Category: Azer News

There are solid economic grounds for the stability of the Azerbaijani manat against the US dollar until the end of 2026. The inflow of dollars generated in the country’s external sector currently keeps the dollar supply strong. However, at the same time, persistently high inflation in the US and a stronger-than-expected labor market could lend renewed support to the global dollar. This is precisely where the main question arises for the manat: to what extent can the abundance of dollars in Azerbaijan compensate for the pressure created by the appreciation of the global dollar?

The indicators for the first half of 2026 show that Azerbaijan’s foreign currency position is quite strong. In January-June, the country’s foreign trade turnover reached $29.2 billion. Exports amounted to $19.3 billion, while imports stood at $9.8 billion. Thus, a positive balance of approximately $9.45 billion was generated in goods trade alone. This is one of the primary sources of foreign currency entering the country.

Another source is the remittances sent to the country by Azerbaijani citizens living abroad. In the first half of 2026, approximately $748 million in remittances flowed into Azerbaijan, while $207.8 million was sent out of the country. In other words, net inflows through this channel amounted to about $540 million. Although this figure is small compared to the trade surplus, it remains a factor positively affecting the foreign currency supply.

There is also notable dynamics in foreign direct investment (FDI). In the first half of the year, $3.6 billion in foreign direct investment flowed into the country’s economy, while Azerbaijani residents made $5 billion in investments abroad. It would be incorrect to evaluate the $1.4 billion difference as a “net capital loss.” This is because FDI is included in the Financial Account of the Balance of Payments-not the Current Account-and should be evaluated as an international redistribution of capital.

As a result of the large positive balance in foreign trade and other income flows, a surplus of $4.7 billion was formed in the Current Account. According to the Central Bank’s explanation, it was precisely this surplus in the Current Account and dedollarization in the financial sector that ensured that supply exceeded demand in the foreign exchange market.

This situation was also reflected in the Central Bank’s conduct. In August, the Central Bank purchased $1.5 billion from the market. During the January-August period, its foreign exchange reserves grew by $3.8 billion, or 33 percent, reaching $15.3 billion. This is an all-time high.

In other words, the issue in Azerbaijan right now is not a shortage of dollars. On the contrary, during a certain period, the supply of dollars in the market was so high that the Central Bank started buying dollars itself. Therefore, looking strictly at the domestic foreign currency balance, it is difficult to see a basis for the manat to come under serious pressure by the end of the year.

However, Azerbaijan alone does not determine the fate of the manat.

Recent data from the US could shift the position of the dollar in the global currency market. In August, nonfarm payrolls in the US increased by 162,000, whereas market expectations were for just 56,000. Thus, the result came in roughly three times higher than forecast. The unemployment rate also remained at 4.1 percent.

Inflation figures offer little comfort for the Fed either. In August, annual inflation (CPI) in the country stood at 3.4%, exceeding expectations. Core inflation (Core CPI) rose by 0.3% month-on-month, surpassing the market’s forecast of a 0.2% increase. Despite annual core inflation slowing to 2.4%, the monthly acceleration indicates that inflationary pressures remain widespread. All of these figures remain above the Fed’s medium-term target of 2% and heighten concerns that price growth is not fully under control.

For this reason, market expectations of a Fed rate hike have surged. On the eve of the September meeting, markets are pricing in a 25 basis point rate hike with roughly an 85-90 percent probability.

If the Fed raises rates, the yield on US assets increases, making the dollar more attractive to international investors. The return of a portion of capital from risky and emerging markets to the US could put pressure on national currencies.

Azerbaijan’s advantage, however, lies in having its own dollar buffer against this global wave. Central Bank reserves of $15.3 billion, a large trade surplus, a positive Current Account balance of $4.7 billion, and a high supply of dollars in the market create a solid defensive line for the manat.

Therefore, two forces will collide in the coming months. Azerbaijan’s domestic abundance of dollars will support the manat, while tighter US monetary policy and a strengthening global dollar will exert pressure in the opposite direction.

Based on current data, the first force still appears stronger. Consequently, the grounds remain solid for the stability of the manat through the end of the year.

The Mine Action Agency of the Republic of Azerbaijan (ANAMA) has released data on mine clearance operations carried out in the liberated territories from September 14 to 20.

According to ANAMA, mine clearance operations were conducted in Tartar, Aghdara, Kalbajar, Aghdam, Khojaly, Khankendi, Khojavand, Lachin, Shusha, Fuzuli, Gubadli, Jabrayil and Zangilan.

During the reporting week, 204 anti-personnel mines, 65 anti-tank mines and 745 other unexploded ordnance items were detected and neutralized.

A total of 1,840.3 hectares of land were cleared of mines and other unexploded ordnance.

Mine clearance remains one of Azerbaijan’s key priorities in the post-conflict period, with extensive demining operations continuing to improve safety, facilitate reconstruction efforts, and enable the return of former internally displaced persons to the liberated territories.

Sheikh Ahmed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, younger brother of Dubai’s Ruler, Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, died on Monday morning, the Ruler’s Court announced.

The Court declared 10 days of official mourning across the emirate, beginning Monday. Flags will be flown at half-mast throughout the mourning period.

UAE Vice President and Prime Minister and Ruler of Dubai Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum paid tribute to his brother in a message posted on X.

‘May Allah have mercy on Sheikh Ahmed bin Rashid Al Maktoum. May Allah have mercy on you, my brother. You are now with our Lord, the Most Generous, the Almighty,’ Sheikh Mohammed wrote.

‘You are gone from our sight, Ahmed, but never from our prayers or our hearts,’ he added.

Sheikh Mohammed prayed that his brother would be granted a place in Paradise and that his family and loved ones would be given patience and solace.

‘Indeed, to Allah we belong, and to Him we shall return,’ he wrote.

Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Defence, also mourned his uncle.

Sheikh Hamdan shared a prayer asking Allah to grant his uncle mercy and forgiveness, honour his resting place and cleanse him of his sins ‘as a white garment is cleansed of stains.’

The 18th Uzeyir Hajibayli International Music Festival has kicked off at the Azerbaijan State Academic Philharmonic Hall.

The event was attended by prominent cultural figures, musicians and guests from across the Turkic world.

Organized by the Heydar Aliyev Foundation and the Azerbaijan Culture Ministry, the opening ceremony was attended by Farah Aliyeva, Head of Humanitarian Policy, Diaspora, Multiculturalism and Religious Affairs Department of the Presidential Administration; Azerbaijan Culture Minister Adil Karimli; Hijran Huseynova, Chair of the Azerbaijan Parliament’s Committee on Family, Women and Children; President of the Turkic Culture and Heritage Foundation Aktoty Raimkulova; delegates of the First Congress of Composers of the Turkic World, as well as music lovers.

The music festival was organized by the Azerbaijan Culture Ministry and the Turkic Culture and Heritage Foundation in cooperation with the ICESCO Regional Office in Baku, the Azerbaijan Composers’ Union and the Azerbaijan National Conservatory.

Before the ceremony, guests viewed an exhibition dedicated to the 100th anniversary of the First Turkological Congress.

A gala opening concert of the First Congress of Composers of the Turkic World was held as part of the festival, featuring works by composers representing different countries of the Turkic world.

The concert was performed by the Azerbaijan State Symphony Orchestra under the baton of conductor Fuad Ibrahimov. The soloists included Hungarian violinist Sandor Laszlo, as well as Azerbaijani musicians Nijat Salmanov on flute and Alim Sadikhov on oboe.

The evening opened with the overture from Uzeyir Hajibayli’s opera “Koroglu”. The program continued with an overture from Muslim Magomayev’s opera “Shah Ismayil”, arranged by Gara Garayev, followed by the “At the Spring” duet from Aktoty Raimkulova’s ballet “Kozy Korpesh – Bayan Sulu” and M. Begaliyev’s “Festive Overture”.

The program also featured O. Gulbey’s “Rhapsody” for flute, oboe and orchestra, R. Nepesov’s “Yunus”, R. Abdullayev’s “Song of Love”, and S. Laszlo’s “Transylvanian Dance” for violin and orchestra.

The festival’s program has also extended beyond Baku, with concerts and cultural events held in Shusha, Agjabadi, Ganja and Nakhchivan, bringing the music of Uzeyir Hajibayli to audiences in different parts of the country.

At the Azerbaijan State Academic Musical Theatre, the 117th season opened as part of the festival with a performance of Uzeyir Hajibayli’s beloved operetta “Arshin Mal Alan”. The production, which has remained part of the country’s theatrical repertoire for more than a century, was warmly received by the audience.

A concert was also held at the Uzeyir Hajibayli House Museum in Baku to mark National Music Day and the 141st anniversary of the composer’s birth. Young musicians and the “Banovsha” children’s choir performed works by Hajibayli and other Azerbaijani composers.

In Shusha, the composer’s ancestral homeland, a special concert was held in front of the Uzeyir Hajibayli House Museum. The program featured faculty members and students of Karabakh University alongside the Cadenza Orchestra.

Nakhchivan also joined the festival program with a concert dedicated to National Music Day at the Heydar Aliyev Palace. The event brought together the Folk Instruments Orchestra, Chamber Orchestra and choir of the Nakhchivan State Philharmonic, as well as beneficiaries of the Nakhchivan Regional Information Center.

In Agjabadi, an event marking National Music Day and Hajibayli’s birthday combined music with visual arts. The program included exhibitions of books, paintings and decorative and applied art, followed by musical and stage performances by teachers, students and ensembles from music and art schools in Agjabadi, Barda and Aghdam districts.

Ganja hosted a concert at the Fikret Amirov Ganja State Philharmonic dedicated to Hajibayli’s creative legacy. The Chamber Orchestra performed works by the celebrated composer, while a dance ensemble presented traditional Azerbaijani dances.

Across the festival program, particular attention was given to Hajibayli’s contribution to the formation and development of professional music in Azerbaijan, his rich artistic legacy and his lasting role in preserving and passing on the country’s musical traditions.

The 2027 Formula 1 calendar has been confirmed, featuring 24 rounds across the season.

Formula 1 and the FIA have announced the 2027 FIA Formula One World Championship calendar after it was approved by the World Motor Sport Council. The schedule features 24 Grands Prix in 22 countries and 10 Sprint events.

According to the Baku City Circuit, the season will begin with pre-season testing in Bahrain from February 24 to 27, followed by the opening Grand Prix at the same venue. The championship will then travel to Saudi Arabia before continuing to Australia, Japan and China. The Miami and Canadian Grands Prix will follow.

The European stage will include Formula 1’s return to Portugal in June, following the Monaco Grand Prix. Trkiye will return to the calendar in October, with its race scheduled between the Azerbaijan and Singapore Grands Prix. The final stretch of the season will take place in Austin, Mexico City, Sao Paulo and Las Vegas before the championship concludes with the Qatar and Abu Dhabi Grands Prix.

The calendar covers five continents and combines established circuits with major international destinations. Formula 1 said the schedule also supports its long-term sustainability objectives by creating a more efficient geographical flow of races throughout the season.

The number of Sprint events will increase from six to 10 in 2027, following continued demand for the format. Formula 1 said Sprint weekends have recorded 12 percent higher total viewership than non-Sprint weekends since the format was introduced in 2021. Sprint Qualifying is also up to three times more popular with fans than Free Practice, while 82 percent of attendees at Sprint weekends say the format adds value to their tickets and 75 percent of F1 fans say Sprint events add greater value to the season’s calendar.

Bahrain, Australia, Japan, Monaco and Abu Dhabi will host Sprint events for the first time. Monaco will feature two qualifying sessions, while Sprint events will return to Montreal, Silverstone, Monza, Sao Paulo and Lusail.

Stefano Domenicali, President and CEO of Formula 1, said:

“The 2027 calendar brings together some of the most iconic circuits and vibrant cities in the world, creating an incredible stage for another unforgettable season of Formula 1. We are thrilled to welcome Portugal and Trkiye to the championship and to expand Sprint racing to ten events, giving our fans even more intensity, drama, and the wheel-to-wheel action that make our sport so special.

“Formula 1 continues to go from strength-to-strength, attracting new audiences around the globe. Week after week, the world’s greatest drivers will battle on some of the most challenging tracks in motorsport, supported by F1’s outstanding teams, world-class manufacturers, and global partners.

“Together, they create a spectacle unlike anything else in sport. As we continue this remarkable journey of growth, I want to thank our fans around the world as their passion drives everything we do.

“I want to thank The President of the FIA, Mohammed Ben Sulayem, and the FIA, our teams and drivers, promoters, partners, sponsors, and host cities for their continued commitment and support and we recognise the extraordinary dedication of the volunteers, marshals, and officials whose hard work makes every Grand Prix possible.

“We are incredibly excited to see this calendar come to life and to deliver another season packed with unforgettable moments, fierce competition, and world-class entertainment for our fans across the globe.”

United States President Donald Trump will defend his global policy, mainly the war with Iran, in his UN General Assembly speech, while “airing out his core grievances,” the Daily Mail reported on Sunday, citing insider sources.

“I was told he is planning to say something to the effect of, look, I don’t think anyone is pulling their weight yet at the UN. The war [in Iran] is over if people listen to me,” an anonymous diplomat told the outlet. The source also noted that Trump’s speech and the bilateral meetings are “boring,” and that “the real news is made during his sideline chats that we won’t get to see.”

Former US diplomat Brett Burren told the outlet that Trump will not be having a “welcoming reception” at the assembly, since “pretty much every president, prime minister and prince in the world is pissed at Trump for starting a reckless war with Iran.”

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has reaffirmed Kyiv’s readiness to pursue de-escalation and a peaceful settlement, saying corresponding steps could follow if Russia stops targeting Ukraine’s energy sector, critical infrastructure and food exports.

Zelenskyy made the remarks on X in response to US President Donald Trump’s comments that Russia had lost control of its diesel fuel production as a result of the war and his renewed call to end what he described as a ‘ridiculous, endless war against Ukraine.’

‘Indeed, this Russian war against Ukraine and against common sense must be stopped,’ Zelenskyy wrote.

He emphasized the consequences of the full-scale war, saying each additional year brings more problems, while stressing that Ukraine has consistently sought peace.

‘We have already put forward dozens of diplomatic proposals on how to end this war with dignity, guarantee security, and prevent new Russian invasions. Dialogue with President Trump and the US is currently ongoing. Ideas for bringing peace closer are also under consideration, starting with decisive de-escalation steps,’ Zelenskyy said.

‘Ukraine’s energy sector, its critical infrastructure, and our food exports must stop being targets for Russia, and this would lead to corresponding de-escalation steps on our part. Solutions are possible,’ he added.

Zelenskyy said Ukraine was ready to work on such measures and discuss them with its partners on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly in New York.

He also thanked those involved in efforts to advance the peace process.

‘It will no longer be the case that only the country that was attacked suffers. The nature of the war now is such that the aggressor also incurs losses. Technology makes this possible. The strength of countries’ leadership can and must ensure de-escalation, security, and peace,’ Zelenskyy said.

Hamas convened Palestinian factions in Cairo to deliberate legislative and National Council elections, a statement on Telegram showed on Monday.

A delegation led by Hossam Badran met with the Palestinian Islamic Jihad Movement, the Democratic Reform Current of Fatah, the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine (PFLP), the Palestinian Al-Ahrar Movement, the PFLP-General Command, the Resistance Committees in Palestine, and the Democratic Front for the Liberation of Palestine (DFLP).

Participants asserted Palestinians’ right to free, fair elections, rejecting appointment and unilateralism. They also resolved to draft a unified strategy to “confront the occupation, settlement, Judaization, displacement, and annexation, end the siege imposed on the Gaza Strip, and strengthen the resilience of the Palestinian people.”

French television channel RMC Découverte has apologized and removed a documentary from its platforms after viewers noticed that a 3D animation depicting a hypothetical nuclear strike appeared to show the Israeli city of Tel Aviv.

The documentary, titled Nouveau Rafale, drones et canons: la révolution dans l’armement français (‘New Rafale, Drones and Cannons: The Revolution in French Weaponry’), originally aired on September 1.

The program examined next-generation French military technologies, including the Rafale F5 fighter aircraft and the proposed ASN4G hypersonic nuclear missile.

As part of a segment explaining the potential destructive power of the weapon, the documentary featured a 3D simulation showing a missile striking a coastal city and producing a nuclear mushroom cloud.

The imagery was subsequently identified as depicting Tel Aviv, prompting criticism of the broadcaster.

RMC Découverte later apologized publicly and withdrew the documentary from all of its platforms.

The channel’s decision followed scrutiny over the use of the imagery in a program focused on French military capabilities and nuclear weapons.

The Iranian Armed Forces’ Central Command stated that it received information about the United States planning to resume its “actions” against Iran, and warned that Tehran will retaliate, Iran’s state media outlet IRIB News reported on Sunday.

“We warn that if the US commits any act of aggression against the Islamic Republic of Iran, all of its bases and interests in the region will be subjected to sustained, effective and painful attacks, without any restrictions or consideration,” the Iranian military said, claiming that the US received a “green light” for its plans from the countries in the region at a joint meeting in a European country.

The military’s Central Command also warned regional countries that if they “continue their dual policy” towards Iran, they will be considered “complicit” and should not expect “restraint or decency” from Iran’s Armed Forces.