Category: Azer News

Shares of Puma SE surged more than 16% on Tuesday after China’s sportswear giant Anta Sports Products Limited announced plans to acquire a 29.06% stake in the German company from the Pinault family for pound 1.5 billion, Azernews reports, citing foreign media.

Once the deal is completed, Anta Sports will become Puma’s largest shareholder. As part of the transaction, the Chinese firm will purchase 43.01 million shares at pound 35 per share in cash, representing a significant premium to Puma’s previous closing price of pound 21.63. The deal is expected to be finalized by the end of 2026, subject to regulatory approvals.

Following the announcement, Puma shares climbed 16.27% by 9:22 a.m. CET, trading at around pound 25.15 per share.

Market analysts view the move as a strategic expansion by Anta Sports into the European premium sportswear segment, potentially strengthening Puma’s presence in the Asian market, where Anta has extensive retail and distribution networks. The partnership could also open the door to joint product development and deeper supply-chain integration, helping Puma compete more effectively with global rivals such as Nike and Adidas.

Interestingly, the deal highlights a broader trend of Chinese companies increasing their stakes in established European brands, seeking global recognition and technological expertise, while European firms gain access to fast-growing Asian consumer markets.

The Azerbaijan State Orchestra of Folk Instruments has delighted the audience with a fascinating concert at the International Mugham Center, Azernews reports.

The wonderful musical evening pleased the audience with musical compositions that combined the richness of national tradition with a contemporary sound.

Particular attention was drawn to new arrangements created especially for this evening.

The concert was conducted by the orchestra’s artistic director and chief conductor, Mustafa Ashurov, a recipient of the Presidential Award.

The Azerbaijan State Orchestra of Folk Instruments is widely known for its mastery in performing national musical works, and each piece in the program was marked by virtuosity, emotional depth, and a high level of artistic refinement.

The origins of this orchestra trace back to May 1, 1931, when the founder of Azerbaijan’s classical music tradition, Uzeyir Hajibayli, initiated the establishment of a folk instruments orchestra.

This ensemble was notable for being the first orchestra in the East organized on the principles of a symphonic orchestra but using only folk instruments, and it marked a major milestone in the development of national music culture.

The orchestra’s repertoire blends traditional Azerbaijani folk music with works by prominent Azerbaijani and international composers, and it often performs at state ceremonies, major concert halls, and music festivals.

In 2026, the orchestra will celebrate the 95th anniversary of its founding. Concerts held throughout the year will be organized as part of the event plan dedicated to the orchestra’s 95th jubilee.

Azerbaijan is increasingly demonstrating that its economic relevance extends well beyond oil and gas. Historically positioned at the crossroads of East and West, the country has long functioned as a natural transit hub. Today, however, Azerbaijan is transforming this inherited geographic advantage into a strategic economic asset through the development of the Middle Corridor, officially known as the Trans-Caspian International Transport Route (TITR). As global supply chains face prolonged disruptions, geopolitical risks, and congestion along traditional routes, the Middle Corridor is emerging as a competitive alternative – defined not only by geography, but by speed, reliability, and institutional coordination.

Recent operational data underline a key trend: reduced transit time is rapidly becoming the corridor’s strongest value proposition. According to Wang Sui Dun, Managing Director of Beijing Cross-Eurasia International Logistics, the average delivery time for cargo transported via the Xi’an-Baku railway route fell to 16 days in January 2026, down from 17 days in December 2025. While a one-day reduction may appear marginal, in logistics terms it represents a meaningful efficiency gain – particularly for time-sensitive and high-value cargo. Faster transit reduces inventory holding costs, improves supply chain predictability, and enhances the overall competitiveness of the route vis-à-vis maritime transport.

The operational intensity of the corridor is also increasing. Eight freight trains were dispatched on the Xi’an-Baku route in January 2026, compared to eleven in December 2025, reflecting both seasonal fluctuations and ongoing optimization of schedules. Since the launch of regular container train services on the Middle Corridor in 2019, traffic has grown steadily, with more than 400 train runs recorded in 2025 alone. The launch of a new service from Beijing on 30 June 2025 further expanded the corridor’s geographic reach, reinforcing Azerbaijan’s role as a pivotal Eurasian logistics node.

Infrastructure investment has been a decisive factor behind these gains. The modernization of the Baku-Tbilisi-Kars (BTK) railway in 2024 increased annual throughput capacity from 1 million tonnes to 5 million tonnes, significantly reducing bottlenecks along one of the corridor’s most critical segments. Equally important is the growing institutional integration along the route. In August 2024, China Railway and Container Shipping Corporation (CRCT) joined the joint venture ‘Middle Corridor Multimodal Ltd,’ signaling stronger coordination between rail, maritime, and logistics operators. This institutional consolidation has translated into measurable results: in early 2026, the first train of the year arrived in Baku with a reported transit time of just 11 days-approaching levels that position the Middle Corridor as a serious competitor to northern routes.

Yet, the corridor’s future success will depend not only on steel and concrete, but also on regulatory efficiency. According to forecasts by the International Road Transport Union (IRU), freight volumes along the Middle Corridor could triple by 2030. However, without decisive modernization of border-crossing procedures, customs digitalization, and harmonized documentation, actual volumes could fall up to 35% short of their potential. This gap highlights a critical reality: in modern logistics, institutional efficiency is as vital as physical infrastructure. Delays at borders can easily erase gains achieved through faster rail and port operations.

The growing strategic relevance of the Middle Corridor is also reshaping trade patterns. Whereas earlier cargo flows were dominated by raw materials such as oil and minerals, containerized freight is now expanding rapidly. Over the past 12 months, container volumes along the corridor have more than tripled, with over 60% consisting of Chinese exports destined for European markets. This shift reflects deeper integration into global value chains and underscores the corridor’s role not merely as a transit route, but as a facilitator of diversified trade.

In this context, Azerbaijan’s role extends beyond that of a transit country. By reducing transit time, expanding capacity, and strengthening institutional cooperation, the country is positioning itself as a key architect of a more resilient and multipolar Eurasian logistics architecture. As global trade increasingly prioritizes speed, security, and diversification, the Middle Corridor’s evolving efficiency may prove to be its most decisive competitive advantage.

Israel is preparing to open talks with the Trump administration on a new 10-year security agreement, aiming to secure continued US military support while gradually reducing reliance on direct American cash grants, Azernews reports via the Financial Times.

Speaking to the FT ahead of stepping down as chief financial adviser to Israel’s military and Defence Ministry, Dr. Gil Pinchas said Israel plans to prioritise joint military and defence projects over traditional financial assistance in negotiations expected to take place in the coming weeks.

‘The partnership is more important than just the net financial issue in this context. there are a lot of things that are equal to money,’ Pinchas said, stressing that future cooperation should be viewed in broader strategic terms.

According to him, the current level of direct financial support – about $3.3 billion annually, which Israel uses to purchase US-made weapons – is only one element of the existing memorandum of understanding (MOU) and could be gradually reduced.

In 2016, Washington and Tel Aviv signed a 10-year MOU running until September 2028, under which the US committed $38 billion in military aid, including $33 billion in grants for defence procurement and $5 billion for missile defence systems.

Earlier this month, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Israel hoped to ‘taper off’ its dependence on US military assistance over the next decade, signaling a strategic shift toward deeper cooperation and greater self-reliance.

The United States has decided to raise tariffs on certain goods imported from South Korea, increasing duties from 15% to 25%, Azernews reports.

‘Since the South Korean legislature has not approved our historic trade agreement – which is, of course, its prerogative – I am raising tariffs on automobiles, lumber, pharmaceutical products, as well as all retaliatory duties, from 15% to 25%,’ the White House stated.

Former President Donald Trump noted that Washington and Seoul reached a trade agreement in July 2025, with its terms reaffirmed in October. However, the deal has yet to be ratified by South Korea’s parliament. ‘Why didn’t the Korean legislature approve it?’ Trump asked rhetorically.

‘Our trade agreements are extremely important for America,’ he said. ‘In each case, we moved quickly to lower tariffs in line with the agreed terms. We naturally expect our trading partners to do the same.’

Analysts point out that the tariff increase could strain U.S.-South Korea economic relations, particularly in the automotive and pharmaceutical sectors, which are deeply integrated across global supply chains. Higher duties may lead to increased costs for manufacturers and consumers in both countries, while also encouraging companies to reconsider production locations.

The move comes amid a broader global trend toward more assertive trade policies, as governments increasingly use tariffs not only as economic tools but also as leverage in political negotiations. Some experts warn that prolonged tariff disputes could slow regional economic growth, while others argue they may accelerate efforts to diversify trade partnerships and reduce dependence on single markets.

India and the European Union have signed a comprehensive agreement to strengthen cooperation in security and defence, Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced at a joint press conference following the visit of European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and European Council President Antonio Costa to New Delhi.

Azernews reports that the deal marks the first wide-ranging framework between the two sides in defence and security. It covers areas including maritime security, defence manufacturing and technologies, cybersecurity, hybrid threats, space, and counter-terrorism.

Modi said the agreement aims to expand joint defence production while reaffirming their commitment to a rules-based international order. ‘This will enable us to broaden the scope of our cooperation in the Indo-Pacific region,’ he added.

Highlighting global instability, Modi noted that the India-EU partnership could serve as a stabilising factor in the international system.

The pact represents a significant step in deepening strategic ties between India and Europe, signalling a shared commitment to security, technological collaboration, and regional stability.

Operational and investigative measures carried out by Azerbaijan’s State Security Service (SSS) have raised well-founded suspicions that three Azerbaijani citizens were preparing to carry out a terrorist attack on a foreign country’s embassy in Baku on the grounds of religious hostility.

Citing the State Security Service, Azernews reports that the suspects are Ilgar Ilham oglu Guliyev, born in 2000 and known by the religious alias ‘Abu Zar al-Muhajir’; Amin Elshad oglu Piriyev, born in 2005 and known as ‘Abdurashid’; and Elvin Sanan oglu Alizadeh, born in 2005 and using the alias ‘Abdurrahman al-Azari.’

The SSS reported that the individuals had established criminal links with members of the ISIS terrorist organization’s ‘Wilayat Khorasan’ armed wing. Acting as a premeditated group, they allegedly acquired items intended to be used as weapons to carry out a terrorist attack on a foreign state’s embassy in Azerbaijan.

The suspects were detained by SSS officers as they approached the area where the embassy is located.

A criminal case has been opened against Ilgar Guliyev, Amin Piriyev, and Elvin Alizadeh under Articles 28 and 214.2.1, 28 and 214.2.3, and 28 and 214.2.6 of the Criminal Code of the Republic of Azerbaijan. The charges relate to preparing an act of terrorism motivated by religious hostility, committed by a group acting in prior collusion and involving the use of objects as weapons.

By a court decision, all three individuals have been placed under pretrial detention. Investigative and operational measures in the case are currently ongoing.

The Chinese company Eyou Robot Technology has inaugurated a factory dedicated to the production of joints for humanoid robots, becoming the world’s first specialized facility of its kind, Azernews reports.

Located in Shanghai, the factory is designed to produce up to 100,000 joints per year, with the potential to expand production by threefold. Eyou Robot Technology estimates that these joint modules account for roughly 50% of the total cost of a single humanoid robot, highlighting their critical role in the industry.

The expansion of production is expected to strengthen the company’s position in the market ahead of the anticipated start of mass sales of humanoid robots. By focusing on supplying key components, the manufacturer aims to secure a strategic niche before the large-scale growth of the humanoid robotics industry.

Previously, Chinese engineers reported in the journal Science Advances on the development of a new type of robotic limb that mimics the structure of human leg bones. According to researchers, hundreds of research and engineering teams worldwide are currently working to enhance humanoid robots, from improving mobility and dexterity to integrating AI-powered perception systems.

Experts suggest that advances like Eyou Robot Technology’s joint modules could significantly accelerate the adoption of humanoid robots in industries ranging from healthcare and eldercare to logistics and personal assistance. Some even predict that these robots may become commonplace in urban households within the next decade, transforming daily life in ways previously imagined only in science fiction.

The next meeting of the Azerbaijan-United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland Interparliamentary Relations Working Group was held in London, marking a renewed phase in parliamentary engagement between the two countries, Azernews reports.

The Azerbaijani delegation was led by Fariz Ismayilzadeh, Member of Parliament and head of the working group. During the visit, Ismayilzadeh held meetings with four British MPs, focusing on the current state and future prospects of bilateral parliamentary cooperation.

Beyond parliamentary contacts, the Azerbaijani delegation also engaged with leading think tanks and research institutions, including the Royal United Services Institute (RUSI) and the International Institute for Strategic Studies (IISS). Discussions covered regional security dynamics, geopolitical developments, and Azerbaijan’s role in broader Euro-Atlantic and Eurasian contexts.

Speaking about the visit, Ismayilzadeh noted that this was his second trip to London as head of the working group and emphasized the significance of restarting its activities after a prolonged pause.

‘The activities of the working group have been resumed after a long break. We achieved this after our chairmanship and certain efforts of our parliament,’ he said.

The meeting is seen as a step toward revitalizing Azerbaijan-UK parliamentary ties, strengthening dialogue not only at the legislative level but also with influential policy and security communities in the United Kingdom.

United States President Donald Trump suggested on Tuesday that “you wouldn’t have Israel” without his administration and the strikes the US carried out on Iran last year, Azernews reports.

He repeated that the US has sent a “big armada” toward Iran, stating that it is bigger than the flotilla that intercepted boats leaving Venezuela. He also reiterated that “hopefully we won’t have to use it.”

Trump told WABC radio that he would “love to see” New York Mayor Zohran Mamdani succeed and “make New York successful.”

He added that Mamdani has a “really good personality and tremendous assets,” but argued that he has “policies and concepts that haven’t worked.”