Category: Azer News

At the initiative of Leyla Aliyeva, Vice-President of the Heydar Aliyev Foundation and founder and head of the IDEA Public Association, a festive celebration was organized for children living in Children’s Homes No. 1 and No. 2, as well as the Infant Home No. 1, on the occasion of the Day of Solidarity of World Azerbaijanis and the New Year.

IDEA told Azernews that volunteers from the public association took part in the event, presenting gifts to the children and engaging them in a variety of entertaining games and activities. The celebration brought joy and a festive atmosphere to the young residents, allowing them to fully experience the spirit of the holiday.

It should be noted that at the initiative of Leyla Aliyeva, large-scale projects covering humanitarian, educational, healthcare, social, environmental, and other fields are regularly implemented both across different regions of Azerbaijan and in a number of countries worldwide. The organization of holiday events for children in orphanages, boarding schools, as well as for children in need of medical treatment and special care, is one of the key pillars of these initiatives, particularly during festive periods.

Such events are held on a regular basis with the aim of bringing happiness to children deprived of parental care and those in greater need of attention, ensuring that they can feel the warmth and joy of the holiday season.

K-pop sensation BTS is set to release a new album on March 20, 2026, and will kick off a world tour later in the year, Azernews reports.

The band’s previous album was released in June 2022.

‘With the release of the new album on March 20, BTS will embark on a large-scale world tour. Details about the album and tour dates will be shared through our official channels,’ the music agency announced.

In 2025, all seven members of BTS completed their mandatory military service in the Republic of Korea. The last member, known by the stage name Suga, completed his alternative civilian service in June 2025, marking the end of a multi-year hiatus for the group.

Fans around the world are eagerly anticipating BTS’s return, expecting a blend of new music, elaborate performances, and innovative stage production. Experts note that the group’s comeback could redefine K-pop’s global influence and set new standards for international music tours.

First Vice-President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Mehriban Aliyeva has shared a New Year message on her official Instagram page.

Azernews presents the post:

“Dear compatriots, brothers and sisters,

On the first day of the new year 2026, I wish each of you good health, success, and prosperity. May this year live up to your hopes and fulfill your most cherished dreams.

We have all grown a year older, and therefore-one would like to believe-a little wiser. May this wisdom help us see the light even on the cloudiest days. May there be more compassion in our hearts. May the energy of our love and kindness flow in waves and fill everything around us.

For even a single good deed takes root in all directions, and from these roots grow new trees-new acts of kindness and good deeds. Compassion and kindness make us stronger; they make us better.

May the new year unite us through faith in goodness, mutual respect, and a sense of responsibility for our homeland. May the Almighty protect each of you and all of us together, shield us from hardship, and grant us peace, harmony, and inner strength. May God’s protection be over our families, our children, and our people, and may our hearts remain open to light, compassion, and love.

Happy New Year-with hope, faith, and love,

Yours, MEHRIBAN”

President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev has sent a congratulatory letter to President of the Transitional Sovereignty Council of the Republic of the Sudan, Azernews reports.

‘Dear Mr. President,

On behalf of myself and the people of Azerbaijan, I extend my sincerest congratulations and best wishes to you and your people on the occasion of the 70th anniversary of independence of the Republic of the Sudan.

I believe that we will continue to make joint efforts to develop relations and cooperation between Azerbaijan and Sudan in a spirit of friendship and in line with the interests of our peoples.

On such a remarkable day, I wish robust health, success in your endeavors, and your friendly people peace and prosperity.

Sincerely,

Ilham Aliyev

President of the Republic of Azerbaijan

Baku, 29 December 2025,’ the letter reads.

The first baby of 2026 was born at a medical institution operating under the Administration of the Medical Territorial Units of Azerbaijan (T?BIB).

As reported by Azernews, citing the T?BIB, the baby was born on January 1, 2026, at around 00:40 at the Shamakhi District Central Hospital. The newborn is a girl, weighing 3 kilograms and 200 grams.

The delivery took place naturally, and both the mother and the newborn are reported to be in stable condition.

The birth marks the first arrival of the new year in Azerbaijan’s public healthcare system, symbolizing a healthy start to 2026.

On December 31, police officers across the country solved 19 crimes registered on the same day, as well as two crimes left over from previous periods, Azernews reports via the Ministry of Internal Affairs.

During operational measures, a total of 50 wanted individuals were detained and handed over to the relevant authorities. Among them were 41 people wanted as debtors.

Law enforcement agencies also identified three drug-related cases, along with 22 cases involving the seizure and detection of illegally stored weapons and ammunition.

In addition, 20 individuals suspected of committing various crimes were detained as part of ongoing investigations.

The number of services provided at Azerbaijan’s DOST centers has increased from 160 to 162 as of today, Azernews reports, citing the Ministry of Labor and Social Protection of the Population.

According to the ministry, two new services have been added to the list of DOST center services in line with a decree signed by President Ilham Aliyev on December 29, 2025.

The newly introduced services include the determination of mandatory insurance payments in cases of loss of professional work capacity resulting from workplace accidents and occupational diseases, as well as the issuance of certificates related to mandatory insurance for such cases.

The decree enters into force on January 1, 2026, and both services are already being provided by DOST centers as of today.

It should be noted that recent legislative amendments envisage mandatory insurance coverage for public sector employees against loss of professional work capacity due to workplace accidents and occupational diseases, with insurance payments to be administered through the State Social Protection Fund starting from January 1, 2026. The addition of these two services to the DOST centers is directly linked to these reforms.

Russian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Maria Zakharova denounced on Thursday a deadly strike on the Kherson region, which killed at least 24 individuals and left many injured, Azernews reports.

Writing on her Telegram channel, Zakharova said that “billions of taxpayer money” coming from the West is being spent on Ukraine’s actions aimed at killing civilians, including children.

“We accuse everyone who sponsors the terrorist bastards in Ukraine of this,” she said.

‘Over the past five years, the Armed Forces of Azerbaijan have significantly increased their strength,’ said President Ilham Aliyev in his address on the occasion of the Day of Solidarity of World Azerbaijanis and the New Year.

‘Supplied with new weapons and equipment, our Army is now capable of performing any task,’ the head of state emphasized.

The Swiss police held a press conference on Thursday following an explosion that occurred in the Crans-Montana ski resort town, Azernews reports.

The death toll has now been updated to “several dozen,” while the number of injured is currently at around 100, the police specified. They reiteratedthat the incident isn’t being investigated as an attack but rather a fire. A previous report from the Blick media outlet suggested that the cause of the explosion could have potentially been pyrotechnics used at a concert.

Swiss authorities revealed that nationals of other countries are also among the victims, without giving further details. The country’s State Council declared a state of emergency to “mobilize all necessary resources immediately over the next few days,” according to Blick. Meanwhile, Italy’s Foreign Ministry said that information from the Swiss police indicates that there are approximately 40 casualties.