http://www.today.az Covering Azerbaijan inside and outside http://www.today.az/images/logo_small.gif http://www.today.az http://www.today.az/news/society/270545.html Society Wed, 30 Sep 2026 15:48:00 +0400 Akbar NovruzRead moreAzerbaijan and Türkiye are moving into a new phase of cooperation in missile and rocket production, with Azroksan preparing to expand its locally manufactured portfolio and build a broader defense-industrial ecosystem in Azerbaijan.Speaking to AzerNews on the sidelines of ADEX 2026, Azroksan CEO Mehmet Ali Tahancal?o?lu outlined the company’s plans for joint production, technology localization and workforce expansion in Azerbaijan.The company’s initial production activities began with 122 mm unguided rockets, but its portfolio is already expanding into more sophisticated guided systems.“Our products initially started with 122 mm unguided rockets. As of today, the assembly of the TEBER guidance kit has also been carried out,” Tahancal?o?lu told AzerNews.According to the CEO, the next stage will involve several guided munitions that were also showcased at ADEX 2026.“In the very near future, work will continue on our laser-guided 122 mm, laser-guided 230 mm, IHA-122 and IHA-230 munitions, which we had the opportunity to display at the exhibition, as well as the 300 mm system, which will be the largest platform to be produced locally in Azerbaijan,” he said.The plans point to an expansion beyond the assembly and production of conventional rocket systems toward increasingly sophisticated precision-guided munitions. The inclusion of laser-guided and unmanned aerial vehicle-launched variants also indicates that the cooperation is intended to cover several layers of modern battlefield strike capabilities.For Azroksan, however, localization is not limited to manufacturing individual weapons systems. Tahancal?o?lu said the company intends to contribute to Azerbaijan’s technological independence by developing local expertise, production capacity and an industrial culture capable of supporting the sector over the longer term.“Azroksan is particularly trying to contribute to this system through localization and locally manufactured products. We are transferring both an ecosystem and a culture,” he said.Human capital forms a significant part of that strategy.According to Tahancal?o?lu, close to 200 engineers and technicians are already working within Azroksan in Azerbaijan on the production of these systems.“At present, nearly 200 engineers and technicians within Azroksan are working on the production of these products,” he said.That workforce is expected to expand considerably as additional missile and rocket systems enter production.“Over the next few years, with the introduction of the products I have mentioned, we expect the number of people employed directly by Azroksan to reach around 500 to 600. Across the wider ecosystem, we expect the number of people working in this field and in the defense industry to be measured in the thousands,” Tahancal?o?lu said.The projected expansion illustrates a broader dimension of Azerbaijan-Türkiye defense cooperation. Rather than relying exclusively on the procurement of finished systems, the emerging model increasingly emphasizes domestic manufacturing, technical know-how and the development of a skilled local workforce.If the planned production lines are implemented as outlined, Azroksan’s activities would expand Azerbaijan’s domestic capabilities from 122 mm unguided rockets toward laser-guided 122 mm and 230 mm systems, UAV-launched munitions and ultimately locally produced 300 mm platforms.For Azerbaijan, that would mean not simply adding new systems to its defense inventory, but developing the engineering expertise and industrial infrastructure needed to manufacture increasingly sophisticated munitions domestically.For Azroksan, meanwhile, the objective articulated at ADEX 2026 is equally clear: to establish an industrial base in Azerbaijan that can grow alongside the products it manufactures, transforming bilateral defense cooperation into a locally rooted production ecosystem. http://www.today.az/news/sports/270544.html Sports Wed, 30 Sep 2026 15:37:00 +0400 Laman IsmayilovaRead moreSaudi Arabia is planning one of the world's largest football stadiums in Riyadh, with the King Salman International Stadium set to accommodate more than 92,000 spectators and host the opening match and final of the 2034 FIFA World Cup.The stadium is planned as more than a football venue. Its design combines a huge seating bowl with green roofs, indoor gardens, public spaces and sports facilities spread across a much larger complex beside King Abdulaziz Park.The project was unveiled in 2024 by the Royal Commission for Riyadh City and the Ministry of Sport. Completion is scheduled for the fourth quarter of 2029, several years before the World Cup.More Than 92,000 Seats for the Biggest Matches of the 2034 World CupKing Salman International Stadium is planned to have a gross seating capacity of 92,760, making it the largest stadium proposed for the 2034 FIFA World Cup in Saudi Arabia.Its role in the tournament will be particularly significant. The venue is planned to host the opening match and final, as well as games from the group stage through the semifinals.After the World Cup, the stadium is planned to serve as the main home of the Saudi national football team and host major sporting and entertainment events.The stadium will include a Royal Box, hospitality skyboxes and lounges, 300 VVIP seats and 2,200 VIP seats. Large internal screens will also form part of the spectator experience.The venue is also being designed with Riyadh's climate in mind, with cooling systems planned for the stadium.Green Roofs and Gardens to connect the stadium with King Abdulaziz ParkOne of the most distinctive elements of the project is the way the stadium is planned to connect with the landscape around it.The venue will be located in northern Riyadh, next to King Abdulaziz Park. More than 96,500 square metres of green roofs and walls are planned across the stadium, while gardens will be incorporated into the building. The design is intended to connect the stadium with the park through surrounding green spaces and a valley running through the area.A walking path on the roof will give visitors views over King Abdulaziz Park. The wider design moves away from the idea of a stadium standing separately from its surroundings. Instead, the building and the landscape are planned as parts of the same space, with landscaped routes linking the stadium to the surrounding facilities.A nine-kilometre sports track will also connect the complex with King Abdulaziz Park.Football, Athletics, Swimming and More Beyond Main ArenaThe stadium will sit at the heart of a wider masterplan covering approximately 660,000 square metres. The surrounding facilities will cover about 360,000 square metres.The plans include two additional football training fields, fan zones, an indoor sports hall, an Olympic-sized swimming pool and an athletics track. Outdoor courts for volleyball, basketball and padel are also planned.The wider complex is intended to be used throughout the day, not only when major football matches are taking place. Commercial areas, recreational facilities and community sports spaces will form part of the masterplan, while the different facilities will be connected by the nine-kilometre sports track.This will allow the site to accommodate training, recreational activities and other events outside the World Cup and other major football fixtures.Designed for World Cup and Life After 2034The stadium is being designed by Populous and is scheduled for completion in late 2029. Saudi authorities have also begun the procurement process for early works, with prequalification launched in April 2026 for an early-works contract.Saudi Arabia was selected to host the 2034 FIFA World Cup in December 2024. Riyadh is planned to host eight of the tournament's 15 stadiums, with King Salman International Stadium designated for the opening match and final.The 2029 completion target would leave several years for the stadium to be completed, tested and brought into regular use before the World Cup.Once finished, King Salman International Stadium will combine a 92,760-seat football arena with training grounds, swimming and athletics facilities, public spaces, landscaped areas and commercial facilities.The result will be a stadium designed not only for the biggest matches of the 2034 World Cup, but also as a permanent sports and recreation venue for Riyadh long after the tournament has ended.Photos: Populous http://www.today.az/news/analytics/270543.html Analytics Wed, 30 Sep 2026 14:37:00 +0400 Qabil AshirovRead moreA new major investment phase is beginning in Azerbaijan’s energy sector. The adoption of the final investment decision on the full-scale development of the Absheron gas-condensate field could turn the project into one of the main sources of Azerbaijan’s gas production and export capacity in the coming years. Capital investment of approximately $4.2 billion is involved, and the main question is how much economic value this investment will create for Azerbaijan.The recoverable gas reserves of Absheron are estimated at approximately 140 billion cubic meters. The first phase of the field came on stream in 2023 and has the capacity to produce 1.5 billion cubic meters of gas per year and 12,000 barrels of condensate per day. The new Full Field Development phase will increase the field’s total gas production to 6 billion cubic meters per year and condensate production to 47,000 barrels per day. The new phase is expected to come on stream in 2029.The key figure here is the additional 4.5 billion cubic meters of gas. This is a significant volume for Azerbaijan’s gas market. In a simple calculation, if the average selling price of 1,000 cubic meters of gas is $200, the annual gross sales value of 4.5 billion cubic meters of gas could amount to approximately $900 million. If the price is $250, this figure would rise to $1.125 billion, and at $300, it would reach $1.35 billion.However, Absheron’s economic potential is not limited to gas. The second phase of the project is planned to produce approximately 35,000 barrels of condensate per day. This amounts to approximately 12.8 million barrels per year. If the average price of condensate is assumed to be $60, its annual gross sales value could reach approximately $767 million. Thus, purely for illustrative purposes, in a scenario where the average gas price is $200 and the condensate price is $60, the annual gross product value of the new phase could be approximately $1.67 billion.Here, however, an important warning is necessary: $1.67 billion is the theoretical sales value of the product. Production and operating costs, transportation, maintenance, taxes and other payments must be deducted from this amount. In addition, the project’s revenues are divided among the partners according to their respective shares. Currently, SOCAR and TotalEnergies each hold a 35% stake, while XRG holds a 30% stake.From this perspective, Azerbaijan’s revenue does not automatically mean 35% of the project’s total revenue. SOCAR will receive revenue according to its share, while the state may receive additional revenues through taxes and other economic mechanisms. Therefore, when assessing Absheron’s real impact on the Azerbaijani economy, it is not sufficient to look only at the market price of gas.On the other hand, Absheron strengthens Azerbaijan’s domestic gas supply. Gas produced during the first phase is directed to the domestic market. Following the new phase, the gas is planned to be supplied both to the domestic market and exported to Türkiye. According to the information provided, exports will provide access to the Turkish and European gas markets through the existing infrastructure.This is particularly important for Azerbaijan. As we know, gas exports also determine Azerbaijan’s role in the regional energy system. The additional volumes from Absheron could help support the country’s gas portfolio against changes in production from other fields over time.On the other hand, the payback period for the $4.2 billion investment remains one of the key economic questions. For example, if the annual gross product value of $1.67 billion mentioned above were simply divided mechanically by $4.2 billion, the result would be a period of slightly more than 2.5 years.A proper economic assessment would need to take into account the project’s operating costs, the production profile over the years, gas and condensate prices, taxes, the partners’ financing shares and the revenue-sharing terms of the contract.This is precisely where Absheron’s main economic story lies. Azerbaijan is not investing $4.2 billion in infrastructure simply to produce another 4.5 billion cubic meters of gas. The aim is to turn existing gas reserves in the Caspian Sea into a long-term commercial asset, strengthen domestic supply and create additional volumes for export.If gas and condensate prices remain favorable, Absheron could generate billions of dollars in additional product turnover for Azerbaijan over the coming decades. The key question, however, is how much of this gross value will be converted into net profit, and how much will accrue to SOCAR, the state budget and the Azerbaijani economy as a whole. These indicators will ultimately determine the real economic outcome of the $4.2 billion investment. http://www.today.az/news/society/270542.html Society Wed, 30 Sep 2026 14:28:00 +0400 Ulviyya PoladovaRead moreAzerbaijan and Mongolia are set to establish direct air connectivity under a new bilateral agreement.The issue was discussed during today’s plenary session of Azerbaijan’s Milli Majlis.The "Agreement between the Government of the Republic of Azerbaijan and the Government of Mongolia on Air Services" was signed on May 6, 2026, in Leipzig, Germany.The agreement establishes the legal framework for international air services between Azerbaijan and Mongolia, including passenger, baggage, cargo and mail transportation along agreed routes. It also regulates the operations of airlines designated by the two countries.Under the agreement, each party grants the other the right to fly over its territory without landing, make non-commercial stops and operate services along the routes specified in the agreement’s annex. Each side may designate one or more airlines to operate the agreed services and may change or withdraw such designations.Designated airlines will be provided with fair and equal opportunities to operate the agreed services. The agreement also provides for reasonable fare levels and requires flight schedules to be submitted for prior approval.According to the agreement’s annex, airlines designated by Azerbaijan will be able to operate routes connecting Baku, Ganja, Nakhchivan, Lankaran, Gabala and Zagatala in Azerbaijan with Ulaanbaatar, Khovd and Choibalsan in Mongolia. Intermediate and beyond points will be determined at a later stage.Designated airlines will also be permitted to enter into blocked-space and code-sharing agreements. http://www.today.az/news/regions/270541.html World news Wed, 30 Sep 2026 14:00:00 +0400 AzerNEWS StaffRead moreBelgian Defence Minister Theo Francken has warned that Europe could face a “dark winter” as Russia intensifies what European officials describe as hybrid warfare, including drone incidents, cyberattacks and potential sabotage targeting critical infrastructure.Speaking at the Euronews Defence Summit in Brussels on September 30, Francken said European countries should prepare for further Russian hybrid attacks in the coming months and accelerate efforts to strengthen air defences. He identified Russia as the biggest security threat facing Belgium.Francken’s warning comes amid growing concern across Europe over attacks and disruptions below the threshold of conventional warfare. European officials have increasingly pointed to sabotage, cyber operations, disinformation and airspace violations as tools being used to undermine support for Ukraine and put pressure on European governments.Belgium has already reported incidents that its authorities are investigating for possible Russian involvement. Francken said last week that Belgian security services had found “strong indications” of Russian involvement in several incidents, including drone activity over sensitive sites and cyberattacks. He said operational-security considerations prevented him from disclosing further details.The Belgian minister's latest warning also reflects a broader European debate over the continent's preparedness. NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte has said the alliance is strengthening its integrated air and missile defence in response to repeated drone incidents along its eastern flank, while NATO's Supreme Allied Commander Europe Alexus Grynkewich has urged European governments to publicly attribute destabilising activities to Russia.For European governments, the concern extends beyond direct military confrontation. Hybrid operations can target energy networks, communications, transport infrastructure, government systems and public confidence without necessarily triggering the same response as a conventional attack.Francken's call for faster investment in air defence therefore comes as European countries seek to adapt their security posture to a threat environment in which drones, cyberattacks and sabotage can complement conventional military pressure. http://www.today.az/news/entertainment/270540.html Arts & Entertainment Wed, 30 Sep 2026 13:53:00 +0400 Laman IsmayilovaRead moreA literary and musical event dedicated to the life and work of renowned Azerbaijani poet and thinker Khagani Shirvani has been held at the International Mugham Center.According to Azertag, the event was organized by the Turkic Culture and Heritage Foundation with the support of Azerbaijan's Culture Ministry as part of the celebrations marking the 900th anniversary of Khagani Shirvani.Opening the event, President of the Turkic Culture and Heritage Foundation Aktoty Raimkulova said the organization had prepared a book titled "Khagani", featuring plays dedicated to the poet's life and creative legacy. She noted that the publication was prepared in line with President Ilham Aliyev's decree on marking the 900th anniversary of Khagani Shirvani.Aktoty Raimkulova also highlighted the Foundation's work in promoting the literary heritage of prominent figures of the Turkic world. She said the organization has published works by such renowned writers and poets as Nizami Ganjavi, Imadaddin Nasimi, Muhammad Fuzuli, Alisher Navoi, Magtymguly Pyragy, Magzhan Zhumabayev, Alykul Osmonov, Abai Kunanbayev, Mir Jalal, Miklos Radnoti, Chingiz Aitmatov and Olzhas Suleimenov in various languages.President of the Azerbaijan National Academy of Sciences, Academician Isa Habibbeyli, described the event as important for renewed attention to Khagani Shirvani's literary heritage during the years of independence. He noted that although the poet and thinker lived and worked in the 12th century, his rich legacy has secured his place in Azerbaijani literature.According to Habibbeyli, Khagani lived during a period when statehood traditions and a rich cultural environment were developing in Azerbaijan. His close ties with the Shirvanshah court also influenced his work, which reflected the social, political and cultural life of his time.Member of the Azerbaijani Parliament Hikmat Babao?lu said that commemorating prominent Azerbaijani literary figures and studying and promoting their heritage plays an important role in preserving the country's literary and cultural memory.The programme featured the presentation of the collection of plays dedicated to Khagani Shirvani, along with a theatrical performance portraying different stages of the poet's life, from his childhood and youth onwards. Musical works based on his poetry were also performed.A book exhibition dedicated to Khagani Shirvani was also held as part of the event. http://www.today.az/news/regions/270539.html World news Wed, 30 Sep 2026 13:45:00 +0400 Ulviyya PoladovaRead moreThe United States has officially concluded Operation Inherent Resolve in Iraq, the Pentagon reported."Today, the United States and our coalition partners officially concluded Operation Inherent Resolve in Iraq. [...] The phased withdrawal of coalition forces and equipment from Erbil Air Base marks the successful completion of the military mission to defeat ISIS in Iraq," Sean Parnell, Assistant to the Secretary of War for Public Affairs, said in a statement.The US expects Iraq and the Kurdistan Region to take responsibility for their own security and eliminate the remaining ISIS militants.In 2024, Washington and Baghdad reached an agreement to end Operation Inherent Resolve, the US-led coalition mission against ISIS.At the height of the Iraq War in 2007, more than 170,000 US troops were stationed in the country. By December 2023, before an agreement on the withdrawal had been reached, the number had fallen to around 2,400, according to data from US Central Command.Image: Thaier Al-Sudani / Reuters http://www.today.az/news/sports/270538.html Sports Wed, 30 Sep 2026 13:37:00 +0400 Laman IsmayilovaRead moreA meeting of the Council for Physical Culture and Sport of the states participating in the CIS Agreement on Cooperation in the Field of Physical Culture and Sport has been held in Almaty, Kazakhstan.According to the Azerbaijan Ministry of Youth and, the meeting was attended by Aydin Mammadov, head of the Olympic and Paralympic Sports Sector, and Ulviyya Hajiyeva, head of the Strategic Analysis Sector.The participants discussed the implementation of the Interstate Programme "Sports Capitals of the Commonwealth" in Almaty, as well as the implementation of the 2021-2030 Development Strategy for cooperation among CIS countries in physical culture and sport and the Calendar Plan for CIS championships.The meeting also addressed preparations for the 5th CIS Games in Kyrgyzstan, the implementation of the "Sports Capitals of the Commonwealth" programme in 2027, and other issues related to cooperation in sport. http://www.today.az/news/entertainment/270537.html Arts & Entertainment Wed, 30 Sep 2026 13:15:00 +0400 Laman IsmayilovaRead moreAnother lecture-concert in the "Pearls of Art" project took place at Khazar University.The project is organized by the Culture Ministry's Scientific, Methodological and Qualification Center for Culture (MEM?M) within the framework of the 18th Uzeyir Hajibayli International Music Festival.The event was held with the support of the Baku Music Academy (BMA), the Azerbaijan State University of Culture and Arts (ADM?U), Khazar University and the International Mugham Center. Faculty members and students of the university attended the event.In his opening remarks, Professor Hamlet Isakhanli, founder of Khazar University and chairman of its Board of Directors and Board of Trustees, spoke about the phenomenon of Uzeyir Hajibayli. He highlighted various aspects of Uzeyir Hajibayli's work as a composer, educator, musicologist, organizer of educational programmes and public figure who left a lasting mark on the cultural and social life of Azerbaijan.Vugar Gumbatov, director of MEM?M and an associate professor with a PhD in art studies, noted that the "Pearls of Art" project was launched last year as part of the Uzeyir Hajibayli International Music Festival. He said the project aims to highlight the great composer's invaluable contribution to the development of musical culture and pass his rich creative legacy on to the younger generation.The lecture-concert was moderated by Saadat Tahmirazgizi, Honored Cultural Worker and a staff member of MEM?M. A lecture titled "Issues of Using Folk Music in the Works of Uzeyir Hajibeyli" was delivered by Doctor of Arts, Professor Irada Kocharli.The artistic programme featured a scene from the opera "Leyli and Majnun", jointly performed by the J. Jahangirov Choir of the Baku Music Academy, under the artistic direction of Honored Teacher and Presidential Prize winner Taran Yusifova, as well as teachers and students of the BMA, ADM?U and Khazar University.Musical excerpts were accompanied by the Khazar University Chamber Orchestra, led by Honored Teacher Zulfiya Sadigova, head of the Department of Music and Art, with Huseyn Karimov serving as conductor. The orchestra and choir also performed excerpts from the opera "Koroglu". People's Artist Gulyaz Mammadova performed the role of the khanenda. Scenes from both operas were also presented by the Khazar University dance group, led by Sabina Ismayilova.The programme also included duets and arias from Uzeyir Hajibayli's operetta "The Cloth Peddler", the composer's song "Homeland", and excerpts from his operettas performed by a kamancha ensemble led by Honored Artist and Associate Professor Farida Malikova.The artistic programme also featured an aria from the opera "Nargiz" by prominent composer Muslim Magomayev and "Paraphrase", a composition by Honored Artist Emil Afrasiyab based on themes from Uzeyir Hajibayli's works. The performances were warmly received by the audience.A special display featuring publications on Uzeyir Hajibayli's rich creative legacy was also set up at the venue.It should be noted that the first lecture-concert under the "Pearls of Art" project was held at ADA University on September 22, organized by MEM?M.Media partners of the event are Azernews.Az, Trend.Az, Day.Az and Milli.Az. http://www.today.az/news/society/270536.html Society Wed, 30 Sep 2026 13:13:00 +0400 AzerNEWS StaffRead moreOn September 30, President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev and First Lady Mehriban Aliyeva visited ADEX 2026 – the 6th Azerbaijan International Defence Exhibition and Securex Caspian – the 15th International Exhibition for Internal Security, Safety and Rescue Equipment, held at the Baku Expo Center. http://www.today.az/news/business/270535.html Business Wed, 30 Sep 2026 12:49:00 +0400 Ulviyya PoladovaRead moreDespite ongoing risks to maritime transport, crude oil flows from the Middle East have returned to pre-war levels.According to JPMorgan analysts, the Middle East’s major oil export routes are flowing again, although the recovery has been uneven. They described the development as significant given that the region remains affected by conflict.Crude oil shipments from the region have reached 17.5 million barrels per day, or 98% of pre-war levels, while diesel and gasoline exports have risen to 3 million barrels per day, equivalent to 58% of pre-war levels. Over the past five days, total flows stood at 89% of 2025 levels based on the 10-day average."Oil flows through the Strait of Hormuz, led mainly by Saudi Arabia, have returned to around 13 million barrels per day, a level last seen in late June. However, the increase in shipments should not be interpreted as an improvement in security. Rather, it reflects the sector’s growing ability to operate despite persistent risks," the experts said.Analysts at Goldman Sachs said oil exports from the Gulf, including so-called "dark flows" of oil transported through covert or difficult-to-track shipments, reached 23.3 million barrels per day over the past week, close to the 2025 average."Global oil markets have gradually moved toward balance in September. There is a divergence between the decline in Iranian exports and increased exports from other Gulf producers. Saudi Arabia’s exports more than doubled in September, exceeding the 2025 average," the Goldman Sachs analysts said. http://www.today.az/news/regions/270534.html World news Wed, 30 Sep 2026 12:33:00 +0400 Akbar NovruzRead moreChina has warned that it will respond firmly if the European Union imposes new restrictions targeting Chinese companies or products, as Beijing and Brussels approach high-level trade talks aimed at addressing their increasingly strained economic relationship.China’s Ministry of Commerce issued the warning on September 29 in response to reports that some EU member states were pushing for the development of a European trade instrument similar to the United States’ Section 301 mechanism.The ministry described the proposed measures as protectionist and unilateral, arguing that they would disrupt China-EU trade as well as global industrial and supply chains.Beijing warned that introducing additional restrictions while the two sides are engaged in trade and investment negotiations would “seriously undermine mutual trust” and interfere with the overall negotiating process.China urged the EU to continue addressing disagreements through dialogue.If Brussels proceeds with what Beijing considers discriminatory restrictions against Chinese companies or products, China “will respond resolutely” to defend the legitimate interests of its industries, the ministry said.The warning comes ahead of EU Trade Commissioner Maroš Šef?ovi?’s planned visit to Beijing on October 8-9, when he is expected to hold high-level talks aimed at producing concrete progress in efforts to rebalance EU-China trade.Brussels and Beijing have been engaged in intensified trade negotiations since June, with the European Commission seeking tangible results by October.Šef?ovi? has warned that Beijing must deliver “concrete results” or face the prospect of tougher European measures.“I’m trying to do it through these negotiations, but they have to bring us very concrete results. Otherwise, of course, there will be a strong political movement to push for, I would say, harsher measures,” Šef?ovi? said in an interview with Euronews earlier in September.The EU is particularly concerned about its widening trade deficit with China, market access for European companies and the impact of Chinese industrial overcapacity on European manufacturers.Technical negotiations have intensified ahead of the October deadline, with Brussels reportedly seeking Chinese commitments to limit exports of certain products to the European market. The EU is also seeking assurances concerning access to Chinese rare earths, which are critical to its automotive, green technology and defense industries.The latest Chinese warning followed reports that Germany and France were working on a joint proposal calling on the European Commission to accelerate development of a new trade-defense instrument.According to analyst Noah Barkin of Rhodium Group, European officials have discussed a mechanism that could allow Brussels to rapidly restrict Chinese access to the European market.The proposed mechanism has been compared with Section 301 of US trade law, which allows Washington to investigate foreign trade practices and impose measures, including tariffs, in response to practices it considers unfair.China’s Commerce Ministry specifically referred to reports of a European “301-type” instrument in its September 29 statement.Although the Association of Southeast Asian Nations surpassed the EU in 2020 to become China’s largest trading partner in goods, economic ties between China and the European bloc remain extensive.The European Commission has said that total EU-China trade in goods and services amounts to hundreds of billions of euros annually, while the bloc’s widening goods deficit with China has become one of the central issues driving Brussels’ demands for a rebalancing of the relationship.The coming talks in Beijing are therefore expected to determine whether the two sides can reach tangible compromises or whether their trade relationship moves toward greater reliance on defensive and retaliatory measures. http://www.today.az/news/sports/270533.html Sports Wed, 30 Sep 2026 12:20:00 +0400 Laman IsmayilovaRead moreThe hosting of the 5th CIS Games by Kyrgyzstan has been officially confirmed.The decision was made at a meeting of the Council for Physical Education and Sport of the participants in the "Agreement on Cooperation in the Field of Physical Education and Sport among the States Parties to the Commonwealth of Independent States".Official delegations and authorized representatives from Azerbaijan, Armenia, Belarus, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Russia, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan, Turkmenistan and the CIS Executive Committee took part in the major sports meeting, joining efforts to further strengthen international sports cooperation.The meeting participants unanimously supported the initiative to grant Bishkek the honorary title of "Sports Capital of the Commonwealth" for 2027, the year in which Kyrgyzstan will also chair the Council.The Games will continue after Azerbaijan hosted the third CIS Games in 2025.The competition in Kyrgyzstan is expected to further promote mass participation in sport and strengthen friendship and understanding among young people from CIS countries. http://www.today.az/news/politics/270530.html Politics Wed, 30 Sep 2026 12:12:00 +0400 The topic of Albanian history in the South Caucasus has stirred up the Armenian academic community. The Armenian academic community is not accustomed to fighting back; it is accustomed only to attacking and did not expect that Baku would take the matter so seriously.   Until recently, the Armenian community believed that the topic of churches in the Karabakh region was a taboo. The whole world, as if by default, accepts them as Armenian, and Baku will not dare to change this paradigm. Historians will write something about them, experts will comment on them, but it will not come to the involvement of officials in this “ring.” The Armenian community of falsifiers observed calmly and relaxed. Everything was in place: their own people were stationed everywhere, the real evidence was securely hidden, and it was impossible to get to it. Thanks to a powerful lobby, Albanian studies have been relegated to the level of UFOology in global academic circles. The Armenian Church, pseudoscience, and the Western and Russian academic circles that indulge it have done everything to ensure that Caucasian Albania is forever forgotten, and its place is taken by Armenians, who are supposed to reap all the benefits and justify their claims to Karabakh. And the Azerbaijanis can say whatever they like — no one will listen to them anyway; let them look for their own “Atlantis.”   However, the extremely nervous reaction of the Armenian side to the unexpected and strong re?emergence of the topic of Caucasian Albania in recent weeks shows that the situation has changed. The relaxation and the "let them talk" gesture are no longer noticeable. as it was before. The forgers, who found themselves outside their comfort zone for the first time, became nervous.   Take, for example, the infamous professor of Yerevan State University Stepan Stepanyants, Doctor of Sciences - historical, of course.   As is well known, YSU is a breeding ground for nationalism, an institution where the younger generation is mutilated, producing diploma?clad zombies who have attended lectures by Professor Stepanyants and others who fill young minds with misanthropic theories. Stepanyants is very concerned that Armenia is not standing up to Azerbaijan’s actions — not just statements, but actual actions — aimed at restoring the real history of Karabakh. And to the horror of their neighbors, the issue is not limited to Karabakh — in Baku, the topic of Albanian heritage is already being raised on the territory of Armenia itself.   Stepanyants is genuinely concerned. It turns out that Armenia has plenty of “scientifically substantiated truth,” but for some reason it doesn’t present it. New research is needed, the falsifier is nervous, urging people not to rush to the Turkish archives, but to turn to the Matenadaran.   Stop. Why do Armenian historians need Turkish archives if they have an institution right at their doorstep where, as they claim, the entire history of the Caucasus is stored? And this is not the only question that arises when you read the emotional outbursts of the professor from Yerevan State University. What sources then substantiate the “scientifically grounded truth” of Armenian historians? It turns out that all the arrogance of Armenian falsifiers in asserting their rightness rested solely on external support and the confidence that Baku would not touch the topic, fearing world authorities and the “substantiated truth” from the annals of the Matenadaran. That is, the only real justification for the Armenians’ claims to the legacy of Caucasian Albania in Karabakh is sheer audacity and the traditional belief in the support of an external group.   Stepanyants and those like him claim that there is no evidence of the Albanian origin of the Karabakh temples, just as there is no Albanian language or writing system at all. Meanwhile, such evidence does exist, and it is not hidden away somewhere; it is available for study by experts. Unlike the Armenian “substantiated truth,” these pieces of evidence are all in plain sight.   Professor Stepanyants is known for his inadequacy, but he managed to outdo himself. From his nervous statements, it follows that if — pay attention! - The name of the Albanian prince Hasan?Jalal is not of Turkic but of Arabic origin, which means that the Albanian churches of Karabakh belong to the Armenians. This is a very strange logic. The Armenians attached the ending “yan” (Hasan?Jalalyan) to the Hasan?Jalal family name and considered this sufficient proof of their rights to the Albanian heritage.   A serious scholar, which is what Stepan Stepanyants considers himself to be, a professor at Yerevan State University who dares to take to the podium and teach young people about history, should be ashamed to use such arguments. He is, after all, a doctor of sciences, not an ordinary expert. And this approach reflects the bitter reality for Armenian pseudo?historians, in which they find themselves with nothing to show for themselves. Claiming that an Arabic name makes an Albanian prince an Armenian may be something Aunt Anush from the village store or Uncle Avetis from the Yerevan market might claim. But not a doctor of historical sciences.   All the layers of propaganda that supported the notion of the irrefutability of the Armenian side’s arguments are crumbling before our eyes. Instead of defeating the opponent with irrefutable facts, the YSU professor proposes — once again, attention! — to engage in dialogue with representatives of the Udi, Talysh, and Lezgin peoples of Azerbaijan, whose history and culture are “suppressed and hushed up.” That is, to resort to one of the methods of hybrid warfare against Azerbaijan, which the Armenians had already tried in the early 1990s. A little more, and Professor Stepanyants would suggest blowing up Ganjasar and Khudaveng just so that they wouldn’t fall into the hands of the Udi?Albanian Christian community.   And finally, Professor Stepanyants’s heartfelt cry: “Tomorrow they might say, ‘Echmiadzin isn’t yours either,’ and declare it to be Uch?Kilise.”   Yes, by the way, it’s good that he reminded us. Indeed, there was historically no ancient spiritual center of the Armenians on the territory of the South Caucasus. The Catholicoses wandered back and forth until the Garagoyunlu princes sold them the lands. Village after village, pasture after pasture. And that’s how Echmiadzin came to be. But here, the criticism is already directed at our ancestors, whose greed for Armenian gold created serious problems for their descendants. The Armenian Church was always wealthy and was ready to pay exorbitant prices for lands it could not even dream of. It was only later, when the powers needed its services, that the Armenians stopped paying and simply massacred or expelled the population of the territories they needed.   But this is a separate topic, and we will discuss it later through the words of historians.   Meanwhile, the professor at YSU, driven to despair, is rushing to the Minister of Education and Science, Zhanna Andreasyan, to propose creating a commission consisting of historians, ethnographers, writers, and artists to “counteract falsification with facts.”   I remember something similar happening in the late 1980s, when commissions consisting of historians, writers, and cultural figures were similarly formed; they also tried to substantiate Armenia’s claims to Azerbaijani lands, and, failing to do so, they fanned the flames of a bloody conflict. Today, revanchists are trying to incite the Armenian government to take similar steps. However, the current leadership of the country does not want to get bogged down in this quagmire. Armenia needs to be pulled out of it, and the “Tigranakert” and other nationalist romanticism from the time of the Karabakh conflict are a past that is better left behind. http://www.today.az/news/regions/270532.html World news Wed, 30 Sep 2026 12:04:00 +0400 Qabil AshirovRead moreRussia is prepared to use its entire arsenal, including nuclear weapons, if attempts are made to isolate its Kaliningrad exclave, Russian media reported, citing the Russian Embassy in Ireland.The diplomatic mission warned that any scenario involving an air or maritime blockade of Kaliningrad would carry a high risk of armed confrontation.The embassy also said it could not rule out Russia launching pre-emptive strikes against decision-making centers in NATO member states during the initial stage of a conflict.At the same time, the Russian Embassy said Moscow did not intend to escalate tensions with Europe, while urging European countries to take the potential consequences of such a scenario seriously. http://www.today.az/news/regions/270531.html World news Wed, 30 Sep 2026 11:54:00 +0400 Ulviyya PoladovaRead moreUS President Donald Trump has described North Korean leader Kim Jong Un as his friend, saying their relationship is one reason he views North Korea’s possession of nuclear weapons differently from Iran’s.Speaking to reporters at the White House, Trump was asked why he believes North Korea can have nuclear weapons while Iran should not."He’s my friend. He likes Trump," the US president said.Trump added that he also likes Kim Jong Un and said the North Korean leader respects him. He further stated that as long as he remains in office, Kim would be "fine" under his administration.He also referred to his predecessors, saying that other US presidents had failed to accomplish what he managed to achieve.Earlier, North Korea accused the United States of undermining the global nuclear non-proliferation regime. As examples, Pyongyang cited nuclear cooperation within NATO and AUKUS, as well as US cooperation with South Korea and Japan. http://www.today.az/news/society/270529.html Society Wed, 30 Sep 2026 11:34:00 +0400 Qabil AshirovRead moreAzerbaijan and Iran have discussed the implementation of joint projects and prospects for further bilateral cooperation.According to Azerbaijan’s Cabinet of Ministers, a delegation led by Deputy Prime Minister Shahin Mustafayev held a series of meetings with senior Iranian officials during an official visit to the Islamic Republic of Iran.During the meetings, the sides highlighted the positive impact of the cordial relations established between Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev and Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian on the development of bilateral ties and the acceleration of joint projects.During the visit, the Azerbaijani delegation met with Iranian Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf. The meeting highlighted the important role of the two countries’ parliaments in implementing joint initiatives and further strengthening bilateral relations.The delegation also held talks with Mohsen Rezaei, secretary of Iran’s Supreme National Security Council, during which current issues on the bilateral agenda were discussed.As part of the visit, the Azerbaijani delegation also held discussions with Iranian Minister of Petroleum Mohsen Paknejad and Minister of Energy Abbas Aliabadi.The sides reviewed projects of importance to the economies of both countries and assessed prospects for expanding cooperation. http://www.today.az/news/society/270528.html Society Wed, 30 Sep 2026 11:25:00 +0400 AzerNEWS StaffRead more“Today, the quality and reliability of Azerbaijan’s defense industry products are highly appreciated at the international level,” President Ilham Aliyev said in his address to the participants of ADEX 2026 – the 6th Azerbaijan International Defence Exhibition and Securex Caspian 2026 – the 15th Anniversary International Exhibition for Internal Security, Safety and Rescue Equipment.“The ADEX exhibition is particularly significant in presenting to the international community the strength and potential of our country’s defense-industrial complex, including its innovative technologies, as well as modern products and new achievements of defense industry enterprises from our partner countries,” the head of state emphasized. http://www.today.az/news/business/270527.html Business Wed, 30 Sep 2026 11:18:00 +0400 Akbar NovruzRead moreExisting challenges affecting transit freight transportation along the North-South and East-West, or Middle Corridor, international transport routes have been discussed within the framework of the International Transport Forum (ITF).According to Azerbaijan’s Ministry of Digital Development and Transport, the discussions took place during the inaugural meeting of the ITF Working Group on “Freight Transport Efficiency and Digitalization.”Azerbaijan was represented at the hybrid meeting by officials from the Ministry of Digital Development and Transport, the Secretariat of the Coordination Council on Transit Freight Transportation, the Azerbaijan Land Transport Agency, Azerbaijan Railways CJSC and Azerbaijan Airlines CJSC.During the meeting, the Azerbaijani side presented information on institutional mechanisms aimed at developing the country’s transit potential, including the activities of the Coordination Council on Transit Freight Transportation.“Discussions also covered Azerbaijan’s role in the North-South and East-West (Middle Corridor) international transport corridors passing through its territory, the steady growth of transit freight and expansion of container shipping, as well as development goals for these corridors. Furthermore, existing challenges in transit freight transport were analyzed, and measures taken in this regard were highlighted,” the ministry said.Participants emphasized that infrastructure development alone would not be sufficient to increase the efficiency of international freight transportation. Institutional coordination, digital interoperability and regional cooperation should also be strengthened in parallel.The Azerbaijani side noted that the country’s experience in developing transit corridors and digitalizing freight operations could contribute to the study currently being conducted by the working group.The ITF Working Group operates within the framework of the 2026-2027 Work Programme approved by member countries.As part of its activities, the group plans to prepare a report examining current international practices, providing comparative analysis across ITF member countries and developing policy recommendations aimed at improving the efficiency and digitalization of freight transport.The policy recommendation on the “Digitalization of International Freight Transport,” adopted during Azerbaijan’s chairmanship of the ITF, will serve as one of the working group’s key reference documents.Proposals concerning the Middle Corridor presented during the ITF Summit in Leipzig will also be taken into consideration during the research process.Azerbaijan’s participation in the working group comes as the country seeks to strengthen its position as a transit hub connecting Europe and Asia through both the Middle Corridor and the North-South route, while increasing freight capacity and improving the digital integration of transport operations. http://www.today.az/news/society/270526.html Society Wed, 30 Sep 2026 11:15:00 +0400 AzerNEWS StaffRead more“Strengthening defense capability and ensuring national security are among the priority areas of Azerbaijan’s state policy,” President Ilham Aliyev said in his address to the participants of ADEX 2026 – the 6th Azerbaijan International Defence Exhibition and Securex Caspian 2026 – the 15th Anniversary International Exhibition for Internal Security, Safety and Rescue Equipment.“As a result of consistent measures, our country’s defense industry, having undergone significant development, has now entered a qualitatively new stage and significantly expanded its production capabilities. Defense products manufactured by local enterprises, while occupying an important place in the supply of our Armed Forces, also stand out for their competitiveness in international markets and are met with particular interest by relevant institutions in various countries. The achievements made by Azerbaijan in the field of defense industry serve to strengthen our country’s military-technical potential and deepen cooperation with friendly and partner states,” the head of state said in his address. http://www.today.az/news/business/270525.html Business Wed, 30 Sep 2026 11:03:00 +0400 Akbar NovruzRead moreThe UK Office of Financial Sanctions Implementation (OFSI) has amended the general licence covering Azerbaijan’s Shah Deniz gas project to reflect new sanctions prohibitions related to Iran.OFSI said that on September 29, 2026, it amended General Licence INT/2025/7363752, which permits persons and relevant UK institutions to undertake activities necessary for the continued operation of the Shah Deniz project, subject to the conditions set out in the licence.The amendment adds Regulation 17A, covering investments in relation to Iran, and Regulation 17C, concerning insurance and reinsurance services, of the Iran (Sanctions) (Nuclear) (EU Exit) Regulations 2019 to the prohibitions listed in paragraph 2 of the licence.Both regulations entered into force on September 29, 2026.The amendment means the existing general licence remains in place for Shah Deniz while incorporating the newly effective Iran-related sanctions restrictions into its framework.OFSI originally issued General Licence INT/2025/7363752 on September 29, 2025, under Regulation 40 of the Iran (Sanctions) (Nuclear) (EU Exit) Regulations 2019.The licence allows persons and relevant UK institutions to undertake activities necessary for the continued operation of Shah Deniz, subject to specified conditions.According to OFSI, permitted activities can include the provision of goods, services, financing or other forms of support required for the project’s continued operation, provided that no direct payment is made to Iran’s Naftiran Intertrade Company Limited (NICO) or any other designated person.Payments due to NICO must instead be handled in a manner that ensures no funds or economic resources are made directly available to the designated entity.OFSI’s page for General Licence INT/2025/7363752 was last updated on September 29, 2026, when both the general licence and its accompanying publication notice were updated.Shah Deniz is one of Azerbaijan’s largest natural gas developments and a major source of supplies transported from the Caspian Sea to regional and European markets.According to bp, the current production capacity of the Shah Deniz operating facilities stands at approximately 76.8 million standard cubic metres of gas per day, equivalent to around 28 billion cubic metres annually.The shareholders in the Shah Deniz project are bp, the operator, with 29.99 percent; LUKOIL with 19.99 percent; TPAO with 19 percent; Southern Gas Corridor CJSC with 16.02 percent; NICO with 10 percent; and MVM with 5 percent. http://www.today.az/news/society/270524.html Society Wed, 30 Sep 2026 10:54:00 +0400 AzerNEWS StaffRead morePresident of the Republic of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev addressed the participants of ADEX 2026 – the 6th Azerbaijan International Defence Exhibition and Securex Caspian 2026 – the 15th Anniversary International Exhibition for Internal Security, Safety and Rescue Equipment.AzerNEWS presents the address:"Esteemed exhibition participants and dear guests,I congratulate you on the occasion of the opening of ADEX 2026 – the 6th Azerbaijan International Defence Exhibition and Securex Caspian 2026 – the 15th Anniversary International Exhibition for Internal Security, Safety and Rescue Equipment, and sincerely welcome you to Azerbaijan.It is gratifying to witness that the ADEX exhibition, traditionally held in the city of Baku, has transformed into one of the region’s most authoritative and beneficial defense industry platforms. The growing interest in this exhibition year after year, along with the participation of numerous countries and leading companies, clearly reflects the relevance and international prestige of the event.Bringing together defense industry institutions, military experts, and companies from friendly and partner nations, this important international exhibition creates valuable opportunities to showcase the latest technologies across various sectors of the defense industry, modern weapons systems, samples of military equipment, and innovative solutions; discuss new prospects for cooperation; and establish mutually beneficial partnerships.Strengthening defense capability and ensuring national security are among the priority areas of Azerbaijan’s state policy. As a result of consistent measures, our country’s defense industry, having undergone significant development, has now entered a qualitatively new stage and significantly expanded its production capabilities. Defense products manufactured by local enterprises, while occupying an important place in the supply of our Armed Forces, also stand out for their competitiveness in international markets and are met with particular interest by relevant institutions in various countries. The achievements made by Azerbaijan in the field of defense industry serve to strengthen our country’s military-technical potential and deepen cooperation with friendly and partner states.Today, the quality and reliability of Azerbaijan’s defense industry products are highly appreciated at the international level. The ADEX exhibition is of particular significance in presenting to the international community the strength and potential of our country’s defense-industrial complex, including its innovative technologies, as well as modern products and new achievements of defense industry enterprises from our partner countries.The Securex Caspian exhibition, taking place alongside ADEX and marking its 15th anniversary edition this year, has, for its part, gained great prestige as one of the specialized events demonstrating advanced technologies in the fields of security, protection, rescue, and emergency management.I am confident that the ADEX and Securex Caspian exhibitions will make an important contribution to establishing new business contacts among participants, as well as strengthening military-technical cooperation.I sincerely welcome each of you once again and wish the exhibitions every success and all participants fruitful work!" http://www.today.az/news/regions/270523.html World news Wed, 30 Sep 2026 10:48:00 +0400 Akbar NovruzRead moreThe Polish Air Navigation Services Agency (PANSA) announced the temporary suspension of Lublin and Rzeszow airports "to ensure freedom of operation for military aviation" concerning Russian strikes on Ukraine."In connection with the strikes by the Russian Federation on the territory of Ukraine, carried out using airborne assault means, military aviation is operating in Polish airspace," Operational Command of the Polish Armed Forces wrote on X."These actions are of a preventive nature and are aimed at securing and protecting the airspace, especially in areas adjacent to the threatened regions," it added.The command also stated that "forces and resources remain ready for immediate response."Recent reports from Kyiv said that Russian strikes killed at least one person and injured 4 others, while causing fires across multiple city districts. http://www.today.az/news/society/270522.html Society Wed, 30 Sep 2026 10:15:00 +0400 Qabil AshirovRead moreThe experience of the war that ended with Azerbaijan’s victory demonstrated once again that modern technology, agile decision-making and reliable domestic production capabilities are important elements of national security, Azerbaijan’s Defense Industry Minister Vugar Mustafayev said.Mustafayev made the remarks at the opening ceremony of ADEX-2026, the 6th Azerbaijan International Defense Exhibition, and Securex Caspian, the 15th anniversary International Exhibition for Internal Security, Protection and Rescue Equipment.The minister said the experience of the war had also had a significant impact on shaping the future development priorities of Azerbaijan’s defense industry. In line with this approach, one of the important steps taken in recent years has been to increase the involvement of the private sector in the defense industry.“Today, more than 20 local private organizations are presenting their products and solutions at the ADEX exhibition. Most of them are already involved in supplying the Armed Forces. Several have also started export activities,” Mustafayev said.He added that final testing is currently underway for a number of new products and that the government expects the share of local companies in defense supplies to increase in the coming period.“Our approach is that a strong national defense industry cannot be built solely on the capabilities of state-owned enterprises. The institutional and production capabilities of the state must be complemented by the flexibility, initiative, innovation potential and investment capacity of the private sector,” the minister said.According to Mustafayev, such a cooperation model can contribute to the development of a more competitive and sustainable defense industry ecosystem. http://www.today.az/news/society/270521.html Society Wed, 30 Sep 2026 10:00:00 +0400 Qabil AshirovRead moreThe resettlement of Azerbaijanis to territories liberated from occupation is continuing as part of the government’s Great Return program.At the latest stage of the resettlement process, nine families comprising 60 people have been relocated to Shukurbeyli village, while 17 families, or 78 people, have returned to the city of Khojaly and 16 families, or 55 people, have been relocated to the city of Khojavand.The families had previously been living in different parts of Azerbaijan, mainly in dormitories, sanatoriums and administrative buildings, after being displaced from their homes.Among those returning to their ancestral homes is former Khojaly resident Goycha Abbasova, who left the city during the conflict and has now returned decades later with her husband, son, daughter-in-law and grandchildren.The memories of the conflict remain with her. Abbasova still has a fragment of shrapnel in her leg and said the return to Khojaly was an emotional moment for her family.“We were captured. I am the sister of a martyr. We lost three martyrs. We managed to escape with great difficulty, amid massacres and war,” Abbasova said.Her wish for the future is simple: that there be no more war and that people can live in peace and security.“May God make our world a better place. May there be no war. Hopefully, everything will be fine,” she said.Former internally displaced person Hicran Abdullayeva, who is returning to Khojavand, also struggled to hold back her tears as she spoke about leaving her home decades ago.“We left our village in 1988, when the events began. What can I say? I feel like crying,” Abdullayeva told.Abdullayeva added that she was returning to Khojavand with her sister and expressed hope that her brother would also be able to return and receive a home there.“I lost my parents, unfortunately. Hopefully, my brother will come too, and they will provide him with a home as well. May God have mercy on all our martyrs. May God protect our President, and our war veterans. We are returning to our home thanks to them,” she said.According to Azerbaijani authorities, the Great Return process is being carried out through the reconstruction and development of settlements in the territories retaken by Azerbaijan. The returning families are being provided with housing and state support as they resettle in their former places of residence. http://www.today.az/news/society/270520.html Society Wed, 30 Sep 2026 09:30:00 +0400 Qabil AshirovRead moreThe 6th Azerbaijan International Defence Exhibition, ADEX-2026, and the 15th anniversary International Exhibition of Internal Security, Safety and Rescue Equipment, Securex Caspian, opened in Baku on September 30.The three-day exhibitions are being held at the Baku Expo Center at the initiative and under the organization of Azerbaijan’s Ministry of Defence Industry, with organizational support from Caspian Event Organisers.The opening ceremony was attended by government and state officials, representatives of Azerbaijan’s diplomatic corps and international organizations, foreign delegations, and representatives of other relevant institutions.Azerbaijan’s Minister of Defence Industry Vugar Mustafayev read out a letter from President Ilham Aliyev addressed to the participants of the exhibitions. http://www.today.az/news/regions/270519.html World news Wed, 30 Sep 2026 09:00:00 +0400 Volkswagen Financial Services AG is likely preparing "hundreds of millions" of pounds as it awaits the outcome of a British watchdog program to compensate customers, Sky News reported on Tuesday.The Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) investigated the financial services units of several automakers, finding that they broke the law by withholding information from customers. It subsequently launched a redress scheme whose scope is currently unclear, as it is facing legal appeals.According to the report, Volkswagen's accounts will be made public later this week and are likely to hold between £500 million and £1.5 billion in anticipation of the program's launch. Volkswagen Financial Services said earlier this year that the scheme will have a "significant financial impact." http://www.today.az/news/analytics/270518.html Analytics Wed, 30 Sep 2026 08:30:00 +0400 Qabil AshirovRead moreThe digital sector still accounts for a relatively small share of Azerbaijan’s economy, but recent figures show that it is growing significantly faster than the economy as a whole. The results for January-August 2026 are particularly notable in terms of investment: investment in the information and communications sector increased by 49.4% in real terms to ?320 million ($188.24 million). During the same period, the value added generated by the sector increased by 10.7% to ?1.775 billion ($1.04 billion).These two figures actually illustrate the main question facing Azerbaijan’s digital economy. On the one hand, investment is increasing by 49.4%. On the other hand, the sector’s real value added is growing by 10.7%. In other words, the increase in capital investment is considerably higher than the sector’s current economic growth. This is not a problem in itself. In particular, returns from infrastructure-related investments may materialize over years rather than immediately. The main issue is how much additional value, productivity, new services and exports the ?320 million ($188.24 million) investment can generate in the coming years.The information and communications sector currently accounts for 2% of Azerbaijan’s total GDP. In January-August, the country’s GDP amounted to ?87.7 billion ($51.59 billion), of which ?61.5 billion ($36.18 billion) came from the non-oil and gas sector. The ICT sector’s share of non-oil and gas GDP reaching 2.9% also shows that the sector is still relatively small. Nevertheless, while the non-oil and gas economy grew by 2.1% in real terms in the first eight months of 2026, growth in the information and communications sector stood at 10.7%.The ICT sector is growing significantly faster than the economy as a whole. The bigger issue is what lies behind this growth and whether it is translating into higher productivity, stronger investment returns and greater economic value.The sector providing ?2.748 billion ($1.616 billion) worth of services in the first eight months of 2026 presents an interesting detail in this regard. Of this amount, ?868 million ($510.6 million), or 31.6%, came from mobile communications, while ?455 million ($267.6 million), or 16.6%, came from internet services. Software development and related consulting services accounted for ?435 million ($255.9 million), or 15.8%, of total services. More interestingly, software development and related consulting services increased by 39.4% in real terms over the year. Growth in internet services stood at 21.3%, while information services grew by 13.4%.These figures can be considered one of the possible signs of structural change in the ICT sector. Mobile communications is still the sector’s largest source of revenue, but the faster growth of software development and related services shows that activities generating higher added value are expanding.This is precisely where the main opportunity for Azerbaijan emerges. The future of the digital economy will depend on how effectively Azerbaijan can turn better connectivity and wider digital access into higher-value economic activity. A greater economic impact can come from exporting software, cloud services, cybersecurity, artificial intelligence, data services and other digital products to regional markets.The ?320 million ($188.2 million) invested in the ICT sector is significant, particularly when compared with the sector’s overall contribution to the economy. Azerbaijan’s total investment in fixed capital across the economy reached ?12.68 billion ($7.46 billion) in the first eight months of 2026, with information and communications accounting for approximately 2.5% of the total.On the other hand, the fact that the average monthly nominal wage in the ICT sector reached ?2,137 ($1,257) in January-July 2026 is also noteworthy. This figure is significantly higher than the average monthly wage nationwide. At the same time, the number of employees working under employment contracts in the sector stood at 34,200 as of August 1. The sector currently employs a relatively small workforce, although its wage levels suggest room for further growth in higher-income employment.As a result, the key indicator for Azerbaijan’s digital economy in the coming years should not be simply how many percent the ICT sector grows. More important questions will be how much productivity the investment generates, how much exports of software and digital services increase, how the number of highly skilled jobs changes, and how much the ICT sector’s 2.9% share of non-oil and gas GDP rises.Azerbaijan is already investing more resources in digitalization. The main issue now is not for that investment to create greater consumption of digital services within the country, but to translate into the production of higher-value-added products and services and their expansion into foreign markets. If this happens, the sector that currently accounts for 2% of GDP could become a more significant pillar of Azerbaijan’s non-oil economy in the future. http://www.today.az/news/regions/270517.html World news Wed, 30 Sep 2026 08:00:00 +0400 British Prime Minister Andy Burnham said on Tuesday that the country had been "on the wrong path for a long time," citing deindustrialization and Brexit as he pledged to break with the direction of the past 40 years.Addressing the Labour Party conference in Liverpool, Burnham said his government would publish a 10-year plan for Britain later this year.He also said a strengthened water bill would be brought before Parliament, leasehold reform legislation would be introduced before Christmas, and ministers would draw up a national energy plan.Still, Burnham said the government would pursue its agenda "responsibly" while sticking to its fiscal rules. http://www.today.az/news/regions/270503.html World news Mon, 28 Sep 2026 09:00:00 +0400 AzerNEWS Staff Canada is not seeking full membership in the European Union, Canadian Foreign Minister Anita Anand said, as Ottawa and Brussels discuss ways to deepen their relationship.Anand said Canada was not pursuing full EU membership and that Ottawa was not currently seeking to define its relationship with the bloc under any specific label.Her remarks came after European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen proposed opening the possibility of Canada becoming the EU's first "associate member."Anand said Canada and the EU were discussing closer cooperation ahead of their summit in Montreal on October 29-30. The talks cover areas including artificial intelligence, critical minerals, defense and security.Canada and the EU have been expanding cooperation in several areas, including security and defense, digital technologies and critical minerals. Ottawa and Brussels are also working to strengthen their broader strategic partnership. http://www.today.az/news/politics/270504.html Politics Mon, 28 Sep 2026 08:30:00 +0400 Elnur Enveroglu/AzerNEWSThere is a revealing tension at the heart of Azerbaijan’s economic story. The country is still an energy exporter, and oil and gas remain central to its external trade. However, the investment message coming from Baku is increasingly about what comes after the first phase of energy-driven development.President Ilham Aliyev used the 2nd Azerbaijan International Investment Forum to make that case. Speaking at an event themed “Restoring Trust in a Fragmented World”, he presented diversification as a process already underway.President Aliyev said the non-oil and gas sector now accounts for more than 70 per cent of GDP. Why we mention it, because the numbers matter. At the same time, he acknowledged the harder part of the transformation: energy resources still make up the overwhelming majority of exports, and the challenge, therefore, is no longer simply to build a non-oil economy, but to make that economy competitive enough to sell more of what it produces abroad.Certainly, diversification is not achieved simply by changing the composition of GDP. It requires companies capable of competing in foreign markets, infrastructure capable of moving goods efficiently and investors willing to commit capital to sectors beyond hydrocarbons.President Ilham Aliyev put the challenge plainly: “So diversification of economy is already a reality, but we have to continue, definitely.”This is where Azerbaijan’s investment proposition is becoming more interesting. The country is trying to turn advantages that once supported its energy economy into assets for a broader economic model.Let's take geography, where obviously it is impossible for Azerbaijan to change its position between Europe and Asia, but it can invest in making that position economically useful. Roads, railways, ports and logistics infrastructure are being developed around the East-West and North-South corridors. The Middle Corridor, in particular, gives Azerbaijan an opportunity to become more than a transit point: it can develop logistics, warehousing, manufacturing and services around the movement of goods.The same logic applies to energy, in a sector where Azerbaijan’s experience in building complex international energy infrastructure is now being extended into renewables. President Aliyev said contracts already signed with international and local companies would provide eight gigawatts of solar and wind capacity by 2032, while work is underway on transmission infrastructure to connect future electricity exports with markets, particularly in Europe.Then there is agriculture, food security, the Alat Free Economic Zone, digital transformation, artificial intelligence, infrastructure and human capital. All of what is mentioned is not an isolated project, but on the contrary, together they suggest an attempt to build several new investment channels around an economy that historically drew much of its international capital towards hydrocarbons.Besides, the scale of previous investment gives this strategy a foundation. The President of Azerbaijan said the country had attracted more than $350bn in direct investment over the past two decades, almost half from foreign sources. He argued that the next stage should build on the investment climate, infrastructure, legal framework and completed projects that helped bring that capital into the country. And of course, this is also where the real test begins.Investors will not come simply because diversification is declared a priority. They will look for commercially viable projects, predictable rules, access to markets, skilled workers and reliable infrastructure. Azerbaijan itself recognises this, and the President identified the need for more reforms, more investment and new markets, while noting that competition for markets has become increasingly intense.That makes the forum’s message broader than an invitation to invest. It is a pitch for Azerbaijan to be seen differently.As mentioned before, the country is no longer presenting only its oil and gas fields. It is presenting transport corridors, renewable energy, industrial zones, agriculture, reconstruction, digital infrastructure and a growing pool of human capital.Naturally, the transition will not happen overnight, and energy will remain important for the next decades. But perhaps the most significant point in President Ilham Aliyev’s speech was that Azerbaijan’s next economic chapter is being framed around using the wealth, infrastructure and experience accumulated through them to create something wider.For investors, that may ultimately be the more consequential story: not Azerbaijan after oil, but Azerbaijan building an economy in which oil is no longer the whole story. http://www.today.az/news/regions/270505.html World news Mon, 28 Sep 2026 08:00:00 +0400 AzerNEWS StaffThe European Union will provide almost €710 million in support for displaced people and host communities in sub-Saharan Africa, as well as emergency assistance to people affected by crises around the world.European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen announced the funding as part of Global Citizen's 2026 campaign, according to the European Commission.The funding package includes measures to support vulnerable migrants and displaced people in sub-Saharan Africa, including assistance related to migration, protection, voluntary return and reintegration. A separate portion will address humanitarian needs linked to conflicts, food insecurity, malnutrition and climate-related shocks.The European Commission said the package also includes funding for the response to the Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of the Congo and neighboring countries.Von der Leyen said the EU support would benefit displaced communities across Africa and the communities hosting them, while also providing assistance to communities affected by war and other crises.The announcement was made during the UN General Assembly High-Level Week in New York and formed part of international advocacy organization Global Citizen's 2026 campaign.The new funding is intended to strengthen humanitarian assistance and support communities facing displacement, conflict and other crises, with a significant share directed toward sub-Saharan Africa. http://www.today.az/news/regions/270514.html World news Sun, 27 Sep 2026 23:00:00 +0400 AzerNEWS Staff Greenland and Antarctica lost a combined 11.3 trillion tonnes of ice between 1979 and 2023, contributing about 31.4 millimeters to global sea-level rise, according to a major scientific assessment.The study, published in the journal Scientific Data, combines 42 independent assessments of ice-sheet mass balance based on data from 27 satellite missions. Researchers analyzed changes in the Greenland and Antarctic ice sheets over several decades to produce a long-term record of ice loss.The assessment found that the two ice sheets lost an estimated 11,309 billion tonnes of ice during the period. Antarctica accounted for 4,780 billion tonnes of the loss, while Greenland lost 6,215 billion tonnes. Together, the losses contributed 31.4 millimeters to global mean sea-level rise.Researchers found that about 84 percent of the ice loss was driven by glaciers flowing into the ocean faster, while the remaining 16 percent was linked to changes in surface mass balance, including surface melting.The study also shows that ice loss has accelerated since the 1990s. Greenland's rate of mass loss increased substantially in the 2000s and 2010s, while changes in Antarctica have also contributed to the long-term rise in global sea levels.The researchers used satellite observations covering different aspects of ice-sheet change, including variations in ice flow, elevation and gravitational attraction. The record extends back to 1972 for Greenland and 1979 for Antarctica. http://www.today.az/news/regions/270513.html World news Sun, 27 Sep 2026 22:38:00 +0400 AzerNEWS Staff French President Emmanuel Macron has called for artificial intelligence systems to be tested and evaluated before being made available to children, citing the need to protect them from potential risks associated with the technology.Macron made the remarks in New York during a high-level meeting on protecting children's rights and safety in the age of artificial intelligence, held on the sidelines of the 81st session of the UN General Assembly. The meeting was organized as part of the Coalition for Children's Rights and Protection in the Age of AI.The French president noted that children are increasingly interacting with technologies capable of speaking to them, answering questions, imitating friendship and responding to their anxieties. He said artificial intelligence was already becoming part of children's daily lives and warned against repeating mistakes made with social media.Macron also referred to the growing role of social media in the lives of children and teenagers over the past decade. He welcomed efforts to strengthen protections for children online and stressed the need to apply similar safeguards to artificial intelligence.According to Macron, AI models should undergo testing and evaluation before being placed in children's hands. He said that no AI model should be made available to children by default before it has been tested, evaluated and authorized.He also stressed the importance of independent research into AI systems, taking into account different languages, cultures and educational environments. Such assessments, he said, should examine both the potential benefits claimed by developers and the risks associated with children's age, the way the technology is used and the specific circumstances of its use.Macron said the coalition would continue its work on the issue, with the next step expected at the Paris Peace Forum in November. http://www.today.az/news/regions/270512.html World news Sun, 27 Sep 2026 22:13:00 +0400 AzerNEWS Staff Georgia is interested in restoring its strategic partnership with the United States, Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze said.Kobakhidze said he had brief conversations with US President Donald Trump and Secretary of State Marco Rubio on the sidelines of the 81st session of the UN General Assembly.The Prime Minister stressed that the importance of restoring the strategic partnership between Georgia and the United States was highlighted during the conversations. He described his brief exchanges with Trump and Rubio as positive.Kobakhidze said Georgia had already taken certain steps toward returning bilateral relations to their previous strategic level and was now waiting for reciprocal steps from Washington.He stressed that Tbilisi's goal was to restore the strategic partnership with Washington and said Georgia had taken steps on its side while expecting reciprocal action from the United States. http://www.today.az/news/regions/270511.html World news Sun, 27 Sep 2026 21:44:00 +0400 AzerNEWS StaffUS President Donald Trump has said that he is continuing efforts to resolve the conflict between Russia and Ukraine.Trump made the remarks while answering questions from journalists.He said that he had resolved eight wars and noted that most of those conflicts had not been connected to him.Referring to the Russia-Ukraine conflict, Trump said that he was working toward a resolution but described it as the most complicated of the conflicts he had addressed.The US president's remarks come amid continued diplomatic efforts to find a way to end the fighting between Russia and Ukraine. http://www.today.az/news/regions/270510.html World news Sun, 27 Sep 2026 21:15:00 +0400 AzerNEWS Staff Vandalism and cable theft on a railway line in the western German city of Gelsenkirchen caused major disruptions to regional and long-distance train services across the country on September 26.The incident affected long-distance connections, including services between Dortmund and Munich, Hamburg and Basel, and northern Germany and Cologne. Around 300 trains were affected by the disruption.Gelsenkirchen police said they launched an investigation after cables along the railway tracks in the Ückendorf district were cut at several points and partially stolen during the night. The damage caused signaling and train control systems to fail, preventing trains from reaching Gelsenkirchen's main railway station from 4:55 a.m.Investigators from the federal and state police examined the site and secured evidence. The perpetrators remain unidentified, and the investigation is ongoing.Following repair work, train services in the Gelsenkirchen area gradually resumed around midday, although delays and some cancellations continued into the afternoon. http://www.today.az/news/regions/270509.html World news Sun, 27 Sep 2026 20:43:00 +0400 AzerNEWS Staff The emergence of a new respiratory pathogen could lead to a pandemic with consequences comparable to those of COVID-19, World Health Organization (WHO) Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus has warned.Tedros made the remarks at a press briefing in New York on the sidelines of the 81st session of the UN General Assembly.He said the possibility of a new respiratory pathogen emerging was among the concerns that kept him awake at night, warning that such a pathogen could have consequences similar to those caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.The WHO chief also stressed that another pandemic should be regarded as a matter of when, rather than if, indicating that the world needs to remain prepared for a future global health emergency.Tedros pointed to the ongoing Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of the Congo as a reminder that infectious disease outbreaks can emerge anywhere and at any time. He said such outbreaks can pose a threat not only to local communities but also to neighboring countries and the wider world.His remarks came during a UN high-level meeting focused on pandemic prevention, preparedness and response. The meeting reviewed progress made since the COVID-19 pandemic and emphasized the need for continued international cooperation, investment in resilient health systems and stronger preparedness for future outbreaks.Tedros said that although the world has made progress in strengthening pandemic preparedness since COVID-19, countries cannot assume they are sufficiently prepared for future threats. He called for continued efforts to improve global health security and international cooperation. http://www.today.az/news/regions/270508.html World news Sun, 27 Sep 2026 20:07:00 +0400 AzerNEWS Staff The United States and China have reached an agreement on reciprocal tariff reductions covering $30 billion worth of goods in each direction, as the two countries seek to stabilize their trade and economic relations.According to China's Foreign Ministry, the agreement was reached following talks between Chinese President Xi Jinping and US President Donald Trump during Xi's state visit to the United States.The two leaders positively assessed the results of economic and trade consultations between the two countries and the work of relevant working groups. They also agreed to establish and develop mechanisms such as a trade council to facilitate continued engagement on trade and economic issues.The two sides further agreed to extend the outcomes of their previous economic and trade consultations in Kuala Lumpur.The tariff arrangements cover a range of non-sensitive goods. US exports covered by the agreement include agricultural products, fish and seafood, wood and cosmetics, while imports into the United States include Chinese-made small household appliances, toys, holiday decorations and child car seats. Reuters reported that the tariff reductions would apply to $30 billion worth of goods in each direction.The agreement is part of a broader set of outcomes reached during Xi's visit to Washington. The Chinese Foreign Ministry said the two sides agreed to continue implementing the results of their economic and trade consultations and to strengthen mechanisms for maintaining communication and cooperation.The agreement is aimed at maintaining stability in China-US trade and economic relations while keeping bilateral consultation mechanisms in place. http://www.today.az/news/politics/270507.html Politics Sun, 27 Sep 2026 19:48:00 +0400 Ulviyya Poladova/AzerNEWSWhile the world keeps its eyes on wars, tariffs, and oil prices, a story is quietly unfolding in the corridors of the UN headquarters in New York, one that will largely shape the face of the organization for the decade to come. On December 31, 2026, António Guterres steps down as Secretary-General after serving two terms, and as early as January 1, 2027, his seat will be taken by the tenth head of the UN. Seven candidates are officially in the race, four of them women. Whoever ends up the winner, difficult tasks await, because the significance, the influence, and the financial capacity of the UN are all under ever closer scrutiny from the global public.According to the UN Charter, the Secretary-General is "equal parts diplomat and advocate, civil servant and CEO." The person holding this post oversees several key UN bodies, among them the Security Council, which carries the responsibility of maintaining peace and security across the planet. The new Secretary-General will be elected by the UN General Assembly on the recommendation of the Security Council, whose permanent members are China, France, Russia, the United Kingdom, and the United States. That is why the pool of potential contenders is limited, and the process itself promises to be complicated and strewn with obstacles.Seven candidates are officially in the race, four of them women. They are Latin Americans and Africans with solid diplomatic credentials behind them. The former president of Senegal and ex-chairman of the African Union, Macky Sall. The head of the IAEA, Rafael Grossi of Argentina, a man used to putting out the hottest nuclear crises. The economist Rebeca Grynspan of Costa Rica, who currently leads the UN Conference on Trade and Development. The former president of the General Assembly, María Fernanda Espinosa of Ecuador, and her compatriot, the diplomat Ivonne A-Baki. Guyana's permanent representative Carolyn Rodrigues-Birkett and the veteran of UN diplomacy from Uganda, Olara Otunnu. Until recently the list also included the former president of Chile, Michelle Bachelet, but she was the first to drop out of the running, having received only a single vote of support last week.The heated arguments are already beginning. Yet behind this outwardly orderly process lies a genuine battle of meanings. And the main dividing line runs along the fault of West versus Global South.There are two unwritten rules at the UN that this time work against the established order. The first is the principle of regional rotation. By long tradition the post is meant to pass from region to region, and now, by common consensus, it is Latin America and the Caribbean's turn. In the entire history of the UN there has been only one Secretary-General from there, the Peruvian Javier Pérez de Cuéllar, and even he served back in the eighties. In 2016 this tradition was already broken once, when, contrary to expectations, the Portuguese Guterres was chosen rather than a representative of Eastern Europe, which has never yet led the organization. Skipping the regional queue a second time in a row will be far harder. As the International Crisis Group expert Richard Gowan aptly noted, if Latin America's claim is disregarded again, it will come back to haunt everyone next time.The second rule is even more sensitive. In eight decades the UN has never once been led by a woman. All nine previous Secretaries-General were men. In September 2025 a resolution appeared that directly calls on states to nominate women. And at the latest BRICS summit, which by now gathered 21 countries, the final communiqué sounded almost like a reproach aimed at the UN. It reminded everyone that a woman has never been elected to this post, that only one person came from Latin America and the Caribbean, and only two each from Africa and Asia.The economic outlook is hardly encouraging either. Today there is stubborn inflation, which may be driven in large part by the surge in energy prices caused by the war in the Middle East as well as in Ukraine. This hits hardest those who already struggle with the high cost of living. Because of inflation, central banks are forced to raise rates at a time when debt levels are already very high. Under these conditions the UN has to operate in an even tougher situation. The Security Council can barely pass weighty decisions, and the withdrawal of the United States under the Trump administration has forced cuts to operations. Some institutions, such as the International Criminal Court, are under direct attack. The security architecture that was patiently built after the Second World War lies in ruins, and the chances of creating a new one are close to zero.Between now and the end of the year, a candidate needs to gather at least nine votes out of fifteen, and at the same time none of the five permanent members may cast a veto. And that permanent five is the United States, China, Russia, the United Kingdom, and France, among whom lately there has been no agreement. That is precisely why three rounds of secret balloting have still failed to reveal a clear favorite.But whoever is chosen in the end, the inheritance handed to them will be a heavy one. The Security Council, in Guterres's own words, is practically paralyzed by constant vetoes. The main donor, the United States, has slashed its funding, and hopes that the shortfall would be covered by China or Europe have so far come to nothing. What is more, experts admit that many states are, deep down, even glad that Trump is forcing a regime of austerity on the UN. The superpowers are no longer able to solve the world's problems on their own.There is one more paradox here. People, on the whole, believe in the UN more than its own leaders do. According to a GeoPoll survey for the UN Foundation, six people out of ten trust the organization on the things that truly matter to them. Yet at the same time 85 percent admitted that they had heard almost nothing about how the new Secretary-General is being chosen.So what is at stake? At first glance, just a single post, largely ceremonial and, as they say, "remarkably powerless." But behind the argument over the candidate hides a far more fundamental question. Who really sets the tone in the planet's main international institution. The answer we will learn by the end of this year. http://www.today.az/news/politics/270506.html Politics Sun, 27 Sep 2026 19:03:00 +0400 AzerNEWS Staff A monument complex dedicated to the memory of martyrs, named "Martyrs' Fortress", has been unveiled in Qashqachay village of the Gakh district.According to Azertag, the opening ceremony of "Martyrs' Fortress" began with a performance by an orchestra. The Azerbaijani national flag was raised on the towers of the fortress, followed by the national anthem and a one-minute silence in memory of the martyrs.It was reported that the 22-meter-high monument complex features towers on both sides. An Azerbaijani flag flies atop each tower. The fortress has 44 embrasures symbolizing the 44-day Patriotic War, while one additional embrasure represents the anti-terror operation.Speaking at the opening ceremony, the project's author Anvar Afandiyev said the site was created as a place where the sacred memory of the martyrs would be preserved and the love of the Motherland and the legacy of heroism would be passed on to future generations.He noted that schoolchildren could attend "open lessons" at the site, military conscripts could be sent off from there, and newlyweds could make their wishes at the sacred location.Lala Rahimova, the mother of National Hero Javanshir Rahimov, said that the residents of Qashqachay had always played an important role in Azerbaijan's history of statehood and had stood in defense of the Motherland, fulfilling their duties at the cost of their blood and lives. She emphasized that the monument reflects the heroism of the village's brave sons.Gakh District Executive Authority head Elvin Pashayev spoke about the Patriotic War, noting that the country's heroic sons had made a major contribution to restoring Azerbaijan's territorial integrity and sovereignty at the cost of their lives."The Victory we have today was made possible by the heroism of our martyrs, the sacrifice of our veterans and the unity of our people. In this regard, the 'Martyrs' Fortress' erected in a remote mountain village will go down in history not only as a place preserving the cherished memory of those from Qashqachay, but also as a sacred site honoring the memory of all our martyrs," Pashayev said.Other speakers at the event also spoke about state support for the families of martyrs and war veterans and expressed their gratitude.The ribbon-cutting ceremony for the "Martyrs' Fortress" monument complex was then held with the participation of mothers and children of martyrs. Wreaths and flowers were laid in front of the monument.The ceremony continued with military marches performed by the military orchestra.Qashqachay village is home to the families of 22 martyrs and 18 war veterans. Azerbaijan's youngest National Hero, Javanshir Rahimov, was also born and raised in the village.Qashqachay is also known for its prominent generals and officers, as well as patriotic sons who continue to serve in the Azerbaijani Army. http://www.today.az/news/politics/270515.html Politics Sun, 27 Sep 2026 18:17:00 +0400 AzerNEWS Staff Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has paid tribute to Azerbaijani martyrs who fought for the liberation of Karabakh on September 27 - Remembrance Day.In a post on his X account marking Remembrance Day, Erdogan said that he commemorated with mercy the Azerbaijani heroes who fought to liberate Karabakh from occupation and regain its freedom, while expressing respect for the country's war veterans.He also reaffirmed that Karabakh is Azerbaijani territory and said it would remain so forever http://www.today.az/news/regions/270516.html World news Sun, 27 Sep 2026 18:00:00 +0400 AzerNEWS StaffA farewell ceremony has been held in Kazakhstan's Mangystau region for servicemen who died during training exercises in the Caspian Sea.The regional administration's press service reported the ceremony.The memorial event was attended by Kazakhstan's Defense Minister Dauren Kossanov, Akim of Mangystau Region Nurdaulet Kilybai, Chairman of the Spiritual Administration of Muslims of Kazakhstan and Supreme Mufti Nauryzbai Kazhy Taganuly, deputies of the National Qurultay, members of the Kazakhstan Khalyk Kenesi, prominent public figures and fellow servicemen of the deceased.Those attending expressed their condolences to the families and relatives of the servicemen who lost their lives.According to the statement, on the instructions of President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev, the families of the servicemen are being provided with all necessary assistance from the state, including social payments, financial support and comprehensive assistance with organizing the funerals.The Mangystau Region Administration has also established a special fund to collect donations for assistance.It is recalled that on September 24, 17 servicemen were swept out to sea during a naval exercise off the coast of Kazakhstan's Mangystau region in the Caspian Sea. Fourteen of them died, while three were rescued. http://www.today.az/news/business/270491.html Business Sun, 27 Sep 2026 17:33:00 +0400 AzerNEWS StaffAzerbaijan's Economy Minister Mikayil Jabbarov has met with Connor Teskey, CEO of Brookfield Asset Management, on the sidelines of the 2nd Azerbaijan International Investment Forum.The meeting focused on existing cooperation between Azerbaijan and Brookfield Asset Management and prospects for expanding the partnership.Given the company's global investment activities focused on real assets, the sides exchanged views on areas of investment interest in Azerbaijan and potential projects.They also discussed exploring investment opportunities in energy transition and energy storage, renewable energy, digital infrastructure and other sectors.The meeting also highlighted measures being taken to further improve Azerbaijan's investment environment, expand cooperation with international investors and promote large-scale investment projects. http://www.today.az/news/society/270482.html Society Sun, 27 Sep 2026 17:12:00 +0400 AzerNEWS Staff A tree-planting campaign dedicated to the cherished memory of Azerbaijani martyrs has been held in Nakhchivan, organized by the Nakhchivan City Executive Authority.Participants first observed a minute of silence in memory of National Leader Heydar Aliyev and the martyrs.Addressing the event, Nakhchivan City Executive Authority head Anar Babayev said that preserving the memory of those who sacrificed their lives for the Motherland and passing on their legacy of heroism to future generations is a moral duty for everyone.He noted that events dedicated to the memory of martyrs contribute to preserving national memory and fostering patriotic values among the younger generation.The participants emphasized that planting trees in memory of the martyrs is a meaningful initiative that combines national and moral values with a tradition of caring for nature. Such campaigns also contribute to expanding green areas in Nakhchivan, protecting the environment and maintaining ecological balance.As part of the campaign, more than 100 trees of various forest species were planted in an area designated for landscaping. Existing trees were watered, measures were taken to protect and develop the greenery, and the newly planted trees received the necessary agrotechnical care. A modern drip irrigation system was also installed to water the trees.Each tree planted in memory of the martyrs serves as a symbol of respect for future generations, life and national memory.A number of events are being held in Nakhchivan in connection with September 27 - Remembrance Day to honor the memory of the martyrs, provide attention and support to their families and loved ones, and promote national and moral values. http://www.today.az/news/sports/270490.html Sports Sun, 27 Sep 2026 16:37:00 +0400 Laman IsmayilovaAzerbaijan's national football team will begin its UEFA Nations League campaign on September 27.The team, competing in League D, will face Lithuania away in the opening match of Group 2.The match will take place in Kaunas and will kick off at 17:00 Baku time. The game will be officiated by FIFA referee Menelaos Antoniou of Cyprus.The Azerbaijani national team will play its second group match against Liechtenstein in Baku on October 1.The UEFA Nations League is a national-team competition organized by UEFA to provide more competitive international matches and reduce the number of friendly fixtures. The tournament was introduced in 2018 and brings together European national teams in leagues based on their sporting level.The competition is divided into four leagues - A, B, C and D. Teams compete in groups within their respective leagues, with promotion and relegation providing movement between the divisions. The top teams in League A advance to the knockout stage, which culminates in the Nations League finals.The 2026/27 edition is the fifth UEFA Nations League. The league phase began on September 24, 2026, and will run through November 17. League A, B and C teams play six matches in the league phase, while teams in League D play four. http://www.today.az/news/business/270481.html Business Sun, 27 Sep 2026 16:15:00 +0400 AzerNEWS Staff Azerbaijan's Economy Minister Mikayil Jabbarov has met with Robert F. Smith, founder and chairman of Vista Equity Partners, to discuss investment opportunities and prospects for attracting international capital to the Azerbaijani economy.The meeting was held on the sidelines of the 2nd Azerbaijan International Investment Forum.The sides exchanged views on Azerbaijan's investment potential, economic reforms being implemented in the country and opportunities available to international investors.They also discussed new opportunities emerging in global financial markets and their potential to support investment flows into Azerbaijan.The meeting focused on areas of mutual interest, including potential new investment directions and prospects for expanding cooperation between Azerbaijan and Vista Equity Partners. http://www.today.az/news/politics/270502.html Politics Sun, 27 Sep 2026 15:43:00 +0400 AzerNEWS Staff On September 27 - Remembrance Day, Khachmaz District Executive Authority Head Elnur Rzayev, Chairman of the Khachmaz District Organization of the New Azerbaijan Party Emil Taghiyev, heads of local law enforcement agencies, families of martyrs, veterans and members of the public visited the Martyrs' Alley in Khachmaz city.Elnur Rzayev laid a wreath before the eternal flame at the memorial complex. The participants also visited the bust of National Hero of Azerbaijan Yavar Shahbazov and placed fresh carnations before the memorial plaques dedicated to martyrs from Khachmaz.The executive authority head spoke with family members of the martyrs and inquired about their concerns. Elnur Rzayev said that the historic Victory achieved under the leadership of Victorious Commander-in-Chief, President Ilham Aliyev, has become a source of pride for the Azerbaijani people. He noted that the country's territorial integrity had been restored through the bravery of the Armed Forces and that the sacrifice of the martyrs had not been in vain.He also stressed that the Azerbaijani Army remains firmly committed to safeguarding the country's security, while highlighting the special attention and care provided by the head of state to families of martyrs and war veterans.At 12:00, a one-minute silence was observed in memory of the martyrs as part of Remembrance Day commemorations. During the tribute, traffic and pedestrian movement was suspended, and drivers sounded their horns. http://www.today.az/news/politics/270492.html Politics Sun, 27 Sep 2026 15:20:00 +0400 AzerNEWS Staff September 27 is observed in Azerbaijan as Remembrance Day, a date dedicated to honoring the memory of servicemen who lost their lives during the 44-day Patriotic War of 2020.Across Azerbaijan, the day is marked by commemorative ceremonies, visits to martyrs' cemeteries and memorial sites, and tributes held at public institutions and communities. Citizens gather to remember those who died during the war, lay flowers at graves and monuments, and express respect for their sacrifice.Remembrance Day was established by a presidential decree on December 2, 2020, several weeks after the end of the war. September 27 was chosen as the date because it marks the beginning of the hostilities in 2020.The day has become an important part of Azerbaijan's public commemorative calendar. Government institutions, local authorities, educational establishments, cultural organizations and civil society groups organize events dedicated to preserving the memory of the fallen. Exhibitions, conferences, tree-planting campaigns, commemorative gatherings and other initiatives are held in different parts of the country.One of the central elements of the commemoration is the nationwide one-minute silence observed at noon. At 12:00, people across the country stop to honor the memory of those who died during the war. The national flag is displayed on streets, avenues, squares and residential buildings, creating a visible expression of the country's collective remembrance.Commemorative events are also held in Azerbaijan's liberated territories. These ceremonies carry particular significance as the territories where the war took place are now undergoing extensive reconstruction and development. The return of residents to their native settlements and the restoration of infrastructure have also become part of the country's post-war agenda.Remembrance Day is observed beyond Azerbaijan's borders as well. Azerbaijani communities and diaspora organizations in different countries hold commemorative ceremonies, bringing together members of the community to honor the fallen and preserve their memory.The day also provides an opportunity to reflect on the human consequences of armed conflict. Alongside remembering those who died, commemorative events draw attention to the importance of protecting civilians, supporting war-affected families and addressing the humanitarian consequences of conflict.For families of the fallen, Remembrance Day carries a deeply personal significance. The annual commemorations provide an opportunity to keep the memory of their loved ones alive and to recognize the sacrifices made by those who died during the war.Over the years, September 27 has come to represent both remembrance and reflection in Azerbaijan.Through ceremonies held across the country and by Azerbaijani communities abroad, the day keeps the memory of the fallen at the center of public attention while emphasizing the value of peace, security and a stable future for coming generations. http://www.today.az/news/society/270498.html Society Sun, 27 Sep 2026 14:53:00 +0400 Laman Ismayilova Traffic has been restored on streets used by the Baku City Circuit following the 2026 Formula 1 Azerbaijan Grand Prix.The immediately after the main race ended, dismantling work began on the circuit infrastructure and grandstands at Azneft Circle, and the central streets were reopened to traffic.Restrictions on traffic on some streets used for the race ended at midnight today.From 12:30 p.m., traffic was fully restored on the roads, except for the section between the intersection of Uzeyir Hajibayli and Pushkin streets and the intersection of Zarifa Aliyeva and Pushkin streets.It should be noted that additional measures were introduced during the Formula 1 Azerbaijan Grand Prix week to facilitate traffic in the central part of the city. Transit corridors were kept open along several major routes during morning and evening hours, providing greater mobility for residents and drivers.In 2026, traffic arrangements were further expanded. For the first time, a new transit corridor was established from the intersection of Uzeyir Hajibayli and Pushkin streets toward Bulbul Avenue.