Category: Azer News

China and the United States have reached an agreement on the terms for Chinese imports of coal from the US in 2027 and 2028 during trade and economic consultations between the two countries.

The agreement was announced in a statement by China’s Ministry of Commerce.

US coal supplies will be included in a list of products worth $30 billion covered by the two sides’ agreement to mutually reduce tariffs.

‘This will create conditions for China to import coal from the United States in 2027 and 2028. Imports of American coal will complement China’s domestic coal market in a cost-effective manner while providing stable economic revenues and jobs for the US coal industry, helping stabilize and expand bilateral trade,’ the ministry said.

The Chinese Ministry of Commerce said it expected cooperation between China and the United States in the coal industry to deepen further.

‘We expect that through joint efforts, cooperation between China and the United States in the coal industry will continue to deepen and ensure mutually beneficial outcomes,’ the statement said.

Morocco’s King Mohammed VI has expressed strong solidarity with Saudi Arabia, condemning repeated Houthi attacks on the Kingdom and attempts to target Mecca.

“Any attack on Saudi Arabia is an attack on Morocco,” he said.

According to Saudi Gazette, in two messages sent to Saudi King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud and Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, King Mohammed VI reaffirmed Morocco’s firm support for Saudi Arabia’s security, sovereignty and stability.

The Moroccan monarch condemned attacks targeting civilian and economic facilities, critical infrastructure, cities and residential areas across Saudi Arabia, saying that attempts to target Mecca and Medina had further intensified Morocco’s condemnation.

“At this sensitive moment for your country, historical responsibility, religious values and strategic considerations require all of us to stand together in defending rights, sovereignty, security and the holy sites of the Muslim nation,” he noted.

The king stressed that the attacks were not only an assault on Saudi Arabia, its people and pilgrims, but also an affront to the feelings of more than 1.8 billion Muslims around the world.

He condemned what he described as criminal acts and also denounced the Houthis and those who support, finance and arm them.

One of Baku’s ancient historical and architectural landmarks, Ramana Castle, has begun operating under a new concept, welcoming visitors as a museum that combines its centuries-old heritage with modern technologies.

The museum’s concept is titled “A Window to History.” The initiative aims to preserve the historical and architectural heritage of the castle while allowing visitors to experience the atmosphere of the period through contemporary technologies.

The exhibition and interior design elements inside the castle have been adapted to its historical appearance. Display cases, podiums, information panels and other details draw inspiration from the architectural features of Ramana Castle.

The museum exhibition provides visitors with information about the history of the castle, the medieval defensive system of the Absheron Peninsula, military art, everyday life and the culture of the period. Traditional exhibits are complemented by multimedia technologies.

A significant part of the exhibition consists of archaeological finds uncovered during excavations carried out on the castle grounds between 2024 and 2026.

The museum features four main sections: “Seyri-Tarix” (History), “Seyri-Silah” (Weapons), “Seyri-Terz” (Lifestyle) and “Seyri-Heyat” (Life), offering visitors an opportunity to explore the medieval period from different perspectives.

The “Seyri-Tarix” section presents the defensive system of the Absheron Peninsula and the role of Ramana Castle within it. The section features models showing the castle’s presumed appearance in the 14th century and its recorded condition in 1935, as well as historical photographs, archival materials and information panels.

The “Seyri-Silah” section focuses on medieval warfare. It displays reconstructions of weapons dating from the 14th to 16th centuries, along with spearheads, a dagger blade, a horseshoe from a warhorse and other archaeological finds. Multimedia presentations also demonstrate how weapons of the period were produced and used.

The “Seyri-Terz” section explores medieval everyday life, household practices and craftsmanship. Visitors can see ceramics and pottery uncovered during archaeological excavations, glass bracelets, oil and kerosene lamps, glazed vessels, tiles and decorative panels.

One of the most notable parts of the museum is the “Seyri-Heyat” section, which uses animation and multimedia technologies to present the life of a medieval feudal knight. An immersive video projection on a dome-shaped ceiling depicts different stages of the knight’s life, from childhood and training to family life and participation in battles.

Reconstruction models showing how the castle looked during different historical periods also occupy a prominent place in the exhibition. The models were prepared based on historical sources, archaeological research and architectural analysis.

The museum uses interactive screens, electronic information panels, audio-visual materials, animations, video projections and video mapping. Information is available in Azerbaijani and English.

The “A Window to History” concept is also reflected in the architectural details of the museum. The forms of the castle’s narrow, tall loophole-type windows have been reinterpreted in modern design elements. Originally intended for defense and observation, the windows are presented in the museum as symbolic points through which visitors can look into the past.

The rooftop terrace is another attraction for visitors, offering panoramic views of the surrounding area. The terrace also features the “Flame” sculptural composition, symbolizing the historical and cultural significance of the castle.

Renovation work has also been carried out in the area surrounding Ramana Castle. The entrance plaza and pedestrian paths have been reorganized, while an open-air exhibition area has been created. Accessibility and safety solutions have also been incorporated for visitors.

Special attention has been paid to the museum’s lighting system. Interior and exterior lighting has been installed to highlight the historic stonework and architectural details. The lighting works were carried out in cooperation with Italian company Linea Light Group.

Ramana Castle, one of Baku’s historic landmarks, is now open to visitors in a new format. The museum combines the castle’s original architecture and archaeological finds with modern exhibition technologies, giving visitors an opportunity to learn about the site’s history and medieval life in a more engaging way.

Air strikes on Ukraine’s Kyiv region over the past 24 hours have caused significant damage to civilian infrastructure and left three people dead.

Timur Tkachenko, head of the Kyiv Regional Military Administration, said on Telegram that drone attacks had killed three civilians and damaged 21 civilian sites.

In the Brovary district, two warehouses and two administrative buildings were damaged. In Bucha district, a private house, a market and six vehicles were affected.

Damage was also reported at an industrial facility and six vehicles in the Fastiv district, one vehicle in Boryspil district, and an agricultural enterprise and another building in Bila Tserkva district.

According to the information, emergency services continue to work at the hit sites. The injured are receiving the necessary medical treatment.

Boots are taking over the autumn-winter 2026 wardrobe, with the new season bringing back familiar styles in updated forms.

Slouchy boots are one of the season’s clearest trends. The shaft falls loosely around the leg, creating a deliberately relaxed shape. Leather and suede versions have appeared in different collections, with some designs taking inspiration from the bohemian styles of the 2000s.

At the other end of the spectrum are fitted boots that closely follow the shape of the leg. Thin leather and sock-like designs give these boots a clean silhouette and work particularly well with skirts, dresses and tailored clothing.

Knee-high riding boots are another major choice for the season. Their simple shape and low or flat heels make them practical for everyday wear, while their equestrian influence gives even a simple outfit a polished look. Black and brown leather versions are especially easy to combine with coats, skirts and straight-leg trousers.

Western boots are continuing into the new season, but with a quieter look. Instead of heavily decorated cowboy boots, many of the latest designs use details such as pointed toes, Cuban heels and pull tabs while keeping the overall shape simple.

Biker and buckled boots bring a heavier look. Straps, buckles and sturdy soles appear on both ankle and knee-high designs. Some versions have a strong motorcycle influence, while others are paired with skirts and dresses for a contrast between feminine and rugged pieces.

Brown is also having a strong season. Chestnut, cognac and copper shades are replacing some of the darker brown tones that dominated previous seasons. Suede is particularly noticeable in these colors, appearing on both ankle and knee-high boots.

For those who prefer something more eye-catching, animal prints are back. Snakeskin, leopard and zebra patterns have appeared on boots and other footwear, adding a stronger element to otherwise simple outfits.

Flat ankle boots remain part of the season as well. Minimal designs in black or dark brown leather can be worn with jeans, trousers, skirts and dresses, making them one of the more versatile options for colder weather.

The season also brings back over-the-knee boots, while pointed toes and unusual heels add a more dramatic touch to some collections. Alongside the return of these statement styles, simpler boots with clean lines remain an important part of the autumn-winter wardrobe.

The result is a winter footwear season that moves between two directions: soft and relaxed boots on one side, and sharply fitted or structured styles on the other. Brown suede, knee-high riding boots, slouchy silhouettes, Western boots and buckled models are among the styles most visible in the new season collections.

A trilateral meeting of the Committee on Customs Affairs between the governments of Azerbaijan, Georgia and Trkiye was held in the Goygol district.

The meeting was attended by delegations led by Chairman of the State Customs Committee of Azerbaijan Shahin Baghirov, Trkiye’s Deputy Minister of Trade Sezai Ucarmak, and Head of Georgia’s Revenue Service and Deputy Minister of Finance Mamuka Baratasvili. The sides discussed the current state and prospects for developing cooperation between the customs authorities of the three countries.

During the meeting, the implementation of agreements reached at previous sessions was reviewed, and measures to be carried out at the next stage were identified. The main topics included optimizing customs procedures along the Middle Corridor, accelerating transit operations, expanding electronic data exchange, and improving the efficiency of border-crossing procedures.

The participants also exchanged views on facilitating transit operations under the Baku-Tbilisi-Kars railway project, improving risk management and the exchange of advance electronic information, as well as strengthening cooperation in combating customs violations.

At the conclusion of the meeting, a protocol reflecting the agreements reached was signed.

As part of the event, the 6th meeting of the Joint Committee on Customs Affairs between the State Customs Committee of Azerbaijan and the Ministry of Trade of Trkiye was also held.

The meeting addressed the implementation of the New Computerized Transit System (NCTS), simplification of customs procedures, the development of TIR and e-TIR mechanisms, acceleration of border-crossing procedures, and increasing the capacity for the passage of freight vehicles.

The sides discussed expanding information exchange in various areas of customs operations, combating customs violations, authorized economic operators, mirror customs statistics, and sharing best practices in risk management. They also considered opportunities for conducting joint operations and training exercises.

Azerbaijan’s national beach wrestling team has won the World Series title for the first time in its history.

The achievement came at the final stage of the Beach Wrestling World Series, held in Katerini, Greece.

Three Azerbaijani wrestlers won gold medals at the competition. Vusal Aliyev (80 kg), Ashraf Ashirov (90 kg) and Jamal Feyziyev (+90 kg) claimed first place in their respective weight categories.

Ruvail Ibrahimli (70 kg) and Sahib Dadashov (80 kg) took bronze medals.

Azerbaijan collected 90 points in the team standings to finish first at the final stage of the World Series.

The overall world champions were determined based on the points accumulated across the five stages of the World Series. Vusal Aliyev (80 kg) secured his second career world title, while Ashraf Ashirov (90 kg), who made his beach wrestling debut this year, also became world champion.

Ruvail Ibrahimli (70 kg), Sahib Dadashov (80 kg) and Jamal Feyziyev (+90 kg) finished third in the overall World Series rankings in their respective weight categories.

With two gold and three bronze medals, Azerbaijan also became the Beach Wrestling World Series world champion in the team standings for the first time.

The team’s successful season was also recognized by United World Wrestling (UWW). Azerbaijan head coach Oyan Nazariani was named the Beach Wrestling Coach of the Year. Pedro Silva, President of the UWW Beach Wrestling Committee, presented the special award to the coach.

I-S category referee Asif Shiraliyev also officiated at the competition.

Note that beach wrestling is one of the youngest internationally organized disciplines of wrestling. It combines traditional wrestling techniques with competition on sand, creating a faster and more accessible format that is particularly suited to outdoor venues and coastal locations. The discipline was formally established in its modern form in 2004, while the first Beach Wrestling World Championship was held in Turkiye in 2006.

Since 2019, the sport’s senior world champions have been determined through the annual Beach Wrestling World Series, which brings together leading athletes across several international stages.

Unlike traditional wrestling, beach wrestling is contested entirely on its feet, with no ground wrestling. Bouts take place on a circular sand area and generally last three minutes, with athletes scoring points by forcing an opponent to touch the sand with a knee or upper body or by pushing them outside the competition area. The discipline places particular demands on balance, strength, endurance and explosive movement because athletes must perform techniques on an unstable surface.

There 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.

The Taxtakörp Hydropower Plant, built on the Samur River in Azerbaijan’s Shabran district, has generated 675.5 million kilowatt-hours (kWh) of electricity since it was commissioned through September 1, 2026.

According to the Azerbaijan’s Energy Ministry, located on the Taxtakörp reservoir, has been generating electricity since September 28, 2013.

The Taxtakörp Hydropower Plant has a total installed capacity of 25 megawatts (MW) and consists of three hydro units, each with a capacity of 8.33 MW.

Hydropower plants are considered a source of environmentally clean energy because electricity generation from hydropower does not involve direct emissions of greenhouse gases into the atmosphere during operation.

The plant was commissioned 13 years ago as part of Azerbaijan’s efforts to expand its domestic electricity generation capacity and make greater use of its water resources.

In the evening of September 27, President of the Republic of Trkiye Recep Tayyip Erdogan made a phone call to President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev.

The President of Trkiye respectfully commemorated the memory of the martyrs on the occasion of Remembrance Day in Azerbaijan.

The head of state expressed his gratitude to the President of Trkiye for the phone call.