Category: Azer News

On November 4, President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev, First Lady Mehriban Aliyeva and their daughter Leyla Aliyeva visited AIRE 2026, the 1st Azerbaijan International Real Estate Ehibition, at the Baku Epo Center.

Organized by PASHA Property Management, the ehibition brings together 61 companies, including 47 local and 14 foreign entities.

By an Order of the head of state, 2026 was declared the Year of Urban Planning and Architecture in Azerbaijan. The organization of the ehibition once again demonstrates the attention paid at the state level to the development of the real estate, architecture and construction sectors in Azerbaijan.

The ehibition provides a platform for people seeking to purchase homes, improve their living conditions or invest in real estate, as well as major investors, company representatives and industry professionals. It also plays an important role in promoting dialogue among real estate market participants, facilitating the echange of eperience and eploring new opportunities for cooperation.

President Ilham Aliyev, First Lady Mehriban Aliyeva and their daughter Leyla Aliyeva toured the stand of PMD Group.

Operating since 2013, PMD Group is engaged in real estate investment, project development and management across the residential, commercial and public and social infrastructure sectors. The company provides a range of services across its core areas of operation, including construction and project management, architecture and design, real estate management, sales and leasing, and logistics and warehousing.

PMD Group and its subsidiaries have built Victory Park in the capital and implemented numerous major projects across Baku, the Absheron Peninsula and the liberated territories, with other projects currently underway.

PASHA Real Estate Group, part of PASHA Holding, operates in real estate investment, project development and property asset management. The Group implements projects in Azerbaijan and five other countries – Trkiye, the United States, Montenegro, Georgia and Uzbekistan – in cooperation with prestigious international brands.

As one of Azerbaijan’s leading real estate companies, PASHA Real Estate Group contributes to shaping Baku’s modern architectural landscape through projects that meet international standards and are implemented in cooperation with renowned international architectural firms.

The Group’s activities include real estate project development, the management of hotel, residential and commercial properties, and cooperation with international hotel brands.

The head of state, the First Lady and their daughter also viewed the Sea Breeze stand, where they were briefed on ongoing work and future projects.

Sea Breeze covers an area of more than 1,000 hectares, with plans to epand it to 1,850 hectares. More than 50 projects have already been completed or are currently under way. The development is now home to more than 60,000 residents. Upon its full completion, the population is epected to reach 500,000.

One of the major projects being implemented in the area is Fire Island, which covers more than 200 hectares. The project envisages the development of modern infrastructure in line with international standards, including the construction of a Formula 1 racing circuit approimately 5.5 kilometres long, featuring 18 turns.

Sea Breeze’s flagship project is Caspian Dream Liner, an apartment hotel comple located on an artificial peninsula.

The Crescent, covering approimately 50 hectares, is one of Sea Breeze’s largest and most prominent projects. The development envisages the construction of five-star hotels. The area will also feature shopping streets with branded stores, a multifunctional arena and a tower reaching a height of 323 metres.

The main goal is to continue developing Sea Breeze as a modern city of international standing, attract foreign investment, create new jobs and contribute to the growth of Azerbaijan’s tourism sector and overall economic potential.

With nearly 15 years of eperience, Baku City Residences specializes in the construction and sale of residential and commercial real estate. The company’s projects combine modern architecture, convenient locations and comprehensive infrastructure. Quality, design and the requirements of modern urban living are key priorities in project implementation.

The company has already completed several projects. Looking ahead, it plans to develop the Baku Bay project in the waterfront district of Baku White City.

President Ilham Aliyev, First Lady Mehriban Aliyeva, and their daughter Leyla Aliyeva visited the stand of the State Housing Development Agency (MIDA) at the ehibition.

The Agency was established to improve housing conditions for citizens across the country. Its primary focus is on constructing affordable, eco-friendly, and energy-efficient residential complees for low- and middle-income families.

During its operations, MIDA has implemented 20 projects nationwide – seven in Baku, three in Garabagh, and 10 across Ganja, Absheron, Sumgayit, Lankaran, Shirvan, Yevlakh, Nakhchivan, Shamkir, and Salyan. In addition to residential buildings, these projects include schools, kindergartens, and medical centers.

The Agency has completed five subsidized housing projects in Baku and si in the regions. Currently, MIDA has begun construction on three of si ongoing projects across the capital and regions, while three other residential complees are in the design phase.

The head of state, the First Lady, and their daughter Leyla Aliyeva then visited the stand of Fortis Development. With over 10 years of eperience, the company specializes in residential and commercial construction, the restoration of historical and architectural monuments, facade renovation, and the landscaping of public spaces. To date, the company has completed landscaping work at Shahriyar and Saadat parks in Baku, improvement works in the Balakhani settlement, and the repair and restoration of the Pir Hasan shrine in Mardakan and the Imam Mosque in Amirjan. It also restored more than 40 buildings in Baku ahead of COP29.

Chapman Taylor, a company specializing in architecture, planning and interior design, was founded in London in 1959. It has undertaken projects in more than 100 countries and won over 300 architectural awards. The company has developed master plans for Shusha, Jabrayil, Khankendi, and Nakhchivan and designed numerous residential and public buildings in Baku, Ganja, Aghdam, Fuzuli, and Gusar.

The firm has completed housing blocks, facade renovations, and social infrastructure projects in Shusha, Jabrayil, Khankendi, Fuzuli, and Aghdam, with several projects currently underway.

The United Arab Emirates’ MODON Holding, the authority responsible for industrial cities and technology zones, is also represented at the ehibition with a large pavilion. The organization specializes in innovation-driven activities and implements various programs aimed at digitizing production processes and transitioning to modern standards. Its support mechanisms include consulting services, financing programs, measures to promote local content, and the provision of industrial infrastructure and ready-to-use production facilities. At the ehibition, MODON presented the concept for a development plan for the area around Boyukshor Lake.

The Baku White City project is one of the world’s most prominent eamples of modern urban development. Launched on December 24, 2011, with the participation of President Ilham Aliyev and First Lady Mehriban Aliyeva, the project is designed around the principles of environmental sustainability and smart urban development. The latest advances in urban planning have been applied throughout the project. Previously known as Black City, the area had been polluted by oil industry waste for more than 150 years. At the initiative of the President of Azerbaijan, a unique environmental rehabilitation project has transformed the area into a modern residential district. For the first time in the CIS, residential buildings have been designed in accordance with BREEAM, an international environmental assessment and certification standard, and CRREM requirements for assessing carbon-related risks. With its spacious internal streets, green spaces and contemporary international sculptures, Baku White City has become one of the capital’s most modern destinations for work, living and leisure.

As part of the project’s epansion, a concept for a new museum dedicated to the history of Azerbaijan’s oil industry was developed in collaboration with SOCAR. The museum is planned to feature an ehibition hall, a library, offices, a restaurant, cafes, and a 90-meter observation tower offering views of the city.

A flagship landmark of Baku White City is the Gilavar comple, which combines public and commercial spaces, yacht club facilities, and a 49-story residential tower reaching approimately 185 meters in height. The project was designed by ADEC in collaboration with the American architectural firm SOM, which designed the Burj Khalifa.

Public art installations across Baku White City include the Garabagh Horses sculpture comple by renowned American sculptor Robert Summers; seven clock-themed artworks created specifically for the project by world-famous artist Konstantin Grcic; the bronze sculpture Beyond the Clouds by acclaimed sculptor Joseph Klibansky; and Search for Enlightenment, a sculpture by contemporary British artist Simon Gudgeon.

The Housing Development Corporation (HDC) is a key state-owned enterprise driving the spatial and economic transformation of the Maldives. It is involved in developing smart, inclusive and sustainable cities and managing major development projects. Its ehibition stand showcases initiatives including a centralized Industrial Village designed to support logistics, the high-capacity Southern Harbour Trade Zone and other projects.

Through its participation in the ehibition, HDC is presenting investment opportunities in the Maldives beyond tourism, highlighting commercial real estate, green technologies, smart utility infrastructure and maritime trade.

Silk Development is one of Georgia’s leading companies specializing in residential and hotel projects. Silk Towers in Batumi is among its flagship developments. At the ehibition, the company is presenting a portfolio of residential, luury hotel and mied-use projects, including properties designed by internationally renowned architects, as well as investment models focused on long-term value and high returns. Silk Development’s participation aims to epand its presence in the Caspian region and establish direct contacts with investors, strategic partners and brokers.

Luna Garden, a mied-use residential comple covering 6.7 hectares near the Koroglu metro station and Boyukshor Lake, features nine buildings, with 60 percent of the territory reserved for green spaces. A new entrance to Koroglu station will open directly within the comple.

Operating in Azerbaijan’s construction sector since 2003, Kristal presented its ‘city within a city’ concept through projects such as City Garden Narimanov, Park Yasamal, and Highland Residence. At the ehibition, Kristal introduced its modern panel facade system designed to improve thermal insulation and energy efficiency.

President Ilham Aliyev, First Lady Mehriban Aliyeva, and Leyla Aliyeva also visited the stand of the Garabagh Revival Fund.

The Fund provides financial support, attracts investment, promotes public-private partnerships, and implements public awareness projects aimed at the reconstruction of liberated territories. At the ehibition, the Fund presented its book project, ‘Garabagh Revival: A Story of Azerbaijani Renaissance.’ Commissioned by the Foundation, the book highlights the realities of Garabagh and the restoration and reconstruction projects carried out under the leadership of the President of Azerbaijan.

The stand also features information about Pearls of Garabagh, an educational game introducing the region’s historical and cultural heritage, restored monuments and infrastructure built since the Victory; Garabagh Quiz, an interactive quiz on the region’s history, culture, prominent figures and the Patriotic War; and Deadly Legacy, a documentary commissioned by the Foundation to draw international attention to the threat posed by landmines.

European countries could face difficulties with energy supplies during the coming winter, as forecasters warn of a sharp drop in temperatures across the continent from the second half of November due to cold air masses moving in from the north.

According to the International Energy Agency, Europe’s gas storage facilities were around 75% full at the beginning of October. However, disruptions to fuel shipments following reported missile attacks on several oil and gas tankers in the Strait of Hormuz have increased reliance on eisting reserves.

Eperts say that if gas consumption is carefully managed, current reserves could be sufficient to meet household demand until March 2027.

Meanwhile, natural gas prices continue to rise. Prices on global markets vary depending on regional echanges and delivery hubs.

At the Henry Hub in the United States, natural gas futures are currently trading at approimately $2.90 per million British thermal units (MMBtu).

Prices are significantly higher in the European market, particularly at the Netherlands’ TTF hub, where they fluctuate regularly. Natural gas is currently trading at around $1,100 per 1,000 cubic metres, or approimately pound 94 per megawatt-hour.

Kazakhstan’s national company “Prodcorporation” is eploring the possibility of supplying up to 500,000 tons of food-grade wheat to Israel via Azerbaijan and Georgia.

According to Kazakhstan’s Ministry of Agriculture, the announcement was made by Samat Tenbayev, Deputy Chairman of the Management Board of Prodcorporation, during a meeting of the Kazakhstan-Israel Intergovernmental Commission on Trade and Economic Cooperation in Jerusalem.

Tenbayev noted that Kazakhstan is steadily strengthening its position in the international agricultural market by epanding the geographical reach of its agricultural eports. Currently, the country eports agricultural products to more than 80 countries worldwide, with particular focus on developing trade relations with Europe, North Africa, the Middle East and Southeast Asia.

This year’s high crop yields have created additional opportunities to epand grain eports. Kazakhstan has substantial volumes of food-grade wheat with high protein and gluten content, which is in demand on international markets and of interest to Israeli processing facilities.

“Taking into account the needs of the Israeli market, Prodcorporation is ready to consider the possibility of concluding long-term contracts for the supply of 200,000 to 500,000 tons of food-grade wheat and other agricultural products,” Tenbayev said.

At the same time, logistics remains one of the key challenges to further epanding eports. As potential routes for delivering Kazakh products to Israeli partners, the company proposed considering the transport corridor passing through Azerbaijan and Georgia, as well as alternative routes via Baltic Sea ports.

The potential for cooperation is underpinned by the size of Israel’s grain market. The country imports more than 2 million tons of wheat annually.

While the aircraft of President of the Republic of Trkiye Recep Tayyip Erdogan entered the airspace of Azerbaijan on his return from the Republic of Korea, the pilot contacted an air traffic controller dispatcher and conveyed the most sincere wishes of the Turkish President to President Ilham Aliyev and the Azerbaijani people.

The message reads: ‘On my return from the visit, I take great pleasure in conveying my most sincere wishes, such as peace and prosperity to the brotherly Azerbaijani people, and robust health and happiness to Your Ecellency.

Two tourist helicopters collided mid-air in Nepal’s Solukhumbu district, in the eastern part of the country, killing one foreign national, The Kathmandu Post reports.

According to the information, helicopters operated by Fishtail Air and Air Dynasty were attempting to land on the same helipad in the mountainous region when they collided and crashed.

Nepalese police identified the victim as 47-year-old Indian national Vasanth Kumar Balaramaramadu, who was aboard the Fishtail Air helicopter. His body was transported to a hospital in Lukla, a key transport hub for tourists heading to Mount Everest.

Both pilots were injured in the accident, according to preliminary reports.

The number of casualties could have been higher. Several dozen tourists carrying backpacks were standing near the helipad when the crash occurred. Debris and rotor blades from one of the helicopters flew in their direction, narrowly missing the group.

Small helicopters are widely used in the Himalayan nation to transport tourists, climbers and supplies, as well as to carry out emergency evacuations.

Gursel Ismayilzadeh, Azerbaijan’s former ambassador to Japan, has been awarded the Order of the Rising Sun, Gold and Silver Star.

According to the Embassy of Japan in Azerbaijan, the Japanese government announced the recipients of its 2026 Autumn Imperial Decorations for foreign nationals on November 3.

Ismayilzadeh received the award in recognition of his contribution to strengthening relations between Japan and Azerbaijan and promoting friendship and mutual understanding between the two countries.

Japan’s state awards intended for foreign citizens are bestowed on behalf of the Emperor to individuals who have made a significant contribution to the development of friendly relations with Japan and achieved outstanding results in other fields.

The battles for Hadrut and Shusha during Azerbaijan’s 44-day Patriotic War demonstrate how special operations forces, mountain warfare, tactical manoeuvres and modern military technologies contributed to the country’s victory, according to The War for Karabakh: Strategy, Technology, and Victory, a book by American military experts Liam Collins and John Spencer.

The publication examines Azerbaijan’s military operations in 2020, highlighting the combination of strategic planning, operational flexibility, ground forces and technological capabilities that shaped the course of the war.

The Hadrut operation, examined in detail by Collins and Spencer in their military research, illustrates the importance of controlling elevated terrain and coordinating different military formations. Hadrut’s strategic position, surrounded by mountains, narrow roads and commanding heights, made its capture a significant operational objective.

Azerbaijan organized a joint task force comprising special forces, commando units, mechanized infantry, motorized infantry, artillery, engineers and communications units. Azerbaijani special forces advanced through valleys and mountain routes, while supporting formations secured the flanks and provided firepower.

The research also highlights tactical deception, including the use of sound devices to reproduce gunfire across the town and influence the defenders’ assessment of the attacking forces. UAV surveillance and precision strikes provided additional support for ground operations.

The battle for Shusha represents another important case study in the book’s broader examination of Azerbaijan’s military strategy. Located at an elevation of approximately 1,400 to 1,800 metres, the city occupied a strategically significant position among steep cliffs and mountainous terrain.

Azerbaijani special operations forces approached through rugged forests and narrow mountain passes before conducting a difficult infiltration along the southeastern cliffs. According to Spencer’s study of the battle, approximately 400 Azerbaijani special forces personnel, organized into four groups, used ropes and climbing equipment to scale the cliffs and reach positions behind the main defensive lines.

The subsequent fighting, conducted between November 6 and 9, involved close-quarter engagements, building-clearing operations and coordinated infantry operations supported by artillery and UAV reconnaissance.

The Hadrut and Shusha operations illustrate several central themes explored in The War for Karabakh: Strategy, Technology, and Victory: the importance of trained personnel, detailed preparation, terrain awareness, tactical deception and coordination between military branches.

Together, these battles demonstrate how Azerbaijan combined human capabilities, operational planning and modern technology to achieve its military objectives during the 44-day war. They also provide important examples of the changing character of modern warfare and the strategic value of special operations forces.

On November 3, President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev received Siphandone Oybouabouddy, the newly appointed Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Lao People’s Democratic Republic to Azerbaijan.

The ambassador presented his credentials to the head of state.

President Ilham Aliyev noted that the ambassador was presenting his credentials shortly after the official visit to Azerbaijan by President of Laos Thongloun Sisoulith last month. Describing the visit as very successful, the Azerbaijani President said that discussions had focused on strengthening bilateral relations and cooperation within international organizations, reflecting the friendly nature of ties between the two countries.

President Ilham Aliyev also highlighted Laos’ high-level participation in the 7th Summit of the Conference on Interaction and Confidence Building Measures in Asia (CICA), held in Baku. He noted the growing international standing of CICA and emphasized the significance of Laos becoming a full member of the organization during Azerbaijan’s chairmanship. The head of state expressed gratitude to all member states, including Laos, for supporting the decision to extend Azerbaijan’s CICA chairmanship for another two years, describing this as a sign of respect for the country.

President Ilham Aliyev wished the ambassador success in his diplomatic activities.

Thanking the President for the reception, the ambassador conveyed the greetings and best wishes of Lao President Thongloun Sisoulith to President Ilham Aliyev.

The Azerbaijani President expressed his gratitude for the greetings and kind words and asked the ambassador to convey his own regards to the Lao leader.

The ambassador also said that the Lao President had once again expressed his gratitude to President Ilham Aliyev and the people of Azerbaijan for the hospitality extended during his official visit to the country. He also conveyed President Sisoulith’s official invitation to President Ilham Aliyev to visit Laos.

The ambassador said he would spare no effort to further develop bilateral cooperation during his tenure.

The sides also exchanged views on the prospects for bilateral relations.

President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev has sent a congratulatory letter to Iliana Iotova, President of the Republic of Bulgaria.

According to AzerNEWS, the letter reads:

“Dear Madam President,

I offer my most sincere congratulations to you on your re-election as President of the Republic of Bulgaria.

The current level of Azerbaijan-Bulgaria interstate relations, rooted in good traditions and developing in a spirit of mutual respect and trust, is gratifying.

I am confident that we will continue to make joint efforts to further strengthen the friendly ties between our countries and succesfully continue our mutually beneficial cooperation and strategic partnership.

I wish you robust health, happiness, and success in your high-level state activities for the sake of the welfare of the friendly people of Bulgaria.”

Natural gas supplies from Azerbaijan to the European Union (EU) through the Trans Adriatic Pipeline (TAP) are expected to remain almost unchanged during the upcoming heating season.

This is stated in the International Energy Agency’s (IEA) Global Gas Security Review 2026.

According to the agency’s analysts, opportunities to increase pipeline gas supplies remain limited, as existing routes are generally operating close to their designed capacity.

The report forecasts a slight decline in pipeline gas imports to Europe compared with the previous heating season. Norwegian gas supplies to other European countries are expected to fall by 1% year-on-year, or 1 billion cubic metres, due to a production shutdown at the Ormen Lange field. The disruption is expected to continue until the end of January 2027.

These losses are expected to be partially offset by increased pipeline deliveries from North Africa. In line with the trend observed during the first nine months of 2026, supplies from the region are projected to rise by 4%, or 0.5 billion cubic metres, year-on-year.

“Azerbaijan’s natural gas exports to the European Union via TAP will remain almost unchanged, with transportation volumes expected to stay close to the pipeline’s designed capacity,” the report states.