Warm, humid air surging north from the Gulf of Mexico collided with a powerful cold front sweeping through the nation’s midsection.
Day: October 18, 2025
LSU head coach Brian Kelly had a warning for his players about the season after a loss to Vanderbilt on Saturday.
Will the rich get richer? The Dodgers are expected to make a play for No. 1 free agent Kyle Tucker, who’d fit nicely into the National League’s best lineup.
Ramiz Mehdiyev and his pro-Russia group – Google Search google.com/search?q=Ramiz+Me…
— Michael Novakhov (@mikenov) Oct 18, 2025
US officials received “credible reports” that Hamas may violate its cease-fire deal with Israel by attacking Palestinian civilians in Gaza, the State Department said in a post on X, that declared the Trump administration would act to stop any such violence.
#SouthCaucasus #Azerbaijan
#RamizMehdiyev and his pro- #Russia group
x.com/mikenov/status/1979678…
Former #Azerbaijani presidential chief of staff Ramiz Mehdiyev is currently under house arrest on charges of treason and plotting a coup with Russian backing. In the past, Mehdiyev was a powerful political figure known for his close ties to Russia. [1, 2, 3]
Alleged coup plot and arrest • The plot: According to reports from Azerbaijan’s state-run media, Mehdiyev allegedly devised a plan for a coup with Russian support. He reportedly tried to leverage tensions that arose between Azerbaijan and Russia in late 2024 after a civilian airliner was shot down by Russian air defenses.
• Failed execution: The plot allegedly involved staging a presidential plane crash to trigger a state of emergency, but organizers mistakenly downed the civilian plane instead.
• Russian involvement: Russia, through President Vladimir Putin, reportedly tipped off Azerbaijan about Mehdiyev’s plan during a meeting between the two countries’ leaders in Dushanbe in October 2025. This occurred shortly after Russia apologized for the plane crash incident and offered compensation, easing tensions with Azerbaijan.
• Charges and house arrest: In October 2025, a court in Baku placed Mehdiyev under four months of house arrest. He faces charges of high treason, attempting to seize state power, and money laundering. [2, 4, 5, 6, 7]Mehdiyev’s pro-Russia group • Political network: Mehdiyev has a history of cultivating a “pro-Moscow” political network within Azerbaijan’s government, parliament, and media. He served as the head of the Presidential Administration for nearly 25 years, a position from which he exerted considerable influence.
• “Fifth column”: Azerbaijani media reports also link Mehdiyev to funding a so-called “swearing opposition” of anti-Azerbaijani émigré bloggers to destabilize the country.
• Recent purge: In recent years, before the latest allegations, Azerbaijan’s President Ilham Aliyev has worked to sideline pro-Russian officials, including Mehdiyev, as the country seeks to assert more independence from Russian influence. [1, 3, 8, 9]Background on Ramiz Mehdiyev • Soviet-era official: Mehdiyev’s political career began during the Soviet era. He held positions under both Ilham Aliyev and his father, Heydar Aliyev, during their presidencies.
• “Gray cardinal”: He was often referred to as the “gray cardinal” of Azerbaijani politics due to his significant behind-the-scenes influence.
• Downfall: Mehdiyev was dismissed from his post as head of the Presidential Administration in 2019, supposedly to make way for a younger generation. His standing declined further in 2020 after public backlash over his granddaughter’s lavish wedding during the COVID-19 pandemic. [3, 10, 11]AI responses may include mistakes.
[1] azerbaycan24.com/en/putin-re…
[2] azerbaycan24.com/en/a-big-fi…
[3] occrp.org/en/news/azerbaijan…
[4] instagram.com/p/DP9SleEjXfH/
[5] instagram.com/p/DP8ldVcDN1e/
[6] instagram.com/p/DP8ldVcDN1e/
[7] aze.media/did-putin-betray-r…
[8] aze.media/azerbaijan-cleans-…
[9] kyivpost.com/analysis/59071
[10] 41nbc.com/community-prepares…
[11] oc-media.org/former-azerbaij…– Google Search google.com/search?q=Ramiz+Me… x.com/mikenov/status/1979678079145435568
— Michael Novakhov (@mikenov) Oct 18, 2025
The latest shrimp recall comes amid a rash of radioactive contamination concerns.
No. 20 USC (5-1) is hoping to beat No. 13 Notre Dame (4-2) on its own turf for the first time since 2011 on Saturday.
Morocco’s Gen Z protesters demand accountability and education reform [deltaMinutes] mins ago Now
#RamizMehdiyev and his pro- #Russia group
Former #Azerbaijani presidential chief of staff Ramiz Mehdiyev is currently under house arrest on charges of treason and plotting a coup with Russian backing. In the past, Mehdiyev was a powerful political figure known for his close ties to Russia. [1, 2, 3]
Alleged coup plot and arrest • The plot: According to reports from Azerbaijan’s state-run media, Mehdiyev allegedly devised a plan for a coup with Russian support. He reportedly tried to leverage tensions that arose between Azerbaijan and Russia in late 2024 after a civilian airliner was shot down by Russian air defenses.
• Failed execution: The plot allegedly involved staging a presidential plane crash to trigger a state of emergency, but organizers mistakenly downed the civilian plane instead.
• Russian involvement: Russia, through President Vladimir Putin, reportedly tipped off Azerbaijan about Mehdiyev’s plan during a meeting between the two countries’ leaders in Dushanbe in October 2025. This occurred shortly after Russia apologized for the plane crash incident and offered compensation, easing tensions with Azerbaijan.
• Charges and house arrest: In October 2025, a court in Baku placed Mehdiyev under four months of house arrest. He faces charges of high treason, attempting to seize state power, and money laundering. [2, 4, 5, 6, 7]Mehdiyev’s pro-Russia group • Political network: Mehdiyev has a history of cultivating a “pro-Moscow” political network within Azerbaijan’s government, parliament, and media. He served as the head of the Presidential Administration for nearly 25 years, a position from which he exerted considerable influence.
• “Fifth column”: Azerbaijani media reports also link Mehdiyev to funding a so-called “swearing opposition” of anti-Azerbaijani émigré bloggers to destabilize the country.
• Recent purge: In recent years, before the latest allegations, Azerbaijan’s President Ilham Aliyev has worked to sideline pro-Russian officials, including Mehdiyev, as the country seeks to assert more independence from Russian influence. [1, 3, 8, 9]Background on Ramiz Mehdiyev • Soviet-era official: Mehdiyev’s political career began during the Soviet era. He held positions under both Ilham Aliyev and his father, Heydar Aliyev, during their presidencies.
• “Gray cardinal”: He was often referred to as the “gray cardinal” of Azerbaijani politics due to his significant behind-the-scenes influence.
• Downfall: Mehdiyev was dismissed from his post as head of the Presidential Administration in 2019, supposedly to make way for a younger generation. His standing declined further in 2020 after public backlash over his granddaughter’s lavish wedding during the COVID-19 pandemic. [3, 10, 11]AI responses may include mistakes.
[1] azerbaycan24.com/en/putin-re…
[2] azerbaycan24.com/en/a-big-fi…
[3] occrp.org/en/news/azerbaijan…
[4] instagram.com/p/DP9SleEjXfH/
[5] instagram.com/p/DP8ldVcDN1e/
[6] instagram.com/p/DP8ldVcDN1e/
[7] aze.media/did-putin-betray-r…
[8] aze.media/azerbaijan-cleans-…
[9] kyivpost.com/analysis/59071
[10] 41nbc.com/community-prepares…
[11] oc-media.org/former-azerbaij…– Google Search google.com/search?q=Ramiz+Me…
— Michael Novakhov (@mikenov) Oct 18, 2025