Azerbaijani named second most spoken language in Georgia
More than 265,000 people in Georgia speak Azerbaijani as their first language, making it the second most widely spoken language in the country, according to the 2024 census.
Society
Poland tightens entry rules for Georgian citizens
New entry rules for Georgian citizens travelling to Poland for work take effect on August 15, though visa‑free tourist travel remains unchanged.
Israeli airline extends Moscow flight suspension until October
Israeli carrier El Al has prolonged the cancellation of Moscow flights until October, after initially halting services through September 1.
Houthis attack Saudi Aramco refinery once again
The Houthis from Yemen's rebel Ansar Allah movement carried out a drone strike on a Jazan oil refinery belonging to the Saudi state-owned company Saudi Aramco, the rebel-controlled SABA news agency reported, citing a military source.
Airfield in Syrian province of Idlib attacked
The strikes on the military airfield in the Idlib province in northwestern Syria were carried out by Israeli Air Force aircraft, Syria TV channel quoted a source as saying.
Eight climbers evacuated from Mount Elbrus
A group of climbers who lost contact while ascending Mount Elbrus has been evacuated, the Russian Emergencies Ministry's Main Directorate for Kabardino-Balkaria said.
Jackie Chan movie Armor of God 4 wraps Baku shoot
Filming of the Azerbaijani part of the film "Armor of God 4: Ultimatum" starring Jackie Chan has been completed, the press office of the Azerbaijani Cinema Agency (ARKA) reported.
Nearly 40 ex-IDPs arrive in Shushas Kichik-Galadarasi village
A group of ex-IDPs arrived in the village of Kichik Galadarasi in the Shusha District on August 17, according to Azerbaijan’s State Committee for Refugees and Internally Displaced Persons.
New Istanbul Airport sets new daily flight and passenger record
The IGA Istanbul Airport reached its highest daily number of flights and passengers in Türkiye and Europe with some 290,287 passengers aboard 1,739 flights on August 16, Turkish transport and infrastructure minister Abdulkadir Uraloglu said.
Telavi receives 500,000 lari for disaster recovery
The Georgian government has allocated funds from its reserve fund to help Telavi recover from a mudslide that flooded several streets about a month ago.
ANAMA clears 1,700 hectares of liberated territories from mines in a week
Over the past week, demining teams in Azerbaijan's liberated territories cleared 1,700 hectares of land, neutralising hundreds of mines and unexploded ordnance
Residents returning to Azerbaijan's Khojavand and Shusha
The next group of former internally displaced persons (IDPs) has been sent to Azerbaijan's Khojavand and Shusha districts, according to the State Committee for Affairs of Refugees and IDPs.
Türkiye steps up probes into forest fires
Türkiye has identified 43 suspects in investigations into 64 forest fires across 22 provinces since June 1, with 11 suspects arrested and 18 placed under judicial control, Turkish Justice Minister Akın Gürlek announced .
Iranian army offers reward for each US soldier
Iranian army commander Amir Hatami has announced a $30,000 reward for anyone who kills or captures an American serviceman.
Yemeni army reports over 180 operations against Houthis in day
The Yemeni army conducted more than 180 military operations against Houthi facilities during that past day, Yemeni army spokesman Colonel Majed Al-Nuzaili said.
Iran estimates damage from Hormuz oil spill at trillions of dollars
Iranian Foreign Ministry Spokesman Esmaeil Baghaei said oil pollution might have caused trillions of dollars of damage to the region’s marine ecosystem.
Russian deputy PM orders additional fuel measures
A tight fuel supply situation persists in several Russian regions, with Russia's Deputy Prime Minister Alexander Novak having ordered additional measures to ensure supply and monitor prices, the cabinet of ministers reported.
Kazakhstan's energy system recovers following disruption
Energy supply in Kazakhstan's Unified Energy System (UES) has been restored after a technical disruption on August 14, UES operator KEGOC reported.
Central Asian countries report power blackouts
Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan all reported blackouts on Friday, which Kazakhstan's energy ministry said had been caused by a "sudden change in the power flow" from the Central Asian grid.
Mines kill 436 people since end of war in Azerbaijan
Since the end of the Patriotic War, that is, from November 10, 2020, 436 people have suffered from mine explosions, the Prosecutor General’s Office of Azerbaijan said.
