Category: Azer News

The three-day final stage of the sixth “Yks?lis” (Rising) competition has concluded, AzerNEWS reports.

A total of 130 participants, who had successfully completed the previous four stages of the competition, competed in the final round.

On the third day of the finals, several senior officials attended the event, including Minister of Youth and Sports Farid Gayibov.

Under the supervision of members of the Organizing Committee and mentors, the finalists completed a case study titled “New Sphere of Influence: Azerbaijan.”

The participants answered mentors’ questions regarding their proposed solutions, which were evaluated by senior executives.

The winners of the competition will be announced within 5-7 working days after the conclusion of the final stage.

The “Yks?lis” (Rise/Ascent) competition is a national leadership and talent development initiative in Azerbaijan designed to identify professionals with strong intellectual potential, managerial abilities, and leadership qualities, while creating a reserve pool of talented specialists for the country. It was established by a decree of the President of Azerbaijan, Ilham Aliyev, on July 26, 2019.

The competition targets Azerbaijani citizens who demonstrate high professional competence and leadership potential. Eligible participants are typically required to be between 21 and 51 years old, hold a higher education degree, and have at least two years of management experience.

The competition consists of several stages, including registration, a general knowledge examination, analytical assessment, management skills evaluation, semifinal, and final rounds. Participants are tested on their knowledge, analytical thinking, decision-making abilities, and leadership skills through various assessments and practical case assignments.

One of the key advantages of the competition is its focus on long-term professional development. Winners receive a one-year individual development program under the mentorship of experienced leaders, as well as a 20,000 AZN financial award for self-development.

Participants who successfully advance through major stages may also be included in a national talent reserve database.

The United States military has concluded its 12th consecutive night of strikes against Iran, according to a statement released by the U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM), AzerNEWS reports.

CENTCOM said the latest wave of attacks targeted Iran’s maritime capabilities, facilities used to store missiles and unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), coastal surveillance sites, and air defense systems.

The command also stated that throughout this month, U.S. forces have carried out strikes against dozens of Iranian military installations on land while simultaneously re-establishing a naval blockade against Iran.

As of today, CENTCOM said it has redirected the routes of nine commercial vessels and disabled one ship as part of efforts to prevent maritime traffic from entering or departing Iranian ports.

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi told reporters on Thursday that his country has failed to reach an agreement with the United States due to Washington’s “irrational, excessive, and domineering” approach to negotiations, AzerNEWS reports.

“Until they understand that there is no alternative to respecting Iran’s people and their interests, there will not be the conditions for progress,” Araghchi insisted. “They simply need to reconsider their policies,” he added.

The comments come after US Secretary of State Marco Rubio once again reiterated that Tehran must commit to never acquiring a nuclear weapon in order to strike a deal with Washington, noting he believes it is still not ready for that but will be soon. Reflecting on Araghchi’s stance that Iran’s defense policy is based on the “an eye for an eye” principle, Rubio said that the American stance is “a head for an eye.”

Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) Aerospace Force Commander Majid Mousavi confirmed in a message carried by Tasnim news agency on Wednesday that if the country comes under attack once again, the region’s energy sector will be targeted, with electricity to be cut off, AzerNEWS reports.

“If our bridges and power plants are attacked, the power outage of the allies and hosts of the child killers is certain,” he underlined.

Meanwhile, IRGC spokesperson Sardar Mohebbi addressed shipping companies in a separate statement, telling them that “the mined southern route of the Strait of Hormuz is the path to the destruction of [their] capital.”

He further called on them not to “fall for the deception” of Washington.

Iran-backed Houthi rebels (“Ansar Allah”) in Yemen have claimed that they targeted two Saudi-owned oil tankers in the Red Sea with drones and missiles, AzerNEWS reports.

Houthi military spokesperson Yahya Saree said in a video address that the Saudi-owned oil tankers “ENCELIA” and “LAYLA” had been targeted.

According to Saree, the vessels were targeted for violating the designated transit ban.

“The operation was carried out using multiple ballistic and cruise missiles, as well as UAVs, and direct hits were inflicted on the vessels,” he noted.

Providing further details on military activities in the region, Saree said the Yemeni Houthis had forced around 10 vessels to withdraw and change their routes as part of similar operations.

The Houthi military spokesperson also issued a direct warning to the Saudi government.

Earlier, the UK Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) reported that a projectile struck a tanker in the Red Sea off the coast of Saudi Arabia on Wednesday.

According to the organization, “the vessel’s master reported that it had been hit by an unknown projectile, which caused a fire on board that the crew is currently fighting.”

Saudi Arabia’s official news agency SPA confirmed that the Encelia, “owned by a Saudi company,” had been attacked, causing a fire to break out in the vessel’s bow. The agency added that all crew members were safe.

During January-June 2026, 1.0926 million people from 189 countries visited the Republic of Azerbaijan. This is 10.3% less compared to the same period last year, AzerNEWS reports.

According to the State Border Service, 28.1% of arrivals were citizens of the Russian Federation, 21.0% from Trkiye, 8.2% from Iran, 4.9% from Georgia, 4.6% from Kazakhstan, 3.2% from Uzbekistan, 2.9% from Pakistan, 2.8% from India, 2.6% from Israel, 2.4% from China, 1.8% from Saudi Arabia, 1.6% from Ukraine, 1.3% from Turkmenistan, and 1.1% each from Germany and the United Kingdom. Citizens of other countries and stateless persons accounted for 12.4% of total arrivals.

Of those arriving in the country, 68.7% were men and 31.3% were women.

Compared to January-June 2025, the number of arrivals from European Union member states increased by 9.3% to 54.4 thousand, while the number of arrivals from CIS countries increased by 1.8% to 430.4 thousand. At the same time, the number of arrivals from the Gulf countries decreased by 31.4% to 127.7 thousand, while the number of arrivals from other countries declined by 14.1% to 480.1 thousand.

Air travel remained the dominant mode of entry, accounting for 71.1% of arrivals, followed by rail and road transport at 27.5%, while 1.4% arrived by sea.

Meanwhile, the number of Azerbaijani citizens travelling abroad fell 5.1% year-on-year to 937,400 in the first six months of 2026, remaining 2.7 times below the level recorded in the first half of 2019.

Of Azerbaijani citizens traveling abroad, 41.5% traveled to Trkiye, 17.1% to the Russian Federation, 11.7% to Georgia, 6.2% to Iran, and 23.5% to other countries. Compared to the same period last year, travel to Trkiye increased by 3.5%, travel to Georgia increased by 0.2%, while travel to the Russian Federation decreased by 3.0%, and travel to Iran declined by 41.0%.

Among Azerbaijani citizens traveling abroad, 66.5% were men and 33.5% were women.

During the reporting period, 69.8% of Azerbaijani citizens traveling abroad used air transport, 28.1% used rail and road transport, and 2.1% traveled by sea.

The first meeting of the Working Group established to coordinate the implementation of the “Azerbaijani Culture-2040” Concept has taken place at the Azerbaijan National Library under the organization of the Culture Ministry, AzerNEWS reports.

The meeting was attended by Azerbaijan Culture Minister Adil Karimli, Head of the Humanitarian Affairs Department of the Cabinet of Ministers’ Office Arastu Habibbayli, deputy ministers and authorized representatives of the main implementing institutions responsible for the Concept’s Action Plan, officials from the Center for Analysis of Economic Reforms and Communication, as well as heads of relevant structural divisions of the Ministry of Culture.

Addressing the meeting, Working Group Chairman and Minister of Culture Adil Karimli stated that the “Azerbaijani Culture-2040” Concept, approved by the presidential order, is an important strategic document defining the long-term priorities for the development of national cultural policy.

The minister noted that, in accordance with the relevant decision of the Cabinet of Ministers on ensuring the implementation of the Presidential Order dated January 14, 2026, No. 888, a Working Group consisting of responsible representatives from the main implementing institutions has been established to coordinate the implementation of the Action Plan. He pointed out that the group will play an important role in strengthening cooperation among state institutions and ensuring effective, results-oriented implementation of the Concept.

Arastu Habibbayli, Head of the Humanitarian Affairs Department of the Cabinet of Ministers’ Office, highlighted the importance of the Concept in preserving national and moral values, forming a modern cultural model, and ensuring sustainable development of the cultural sector. He stressed the need for all implementing institutions to approach their responsibilities with a high level of commitment.

Later, Deputy Minister of Culture Saadat Yusifova, who heads the Ministry’s internal Working Group on the implementation of the Concept, presented information on the work already carried out by the Ministry within the framework of the strategy. She said that relevant mechanisms had been created to coordinate the implementation of 84 large-scale measures included in the Action Plan, along with the establishment of monitoring and reporting systems.

Deputy Head of the Ministry’s internal Working Group Ayaz Museyibov, who also serves as Deputy Head of the State Service for Protection, Development and Restoration of Cultural Heritage under the Culture Ministry, delivered a presentation on the Cabinet of Ministers’ decision. He provided information on the tasks arising from the document, implementation deadlines, and coordination mechanisms between relevant institutions.

During the meeting, expert Nazli Ahmadova presented an overview of the Concept’s content and its main areas of focus.

Members of the Working Group, including Deputy Minister of Science and Education Hasan Hasanli, Deputy Minister of Economy Azer Bayramov, Deputy Minister of Ecology and Natural Resources Vugar Karimov, Vice President of the Azerbaijan National Academy of Sciences Govhar Bakhshaliyeva, Deputy Chairperson of the State Committee for Family, Women and Children Affairs Sadaqat Gahramanova, and Head of the Office of the Intellectual Property Agency Khudayat Hasanli, also delivered speeches.

The participants stressed the importance of consistent implementation of planned activities, stronger inter-institutional coordination, and enhanced cooperation to achieve the goals and objectives of the Concept.

During the discussions, participants reviewed progress in preparing six state programs planned within the framework of the Concept, as well as upcoming tasks. Discussions were also held on improving monitoring and reporting mechanisms, ensuring effective implementation of the Action Plan, and identifying priorities for the next stages.

At the conclusion of the meeting, participants discussed areas requiring joint action by state institutions under the Action Plan, as well as the Working Group’s activities for the upcoming period.

On January 14, 2026, Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev signed a decree endorsing the “Azerbaijani Culture – 2040” Cultural Concept, a long-term strategic plan aimed at shaping the country’s cultural development over the next two decades, according to Azernews.

The initiative seeks to balance tradition and modernity, preserving national identity while fostering sustainable growth and enhancing Azerbaijan’s cultural presence on the global stage.

The Concept envisions a contemporary cultural model that respects national and moral values and ensures structured, long-term development across all cultural sectors. It places particular emphasis on the Azerbaijani language, advocating for its stronger presence in cultural life, deeper development, and increased international visibility and influence.

To realize these goals, the Concept proposes coordinated measures to elevate the status of Azerbaijani in society, including efforts to promote, develop, and support the language as a dynamic and evolving medium of expression. Anticipated results include the growth of the Azerbaijani literary language, the creation of new works in the native tongue, and expanded use of Azerbaijani across digital platforms.

The Concept also highlights the importance of international promotion to extend the language’s global reach and enhance its role in worldwide communication. Measures will aim to increase both the quantity and quality of scientific, journalistic, and literary output in Azerbaijani, ensuring it remains a vibrant cultural and intellectual tool.

Coordinated by the Azerbaijan Culture Ministry, the Concept outlines a phased implementation plan divided into three stages: 2026-2030, 2031-2035, and 2036-2040, each with clearly defined objectives and institutional mechanisms to guide progress.

Pursuant to the Bilateral Military Cooperation Plan signed between the Ministries of Defense of the Republic of Azerbaijan and the Republic of Serbia, a delegation from the Ministry of Defense of Serbia paid a visit to Azerbaijan, AzerNEWS reports.

During a meeting at the Institute of Military Management under the National Defense University, the delegation was presented with a briefing on “Geopolitical Aspects of the Conflict,” highlighting the experience gained during the 44-day Patriotic War. The delegation was subsequently provided with comprehensive information on the military education system and training process within the Army.

The meeting also featured an exchange of advanced practices regarding the military education systems of both countries, and contemporary approaches applied in this field. In addition, the sides held detailed discussions on other issues of common interest.

At the conclusion of the meeting, the sides exchanged commemorative gifts and a group photo was taken.

Global hunger declined for the third consecutive year in 2025, demonstrating that progress is possible. However, the gains remain fragile and are far too slow to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) by 2030, AzerNEWS reports.

It was presented in the latest edition of the “State of Food Security and Nutrition in the World” (SOFI) report, published by five United Nations agencies.

Estimates show that 7.8 percent of the world’s population, or approximately 645 million people, experienced hunger in 2025. This is around 43 million fewer people than in the previous four years. While Asia, Latin America and the Caribbean have recorded steady improvements in recent years, Africa is currently home to the largest number of people facing hunger. In 2025, approximately 309 million people on the continent were undernourished, compared with 292 million in Asia. Although the prevalence of hunger in Africa declined from 20.3 percent in 2024 to 20.0 percent the following year, rapid population growth means that the continent now has the largest absolute number of people suffering from hunger.

Broader measures of food access tell a similar story. In 2025, an estimated 25.8 percent of the global population (around 2.1 billion people) experienced moderate or severe food insecurity, meaning they were at times forced to compromise on the quality or quantity of the food they ate. This is down from 27.1 percent in 2024 and 28.7 percent in 2020 – equivalent to nearly 86 million fewer people than in 2024 and 135 million fewer than in 2020, though still above pre-pandemic levels.

According to the report, although there was some progress in reducing global hunger in 2025 compared with 2020 and 2024, the level remains higher than before the pandemic.

In Africa, more than half of the population – 56.6 percent – experienced moderate or severe food insecurity in 2025. The figure was 20.3 percent in Asia, 22.9 percent in Latin America and the Caribbean, and 8.7 percent in North America and Europe.

The UN also highlighted the impact of conflict, climate change and rising costs on global hunger. The annual SOFI report is published by the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD), the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), the World Food Programme (WFP) and the World Health Organization (WHO).

The agencies warn that conflicts in the Middle East, increasingly extreme weather conditions, and declining official development assistance and humanitarian funding could undermine recent progress toward ending global hunger.

The official visit of Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev to Germany, which began on July 21, 2026, marked a significant milestone in relations between Baku and Berlin and reflected a broader transformation in Azerbaijan’s position within the European political landscape.

The signing of the “Joint Declaration on a Strategic Agenda for the Bilateral Partnership” by President Ilham Aliyev and German Chancellor Friedrich Merz became one of the key outcomes of the visit. The document demonstrated a new level of political understanding between Azerbaijan and Germany and confirmed the growing importance of bilateral relations.

The symbolism is hard to miss. Germany is now the second major Western European country (after Italy) to formalize relations with Azerbaijan in a strategic partnership format. Read alongside Italy’s earlier move, this sequence of diplomatic decisions suggests that Azerbaijan’s political weight in Europe is steadily increasing, and that the major European Union member states increasingly view Baku as one of their most important partners across the Eurasian space.

During his visit to Berlin, President Aliyev also addressed the development of relations between Azerbaijan and the European Union, emphasizing the importance of recent high-level contacts.

“This year, we witnessed visits to Azerbaijan by both the President of the European Council, Mr. Costa, and the President of the European Commission, Ms. Ursula von der Leyen. These visits hold significant political importance. This will further strengthen relations between the European Union and Azerbaijan,” President Ilham Aliyev said during a joint press conference with Chancellor Merz.

The Berlin visit came amid a period of unprecedented diplomatic activity between Azerbaijan and European institutions and capitals.

On March 11, 2026, European Council President António Costa paid an official visit to Baku – his first visit to Azerbaijan in this capacity. His discussions with President Ilham Aliyev covered strategic partnership, energy, transport, and security cooperation.

A few months later, on May 4, 2026, Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni arrived in Baku for an official visit. Energy cooperation was one of the central topics of discussions. President Ilham Aliyev noted that Azerbaijan exported around 25 billion cubic meters of natural gas in the previous year, with 9.5 billion cubic meters delivered to Italy, and both sides discussed possibilities for increasing supplies.

Italy has long been one of Azerbaijan’s closest European partners, particularly in the energy sector. The expansion of strategic ties with Rome has also strengthened Azerbaijan’s role in Europe’s efforts to diversify energy sources.

On May 5, 2026, President Ilham Aliyev received a delegation led by Kaja Kallas, the European Union’s High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy and Vice-President of the European Commission. During the meeting, the head of state emphasized that the EU remains one of Azerbaijan’s main trade partners and highlighted Baku’s role as a reliable contributor to Europe’s energy security.

The Azerbaijani leader also pointed out that Azerbaijani gas had recently begun reaching additional EU member states, including Germany and Austria, further expanding the country’s energy footprint in Europe.

Barely four months after Costa’s visit, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen arrived in Baku on July 1. She offered striking praise for Azerbaijan’s foreign policy trajectory, highlighting Baku’s contribution to a peace agenda, its role in regional stability, and what she called a strategic vision for the future. Her remarks signaled that Brussels sees Azerbaijan as one of the principal guarantors of long-term stability in the South Caucasus.

Another significant European visit followed on July 13, 2026, when Slovak President Peter Pellegrini arrived in Azerbaijan. Discussions focused on bilateral relations, infrastructure and social projects, as well as Slovakia’s possible participation in reconstruction efforts in Azerbaijan’s liberated territories, including Karabakh and the Aghdam region.

The increasing frequency of high-level European visits reflects a broader shift in Azerbaijan’s international standing. As a result of its active foreign policy, strategic location, energy resources, and diplomatic initiatives, Azerbaijan is increasingly viewed as a middle power whose position is taken into account on regional and international issues.

Azerbaijan’s foreign policy strategy has focused on developing relations with different centers of power based on mutual respect, national interests, and equal cooperation. In its dialogue with the European Union, Baku has increasingly emphasized that political agreements should be supported by practical outcomes and concrete projects.

The country’s growing importance is particularly visible in the energy sector. Against the backdrop of Europe’s efforts to diversify energy supplies following the war in Ukraine, Azerbaijan has strengthened its reputation as a reliable alternative supplier. Today, Azerbaijani natural gas reaches 12 European countries, making energy cooperation one of the central pillars of relations with the EU.

Although energy remains a key element of Azerbaijan’s relationship with Europe, cooperation is expanding into transportation, connectivity, security, investment, technology, and regional stability.

At the same time, Azerbaijan considers the EU its leading economic partner and seeks to transform political dialogue into long-term economic and institutional cooperation.

Strategic partnerships with major EU states lend weight within Brussels. A strong relationship with Brussels, in turn, enhances Baku’s standing with individual member states.

Germany’s decision to formalize a strategic partnership with Azerbaijan is, in one sense, simply a recognition of realities that have been building for years. In another sense, it is a bet on Azerbaijan’s continuing reliability as an energy supplier, on its durability as a regional actor, and on the proposition that a middle power with multi-vector diplomacy can become a structural partner for a union.