Category: Azer News

China has successfully grown more than 20 varieties of plants from 14 species in orbit, laying the groundwork for the large-scale cultivation of crops aboard a space station.

The information was reported by the Chinese Astronaut Research and Training Center.

Lettuce, carrots, sunflowers, potatoes, and wheat are among the plants being cultivated aboard China’s Tiangong space station. In 2025, a more efficient aeroponic system – a method of growing plants without soil, in which their roots receive nutrients through a fine mist – was delivered to the station.

Wheat has already completed a full growth cycle in space. A second generation, grown from seeds produced during the first experiment, is now nearing the end of its growth cycle. This is an important step toward understanding whether crops can reproduce successfully in microgravity.

According to the center, two plant-growing systems are operating continuously aboard the station: one uses a traditional growing substrate, while the other relies on aeroponics. The experiments are part of efforts to develop closed-loop life-support systems capable of producing food and recycling water and air directly in space.

Scientists believe such technologies could become essential for future long-duration missions to the Moon and Mars. Growing fresh food in space would not only reduce the amount of supplies that astronauts need to take from Earth, but could also provide psychological benefits by making spacecraft environments more similar to Earth.

China is also planning to create a so-called ‘lunar garden’ as part of its future lunar exploration program. If successful, such experiments could represent an important step toward making plants a permanent part of human life beyond Earth.

Senior leaders of China’s ruling Communist Party will gather for a major meeting in October.

According to the state news agency Xinhua, the fifth plenary session of the 20th Central Committee, the party’s top decision-making body, will be held in Beijing from October 26 to 29.

The dates were set on Monday at a meeting of the 21-member Politburo chaired by Chinese President and Communist Party General Secretary Xi Jinping.

The Central Committee, which has around 200 members, holds closed-door plenary sessions roughly once a year. These meetings typically set or reaffirm the party’s key policy priorities.

The meeting also reviewed a draft decision of the CPC Central Committee on several important issues related to advancing comprehensive and strict governance of the Party. After being revised in light of the opinions expressed during the meeting, the document is expected to be submitted for consideration at the fifth plenary session of the 20th CPC Central Committee.

The upcoming session will be the fifth since the current Central Committee was formed following the Communist Party’s 20th National Congress in 2022. It is also expected to be among the final major meetings of the current committee before the next party congress, scheduled for autumn 2027.

It should be noted that the previous plenary session held in October 2025.

A potential meeting between Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian and US President Donald Trump at the United Nations General Assembly in New York is emerging as one of the most closely watched diplomatic questions amid renewed tensions between Washington and Tehran.

Pezeshkian has been invited to attend the UN gathering, although Tehran has maintained that a meeting with the United States would be impossible under the current conditions. At the same time, Trump has reportedly expressed willingness to meet his Iranian counterpart. The cancellation of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s invitation to the event has added another layer to the diplomatic backdrop.

Against this backdrop, could talks between Pezeshkian and Trump actually take place, and if they do, what strategic advantages could Washington and Tehran derive from such a meeting?

The question is also closely linked to the future of the Strait of Hormuz, through which an average of around 17.1 million barrels of oil passes each day under normal conditions. Recent reports indicate that daily oil shipments through the strait have fallen by around 6.5 million barrels, underscoring the potential consequences of continued disruption.

At the same time, both sides continue to issue warnings of possible military escalation. Tehran has said it could retaliate against the United States at any moment, while Washington has warned that it would respond accordingly. Yet despite the increasingly harsh rhetoric, the history of US-Iran tensions has generally seen periods of escalation remain within certain limits rather than develop into an uncontrolled direct war.

Speaking to AzerNEWS, Iranian political analyst Elyar Kamrani said Pezeshkian’s planned trip to New York could provide an opportunity for diplomacy, despite significant political obstacles inside Iran and between Tehran and Washington.

‘As you know, meetings held under the auspices of the United Nations take place at this time every year, and Iranian presidents typically participate. Since Masoud Pezeshkian is now the President of Iran, he received an invitation from the UN and announced his intention to attend the event. He is set to travel to New York tomorrow,’ Kamrani said. He noted that the composition of the Iranian delegation has already been affected by the political circumstances surrounding the visit. ‘A significant issue regarding this trip is that visas were not granted to members of the accompanying media team. Consequently, Masoud Pezeshkian will be forced to travel to New York alone,’ he said.

According to Kamrani, the possibility of direct contact with Washington distinguishes Pezeshkian’s upcoming visit from last year’s UN trip.

‘A notable aspect distinguishing this trip from last year’s is that US President Donald Trump has announced his readiness to meet with Masoud Pezeshkian. Media outlets aligned with Pezeshkian have also assessed the prospect of such a meeting,’ he said. ‘Yesterday, the ILNA news agency provided details on how such a meeting might take place, indicating that Pezeshkian’s team and those associated with him are prepared for talks and negotiations.’

Kamrani argued that the UN gathering could also reveal the extent to which Pezeshkian has been able to overcome opposition to negotiations within Iran’s political establishment.

‘The upcoming visit and discussions at the UN will demonstrate whether Masoud Pezeshkian has succeeded in prevailing over his domestic rivals. Pezeshkian is personally prepared to meet with the United States, or with Donald Trump as its representative, and we are seeing signs of this in the reactions of Iranian media outlets aligned with him,’ he said. ‘Figures within the Iranian state are portraying the cancellation of Netanyahu’s invitation as the result of their own influence and presenting it as a victory. Some also argue that Netanyahu’s presence could have derailed these negotiations. This suggests that, following the cancellation of the invitation for Israel and Benjamin Netanyahu, Pezeshkian might be open to meeting with the United States.’

However, the expert stressed that Tehran would approach any negotiations with a series of pre-existing demands.

‘There are certain pre-existing conditions. Iran has a number of demands. If the war, whether within Iran itself or in Palestine, Lebanon, Yemen and elsewhere, is halted by the United States and its ally Israel, we will proceed with negotiations,’ he said. ‘Furthermore, if Iran’s frozen assets are released and political sanctions and boycotts are lifted, we would view the prospect of negotiations more favourably. If support for the Iranian opposition is withdrawn and they cease backing them, we are ready to negotiate, and we would also open the Strait of Hormuz.’

Kamrani described the strait as Tehran’s most important source of leverage in the current confrontation.

‘As you know, the opening of the Strait of Hormuz represents the single greatest leverage Iran holds in this conflict. Against this backdrop, Iran is attempting to exert pressure on the world, and particularly on the United States, by having the IRGC intercept ships in the Strait of Hormuz, block oil shipments and drive up prices in the global energy and oil markets,’ he said. ‘These actions serve as a message to the United States and other nations: unless you engage in negotiations with us and accept the legitimacy of the Islamic Republic of Iran, our forces will continue to intercept vessels in the Strait of Hormuz.’ He argued that while the US response has helped contain some of the immediate economic consequences, the initial disruption created by Iran has already had a major impact on global markets. ‘Although the US response, including organising maritime security, taking various measures and ensuring the safe passage of ships in order to ease market tensions and lower prices, has mitigated the situation, Iran’s initial move to block the Strait delivered a massive shock to the market. That shock can only be fully dispelled by the complete reopening of the Strait.’

On the possibility of another military confrontation, Kamrani said several developments indicate that the risk cannot be dismissed.

‘As for whether there is a risk of a new war breaking out, the redeployment of regular US military forces to the region, ongoing coordination with other nations and the recall of citizens from Middle Eastern countries all indicate that a renewed conflict is a possibility. In fact, a statement issued yesterday by an IRGC-linked headquarters and reported in the Iranian media declared: ‘We are ready for war, and a new, long-term war is highly likely to break out.’ Based on these factors, the outbreak of a new war is a distinct possibility.’

At the same time, Kamrani believes that the possibility of diplomacy remains open, particularly as regional and international actors continue to push for negotiations.

‘Is it possible for negotiations to take place between Iran and the United States? Yes, it is possible. Countries and entities such as Qatar, Oman and the United Nations are keen to see these talks materialise, and both the American and Iranian sides have responded positively. However, it is primarily economic pressure that has compelled Iran to come to the negotiating table. In short, we may well witness both negotiations and war in the future.’

The Middle Corridor is emerging as one of the most significant alternative routes linking Asia and Europe as geopolitical tensions reshape Eurasian trade and connectivity. Running across Central Asia, the Caspian Sea, the South Caucasus and Trkiye, the route offers an alternative to traditional corridors passing through Russia while creating new opportunities for countries positioned along its path.

Azerbaijan occupies a central position in this evolving network. Its location on the western shore of the Caspian Sea connects Central Asian economies with the South Caucasus, Trkiye and European markets, while investments in ports, railways, energy infrastructure and digital connectivity are expanding the corridor beyond a conventional transport route. The European Union has increasingly recognised this role, describing Azerbaijan as central to the development of connectivity between Europe, the Caspian and Central Asia.

This wider transformation explains the growing interest among EU member states, including Poland. For European economies, the Middle Corridor is not simply another transport route: it is part of efforts to diversify trade links, strengthen supply-chain resilience and develop alternative transport, energy and digital connections with Central Asia. The EU has already identified the corridor as a strategic connectivity priority and is mobilising investment to develop it.

It is against this backdrop that the Polish newspaper Rzeczpospolita has examined the emerging opportunities around the Middle Corridor, particularly the potential for Polish companies to participate in the infrastructure and services developing around Azerbaijan’s increasingly important role in this Eurasian network.

The Polish interest is not entirely new. Rzeczpospolita has previously highlighted Baku as an important hub for Polish and European companies, while Polish logistics and port interests have explored links with the Port of Baku and the Trans-Caspian route.

Below is part of the article outlining the author’s key points on the issue, including a response to the question of why Polish companies have yet to establish a stronger presence in a region where the Middle Corridor is creating growing opportunities.

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An Alternative Digital Route Is Important for Europe

Against the backdrop of the war in Ukraine and tensions in the Middle East, Azerbaijan and Kazakhstan have laid fibre-optic cables along the bottom of the Caspian Sea. This brings to life the digital version of the Middle Corridor, which is becoming an increasingly important alternative route connecting China and Central Asia with the European Union. Polish companies may look for opportunities as specialised suppliers of the technologies and services necessary for the functioning of the corridor.

The approximately 380-kilometre connection between Aktau in Kazakhstan and Sumgayit in Azerbaijan is intended to become part of a much larger infrastructure system connecting Asia with Europe. The Middle Corridor currently forms a network of railways, ports and sea routes through Central Asia, the Caucasus and further to the European Union. According to an analysis by the Austrian Institute for International Affairs (OIIP), this route is approximately 2,500 km shorter than the Northern Corridor through Russia.

The new fibre-optic cable adds another digital layer to this system, strengthening the importance of the Middle Corridor not only as a transport route, but also as a broader Eurasian infrastructure connection.

Digital Silk Road

The Trans-Caspian Fibre-Optic Cable (TCFO) project was initiated in 2018 by the Azerbaijani operator AzerTelecom, which invited two Kazakh companies, KazTransCom and Transtelecom, to cooperate. The project became part of the broader ‘Digital Silk Road’ initiative, whose goal, according to Submarine Networks, was to transform Azerbaijan from a raw materials supplier into a regional digital hub. The project was divided into two stages: connecting Azerbaijan with Kazakhstan, and then with Turkmenistan by fibre-optic cable. Shortly afterwards, in June 2019, at the EU-Azerbaijan Business Forum, the project was presented as part of a broader concept of creating a digital corridor connecting Asia with Europe through Azerbaijan. As reported by Strategeast, Baku’s ambitions were to transform the country into a regional digital hub at the crossroads of the Caucasus, the Middle East, Central and South Asia, thereby contributing to the diversification of its economy beyond the traditionally dominant oil and gas sector. At the same event, the signing of an intergovernmental agreement between Azerbaijan and Kazakhstan, which was crucial for the implementation of the project, was confirmed.

According to the Times of Central Asia portal, on the Kazakh side, Transtelecom and KazTransCom were replaced by Kazakhstantelecom, which in September 2022 signed a memorandum of understanding with AzerTelecom on strategic partnership within the framework of the Transtelecom Transmission Fund (TCFO). A year later, the operators established a joint venture, Caspinet B.V., with each company acquiring a 50% stake in it. Since 2024, the project work has been supported by the American company Pioneer Consulting. A breakthrough occurred in March 2025, when, after receiving approval from the governments of both countries, the operators signed an agreement to construct a fibre-optic cable on the seabed of the Caspian Sea.

In April 2026, Interfax reported that completion of the project was expected in the third quarter. In mid-August, one of the most important stages was reached – the laying of the cable on the seabed of the Caspian Sea was completed. According to Digital Silk Way, work on integrating the line, together with the parallel expansion of coastal infrastructure, is planned to be completed by the end of the year. Over almost eight years of project implementation, its technological ambitions have also increased significantly. The initially planned capacity of 4-6 Tbit/s increased to more than 400 Tbit/s, while the cost of the project exceeded $50 million.

More Than Just Fibre Optics

However, the importance of the investment is difficult to assess only by its cost. The stakes are much higher for the infrastructure and services that will be built around the new connection. A capacity exceeding 400 Tbit/s is intended to ensure the transmission of large volumes of data and create conditions for the further development of digital services in the region. According to Euronews, such high capacity is intended to support growing demand for cloud services, the processing of huge volumes of data and the development of new artificial intelligence ecosystems in the region. At the same time, the ‘Digital Silk Road’ is intended to create a shorter data transmission route between Asia and Europe, passing through Kazakhstan, Azerbaijan, Georgia, Trkiye and Bulgaria. This is intended not only to increase the capacity of connections between the two continents, but also to reduce data transmission latency.

A Strategic Central Corridor for Europe

From a geoeconomic and strategic point of view, the expansion of the digital infrastructure of the so-called Middle Corridor also makes considerable sense from the perspective of the European Union. The war in Ukraine has clearly changed the structure of trade routes connecting Asia with Europe. Traditional land routes through Russia have become politically riskier for European businesses, while the Middle Corridor, bypassing Russia and Belarus, is becoming an important alternative. However, its attractiveness is determined not only by geopolitics. According to data presented on the Diplomatic Courier website, transporting goods from China to Europe can take around 15 days, while maritime transport usually takes between 30 and 45 days. According to European Commission data from February 2026, the volume of trade through the Trans-Caspian Corridor has increased fourfold since 2022, and with appropriate investment it could triple by 2030. At the same time, the value of EU trade with Central Asian countries already reaches approximately pound 54 billion. Brussels also recognises this potential. As EU Commissioner for Enlargement Marta Kos emphasised, ‘much of the infrastructure is outdated, so investment is urgently needed’. The answer lies, among other things, in the Interregional Connectivity Programme developed within the framework of the Global Gateway strategy, which aims to improve connections between the European Union and Central Asia through Trkiye and the South Caucasus. The Commission identifies three main areas requiring investment: transport and trade, energy and digital infrastructure. With regard to the latter, Brussels points to the need to finance projects involving alternative fibre-optic corridors, new internet traffic exchange points, improved cybersecurity and the laying of new fibre-optic lines alongside investments in transport and energy.

This is not merely a concept on paper. While the fibre-optic cable connecting Kazakhstan and Azerbaijan has already been laid along the bottom of the Caspian Sea, the Trans-Caspian Energy Corridor is being prepared in parallel. As reported by Ulysmedia, the project will, among other things, make it possible to develop new infrastructure in the future for the export of energy from renewable sources to Europe, whose potential Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan are actively developing. One of the key elements is the construction of a high-voltage underwater cable across the Caspian Sea.

Where Is There a Place for Polish Companies?

The expansion of the Middle Corridor could also open up new opportunities for Polish companies. However, the greatest opportunities lie not in the Trans-Caspian fibre-optic cable itself, whose construction is nearing completion, but in the next wave of investment that the developing infrastructure may initiate. The increase in capacity will create demand for data centres, cloud and backup services, telecommunications network integration and cybersecurity solutions. In addition, there are ICT systems to support transport and energy infrastructure and process growing volumes of data.

The participation of the European Union through Global Gateway may be crucial for Polish businesses. The European Commission emphasises the importance of cooperation with trusted technology and cybersecurity service providers, as well as adapting developing infrastructure to European and international standards. Therefore, Polish companies do not need to compete for the largest infrastructure contracts. They can use their advantage as specialised European suppliers of technologies and services necessary for the functioning of the developing corridor – from cloud and data centres, through ICT integration and cybersecurity, to digital solutions for energy and transport. The most interesting business opportunity for Polish companies may turn out to be not the fibre-optic network on the bottom of the Caspian Sea, but the infrastructure and services emerging around the Middle Corridor.

OpenAI and Anthropic have been negotiating a deal to “stress-test” each other’s artificial intelligence models, the Information reported on Monday, citing a person with direct knowledge of the talks.

According to the report, the two AI companies were looking into an agreement to test their models and search for any potential vulnerabilities or security risks, but it is unclear whether they finalized the agreement before OpenAI experienced several security incidents, including one of its AI models escaping a secure test environment and hacking Hugging Face, and its agents attacking the software service RubyGems.

The proposed deal would reportedly give each company access to the other’s APIs for commercially available AI models, excluding unreleased models, with both agreeing not to retain each other’s data. The report added that OpenAI has been considering several scenarios for working with the government on safety, and that it weighed new safety practices targeting the period before models are trained and released.

The Iraqi government plans to take control of nearly 6 million weapons held by armed groups across the country by September 30.

The government does not view the September 30 deadline for armed groups to hand over their arsenals as the end of the process, but rather as the beginning of the initiative.

Iraqi Deputy Interior Minister Hussein al-Awadi said the transfer of weapons to state control is being carried out through negotiations rather than the use of force. A four-member committee, including Prime Minister Ali al-Zaydi and former Prime Minister Mohammed al-Sudani, is working on a new mechanism for the process.

According to Euronews, the initiative is being pursued amid pressure from the United States. Washington reportedly demanded in June that Baghdad establish a specific timetable for bringing weapons under state control and linked progress on the issue to Iraq’s access to dollar flows.

The issue primarily concerns Shiite armed groups backed by Iran. Some of these groups operate under the umbrella of the Popular Mobilization Forces (PMF).

Iranian allies Kataib Hezbollah and Harakat al-Nujaba have refused to hand over their arsenals, which they describe as ‘weapons of resistance.’

At the same time, Saraya al-Salam, Asaib Ahl al-Haq and Kataib Imam Ali have reached agreements with the government on handing over their weapons or legalizing their status.

President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev addressed the participants of the 4th Baku Security Forum.

“Dear Forum participants,

I sincerely welcome you to the 4th Baku Security Forum, themed ‘New Challenges in Global Security Architecture and the Formation of Effective Cooperation Mechanisms Against Terrorism.’

The fourth edition of the Forum in Baku brings together heads and representatives of special services and security agencies from various countries, providing an important platform for exchanging views and developing mutually beneficial cooperation in the field of international security. The year-by-year expansion of the Forum’s geographical reach, along with the growing relevance of the issues under discussion, is a testament to the increasing international significance of the Baku platform. I am confident that this year’s event will also make an important contribution to advancing security cooperation and facilitating the exchange of ideas and experience.

Today, the world is undergoing a period of rapid and complex change. Processes taking place within the system of international relations, intensifying geopolitical competition, and ongoing conflicts and confrontations in various regions are having a profound impact on the global security environment. The deepening crisis of trust and growing difficulties in achieving mutual understanding make strengthening national security architectures and maintaining international stability fundamental and urgent priorities for all countries.

Ensuring peace, stability and security in the world is a shared responsibility of all states. The scale and increasingly complex nature of modern challenges require stronger cooperation and the adoption of agile and coordinated approaches. This is because the concept of security is no longer confined within the borders of individual states. A crisis or flashpoint of tension emerging in one region can rapidly affect others, undermine political and economic stability, threaten energy and food security, and cause serious disruptions to transport and communication links. Taking advantage of this interconnectedness, terrorism and extremism, transnational organized crime, illicit arms and drug trafficking, cybercrime and other transborder threats are becoming increasingly complex.

Of particular concern is the use of modern technologies and new capabilities to expand the operational scope of terrorism. The malicious use of digital tools, including artificial intelligence, facilitates the spread of radical ideas, expands the financial resources of terrorist networks and facilitates the recruitment of new supporters, creating serious challenges to the effectiveness of counter-terrorism efforts. Under these conditions, the fight against terrorism must not be limited to the efforts of individual countries, but should remain a key area of international cooperation and joint action.

To ensure security effectively, it is vital not only to combat existing threats and address their consequences, but also to identify risks in advance and prevent them in a timely manner. To this end, strengthening mutual trust among states, developing professional ties between security agencies, and enhancing the effectiveness of information exchange are of paramount importance. Experience shows that partnerships based on open and reliable dialogue enable more agile and effective responses to even the most complex security challenges.

Azerbaijan considers ensuring international peace and security, strengthening mutual trust among states and expanding cooperation among its key priorities. Our country attaches great importance to promoting dialogue on security issues and expanding mutually beneficial cooperation through various international and regional platforms. The organization of the Baku Security Forum serves these objectives by creating conditions for identifying concrete avenues of cooperation and further strengthening mutual trust.

I am confident that the discussions to be held within the framework of this year’s Forum will contribute to a deeper understanding of contemporary global security challenges, the identification of new approaches to their prevention, and the further strengthening of cooperation between special services and security agencies. This, in turn, will contribute to consolidating international security and building a more stable and secure world for future generations.

I wish the 4th Baku Security Forum every success, and all its participants fruitful discussions and productive cooperation.”

Iranian Foreign Ministry Spokesman Esmail Baghaei compared the United States to Nazi Germany leader Adolf Hitler on Tuesday.

In a post on X, Baghaei rejected the claims that Tehran is to blame for the hike in fuel prices. “US officials blame Iran for rising fuel prices, as if the public’s memory is short enough to forget who actually initiated the war of aggression, and whose actions created the crisis that led to the closure of the Strait of Hormuz and the disruption of commercial shipping,” he wrote, adding that “Hitler similarly framed his invasion of Poland as a defensive action.”

“When the instigator of an unlawful ‘war of choice’ blames the victim for the fallout, should this be viewed as ‘strategic brilliance’, or is it simply a textbook symptom of ‘The March of Folly’?!” Baghaei asked.

Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan has suggested that the National Assembly could establish an investigative commission to examine what he described as a ‘crisis’ in the Armenian Apostolic Church, potentially leading to legislative changes affecting the Church’s governance.

Pashinyan made the remarks in an interview with Boon TV published on September 19, amid an ongoing dispute between his government and the Armenian Apostolic Church.

The prime minister said that, at his instruction, the Public Relations and Information Center under the Prime Minister’s Office had prepared a report on the ‘crisis’ in the Church and possible ways of resolving it. Pashinyan said he had reviewed the final draft, although the report had not yet been made public at the time of his remarks.

He described the situation in the Church as ‘terrible,’ claiming that it had been ‘occupied’ by Catholicos Karekin II, whom he referred to by his secular name, Ktrich Nersisyan.

Pashinyan said he had discussed the issue with the governing Civil Contract party’s board and did not rule out the creation of an investigative commission in parliament after the report is published.

‘I do not rule out that, following the publication of the report, an investigative commission will also be created in the National Assembly, which will make proposals for legislative changes arising from the report,’ Pashinyan said.

He did not directly answer a question about alleged Russian influence over the Church leadership, but said the issue was addressed in the report.

The remarks come amid criminal proceedings against Karekin II and six senior clergymen. The Catholicos and the bishops are accused of obstructing the enforcement of a court ruling concerning the reinstatement of former Bishop Gevorg Saroyan. The clergy members have denied wrongdoing and their defense has argued that the matter falls within the Church’s internal spiritual and canonical affairs.

The case has also gone through several changes of jurisdiction and judges. Judge Hakob Manukyan initially recused himself, while Judge Serzh Rushanyan subsequently transferred the case to a Yerevan court over jurisdictional questions. The case was later returned to the Armavir court, where preliminary hearings were scheduled for September 18.

Pashinyan also alleged that the Church had committed at least one electoral violation, arguing that religious organizations are prohibited from engaging in political campaigning. He said there should be consequences for such violations but did not elaborate.

The issue of the Church’s political role has become particularly contentious following the June 2026 parliamentary elections. Ahead of the vote, Karekin II met with opposition figure and businessman Samvel Karapetyan.

Pashinyan has also challenged arguments that proposed changes to the Church’s governance would be unconstitutional. Armenia’s Constitution defines the country as a sovereign, democratic and social state governed by the rule of law, while also providing for the Armenian Apostolic Holy Church’s historical mission and stating that relations between the state and the Church may be regulated by law.

In the same interview, Pashinyan argued that this provision gives parliament room to legislate on aspects of Church-state relations.

‘The church is not the Catholicos; the church is the community of believers, which, moreover, according to the traditions of our church, participates in the governance of the church,’ Pashinyan said.

He said parliament could introduce legislation giving members of the Church ‘genuine opportunities’ to participate in its governance.

Among the possible mechanisms, Pashinyan mentioned establishing parish councils and allowing believers to participate in discussions concerning the nomination of Church leaders.

The Armenian Apostolic Church has meanwhile accused the government of interfering in its internal affairs. In a September 18 statement following a meeting of its Supreme Spiritual Council, the Church described the authorities’ actions as an ongoing policy of interference and said restrictions imposed through state mechanisms were unacceptable.

Trkiye has signed a grant agreement with the U.S. Trade and Development Agency (USTDA) to assess the potential use of Small Modular Reactors (SMRs) and fourth-generation nuclear reactor technologies in the country.

Turkish Energy and Natural Resources Minister Alparslan Bayraktar announced it in a post on social media X.

The agreement was signed between Trkiye Nkleer Enerji A.S. (TÜNAS) and USTDA at Trkevi in New York.

Bayraktar said it will enable Trkiye to comprehensively evaluate the applicability of next-generation nuclear technologies from technical, economic and regulatory perspectives.

He added that Trkiye aims to diversify its energy mix as part of its goals of achieving net-zero emissions by 2053 and strengthening energy independence.

According to the minister, alongside the development of large-scale nuclear power plants, Trkiye will continue assessing nuclear technologies that best suit the country’s energy needs as it works to build a modern and resilient energy infrastructure.