increasingly connected to national security. Governments are no longer focusing only on who enters or leaves a country, but also on the circumstances surrounding a person’s travel, the documents they use and potential risks associated with their activities abroad.

For ordinary travelers, the changes do not mean that China is introducing a general travel ban for people who break foreign laws. Instead, the measures target specific categories of violations and give Chinese authorities additional powers to restrict international travel in cases considered particularly serious.

Rustam Minnikhanov, Rais of the Republic of Tatarstan of the Russian Federation, has sent a congratulatory letter to Mehriban Aliyeva, First Vice-President of Azerbaijan, on the occasion of her birthday.

According to AzerNEWS, the letter reads:

“To Mrs. Mehriban Aliyeva, First Vice-President of the Republic of Azerbaijan

Dear Mehriban Arifovna,

On the occasion of your birthday, please accept my warmest congratulations and wishes for good health and happiness to you and your loved ones.

Your extensive state, public, and charitable activities, as well as your sincere commitment to preserving the core values of Azerbaijani society, are truly admirable and deserving of the highest respect. The large-scale humanitarian projects implemented under your leadership, including at the international level, and the prestigious awards you have received in recognition of your constructive work attest to the remarkable scope of your outstanding personality – a person with a truly golden and generous heart, always open to good deeds and selfless assistance to others.

I wish you continued success in all areas of your noble endeavors, as well as boundless inspiration and strength to achieve your goals.

Rustam Minnikhanov

Rais of the Republic of Tatarstan of the Russian Federation,

Chairman of the Strategic Vision Group “Russia – Islamic World”

NASA is preparing to launch the Nancy Grace Roman Space Telescope, a new observatory designed to study some of the biggest mysteries in the universe, including dark energy, dark matter and exoplanets. The launch is scheduled for August 30, 2026, aboard a SpaceX Falcon Heavy rocket from Launch Complex 39A at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida.

The Roman Space Telescope is designed to survey enormous areas of the sky and provide a much broader view of the universe than previous space telescopes. Scientists hope it will help them understand how the universe has evolved, why its expansion is accelerating and how galaxies and planetary systems form.

Roman will also search for exoplanets – worlds orbiting stars outside our Solar System. Its wide field of view will allow astronomers to study huge numbers of stars and potentially discover thousands of new planets.

The telescope will be launched by SpaceX’s Falcon Heavy, one of the most powerful rockets currently in operation. The rocket uses three Falcon 9-derived booster cores to generate the enormous amount of thrust needed to carry heavy payloads into space.

NASA teams completed the mission’s Flight Readiness Review on August 21, confirming that the spacecraft, launch vehicle and ground systems were ready to enter the final stage of preparations. The telescope is being integrated with SpaceX hardware before it is enclosed inside the rocket’s protective payload fairing.

After launch, Roman will travel to the Sun-Earth Lagrange Point 2 (L2), located about one million miles (1.5 million km) from Earth. This region offers a stable environment and allows the telescope to maintain a clear view of the cosmos while minimizing interference from the Sun, Earth and Moon.

Roman’s primary mirror is 2.4 meters (7.9 feet) across – about the same size as Hubble’s mirror – but the telescope is designed to see a much larger area of the sky at once. NASA says its field of view will be at least 100 times wider than Hubble’s, potentially allowing Roman to measure light from around a billion galaxies over the course of its mission.

Another remarkable feature is the amount of data Roman is expected to generate. The observatory is designed to produce roughly 10 terabytes of scientific data per day, creating an enormous archive for astronomers around the world. Its primary mission is planned to last five years, with the possibility of extending it to about ten years.

If the launch goes ahead as planned, Roman could become one of NASA’s most important tools for studying the ‘dark’ side of the universe – and its observations may help answer questions that have remained unresolved for decades.

The United States will conduct a trilateral military exercise with South Korea and Japan.

PACOM spokesperson Lieutenant Chloe Morgan told Yonhap that the U.S. Pacific Command is preparing to conduct the 2026 ‘Freedom Edge’ exercise in close cooperation with Japan’s Self-Defense Forces and the Republic of Korea Armed Forces.

“This premier multi-domain exercise will continue to reinforce our shared values, enhance interoperability, and further strengthen our defense partnerships to ensure peace and stability in the Indo-Pacific,” the PACOM spokesperson said. Chloe Morgan declined to provide details on the scale of this year’s exercise.

The “Freedom Edge” exercise was one of the key outcomes of the trilateral Camp David Summit held by the leaders of the three countries in August 2023. It is considered a significant step toward institutionalizing trilateral security cooperation between the United States and its key allies in Asia.

Seoul and Washington have halved the duration and scale of their bilateral “Ulchi Freedom Shield” exercise after President Donald Trump ordered the Pentagon to reduce military exercises with South Korea. Against this backdrop, questions have emerged over whether the “Freedom Edge” exercise will proceed as planned.

Donald Trump has described bilateral military exercises as potentially sending an “inappropriate and hostile” message to North Korea. His remarks came as he renewed efforts to resume dialogue with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un.

Earlier, Pyongyang has condemned military exercises involving South Korea and the United States, describing them as preparations for an invasion. Kim Yo Jong, the sister of the North Korean leader, called the exercises a “reckless show of force” that would bring “bad consequences” for Seoul and Washington.

On August 26, First Lady of the Republic of Trkiye Emine Erdogan made a phone call to First Vice-President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Mehriban Aliyeva.

Emine Erdogan congratulated First Vice-President Mehriban Aliyeva on her birthday and wished her robust health and continued success.

First Lady of Trkiye Emine Erdogan emphasized that Mehriban Aliyeva’s charitable activities are highly appreciated around the world.

First Vice-President Mehriban Aliyeva expressed her gratitude for the attention and congratulations.

During the phone conversation, First Vice-President Mehriban Aliyeva and First Lady of Trkiye Emine Erdogan fondly recalled their warm meetings.

First Vice-President Mehriban Aliyeva and First Lady of Trkiye Emine Erdogan expressed confidence that the brotherly relations and strategic alliance between Azerbaijan and Trkiye will continue to develop successfully.

Igor Babushkin, Governor of the Astrakhan Region of the Russian Federation, congratulated Azerbaijan’s First Vice President Mehriban Aliyeva on the occasion of her birthday.

According to AzerNEWS, the letter reads:

Dear Mehriban Arifovna,

Please accept my deepest respect and sincere congratulations on the occasion of your birthday.

I wish you robust health, prosperity, inexhaustible energy, happiness, and continued success in your multifaceted activities.

I express my sincere gratitude to you for your support in strengthening cooperation between the Astrakhan Region and the Republic of Azerbaijan.

I am confident that bilateral interaction will continue to develop successfully, creating opportunities for the implementation of new joint initiatives and projects.