Category: Azer News

The schedule for the opening round of the 2026/27 Azerbaijan Premier League season has been announced, with matches set to be played over four days from August 14 to 17, AzerNEWS reports, citing the Azerbaijan Professional Football League (PFL).

Taking into account a request from Sabah, which is competing in the UEFA Champions League, as well as a letter of consent from Kapaz, the PFL has switched the venues of the first- and second-round fixtures between the two teams. The decision was made with the aim of supporting Azerbaijan’s successful representation on the international sporting stage.

Turan Tovuz will face Gabala at Tovuz City Stadium at 19:30 on August 14.

On August 15, Araz-Nakhchivan will play Imishli at Gabala City Stadium at 18:30, followed by Sabah’s meeting with Kapaz at Bank Respublika Arena at 20:45.

On August 16, Sumgayit will host Neftchi at SOCAR Polymer Arena at 19:00, while Zira will take on Shafa at the stadium of the Zira Sports Complex at 21:00.

The opening round will conclude on August 17, when Qarabag face Shamakhi at the Tofig Bahramov Republican Stadium at 19:30.

All matches in the opening round will begin with the Azerbaijan National Anthem.

On August 11, President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev and First Lady Mehriban Aliyeva viewed the new electric buses to be commissioned in Nakhchivan city and inspected the progress of reconstruction of railway infrastructure in the Nakhchivan Autonomous Republic.

Minister of Digital Development and Transport Rashad Nabiyev and Chairman of Azerbaijan Railways CJSC Rovshan Rustamov briefed the head of state and the First Lady on the progress made.

First, President Ilham Aliyev was briefed on railway construction projects along the Zangezur Corridor. It was noted that upon completion of these projects, the railway’s carrying capacity is projected to reach 15 million tons per year. The 30-kilometer section covering the Horadiz-Yukhari Marjanli-Soltanli stations has been put into temporary operation, with freight transportation to the ‘Araz Valley Economic Zone’ Industrial Park underway since May 2024. To date, a total of 43,000 tons of cargo has been transported along this route.

Design and construction work on the Nakhchivan railway line commenced in 2025. Currently, the length of the line stands at 188 kilometers, while under the new project, this figure will reach 194.2 kilometers. The project envisages the reconstruction of 10 stations and three passenger platform stops.

At present, design work for the seven-kilometer section of the Nakhchivan railway line from Salammalik station to the state border with Armenia has been completed, and construction work has begun. Part of the engineering and infrastructure development work in the area has been completed, while the remainder is ongoing.

Currently, seven kilometers of rails and 7,000 sleepers have been delivered to the site. The installation of a 6.3-kilometer section of the track superstructure is planned to be completed by the end of September. Construction and installation work on the remaining section, located 700 meters from the border, is planned to begin upon completion of demining operations and once the project along the TRIPP route is ready for alignment. At the same time, the section from Sadarak station to the state border with Trkiye is planned to be technically and structurally aligned with the Kars-Igdir-Dilucu railway project being implemented by the Turkish side. Design work for the aforementioned railway line is currently being carried out by Trkiye.

In accordance with the Order signed by President Ilham Aliyev last year ‘On additional measures in the field of public transport regulation in the city of Nakhchivan,’ 60 BYD electric buses, assembled in Azerbaijan, measuring 8.7 meters in length and each capable of carrying 53 passengers, were purchased to organize passenger transportation in Nakhchivan city exclusively using electric buses. Charging equipment was installed, and depot infrastructure was upgraded to service the buses.

A digital dispatch and monitoring system was installed for traffic management, while contactless payment options via bank cards, QR codes, Apple Pay, and Google Pay were introduced on the buses.

With the implementation of this project, high-quality services can be provided to 4.5 million passengers annually across nine routes in Nakhchivan city.

Through the monitoring center, the movement of buses will be tracked in real time, ensuring control over the safe and uninterrupted transportation of passengers.

The launch of operations by ‘BakuBus’ LLC in Nakhchivan city will significantly contribute to improving the quality of public transport services and fully transitioning payment processes to a cashless format.

The necessary infrastructure has been created at the depot, which spans an area of nearly three hectares, including technical inspection and repair bays, an automated accounting system charging station, and a facility capable of washing 15 buses per hour. The depot will operate in two shifts, employing 200 drivers and 22 administrative staff. The monthly salary for drivers will exceed 1,000 manats.

President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev and First Lady Mehriban Aliyeva arrived in the Nakhchivan Autonomous Republic on August 11.

Iranian Deputy Foreign Minister Kazem Gharibabadi said that a conference involving high-level officials from the Caspian littoral states will be held in Tehran on September 23, AzerNEWS reports.

“An agreement has been reached among the Caspian littoral states to hold a meeting of high-level officials in Tehran on September 23,” Gharibabadi emphasized.

He stressed that, given the limited time remaining before the meeting, all littoral states are expected to take the necessary measures to ensure that the gathering is held at an appropriate level.

According to the deputy foreign minister, the meeting will provide an opportunity for representatives of the Caspian states to discuss issues of common interest, exchange views on their positions, create conditions for more constructive understanding in the future, and strengthen bilateral and multilateral contacts.

He added that the meeting could also contribute to strengthening “Caspian diplomacy.”

Gharibabadi further said that neighboring Turkmenistan had proposed holding a summit of the Caspian littoral states in Ashgabat on October 9 to discuss the environmental situation of the Caspian Sea and changes in its water level. Iran supports the proposal, he said.

An official also noted that 23 years ago, the five Caspian littoral states signed the Framework Convention for the Protection of the Marine Environment of the Caspian Sea in Tehran, with 20 years having passed since the convention entered into implementation.

Japan’s latest Defense White Paper is being used to justify a further expansion of the country’s military capabilities and a gradual departure from some of the restrictions imposed after World War II, according to international security analyst Kang Won-chul, AzerNEWS reports.

According to the analyst, the document effectively seeks to legitimize Tokyo’s continued military buildup. He argues that Japan is increasingly pointing to threats from North Korea and other neighboring countries to justify higher defense spending, new weapons systems and the modernization of its armed forces.

Japan has been steadily strengthening its military capabilities in recent years, transforming its Self-Defense Forces into a more advanced and flexible force. Tokyo has also expanded security cooperation with the United States and other regional partners, particularly amid growing tensions in East Asia.

The commentary argues that Japan’s long-term strategy goes beyond simply responding to immediate security threats. According to Kang, Tokyo is seeking greater military autonomy, expanding the role and capabilities of the Self-Defense Forces and reconsidering some of the principles that shaped Japan’s post-war security policy.

Critics say that, despite Tokyo’s emphasis on defense and deterrence, the buildup could contribute to an arms race and increase tensions across the Asia-Pacific region.

An interesting detail: Japan’s post-war Constitution, particularly Article 9, formally renounces war as a sovereign right and prohibits maintaining ‘war potential.’ However, Japan has developed one of the world’s most technologically advanced military forces under the concept of self-defense.

Today, Tokyo is also placing greater emphasis on long-range strike capabilities, missile defense, space and cyber warfare – areas that would have been politically difficult to imagine in Japan’s security policy just a few decades ago.

As regional tensions continue to rise, Japan’s defense transformation could become one of the most significant changes to the security balance in East Asia.

Malaysia has extended its National Energy Efficiency Action Plan (NEEAP) through 2035, with a target of cutting energy demand by 11.6% and saving an estimated $21.5 billion, AzerNEWS reports.

The extension was announced by Malaysia’s Ministry of Energy Transition and Water Transformation.

Under the updated plan, cumulative energy savings are expected to reach approximately 815,382 terajoules compared with projected consumption if current trends continue. The measures could also prevent around 26.1 million tonnes of CO2-equivalent emissions.

Malaysia’s previous energy-efficiency programme, which covered 2016-2025, saved around 60,886 gigawatt-hours of electricity, equivalent to approximately 16.1 billion ringgit ($3.9 billion), according to Economy Minister Akmal Nasir.

The results exceeded the original target of 52,233 gigawatt-hours and helped reduce emissions by an estimated 35.6 million tonnes of CO2 equivalent.

However, Malaysia faces an interesting energy dilemma. At the same time as it is pushing for greater efficiency, the country is rapidly expanding its data-center industry. Demand for electricity is expected to rise further as cloud computing, artificial intelligence and other digital technologies expand.

In 2023, Malaysia introduced legislation requiring major energy consumers to implement energy-saving measures, reflecting the government’s efforts to manage growing demand.

The country has also set a target of cutting greenhouse gas emissions by 45% by 2030 and achieving carbon neutrality by 2050.

The challenge for Malaysia will be balancing two rapidly growing priorities: becoming a regional hub for AI and data centers while keeping electricity demand, emissions and energy costs under control. This could make energy efficiency one of the key factors shaping the country’s economic strategy over the next decade.

The Gabala International Music Festival has been featured in a new Euronews reportage highlighting the event’s evolution from a music festival into a broader platform for art, cultural exchange and international collaboration.

The reportage, published by Euronews on August 11, focuses on the festival’s 15th anniversary and its expanding programme, which brings together music, visual art and performers from different cultural backgrounds.

In the reportage, Gabala was presented as a meeting point where artists can not only perform but also exchange ideas, collaborate and share their cultural traditions with international audiences, AzerNEWS reports.

A key focus of the reportage is the launch of Gabala Fest, an expanded cultural format that goes beyond the festival’s traditional concert programme by bringing together musicians, visual artists and performers.

The initiative reflects the festival’s growing ambitions and its efforts to create a wider space for cultural interaction.

According to Euronews, this year’s programme brought together different artistic traditions, ranging from classical music and Azerbaijani mugham to contemporary musical forms.

The reportage also highlights the festival’s visual arts component, including the ‘The Crossroads of Cultures’ exhibition, which brought together more than 30 local and international artists.

The combination of music and visual art has added a new dimension to the festival, allowing artists from different backgrounds to present their work alongside musical performances.

The international character of the event is also central to the Euronews coverage. The broadcaster portrays Gabala as a space where different cultures meet through artistic expression, with the festival increasingly attracting performers and audiences from around the world.

The reportage notes that the organisers intend to further expand the cultural programme in 2027, reinforcing Gabala’s emerging role as an international meeting point for artists and audiences.

The Gabala International Music Festival has developed considerably since its launch, evolving from its original focus on classical music into a broader programme encompassing different musical genres and artistic traditions.

Euronews has previously covered the festival, including its 2025 edition, when it described Gabala as an open-air stage for international jazz, opera and orchestral performances against the backdrop of the Caucasus.

The latest reportage underscores the festival’s continued transformation, with music now serving as a gateway to a wider programme of cultural exchange.

The coverage also places Gabala within Azerbaijan’s broader international cultural profile, presenting the festival as an opportunity for artists from different countries to meet, collaborate and introduce audiences to diverse artistic traditions.

With the expansion of Gabala Fest and plans for a broader programme in 2027, the festival is increasingly positioning itself not simply as a series of concerts, but as a multidisciplinary cultural platform connecting music, visual art and people from different parts of the world.

On August 11, President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev and First Lady Mehriban Aliyeva inspected the restoration and conservation efforts at the Momine Khatun Mausoleum in Nakhchivan city.

Erich Pummer, Director of Atelier Erich Pummer GmbH, briefed the head of state and the First Lady on the progress of the restoration works at the mausoleum.

The ‘State Program for the Socio-Economic Development of the Nakhchivan Autonomous Republic for 2023-2027,’ approved by an Order signed by President Ilham Aliyev in 2023, envisages assessing the current condition of historical and architectural monuments in the autonomous republic and carrying out restoration and conservation works. The works at the Momine Khatun Mausoleum are being implemented in accordance with this program.

As a result of inspections and studies conducted by local and foreign experts between 2023 and 2025, restoration and conservation works on the mausoleum were deemed necessary.

In 2025, the head of state signed an Order on measures related to the restoration and conservation of the Momine Khatun Mausoleum, a historical and architectural monument of world importance.

One of the prominent monuments of Azerbaijani architecture, the mausoleum was built in 1186 by architect Ajami Nakhchivani. According to historical sources, it was part of the Atabeg Architectural Complex. The mausoleum is the only surviving monument from the complex. The original height of the mausoleum was 34 meters. However, an eight-meter section of its outer roof subsequently collapsed, bringing its current height to approximately 26 meters. The mausoleum consists of underground and above-ground sections.

Taking into account the monument’s architectural characteristics and significance, a contract was signed with an Austrian company with extensive experience in this field. The current condition of the monument was assessed, and comprehensive research and measurement works were conducted. Restoration works are currently underway, including the reconstruction of the roof, measuring and monitoring the existing tilt of the mausoleum, and the installation of a drainage system.

The Momine Khatun Mausoleum was placed under state protection as an architectural monument of world importance in 2001. In 1998, it was included in UNESCO’s Tentative World Heritage List.

The implementation of this project is of paramount importance for the preservation and promotion of Azerbaijan’s historical heritage. A magnificent monument of Azerbaijani national architecture and one of the pearls of Eastern architecture, the Momine Khatun Mausoleum represents an important legacy of Azerbaijan’s history and culture. Created by prominent Azerbaijani architect Ajami Nakhchivani, this rare and monumental work of art is distinguished by its unique compositional design. The mausoleum also serves as a vivid testament to the highly developed culture and traditions of statehood in Azerbaijan during that period.

British authorities have discovered that cameras installed on unmanned surface vehicles used by the country’s naval forces were transmitting technical data to an IP address in China, AzerNEWS reports.

According to the publication, the incident involved K3 Scout drones supplied by British defence contractor Kraken Technology Group. The cameras used on the vehicles were purchased from a third-party company, which had previously assured officials that the equipment was secure.

An inspection found components manufactured in China inside the cameras. Investigators also discovered that the devices were transmitting so-called system status signals to China. This included technical information about the equipment’s network connection and operational status.

After the data transmission was detected, the UK Ministry of Defence disconnected the devices from the internet as a precautionary measure.

At the same time, a ministry representative said that the investigation had found no evidence that sensitive or critically important information had been transferred abroad.

The incident has raised concerns about the security of electronic components used in military equipment. It also highlights a broader challenge faced by defence agencies: even seemingly ordinary commercial devices, such as cameras and communication modules, can potentially create cybersecurity risks if their supply chains are not carefully checked.

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.