Category: Azer News

The Ganja State Philharmonic Hall has hosted a festive concert program titled “Into the New Year – Together with Us”, Azernews reports.

The grand musical evening created a truly celebratory atmosphere for both local residents and art enthusiasts.

The New Year concert impressed the audience with its diverse repertoire, vibrant stage design, and high-level performances.

The program featured the Pop Ensemble of the Ganja State Philharmonic Hall, under the direction of Shahriyar Taghiyev, performing both contemporary and classical pop music, earning enthusiastic applause.

The Dance Ensemble, led by choreographer Sanan Javadov, added energy and flair to the evening with a mix of national and modern dance pieces.

A special highlight was the performance by students from the Ganja Children and Youth Center, which was met with warm and lively applause from the audience.

The concert beautifully showcased the harmonious blend of music, dance, and artistry, leaving guests and performers alike with memorable impressions.

The event shared joy, hope, and festive cheer with the audience, becoming one of the most remarkable events in the cultural life of the Ganja State Philharmonic Hall.

In 2025, the average annual temperature in China reached 11°C, marking a record high since 1961, Azernews reports.

This average was 1.1°C above the typical annual temperature for the country. In 16 regions, including the Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, Jiangxi, and Hubei provinces, the annual temperature hit its highest level in over six decades.

Shi Shuai, chief engineer at the National Climate Center, noted that the average temperature from June to August was 22.3°C, surpassing both the usual average and the previous record set in 2024.

Meanwhile, the capital, Beijing, experienced its wettest season since 1961, with both the duration of the rainy season and total rainfall in Northern China reaching record highs. Experts warn that such extreme weather patterns could become more frequent, impacting agriculture, water resources, and urban life across the country.

Climatologists point out that while Northern China faced record rainfall, Southern China experienced unusual heat waves, highlighting the growing volatility of the nation’s climate.

James Cameron’s latest blockbuster, Avatar: Fire and Ashes, has grossed $1 billion worldwide in just two weeks, continuing the remarkable success of the Avatar franchise, Azernews reports.

According to People magazine, the previous films in the series also achieved impressive milestones: the original Avatar (2009) reached $1 billion in 17 days, while Avatar: On the Water (2022) hit the mark in 14 days. All three films rank among the highest-grossing movies of all time.

Cameron’s record extends beyond the Avatar series: his 1997 epic Titanic earned over $2 billion, making him the first director in history to have four films with budgets exceeding $1 billion.

Although the 71-year-old director has said he is uncertain about a sequel, reports suggest that two more Avatar films are currently in development, keeping fans eagerly anticipating the next chapters of Pandora’s story.

Analysts note that the Avatar films continue to push the boundaries of visual effects and cinematic technology, influencing how future blockbusters approach 3D and immersive experiences. Some even suggest that Cameron’s work could shape the next decade of Hollywood filmmaking.

Orders for Azerbaijani natural gas transported to Europe via the Trans Adriatic Pipeline (TAP) through Greece’s Kipoi exit point totaled 363.85 million kilowatt-hours (kWh) between January 5 and 12, Azernews reports, citing TAP’s electronic platform.

The volume represents a 4.1 percent increase compared to order levels recorded on Monday of the previous week.

At the same time, the figure is 0.85 percent lower than the order volume as of December 30 and 0.86 percent lower than that of December 31. It is, however, unchanged compared to the order volumes registered between January 1 and 5.

From Greece’s Komotini exit point, daily orders between January 5 and 12 remained unchanged from the previous week at 28.67 million kWh per day.

Orders from the Nea Mesimvria exit point in Greece totaled 30.35 million kWh over the same period, matching the volume recorded in the preceding week.

Meanwhile, orders for gas supplies from Italy’s Melendugno exit point amounted to 304.83 million kWh between January 5 and 12. This represents a 6.2 percent increase compared to order levels recorded as of December 29.

Compared with orders registered on December 30 and 31, volumes from the Melendugno exit point were up by 0.12 percent, while remaining unchanged compared to the January 1-5 period.

Construction of the Trans Adriatic Pipeline was completed in October 2020. The pipeline spans a total length of 878 kilometers, including 550 kilometers across northern Greece, 215 kilometers through Albania, 105 kilometers beneath the Adriatic Sea, and 8 kilometers on Italian territory. Deliveries of Azerbaijani gas to consumers in Italy, Greece, and Bulgaria via TAP began on December 31, 2020.

A 45-container China-Europe freight train carrying photovoltaic modules belonging to the China Energy Engineering Group has departed from Xi’an.

According to Azernews, this marks the first train to leave China in 2026 via the Trans-Caspian International Transport Route (TITR, also known as the Middle Corridor. The train departed on January 1 and will cross the Horgos border checkpoint into Kazakhstan before reaching Baku via the Caspian Sea.

The timely delivery of the photovoltaic modules to Baku was made possible through Xi’an’s active involvement in developing the Trans-Caspian corridor, along with coordinated efforts by partner countries to reduce costs and improve efficiency. As a result, train traffic along the corridor has intensified, while transportation time has been reduced from 15-23 days to around 11 days.

The Trans-Caspian route of the China-Europe freight train from Xi’an was first launched in October 2019. By the end of November 2025, a total of 466 train journeys had been completed along this corridor.

A new ban on advertising unhealthy food and drinks has come into force in the UK as part of the government’s efforts to combat childhood obesity, Azernews reports.

Experts estimate that this measure could prevent obesity in around 20,000 children. Under the new rules, advertising of foods and drinks high in fat, salt, or sugar is prohibited on television from 5:30 a.m. to 9:00 p.m. and on the Internet at any time. The restrictions officially take effect today.

The ban covers a wide range of products, including chocolates, candies, pizza, ice cream, certain breakfast cereals, sweet baked goods, some main dishes, sandwiches, and sugary soft drinks-a total of 13 categories considered major contributors to childhood obesity.

The regulations are mandatory, and advertisers who fail to comply may face sanctions from the Advertising Standards Authority.

Some nutrition experts note that this ban could reshape marketing strategies, with companies turning to healthier alternatives or creative campaigns aimed at promoting nutritious foods to young audiences. This could mark the beginning of a major shift in how children are exposed to food advertising in the UK.

Recent events around the world, particularly the ongoing crisis in Venezuela, have once again drawn the attention of political analysts and commentators to what many perceive as the fragility of international law. Some romanticised observers lamented, in grandiose language, that Washington disregards the norms of international law to serve its own interests, and that the law exists merely as a set of empty formalities on paper. Yet this is by no means a new phenomenon. Throughout history, the factor of power has consistently trumped law.

For instance, the ancient Greek philosopher Solon famously compared the law to a spider’s web. In his view, the strong could easily tear through this web, while the weak became entangled, suffering inevitable destruction. This metaphor has retained its relevance over centuries because, in practice, law often proves powerless in the face of entrenched interests.

Today, the events unfolding across the globe reflect the enduring truth of this metaphor. The modern world is dominated by two primary hegemons: the United States and Russia. The comparatively weaker Russia has been waging a bloody war for three years to seize the territory of its neighbour. Meanwhile, the more powerful United States recently detained the leader of another nation within a matter of hours and prepared to subject him to its judicial system.

On the other hand, European states have expressed solidarity against the aggression of the weaker hegemon, Russia, yet remain largely silent in the face of the actions of the stronger hegemon, the United States. This represents one of the clearest forms of hypocrisy. The double standards inherent in international law cast doubt on its universality and highlight how easily power can override legal principles. The global reality demonstrates that, in international relations, strength often equates to legitimacy or at least de facto authority. Even when moral or legal justification is lacking, power remains the decisive factor. This has always been the case, and current events suggest it will continue to be so.

Some nations have recognised this reality and adapted accordingly. Azerbaijan, for example, has long prioritised the factor of power, striving to strengthen itself across economic, political, and military dimensions. By contrast, post-Soviet states, such as Georgia and Moldova, have yet to fully grasp these dynamics. As a result, even as Azerbaijan restored its sovereignty after thirty years, similar countries continue to struggle to restore their territorial integrity.

President Ilham Aliyev explicitly articulated this principle during a meeting with military leadership on the occasion of Armed Forces Day in June 2021:

‘I have repeatedly said that the norms of international law do not work. I have repeatedly said that the great powers implement the decisions that meet their own interests and do not implement those that don’t. Otherwise, the resolutions adopted by the UN Security Council and demanding an immediate withdrawal of the Armenian armed forces from our lands would not have remained on paper for 30 years. We have seen that the norms of international law are almost designed for small, medium-sized and not very strong countries. Large countries may ignore them, and there is no enforcement mechanism. Of course, the power factor came to the fore. A few years before the war, I made it clear in my speeches: we must gather strength, and this issue will be resolved by force.’

These words resonate even more profoundly in the context of the recent Venezuelan crisis. In an environment where international law fails to operate effectively and major powers dictate their interests, small and medium-sized states have little recourse other than to strengthen themselves. This strength cannot be limited to military capacity alone; it must also manifest in economic resilience, political stability, and strategic diplomacy.

President Aliyev’s emphasis on power in his recent New Year’s address was no coincidence. In recent years, Azerbaijan has steadily enhanced its military and economic capabilities, asserting itself on the international stage. The liberation of Garabagh stands as the most concrete illustration of this principle. Without the factor of power, the legal frameworks of international law would have offered little practical recourse for reclaiming Azerbaijani territory.

The pattern of powerful states exerting influence over international affairs is far from new. However, the crises in Venezuela and Ukraine have laid bare the realities of global power dynamics. Governments whose interests do not align with those of the world’s leading powers find themselves subjected to immediate pressure, with international law serving only as a formal, symbolic framework. For smaller states, this represents a stark lesson: without strength, the rights granted by law offer no guarantees.

Criticism of the weaknesses of international law is easy; altering the underlying realities of global power is far more difficult. Consequently, the factor of power remains paramount and is likely to continue doing so. Azerbaijan’s experience demonstrates that strength is essential not only for self-preservation but also for asserting influence and defending national interests on the international stage. The events in Venezuela once again confirm this unyielding truth.

In essence, the contemporary global landscape underscores a historical axiom: in international relations, power often defines legitimacy. Countries that fail to recognise and cultivate strength risk marginalisation, regardless of the legal or moral justifications they may claim. Azerbaijan’s steady rise as a regional and increasingly global actor exemplifies the strategic foresight required for small and medium-sized nations navigating a world dominated by superpowers.

President Ilham Aliyev is physically strong and follows a professional training routine, Kazakhstan’s President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev said in an interview with the Turkistan newspaper, Azernews reports.

Tokayev made the remarks while responding to a question about the sporting activities and physical fitness of leaders from the Commonwealth of Independent States.

‘Sadyr Japarov plays football. Shavkat Mirziyoyev is in good physical shape and also trains in the gym. Nikol Pashinyan is a cyclist. As is known, Alexander Lukashenko still plays hockey. Emomali Rahmon does not complain about his health and has the endurance of a sailor. Thus, all our colleagues are in excellent physical condition,’ he noted.

Referring to Russian President Vladimir Putin, Tokayev added that during a recent informal event in Bishkek, Putin demonstrated his skills by performing a move against a young judoka, upholding the honor of his generation.

Aztelekom LLC, a company under AZCON Holding, continues to expand telecommunications and internet infrastructure in the Garabagh and East Zangazur economic regions as part of the First State Program on the Great Return to Azerbaijan’s liberated territories.

Citing Aztelekom, Azernews reports that a number of settlements in the region have been provided with modern telecommunications services as a result of projects implemented over the past year.

During the reporting period, communications infrastructure was established in a total of nine cities and 27 villages and settlements. Over the past year, 4,308 new subscribers-including households and business entities-were connected to the network in these areas.

To ensure stable and high-speed internet access, 25 Optical Line Terminal (OLT) units have been installed, enabling the deployment of modern GPON (Gigabit Passive Optical Network) technology.

As part of the project’s phase planned for 2025 in the Garabagh region, construction works on 25 main backbone lines have been successfully completed. The fiber-optic backbone network, with a total length of nearly 1,000 kilometers, serves as a key foundation for ensuring the resilience and security of telecommunications infrastructure across the region.

Aztelekom stated that it will continue to expand its activities in the coming years, contributing to the full establishment of a modern and sustainable telecommunications infrastructure in the liberated territories.

A significant shift in the Eurasian energy landscape is gaining momentum as Azerbaijan and Trkiye deepen their cooperation on natural gas supply, anchored by the burgeoning potential of the Absheron gas field in the Caspian Sea. Long reliant on Russian and Iranian imports, Ankara is strategically diversifying its energy basket, and Baku is poised to become an increasingly central supplier and partner in the region’s evolving energy architecture.

At the heart of this development is an agreement reached between Azerbaijan and Trkiye to supply 33 billion cubic meters (bcm) of natural gas over 15 years from the Absheron gas field, beginning in 2029. Under the terms announced by Trkiye’s Minister of Energy and Natural Resources, Alparslan Bayraktar, annual deliveries of 2.25 billion cubic meters (bcm) will flow through existing infrastructure, notably the Baku-Tbilisi-Erzurum pipeline, reinforcing established transit routes and commercial links between the two countries.

The Absheron gas-condensate field is a major Caspian offshore discovery made by Azerbaijani geologists in the 1960s, estimated to hold around 350 bcm of natural gas reserves. Commercial production at Absheron commenced in July 2023, with Phase 1 supplying approximately 1.5 billion cubic meters per year to Azerbaijan’s domestic market. The field’s development has drawn strong international investment: Azerbaijan’s state energy company SOCAR works alongside TotalEnergies and the Abu Dhabi National Oil Company (ADNOC), which joined the project in 2023, signalling confidence in the field’s long-term prospects.

Work on Phase 2 of Absheron’s development is advancing toward a final investment decision, and industry officials say a commercial launch is expected by late 2028 or early 2029, aligning with the timeline for deliveries to Trkiye. At full capacity under Phase 2, production could reach 4.5 bcm per year, with estimates in some analyses suggesting even higher potential output as operations scale up.

How the Absheron Gas Field could serve as an alternative to Russian Gas for Trkiye

Trkiye’s pivot toward Azerbaijani gas reflects broader shifts in its energy strategy. For decades, Ankara relied heavily on Russian and Iranian gas, but geopolitical pressures, the impending expiry of existing supply contracts, and a growing emphasis on energy security have driven a re-evaluation. In 2025, Azerbaijan already ranked as Trkiye’s second-largest natural gas supplier, accounting for around 24.3 per cent of total imports, highlighting the strength of existing commercial ties.

Trkiye has also diversified by importing gas from Turkmenistan and increasing its uptake of liquefied natural gas (LNG), which currently meets about %25 of its demand, as Ankara seeks flexibility in pricing and supply routes. Experts say the period around 2028-2029 will be critical, as global LNG volumes rise and contract structures evolve, potentially reshaping regional pricing dynamics and long-term supply planning.

Azerbaijan’s enhanced role as a supplier aligns with these trends. Beyond Absheron, Azerbaijan has steadily increased gas exports to Trkiye, with nearly 8.8 bcm delivered in the first nine months of 2025, a roughly 4 per cent year-on-year increase. The expansion of shipments through the Baku-Tbilisi-Erzurum pipeline and the integration of new gas sources provide Ankara with alternatives to traditional supply routes, contributing to its broader diversification strategy.

The strategic alignment between Azerbaijan and Trkiye on gas has implications that extend beyond bilateral trade. For Azerbaijan, securing a long-term contract that spans into the 2040s strengthens its position as a system-shaping partner in regional energy security rather than a peripheral supplier. The use of established infrastructure also ensures that new volumes can flow efficiently without the need for extensive new pipeline construction, reducing costs and risks.

For Trkiye, extending energy ties with Azerbaijan through stable, contracted supplies supports its goals of reducing dependency on single-source suppliers, improving energy resilience, and maintaining price competitiveness for consumers and industry. The diversification strategy also aligns with Ankara’s diplomatic and economic objectives, as natural gas becomes both a symbol of cooperation and a practical tool for strategic autonomy.

In a regional context, such developments also create new corridors of cooperation. Expanded Azerbaijani gas supplies could support transit to neighbouring markets, potentially even toward Europe, where alternative supply options are increasingly valued amid fluctuating global flows. Already, Azerbaijan has shown its capacity to serve as a bridge for pipeline gas across the South Caucasus, and agreements like the Absheron deal reinforce that role.

The growing collaboration between Azerbaijan and Trkiye on the Absheron gas field represents an important development in Eurasian energy dynamics. Transitioning from years of reliance on conventional suppliers to new and diverse partnerships demonstrates how both nations are adapting to evolving geopolitical and market forces. If the anticipated launch of Absheron’s Phase 2 production occurs and the 33 bcm agreement is activated, this partnership will not only transform their national energy strategies but also bolster stability and strategic robustness in the broader region.