Category: Azer News

President Ilham Aliyev has recently signed a decree approving the “Azerbaijani Culture – 2040” Concept, setting a long-term vision for the country’s cultural development, Azernews reports.

The concept outlines the general framework for the development of the country’s cultural sector up to 2040, defining priority directions for its activities.

For the first time, the new concept identifies six main areas of culture, some of which have now been officially recognized as separate cultural fields in state documents. One of these areas is the Azerbaijani language, whose purity and richness have been consistently emphasized by the President. Another focus is the development of Azerbaijani literature. In addition, the concept highlights the importance of the arts, behavioral culture, knowledge culture, and the development of creative industries.

This was highlighted by Deputy Culture Minister Farid Jafarov in an interview with AZERTAG.

According to the concept, separate state programs will be developed for each of these areas.

“These programs will include concrete steps and projects,” said Jafarov.

He added that the concept also defines eight priority directions for cultural activities. These directions will facilitate the systematic implementation of the new cultural model, with three key tools playing a special role: the development of creative industries, cultural diplomacy, and management mechanisms.

Asia’s largest aviation industry exhibition opened in Singapore on Tuesday, showcasing ambitious regional growth goals and innovations in both civil and defense aviation, Azernews reports.

The 10th Singapore Airshow, held every two years, attracts more than 1,000 companies, including industry giants such as Airbus, Boeing, and ST Engineering, as well as emerging drone and defense technology firms.

The Asia-Pacific region continues to be the fastest-growing market for air travel, driven largely by China and India, with passenger traffic projected to grow by 7.3% annually through 2026. Despite this boom, aircraft and engine manufacturers are struggling to keep up with demand for fleet expansion.

Boeing recently announced a deal with Air Cambodia for the delivery of 10 737 MAX aircraft, while Chinese manufacturer COMAC is gaining attention with its C919 passenger jet, making its second appearance at the exhibition.

According to analysts at Jefferies, since 2012, the Singapore Airshow has accounted for only about 5% of total orders placed at global airshows-far less than in Paris, Farnborough, or Dubai. Nevertheless, the event remains a key meeting point for regional airline executives and manufacturers aiming to address the rapid growth in Asia-Pacific air travel, which now accounts for roughly 35% of global air traffic.

A recent report by Alton Aviation Consultancy projects that India, China, and Southeast Asia will represent eight of the ten fastest-growing air transport markets worldwide between 2024 and 2044.

As part of the exhibition’s highlights, demonstration flights were performed by air force pilots from Singapore, Indonesia, India, China, Malaysia, and Australia, showcasing both advanced fighter jets and emerging drone technologies.

In addition, Singapore announced on Monday the creation of its National Space Agency (NSAS), which will begin full operations on April 1. The agency aims to consolidate Singapore’s position in the global space economy, projected to reach $1.8 trillion by 2035, fueled by cheaper and more accessible orbital launches. Interestingly, NSAS plans to collaborate with local universities and startups to develop small satellites capable of monitoring climate change, maritime activity, and urban development in real time.

Elon Musk has become the first person in history to amass a fortune exceeding $800 billion, following a landmark deal in which SpaceX acquired his artificial intelligence and social media company xAI, dramatically reshaping his business empire, Azernews reports via Forbes.

According to Forbes, the transaction values the combined entity at $1.25 trillion and has boosted Musk’s net worth by $84 billion, taking it to a record $852 billion. The merger values SpaceX at $1 trillion and xAI at $250 billion, consolidating Musk’s most powerful assets under a single corporate umbrella.

Prior to the deal, Musk owned an estimated 42% stake in SpaceX, worth around $336 billion, based on a December tender offer that valued the privately held rocket maker at $800 billion. He also held approximately 49% of xAI, valued at $122 billion, following a recent private fundraising round that pegged the AI company at $250 billion. After the merger, Forbes estimates Musk now controls a 43% stake in the combined company, worth roughly $542 billion.

The transaction cements SpaceX as Musk’s most valuable asset by a wide margin, eclipsing even his holdings in Tesla. Musk currently owns about 12% of Tesla, valued at $178 billion, alongside Tesla stock options worth an additional $124 billion. These figures do not include the record-breaking compensation package approved by Tesla shareholders in November, which could grant Musk up to $1 trillion in additional Tesla stock-before taxes and vesting costs-if the company meets ambitious long-term performance targets, including an eightfold increase in market capitalization over the next decade.

This is the second major consolidation of Musk-owned companies in less than a year. In March last year, Musk merged xAI with his social media platform X (formerly Twitter), valuing xAI at $80 billion and X at $33 billion, roughly in line with what Musk paid for Twitter in 2022, excluding debt.

Musk’s dual role as both buyer and seller in these internal mergers has prompted questions from analysts and investors about valuation transparency, particularly given the private nature of the companies involved. However, those concerns may soon face a real test. SpaceX is widely expected to pursue an initial public offering later this year, a move that would subject the entire conglomerate-including xAI and X-to the scrutiny of public markets for the first time.

If realized, the IPO could mark a turning point not only for Musk’s empire, but for how investors value the intersection of space technology, artificial intelligence, and digital platforms under a single corporate structure.

On February 3, President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev and President of the United Arab Emirates Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan observed the joint operational-tactical exercise Peace Shield – 2026, conducted with the participation of servicemen from the armed forces of both countries in Abu Dhabi.

The exercise, conducted in urban, mountainous, and maritime environments, involved tasks such as detecting and neutralizing illegal armed groups, restoring control over a seized vessel, neutralizing terrorist elements and releasing hostages, evacuating the wounded, preventing riots and sabotage-type activities threatening public security, and conducting firefighting operations.

The main goal of the exercise is to enhance the professional skills of military personnel in counterterrorism operations, contribute to lasting peace, and facilitate the exchange of experience between the armed forces of Azerbaijan and the UAE.

The State Security Service (SSS) of the Republic of Azerbaijan has launched a comprehensive investigation into citizens participating in illegal armed conflicts outside the country’s borders. These measures aim to identify and hold accountable individuals involved in paramilitary groups not recognized by national legislation, Azernews reports, citing the SSS Press Service.

According to the Service, intelligence suggests that a significant number of Azerbaijani citizens have been killed, gone missing, or sustained injuries while fighting in the ongoing war between Russia and Ukraine. Several individuals are also reportedly being held in captivity.

Following targeted investigations, four citizens have been formally detained. Real Eldaniz oglu Nabiyev (born 1991), Faris Famil oglu Huseynov (born 1993), Ali Elnur oglu Mammadov (born 1994), and Murov Hasan oglu Mirhashimli were found to have participated in combat operations under the control of various armed groups. In January 2026, these individuals were taken into custody, and a court has ordered their pre-trial detention.

The State Security Service reiterates that joining such foreign armed conflicts is a serious criminal offense under Azerbaijani law. The agency warned that strict legal measures will continue to be enforced against any citizen found guilty of participating in military actions on foreign soil.

AI-generated songs are becoming increasingly popular on music streaming platforms. A great number of music lovers are drawn by catchy melodies.

Thanks to platforms like Suno AI and Loudly, anyone can create a full-fledged song with just a few lines of description.

Neural networks are already acting as creative assistants, generating melodies, beats, arrangements and even vocal parts, which in turn, reduces the time from idea ti prototype.

However, copyright and creative ethics remain serious concerns, weighing heavily on the global music industry.

Battle for Voice: Invisible Expansion of AI

Around 50,000 music tracks created by algorithms are uploaded to digital platforms every day. The latest studies conducted by industry giants like Deezer and Ipsos show that 97 per cent of listeners cannot distinguish an AI track from the work of a real composer.

Modern neural networks generate sound in studio-quality 48 kHz, simulating the natural breathing of a vocalist and micro-performance errors previously considered the exclusive domain of humans.

Moreover, the rapid growth of AI has sparked an unprecedented wave of lawsuits. At the forefront is the RIAA’s lawsuit against leading developers of music neural networks. Major labels (Sony, Universal, Warner) are accusing startups of massive copyright infringement as their models were trained on millions of protected tracks without permission.

Moreover, the landmark “ELVIS Act” was passed in the US in order to protect an artist’s voice and image from unauthorised copying.

Celebrities like Billie Eilish and Nicki Minaj have openly spoken out against the predatory use of artificial intelligence.

Hacking Dopamine System

Scientists have discovered that the brain perceives AI music as a kind of “junk food.” It’s saturated with very pleasant harmonies, causing an immediate dopamine response. However, this instant gratification conceals a trap as the perfect mathematical precision of AI rhythms causes rapid auditory fatigue.

The human brain is hardwired to search for errors and unique intonations, and when they’re absent, music quickly turns into background noise.

Moreover, research at the Higher School of Economics has confirmed the existence of the N400 effect. Our brain subconsciously registers a semantic inconsistency when it hears the voice of a familiar artist in a generated context. So, we can sense a catch even before we realise it.

Despite criticism, AI music generates a soundscape that helps people quickly enter a state of deep focus or deep sleep. This personalised therapy is 40 per cent more effective than standard meditation records.

Despite criticism, AI music generates a soundscape that helps people quickly enter a state of deep focus or deep sleep. This personalised therapy is 40 percent more effective than standard meditation recordings. This opens the way to “digital medicines” where music is tailored to each individual’s brain at a specific moment in time.

Diminishing Role of Recording Artists

In the era of classical recording studios, music instruments significantly contributed their share of live energy.

The writing process could take years. Composers, musicians, and performers could spend years working on songs that would later become hits and make history. Each song was a source of inspiration, imbued with true feelings and emotions.

The physical contact with the instrument, the vibration of the soundboard, is essential for the formation of neural connections.

However, what is the reality we see today? Unfortunately, from a creator, the human has become a curator.

The music artist no longer builds a song note by note. He sifts through endless AI-generated iterations, choosing the “least bad” option.

Back to Basics: How to Preserve Humanity in the World of Algorithms?

We’ve reached a point where technology can simulate everything but an authentic experience.

In a world of content deluge, the value of human creativity and the real physics of sound has skyrocketed.

Interestingly, the reaction to the onslaught of artificial intelligence has been a sharp rise in interest in analogue technology.

Tape recordings, the use of vintage tube microphone and live music have become the hallmarks of high art.

In a world where music becomes background noise for productivity, it’s important to make time for active listening. Live concerts and physical recordings are becoming the new “digital detox.”

True art is born in the resistance of the material, not in pressing a single “Generate a hit” button. The future of the music industry depends on our attention.

AI can write billions of songs, but only humans decide which one will live forever in their hearts. Our ability to experience a wide range of emotions and empathize through sound is something algorithms won’t be able to replicate until we stop appreciating it ourselves.

NGC 7722 is located approximately 187 million light-years from Earth in the constellation Pegasus. Also known by its catalog names IRAS 23361+1540, LEDA 71993, and UGC 12718, this lenticular galaxy was first discovered by German astronomer Heinrich Louis d’Arrest on August 12, 1864, Azernews reports, citing foreign media.

‘A lenticular (lens-shaped) galaxy is a type that occupies a middle ground between the more familiar spiral galaxies and elliptical galaxies,’ astronomers from Hubble said in a statement.

‘These galaxies are also less common than the other two types, in part because their appearance can be ambiguous, making it difficult to classify them definitively as either spiral, elliptical, or something in between.’

‘Many lenticular galaxies exhibit features from both spiral and elliptical galaxies,’ they explained. ‘In the case of NGC 7722, it lacks the well-defined arms characteristic of a spiral galaxy. However, it has an extended, glowing halo and a bright central bulge, similar to those found in elliptical galaxies.’

‘Unlike elliptical galaxies, NGC 7722 retains a visible disk, with concentric rings swirling around its bright nucleus,’ they added.

The galaxy’s most striking feature is the long, winding lanes of dark red dust that coil around its outer disk and halo.

The new image of NGC 7722, captured by Hubble’s Wide Field Camera 3 (WFC3), brings these stunning dust lanes into sharp focus, revealing the intricate structure of the galaxy in unprecedented detail.

‘Dust bands like those seen in NGC 7722 are not uncommon in lenticular galaxies, and they stand out against the smooth, broad halo of light that typically surrounds these galaxies,’ astronomers noted.

The unique dust lanes of NGC 7722 are believed to be the result of a past merger with another galaxy, a phenomenon often seen in lenticular galaxies.

‘While the precise formation process of lenticular galaxies remains unclear, it’s widely accepted that mergers and other gravitational interactions play a crucial role in their evolution. These events can reshape galaxies, depleting their gas reserves while simultaneously bringing in new dust and material,’ the astronomers explained.

Lenticular galaxies, like NGC 7722, are often considered to be ‘fossil galaxies,’ as many of them appear to be in the later stages of their evolution. They typically lack the gas and dust needed to form new stars, making them less active than their spiral counterparts. However, the presence of these dark dust lanes suggests that some lenticular galaxies, such as NGC 7722, might still be undergoing subtle changes, hinting at their complex and dynamic histories.

Azerbaijan aims to significantly increase financial inclusion and accelerate the next phase of digitalization in the country’s payment ecosystem. According to projections, the digitization of consumer-to-business (C2B) payments, which stood at 32% at the end of 2023, is expected to nearly double by 2027. Over the same period, business-to-business (B2B) payments among small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) are projected to rise from 5-10% to 15-20%.

As reported by Azernews, the forecast comes from a report titled ‘The Next Wave of Digitalization in Azerbaijan’, prepared by Mastercard in collaboration with the Central Bank of the Republic of Azerbaijan (CBA).

The report highlights that Azerbaijan has made notable progress, particularly in digitizing consumer payments:

‘In 2023, the digitization level of consumer payments reached 32% and was expected to rise to 38% by the end of 2024. The ‘Cashless Azerbaijan’ initiative, launched in 2017 in partnership with Mastercard, has played a decisive role in accelerating consumer payment digitalization in recent years. Thanks to the successful implementation of these initiatives and effective stakeholder support, Azerbaijan has taken significant steps in digital transformation.’

However, the report notes that SME payments still hold substantial potential for digitization. Creating synergy between consumer and SME payment digitalization could position Azerbaijan as a regional leader in digital payments.

Building on the 2017 initiative, the 2024 study ‘The Next Wave of Digitalization in Azerbaijan’ aimed to further accelerate payment digitization and expand credit access. The research analyzed both C2B and B2B payment flows, segmenting them by payment methods and behavioral patterns to identify opportunities and challenges.

‘A diagnostic analysis covering over 15 key areas was conducted to determine the main obstacles in segments still heavily reliant on non-digital payments. The study combined market assessments, surveys, focus groups, stakeholder interviews, mystery shopping exercises, and the insights of Mastercard Advisors on Azerbaijan’s economic dynamics.’

Following the diagnostic phase, the study evaluated more than 60 initiatives from over 40 countries with similar digital development stages. Twenty-two initiatives were identified as highly suitable for Azerbaijan, with detailed roadmaps developed for their implementation.

‘This process established the strategic and practical steps needed to advance the next wave of digitalization in Azerbaijan,’ the report concluded.

The findings indicate that Azerbaijan is poised for a significant leap in both consumer and SME payment digitalization, laying the foundation for broader financial inclusion and enhanced economic efficiency across the country.

On February 3, President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev held a meeting with Mohamed Abdelsalam, Secretary-General of the Muslim Council of Elders, in Abu Dhabi, Azernews reports.

Mohamed Abdelsalam fondly recalled his visits to Azerbaijan and meetings with the Azerbaijani President. He once again congratulated President Ilham Aliyev on receiving the Zayed Award for Human Fraternity.

Expressing his gratitude for the congratulations and the high award, President Ilham Aliyev praised the efforts of the Zayed Foundation, especially the essential role it plays in promoting the humanitarian legacy and human values of Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan, the founder of the United Arab Emirates, across the globe.

President Ilham Aliyev’s receipt of this award was also assessed as a reflection of the high regard expressed by Pope Leo XIV and the Grand Imam of Al-Azhar, Sheikh Ahmed Al-Tayeb, for the President’s efforts toward establishing peace.

Two flights scheduled from Tehran to Yerevan were canceled on February 3, according to the online flight information board of Yerevan’s Zvartnots International Airport, Azernews reports.

The services, scheduled to operate with Fly Kish and Armenia Airways, did not depart, and no official explanation has been provided by Iranian or Armenian authorities.

The reasons behind the cancellations remain unclear, but experts point to broader factors that have disrupted air travel between Iran and neighbouring countries in recent months:

Earlier in 2026, large-scale protests across Iranian cities, triggered by economic pressures and national currency devaluation, led to flight cancellations between Tehran and Yerevan, as well as disruptions to other international services. These cancellations were directly linked to internal unrest and abrupt changes at airports amid security concerns.

The Middle East has seen repeated flight disruptions tied to geopolitical instability, including periods when Iran closed its airspace due to military actions or threats from neighbouring conflicts. For example, past escalations involving Iran and other regional actors have forced airlines to cancel or reroute flights to ensure safety, leaving carriers to avoid Iranian airspace entirely at times.

Armenia’s geography and air routes have made it a transit point during regional disruptions. In June 2025, several flights, including those to and from Yerevan, were canceled or diverted amid clashes between Israel and Iran, illustrating how broader Middle East tensions can impact Caucasus travel patterns.

In response to earlier flight cancellations, some Iranian travellers began using the Agarak land border crossing into Armenia. Officials have said this reflects shifting travel dynamics when scheduled air services are disrupted, rather than official refugee movements.

Relations between Iran and Armenia also encompass strategic cooperation on transport and trade links, with Tehran affirming support for Armenia’s regional connectivity projects, though both countries continue to navigate complex geopolitical pressures in the region.

At this stage, authorities have not confirmed whether the latest cancellations were due to operational, commercial, domestic security issues, or wider regional airspace concerns. Further updates from aviation regulators or airline operators could help clarify the situation.