Category: Azer News

Two nuclear reactors in Switzerland have been taken off the grid after rising river temperatures reduced the effectiveness of their cooling system, according to local media reports on Friday, AzerNEWS reports.

Energy company Axpo said the two Beznau reactor units, cooled by water from the River Aare, are now in a full shutdown state after being progressively reduced earlier in the week, according to SWI.

Axpo said the temperature of the River Aare reached 25C (77F), a level it said does not allow sufficient cooling for the plant’s operations.

Output from the two reactors had already been reduced Tuesday, most recently to 50%. The company said the river reached 25C for the first time Wednesday after cooling water had been fully mixed, adding that if there was no prospect of the river cooling, the reactors would be shut down completely Friday.

The two units, located on the Aare island in Dottingen, had already temporarily suspended electricity production in July 2025.

Europe’s current heatwave, which has brought red alerts to several countries throughout the week, is the “most severe” ever recorded in the region and was made significantly more likely and intense by fossil fuel-driven climate change, according to a report published Friday by World Weather Attribution (WWA).

The study found that the temperatures recorded would have been virtually impossible 50 years ago and far less likely even during previous record-breaking heatwaves.

President Donald Trump on Friday accused Iran of violating a ceasefire agreement with the United States by launching attack drones at ships passing through the Strait of Hormuz, including a cargo vessel that was struck off the coast of Oman on Thursday, AzerNEWS reports.

‘The Islamic Republic of Iran shot at least four One Way Attack Drones at Ships transversing the Strait of Hormuz,’ Trump wrote in a Truth Social Post.

‘One of the Drones solidly hit the upper deck of a large and very expensive Cargo Carrying Ship,’ the president wrote.

‘Damage was done, but the Ship was able to proceed on its way. We knocked down three other Drones. Obviously, this is a foolish violation of our Ceasefire Agreement.’

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi held a phone conversation with United Arab Emirates Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed al-Nahyan on Friday, during which they discussed the current situation in the Middle East and the memorandum of understanding that Tehran signed with Washington.

According to a readout by the Emirati Foreign Ministry, Al-Nahyan underlined the importance of completely abiding by the provisions in the agreement and emphasized that “serious diplomacy and responsible dialogue are the preferred means of addressing regional and international crises.” Meanwhile, the UAE state news agency WAM reported that the two diplomats also discussed the freedom of navigation through the Strait of Hormuz.

The worth of armies is measured in their numbers, equipment, and budgets. The worth of Azerbaijan’s army should be measured by one thing only, its mission to end the thirty-year-long occupation and the achievement of this goal in forty-four days, despite the presence of a patron power backing the opponent and the absence of endless military involvement typical for much larger military forces recently. The result was not accidental and the product of thirty years of careful planning and preparation which started from the moment when the country experienced its darkest times.

The Azerbaijani Army was not inherited; it was built, almost from nothing, by Heydar Aliyev, the National Leader who, returning to power in 1993, found a republic without a functioning command structure, without trained officers, and without the first victories that any young institution needs to believe in itself. He established the country’s first military academy, restored discipline to a fragmented force, and secured the army’s earliest successes in the closing stages of the First Garabagh War. What he built was not yet an army capable of full victory. It was the foundation one was eventually built upon.

This legacy was taken up and built on by President Ilham Aliyev. In a little over two decades, Azerbaijan has turned its revenues into one of the most comprehensive military modernization schemes in the region, with equipment, doctrine, and a carefully thought-out strategy aimed at bridging the technology and skills gap that proved so costly to Azerbaijan during the early years of the 1990s. This success is quantifiable in terms unmatched by any other regional military force: the Azerbaijani Army consistently ranks as one of the top military forces in the region and has been recognized in global military surveys as one of the top military forces in the world.

It is, fundamentally, not an army of parades. It is an army that has won on the battlefield, and in 2020, it did so absolutely, where larger powers in recent decades have struggled to do so at all.

Proof can be found in the Second Garabagh War. In just forty-four days, Azerbaijan succeeded in overturning thirty years of occupation, doing so in such a manner that it stands alone among virtually all other modern conflicts in its determination of purpose and conclusiveness of victory. Neither the United States nor Russia, the two military forces in the world best resourced, have managed in recent years to conclude lengthy and expensive wars with such decisive results. What Azerbaijan managed to achieve in this war was something else entirely.

Critical in ensuring such an outcome is a technique that became a game changer for the military in its own right. Azerbaijan became one of the earliest armies to use Bayraktar TB2 Turkish drones and Israeli loitering ammunition together in large numbers. The battle was later termed as a ‘drone revolution,’ where analysts showed how air superiority and precision fire control, when done in tandem, can replace the attrition warfare which has characterized so many wars in the last century while keeping the losses on the attacker’s side minimal.

But technology alone does not make war victories by itself. It serves as just a tool, but not a replacement for the willpower of people. The Supreme Commander-in-Chief set the goal, and then the Azerbaijani soldier implemented it despite being under fire and in the mountains at fortified positions. This difference counts since it is more difficult to produce. You can buy drones but cannot buy the army’s willpower.

There was nowhere this fusion of technology and resolve was more evident than in Shusha. The battle for Shusha has been described as one of the major urban warfare case studies of modern times. The Shusha defenders believed that its 300-meter-high cliffs were unassailable and deployed all their defenses there. The special forces of Azerbaijan climbed the cliffs at night in complete defiance of what conventional military thinking would have regarded as impossible. The fall of the city, which was both strategically crucial and psychologically indispensable, was achieved without any loss on either side, something that rarely happens in urban warfare and forced the surrender of Armenia.

Also noteworthy but seldom remarked upon is what Azerbaijan’s military did not do. Throughout the course of forty-four days, it did not strike at civilians and conducted itself in accordance with the rules of humanitarian warfare even as the war it was fighting had thirty years of grievances behind it. This was no accident. It was the result of professionalism on the part of a modern military and the higher morals of a country that refused to forsake its values even while waging a justified war.

The war did not mark the end of efforts; indeed, President Ilham Aliyev’s own evaluation of the strength of the current army being stronger than that which fought in 2020 was no mere rhetorical device but an account of ongoing reforms including the establishment of commando brigades, the modernization of the education of the armed forces via the National Defense University, and the development of closer ties between the armed forces and domestic Azerbaijani defense industries. Indigenous development of systems like the Zarb and Arkan drones reflects a conscious effort to move away from reliance upon imported systems.

The real gauge of an army is not in how much gear it shows off on an annual basis, but in what it accomplishes when required and the integrity it maintains while accomplishing those things. In that light, June 26 is a reminder not of formality but of substance: an institution crafted carefully over thirty years, proven absolutely, and constantly reinforced.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has escalated pressure on Belarus by demanding that Minsk dismantle infrastructure which Kyiv says is being used to support Russian drone operations along the border.

During a June 19 press briefing, Zelenskyy called on the Belarusian authorities to remove specific signal retransmission equipment allegedly facilitating Russian drone activity, warning that if Minsk failed to act within a week, Ukraine would do so itself. He also urged Belarus to halt petroleum exports from its refineries to Russia and called for an end to supplies of military-related components from Belarusian industry.

Zelenskyy further suggested that Belarus’ leadership privately opposes the war and should begin acting accordingly. His remarks came shortly before June 22, a date carrying deep historical significance in Belarus as the anniversary of Nazi Germany’s invasion of the Soviet Union during World War II.

Meanwhile, analysts at the Institute for the Study of War have argued that the Kremlin could eventually use the Union State framework to draw Belarus further into the conflict, including by recruiting Belarusian citizens into Russian military formations to address Russia’s continuing manpower shortages.

Russian and Ukrainian analysts shared their assessments of these issues with AzerNEWS:

Commenting on Zelenskyy’s remarks, Moscow-based geopolitical analyst Andrew Korybko argued that while Belarus continues to maintain its alliance with Russia, President Alexander Lukashenko has consistently resisted deeper military involvement in the conflict.

‘Lukashenko remains allied with Putin, and some Russian troops entered Ukraine from Belarus during the initial stage of the special operation, but he doesn’t want to embroil his country any further in the conflict. It’s therefore plausible that he conveyed this to Zelensky somehow, which aligns with his public statements repeatedly calling for an end to hostilities, but it doesn’t mean that he’s about to break with Putin and kick out Russian troops.’

According to Korybko, Zelenskyy’s comments should not automatically be interpreted as evidence of an imminent split between Minsk and Moscow, arguing that Lukashenko has historically sought to preserve Belarus’ room for maneuver while remaining strategically aligned with Russia.

‘Lukashenko has a known history of refusing to subordinate Belarus as Russia’s ‘junior partner’ as he sees it. From Putin’s perspective, generous Russian subsidies are responsible for Belarus’ economic and thus political stability, so Lukashenko previously behaved ungratefully when feuding with him over various issues in the past.

Nevertheless, Putin hasn’t pressured Lukashenko to commit Belarusian troops to the Ukrainian Conflict, mostly likely because he knows that his counterpart is firmly opposed to this and it’s wildly unpopular in Belarusian society too. He therefore isn’t expected to call for this and all such claims that he has are fake news.’

Offering a different assessment, former Ukrainian diplomat and war analyst Vadym Tryukhan argued that Zelenskyy’s ultimatum carries genuine military credibility and that Minsk has already begun responding to Kyiv’s demands:

‘Unlike Putin, who abuses empty ultimatums, Zelenskyy stands by every word he says. And Lukashenko knows this perfectly well.

That’s why news emerged yesterday that both repeater stations located near the Belarusian-Ukrainian border are no longer operational. Lukashenko carefully weighed the pros and cons and realized that Russia has no means of defending Belarus, while Lukashenko himself has absolutely no troops capable of confronting a Ukrainian army, seasoned in battles against Russia.’

Tryukhan further suggested that Belarus could soon suspend petroleum exports supporting Russia in order to avoid becoming a direct military target.

‘I think we will soon see both of Lukashenko’s oil refineries stop supplying petroleum products to Ukraine. Otherwise, they could be destroyed in a single blow.

I think we will soon see both of Lukashenko’s oil refineries stop supplying petroleum products to Ukraine. Otherwise, they could be destroyed in a single blow.’

Looking beyond Belarus, Tryukhan argued that Kyiv’s tougher posture could eventually extend directly toward Russia itself.

‘What’s next? And then, having practiced on Lukashenko, Zelenskyy will turn his attention to Putin. I think we’ll soon witness the first harsh ultimatums to Russia. And the first, I think, will concern withdrawal from Crimea.

The key is that the days are gone when Putin could issue ultimatums and anyone would fear them. In Ukraine, they haven’t been afraid of them for a long time. Ukraine has learned to punch Putin’s troops and Putin himself in the face, and publicly.

Therefore, he will soon be held accountable for his short-sighted, bloodthirsty policies toward Ukraine and many other countries around the world.’

The death toll from the devastating earthquake that struck Venezuela has climbed to 235, while more than 4,300 people have been injured, according to the country’s health authorities, AzerNEWS reports.

Speaking on the state television channel Venezolana de Televisión, Venezuelan Health Minister Carlos Alvarado said that hospitals had received approximately 235 victims who either showed no signs of life upon arrival or died shortly after being admitted.

“Unfortunately, we received around 235 patients without vital signs, or they died after reaching our medical facilities,” Alvarado said.

The minister added that medical teams across the country have provided assistance to more than 4,300 injured people as emergency and rescue operations continue in the aftermath of the disaster.

Authorities are still assessing the full extent of the damage caused by the earthquake, and the number of casualties could rise as search efforts proceed.

Azerbaijan’s Minister of Defense, Colonel General Zakir Hasanov, has congratulated the personnel of the Azerbaijani Armed Forces on the occasion of June 26 – Armed Forces Day, AzerNEWS reports.

The congratulatory message was published on the official website of the Ministry of Defense.

The minister wished military personnel continued success in their “sacred and honorable service” aimed at strengthening Azerbaijan’s defense capabilities.

In his message, Hasanov highlighted the historical roots of the country’s armed forces, noting that the process of building a national army began during the era of the Azerbaijan Democratic Republic, the first democratic republic in the Muslim East.

“The Separate Azerbaijan Corps, established on June 26, 1918, formed the legal foundation of the Army of the Azerbaijan Democratic Republic. By a historic decree signed by National Leader Heydar Aliyev on May 22, 1998, June 26 was officially declared Armed Forces Day and has since been celebrated annually with great solemnity across the country,” he said.

Hasanov emphasized that President Ilham Aliyev, Supreme Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces, has consistently regarded national defense as one of Azerbaijan’s top priorities, continuing the political course of National Leader Heydar Aliyev in the field of military development.

According to the defense minister, the Azerbaijani Army’s “brilliant victory” in the 2020 Patriotic War and the successful anti-terror operation that followed resulted in the liberation of territories that had been under occupation.

He also pointed to the grand military parade held in Baku last year to mark the fifth anniversary of November 8 – Victory Day, describing it as a demonstration of Azerbaijan’s growing military power on the global stage.

Hasanov noted that President Ilham Aliyev’s decision to declare 2026 the “Year of Urban Development and Architecture” would make a significant contribution to the extensive reconstruction, restoration, and development efforts underway in the territories liberated from occupation.

The minister stressed that Azerbaijani servicemen stationed in these territories continue to safeguard the homeland while contributing to large-scale reconstruction projects and the implementation of the Great Return program.

“I am confident that you will remain faithful to the Constitution of the Republic of Azerbaijan, the Military Oath, and military regulations, continue to strengthen your combat and moral-psychological readiness, and further enhance your efforts and skills to achieve new successes in your service,” Hasanov stated.

The defense minister also paid tribute to the memory of those who lost their lives defending Azerbaijan’s independence, territorial integrity, and sovereignty.

“We honor with deep respect and reverence the memory of the sons of the Motherland who became martyrs in the struggle for Azerbaijan’s independence, territorial integrity, and sovereignty. The families of our martyrs, wounded servicemen, and war veterans remain at the center of the state’s attention. Thanks to the care and support of Supreme Commander-in-Chief Ilham Aliyev and First Vice-President Mehriban Aliyeva, important steps are being taken to improve their social conditions and address their concerns and problems,” he added.

Hasanov extended his congratulations and best wishes to the families of fallen servicemen, wounded veterans, and all those who have sacrificed for the country on the occasion of Armed Forces Day.

The Board of Azerbaijan’s State Tourism Agency (STA) has approved updated evaluation criteria for hotel star classifications, introducing new environmental requirements as part of efforts to enhance service quality and sustainability in the country’s hospitality sector, AzerNEWS reports.

The decision was signed by STA Chairman Fuad Nagiyev.

Under the revised regulations, hotels will be eligible for a particular star category only if they meet all mandatory criteria for that classification and achieve the minimum score required for the respective level.

The updated criteria revise the number of mandatory requirements across the different star categories. The number of compulsory criteria has increased from 51 to 53 for one-star hotels and from 118 to 119 for five-star hotels. Meanwhile, the mandatory requirements have been adjusted from 58 to 56 for two-star hotels, from 80 to 77 for three-star hotels, and from 97 to 96 for four-star hotels.

The minimum point thresholds and superior score requirements for all-star categories remain unchanged.

The new rules also specify that hotels operated by the same business entity under the same brand but located at different addresses will be assessed separately for each individual building or facility.

In addition, the updated criteria introduce a “Green Transition” approach to hotel quality standards and digital capabilities. Hotels will now be required to comply with environmental standards and install energy-saving systems as part of the mandatory requirements for obtaining and maintaining their star classifications.

The first El Calor en Baku – Azerbaijan Tango Festival, an international festival of tango and culture, has concluded in Baku, AzerNEWS reports.

For six days, the historic Icherisheher (Old City) was transformed into a vibrant space for music, dance, communication, and cultural exchange.

The festival reached its grand finale with a concert by the world-renowned La Argenta Ensamble at the Opera Studio of the Baku Music Academy. The evening was dedicated to the memory of the legendary Carlos Gardel, whose name has become synonymous with Argentine tango. Soulful melodies, masterful arrangements by Fernando Herrera, and the expressive vocals of the charming Jimena González created the authentic atmosphere of Buenos Aires in the concert hall.

Adding to the magic of the evening were performances by internationally acclaimed tango stars Yanina Quiñones and Neri Piliu, Jesús Gargone and Victoria Lizunova, as well as Max Izvekov and Katerina Zak. Their breathtaking performances marked the climax of the festival, captivating the audience with the artistry and excellence of contemporary stage tango. The dancers received repeated standing ovations throughout the evening.

In her welcoming address, Mariangeles Bellusci, Ambassador of Argentina to Azerbaijan, underlined that culture serves as one of the strongest bridges between peoples and nations. She noted that throughout the festival week, Baku became a platform for genuine cultural dialogue, where the music, dance, and traditions of Argentina found a heartfelt response among Azerbaijani audiences.

Special appreciation was expressed to the Administration of the Icherisheher State Historical and Architectural Reserve, the Azerbaijan Culture Ministry, the Azerbaijan Dance Council (AzDC), and all partners whose support made this large-scale project possible. Particular recognition was given to Tarana Muradova, President of AzDC and People’s Artist of Azerbaijan; Eldar Jafarov, founder of AzDC and six-time world champion; Artur Ostrolutsky, producer and curator of international projects; and Valentin Reshetnikov, producer and international adjudicator, for their outstanding contributions to the festival’s success.

During the festival, thousands of residents and visitors enjoyed open tango lessons, masterclasses, open-air milongas, concerts, and numerous other cultural events. For several days, Icherisheher became a living cultural stage where the unique atmosphere of Baku’s Old City blended seamlessly with the passionate spirit of Argentina.

However, El Calor en Baku was more than just a celebration of culture. The festival marked a new chapter in the development of tango in Azerbaijan while strengthening Baku’s international reputation as a venue for major global dance events.

The organizers announced that, beginning in 2026, Baku has become an official host city of the MetropoliTango World Cup Official Stage, a prestigious international competition series through which participants can qualify for the World Final in Italy.

Another significant outcome of the festival was the announcement of the creation of the Baku Tango Trophy, a new championship designed to further develop the tango community. Starting in 2027, Baku is expected to host two of the world’s leading international tango events-MetropoliTango and Mundial de Tango as well as seven major festivals within the framework of the UNESCO International Council’s project, “The Seven Dance Wonders of the World.”

The first El Calor en Baku festival has come to an end, but its organizers believe this is only the beginning of a much larger story-a story in which Baku continues to strengthen its place on the global cultural map, while tango becomes yet another universal language of international friendship, bringing people together regardless of borders or distance.

Military march have begun in Baku and several other cities across Azerbaijan to commemorate the 108th anniversary of the establishment of the Armed Forces of the Republic of Azerbaijan, AzerNEWS reports.

First, the memory of the National Leader, Heydar Aliyev, and martyrs was commemorated with a minute of silence. The National Anthem of Azerbaijan was played.

The marches have been organized along five routes:

Route I: Heydar Aliyev Palace – Bulbul Avenue – Nizami Cinema Center – Neftchilar Avenue – Azadlig Square – Baku Sea Port;

Route II: Alley of Martyrs – Flame Towers Complex – Chambarakand Park – Icherisheher Metro Station – Gosha Gala Gate – Azerbaijan State Puppet Theatre – Azneft Square – Bahram Gur Monument;

Route III: G. Musabayov Park – Abdurragim bey Hagverdiyev Street – Huseyn Javid Avenue – Huseyn Javid Park – Parliament Avenue – Alley of Martyrs;

Route IV: Olympic Star Sports and Entertainment Center – Samad Vurgun Street – Officers’ Park – Baku State Circus – Heydar Aliyev Palace – Imadaddin Nasimi Monument – Neftchilar Avenue;

Route V: Nariman Narimanov Monument – Central Park – Azerbaijan State Academic National Drama Theatre – Winter Park – Heydar Aliyev Palace – Central Bank of Azerbaijan – 28 Mall Shopping Center.

In addition to Baku, similar military band parades are taking place in the central streets, avenues, and squares of Sumgayit, Ganja, Nakhchivan, Barda, Khankendi, Lachin, and Shusha.

On the occasion of 26 June – Armed Forces Day and the 108th anniversary of the establishment of the Azerbaijan Army, the leadership of the Ministry of Defense, along with other officials, visited the grave of the National Leader, Heydar Aliyev, and Victory Park, AzerNEWS reports.

The Minister of Defense, Colonel General Zakir Hasanov and the Ministry’s senior leadership first visited the Alley of Honor, where they laid a wreath at the monument to the National Leader, Heydar Aliyev, and paid profound tribute to his memory.

The Ministry’s leadership also visited the grave of the distinguished ophthalmologist, and academician Zarifa Aliyeva, where they laid roses in tribute and honored her memory with deep respect.

Subsequently, accompanied by a guard of honor, the delegation visited Victory Park and the Military Memorial Cemetery, where wreaths were laid at the monuments in tribute to the memory of Heroes.