Category: Azer News

Head of the European Union’s Emergency Response Coordination Centre, Maria Zuber, warned on Wednesday that the entire European continent could be ablaze in early August, as weather conditions, including extreme heat, increase the risk of new wildfires in Greece, Italy, and Central Europe, in addition to the wildfires already burning in Spain and France, AzerNEWS reports.

“Greece for ?the moment was spared, and now we see that it will go to Greece. Italy will face risk at the beginning of August, and we will need to see what will ?happen with the Iberian Peninsula, because if (it is) there as well, we will ?have all of Europe on fire,” Zuber told reporters.

The official went on to say that 2026 could become the biggest fire season in European history, beating the record set last year.

A few days ago, the Caspian Pipeline Consortium announced the resumption of the loading process at the Novorossiysk Terminal following an interruption which caused, at its peak, the daily crude oil production of Kazakhstan to be reduced by half from 2.16 million barrels a day to just over one million due to the inability to export the crude oil. The interruption was caused by Ukrainian drone attacks, which have become a ‘customary phenomenon’ for a while. Within hours of the resumption process, two ships, Seamajesty and Milos, were docked and loading Tengizchevroil volumes. Chevron, which produces the oil in the Tengiz field that goes through the CPC pipeline, indicated that it is keeping an eye on the development. Astana felt relieved.

What is not over and what has in fact been rendered impossible by the recent events is the conversation about the future of the country’s oil export policy. Over 80% of all crude oil shipped abroad via pipeline from Kazakhstan passes through the CPC Pipeline, which runs 1,510 kilometers from the Tengiz field through Russia to Novorossiysk – the oil port on the Black Sea, where tankers load the product and distribute it to Europe and Asia. This arrangement worked for almost three decades. It was economical, cost-effective, and the geopolitical framework underlying it, which included a predictable but demanding transit partner in Russia, had stayed largely stable until February 2022. These premises ceased to be valid in February 2022. Russians did not conduct the recent strikes against the port. They were the Ukrainian attack on a Russian oil port in wartime.

The alternative that needs an upgrade

The Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan pipeline stretches 1,768 kilometers, runs only within the territory of Azerbaijan, Georgia, and Trkiye, and ends in the port of Ceyhan located in the Mediterranean Sea, thus avoiding transit through Russia and connecting the pipeline to a different range of buyers than those who can be accessed from Novorossiysk. The BTC pipeline has been transporting Azerbaijani oil since 2006. Besides, it has also, increasingly, been transporting Kazakh oil – which has been loaded from tankers in the Caspian seaport of Aktau, shipped across the sea to the Sangachal terminal of Baku, and transported further on through the BTC pipeline to the Mediterranean Sea. The volume of transportation of Kazakh oil via the BTC amounted to 1.2 million tons in 2025 and for 2026 is planned between 1.5 and 2.2 million tons based on a five-year agreement of transportation concluded between KazMunayGas and SOCAR. Up until June 2026, Kazakhstan had already shipped 704,000 tons of oil via the BTC, thus exceeding the planned pace of delivery.

The figures are on the rise, but still small in relation to the magnitude of the problem they aim to resolve. Even at its highest estimate for 2026, Kazakhstan’s volumes of transport via BTC would amount to only 3 per cent of the total crude exports of the country. However, the aspiration is much greater, as the energy minister of Kazakhstan has outlined a vision of increasing BTC throughput up to 20 million tonnes per year, which is thirteen times more than it currently is, although no deadlines have been set yet. The difference between the two is explained by the lack of necessary infrastructure. The capacity of the BTC pipeline amounts to 60 million tonnes per year, and it is already operating at close to maximum capacity with Azerbaijani crude.

Azerbaijan’s strategic opportunity and the problem that won’t solve itself

Perhaps, for Azerbaijan, the CPC disruption is an opportunity. The BTC pipeline, which was handed over from its operator bp to SOCAR in July 2026, is the only viable alternative for Kazakh crude that does not go through Russian territory. Each tonne of Kazakh oil shipped via Baku as opposed to Novorossiysk brings in money for SOCAR, strengthens the energy ties between Astana and Baku, and solidifies Azerbaijan’s role as an essential point of contact between Central Asia and the outside world. As President Aliyev emphasized in his address at Baku Energy Week recently, the East-West Corridor is already shipping increasing amounts of cargo from Central Asia via Azerbaijani territory, with oil being the most valuable part of it.

Kazakhstan’s Energy Minister Akkenzhenov, speaking to AnewZ in Baku, confirmed that Kazakhstan is actively assessing multiple options for expanding Caspian transit through Azerbaijan, including both the BTC route and the Baku-Supsa pipeline, a smaller Black Sea outlet that has been dormant for several years but whose revival is now under active discussion following the recent handover of its Georgian section to Azerbaijani state entities. KazMunayGas and Chevron have also held direct discussions about expanding BTC use as an additional export route, bringing the international oil majors that operate the Tengiz field into what has until now been primarily a government-to-government conversation.

Infrastructure bottleneck. While the political situation is favorable for BTC shipments from Kazakhstan, since both governments are willing to transport oil via BTC, the most critical factor preventing increased volumes is infrastructure. The port of Aktau, which serves as the main loading point of Kazakhstan into the BTC system, needs to be dredged because the Caspian Sea water level has decreased by about two meters in the past two decades. Furthermore, there is a lack of tanker capacity on the Caspian, and the BTC pipeline itself, which is transporting almost all of its capacity from Azerbaijan, does not have much available room without investing in compression and expansion.

The CPC pipeline is up and running again. There is no further threat to Kazakh oil output now. Prices of oil were already high due to the impact of the conflict between the United States and Iran on Middle Eastern supply lines and managed to take the hit without causing a jump that could have spurred political action from the Kazakh government. That means that the crisis has been resolved at just the right time, when the economic impact had been felt but not in such a way as to bring about disaster. However, that convenience may not last forever.

Oil production plans in Kazakhstan, with the country aiming to produce 100 million tons of oil per year, will eventually need export infrastructure that cannot be satisfied solely by the Novorossiysk port despite any disruptions. BTC is not a substitute for CPC; rather, it complements CPC and becomes an insurance policy against it and ultimately becomes a structural shift in the one key energy dependency that Central Asia continues to have. That shift, made possible by this week’s shutdown of CPC, has become a matter of immediate action. The question now is whether Astana and Baku take advantage of the window before the next drone strikes on Novorossiysk.

Azerbaijan’s national youth culinary team has achieved notable success at the 5th Global Culinary Challenge Malaysia, held in Kuala Lumpur, AzerNEWS reports.

Competing against young chefs from around the world, the team earned multiple medals while proudly presenting Azerbaijan’s culinary traditions on the international stage.

In the individual category, Fatima Mammadova won a gold medal, while Nail Bayramov received one silver and one bronze medal. Inara Samadova claimed two bronze medals, and both Turan Shahbazov and Turan Jafarov were each awarded a bronze medal.

In the duet category, the teams of Ibrahim Rahimov and Rahim Mustafayev, as well as Turan Shahbazov and Turan Jafarov, were both awarded bronze medals.

The 5th Global Culinary Challenge Malaysia (GCCM) was organized as part of the Food and Drinks Malaysia by SIAL international exhibition at the Malaysia International Trade and Exhibition Centre (MITEC).

orsed by the World Association of Chefs’ Societies (Worldchefs), the competition is one of Southeast Asia’s leading culinary events, bringing together chefs and culinary students from dozens of countries to compete in a wide range of individual and team categories.Azerbaijan’s culinary professionals have become increasingly visible on the international stage in recent years, earning medals at prestigious competitions and helping to promote the country’s rich gastronomic heritage worldwide.

The country’s success is driven by the Azerbaijan Culinary Specialists Association (ACSA).

Wherever they compete, Azerbaijani chefs bring more than technical skills to the table-they present the country’s culinary identity through its traditional dishes and ingredients. International competitions have become an important platform for introducing Azerbaijan’s rich food culture to new audiences.

Azerbaijan’s cuisine is renowned for its diversity, reflecting the country’s varied landscapes, agricultural traditions, and centuries of cultural exchange. Built around fresh, seasonal ingredients, it offers a rich combination of flavors that have been shaped by regional customs and local produce.

Fresh herbs, including mint, coriander, dill, basil, and parsley, are an essential part of everyday meals, while spices such as saffron, sumac, cumin, and cinnamon add depth and aroma to many traditional dishes. Sour and fruity ingredients, including pomegranate sauce (narsharab), unripe grape juice, sour plums, dried apricots, and other preserved fruits, are also widely used to create the distinctive sweet-and-sour balance that characterizes Azerbaijani cooking.

Lamb, beef, and poultry form the foundation of many national dishes, complemented by rice, homemade bread, and a variety of pastries. Fish also plays an important role in the country’s cuisine.

The Caspian Sea is home to numerous edible species, including sturgeon, Caspian salmon, sardines, and grey mullet, while Caspian black caviar remains one of Azerbaijan’s best-known gastronomic specialties.

Traditional cooking methods are just as important as the ingredients themselves. Many dishes are prepared in cookware designed specifically for each recipe: piti is slow-cooked in individual clay pots, plov is prepared in heavy-bottomed kazan cauldrons, and kebabs are grilled over an open flame on metal skewers.

The Azerbaijani cuisine is distinguished by its variety and long-standing culinary traditions.

For three days, Baku became the heartbeat of the international fashion industry as Azerbaijan Fashion Week celebrated its landmark 20th anniversary season. Bringing together designers, international experts, buyers, and industry professionals, the event reaffirmed its position as the leading fashion platform of the Caspian region, AzerNEWS reports.

One of the highlights of this anniversary season was the strategic partnership with DOME Middle East Fashion Week, led by Sabina Agalarova. The collaboration marked an important step toward strengthening international industry ties while creating new opportunities for designers and brands represented by both platforms.

“Our 20th anniversary season is not only an important milestone but also the beginning of a new chapter for Azerbaijan Fashion Week. Today, we see Baku becoming a meeting point for designers, industry professionals, and international partners. Our mission is to build a platform that helps emerging talents from the region reach global audiences while strengthening international cooperation through the universal language of fashion,” said Nijat Bakhshaliyev, CEO of Azerbaijan Fashion Week.

The central theme of the season, Water Element, symbolized movement, transformation, purity, and unity. The concept reflected the cultural dialogue between the Caspian region and the Middle East, where tradition and contemporary creativity come together to shape a new vision of fashion.

Over the course of three days, designers from Azerbaijan and abroad unveiled their latest collections. The anniversary edition featured Natavan Brand, Menzer Zekizade Fashion School, Lala Kerimova, Almas, Mariama, Giltex and AzCotton, JenyaBer, markA atelier Baku, Naz Maer, Sameera, Shakhiadore in collaboration with Time Deluxe and Five Oceans, as well as KHAYALY by Khayala Bayram.

The season culminated with the runway presentation by YUDASHKIN House, which closed the three-day program of Azerbaijan Fashion Week. The renowned Russian fashion house unveiled a new demi-couture collection inspired by the elegance of the mid-20th century, the culture of grand social occasions, and the decorative arts of different eras.

“Azerbaijan Fashion Week is a place where new names emerge and where those who have already become part of fashion history meet the next generation of talent. It is especially meaningful for us to be here in this context-alongside young designers, within a vibrant professional dialogue, and in constant conversation with the spirit of our time. YUDASHKIN House closely follows the changing world, evolving with it while preserving its unique DNA,” said Galina Yudashkina, Creative Director of YUDASHKIN House.

The participation of YUDASHKIN House further underscored the growing international recognition of Azerbaijan Fashion Week and reinforced its role as a platform fostering dialogue between globally established fashion houses and the next generation of designers.

“We want people to associate Baku not only with its remarkable architecture, the Caspian Sea, and its rich history, but also with contemporary fashion, the creative industries, and talented designers. Azerbaijan Fashion Week contributes to shaping a new cultural identity for the city and continues to strengthen Baku’s position on the international fashion map,” said Sayat Dosybayeva, General Producer of Azerbaijan Fashion Week.

The anniversary season of Azerbaijan Fashion Week was held with the support of the YARADICI Center for the Development of Cultural and Creative Industries under the Ministry of Culture of the Republic of Azerbaijan.

Over the past twenty seasons, Azerbaijan Fashion Week has evolved into a respected international platform bringing together designers, brands, buyers, and fashion professionals from across the region and beyond. The anniversary edition marked another significant milestone in the project’s development, reaffirming Baku’s growing role as a center for contemporary fashion, international collaboration, and cultural exchange.

The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) reported on Wednesday that its troops struck several weapons depots across the Gaza Strip during the week, claiming that one of the storage facilities was hidden inside a mosque, AzerNEWS reports.

“This is an additional example of the terrorist organizations in the Gaza Strip exploiting civilian infrastructure for terrorist purposes by storing weapons in the heart of the civilian population, including in religious sites, to facilitate terrorist activity,” the Israeli military shared in a post on Telegram.

Previously, the IDF said that it dismantled an underground Hezbollah command center, established beneath a business building in southern Lebanon.

On July 28, the Baku Court of Appeal continued judicial proceedings on the appeals filed by citizens of the Republic of Armenia-Arayik Harutyunyan, Arkadi Ghukasyan, Bako Sahakyan, Davit Ishkhanyan, David Babayan, Levon Mnatsakanyan, and others-who were convicted by the Baku Military Court for crimes against peace and humanity, war crimes resulting from Armenia’s military aggression against Azerbaijan, including the preparation and waging of aggressive war, genocide, violations of the laws and customs of war, terrorism, financing of terrorism, forcible seizure of power, and numerous other offenses.

At the court session, presided over by Judge Elmar Rahimov of the Baku Court of Appeal, joined by Judges Emin Mehdiyev and Mehriban Garayeva (Reserve Judge Ali Mammadov also participated), all individuals subject to appellate proceedings were provided with interpreters in their respective spoken languages-Armenian and Russian-as well as defense counsel to ensure their right to a defense.

The court session was attended by representatives of the victims and state prosecutors representing the public prosecution, including Abbas Abbasli, Head of Department at the State Prosecution Department of the Prosecutor General’s Office, and department prosecutors Anar Alakbarov and Sevinj Gasimova.

At the beginning of the session, it was announced that employees of the Office of the Commissioner for Human Rights (Ombudsman) of the Republic of Azerbaijan were also attending the proceedings as observers.

The hearing proceeded with closing statements by the state prosecutors.

In their statements, state prosecutors Anar Alakbarov and Sevinj Gasimova said that evidence examined during the judicial investigation confirmed that Garik Martirosyan, Davit Allahverdyan, Levon Balayan, Vasili Beglaryan, Gurgen Stepanyan, and Erik Ghazaryan, along with other defendants, participated in the occupation and continued occupation of the sovereign territories of the Republic of Azerbaijan by Armenia, carried out various illegal activities, participated in criminal formations established and patronized by Armenia, and took part in waging an aggressive war.

The prosecutors said that the credible evidence gathered in the case confirmed that the conclusions reached by the court of first instance were lawful and well-founded, while the arguments raised in the appeals were unsubstantiated.

Delivering a further statement, Abbas Abbasli, Head of Department at the State Prosecution Department of the Prosecutor General’s Office, stated that the conviction rendered by the court of first instance fully complied with the requirements of both national legislation and universally recognized principles and norms of international law.

The prosecutor emphasized that statements, expert opinions, records, physical evidence, documents, video, and photographic materials were examined both individually and collectively, and that the verdict was rendered based on the specific actions of each defendant, each defendant’s degree of participation in the alleged crimes, and the established facts of the case.

The state prosecutor requested that the court dismiss the appeals and uphold the conviction of the Baku Military Court without changes.

The judge then announced the conclusion of the closing statements, after which the defense exercised its statutory right to rebuttal.

The right to rebuttal was first granted to the defense counsel for Bako Sahakyan. In his rebuttal, the attorney requested the court to grant the appeal, overturn the verdict of the court of first instance, and acquit Bako Sahakyan.

The right to rebuttal was then granted to Bako Sahakyan himself. Bako Sahakyan stated that he wished to exercise his right to rebuttal during the next court session.

Subsequently, the right to rebuttal was granted to the defense counsel for Arayik Harutyunyan. The defense attorney requested the court to acquit his client.

Exercising his right to rebuttal, Arayik Harutyunyan stated that he did not accept the charges brought against him.

The next court session will take place on July 31.

Under the verdict of the Baku Military Court dated February 5, 2026, Arayik Harutyunyan, Levon Mnatsakanyan, David Manukyan, Davit Ishkhanyan, and David Babayan were sentenced to life imprisonment. Arkadi Ghukasyan and Bako Sahakyan were sentenced to 20 years, Madat Babayan and Melikset Pashayan to 19 years, Garik Martirosyan to 18 years, Davit Allahverdyan and Levon Balayan to 16 years, and Vasili Beglaryan, Gurgen Stepanyan, and Erik Ghazaryan to 15 years’ imprisonment.

The military situation in the Middle East remains tense, continuing to influence oil prices on global energy markets, AzerNEWS reports.

Compared with previous days, oil prices have edged higher today. On the London Stock Exchange, the price of Brent crude rose by $3.18 to $87.27 per barrel, while Light crude increased by $2.76 to $82.02 per barrel.

The main factor behind the stabilization of oil prices is the passage of five vessels through the Strait of Hormuz with the assistance of the U.S. Navy. Two of the vessels were crude oil tankers. Meanwhile, 37 vessels have passed through the Bab el-Mandeb Strait in the Red Sea, approximately 12 of them oil tankers. However, the volume of crude oil carried by these tankers is unknown, meaning that their passage has not had a significant impact on market prices.

Analysts believe that, in some cases, oil transported from the Middle East with the assistance of U.S. military forces has been delivered directly to buyers under existing orders rather than being traded on exchanges. Any major oil refinery could potentially carry out such an operation, although it would come at a very high cost.

According to Kpler, there is currently no significant vessel traffic through either strait. It is also difficult to determine the cargoes carried by the small number of vessels passing through the straits intermittently.

An agreement on the flagship Development Road Project between Iraq and Trkiye was briefly delayed during an official signing ceremony in Ankara after Iraqi Transport Minister Razak al-Sadawi reportedly refused to sign the document, prompting a public intervention by Iraqi Prime Minister Ali al-Zaidi, AzerNEWS reports.

The incident occurred on Tuesday after al-Zaidi and his delegation held talks with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan at the Presidential Palace. Following the leaders’ meeting and broader delegation talks, the two sides proceeded to a ceremony to sign several bilateral agreements.

The first agreement, a Memorandum of Understanding on Education and Academic Cooperation, was signed by Murat Balci, head of Trkiye’s Police Academy, and Iraqi Chief of Staff and Commander of the Armed Forces General Abdulemir Shammari.

However, as the ceremony continued, confusion emerged when the agreement on the Development Road Project was not signed.

According to Turkish media outlets, President Erdogan noticed the missing agreement and asked, “Weren’t there five agreements?”, before calling Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan to the stage.

At the same time, al-Zaidi confronted Transport Minister al-Sadawi over the delay.

According to one putlet, OdaTV, the exchange unfolded as follows:

Al-Zaidi: “Why don’t you sign the Development Road agreement?”

Minister: “I’ll write to you on WhatsApp.”

Al-Zaidi: “Come and sign.”

The prime minister then turned to his interpreter and instructed:

“Tell the President I instructed him to sign it.”

The agreement was subsequently signed, allowing the ceremony to proceed.

According to Turkish media reports, the delay was linked to internal political disagreements within Iraq. Al-Sadawi is reportedly affiliated with the Badr Organization, a political and military movement considered close to Iran.

The reports claim that factions aligned with Iran oppose the Development Road Project because it could weaken Iran’s geopolitical importance as a regional transit corridor while reducing its political and economic influence in Iraq.

The Development Road Project is one of Iraq’s largest infrastructure initiatives, aiming to connect the Grand Faw Port on the Persian Gulf to Trkiye through an integrated rail and highway network, creating a new trade corridor linking Asia with Europe. Baghdad and Ankara view the project as a strategic initiative to boost regional trade, diversify Iraq’s economy, and strengthen bilateral economic cooperation.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said he asked United States President Donald Trump for a package of 300 Patriot interceptors before next winter, according to his interview with Axios on Wednesday, AzerNEWS reports.

He added that Trump was unable to commit to the deal, as the US stockpile of interceptors has been depleted by the Iran war. However, he said Trump agreed to “move ahead” with granting Ukraine Patriot production licenses.

Zelensky said his relationship with Trump has become “much better and more constructive, not so emotional like it was” at the start of Trump’s second term. He attributed the change to Ukraine’s recent successes in the war against Russia. He told the news outlet that US special envoys Jared Kushner and Steve Witkoff are likely to visit Ukraine in the next two weeks for talks on restarting peace negotiations.

United States President Donald Trump threatened Iran on Wednesday, claiming that the US military will “beat the f***ing sh** out of them” after strikes on a US military base in Jordan, AzerNEWS reports.

“We’ll be hitting them hard, they are going to get a beating,” Trump told Fox News. The US president also said that he was briefed on the attacks and watched footage, disclosing that the US forces had “just minutes” to shoot down incoming ballistic missiles.

Moreover, Trump confirmed that the talks are still ongoing, and added that the attack on Iran-backed militias in Iraq was coordinated with the Iraqi government, describing the militias as “a cancer on the world.” He also touched on his meeting with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu yesterday, saying it was a “great meeting” and that Netanyahu “understands now.”