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Organised cash crop theft hurting plantations

The Planters’ Association of Ceylon (PA) yesterday said that it has called on the Government to treat the systematic theft of high-value agricultural crops as a serious economic threat, warning that unchecked losses are deterring investment, eroding export competitiveness, and putting the livelihoods of farmers at risk.

Across Sri Lanka’s plantation districts, the organised theft of pepper, ginger, cardamom, cinnamon, vanilla, avocado, and other high-value crops has reached a scale that the industry says can no longer be dismissed as an isolated or manageable problem, the PA said.

Regional Plantation Companies (RPCs) and smallholder growers have reported increasing losses that wipe out entire seasons of work and companies are spending tens of millions of rupees on security that cuts directly into their ability to compete internationally. The Association said in several cases, farmers and estate managers have abandoned expansion plans for high-value crops entirely after concluding that the returns cannot justify the risk.

The Association estimates that crop losses across the sector may be running into millions, though it is now seeking formally verified data from members to establish the true figure. What is already clear, the Association said, is that the financial damage extends well beyond the stolen harvest itself.

Theft operations are organised and deliberate. Association members report that incidents cluster around the full moon, when natural light allows groups to work through fields without torches. A well-coordinated team can strip a section of cinnamon in two to three hours, clear a cardamom plot in a single pass, or harvest 40 to 50 kilos of pepper from a single vine before dawn. Once the crop leaves the field and enters informal supply channels, it is effectively untraceable.

The PA said that one company is currently spending approximately Rs. 20 million to protect a single crop over a three-month period. Those costs do not appear in any Government measure of agricultural competitiveness, but they are real and recurring and they fall entirely on the producer. For estates already competing against lower-cost producers in Vietnam, India, and Kenya, this adds further strain, with RPCs losing revenue and the State losing tax income as a result.

The PA pointed to pepper as a crop where the damage to investor confidence has been most visible. Several growers who had begun trialling pepper, a high-value crop with strong export potential, have pulled back from expansion after sustained theft on their plots. Cardamom has been similarly affected. One company that committed to planting 18 hectares spent several years deploying watchers and security personnel before concluding that the cost was unsustainable. The project was not extended.

The Government has publicly committed to growing Sri Lanka’s agricultural exports and attracting investment into the sector. The Association’s position is that this goal cannot be achieved while the conditions on the ground make high-value crop production an unacceptable risk for growers.

Agricultural theft is a criminal offence under existing Sri Lankan law. The Association’s concern is that the penalties attached to that offence bear no relation to its economic consequences. In many cases, a fraction of the value of what was stolen provides no meaningful deterrent to repeat offenders. When the punishment is cheaper than the crime, the law becomes ineffective.

Technology has so far failed to fill the gap. CCTV systems are defeated by power cuts. Fingerprint entry controls have been circumvented. Drones face practical obstacles in shade-grown and wind-exposed terrain. The infrastructure installed to protect crops, including fencing and other equipment, has itself become a target for theft.

Accordingly, the PA called on the Government to revise and effectively enforce the penalties for agricultural theft so that fines and sentences reflect the actual value of the crops stolen and create a genuine deterrent. The PA also called for the development of a traceability framework for high-value produce within informal supply chains, so that stolen crops can be identified and prosecuted once they leave the field. Lastly, the Association called for the formal recognition of crop theft in national agricultural policy and the allocation of resources to enforcement accordingly.

The PA is also collecting verified data from its members on the scale of losses across both smallholder and estate operations, and intends to present this to the relevant Government Ministries.

“Sri Lanka has the climate, the land, and the agricultural knowledge to be a serious player in high-value crop exports. But we cannot build that future if a farmer can spend nine months on a crop and lose everything the night before he is paid. This is not a minor inconvenience. It is a structural problem that needs a structural response,” the PA said.

Yawota breakthrough

How did we get to this crossroads of insecurity in Nigeria, a country that used to be a citadel of peace and tranquility in the past?

The state of insecurity in the country has reached such a crescendo that even those who are custodians of power are no longer safe! If a retired Major General could be successfully kidnapped and die in the kidnappers’ den, then an ordinary civilian should take heed and exercise adequate precaution.

Remote areas that were once considered places of safety and relaxation have now been transformed into kidnappers’ dens. Villages used to be ideal for relaxation owing to their accommodating atmosphere, fresh vegetables, and natural resources. It is a pity that such serene environments have become something else entirely.

The abduction that took place at Oriire Local Government, specifically at Esiele Yawota, on 15th May, 2026, was a rude shock and unprecedented in the history of the Pacesetter State since its creation in 1976. The abducted pupils and teachers underwent severe psychological distress for 56 days in a forest that was inimical to their health.

Apparently, the joint security operatives intensified their efforts and succeeded in rescuing them on time. The truth of the matter is that these bandits had done their homework thoroughly before they perpetrated their evil act.

I commiserate with the families of those who lost their lives in the process of rescuing the abductees. Now that the victims have been safely rescued, the pupils involved should be rehabilitated and given new orientation that will erase the trauma and any spirit of militancy from their hearts.

I appreciate the efforts of the Oyo State Governor, Engr. Seyi Makinde, and President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for their swift responses from the outset of the unfortunate incident until the victims were released a few days ago.

I, therefore, urge the Inspector General of Police, IGP Kayode Egbetokun, to beef up security in the Old Oyo National Park in order to forestall any future occurrence in the region.

Lend an ear

Listening sounds simple until you try to do it well. You sit across from someone, you nod at the right moments, you make sounds of agreement, and you assume that is enough. Yet when the conversation ends, you can barely remember what they said. You remember the gist, maybe the topic, but the meaning of their words has slipped past you. This happens because hearing and listening are not the same thing. Hearing is automatic. Listening asks something of you.

Think about the last time someone listened to you fully. Perhaps it was a friend who put down their phone, looked at you, and let you finish your sentence without rushing to respond. Perhaps it was a coworker who repeated back what you said in their own words, just to make sure they understood. You probably remember how it felt. That is the quiet power of being truly heard, and it is something you can offer to the people around you with practice.

Most of us are not poor listeners by choice. The world has trained you to do many things at once. You check messages while a family member tells you about their day. You plan your reply while your colleague is still explaining the problem. You assume you already know where the sentence is going, so you stop paying attention before they reach the end. None of this makes you a bad person. It makes you a busy one. The good news is that listening better is a skill, and like any skill, it improves the moment you decide to give it your attention.

Start with your body. The way you sit and where you look tell the other person whether you are with them or not. Put the phone face down, turn your body slightly toward them, and soften your shoulders. These small movements do something to your mind as well, signaling that this conversation matters. You do not need to stare without blinking or sit perfectly still. You just need to be there in a way the other person can feel that they have your full attention.

Next, slow down your urge to reply. Most people listen with half their brain while the other half drafts a clever response, a counterpoint, or a story of their own that somehow feels more interesting. Try to notice when this happens, and gently return your attention to the speaker. If silence falls after they finish, do not rush to fill it. A short pause tells them that you took their words seriously enough to consider them. Often, the speaker will continue and share something deeper than they planned, simply because you gave them room.

Ask questions that show you were paying attention. You do not need to be clever. You only need to be curious. Instead of jumping to advice, try asking what the hardest part was for them, or how the experience left them feeling. Questions like these tell the other person that you care about their experience, not just the facts. They also slow the conversation enough for real understanding to happen. If you are not sure you followed correctly, try repeating what you heard in your own words and inviting them to correct you. This costs nothing and changes everything.

Active listening also asks you to set aside the urge to fix. When a partner shares a frustration about work, your first instinct may be to suggest solutions. When a friend mentions a worry, you may immediately start thinking of ways to make things better. While that impulse often comes from a place of care, it is not always what the other person needs. Sometimes people do want advice.

Most of the time, however, they simply want to be understood before they are offered solutions. Ask gently what they need from the conversation. A simple question such as, ‘Would you like my thoughts, or would you rather I just listen?’ can make all the difference. Giving someone the space to express themselves without immediately trying to fix the situation is often one of the kindest and most supportive things you can do.

Of course, there will be days when listening feels difficult. You may be carrying your own worries, feeling exhausted after a long day, or struggling to focus because your mind is already full. On those days, honesty is kinder than pretending. If you cannot give someone your full attention, let them know. Tell them you genuinely want to hear what they have to say and ask if you can continue the conversation later, when you can be fully present. Setting that boundary is not dismissive. It shows respect for both the speaker and the conversation. Most people appreciate honest attention delayed far more than distracted listening offered out of obligation.

Over time, listening well becomes less an effort and more a habit. You will notice that people open up to you more easily, that disagreements cool before they grow heated, and that you understand the people in your life with greater depth than before. Your relationships will feel steadier, not because the world around you has changed, but because you have changed the way you meet it. Few skills shape your daily life as quietly and as completely as the practice of truly listening, and few gifts are as freely yours to give. The people in your home, your office, and your neighborhood do not need you to be wiser or more accomplished than you are. They need you to be present when they speak, and to receive what they say as if it mattered, because it does.

Sri Lankan exporters face new EU sustainability rules as compliance deadlines loom

As sustainability requirements reshape global trade, businesses should begin preparing for key developments such as EmpCo, PPWR, EUDR, and ESG reporting expectations.

Sri Lankan exporters targeting the European Union are being urged to prepare immediately for sweeping new sustainability regulations that will fundamentally change how businesses market products, manage supply chains and demonstrate environmental and social responsibility.

Beginning 27 September 2026, companies selling goods and services into the EU will face tougher scrutiny under the Empowering Consumers for the Green Transition Directive (EmpCo), which is designed to eliminate misleading environmental claims commonly known as “greenwashing.”

Businesses found making unsubstantiated sustainability claims could face penalties of up to pound 2 million or 4% of annual turnover in the relevant EU member state, together with reputational damage and possible restrictions on market access.

According to Peterson Solutions Sri Lanka, many exporters remain unaware that the new rules extend well beyond product labels, applying equally to websites, social media, advertisements, sustainability reports and other promotional material carrying environmental claims.

“The era of simply saying a product is ‘green’, ‘eco-friendly’ or ‘sustainably produced’ is coming to an end,” said Peterson Solutions Sri Lanka Asia Pacific Regional Manager Dr. Rukshan Gunatilaka. “Businesses must now be able to produce credible evidence supporting every sustainability claim they make. Compliance is no longer just a regulatory obligation. It’s becoming an absolute necessity for access to EU markets.”

He said sustainability has evolved from a voluntary corporate initiative into a core business requirement as governments, investors and consumers increasingly demand transparency and accountability throughout global supply chains.

“Doing business and protecting the planet can no longer be treated as separate objectives,” Dr. Gunatilaka said. “Environmental, social and governance performance now has a direct impact on a company’s reputation, shareholder value and long-term commercial success. Companies that fail to address these issues risk losing both customers and market confidence.”

The EU’s regulatory reforms form part of a broader shift towards more responsible global trade. Besides EmpCo, exporters must also prepare for the Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation (PPWR), which begins applying from 12 August 2026, with further requirements phased in through 2030, and the EU Deforestation Regulation (EUDR), whose due diligence obligations take effect for larger companies on 30 December 2026.

The regulations affect a wide range of Sri Lankan export sectors, including food and agriculture, tea, spices, rubber products, apparel and textiles, fisheries, plastics, tourism-related products and even certain service industries supplying European clients.

Peterson Solutions says one of the biggest misconceptions among businesses is that these regulations apply only to European companies. In reality, any organisation exporting to Europe, or making sustainability claims reaching European consumers, may be required to demonstrate compliance.

“The European market remains one of Sri Lanka’s most valuable export destinations,” Dr. Gunatilaka said. “Companies that prepare early will not only avoid regulatory risks but also strengthen customer trust, improve competitiveness and position themselves for long-term growth.”

Peterson Solutions Sri Lanka Assistant Manager – Business Communications and Marketing Dulini Wijeratne said, “Businesses should view compliance as a strategic investment rather than merely an additional cost.”

“Many established exporters already regard sustainability compliance as an essential part of doing business in Europe,” she said. “Companies planning to enter the EU market are also beginning preparations early because they recognise that robust sustainability systems create long-term commercial advantages.”

Part of the Netherlands-headquartered PCU group, established in 1920, the company operates in more than 80 countries, delivers projects across 120 countries and serves a global client base exceeding 40,000 clients.

Peterson Solutions provides certification support, sustainability consulting, responsible sourcing, supply chain traceability, ESG advisory services, academy solutions and technology-based solutions. Its digital platforms help organisations monitor carbon emissions, manage ESG performance, strengthen due diligence systems and maintain documentation required for increasingly complex international regulations.

In Sri Lanka, Peterson Solutions works across food and agriculture, apparel, plastics, rubber manufacturing, fisheries, aquaculture, tourism and other export-oriented industries. It also supports clients in Cambodia, Myanmar and the Maldives.

The company advises organisations to begin reviewing their sustainability communications, supply chains and governance systems now, rather than waiting until regulatory deadlines approach.

“The question regulators, investors and consumers are increasingly asking is no longer whether a company has sustainability ambitions,” Wijeratne said. “The question is: Can you prove it?”

To support organisations preparing for these evolving requirements, Peterson Solutions Sri Lanka will conduct a complimentary webinar titled “ESG Reporting Basics: Why, When and How” on 29 July 2026 from 3.30 p.m. to 4.30 p.m. (Sri Lanka Time).

Interested participants may register at: https://app.livestorm.co/peterson-solutions/esg-reporting-basics-why-when-and-how

Many organisations understand that sustainability is becoming important but are often unsure where to begin. The webinar is designed to provide practical guidance and help businesses take their first steps towards effective ESG reporting,” said Wijeratne.

Peterson Solutions Sri Lanka said businesses seeking to understand how the evolving EU sustainability framework may affect their operations can obtain guidance on compliance requirements, risk assessments, supply chain traceability, ESG implementation and evidence-based sustainability reporting.

Israel approves legal change for potential crocodile deployment at prisons

Israel has taken a regulatory step that could allow Nile crocodiles to be used as part of security measures around prisons, following a decision by Environmental Protection Minister Idit Silman to change the legal classification of the reptiles, AzerNEWS reports via Israeli media.

Under the new regulations, Nile crocodiles are now defined as “captive-bred wildlife,” enabling authorized Israeli security agencies to keep the animals under strict supervision and according to guidelines established by the Israel Nature and Parks Authority.

The regulatory change follows a proposal made in December by National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir, who suggested using crocodiles around certain prisons to deter escape attempts by Palestinian security prisoners.

At the time, Ben Gvir promoted the idea on social media, writing, “Cursed terrorist, are you thinking of trying to escape? Think twice,” alongside an AI-generated image showing him holding a crocodile on a leash.

According to Israeli media reports, the proposal is primarily aimed at Ketziot Prison in southern Israel, where many Hamas operatives were captured after the October 7, 2023 events. Under the plan, the crocodiles would reportedly be placed in designated perimeter areas as an additional security measure rather than inside prison facilities.

The new regulations stipulate that only authorized security bodies may keep the animals and only under conditions approved by the Israel Nature and Parks Authority. Israeli media reported that the authority had initially opposed the idea before the legal changes were introduced.

The proposal has drawn comparisons with the so-called “Alligator Alcatraz” migrant detention facility in Florida, which was established in an area surrounded by wetlands inhabited by alligators.

LASWA moves to cut boat fares, expand fuel supply

The Lagos State Waterways Authority (LASWA) has unveiled measures aimed at reducing the rising cost of water transportation, following concerns by boat operators and passengers over escalating fares driven by high fuel prices.

Speaking to The Nation, LASWA Head of Operations, Oladayo Ibrahim, said the Authority was expanding its fuel distribution network while accelerating the transition to Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) and electric powered boats to lower operating costs and make ferry services more affordable.

He said the intervention followed complaints by operators that the sustained increase in the cost of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS) had eroded profit margins and forced many to increase fares, placing additional financial pressure on commuters.

Ibrahim acknowledged that the global rise in crude oil prices had directly affected the cost of Premium Motor Spirit, with implications for every mode of transportation, including water transport. ‘However, despite the prevailing economic realities, the Lagos State Government has continued to subsidise ferry services through Lagos Ferry Services (LAGFERRY) to cushion the impact on commuters.’

According to him, LASWA has expanded its fuel dump infrastructure through Ibile Oil and Gas to four strategic locations across the state namely Falomo, Badagry, Ikorodu and Ijegun Egba. The expansion is designed to eliminate the hazardous practice of purchasing fuel in jerry cans while making fuel more accessible to boat operators.

‘The initiative is expected to reduce operational bottlenecks, lower operating costs and ultimately help moderate transport fares for passengers,’ Ibrahim said.

On clean energy transition, Ibrahim said the Authority is implementing longer term measures centred on cleaner and more cost effective energy sources. ‘LASWA is partnering Ril Hydro Kraft Limited to introduce Compressed Natural Gas powered boats into commercial operations. This initiative would significantly reduce fuel costs for operators, enabling them to sustain their businesses without passing rising operating costs to commuters.

‘LASWA has commenced the pilot phase of electric powered ferries in partnership with Carverton Marine. The electric boats form part of the Authority’s long term strategy to deploy cleaner, safer and more environmentally sustainable vessels on Lagos waterways while reducing dependence on conventional fuel.’

He said the combination of expanded fuel infrastructure and the adoption of alternative energy technologies was expected to reduce the financial burden on operators and passengers, improve operational efficiency and strengthen confidence in water transportation.

Ibrahim reaffirmed LASWA’s commitment to the development of the state’s waterways, saying the Authority would continue to work with operators and other stakeholders to ensure that water transportation remains safe, reliable, accessible and affordable for all Lagos residents.

President Ilham Aliyev congratulates new Prime Minister of UK

President Ilham Aliyev has sent a congratulatory letter to Andy Burnham, Prime Minister of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland.

According to AzerNEWS, the letter reads:

“Dear Mr. Prime Minister,

I sincerely congratulate you on your appointment to the position of the Prime Minister of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland.

We attach particular importance to the comprehensive development of Azerbaijan-United Kingdom relations based on rich and good traditions. The dynamics of our economic and trade cooperation, the steady enhancement and enrichment of our proven strategic partnership with new content in the energy sector are gratifying.

Companies representing your country are involved in several major projects in Azerbaijan, operating effectively across both the oil and non-oil sectors of the country’s economy. I would particularly like to highlight our long-standing and successful collaboration with bp in both traditional and renewable energy. The fact that British companies were among the first foreign firms invited by Azerbaijan following the liberation of our lands from occupation, and are now actively participating in the ongoing reconstruction and development efforts underscores the high level of cooperation between our countries.

I am confident that we will successfully continue our joint efforts to further strengthen the friendly relations and our partnership between Azerbaijan and the United Kingdom in line with the interests of our peoples.

I once again convey my congratulations to you and wish you success in your future responsible activities.”

2027: Nigerians’ll vote Tinubu unconditionally – North Central agenda

A prominent political and advocacy pressure group in North Central Nigeria, North Central Agenda (NCA), has declared its unconditional support for President Bola Ahmed Tinubu ahead of the 2027 presidential election, describing his victory in the region as a ‘done deal.’

The development is coming as the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Senator George Akume, explained how the current administration is laying solid foundation for Nigeria’s long-term prosperity through critical reforms and infrastructure development.

Speaking at a one-day conference on North-Central region’s development, under the Renewed Hope Agenda, the Convener of the North Central Agenda, (NCA), Dr. Ene Lilian Ogbole, said the President’s policy choices have brought visible transformation to a zone long plagued by socio-economic neglect.

The conference had in attendance delegates from all the six states of the North Central and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).

Addressing a large crowd of stakeholders from the region in Abuja, Dr. Ogbole said prior to the current administration, North Central Nigeria had been plunged into an ‘abyss of huge infrastructural deficit and major security crisis.’

‘However, since assuming office on the 29th of May, 2023, President Tinubu has demonstrated courage in making difficult decisions aimed at securing the region’s long-term all-round prosperity,’ Ogbole stated. ‘For the people of the North Central region, these efforts have brought renewed hope and visible progress.’

Ogbole highlighted extensive investments spanning agriculture, security, education, and road transport infrastructure across the zone.

Among the landmark road and superhighway projects cited by Ogbole include, the Calabar-Ebonyi-Benue-Kogi-Nasarawa-Abuja Super Highway; Sokoto-Badagry Super Highway (Niger and Kwara sections); Akwanga-Jos-Bauchi-Gombe-Maiduguri Highway; Suleja-Minna Dual Carriageway and the Lokoja-Okene Dualisation and Makurdi-Aliade-Otukpo Road

Ogbole praised the administration’s interventions in education, pointing to expanded investments through the Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFund) and stipend support for students via the Nigerian Education Loan Fund (NELFUND). She noted that the Renewed Hope administration had successfully ‘halted the ‘strike regime’ which previously disrupted academic activities.’

On agriculture and security-critical issues for the nation’s primary food basket-the group noted that intensified military operations against banditry and kidnapping have enabled farmers to return to their fields and businesses to reopen.

Emphasizing the North Central zone’s historical position as an ‘electoral determinant factor in every presidential election since 1999,’ Ogbole declared that the administration’s spread of capital projects had fundamentally altered the region’s political alignment.

‘The fair and judicious spread of capital projects to all the geopolitical zones by the administration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has changed the narratives from negative to positive, from neglect to recognition… and now to socio-economic structural and infrastructural transformation of the entire North Central zone,’ she remarked.

Ogbole committed the organization to an aggressive voter mobilization campaign across every state in the region to guarantee the President’s reelection.

‘Consequently, we are pledging to mobilise massively like never before across the entire North Central states to support the reelection of the President that has brought us from doom to the dawn of a new era,’ Ogbole said.

‘For us as the mouthpiece of the North Central people, this reelection is a done deal as we will stop at nothing within the confines of the law to ensure that his victory is secured.’

Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Senator George Akume, who was represented at the occasion by his Senior Assistant, Technical, Prof. Babatunde Bolaji Benard said his confidence in Tinubu dated back many years, adding that President Tinubu has placed Nigeria firmly on the path of recovery through bold and sometimes difficult policy decisions.

He likened the country’s current economic reforms to cooking beans, noting that while the process takes time and patience, the end result is worthwhile.

‘The President is a trailblazer. He is taking decisions that may not produce instant results, but they are the kind of reforms that will secure Nigeria’s future,’ he said.

Prof Benard cited the Student Loan Scheme as one of the administration’s landmark achievements, arguing that while children of political leaders in previous administrations benefited from student loans abroad, Tinubu has made similar opportunities available to ordinary Nigerian students at home.

He also praised the administration’s massive investment in infrastructure, particularly the ongoing road projects across the country.

Referring to the Calabar to Abuja highway corridor, he said the route had been conceived as far back as 1958 but had remained largely unrealised until the current administration.

‘How do you develop a country without critical infrastructure?’ he asked. ‘What President Tinubu is doing today is laying the foundation for economic growth.’

Benard further highlighted the Sokoto to Badagry Super Highway project, noting that it incorporates 32 dams that would significantly boost agriculture, irrigation, water supply and economic activities along the corridor.

‘Think about what we can do with those dams. They are not just roads; they are economic assets that will transform communities and create wealth,’ he said.

He urged Nigerians to support leaders focused on building lasting infrastructure rather than seeking short-term handouts.

‘We should leave those who give us peanuts and keep us in poverty. We should support the man who is digging up the ground and creating the conditions for Nigeria to blossom,’ he said.

In his goodwill message, a chieftain of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) from Benue State, Comrade Okpokwu Ogenyi, confirmed that President Tinubu had deployed massive security to Benue, embarked on several projects which are beneficial to the people of the state and working hand in hand with the incumbent Governor Alia Hyacinth to deliver dividends of democracy in the state.

DREAM Fest 2026 to unite global music stars on Caspian coast

Baku is preparing to host the third edition of DREAM Fest 2026,AzerNEWS reports.

The music festival will take place from July 23 to 26 at Sea Breeze Resort on the Caspian coast.

The four-day festival will feature performances by artists from different countries and musical genres. Among this year’s international headliners are British singer John Newman, American artists Ty Dolla $ign and Busta Rhymes, Algerian rai legend Cheb Khaled, and Turkish stars EDIS and Zeynep Bastik.

The lineup also includes well-known performers such as Thomas Nevergreen, Egor Kreed, Lucy Chebotina, Stas Mikhailov, JONY, Ani Lorak, Artik and Asti, EMIN, Alessandro Safina, Jah Khalib, Alsou, Emre Altug, Brandon Stone, Andru Donalds (ENIGMA), Aygun Kazimova, Elnur Huseynov, Nigar Jamal, Orkhan Zeynalli, Tunzala Aghayeva, Aysel, Faig Aghayev, Roza Zergerli, Dilara Kazimova, Zulfiyya Khanbabayeva, SABI, and others. Organizers say more artists will be announced in the coming days.

The festival will be hosted by TV presenter and blogger Regina Todorenko and Azerbaijani television producer and presenter Murad Dadashov.

In addition to concerts, visitors can enjoy a red carpet, meetings with artists, the unveiling of new stars on the Sea Breeze Walk of Fame, themed parties, and other entertainment throughout the festival.

Organizers say DREAM Fest 2026 aims to bring together internationally known performers, regional stars, and music fans for four days of live entertainment on the Caspian coast.

Kombos congratulates Ed Miliband on his appointment as UK Foreign Secretary

Foreign Minister Constantinos Kombos congratulated Ed Miliband on his appointment as Foreign Secretary of the United Kingdom.

‘I look forward to further strengthening bilateral relations and strategic cooperation across a range of areas, working together on regional stability, as well as on shared EU-UK priorities’, he said today in a post on X.

He also conveyed his best wishes to Yvette Cooper, for her new duties as Health Secretary of the United Kingdom.