Central Asian forecasters dismiss Iran 'acid cloud' rumours
Reports of so-called “acid clouds” moving from Iran towards Central Asia are not supported by scientif...
During the phone conversation, Vladimir Putin expressed his apologies regarding the tragic incident on December 25 involving an Azerbaijan Airlines passenger plane operating the Baku-Grozny route, which experienced external physical-technical interference within Russian airspace.
On December 28, the President of the Russian Federation, Vladimir Putin, called the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan, Ilham Aliyev.
During the phone conversation, Vladimir Putin expressed his apologies regarding the tragic incident on December 25 involving an Azerbaijan Airlines passenger plane operating the Baku-Grozny route, which experienced external physical-technical interference within Russian airspace.
He extended his heartfelt condolences once again to the families and relatives of those who lost their lives in the accident and wished a swift recovery to those injured.
President Ilham Aliyev noted that the passenger plane belonging to Azerbaijan Airlines was subjected to external physical-technical interference while in Russian airspace, causing a total loss of control. The plane was redirected towards Aktau, Kazakhstan, and was only able to make an emergency landing due to the courage and professionalism of its pilots.
The President highlighted that the aircraft's fuselage bore numerous perforations and that passengers and crew members were injured mid-flight by foreign objects that penetrated the cabin. Statements from surviving cabin crew and passengers have corroborated the fact of external physical-technical interference.
During the conversation, the two leaders discussed the necessity of a thorough and comprehensive investigation into all aspects of the tragedy, ensuring those responsible are held accountable and that compensation is provided to the victims' families.
President Ilham Aliyev stated that, at Azerbaijan's initiative, an international team of experts has been formed to conduct a detailed investigation into the causes of the accident, and this team has already begun its work.
Both leaders emphasised that the investigation into the tragedy will be conducted with full transparency and that the public will be regularly updated on the process.
Mojtaba Khamenei, son of the late Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, is a hardline cleric with strong backing from the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps. His rise signals continuity in Tehran's anti-Western policies.
Global oil prices surpassed $119 a barrel on Monday (9 March, 2026), an almost four year high, as the Middle East conflict rumbled on.
China has urged Afghanistan and Pakistan to resolve their dispute through dialogue after Chinese envoy Yue Xiaoyong met Afghan Foreign Minister Amir Khan Muttaqi, as fighting between the two neighbours entered its eleventh day.
Welcome to our live coverage as the conflict involving Iran enters its 11th day. Tensions in the region remain high as the United States and Iran exchange increasingly sharp warnings over the strategic Strait of Hormuz, a critical artery for global oil supplies.
Entry and exit across the state border between Azerbaijan and Iran for all types of cargo vehicles, including those in transit, will resume on 9 March, according to a statement by the Cabinet of Ministers of Azerbaijan.
Reports of so-called “acid clouds” moving from Iran towards Central Asia are not supported by scientific data, national hydrometeorological services in Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan and Kyrgyzstan say, adding there is no threat to the region.
A senior delegation from the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly has been holding meetings with Georgian government officials, opposition leaders and security authorities this week, as international observers attempt to gauge the country’s political climate following last year’s contentious elections.
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan has told Masoud Pezeshkian, his Iranian counterpart, that violations of Turkish airspace by Iran could not be justified “for any reason whatsoever.”
The Cabinet of Ministers of Kyrgyzstan has approved a new programme aimed at developing educational courses and training sessions for young parents.
Kazakhstan has evacuated 8,585 citizens from Middle Eastern countries as regional tensions escalate. Authorities are coordinating air and land evacuations while analysts warn the crisis could reshape security and energy risks across the Caspian region.
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