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Tuesday, August 25, 2026
Azerbaijan sets 3.8 million visitor goal as tourism faces structural hurdles

Azerbaijan sets 3.8 million visitor goal as tourism faces structural hurdles

President Ilham Aliyev signed Azerbaijan's first comprehensive State Tourism Development Programme on August 20, setting a target of 3.8 million annual visitors by 2030, from 2.57 million today. The H1 2026 data, showing a 10.3% year-on-year decline, explains why the urgency is real. So do the programme's own diagnoses of what is not working.

Nation
Azerbaijan taps Kalbajar rivers to expand renewable power generation

Azerbaijan taps Kalbajar rivers to expand renewable power generation

Azerbaijan’s three small hydropower plants in the Kalbajar district generated a combined 183.6 million kWh of electricity from the date of their commissioning through July this year, according to the Ministry of Energy.

Oil & Gas
Gas prices rise as Europe struggles to refill storage

Gas prices rise as Europe struggles to refill storage

Europe’s natural gas storage facilities are currently 61.6% full, compared with 74% during the same period last year.

Business
Bitcoin rises above $80,500 in strongest rally since 2023

Bitcoin rises above $80,500 in strongest rally since 2023

Bitcoin’s price has surpassed $80,500. The world’s leading cryptocurrency gained more than 20% over three days last week, marking its strongest three-day rally since 2023. Bitcoin is currently trading at $80,567.

Armenian-Azerbaijani Relations
Azerbaijan facilitates another Russian shipment to Armenia

Azerbaijan facilitates another Russian shipment to Armenia

Another shipment from Russia to Armenia has been carried out in transit through Azerbaijan.

World
U.S. Air Force C-17 lands in Moscow

U.S. Air Force C-17 lands in Moscow

A U.S. Air Force Boeing C-17 Globemaster III military transport aircraft landed at Moscow’s Vnukovo Airport on Tuesday morning, August 25.

Analysis

Lifestyle
Carpet Museum showcases cultural heritage at Budapest Folk Art Festival [PHOTOS]

Carpet Museum showcases cultural heritage at Budapest Folk Art Festival [PHOTOS]

The Azerbaijan National Carpet Museum has represented the country at the 40th International Folk Art Festival in Budapest for the second year in a row.

Culture
International guests explore National Art Museum [PHOTOS]

International guests explore National Art Museum [PHOTOS]

Ren Quanxiu, head of the Lu Xun Academy of Fine Arts, one of China’s leading art academies, and Yuri Stanbek Shygaev, a People's Artist of the Kyrgyz Republic, visited the Azerbaijan National Art Museum.

Travel
Azerbaijani pilgrims currently at Medina international airport

Azerbaijani pilgrims currently at Medina international airport
Second group of Azerbaijani pilgrims to depart for Hajj this month

Second group of Azerbaijani pilgrims to depart for Hajj this month
Astana celebrates Novruz with festive events and cultural celebrations [PHOTOS]

Astana celebrates Novruz with festive events and cultural celebrations [PHOTOS]
Albania’s impeccable hospitality and exuberant architecture

Albania’s impeccable hospitality and exuberant architecture
Experience charm of autumn season at Shahdag National Park

Experience charm of autumn season at Shahdag National Park
Georgian foreign travelers arrive in Shusha

Georgian foreign travelers arrive in Shusha

Events
Azerbaijan clears nearly 1,830 hectares of land from mines and UXO

Azerbaijan clears nearly 1,830 hectares of land from mines and UXO

The Azerbaijan Mine Action Agency (ANAMA) has released information on mine clearance operations carried out in the liberated territories between August 17 and 23.

Sports
Baku to host IRONMAN 70.3 triathlon for first time

Baku to host IRONMAN 70.3 triathlon for first time

The "ALUFAR IRONMAN 70.3 BAKU" triathlon will be held in Baku on September 5, marking the first time in Azerbaijan's sporting history that the city hosts an "IRONMAN 70.3" event.

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