Category: Azer News

The twentieth century unfolded under the sign of oil. Often called “black gold,” petroleum powered industrial development, transformed transportation, and redrew the geopolitical map. Access to oil influenced alliances, wars, trade routes, and the rise of major economic powers. Today, the energy transition is at the forefront of the global agenda, and it needs its own fuel. Its name is lithium – the lightest metal, without which we would not have smartphones and laptops, electric vehicles, or energy storage systems for solar and wind power.

According to experts, lithium could become a resource that will largely determine the logic of future international conflicts and the technological leadership of nations. Its importance extends beyond consumer electronics because lithium is becoming a foundation of transportation, electricity infrastructure, and national security. For these reasons, lithium is frequently described as the “oil of the new economy.” Nevertheless, control over lithium extraction and technological expertise may shape economic power and international competition much as control over oil did in the previous century.

Why lithium matters

Lithium has several physical and chemical characteristics that make it particularly valuable. It is exceptionally light, has a high electrochemical potential, and allows batteries to store large amounts of energy relative to their weight. These properties make lithium-ion batteries compact, rechargeable, and powerful. The technology changed personal electronics by allowing devices to become smaller, lighter, and portable. Mobile phones no longer needed to remain connected to cables, while laptops and tablets could operate for hours away from electrical outlets. The same principle is now transforming transportation. Electric vehicles require much larger battery packs than consumer electronics, making the automotive industry the most important source of additional lithium demand.

Despite a rapid expansion in mining, lithium could face a serious supply shortage within the next decade. According to the International Energy Agency (IEA), global lithium demand could increase almost fivefold by 2040, exceeding 500,000 tonnes in terms of pure lithium content. If the world continues to follow its current climate policies, demand could exceed supply by one-third by 2035. Under a more ambitious scenario aimed at achieving carbon neutrality by 2050, demand for the metal would grow even more rapidly.

Where lithium comes from

Because lithium is highly reactive, it does not occur naturally as a pure metal. It is found in dissolved salts and solid minerals. Commercial production generally comes from mineral-rich brines and hard-rock deposits.

Brine extraction is especially important in the dry regions of South America. Underground water containing dissolved lithium is pumped to the surface and traditionally placed in large evaporation ponds. Over time, water evaporates and leaves behind increasingly concentrated salts, which are processed into lithium compounds. One of the world’s best-known resources is Chile’s Salar de Atacama, a vast salt flat covering roughly 3,000 square kilometres. Its lithium resources have helped establish Chile as a major producer, leading some observers to call the country the “Saudi Arabia of lithium.” Chile, Argentina, and Bolivia form the so-called Lithium Triangle, a region containing a large share of the world’s identified brine resources.

Hard-rock lithium is usually extracted from minerals such as spodumene. Australia is a leading producer of this kind of material. Hard-rock mining can bring projects into production more quickly than traditional brine evaporation, but it is energy-intensive and requires substantial crushing, concentration, and chemical processing. The United States and China are unique in this regard, as they are among the countries possessing both hard-rock lithium deposits and lithium-rich salt flats. In recent years, digitalization has become a major factor driving demand for lithium. As the number of electronic devices has increased, so too has the need for efficient and high-capacity batteries.

But that is far from all. Lithium is also used in:

metallurgy, where it improves the flexibility and strength of alloys;

glass production, including glass designed to block ultraviolet radiation;

nuclear energy, for the production of tritium and potentially for use in fusion energy systems;

medicine, particularly in the treatment of bipolar disorder and depression;

the production of lubricants with excellent water-repellent and heat-resistant properties;

energy storage systems for solar and wind power plants.

No analysis of lithium geopolitics is complete without China. Its strength does not rest solely on domestic mineral deposits. More importantly, China has built a highly integrated industrial ecosystem connecting overseas mining investments, chemical refining, battery materials, electric vehicles, and energy-storage systems. Chinese companies have invested in lithium projects across Australia, Argentina, Bolivia, Chile, and other resource-rich regions. These investments provide access to raw material. China accounts for around 60% of global lithium processing.

China’s enormous domestic electric-vehicle market reinforces this advantage. In 2022, the country produced approximately 6.89 million new-energy vehicles, nearly double the previous year’s output, and represented around two-thirds of global electric-vehicle sales. Rising battery production also increased Chinese lithium imports, even as domestic extraction expanded. Other countries increasingly view this concentration as a strategic vulnerability. The United States, members of the European Union, Japan, South Korea, and India are promoting domestic battery factories and partnerships with mineral-producing states.

Lithium supports technologies associated with the green transition, but its extraction is not automatically environmentally sustainable. This contradiction has led critics in parts of Latin America to describe lithium mining as a form of “white death.” Thus, the continuously growing demand for lithium from global industry, combined with the environmental damage associated with its extraction, raises questions about the true “green” credentials of lithium-ion batteries. The world wants less oil in order to reduce environmental damage, but to produce green energy technologies, it is necessary to extract new resources, sometimes creating serious environmental problems.

The only factor that could reduce lithium prices in the foreseeable future (potentially by 30-40%) would be a large-scale global recession that significantly reduces demand for all types of vehicles, including electric ones. Even then, however, prices would not fall below the levels seen in 2021, let alone those of earlier periods. At the same time, battery production for other applications could help sustain lithium demand even if electric vehicle sales were to collapse.

Lithium mining and ore production could, within just a few years, become the “new oil,” creating vast economic opportunities for entire countries and transforming the fortunes of resource-rich economies.

Countries around the world are seeking to gain control over materials that are critical to the green transition. These challenges are becoming more acute as geopolitical tensions contribute to the fragmentation of the global economy, while supply chains remain highly vulnerable to geopolitical risks. In the short and medium term, supply shortages may emerge as demand for certain materials, as lithium, continues to grow while mining remains concentrated among a limited number of producers.

Lachin has a character all its own, a place where dramatic mountain scenery, centuries-old heritage and a renewed cultural life come together.

Forests cover the slopes, rivers wind through narrow valleys, mineral springs emerge from the mountains, and historic monuments preserve traces of the region’s long and varied past. At the same time, new cultural venues, tourism facilities, roads and public spaces are giving the city a new chapter in its history. Few destinations in Azerbaijan bring together such a remarkable combination of mountain landscapes, historical heritage and cultural activity.

Lachin is a mountain city in southwestern Azerbaijan and the administrative centre of Lachin District, which was established in 1930. The city was known as Abdallar until 1923. Its mountainous geography has played an important role in shaping both its history and way of life. Lachin is steadily developing as a destination for cultural tourism, mountain recreation and international cultural events.

August 26 has a particular place in the city’s modern history. Lachin, together with the villages of Zabukh and Sus, came under Azerbaijani control on August 26, 2022, and the date is now marked as Lachin City Day. Since then, extensive reconstruction has transformed the city, while the return of former internally displaced residents has brought community life back to the region.

Nature is one of Lachin’s greatest attractions. The district is known for extensive forests, protected areas, rich flora and fauna, mineral springs and the rare red ironwood tree. The Hakari and Zabukh rivers meet near Zabukh, creating an especially scenic setting for visitors. The surrounding landscape offers opportunities for hiking, trekking, walking and camping, while the villages provide different ways to experience the mountain environment.

The cultural heritage of Lachin is equally varied. The district is home to ancient religious monuments, medieval cemeteries, burial mounds, caves and distinctive stone monuments. Among the best-known sites are the Aghoghlan monument, Damrovlu Pir Temple, Kar Kunbez Mausoleum and Ushag Castle. Medieval ram- and horse-shaped stones are another distinctive feature of the local historical landscape. The district also contains numerous other religious and archaeological sites that reflect different periods of settlement and cultural development.

Aghoghlan is particularly important within the region’s architectural heritage. Located beside the Aghoghlan River, the ancient monastery is regarded as one of the notable examples of Caucasian Albanian architecture in Azerbaijan. Built of basalt stone, it is distinguished by its stone columns, narrow windows and vaulted interior.

Lachin’s heritage is not confined to stone monuments. Traditional crafts are another important part of its cultural identity. The Gasimushaghi carpet is closely associated with the district and belongs to the wider Karabakh carpet-weaving tradition. Azerbaijan’s carpet weaving was inscribed on UNESCO’s Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity in 2010, recognising the importance of the craft and the knowledge passed from one generation to another.

The villages surrounding Lachin add another dimension to the cultural landscape. Zabukh, situated at the confluence of the Hakari and Zabukh rivers, is suited to hiking and offers visitors the possibility of experiencing village life. During the summer, local residents can offer their homes as guest accommodation. Husulu combines mountain scenery with trekking and camping opportunities and is known for the Hamza Sultan Palace.

Mirik is particularly interesting for travellers interested in geology and natural formations. The village has caves such as Garanlig Kaha, or Dark Cave, and Baygara, as well as waterfalls, volcanic rock formations and unusual cone-shaped rocks and stone columns. The Aghbulag, Peri Bulag and Chichek Bulag springs add to the area’s natural appeal and give it potential for wellness tourism.

Sus offers another mountain landscape, with green valleys and volcanic formations, while Beylik combines a quiet rural setting with opportunities for walking, hiking and camping. These villages make Lachin more than a city destination. Together, they form a broader travel experience in which nature, heritage and local life are closely connected.

Lachin’s cultural profile received international attention in 2025, when the city was designated the CIS Cultural Capital. The designation gave Lachin a year-long programme of cultural activities involving Azerbaijan and other CIS countries. The programme included exhibitions, performances, cultural meetings and culinary presentations.

One of the events held as part of the programme brought together confectioners from several CIS countries. Alongside traditional sweets, Azerbaijani national confectionery was presented together with the country’s tea culture. Such events gave Lachin a chance to present local traditions while placing them within a wider regional cultural setting.

Lachin City Day has also become an important public occasion. Cultural programmes and celebrations held around the Hakari River have brought residents and visitors together in one of the city’s most attractive natural settings. Such events are gradually giving the reconstructed city its own contemporary rhythm.

The region’s tourism infrastructure has developed at the same time. Lachin International Airport, inaugurated on May 28, 2025, is the third international airport built in Azerbaijan’s liberated territories. Built in difficult mountainous terrain, the airport provides a new gateway to Lachin and the surrounding districts and is expected to support tourism, business and wider economic activity.

Another important addition is the Lachin Recreation Complex in Zerti village. Opened in May 2025, the complex covers 11.2 hectares and has a built-up area of 42,000 square metres. It includes a 120-room hotel, eight cottages and accommodation for up to 324 guests. The complex also has a 500-seat event hall, a 340-seat banquet hall and a 100-seat conference room, making it suitable for cultural gatherings, conferences and other events as well as leisure travel.

Its recreational facilities include hiking and cycling routes, football and basketball pitches, bowling, billiards, karaoke, virtual-reality entertainment and a children’s centre. Restaurants and cafés offer Azerbaijani and international cuisine. The complex also has a local employment dimension, with many of its employees coming from Lachin, Kalbajar and other liberated territories.

Food offers another way to understand Lachin and the wider Eastern Zangazur region. Mountain cuisine makes extensive use of local herbs, dairy products, meat and seasonal ingredients. Dishes such as chashyr govurmasi, prepared with wild herbs, onions, butter and eggs, and chepish buglamasi, a slow-cooked goat dish, reflect the ingredients and traditions of mountain communities.

For visitors, regional food can be as revealing as a historic monument. It tells the story of what grows in the mountains, what local families have traditionally prepared and how food has been shaped by the landscape.

The city is also gaining new spaces dedicated to history and remembrance. The Occupation and Victory Museum Complex is planned on a 3.5-hectare site and includes museum buildings and a Memorial Park. The project envisages displaying surviving elements of destroyed historical and cultural monuments in an open-air setting, creating a place where the region’s recent history can be presented alongside its broader cultural heritage.

For travellers, Lachin can therefore be approached in several ways. It can be a destination for mountain walks and camping, a journey through Azerbaijan’s architectural and archaeological heritage, an opportunity to discover traditional cuisine and crafts, or part of a wider journey through Karabakh and Eastern Zangazur.

Travel access has also become easier for international visitors. Since July 23, 2025, foreign citizens have been permitted to visit Lachin and other liberated territories either by private vehicle or as part of organised groups, provided they obtain the necessary permission.

What makes Lachin particularly compelling is the way its different layers exist side by side. Ancient monuments rise from a landscape of forests and mountains. Village traditions continue alongside new tourism facilities. Regional cuisine is finding a place in modern hospitality, while festivals are giving the city an increasingly active cultural calendar.

Lachin is therefore becoming more than a reconstructed city. Its mountains, rivers, monuments, villages, crafts, cuisine and cultural events are forming the foundations of a distinctive tourism identity. Its appeal lies not in a single landmark, but in the experience created by all these elements together: a mountain landscape with a deep past, a strong cultural character and a city entering a new period of life.

There are sounds that belong to a particular place, and there are sounds that seem to belong to humanity itself. Azerbaijani mugham is one of them. Deeply rooted in the country’s history, it carries the emotions, memories and worldview of generations, passing from one voice to another without losing its character.

Mugham is more than a musical tradition in Azerbaijan. It is part of the country’s cultural memory. Its melodies can express joy without words, speak of sorrow without explaining it, and create a sense of longing, dignity and belonging through sound alone. For centuries, mugham has accompanied the lives of Azerbaijanis and remained closely connected with poetry, storytelling and traditional musical performance.

The art is built around several principal mugham modes, including Rast, Shur, Segah, Bayati-Shiraz, Chahargah, Shushtar and Humayun. Each has its own character and emotional colour. Yet mugham is not simply a collection of fixed melodies. Its beauty lies in interpretation. The performer follows a musical path while allowing room for feeling, improvisation and personal expression. No two performances need to sound exactly alike.

This freedom has helped mugham survive and develop across centuries. It has remained faithful to its roots while finding a place in new forms of music. One of the most important examples came from composer Uzeyir Hajibayli, whose “Leyli and Majnun” became the first mugham-based opera. Later, Fikrat Amirov brought mugham into the symphonic world with works such as “Shur” and “Kurd-Ovshari”.

Mugham has also influenced generations of Azerbaijani composers and musicians, from Niyazi and Gara Garayev to Arif Malikov and Frangiz Alizadeh. In the hands of Vagif Mustafazadeh, it entered a new musical world through his distinctive combination of mugham and jazz. His work showed that an ancient tradition could speak naturally through a modern musical language.

Its journey has never been limited to Azerbaijan. Mugham recordings were included in UNESCO’s “Anthology of Traditional Music of the World” in the 1970s. Azerbaijani mugham also reached an unexpected audience through Andrei Tarkovsky’s film “Stalker”. In 1977, a recording of Azerbaijani mugham was even sent into space by NASA as part of the Voyager Golden Record project, carrying a small piece of the country’s musical heritage beyond Earth.

International recognition followed. In 2008, Azerbaijani mugham was added to UNESCO’s Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity. The recognition reflected not only its artistic value, but also the importance of preserving a living tradition passed from masters to younger generations.

The revival of mugham in contemporary Azerbaijan has been supported by major cultural initiatives. The Heydar Aliyev Foundation has played a major role in promoting the art through international festivals, competitions, concerts, publications and educational projects. The “World of Mugham” International Music Festival, launched in 2009, has become an important meeting point for performers, researchers and lovers of traditional music from different countries.

Baku’s International Mugham Center has given this art another permanent home. Opened in 2008, the building itself reflects the musical tradition it represents, with its design inspired by the tar, one of the main instruments used in mugham performance. Concerts, festivals, masterclasses and research projects held at the center continue to introduce mugham to new audiences.

Perhaps the greatest strength of mugham is that it does not need translation. A listener may not understand every poetic reference or know the history behind a particular mode, yet the voice, the tar, the kamancha and the rhythm can still communicate something immediate and deeply human.

That is why mugham has endured. It has changed with its performers, entered concert halls and cinemas, travelled across borders and even reached outer space, but its heart has remained the same. It is the sound of a culture remembering itself – and finding new ways to be heard.

Azerbaijani weightlifter Fakhraddin Allahverdiyev has won three silver medals at the 2026 EWF European Youth and U15 Championships in Prishtina, Kosovo.

Competing in the 85 kg category, Allahverdiyev lifted 122 kg in the snatch and 150 kg in the clean and jerk. He won silver in both events. His total of 272 kg also earned him a silver medal in the overall standings.

The European Weightlifting Federation’s official records list Allahverdiyev in the 85 kg category.

Azerbaijan finished the championships with 15 medals, including three gold, five silver and seven bronze.

The 2026 EWF European Youth and U15 Championships is organized by the European Weightlifting Federation.

The tournament features weightlifters from across Europe in the Youth and Under-15 age groups.

Weightlifting has a long history of success in Azerbaijan. Azerbaijani lifters have won medals at European and world championships, as well as the Olympic Games. The country has also produced European and world champions in different weight categories. The sport is overseen by the Azerbaijan Weightlifting Federation, which represents the country in international competitions.

The federation was established in the mid-20th century, during the Soviet era, when weightlifting was already a popular and highly competitive sport in the region. After Azerbaijan gained independence in 1991, the AWF was restructured to function as an independent national governing body. Since then, it has worked to rebuild and modernize the sport, aligning itself with international standards and organizations such as the International Weightlifting Federation.

The Azerbaijan Weightlifting Federation is currently headed by President Kamran Nabizade.

The main goals of the Azerbaijan Weightlifting Federation include developing weightlifting at both grassroots and elite levels, identifying and nurturing young talent, and improving the overall quality of coaching and training systems across the country.

Another key objective of the AWF is to achieve strong results on the international stage. Azerbaijani weightlifters have competed in major events such as European Championships, World Championships, and the Olympic Games, often achieving notable success.

The first deployment of a CC8800-1 Boom Booster configuration in the UAE helps to extend the working life of an offshore asset, maximizing its value.

Mammoet has successfully completed a series of heavy lifting operations as part of the Rig BW Maromba B WHP conversion project at Drydocks World Dubai.

The project involves the conversion of the former VALARIS 247, a heavy-duty jack-up drilling rig being repurposed into a wellhead platform for deployment at the Maromba field offshore Brazil.

Commissioned by Drydocks World, Mammoet provided engineering, equipment and specialist personnel to lift and install nine rig leg extension sections. The scope involved three legs, each consisting of three triangular sections weighing approximately 105 t and measuring 10.2m in height and 16.2m in width.

A key milestone for the project was the first deployment of this CC 8800-1 Boom booster crane configuration in the United Arab Emirates. Configured with a 120-metre main boom and a 96-metre luffing jib, the crane delivered the hook height and lifting performance required to safely install the leg extension sections.

The Boom Booster, fitted to the crane’s main boom, extended its lifting capability, allowing heavy components to be lifted to greater heights and at longer working radii without the need for a larger crane.

A comprehensive engineering package, including lifting studies, ground bearing pressure calculations and detailed execution procedures, ensured every lift could be planned and executed safely within the operational constraints of the shipyard environment.

The project increased the height of all three rig legs from 175m to 205m, enabling the converted platform to operate at its future offshore location. The lifting works were completed ahead of schedule.

‘The BW Maromba B WHP conversion project is an important project for Drydocks World, bringing together our engineering, fabrication and project delivery teams to prepare the platform for its next operational life,’ said Ajith Puthenveettil Ramachandrakurup, Senior Project Manager at Drydocks World.

‘The successful completion of the rig leg extension works is a significant milestone in that journey. We appreciate Mammoet’s contribution in providing the specialist heavy lifting expertise required to safely execute this phase of the project.”

“Repurposing offshore assets is becoming an increasingly important way for operators to extend the life of existing infrastructure, maximize the value of previous investments and reduce the need for new construction,” said Samar Iqbal, Project Manager at Mammoet.

“We’re proud to support Drydocks World on the Rig BW Maromba B WHP conversion project, applying our engineering expertise and heavy lifting capabilities to help prepare the platform for its next phase of operation’.

Once the conversion program is complete, the BW Maromba B wellhead platform is expected to be deployed at the Maromba field offshore Brazil, supporting the next phase of the development.

Aluminum production is amongst the most energy-intensive industrial processes on our planet. The principle in the metal industry is that electricity charges make up some 30-40% of the price of primary aluminum, meaning that the geography of competitive aluminum production coincides with the geography of inexpensive and stable energy. This means that the three simultaneous blows to the global supply of aluminum from the destruction of Gulf smelting capacity due to Iranian strikes, the restriction of Russian exports, and the rise in electricity costs in Europe that has put a stop to operations at Western aluminum factories since 2022 have created a niche for producers of aluminum who have access to low-cost and low-carbon electricity to occupy. Azerbaijan, operating its Ganja electrolysis facility on electricity that is supplemented with hydro-power and has the carbon intensity of 2 tonnes of CO2 per tonne of metal produced (versus 13-15 tonnes of CO2 worldwide), has all the cards in hand to become one of the most efficient producers of aluminum globally. The figures of the industry’s January-July 2026 production show that Baku understands this perfectly well.

The question is whether the 2027-2030 program will allow turning this understanding into a competitive advantage.

The European Union Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism came into force in 2026, and aluminum is one of the sectors most exposed to this risk. As the logic of the CBAM states, since a European enterprise pays pound 50 for each tonne of CO2 in the context of the EU Emission Trading System, a company that imports this product and does not have to pay such expenses on carbon credits in its own market will have an unfair competitive advantage over the former company. Therefore, CBAM ensures parity between European and foreign producers by requiring the latter to obtain carbon certificates corresponding to the CO2 emissions level of their products. In the case of one tonne of aluminum, manufactured with the world average emissions intensity of 13-15 tons of CO2, the cost of CBAM is high and constantly growing. On the contrary, for Azeraluminium, manufacturing aluminum with the average emissions level of 2 tons of CO2 per one tonne of the product (one seventh of the world average), the cost of CBAM is low.

Azeraluminium is currently engaged in efforts to secure the CBAM carbon certification to help establish its advantage as a tangible competitive advantage in the business world through cooperation with the World Bank, certification companies, and other international organizations. The CBAM carbon certification, once secured, transforms the company’s low carbon footprint in production into an advantageous business card that European buyers who are under the pressure of CBAM compliance are willing to pay extra money for. At the same time, the growing capacity of the country in terms of renewable energy sources, the country plans to have 8 gigawatts of solar and wind energy by 2032 – ensures that the CBAM advantage is not a one-time thing.

2027-2030 programme

However, the danger of commodity price windfalls – and the increase in production by 45.8% and revenues of $97 million in H1 do constitute a windfall of sorts, brought about by crisis-driven market circumstances which will not last forever – is that they provide cash flows without building capacity. The State Programme for the Development of the Mining and Metallurgical Industry 2027-2030, and Ilham Aliyev’s April 2026 decree establishing Azeraluminium LLC on the foundation of the existing state entity, represent a deliberate policy choice to use the current market window to fund structural capacity expansion before the window closes.

The example of the aluminum industry of Azerbaijan shows a pattern which should be followed by non-oil diversification policies throughout the manufacturing industries. A 78.1% share of oil in total foreign direct investments in 2025, even taking into account the existence of 9 industrial parks, 5 industrial zones, 148 inhabitants and 11,200 jobs created, demonstrates the structural problem which the Economic Strategy 2027-2030 is supposed to solve. Non-oil refining and manufacturing investment levels in the country are lower in comparison with total investment volume, while the investment portfolio in industrial zones amounts to more than 8.7 billion manats. Aluminium production is a rare case when Azerbaijan has an input advantage due to the use of low-carbon energy source.

Indeed, the present-day market conditions have turned the competitive edge into reality and commercial reality in ways that would have been impossible for planners in this industry to accomplish through subsidies alone. The Iranian attack on the Gulf smelters, the Russian embargo, and the inflation of energy prices in Europe have together generated a shortfall in the supply that would otherwise be covered by existing producers, but at present is not being addressed. Azerbaijan has become one such producer: 43,772 tonnes produced in seven months, 46,736 tonnes exported, revenue amounting to $97 million. Whether the 2027-2030 programme will manage to scale up its production to 100,000 tonnes of annual electrolysis capacity and 50,000 tonnes of rolled products until the market becomes normalised – and until European customers find other long-term suppliers for their needs, which will also seek CBAM certification – will be a race against time for Baku.

On August 26, First Vice-President of the Republic of Azerbaijan and President of the Heydar Aliyev Foundation Mehriban Aliyeva, together with her daughters Leyla Aliyeva and Arzu Aliyeva, visited the Scientific Research Institute of Pediatrics.

Minister of Health Teymur Musayev briefed First Vice-President Mehriban Aliyeva on the institute’s activities.

The Scientific Research Institute of Pediatrics has been serving the important and noble cause of protecting children’s health for more than a century.

Currently operating as a scientific and methodological center, the medical facility was established in 1925 on the basis of a 200-bed children’s hospital and reorganized in 1927 into the Institute for the Protection of Mother and Child. Alongside the treatment and prevention of childhood diseases, the institute provides training for professional medical personnel in pediatrics, conducts scientific research, and contributes to the improvement of medical education. The institute has clinical departments with a total capacity of 255 beds, as well as scientific and numerous paraclinical divisions. Its 60-bed neonatal resuscitation and intensive care department serves as a central facility for the republic.

During the visit, the First Vice-President and her daughters viewed the conditions created at the institute. Medical equipment, including mechanical ventilation devices, was also presented to the institute to support its future operations.

Aerospace company SpaceX has announced plans to build a huge new spaceport in the U.S. state of Louisiana. The project, called Starbase Louisiana, was announced by SpaceX together with Louisiana Governor Jeff Landry. The investment could reach $100 billion, making it the largest investment package in the state’s history.

Construction is expected to begin in 2027, with the first test launch potentially taking place as early as 2029. The facility is planned to become operational around 2030.

Starbase Louisiana will be much more than a traditional launch site. The complex is expected to include five launch complexes, rocket-fuel production facilities, power plants, a deep-water port for transporting equipment, an airport, and residential areas for SpaceX employees and their families.

The main purpose of the new spaceport will be to support launches of Starship, SpaceX’s massive fully reusable rocket. The company hopes to eventually carry out thousands of Starship launches every year. If this goal is achieved, space travel could become much more frequent and accessible, potentially making launches almost as routine as air travel.

The location in Louisiana was chosen for several reasons. Its huge coastal area provides plenty of space for expansion, while the nearby Gulf of Mexico can make it easier to transport large pieces of equipment by sea. The region also has access to energy resources that could support the enormous complex.

The project is expected to create more than 3,000 direct jobs over the next decade, as well as thousands of additional jobs in related industries. This could give Louisiana’s economy a major boost.

However, the project also raises environmental concerns because the area contains coastal wetlands and valuable natural habitats. SpaceX says it plans to work with state authorities on environmental protection and coastal restoration.

Starbase Louisiana would become one of SpaceX’s most ambitious projects yet. The company already operates launch facilities in Texas, Florida and California. If the Louisiana project is completed as planned, it could become a key part of SpaceX’s long-term vision of making spaceflight far more frequent – and eventually helping humanity reach the Moon and Mars.

“Sabah” have reached the UEFA Champions League league phase for the first time in their history.

The Baku club secured qualification after eliminating Israel’s “Hapoel Be’er Sheva” in the play-off round. “Sabah” lost the first match 1-2 but won the second leg 5-2.

“Sabah” have become only the third Azerbaijani club to reach the main stage of the UEFA Champions League. “Qarabag” previously achieved the feat in the 2017-2018 and 2025-2026 seasons.

The club have also set several records in Azerbaijani football. “Sabah” are the first Azerbaijani team to reach the Champions League league phase in their debut season in the competition.

Valdas Dambrauskas’ team are also the first Azerbaijani club to go through all four qualifying rounds of the Champions League and reach the league phase.

Before facing “Hapoel Be’er Sheva”, “Sabah” eliminated Welsh club TNS in the first qualifying round, winning 2-0 and 2-1. In the second round, they defeated Finland’s “KuPS” 1-0 and 2-0. In the third round, “Sabah” overcame Denmark’s “Aarhus” despite losing the first leg 1-2, winning the return match 4-0.

It is the third time that an Azerbaijani club has gone through four rounds to reach the main stage of a European competition. “Qabala” achieved the same result in the UEFA Europa League in the 2015-2016 and 2016-2017 seasons.

“Sabah” have also set a record for the number of wins in a single European campaign. The Baku club have recorded six victories in the qualifying and play-off rounds, becoming the first Azerbaijani team to achieve this.

The previous record was five wins. “Qarabag” reached that number in the 2013-2014, 2023-2024 and 2025-2026 seasons, while “Qabala” recorded five wins in the 2016-2017 season.

“Sabah” have also earned 1.500 points for Azerbaijan’s UEFA coefficient this season. This equals the national record for points collected in the qualifying and play-off rounds. “Qarabag” also earned 1.500 points in the 2023-2024 season after recording five wins and two draws.

“Sabah” will now represent Azerbaijan in the UEFA Champions League league phase for the first time.

Armenia’s internal political scene is once again dominated by serious scandal, infighting and confrontation. At the centre of the latest turmoil are members of the former ruling establishment, most notably Robert Kocharyan and Serzh Sargsyan, both of whom have been closely associated with Russia and have reportedly been detained by law enforcement authorities.

At this point, the famous words of Ibn Khaldun, one of the most influential thinkers of the Arab and Islamic intellectual tradition, come to mind: ‘Injustice ruins civilisation.’ His political thought repeatedly draws a stark distinction between strong, legitimate authority and rulers whose corruption, complacency and pursuit of privilege ultimately undermine the very states they once controlled.

There is, therefore, little that should come as a surprise when those who once sought to build their power across a vast geography by seizing lands that did not belong to them eventually find themselves sitting in the defendant’s dock, answering questions before the very institutions of the state they once sought to dominate.

Recently, Armenian authorities detained former President Robert Kocharyan and his son Sedrak on August 25, marking one of the most consequential developments in the country’s recent domestic politics. Armenia’s Anti-Corruption Committee said the two men had been taken into custody as investigators pursued several lines of inquiry. According to investigators, Kocharyan acquired state property at below-market prices and transferred assets to affiliated companies. Now, the circumstances surrounding the transfer of 56 properties to the former president, as well as substantial payments allegedly made in his son’s name, are being closely examined.

At the same time, law-enforcement officers searched businesses linked to the Kocharyan family. The raids reportedly targeted the family-owned Orange Premium Fitness Club, a Toyota dealership, and the shops and offices of Pregomesh, a jewellery brand owned by Kocharyan’s daughter-in-law, the well-known Armenian singer Sirusho. National Security Service officers arrived at the home of Levon Kocharyan, a member of parliament from the Armenia Alliance and Robert Kocharyan’s elder son. Besides, a court in Yerevan has also ruled to keep former Armenian President Serzh Sargsyan at liberty under a travel ban, following a motion filed by Armenia’s Anti-Corruption Committee.

Kocharyan’s detention is the latest in a string of criminal cases involving Pashinyan’s political adversaries. The pressure became particularly visible during the parliamentary campaign.

In the June 7 election, the governing Civil Contract party won 49.7% of the vote and retained power. Samvel Karapetyan’s Strong Armenia came second with 23.2%, while Kocharyan’s Armenia Alliance received 9.9%. Even before voters went to the polls, opposition candidates and activists had been detained in cases involving alleged vote-buying. After his victory, Pashinyan made it clear that he had no intention of taking his foot off the gas. He branded the three largest opposition forces a “three-headed spy party of war”, accusing them of opposing rapprochement with Azerbaijan.

The prime minister also argued that criminal investigations into opposition figures, along with efforts to confiscate allegedly illicit assets, should continue. His critics say this rhetoric blurs the line between legitimate law enforcement and political revenge. The government, however, maintains that no one should be above the law.

The confrontation between the government and its opponents began well before the election campaign. Businessman Samvel Karapetyan was arrested in the summer of 2025, shortly after publicly defending the Armenian Apostolic Church in its dispute with Pashinyan. He was accused of publicly calling for the seizure of power and was later placed under house arrest.

Pashinyan has also repeatedly clashed with senior religious figures. His conflict with the Armenian Apostolic Church erupted into the open in May 2025, when he demanded the resignation of Catholicos of All Armenians Karekin II and accused him of violating his vow of celibacy. The Church responded by accusing the prime minister of waging an anti-clerical campaign.

It appears that Nikol Pashinyan, having chosen a Western path for Armenia, is systematically removing all obstacles standing in his way, particularly political figures perceived as serving Russian interests. Although this may appear to contradict the very concept of democracy that Pashinyan champions as the cornerstone of his political course, he increasingly seems to regard the removal of elements that pose a threat to his choices as a political necessity.

There is, however, considerable room for scepticism in terms of its anti-Kremlin policy. The fundamental problem is that Armenia has yet to free itself fully from its dependence on Russia.

The contradiction becomes particularly stark in Pashinyan’s dealings with Putin. In July 2026, despite his government’s proclaimed pro-European trajectory, Pashinyan personally appealed to Putin to intervene over Russian restrictions on Armenian exports, arguing that Moscow’s measures violated bilateral agreements and EAEU rules. He also stressed that Yerevan sought to resolve the dispute through ‘open, partnership-based and friendly dialogue’.

In other words, while Yerevan presents itself as marching towards Europe, when its economic interests come under pressure, it still turns to Moscow for help.

Moscow, meanwhile, has repeatedly warned that Armenia cannot have its cake and eat it too. From Russia’s perspective, Yerevan cannot fully integrate with the EU while remaining a member of the Russian-led Eurasian Economic Union.

Armenia is neither a major European market nor an important source of natural resources. Its value to the EU is therefore less economic than geopolitical. From today’s perspective, Armenia could, in fact, become something of a headache for the European Union. The reason is simple: what strategic value does Armenia’s integration with the West offer a Europe struggling to find solutions to an energy crisis and security issues, when Yerevan itself continues to bend one way and another under the weight of its economic dependence?

For Armenia today, steps towards improving relations with Azerbaijan and Trkiye are arguably far more vital than symbolic alignment with the West. Seeking shelter under the shadow of the European flag cannot be more important than taking advantage of the strategic opportunities available to the country.

Where did Armenia’s European dream come from?

Pashinyan rose to power after the 2018 Velvet Revolution on a wave of public anger against corruption, entrenched elites and political stagnation. His ascent was driven less by a formal promise of rapid EU membership than by the hope that Armenia could become more democratic, transparent and independent of its old ruling class. That vision set him apart from figures such as Serzh Sargsyan and Robert Kocharyan, who were widely viewed as closer to Moscow and more resistant to compromise with Azerbaijan. Over time, Pashinyan’s domestic reform agenda became intertwined with a broader foreign-policy shift away from Russia and towards Europe.

Recent events, however, have cast a long shadow over that project. The detention of opposition leaders and pressure on influential business figures raise questions about how far the prime minister is prepared to go to remove obstacles from his path. The proposed new constitution is another piece of the puzzle. Supporters describe constitutional change as necessary for building a modern state and securing peace with Azerbaijan.

Pashinyan is attempting to remake Armenia at breakneck speed. He wants to normalise relations with Azerbaijan, loosen the country’s dependence on Russia, move closer to Europe and dismantle the political networks associated with former leaders. If political competition is hollowed out along the way, Armenia could discover that it has traded one form of dependency and concentrated power for another.

Armenia’s shifting political agenda in the face of Azerbaijan’s new realities

Certainly, the arrest of Robert Kocharyan, Serzh Sargsyan and a number of other political figures once elevated to the status of national heroes is, in no small measure, a consequence of the realities created by Azerbaijan. This is not political rhetoric; it is a reality being written into the historical record.

Nikol Pashinyan is simply the first, and so far the only, Armenian political figure to have recognised and accepted these realities. Armenia’s recognition of the territorial integrity of Azerbaijan and its use of the internationally recognised names of Azerbaijani territories is, today, arguably a historic victory for Armenia itself even more than for Azerbaijan.

Those who refuse to confront reality, however, face a stark choice: either watch their country pay the price for their political illusions, or confront the consequences personally, including through imprisonment.