Category: Azer News

The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) reported on Friday that its troops launched an interceptor missile at a “suspicious aerial target” in Lebanon.

“A short while ago, an interceptor was launched toward a suspicious aerial target identified in the area in which IDF soldiers are operating in southern Lebanon,” the Israeli military said on Telegram.

Previously, the IDF claimed that its forces struck Hezbollah infrastructure in southern Lebanon.

On September 25, President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev received George Walker, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Neuberger Berman, one of the world’s leading investment companies.

During the conversation, they fondly recalled their previous meeting in New York last year.

Recalling the signing of the “Charter on Strategic Partnership between the Government of the Republic of Azerbaijan and the Government of the United States of America” in February of this year, the head of state noted that a new chapter had been opened in bilateral relations between the two countries.

The meeting included an exchange of views on the current state and prospects of investment cooperation between Azerbaijan and Neuberger Berman, as well as on new opportunities emerging in global investment markets, projects of mutual interest, and the expansion of long-term partnership.

Both parties emphasized the ongoing fruitful cooperation between the State Oil Fund of the Republic of Azerbaijan (SOFAZ) and Neuberger Berman since 2016. They also discussed the results achieved as part of SOFAZ’s partnership with the company, covering private equity, private debt, and other investment areas, as well as opportunities for participation in new projects.

Founded in New York in 1939, Neuberger Berman is one of the world’s largest independent investment management firms, handling $613 billion in assets. Its private markets platform manages over $170 billion in investment commitments across a portfolio covering more than 10,400 companies worldwide, demonstrating the scale of Neuberger Berman’s global investment activity.

Azerbaijan’s national para judo team will compete at the World Championships, to held in Tbilisi, Georgia, on September 25-27.

The men’s competition will feature Ilham Zakiyev (J1, +95 kg), Saleh Sultanov (J1, 81 kg), Ismayil Muradov (J1, 70 kg) and Huseyn Ismayilzade (J2, 70 kg).

Dursadaf Karimova (J2, +70 kg) and Khatira Ismiyeva (J1, +70 kg) will represent Azerbaijan in the women’s competition.

Head coaches Ibrahim Ibrahimov and Ramin Ibrahimov will oversee the Azerbaijani para judokas during the competition.

Azerbaijan has a strong tradition in para judo, with its athletes regularly competing at major international events, including the Paralympic Games, World Championships and European Championships.

The national para judokas compete in different weight and clas international success has made him one of Azerbaijan’s leading para judo athletes.ssification categories under the rules of the International Judo Federation and the International Paralympic Committee. The national team includes both male and female athletes and continues to take part in major international competitions.

Para judo has been part of the Paralympic program since the 1988 Seoul Games for men and was introduced for women at the 2004 Athens Paralympics

On September 25, President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev received Adebayo Ogunlesi, Founding Partner, Chairman, and Chief Executive Officer of Global Infrastructure Partners (GIP), a global infrastructure investment company operating under BlackRock, one of the world’s largest asset management firms.

During the conversation, they recalled their previous meeting in Davos in January this year.

They highlighted the importance of the memorandum of intent on long-term cooperation signed in Davos between the State Oil Fund of the Republic of Azerbaijan (SOFAZ), BlackRock, and Global Infrastructure Partners (GIP).

During the meeting, they hailed the development of investment cooperation between Azerbaijan and the company, and discussed the results achieved and prospects for expanding the partnership.

They emphasized that the partnership established between the State Oil Fund of the Republic of Azerbaijan (SOFAZ) and Global Infrastructure Partners already covers specific international investment projects. In this context, they noted that the Fund has jointly invested with the company in “Italo,” Italy’s high-speed rail operator, and London’s Gatwick Airport.

The sides also exchanged views on investment opportunities in Azerbaijan’s infrastructure sector, including potential cooperation in digital and transport infrastructure.

During the conversation, the sides discussed the importance of the Second Azerbaijan International Investment Forum, organized under the patronage of President Ilham Aliyev in Baku, as well as the Azerbaijan Infrastructure Investment Dialogue, held within its framework and co-organized by the State Oil Fund of the Republic of Azerbaijan (SOFAZ) and BlackRock. They noted that companies managing US$30 trillion in assets participated in these events.

Global Infrastructure Partners has operated within BlackRock, the world’s largest investment management firm, since 2024. BlackRock, which manages US$15.3 trillion in assets, is a global investment firm specializing in the energy, transport, digital infrastructure, water, and waste management sectors. Global Infrastructure Partners manages US$170 billion in assets. The company is also one of the key founders of the AI Infrastructure Partnership alongside BlackRock, Microsoft, and MGX.

The 2nd Azerbaijan International Investment Forum held in Baku has become an important platform for discussing Azerbaijan’s economic priorities within a broader framework. Held on September 25-26, the forum is being held under the auspices of the President of Azerbaijan, organized by the Ministry of Economy and AZPROMO, with The European House – Ambrosetti as its strategic partner. The theme of this year’s event was also chosen deliberately: ‘Rebuilding Trust in a Fragmented World: The South Caucasus as a Pillar of Global Connectivity and Investment Stability.’

The forum’s agenda also, to a certain extent, reflects how Azerbaijan views its own economy and its role in the region. The discussion of such topics as the Middle Corridor, energy and the green transition, artificial intelligence and digital transformation, industry, free economic zones, critical raw materials, agribusiness, financial cooperation, tourism and human capital on the same platform shows that the investment agenda has expanded considerably beyond the traditional oil and gas framework.

The inaugural Azerbaijan International Investment Forum, held in 2025, brought together more than 1,000 participants and saw investment agreements worth over $10 billion signed. More than $7 billion of those agreements were related to the non-oil sector. This year’s forum, meanwhile, is focused on concrete projects and longer-term economic partnerships.

President Ilham Aliyev’s address to the forum participants also explains this changing approach. The key themes of his speech are Azerbaijan’s economic diversification, the growth of the non-oil sector, the country’s expanding role in transport and energy connectivity, and turning foreign capital into greater added value for the economy.

The figures presented by President Aliyev highlight the scale of this transformation. Since 2020, real GDP growth in the non-oil sector has averaged 5% annually, while the non-oil industry has grown 1.5-fold and non-oil exports have nearly doubled. As a result, the non-oil sector’s share of GDP reached 72% in 2025.

These figures point to a significant structural change in Azerbaijan’s economic model: preserving the economic and financial opportunities created by the oil and gas sector while enabling other areas of the economy to grow faster.

In his address, the President presents Azerbaijan’s advantages for investors within this broader framework. The country’s geographic location, transport and logistics capabilities, infrastructure in economic zones, tax and customs incentives, public-private partnership mechanisms, and joint investment funds established with partner countries are highlighted as opportunities for foreign capital.

However, one of the most notable points in the address is the emphasis that Azerbaijan’s approach to investment goes beyond simply attracting financial capital.

As President Aliyev said: “Our approach to investment goes beyond attracting capital. We value technology, expertise, innovation and access to new markets, and seek partnerships that create sustainable value for investors, while strengthening the modernisation and competitiveness of Azerbaijan’s economy.”

This approach is particularly important for Azerbaijan’s next stage of economic development. The impact of foreign investment on the economy is not measured only by the amount of capital invested. The key issue is what technology that capital brings, what production capacity it creates, how much it increases productivity, and how it expands Azerbaijani companies’ access to new markets.

In other words, Azerbaijan’s investment model is entering a more advanced stage: alongside capital itself, the technology, management expertise, knowledge and international market connections behind that capital are also becoming economic assets.

This approach is also linked to Azerbaijan’s goal of deeper integration into global value chains. The President’s address specifically highlights manufacturing, trade, energy, digital transformation, artificial intelligence and advanced technologies, demonstrating the intention to develop Azerbaijan’s economy as part of regional production and service chains.

Another important direction is turning Azerbaijan’s geographic position into an investment opportunity. Azerbaijan is located at the intersection of the East-West and North-South routes. The development of the Middle Corridor, connections linking Central Asia with the South Caucasus and Europe across the Caspian Sea, as well as prospects related to the TRIPP route, could further strengthen the country’s role as a regional logistics hub. The forum’s agenda also includes a dedicated discussion of the Middle Corridor’s trade, industrial and connectivity potential, underscoring its importance on the investment agenda.

Energy is also being approached from a broader perspective. Azerbaijan is now presented not only as a traditional energy supplier, but also as a participant in green energy connectivity.

Highlighting the views of various countries that regard Azerbaijan as a reliable partner, the President of Azerbaijan also outlined the country’s approach to diversifying its economy: “Our vision increasingly extends beyond energy supply to the development of green energy corridors, enabling the integration of renewable energy into regional markets and strengthening connectivity between Azerbaijan, the wider South Caucasus, Central Asia and Europe.”

This reflects the expanding geographic scope of Azerbaijan’s energy strategy. Alongside traditional oil and gas infrastructure, bringing renewable energy potential to regional markets could create new investment opportunities. The energy sector is therefore increasingly focused on regional connectivity and the development of new economic value chains alongside energy exports.

At the same time, industry and manufacturing are gaining a greater role in Azerbaijan’s investment agenda. Modern infrastructure, industrial parks, the Alat Free Economic Zone and public-private partnership mechanisms are presented as tools for attracting long-term projects. Critical raw materials and mining are also gaining importance, reflected in the forum’s dedicated session on ‘Critical Raw Materials and Global Economic Security.’

President Ilham Aliyev’s address also identifies reconstruction and development projects in Azerbaijan’s liberated territories as potential areas for investment, which is important for expanding investment opportunities across different regions of the country.

Against this backdrop, the significance of the 2nd Azerbaijan International Investment Forum should not be measured solely by the value of new documents and agreements to be signed. More important is how Azerbaijan presents itself to international investors.

In this presentation, Azerbaijan is not simply an economy seeking capital. The country is seeking to build a broader economic platform by linking its energy resources, transport infrastructure, geographic position, non-oil sector growth, green energy potential and regional connectivity opportunities.

Another important message of Ilham Aliyev’s address is precisely this:

As the President of Azerbaijan, Ilham Aliyev said: “The emerging peace in the South Caucasus is creating new opportunities for regional cooperation, connectivity, trade and investment, while supporting deeper economic integration and diversification.”

As a result, the 2nd Azerbaijan International Investment Forum raises a broader question for Azerbaijan’s next stage of economic development: how much capital will enter the country? This is important, but the bigger question is what added value that capital will create for the Azerbaijani economy.

Technology, productivity, new production facilities, skilled jobs, export opportunities and access to new markets are becoming key factors determining the long-term impact of investment. Azerbaijan’s current investment policy appears to be moving toward this broader objective.

In this sense, the forum in Baku is more than a two-day investment event. It is a platform demonstrating how Azerbaijan seeks to shape its economic future: preserving the strength of the energy sector, expanding the non-oil economy, turning its geographic position into an economic advantage, and bringing foreign capital together with technology, knowledge and access to new markets into the Azerbaijani economy.

A traditional music concert has been held at the International Mugham Center as part of the First Congress of Composers of the Turkic World, organized within the framework of the 18th Uzeyir Hajibayli International Music Festival.

The concert was dedicated to the First Congress of Composers of the Turkic World and the Day of State Sovereignty. The programme was prepared by teachers and students of the Azerbaijan National Conservatory and brought together different strands of Azerbaijan’s musical heritage.

The concert featured mugham, ashig art, folk music and works by prominent Azerbaijani composers. Traditional melodies were performed alongside original compositions, offering audiences a broad view of the country’s musical traditions and their continuity.

The evening formed part of the wider programme of the First Congress of Composers of the Turkic World, held in Baku from September 18 to 20 with the participation of leading representatives of the music communities of Azerbaijan and other Turkic countries.

The Congress was organized by Azerbaijan’s Ministry of Culture and the Turkic Culture and Heritage Foundation, in cooperation with the ICESCO Baku Regional Office, the Union of Composers of Azerbaijan and the Azerbaijan National Conservatory.

The concert concluded with the performance of the composition “Vatan” (“Homeland”), bringing together the different genres and traditions featured throughout the evening.

A concert programme dedicated to the 110th anniversary of master artist Ashig Iskandar Aghbabali, a prominent representative of the Aghbaba-Childir ashig tradition, and the 70th anniversary of Ashig Faxfur Aghbabali was held at the International Mugham Center.

The programme was held as part of the “Voice of the Saz – Breath of the Word” project, jointly organized by the Ministry of Culture, the Institute of Folklore of the Azerbaijan National Academy of Sciences and the International Mugham Center. The event aimed to promote and preserve the rich traditions of Azerbaijani ashig art, particularly the artistic heritage of the Aghbaba-Childir ashig tradition, and to demonstrate the continuity of the master-apprentice tradition.

At the event, Academician Abel Maharramov, Chairman of the Amasiya Community, noted that such artistic evenings are important not only as a tribute to master artists, but also for passing the rich heritage of ashig art, which holds an important place in the nation’s cultural memory, on to future generations. The academician emphasized that the creative work of Ashig Iskandar Aghbabali played an important role in preserving the traditions of the Aghbaba-Childir ashig tradition, as well as Azerbaijan’s musical and saz-and-word heritage. His artistic career is also an example of the rich ashig tradition passed from master to apprentice.

Hikmat Guliyev, Director of the Institute of Folklore and Doctor of Philology, said that ashig art, one of the important branches of Azerbaijani folklore, has a special place in shaping and preserving the nation’s saz-and-word heritage:

“Ashig Iskandar Aghbabali was one of the important representatives of this rich tradition in the 20th century and one of the last great masters of the Aghbaba-Childir ashig tradition. He was not only a saz performer, but also stood out as a creative ashig and a skilled dastan storyteller. Ashig Iskandar had thoroughly mastered the saz repertoire of the Aghbaba-Childir tradition and performed melodies including ‘Aghbabayi’, ‘Aghbaba Gaytarmasi’, ‘Chalpapakh’, ‘Dali Hijrani’, ‘Darbadari’, ‘Qars Gozallamasi’, ‘Bahari’, ‘Rahmani’, ‘Iskandari’, ‘Aghbaba Gulu’, ‘Galin Nanayi’ and others. Sources note that he knew 33 dastans by heart and also preserved and passed down a number of regional dastans and legends belonging to the Aghbaba tradition.

“An important aspect of Ashig Iskandar Aghbabali’s artistic legacy was the vast collection of dastans and saz-and-word repertoire preserved in his memory. He was an artist who preserved folk dastans not only as part of his performance repertoire but also in the living memory of ashig art, making him an important link in the Aghbaba-Childir ashig tradition. The preservation of the creative work of masters of earlier generations in his artistic memory and its transmission to later generations is an important indication of the continuity of the master-apprentice tradition in ashig art. Ashig Faxfur Aghbabali is also among Ashig Iskandar’s students.”

Member of the Azerbaijani Parliament Hikmat Baboglu, Professor Afdandil Aghbabali, Honoured Journalist Sayyad Aghbabali, PhD in Philology Tacir Samimi, Honoured Cultural Worker Mahammadali Mashadiyev, and PhD in Philology and Associate Professor Ilhama Gasabova, a leading researcher at the Institute of Folklore, spoke about the lives and creative careers of both artists.

As part of the programme, a short documentary dedicated to the life and creative work of Ashig Iskandar Aghbabali was screened. The event continued with a concert programme.

At the end of the event, Ashig Fahfur Aghbabali was awarded on the occasion of his 70th anniversary.

Volkswagen plans to recall 2,159,054 vehicles worldwide due to a potential problem with the steering system. Of the affected vehicles, 895,832 are registered in Germany.

The recall covers Volkswagen Golf, Golf Variant, Tiguan, Touran and Caddy models produced between September 2013 and July 2024.

The issue involves corrosion of a screw used to secure the steering mechanism. Moisture can cause the screw to rust over time and, in extreme cases, break. This could loosen the steering mechanism and, under the worst-case scenario, result in a loss of steering control.

Volkswagen will carry out the necessary repairs free of charge. During inspections, the affected screws will be replaced with more corrosion-resistant components.

The company said there have so far been no reports of accidents or injuries related to the defect. The recall covers vehicles produced over a period of nearly 11 years, making it one of Volkswagen’s major safety campaigns in recent years.

On September 25, President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev received Connor Teskey, Chief Executive Officer of Brookfield Asset Management, one of the world’s leading investment companies.

During the conversation, they fondly recalled their meeting in Davos this January. The importance of the protocol of intent on long-term strategic cooperation signed between the State Oil Fund of the Republic of Azerbaijan (SOFAZ) and Brookfield Asset Management was emphasized.

The meeting focused on expanding investment cooperation between Azerbaijan and the company, particularly on potential projects in energy transition, renewable energy, energy storage systems, and digital infrastructure. The significance of Azerbaijan’s energy potential in strengthening the country’s position as a regional energy hub was also emphasized.

With assets under management exceeding $1 trillion, Brookfield is one of the world’s major owners and operators of energy, telecommunications, digital infrastructure, transport, and other real assets on a global scale. The company’s infrastructure platform encompasses more than 308,000 telecommunications assets, 77,000 kilometers of fiber-optic networks, 150 data centers, a 36,300-kilometer railway network, and 3,200 kilometers of toll roads. Its utility infrastructure businesses serve more than 10 million consumers worldwide.

Ireland’s Alexander Dunne won the first Formula 2 feature race of the 2026 Azerbaijan Grand Prix.

The Rodin driver finished ahead of his teammate Martinius Stenshorne, who took second place. Dino Beganovic of DAMS Lucas Oil completed the podium in third.

The 2026 Azerbaijan Grand Prix is the 15th round of the Formula 1 season and marks the 10th Formula 1 race weekend in Baku. The event is being held at the Baku City Circuit from September 24 to 26, with the Formula 1 Grand Prix scheduled for September 26.

The Azerbaijan Grand Prix will conclude on September 26.