In accordance with the training plan for 2023 approved by the Minister of Defense, the Artillery units of the Azerbaijan Army held live-fire tactical exercises, according to the Defense Ministry.

The military attachés of foreign countries accredited to the Republic of Azerbaijan visited the Azerbaijan Naval Forces.

Report informs citing the Ministry of Defense that in the assembly hall of the headquarters building the visitors were first presented an extensive briefing about the history and activities of the Naval Forces.

Then, in the warships the military attachés got acquainted with the conditions created for the military personnel, visited the mariners’ dormitory, canteen and other facilities, and signed the “Book of Honor”.

In the end, the sides exchanged presents and a photo was taken.

In accordance with the training plan of the Land Forces for 2023, practical shooting exercises on firing from sniper rifles were carried out, Report informs, citing the Ministry of Defense of Azerbaijan.

First, the military personnel worked out the regulations on taking the firing position and bringing the weapons into the state of combat readiness.

Tasks to detect and destroy imaginary enemy targets in the training area were professionally accomplished by snipers.

The objectives of the practical shooting exercises are to increase the capabilities to destroy targets with accurate fire by following the right targeting rules.

Thanks to the current President of Türkiye, Recep Tayyip Erdogan, the stability of the political system reigns in the country, said political scientist Ilgar Velizade, who became a guest of the Let’s Talk podcast by Hamid Hamidov, Report informs.

“Erdogan’s achievements can be assessed in two directions. In domestic policy, it is stability. In foreign policy, it is confidence. Stability means that all actors of the political system adhere to common rules,” he said.

According to the political scientist, a possible change of power in Türkiye should not worry Azerbaijan.

“For example, we have the Shusha Declaration signed with Türkiye. Even if the opposition [Kilicdaroglu] comes to power, he will also have to fulfill the conditions of this declaration, just like anyone else who comes to power,” Velizade said.

The political scientist emphasized that this is connected with the long-term interests of states.

In conclusion, Velizade suggested that Erdogan would still win in the second round, since he had more chances.

Military personnel of the Separate Combined Arms Army, who participated in the exercises dedicated to the 100th anniversary of the founding of the Republic of Türkiye and the 100th anniversary of the birth of the national leader of the Azerbaijani people Heydar Aliyev, successfully completed combat missions and showed good results.

The Naval Forces held tactical exercises in accordance with the training plan for 2023 approved by the Minister of Defense, Colonel General Zakir Hasanov.

Report informs, citing the Ministry of Defense, that according to the exercise plan, the ships left the basing site on alert and accomplished combat tasks on protection and defense of energy infrastructure in the Azerbaijani sector of the Caspian Sea.

Naval Forces units also fulfilled the tasks on destroying terrorist-sabotage groups at sea and organizing underwater anti-sabotage defense.

The military personnel of the Naval Forces demonstrated high professionalism in the exercises focused on improving the skills of commanders and headquarters on working out joint activities with naval commandos, organization of combat activities, and management of forces in combat during the execution of tasks on the assignment of ship tactical groups in various conditions.

The military pentathlon championship, which was held in the Azerbaijani Army in accordance with the training plan approved by the Defense Minister of Azerbaijan for the 2023 training year, ended, Report informs, citing the Defense Ministry.

The participants of the championship demonstrated high professionalism on overcoming the obstacle course, 200-meter gun shooting, grenade launching, 8-kilometer cross, and swimming races.

The importance of maintaining the physical readiness of the servicemen at a constant high level was noted at the awarding ceremony. Thanks to such competitions held in the army, a healthy competition atmosphere is created among the servicemen, and the interest in sports among the youth is increasing.

According to the results of the competition, which took place in the conditions of intense competition, the teams of “The Military Institute”, “Land Forces” and “Air Force” took first, second, and third places, respectively.

In individual competitions, cadet Ravan Katanov was awarded first place, extended serviceman Sergeant Eyub Eyubov second, and cadet Toghrul Hasanov was awarded third place.

In the end, the winners were awarded diplomas, cups, and medals.

On Saturday, US president Joe Biden shushed a journalist who tried to ask him a question while he was answering another one during a meeting with the media, Report informs via Marca.

As he met with Australian prime minister Anthony Albanese at the G7 summit being held in the Japanese city of Hiroshima, Biden was answering a question about negotiations with the Republican opposition to suspend the debt ceiling.

When another journalist tried to intervene, Biden got fed up.

“Shush up, okay, thank you,” Biden stated.

The president has had incidents with the press in the past, for example responding to reporters with the phrase “give me a break” when asked tough questions.

The CBC TV channel has prepared a documentary about France’s ongoing colonial policy in African countries, Report informs.

The relationship between France and Mali (former French Sudan) is a clear confirmation of this strategy.

The film emphasizes that the colonization in Mali was brutal, bloody and without any compromise.

“We [the Malians] are by nature very warlike and attached to our land, language, culture. Therefore, the resistance was the most severe,” one of the locals shared his thoughts.

According to another respondent, despite the fact that many Malians didn’t live at the time of colonization, they still feel its detrimental effects.

“The colonial system still exists. All African countries are the same, we are not moving forward yet. Year after year our population is increasing, but the situation is getting worse. The French are starting to take over key segments of our economy. There is an outflow of intellectuals, educated people who are lured, are invited to conferences and are awarded medals, while saying to them ‘it’s good that you have become French’,” he said.

The CBC TV channel has prepared a documentary film about the French crimes committed in the Algerian city of Reggane, Report informs.

Ballali Abdelkerim Benali is one of the residents of Reggane, whose father, while working in a French military base, stole secret documents. The papers, among other things, contained the facts of the French military conducting nuclear tests on humans and animals.

“Father told us how the French tortured the Algerian resistance fighters and experimented on them like on rats. My father even had photos of some French soldiers, but they were subsequently destroyed,” he said.

In 1960-1966, France conducted at least 17 nuclear tests in the city of Reggane. As a result, the health of the local population was seriously harmed, and the number of oncological diseases has sharply increased there.

The documentary contains interviews with residents of the city who are still suffering from the consequences of these nuclear tests and are demanding compensation from Paris.

The weapons, combat, and special equipment have been transferred into the summer operation mode in all types of troops, military units and subunits of the Azerbaijan Army in accordance with the training plan for 2023, Report informs, citing the Ministry of Defense.

To ensure the uninterrupted and stable operation of weapons and equipment in the summer season, seasonal maintenance of the equipment was carried out considering the features of the climatic conditions at the technical service points operating in the military units.

It should be noted that due to the transfer of weapons and equipment into the summer operation mode, all the necessary measures were implemented in a planned manner to further increase the combat capability of the units, as well as to maintain a high level of combat readiness.

The Armenian side is spreading false information to once again mislead the international community, Report informs.

For example, Zara Amatuni, head of communications programs for the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) delegation in Armenia, said that the ICRC cars were not allowed through the border checkpoint on the Lachin-Khankandi road, and claimed that the video footage distributed by media was old.

Report presents footage dated May 18, 2023, showing an ICRC ambulance driving through the border checkpoint established by the State Border Guard Service of Azerbaijan at the entry point of the Lachin-Khankandi road.

As you can see, people of Armenian origin use the border checkpoint without any obstacles.

On April 23, units of the State Border Service of the Republic of Azerbaijan set up a border checkpoint on the sovereign territories of Azerbaijan, on the border with Armenia, at the entry point of the Lachin-Khankandi road in order to prevent the illegal transfer of manpower, ammunition, mines, as well as other military equipment from Armenia to the Armenian armed formations on the territory of Azerbaijan, carried out contrary to the tripartite statement of November 10, 2020, and due to the establishment of a border point by Armenia unilaterally at the entrance to the Lachin-Khankandi road on the border with Azerbaijan on April 22.

According to the training plan for the 2023 training year approved by the Azerbaijan Defense Minister, the military pentathlon championship is being held in the Azerbaijan Army.

Report informs citing the Ministry of Defense that at the opening ceremony held at the Military Institute named after Heydar Aliyev, the memory of the National Leader Heydar Aliyev and Shehids (Martyrs), who sacrificed their lives for the and territorial integrity of Azerbaijan was honored with observing a minute of silence. The National Anthem of the Republic of Azerbaijan was performed.

During the ceremony, the speakers wished success to the participants and noted that the physical wellness of the Azerbaijan Army’s servicemen is continuously in the spotlight.

56 servicemen from 10 teams representing types of troops and formations will compete for individual and team championship. The servicemen will test their skills on overcoming the obstacle course, 200-meter gun shooting, grenade launching, 8-km cross and swimming races.

It should be noted that the championship will last until May 20.

Another criminal group acting on the instructions of Iran has been detained in Azerbaijan, the latter’s Interior Ministry, State Security Service and Prosecutor General’s Office said in a joint statement.

On May 13, a briefing for the foreign countries’ military attachés, accredited to the Republic of Azerbaijan, and representatives of international organizations in the country was held at the International Military Cooperation Department of the Ministry of Defense, Report informs.

Speaking at the briefing, the Chief of the International Military Cooperation Department, Major General Huseyn Mahmudov, informed in detail the military representatives of foreign countries about the Armenian armed forces units’ deliberate provocation, committed starting from the evening of May 10.

It was stated that on May 11 and 12, the opposing side subjected the Azerbaijani Army’s positions to intensive fire using large-caliber weapons, mortars, and then D-30 howitzers in order to expand the scale of provocations and further aggravate the situation. It was noted that Armenian armed forces also used attack UAVs from various directions against several positions of the Azerbaijani Army stationed in the territory of the Kalbajar district.

Foreign representatives were presented with video footage showing the provocations of the Armenian armed forces.

After the questions were answered, remnants of the UAVs were visually demonstrated to them.

The Euronews TV channel has broadcast footages highlighting the “Kharibulbul” International Music Festival, co-organized by the Heydar Aliyev Foundation and Azerbaijan’s Ministry of Culture in the city Shusha.