Category: Azer News

Iran appears to have rapidly repaired several ballistic missile facilities damaged in strikes last year, but it has made only limited fixes to major nuclear sites struck by Israel and the United States, a New York Times analysis of satellite imagery suggests, Azernews reports.

The uneven pace of reconstruction offers clues about Iran’s military priorities as the United States amasses forces near it and President Trump weighs new military action. If the United States were to attack, Iran would most likely retaliate with ballistic missiles targeting Israel and U.S. assets in the region.

The United States and Iran were expected to meet in Oman on Friday in an attempt to stave off another conflict. The scope of the talks were not immediately clear, but Iran’s nuclear program was likely to be a key focus.

Experts who closely track Iranian nuclear and missile programs corroborated the analysis by The Times, which looked at around two dozen locations struck by Israel or the United States during the 12-day conflict last June. The Times found construction work at more than half of them.

The experts cautioned that the full extent of the repairs remains unclear, given that satellite imagery offers only an aboveground view of the construction.

Key vehicle models from Hyundai Motor and Kia have received a series of prestigious awards from leading U.S. automotive publications, further boosting the brands’ competitiveness in the American market, the automakers announced on Friday, Azernews reports, citing Korean media.

At Car and Driver magazine’s 2026 Editors’ Choice Awards, a total of 17 Hyundai and Kia models were recognized as best-in-class vehicles, according to a press release from the companies.

Hyundai’s Palisade SUV was named best in its segment for the seventh consecutive year, praised for its stylish design, spacious interior, and wide range of convenience features. The Palisade also earned the title of Best Large Utility Vehicle at MotorWeek’s 2026 Drivers’ Choice Awards, while Kia’s K4 sedan was recognized as Best Family Car by the same publication.

At Cars.com’s 2026 Best of Awards, Hyundai’s Santa Fe and Santa Fe Hybrid were named Best Family Car, and Kia’s all-electric EV9 was selected as Best Electric Vehicle, highlighting the brands’ growing presence in the EV segment.

A Hyundai Motor Group representative said the awards reflect the company’s ongoing commitment to innovation and quality, and emphasized that Hyundai and Kia will continue to strengthen their competitiveness in the U.S. and other major global markets.

Industry analysts note that these accolades not only enhance brand image but also demonstrate the companies’ successful push into electric and hybrid vehicles, a key factor in the rapidly evolving automotive market.

A meeting of the ‘Green Energy Space’ Working Group was held in a hybrid format to discuss the draft annual report on the 2025 implementation of the ‘Socio-Economic Development Strategy of the Republic of Azerbaijan for 2022-2026’, Azernews reports, citing the Energy Ministry.

Chairing the meeting, Deputy Minister of Energy Samir Valiyev emphasized that the ‘Green Energy Space’ objective holds a key place within the national development strategy and represents one of the main pillars of Azerbaijan’s future development model. He noted that the measures envisaged under this pillar aim to facilitate the country’s transition to a sustainable, environmentally friendly and innovative energy system, while also contributing to global climate goals.

Valiyev highlighted the implementation status of 18 measures planned for the previous year, stating that the overall execution of the Strategy continues to demonstrate positive momentum.

Deputy Chair of the Working Group Ramil Huseyn, Deputy Executive Director of the Center for Analysis of Economic Reforms and Communication (CAERC), delivered a presentation on the measures planned for 2025 and their implementation progress. Participants exchanged views on the draft report and submitted comments and recommendations.

The ‘Green Energy Space’ Working Group includes representatives from the Ministry of Energy, CAERC, and the Ministries of Economy, Ecology and Natural Resources, Agriculture, Digital Development and Transport, Finance, and Emergency Situations, as well as the State Statistics Committee, State Committee for Urban Planning and Architecture, State Customs Committee, SOCAR, the Central Bank of Azerbaijan, Azerbaijan Investment Holding, the Azerbaijan National Academy of Sciences, the State Water Resources Agency, and major state energy companies including Azerenerji, Azerishiq, and Azeristiliktechizat.

The Mexico-Azerbaijan Friendship Group recently hosted Seymur Fataliyev, Ambassador of Azerbaijan to Mexico, at the House of Deputies to review preparations for the official installation of the group on February 10, Azernews reports.

The meeting focused on enhancing dialogue between legislators, exploring opportunities for collaboration in trade, technology, education, and tourism, and reinforcing mutual understanding. It highlighted the important role of parliamentary diplomacy in promoting cooperation, allowing lawmakers to exchange ideas, share best practices, and support long-term partnerships.

The Friendship Group aims to foster initiatives that encourage cultural exchange, economic development, and sustainable collaboration, strengthening ties between Mexico and Azerbaijan at both governmental and societal levels.

The Expert Council on Identification of Immovable Cultural Assets, under the Azerbaijan Culture Ministry, has conducted a session to review and discuss significant developments in the protection and registration of cultural landmarks, Azernews reports.

During the meeting, the Deputy Culture Minister, Saadet Yusifova, shared the results of the work carried out by the Expert Council. She noted that the activities of the Council over the past period had been marked by a number of significant achievements. In the course of the meetings, 500 monuments and newly discovered examples were discussed, and, in accordance with the legislation, opinions were obtained from the Azerbaijan National Academy of Sciences.

In 2025, amendments were made to the information about 8 state-protected monuments in the Binagadi district, and 7 newly discovered monuments in that area, along with 44 in the territories liberated from occupation, were included in the list of immovable historical and cultural heritage sites. Additionally, by the Cabinet of Ministers’decision of January 9, 2026, amendments were made to the information about 87 monuments.

The chairperson of the Expert Council, Professor Gulchohra Mammadova, Rector of the Azerbaijan University of Architecture and Construction, provided information about the matters discussed during the meeting. She reported that 41 historical and architectural objects were presented to the Council for discussion regarding their inclusion in the state protection registry.

During the meeting, the inclusion of 41 newly discovered examples from various regions, including Astara, Khachmaz, Khizi, Gobustan, Guba, Gusar, Lankaran, Neftchala, Siyazan, Shabran, Ucar, and Tartar districts, as well as the cities of Baku and Sumgayit, in the list of immovable historical and cultural heritage was discussed.

The members of the Expert Council provided their feedback and suggestions on the matter, and decisions were made to take appropriate measures for registering these historical and architectural objects for state protection.

Within the World Interfaith Harmony Week, Azerbaijani delegation has participated in a high-level panel at the United Nations Headquarters in New York, Azernews reports citing the Azerbaijan Culture Ministry.

During the panel, the Deputy Culture Minister, Farid Jafarov, highlighted Azerbaijan’s contributions to regional and global peace and stability under the leadership of President Ilham Aliyev. He also emphasized the role of the “Baku Process” as a global platform for intercultural dialogue.

During the trip, the Azerbaijani delegation held meetings with key UN officials, including Felipe Paullier, UN Assistant Secretary-General for Youth Affairs, Miguel Angel Moratinos, the High Representative for the United Nations Alliance of Civilizations, and Nihal Saad, the Director of the United Nations Alliance of Civilizations (UNAOC).

They also met with Nyaradzayi Gumbonzvanda, the UN Women Deputy Executive Director.

The discussions focused on the participation of youth and women in cultural processes, as well as potential collaborations within the framework of the World Intercultural Dialogue Forum.

World Interfaith Harmony Week (WIHW), celebrated annually during the first week of February, is a global initiative aimed at promoting peace, tolerance, and understanding among different religious communities.

The week, established by the United Nations in 2010, encourages people of all faiths to come together, share common values, and work towards creating a harmonious world.

World Interfaith Harmony Week (WIHW) 2026, focuses on “Better Together for a Harmonious World,” emphasizing dialogue, compassion, and solidarity across faiths to tackle global challenges.

It acts as a platform for communities to unite, building on shared values to promote peace, tolerance, and mutual understanding.

A newly discovered comet has astronomers buzzing with excitement, with the potential to put on a spectacular show in early April, Azernews reports, citing foreign media.

C/2026 A1 (MAPS) was spotted on January 13 by a team of four amateur astronomers using a remotely operated telescope in the Atacama Desert. Early observations revealed that the comet belongs to the Kreutz sungrazing family, a group that has produced some of the brightest and most dramatic comets in recorded history.

Comet MAPS is on a highly elongated orbit around the Sun and is diving toward a fiery encounter with our star. In early April, it is expected to pass just 120,000 km from the Sun’s surface. If it survives this perilous journey, it could become a spectacular sight in the evening sky-or even visible in broad daylight.

Over the past 2,000 years, a series of brilliant comets have graced Earth’s skies, often appearing seemingly from nowhere, shining remarkably close to the Sun. Some became bright enough to be seen during the day.

The brightest comets often earn the title ‘Great Comets.’ For example, C/1965 S1 (Ikeya-Seki), discovered just a month before its closest approach, became as bright as the full Moon. Even more impressive, C/1882 R1 shone a hundred times brighter than the Moon, dazzling observers for months.

Astronomers now know that these dazzling comets are all part of the Kreutz sungrazing family, originating from a massive comet over 100 km across that likely passed near the Sun around the 3rd or 4th century BCE. Over centuries, the original comet fragmented repeatedly, producing smaller comets that have continued to return in long, looping orbits. Some reports suggest that in 363 CE, multiple naked-eye comets were visible at the same time. Later fragments produced the Great Comets of 1106 and 1138, and smaller fragments have appeared regularly in recent centuries.

Today, the Kreutz family contains countless smaller comets, many of which disintegrate before reaching the Sun, as well as rarer larger fragments capable of putting on a dazzling show. NASA’s SOHO spacecraft has observed thousands of these tiny fragments, often just a few meters across. The last large Kreutz sungrazer visible from Earth was discovered in 2011 by Australian astronomer Terry Lovejoy, which became as bright as Venus before barely surviving its close solar pass.

Czech-American astronomer Zdenek Sekanina predicts that we could see two major sungrazers in the coming decades, with one possibly arriving soon. These would be ‘siblings’ of the Great Comets of 1882 and 1965.

Comet MAPS is following a typical Kreutz orbit and already set a record: at the time of discovery, it was farther from the Sun than any previously discovered sungrazer, suggesting it might be larger than average-or currently in outburst, shedding material. Recent observations indicate the comet is steadily brightening, which supports the idea that it is a reasonably large fragment.

If the comet survives its closest approach (perihelion), it could brighten dramatically, potentially becoming visible even in daylight. If it fragments late, this could create a sudden, spectacular display.

After perihelion, the comet will move into the evening sky, and like most Kreutz comets, it will be easier to see from the Southern Hemisphere. Even if it doesn’t survive intact, instruments like SOHO will capture stunning images.

For now, astronomers and skywatchers alike can do nothing but watch and wait, as Comet MAPS makes its daring journey past our Sun-possibly the next Great Comet in history.

Urban planning and construction regulations will be analyzed in Azerbaijan, taking into account the green construction and green building approaches to mitigate the climate change impacts in cities, Azernews reports.

Prime Minister Ali Asadov signed the relevant decree.

According to the decree, the State Urban Planning and Architecture Committee, in coordination with the Ministry of Justice, the Ministry of Ecology and Natural Resources, the Ministry of Energy, the Ministry of Emergency Situations, the Ministry of Health and the Center for Legal Expertise and Legislative Initiatives, must analyze urban planning and construction legislation taking into account the “green construction” and “green building” approaches to reduce the impacts of climate change in cities, study international experience and submit proposals for improving regulatory legal acts to the Cabinet of Ministers within four months.

International Mugham Center has hosted a magnificent concert featuring Azerbaijan’s traditional folk instruments as part of the project “Azerbaijani mugham”, Azernews reports.

The concert aimed to fuse classical performance traditions with modern interpretations, highlighting the rich heritage of Azerbaijan’s musical culture through a contemporary lens.

The concert program included performances by artists playing traditional instruments such as the tar, kamancha, saz, and qanun.

This initiative, dedicated to preserving and passing down the art of Azerbaijani folk music, also contributes to the development of instrumental performance. The project is set to present concerts once a month, offering music lovers a chance to experience this vibrant cultural heritage.

Honored Artists Farida Malikova,Ilham Najafov, and their students, as well as instrumentalists Ramin Rzayev, Rufat Hasanov, Natavan Hasanova, Mirhuseyn Asadullayev, Mehta Mehammadalizade, Aygul Gadirova, Gelbinur Ibrahimli, Vagif Tahmazov, and Mirnofel Hasanov delighted the audience with their performances.

Accompanying the musicians were Svetlana Ahmedova, Rena Zakiyeva, Lale Ahmadova, Orkhan Sultanov, Eldar Zerbaliyev, Ruhulla Dadasov, and Vefadar Ramizzade.

The next concert in the series will take place on February 23.

Founded on the initiative of the First Vice-President of Azerbaijan and President of the Heydar Aliyev Foundation, Mehriban Aliyeva, the Mugham Center was established in accordance with a presidential decree dated April 6, 2005.

Construction of the center began the same year, and the building, recognized today as one of Baku’s most distinctive architectural landmarks, officially opened in 2008.

Since then, the Mugham Center has consistently hosted large-scale music festivals and concerts featuring prominent and internationally renowned cultural figures. Alongside its concert activities, the center actively works to strengthen cultural cooperation with countries such as Turkiye, Poland, Brazil, Uzbekistan, Morocco, and others.

Committed to the preservation and global promotion of Azerbaijani musical heritage, the International Mugham Center continues to expand its activities. Numerous projects are underway aimed at researching, safeguarding, and popularizing the art of mugham.

A landmark achievement was reached in 2025, when the Mugham Center became the first cultural institution in Azerbaijan to receive international status through legislation. This designation has also played a significant role in improving the social and financial conditions of the center’s staff, reinforcing its position as one of Baku’s leading concert venues.

In recent years, and particularly over the past year, the International Mugham Center has experienced a noticeable increase in interest, especially among tourists attending mugham and ethno-music concerts. During the 9th Mugham Television Contest, the center hosted numerous performances that attracted a wide and diverse audience.

Regular monthly events appeal to both professional musicians and general music lovers. Promotional banners placed around the venue help draw the attention of tourists, many of whom stop during the day to admire the center’s impressive architecture while anticipating evening performances.

This growing international appeal was especially evident during the Formula 1 Azerbaijan Grand Prix, when numerous racing fans and visitors to Baku also took part in the International Mugham Center’s rich musical program.

The State Oil Company of Azerbaijan (SOCAR) welcomed representatives from Uzbekneftegaz JSC, KazMunayGaz JSC, and Tatneft PJSC at its Carbamide Plant on February 4, continuing efforts to exchange best practices in industrial safety, labor protection, and emergency management.

Azernews reports that the visit was part of ongoing cooperation under the Memorandum of Cooperation signed on March 4, 2025, between SOCAR and the partner companies. According to SOCAR Downstream, the memorandum facilitated a successful exchange of expertise throughout 2025, with all planned events implemented.

During the visit, guests received an overview of the plant’s operations and were presented with advanced practices in digital solutions, industrial and environmental safety, labor protection, and health. Discussions focused on sharing knowledge and experiences, with the parties highlighting the importance of further strengthening cooperation in industrial safety and labor protection.

This initiative reflects SOCAR’s commitment to regional collaboration, promoting safety standards and technological exchange across the energy sector in the Caucasus and Central Asia.