Category: Azer News

Azerbaijan is set to host the country’s first-ever large-scale Opera Festival, dedicated to the 50th anniversary of Azerbaijan’s People’s Artist and renowned opera singer Fidan Hajiyeva, as well as the 30th anniversary of her professional artistic career, AzerNEWS reports.

The third Fidan Hajiyeva International Opera Festival will begin on September 7 and continue for three months. The festival’s artistic director will be People’s Artist and maestro Yalchin Adigozalov. Fidan Hajiyeva will take part in the concert programs, accompanied by the Niyazi State Symphony Orchestra.

The large-scale project will extend far beyond the capital. Over the course of three months, concert programs will be presented in various regions of Azerbaijan as well as in several foreign countries. The festival aims to showcase the richness and distinctive character of Azerbaijani opera to international audiences and bring outstanding musicians, performers, and young talents together on one stage.

A special place in the program will be given to the “Voice of the Young – Support for the Young” project, aimed at supporting talented emerging performers. The initiative will give young artists an opportunity to demonstrate their vocal abilities, gain professional stage experience, and present their work to a wider audience.

The culmination of the three-month festival will be the anniversary gala concert, “Carmen: Half a Century of Artistic Life,” which will take place on December 7 at the Heydar Aliyev Palace.

On this evening, opera and the art of flamenco will come together for the first time as part of Fidan Hajiyeva’s anniversary program in a large-scale musical show. The People’s Artist will perform alongside a renowned Spanish flamenco ensemble and a symphony orchestra.

Under the direction of maestro Yalchin Adigozalov, the Niyazi State Symphony Orchestra will perform selected works from the world opera repertoire, while the Spanish artists will present vibrant and passionate flamenco performances.

Thus, the anniversary evening will become a unique dialogue between two great musical traditions – opera and flamenco – where the drama of vocal art will meet the passion and energy of Spanish dance.

For Fidan Hajiyeva, the festival will be more than a celebration of her 50th anniversary and three decades on the professional stage. It is a large-scale creative project aimed at promoting Azerbaijani opera culture, advancing the country’s national musical heritage on the international stage, and supporting a new generation of performers.

Don’t miss this special evening, where timeless opera, passionate flamenco, and the artistry of one of Azerbaijan’s leading opera singers will come together in a unique musical experience.

Tickets for the anniversary gala concert are available on the iTicket.az website and at iTicket box offices.

Media partners of the event are Azernews.Az, Trend.Az, Day.Az and Milli.Az.

Unknown burglars have stolen items worth a total of pound 500,000 from the home of a Saudi prince in the French city of Cannes, AzerNEWS reports.

French television channel TF1 reported the incident, citing an informed source.

According to the report, the stolen items included luxury leather goods and jewelry. The burglary took place between 10 p.m. and 1 a.m. local time, when the prince was not at home.

The identities of the suspects have not yet been established. Investigators are expected to examine surveillance camera footage as part of the investigation.

President Ilham Aliyev has signed an Order to allocate 258 million manats to accelerate the socio-economic development of the Nakhchivan Autonomous Republic, AzerNEWS reports.

The order aims to ensure the expansion of the use of alternative and renewable energy sources, the renewal of road, transport and education infrastructure, as well as the ongoing development of landscaping and construction works in the Nakhchivan Autonomous Republic for 2026-2027.

The Cabinet of Ministers of the Republic of Azerbaijan, the Ministries of Finance and Economy, and the Cabinet of Ministers of the Nakhchivan Autonomous Republic have been tasked with addressing issues arising from the Order.

Global crude oil production is forecast to average 74.89 million barrels per day in 2026, AzerNEWS reports.

The forecast was included in the May edition of the U.S. Energy Information Administration’s (EIA) Short-Term Energy Outlook, published by the U.S. Department of Energy.

According to the EIA’s quarterly production forecast, global crude oil output is expected to average 77.27 million barrels per day in the first quarter of 2026, 71.27 million barrels per day in the second quarter, 73.96 million barrels per day in the third quarter and 77.08 million barrels per day in the fourth quarter.

Meanwhile, the EIA forecasts global crude oil production at 81.27 million barrels per day in 2027. According to the agency’s projections, global crude oil output is expected to average 80.08 million barrels per day in the first quarter of 2027, 80.95 million barrels per day in the second quarter, 81.60 million barrels per day in the third quarter and 82.43 million barrels per day in the fourth quarter.

According to the State Statistics Committee, Azerbaijan produced 13.270 million tons of crude oil, including gas condensate, in January-June this year.

The figure was 421,800 tons, or 3.1%, lower than in the same period last year.

Of the total crude oil production during the reporting period, 13.236 million tons consisted of marketable crude oil, down 424,200 tons, or 3.1%, from the same period a year earlier.

Overall, the value of output in Azerbaijan’s mining industry amounted to 19.3 billion manats in January-June, representing a 2.8% decline from the corresponding period of the previous year.

According to the Ministry of Energy, 7.9 million tons of production during the reporting period came from the Azeri-Chirag-Gunashli field, 1.7 million tons from Shah Deniz and 0.3 million tons from the Absheron field. SOCAR’s oil production, including condensate, amounted to 3.4 million tons.

A total of 10.5 million tons of oil, including condensate, was exported during the period. Of this amount, 9.5 million tons came from the consortium, 0.7 million tons from SOCAR and 0.3 million tons from JOCAP.

The ministry said that during the first six months of the year, crude oil production averaged 61,000 tons, or 449,000 barrels, per day, while condensate production averaged 12,000 tons, or 103,000 barrels, per day. Total oil production averaged 73,000 tons, or 552,000 barrels, per day.

Oil refining amounted to 2.9 million tons during the reporting period.

The U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) has confirmed that U.S. forces opened fire on the Panama-flagged M/V Vela Nova after the commercial vessel attempted to sail through the Gulf of Oman toward Iran, AzerNEWS reports.

CENTCOM announced the incident on its official X account, saying the vessel was attempting to breach the U.S. blockade imposed on Iran.

According to the command, a U.S. Navy MH-60 helicopter fired two Hellfire missiles at the vessel’s engine compartment after the ship’s civilian crew ignored repeated warnings from U.S. forces.

The strike was intended to stop the vessel from continuing toward Iran. CENTCOM said the Vela Nova is no longer proceeding toward Iran in violation of the U.S. blockade, which it described as remaining fully in effect.

CENTCOM also provided figures on its enforcement operations. As of August 11, U.S. forces had redirected 55 commercial vessels attempting to bypass the blockade, disabled three vessels that failed to comply with U.S. demands, and boarded and inspected two vessels.

The incident involving the Vela Nova highlights the growing risks facing commercial shipping in the region. The Gulf of Oman and surrounding waterways are critical routes for international trade, and military enforcement measures could have broader consequences for shipping companies, maritime insurance costs and regional trade.

On August 11, President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev and First Lady Mehriban Aliyeva inspected the progress of construction of the ‘Shams 1’ and ‘Garbi Ufug’ solar power plants, with a combined capacity of 50 MW, in the city of Nakhchivan.

Minister of Energy Parviz Shahbazov briefed the head of state and the First Lady on the projects.

The 25 MW ‘Shams 1’ project is being implemented across a 52-hectare area designated for renewable energy projects. The installation of 10 MW of solar panels has already been completed by ‘CEI Nakhchivan’ LLC. Construction and installation works are scheduled to be completed in November this year. The plant will be commissioned once the network infrastructure is fully completed. Currently, 218 workers are engaged in the implementation of the project.

Following its commissioning, the plant is expected to generate approximately 57 million kilowatt-hours of electricity annually and supply energy to nearly 19,000 households. As a result, about 26,000 tons of carbon dioxide emissions will be prevented annually, while 12 million cubic meters of natural gas will be saved.

President Ilham Aliyev and First Lady Mehriban Aliyeva were also informed about other projects implemented in Azerbaijan by the AGEC group of companies, which includes ‘CEI Nakhchivan’ LLC.

The head of state and the First Lady also inspected construction work at the 25 MW ‘Garbi Ufug’ Solar Power Plant.

Topographic works related to the construction of the plant by ‘Enerso’ LLC have already been completed, while geological survey works are ongoing. Construction is scheduled to begin by the end of this year. The project is planned to be implemented across a 50-hectare area designated for renewable energy projects. Following its commissioning, the plant is expected to generate approximately 61 million kilowatt-hours of electricity annually, supplying energy to nearly 21,000 households. It is also projected to prevent about 26,000 tons of carbon dioxide emissions annually and save 12 million cubic meters of natural gas.

In total, an area of 688 hectares in Nakhchivan has been designated for renewable energy projects and the construction of solar power plants.

The installed capacity of renewable energy sources in Azerbaijan currently stands at 2,070 MW, with Nakhchivan accounting for 108 MW, or 5.2 percent of the total. With the commissioning of the ‘Shams 1’ and ‘Garbi Ufug’ solar power plants, this figure will reach 158 MW.

Azerbaijan will be represented by 13 boxers at the European U19 Boxing Championships in Serbia, AzerNEWS reports.

The championships will begin on August 13 in Loznica, Serbia.The nine-day tournament will feature 10 male and three female Azerbaijani boxers across different weight categories.

The Azerbaijani team will include Ali Aliyev (50 kg), Nihat Gasimov (55 kg), Ali Bakishov (60 kg), Shahin Aslanov (65 kg), Rza Rzayev (70 kg), Adil Zalov (75 kg), Renat Giyasli (80 kg), Heydar Azmammadov (85 kg), Zaur Samadov (90 kg), Safdar Mammadov (+90 kg), Banuchichak Nasirli (48 kg), Gular Huseynova (51 kg), and Amina Taghiyeva (54 kg).

Emil Gurbanaliyev and Asif Mammadov will officiate as judges at the championships, while Anar Babanli will serve as a referee evaluator.

Boxing is known as one of the oldest sports in the history of humankind.

The earliest evidence of boxing dates back to Egypt around 3,000 BC.

This sport was introduced to the ancient Olympic Games by the Greeks in the late 7th century BC.

In 1924, the International Amateur Boxing Federation (FIBA) was established.

Since 1946, it has been referred to as the International Boxing Association (AIBA). Boxing made its Olympic debut at the 1904 Games in St. Louis.

In 1926, the boxing championship was held for the first time in Azerbaijan, where national boxers took first place.

Since 1992, the Azerbaijani Boxing Federation has become a full member of the International Boxing Association (AIBA).

Azerbaijani boxers have won many prestigious awards at many international championships.

Aghasi Mammadov has entered Azerbaijan’s history of boxing as the first national boxer, as a gold medallist at the world championship.

Another Azerbaijani boxer, Fuad Asadov, was among the medallists at the 2004 Summer Olympic Games.

Many times, Azerbaijan has been chosen as the host country for major boxing championships.

The AIBA Youth World Championships were held in Baku in 2019. This world championship was the first licensed youth tournament to qualify for the 2010 Olympic Games held in Singapore.

The country also hosted the 2011 AIBA World Boxing Championships, which was the first major qualifying event for the London 2012 Olympic Games.

On August 11, President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev and First Lady Mehriban Aliyeva attended the opening of the Nakhchivan Regional DOST Center of the Agency for Sustainable and Operative Social Provision (DOST Agency) under the Ministry of Labour and Social Protection of Population.

Minister of Labour and Social Protection of Population Anar Aliyev briefed the head of state and the First Lady on the facilities at the center.

It was noted that 164 social services will be provided to the population at the center. With a total staff of 117 employees and 50 volunteers, the center is expected to serve an average of 500-600 citizens per day.

All services are organized on a ‘one-stop-shop’ principle and will be delivered to Nakhchivan residents in a convenient, prompt, and accessible manner. This approach enables the transparent provision of various social services-including pensions, labour and employment, social benefits, disability, adoption, and other services-all under one roof.

The center will also conduct medical-social assessments for persons with disabilities, provide them with rehabilitation equipment tailored to their individual needs, and make referrals to specialized rehabilitation facilities to ensure access to rehabilitation services.

The head of state and the First Lady also inspected prostheses manufactured by leading international companies. These prostheses enable users to move naturally, freely, and safely, adapt to various surfaces and speeds, and integrate more quickly into social life and employment. To date, more than 620 high-tech prostheses have been provided to over 500 servicemen. In addition, nearly 300 war-disabled individuals have regained their health thanks to high-tech rehabilitation and medical-social services.

In Azerbaijan, the provision of high-tech prostheses to persons with war-related disabilities was initiated by the Heydar Aliyev Foundation, renowned for its noble activities.

As a result of the state’s social protection policy aimed at improving the provision of rehabilitation equipment to persons with disabilities, the range of rehabilitation devices has increased from 57 to 130. Since the beginning of this year, individuals with disabilities have been provided with nearly 300,000 different types of rehabilitation equipment.

The head of state and the First Lady also viewed an exhibition featuring handicrafts-including wood carving, carpet weaving, pottery, fine arts, stained glass, floristry, and other art forms-created by beneficiaries of the ministry’s inclusive centers. The online sale of these handicrafts is conducted via the ‘dostart.az’ portal, established to uncover the creative potential and support the economic activity of vulnerable groups, thereby significantly contributing to their integration into the labour market.

President Ilham Aliyev and First Lady Mehriban Aliyeva were also presented with the project for the Nakhchivan DOST Inclusive Development and Creativity Center, which is planned to be established on the basis of the Nakhchivan Regional Information Center.

It was noted that social skills development services, currently provided to persons with disabilities in 13 areas, are planned to be expanded to 20 areas at the new center.

Social reforms implemented in Azerbaijan in recent years have received high international acclaim and have been recognized with more than 300 awards and certificates from various international organizations. Among these is the UN Public Service Award for the initiative ‘Inclusive and Equal Social Security Services for All.’

Created on the initiative of First Lady of Azerbaijan Mehriban Aliyeva, DOST centers have ushered in a qualitatively new stage in the delivery of social services. To date, these centers have provided 164 types of services, delivering a total of 4.6 million social services to citizens, with a customer satisfaction rate of approximately 99%.

Efforts to expand the DOST network across the country are currently ongoing. Between 2026 and 2027, DOST reception offices are scheduled to be established in all district centers of the Nakhchivan Autonomous Republic, while an extensive service network comprising 18 DOST centers, including 60 branches and service points, is planned to be established nationwide by 2030.

US-based artificial intelligence company Anthropic began adding machine-readable ‘watermarks’ to text and files generated by its new Claude AI models on August 2, AzerNEWS reports.

According to Interesting Engineering, the labeling is linked to new regulatory requirements in the European Union and applies not only to users in the EU but worldwide.

The markings are not visible to users when reading the generated content. However, they may remain when Claude responses are copied and pasted and, in some cases, can survive subsequent editing.

The model-level labeling applies across Claude products, including the API, Claude Code and Claude Cowork. It also covers Claude models made available through cloud platforms such as AWS, Google Cloud and Microsoft Foundry.

The measure applies only to new Claude models. Previously released versions will not receive the new markings.

For files generated by Claude, Anthropic uses the C2PA standard, which is designed to provide information about whether Claude was involved in processing the material and to track subsequent changes to its provenance data.

Anthropic stresses that the presence of a watermark does not necessarily mean that the content was authored by AI. Claude can also be used to process or modify material that was originally created by a human.

At the same time, the absence of a watermark does not prove that content was created by a person. Extensive editing or a small amount of text can weaken the marking or make it undetectable.

The move represents another step toward making AI-generated and AI-assisted content more traceable, particularly as regulators and technology companies seek ways to improve transparency around the origin and processing history of digital content.

As a country located at the crossroads of Europe and Asia, Azerbaijan has long sought to build balanced and productive relations with both European and Asian states. In this broader foreign economic strategy, Indonesia is increasingly emerging as a promising economic partner.

Although Azerbaijan and Indonesia are separated by thousands of kilometres, their economic relations have considerable potential for growth. At first glance, the two countries may appear very different, separated by geography, scale, and historical experience. Yet a closer look shows that Azerbaijan and Indonesia have more in common than might be assumed, and their growing dialogue points to significant opportunities for deeper cooperation.

A recent meeting between Yusif Abdullayev, Executive Director of the Export and Investment Promotion Agency of Azerbaijan (AZPROMO), and Berlian Helmy, Indonesia’s Ambassador to Azerbaijan, highlighted this trend. The discussions focused on the possibility of organizing an Azerbaijan-Indonesia economic forum in the future. The sides also exchanged views on products with export potential and explored possible areas of cooperation. Among the sectors identified were construction, agriculture, tourism, pharmaceuticals, and the food and beverage industry.

This meeting reflected a broader recognition that the relationship between Azerbaijan and Indonesia contains considerable untapped potential. Both sides appear increasingly interested in turning goodwill into practical economic projects, trade links, and investment partnerships.

Indonesia, thanks to its openness to international cooperation, can become a strategic partner for Azerbaijan in the implementation of mutually beneficial initiatives in business, investment, trade, tourism, and other sectors. At the same time, Azerbaijan’s geographic position gives it a special role in this relationship. Situated between Asia and Europe, Azerbaijan offers Indonesia a potentially valuable hub for access to European markets. This advantage is especially important at a time when countries are looking to diversify their trade routes, partnerships, and export destinations.

Beyond geography, Azerbaijan also presents itself as a country undergoing dynamic development in social and cultural spheres, especially among young people. This creates a favorable atmosphere for cooperation not only in commerce, but also in broader people-to-people and institutional ties.

Ambassador Berliane Helmi previously highlighted one particularly important area of interest for Indonesia, fertilizers. He stated earlier this year that Indonesia views Azerbaijan as a reliable supplier of fertilizers, which are critically important for Indonesian agriculture.

In this context, Indonesia could become a promising market for Azerbaijani agricultural, food, chemical, and petrochemical products. It opens the door to a broader commercial relationship beyond energy. For Azerbaijan, expanding into a large and dynamic market like Indonesia would represent an important diversification opportunity.

The Indonesian diplomat also emphasized the importance of water sustainability and water security. He noted that Azerbaijan has broad experience in providing clean drinking water, including technologies related to the desalination of the Caspian Sea, and stressed the importance of developing cooperation in this sphere.

Trade relations between Azerbaijan and Indonesia already exist, and Indonesia appears among the destinations of Azerbaijani exports in official statistics. In January-August 2025, Indonesia accounted for around 0.4 percent of Azerbaijan’s total exports. This figure is still modest, especially when compared with Azerbaijan’s major trading partners such as Italy, Trkiye, Russia, and China. However, that is precisely what makes the relationship interesting. The current volume of trade remains relatively small, but the room for expansion is substantial.

In other words, Azerbaijan-Indonesia trade should not be judged only by its present scale, but by its future potential. When the existing base is limited, even moderate progress in the right sectors can produce visible results. The challenge is to identify the most practical areas for growth and to build mechanisms that allow businesses on both sides to move from discussion to implementation.

Energy is already one of the clearest pillars of the relationship. It would be unfair not to note that Indonesia is also an importer of Azerbaijani oil. In January-February of this year, Azerbaijan exported 38.6 thousand tons of crude oil and petroleum products obtained from bituminous minerals to Indonesia, with a total value of $17.9 million.

The energy dimension of the relationship gained further weight in March of this year, when Azerbaijan and Indonesia agreed to hold the first meeting of the Working Group on Energy. It underscores Azerbaijan’s role as a country that partners view as reliable and worth engaging with on long-term issues. The establishment of such a platform also creates an opportunity to move beyond individual shipments or contracts toward a more structured dialogue on cooperation.

Tourism is another sector where new opportunities are beginning to emerge. In April of this year, the Azerbaijan Tourism Bureau presented the country for the first time at Indonesia Travel Expo 2026 (ITE) in Jakarta. At the exhibition, Azerbaijan was showcased as a promising tourist destination for the Indonesian market. Business meetings were held with local travel agencies to develop cooperation and identify new opportunities for joint business initiatives.

Multilateral cooperation has also created new opportunities for strengthening economic ties between Azerbaijan and Indonesia. Azerbaijan joined the D-8 Organization for Economic Cooperation in 2025, and Indonesia is among its members. In 2026-2027, Indonesia holds the chairmanship of the organization. This creates an additional framework through which the two countries can strengthen their economic ties.

Within the D-8 framework, particular attention is given to expanding trade and investment, developing the halal economy, strengthening food security, advancing the green transition, deepening digital cooperation, and improving transport connectivity.

The future of Azerbaijan-Indonesia relations will likely depend less on grand declarations and more on consistent follow-through. Organizing an economic forum and launching sector-based business contacts effectively could turn a modest trade relationship into a more strategic one. The foundations already exist. If both sides act with continuity and practical focus, the partnership between Azerbaijan and Indonesia may become one of the more interesting examples of cross-regional cooperation linking the Caucasus and Southeast Asia.