Category: Azer News

The speech of Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi at a session of the United Nations Human Rights Council, scheduled to begin on February 23, has been canceled after his name was removed from the official list of speakers, AzerNEWS reports.

The development was announced by Hillel Neuer, an international lawyer and UN executive director, in a post on X. Neuer said Araqchi was no longer listed to address the council.

According to Neuer, the decision followed the collection of more than 100,000 signatures calling for Araqchi not to be invited to the meeting and urging Swiss authorities to arrest him over alleged crimes against humanity.

No official comment has yet been issued by Iranian authorities or the UN Human Rights Council regarding the removal.

International Mugham Center has hosted a presentation of the Azerbaijani translation of “Muqaddimat al-Adab”, a seminal work by the renowned Uzbek thinker Al-Zamakhshari, AzerNEWS reports citing the center.

The event marked an important milestone in the cultural exchange between Azerbaijan and Uzbekistan, highlighting the enduring value of Turkic literary heritage.

In his opening remarks, Sahib Pashazade, Director of the International Mugham Center, Honored Artist, and Cultural Ambassador of Uzbekistan, praised the translation as a significant contribution to promoting the literary legacy of Turkic-speaking peoples.

He noted that the publication released as part of the Center’s series of scholarly editions also represents a meaningful addition to the institution’s cultural collaboration with its brotherly nation, Uzbekistan.

The translated work, rendered into Azerbaijani by Professor Tarlan Guliyev, was described as a valuable asset for strengthening Azerbaijan-Uzbekistan cultural ties. It serves not only to broaden the dissemination of literary masterpieces but also to support future collaborative projects. The translation further contributes to preserving shared cultural heritage, introducing the legacy of eminent historical figures, and promoting academically rigorous texts.

During the presentation, several speakers emphasized the wider significance of the initiative. Eldar Ibrahimov, Member of Parliament and Chair of the Azerbaijan-Uzbekistan Friendship Group, along with academics Nizami Jafarov, Teymur Karimli, and Professor Gizilgul Abdullayeva praised the project as an important opportunity for expanding cooperation with Uzbekistan. They stressed that such initiatives enrich not only literary and cultural relations but also broader ties across multiple fields.

Professor Tarlan Guliyev expressed his gratitude to the leadership of the International Mugham Center and to the scholars present at the event for supporting the publication.

It is noteworthy that the translated work is the first Azerbaijani edition of Al-Zamakhshari’s “Muqaddimat al-Adab”.

The text was converted from the old script to the modern alphabet by Professor Tarlan Guliyev, and its scientific editing was carried out by academician Teymur Karimli at the Institute of Manuscripts named after Mahammad Fuzuli of the Azerbaijan National Academy of Sciences (ANAS).

Founded on the initiative of the First Vice-President of Azerbaijan and President of the Heydar Aliyev Foundation, Mehriban Aliyeva, the Mugham Center was established in accordance with a presidential decree dated April 6, 2005.

Construction of the center began the same year, and the building, recognized today as one of Baku’s most distinctive architectural landmarks, officially opened in 2008.

Since then, the Mugham Center has consistently hosted large-scale music festivals and concerts featuring prominent and internationally renowned cultural figures. Alongside its concert activities, the center actively works to strengthen cultural cooperation with countries such as Turkiye, Poland, Brazil, Uzbekistan, Morocco, and others.

Committed to the preservation and global promotion of Azerbaijani musical heritage, the International Mugham Center continues to expand its activities. Numerous projects are underway aimed at researching, safeguarding, and popularizing the art of mugham.

A landmark achievement was reached in 2025, when the Mugham Center became the first cultural institution in Azerbaijan to receive international status through legislation. This designation has also played a significant role in improving the social and financial conditions of the center’s staff, reinforcing its position as one of Baku’s leading concert venues.

In recent years, and particularly over the past year, the International Mugham Center has experienced a noticeable increase in interest, especially among tourists attending mugham and ethno-music concerts. During the 9th Mugham Television Contest, the center hosted numerous performances that attracted a wide and diverse audience.

Regular monthly events appeal to both professional musicians and general music lovers. Promotional banners placed around the venue help draw the attention of tourists, many of whom stop during the day to admire the center’s impressive architecture while anticipating evening performances.

This growing international appeal was especially evident during the Formula 1 Azerbaijan Grand Prix, when numerous racing fans and visitors to Baku also took part in the International Mugham Center’s rich musical program.

Europe’s new Ariane 6 rocket reached another major milestone today, AzerNEWS reports, citing foreign media.

The most powerful variant of the Ariane 6 – known as the Ariane 64, featuring four strap-on solid rocket boosters – lifted off for the first time on February 12. The launch took place from Europe’s Spaceport in Kourou, French Guiana, at 11:45 a.m. EST (1645 GMT; 1:45 p.m. local time), carrying 32 satellites for the Amazon Leo constellation into low Earth orbit (LEO). All satellites were successfully deployed 1 hour and 54 minutes after liftoff, as planned, according to Arianespace, the company that operates the Ariane 6.

This was the sixth overall launch of the Ariane 6. Standing 203 feet (62 meters) tall, the rocket – the successor to the recently retired Ariane 5 – had its maiden test flight in July 2024 and completed four operational missions last year. However, those previous flights all used the Ariane 62, which carries two solid rocket boosters. The Ariane 64 can haul more than 20 metric tons to LEO, roughly double the payload capacity of the 62.

Today’s launch marked several firsts: it was the Ariane 6’s first mission for a commercial customer, the first flight of the 64 variant, and the first to use the rocket’s jumbo 65-foot-long (20-meter-long) payload fairing.

The Amazon Leo constellation will eventually consist of over 3,200 satellites, deployed across more than 80 launches using a variety of rockets, including Falcon 9, Atlas V, Vulcan Centaur, New Glenn, and the Ariane 6.

Today’s flight was the eighth in the Amazon Leo deployment phase (excluding an October 2023 mission that launched two prototype satellites), bringing the total number of satellites in orbit to 185. Experts say that with the Ariane 64 now operational, Europe’s space program has gained a powerful new tool to compete in the growing global commercial launch market – combining heavy-lift capacity with reliable deployment for massive constellations.

President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev met with Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Defense of the Slovak Republic Robert Kalinak, in Munich on February 13, AzerNEWS reports.

The possibility of establishing a single, unified municipal governance model in Azerbaijan’s major cities should be considered.

AzerNEWS reports that Siyavus Novruzov, a member of the National Assembly, stated this during today’s plenary session of the parliament, as reported by Report news agency.

Citing Baku as an example, Novruzov noted that the capital currently has 45 functioning municipalities:

“However, merging these municipalities into a single, large city municipality could be considerably more effective,” he said.

Another National Assembly member, Fazil Mustafa, expressed his support for the proposal:

“I cannot speak for other cities, but in Baku, implementing this model seems feasible,” he added.

President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev gave an interview to Azerbaijani television channels in Munich on February 13.

AzerNEWS presents the interview.

REAL Television: Mr. President, thank you for taking the time for us. What will Azerbaijan’s message be at this Munich Security Conference?

President Ilham Aliyev: As always, our message is directed toward cooperation and peace. For the first time, I am participating in this event as the head of state who has already achieved peace. Of course, this issue will certainly be on the agenda here. Therefore, our messages, as always, are very open and clear: cooperation, peace, partnership. Naturally, Azerbaijan’s growing role in security, our capabilities, as well as economic development, energy security, transport, connectivity, artificial intelligence – in other words, all these issues today constitute the world’s main agenda. Today, Azerbaijan is not lagging behind in these areas either.

Public Television: Mr. President, is the signing of a peace agreement between Azerbaijan and Armenia expected this year?

President Ilham Aliyev: You know that this does not depend on us. Our position has already been conveyed to the Armenian side for many years. The necessary changes must be made to Armenia’s Constitution. As soon as these changes are made, we can sign the peace treaty the very next day. Nevertheless, I believe that peace has already been achieved between Armenia and Azerbaijan. The agreements reached at the Washington Summit – that is, the signed Joint Declaration and the initialing of the peace treaty – amount to de facto peace. The formal side of this depends on Armenia. The sooner changes are made to the Constitution and the territorial claims against Azerbaijan are removed from it, the sooner the peace treaty will be signed.

AnewZ Television: Everybody we have spoken to today has said that the old world order is crumbling and a new world is about to emerge, but it has not emerged yet. Just a few weeks ago in Davos, you signed a founding charter of the Board of Peace, and Azerbaijan is a founding member. In a few weeks, there will be another meeting in Washington. What is your reflection on this institution as a potential element of the new world order?

President Ilham Aliyev: You know, if you remember, I spoke about this, maybe not in detail, but in general, that international law is no longer valid. Many countries simply ignore it, and relying only on international law will not solve your problem. Azerbaijan’s example clearly demonstrates this. So, the emergence of a new world order, or a new system of intergovernmental relations, was definitely in the pipeline. The matter was who would take responsibility and make the first step. I think President Trump did a great job in initiating the Board of Peace, an institution with a great future.

Of course, everything will depend on the agenda. As you know, the first summit will take place soon. Everyone is interested in what the summit’s agenda will be and what the outcomes will be. More and more countries are already realizing that they need to reconsider their approach with respect to intergovernmental relations, security, and the functioning of international institutions. We see that the United Nations is totally paralyzed; it will not influence any of these issues. And there is no alternative. Hopefully, we will see more common sense in working together, because the new world order should not mean that ‘whoever is stronger is right.’ The new world order should mean new mechanisms for a civilized world, new forms of relations, and a new international order.

CBC Television: Mr. President, according to the Munich Security Conference program, you are scheduled to participate in a panel session tomorrow dedicated to transport corridors. What role does Azerbaijan see for itself in the formation of transport corridors between Europe and Asia?

President Ilham Aliyev: We have long been initiators in the creation of corridors – beginning with energy, moving to transport, and now extending to electricity and fiber-optics. As our country’s potential strengthens and international ties evolve, we are adding new elements to the existing concept of connectivity.

While our oil and gas pipelines can be considered an accomplished fact – though there is a need to expand our gas transport infrastructure – and while rail-related issues are partially resolved, with Azerbaijan facing no major difficulties in ensuring transit shipments or exporting its own products, the Zangezur Corridor will be an additional contribution. We are now specifically focused on electricity cables, fiber-optic cables, and the transportation and transit of data through the development of data centers and artificial intelligence.

We possess many advantages: our geography, close ties with neighbors to both the West and the East, a surplus of electricity, a skilled workforce, and many other benefits. Consequently, Azerbaijan today is a country that is essential to both the East and the West. Given that the country secured its own security and sovereignty through its own efforts, our international standing has naturally grown. Therefore, when we speak of corridors, we must take a broader view: it is not just about railways or highways, but about everything that facilitates connectivity and meets the demands of the modern world.

The draw for the 2026/2027 season of the UEFA Nations League has taken place in Brussels, Belgium, AzerNEWS reports.

Following the draw, the opponents of the Azerbaijan national team, which will compete in League D, have been confirmed.

Seeded in Pot 1, Azerbaijan has been placed in Group 2, where it will face the national teams of Lithuania and Liechtenstein.

The UEFA Nations League is an international football competition played by the senior men’s national teams of the member associations of UEFA, the sport’s European governing body.

The first tournament began in September 2018. The competition replaces the international friendly matches previously played on the FIFA International Match Calendar, with European national teams engaging in more frequent competitive matches against other European national teams of comparable level

The 2026-27 UEFA Nations League will be the fifth season of the UEFA Nations League.

The competition will run from September to November 2026 (league phase), March 2027 (League A quarter-finals, and League A/B and B/C play-offs), June 2027 (Nations League Finals) and March 2028 (League C/D play-offs).

Recall that Portugal is the defending champion, having won the 2025 finals.

A bilateral roundtable bringing together civil society representatives from Azerbaijan and Armenia has commenced in Armenia as part of the ‘Peace Bridge’ initiative, AzerNEWS reports.

Alongside the core participants of the program, the discussions will include a wider group of stakeholders from both countries, fostering broader dialogue and engagement.

Earlier today, the Azerbaijani delegation arrived in Armenia via a delimited and demarcated section of the land border, completing all necessary procedures. Officials described the visit as a significant practical step toward enhancing trust and cooperation between the two nations.

During the roundtable, participants from both sides will examine processes emerging from the peace agenda agreed at the Washington Summit on August 8, 2025.

Sessions will focus on several key topics, including the development of a regional security framework, the economic and societal benefits of peace, public perceptions of intersocietal relations, prospects for economic collaboration, and the critical role of civil society in promoting mutual understanding and confidence-building.

The Azerbaijan National Carpet Museum has hosted the opening ceremony of the solo exhibition “Looking Out of the Credible” by renowned Hungarian tapestry artist Zsuzsa Péreli, AzerNEWS reports.

Amina Melikova, Director of the Azerbaijan National Carpet Museum; Tamas Jozsef Torma, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Hungary to the Republic of Azerbaijan; and Peter Hoppal, Hungarian Government Commissioner, delivered speeches at the event. They stressed Pereli’s versatile creativity and her contribution to the contemporary tapestry art. The speakers also underlined that the exhibition will strengthen the cultural ties between Azerbaijan and Hungary.

Then, guests watched Pereli’s video message and listened to a musical composition by tar player Ibrahim Babayev.

The exhibition features 29 works that reflect Zsuzsa Péreli’s worldview, creative potential, and high level of professional mastery, as she is considered one of the leading representatives of textile art.

In the tapestries created through the synthesis of silk, wool, and cotton, the artist organically combines themes such as the relationship between humans and nature, the universe, time, memory, eternity, and others with mythological imagery and abstract motifs. Her works, distinguished by profound philosophical content, impeccable composition, and rich colour solutions, preserve classical European tapestry traditions while simultaneously expanding the boundaries of this art form through the use of new materials, techniques, and innovative creative approaches. Acting as a mediator between the material and immaterial worlds, Zsuzsa Péreli’s tapestries convey emotions and spiritual realities that are difficult to express in words, using symbolic language. These qualities lend individuality and timelessness to the works of the artist, who occupies a unique place in contemporary tapestry art.

In 2001, Zsuzsa Péreli became the first foreign artist to hold a solo exhibition in Aubusson, France, regarded as the center of tapestry art. Her works are housed in museums and private collections in various countries.

Organized by the Azerbaijan National Carpet Museum, the Hungarian Ministry of Culture and Innovation, and the Kovács Gábor Art Foundation, the exhibition makes a significant contribution to the development of intercultural cooperation and to the promotion of contemporary trends in textile art.

The exhibition will run until February 28, 2026.

Following his headline performance at the 2026 Super Bowl LX, Puerto Rican superstar Bad Bunny has seen an unprecedented surge in music streaming, particularly on Spotify, where his numbers skyrocketed in the hours and days after the event, AzerNEWS reports.

According to Spotify data and industry analytics, Bad Bunny’s music experienced a 470 per cent increase in streams in the United States in the hours immediately following his halftime show performance compared with the same period the previous week. Globally, his tracks also registered substantial gains, with streams up by more than 200 per cent in many regions.

The streaming surge was not limited to one or two songs. Bad Bunny occupied multiple spots on Spotify’s U.S. Daily Top Songs chart, dominating the platform with a wide range of hits from classics like “Yo Perreo Sola” and “El Apagón” to newer tracks featured in his Super Bowl set.

Even before the Super Bowl, the Puerto Rican artist had ranked among the most-streamed musicians worldwide in 2025, but the visibility and cultural impact of his halftime show propelled those figures to new heights.

Streaming data also revealed broader effects of the halftime moment. His overall catalogue drew tens of millions of plays in the days following the Super Bowl, marking one of the largest post-performance listening spikes in recent memory. Tracks performed during the show saw especially dramatic increases, with some songs growing by well over 1,000 percent in plays on Spotify.