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.
China’s population has declined for the fourth consecutive year, underscoring the country’s deepening demographic challenges.
Azernews reports that in 2025, the population fell by 3.39 million, bringing the total number of residents down to 1.405 billion, according to official data.
The report shows that 7.92 million babies were born in China last year, marking the lowest number of births recorded in decades. At the same time, the number of deaths rose to 11.31 million, exceeding the previous year’s figure and further accelerating the population decline.
China’s population began shrinking in 2022 for the first time in more than 60 years, ending a long period of demographic growth. That year, the population decreased by 850,000, followed by a combined decline of over 3 million in the subsequent two years. The trend has continued despite government efforts to encourage childbirth, including financial incentives, extended parental leave, and relaxed family planning policies.
Experts warn that the sustained population decline could have long-term implications for China’s economic growth, labor market, and social welfare system. A shrinking workforce and a rapidly aging population are expected to place additional pressure on public finances and healthcare services, raising concerns about the country’s ability to maintain stable growth in the coming decades.
On January 24th, during the Libya Energy and Economy Summit in Tripoli, Patrick Pouyanné, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of TotalEnergies, signed an agreement extending the Waha Concessions up to December 31, 2050, in the presence of Abdul Hamid Dbeiba, Prime Minister of the Government of National Unity, Azernews reports.
This agreement sets new fiscal terms allowing to increase the production of these concessions that are currently producing around 370,000 barrels of oil equivalent per day (boe/d). Therefore, it paves the way for a new phase of investments, including the development of the North Gialo field, which is expected to add 100,000 boe/d of production.
‘As we celebrate 70 years of presence in Libya, we are pleased to sign this agreement, and I would like to thank the Libyan authorities for their continued support, in particular Dr. Khalifa Rajab Abdulsadek, Minister of Oil and Gas of Libya and Masoud Suleman, Chairman of the National Oil Corporation (NOC), Present in the country since 1956, TotalEnergies reaffirms its long-standing commitment to working alongside its partners to increase Waha’s production, starting with the development of the North Gialo field. Extending the Waha concession, with its low cost and low emission giant resources offering many opportunities to grow production, fits perfectly with our strategy’ said Patrick Pouyanné, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of TotalEnergies.
***
TotalEnergies in Libya
TotalEnergies has been present in Libya since 1956. In 2025, the Company’s production in the country averaged 113,000 barrels of oil equivalent per day, from the offshore Al Jurf field (TotalEnergies 37.5%), the onshore El Sharara area (TotalEnergies 15% in former Block NC 115 and 12% in former Block NC 186), and the onshore Waha concessions (TotalEnergies 20.42%). The Waha concessions are held by NOC (59.16%), TotalEnergies (20.42%) and ConocoPhillips (20.42%) and are operated by Waha Oil Company (WOC), a company 100% owned by NOC.
The Azerbaijan Film Agency (ARKA), under the Culture Ministry has become a driving force behind the country’s cinematic growth, fostering talent and helping local filmmakers bring their visions to life, Azernews reports.
The agency plays a significant role in encouraging filmmakers to tell diverse stories, contributing to the dynamic growth of the national cinematigraphy.
Continuing this mission, ARKA has revealed the winners of the 2025 “Film Projects to Be Produced with State Support” competition.
Agreements have already been signed with the companies behind these promising projects, marking an important step in bringing fresh cinematic voices to audiences both at home and abroad.
Among the selected works is “People Without Shadows” (Kölg?siz Adamlar), a short animated film produced by HochazFilm Creative Studio.
Peri Film MMC will bring two projects to life: the short animated film “Under the Same Rain” (Eyni Yagisin Altinda) and the student short animation “The Game” (Oyun).
From the world of fiction cinema, “Light” (Isiq), a short film by Kinobiz MMC, and “Woodpecker” (Agacd?l?n), a short fiction film by Karvan Production MMC, will also be produced with state support.
Completing the lineup is “Harsh Beauty” (S?rt Göz?llik), a documentary film developed by OD Media-Production MMC.
These projects reflect the growing diversity and creativity of Azerbaijani cinema, highlighting the country’s commitment to supporting filmmakers across genres and formats.
With ARKA’s backing, these films promise to enrich the national film scene and strengthen Azerbaijan’s presence on the international cinematic stage.
The Azerbaijan Cinema Agency (ARKA) is an official institution that plays a central role in the development of the country’s film industry. Its primary responsibilities include supporting the production and promotion of national films, organising film festivals, providing financial support for film projects, and preserving the cultural heritage of Azerbaijani cinema.
ARKA works closely with the Culture Ministry to implement governmental policies regarding cinema, and its activities help boost Azerbaijan’s representation in the international film community.
The agency also encourages collaborations with international partners and supports emerging filmmakers, contributing significantly to the development and visibility of Azerbaijani cinema on the global stage.
Healthcare systems worldwide are facing increasing structural pressure driven by the simultaneous growth of clinical data volumes, rising case complexity, and the necessity of making decisions under strict time constraints. These dynamics increasingly expose a systemic mismatch between the amount of available medical information and the capacity to operationalize it effectively within clinical reasoning. In many cases, clinical understanding emerges only after critical decisions have already been made.
As medicine transitions toward a data-driven model, the central challenge is no longer the accumulation of additional data but rather the reduction of the gap between information and clinical understanding. The ability to translate accumulated data into actionable medical decisions at the right moment has become a defining factor in healthcare system efficiency.
In response to this challenge, the AIdMD artificial intelligence platform was developed. Founded by Azerbaijani developers Vagif and Yunus Kazimli, Yusif Gurbanli, and Hamza Shah, and built in the United States, AIdMD is currently undergoing practical clinical evaluation within one of the world’s most demanding healthcare systems. Its emergence demonstrates the capacity of Azerbaijani specialists to create technological solutions that meet real-world clinical, regulatory, and operational standards.
AIdMD is designed to support physicians in managing complex clinical information. The platform transforms fragmented medical data into structured clinical summaries, automatically documents patient encounters through an AI scribe, generates medical documentation, and supports clinical reasoning through systematic information organization. Its functionality includes the generation of differential diagnostic hypotheses, preparation of preliminary assessment and plan drafts, and identification of potential risks and gaps in care delivery. Critically, the physician’s leading role and full responsibility for clinical decision-making are preserved at all times.
(More information: www.aidmdusa.com)
Unlike solutions focused on narrow, task-specific automation, AIdMD was conceived from the outset as a holistic clinical AI layer. Regardless of the deployment model-whether as an intelligent overlay on existing healthcare IT systems or as a fully AI-native platform-the system is designed to accelerate clinical understanding, enhance information transparency, and support evidence-based decisions directly during the clinical encounter. This approach reflects the premise that clinical intelligence cannot be fragmented without compromising the quality of care.
While modern medicine generates vast volumes of data, clinical insight often emerges with a delay. The AIdMD concept seeks to minimize this gap by providing physicians with clear, structured, and clinically relevant information precisely at the moment it influences medical decision-making.
Clinical and Operational Discipline as the Platform’s Foundation
AIdMD was developed at the intersection of clinical practice and entrepreneurial experience. From its earliest stages, the platform was built in close collaboration with practicing physicians and professionals experienced in developing and scaling technological solutions. This approach enabled the incorporation of real-world clinical scenarios into the system architecture while ensuring the operational robustness required for routine medical practice rather than experimental use.
A defining feature of the platform is its deliberate avoidance of opaque automation in clinical decision-making. Instead, the system highlights clinically meaningful context, draws attention to potential risks, and supports routine tasks, thereby reducing physicians’ cognitive load. By minimizing the number of required actions, reducing interface switching, and prioritizing information more effectively, the platform enables clinicians to focus on the core elements of clinical judgment-diagnosis, treatment planning, and patient interaction.
At the core of the platform’s philosophy is the recognition that the essence of medicine lies in clinical judgment. The architecture of AIdMD was therefore designed to eliminate factors that interfere with this judgment and to allow physicians to concentrate on meaningful clinical decision-making. This physician-centered approach facilitated the platform’s transition from a conceptual model to practical clinical evaluation.
Initial Results in the U.S. Market
AIdMD is currently expanding its presence within the U.S. healthcare system. The platform is undergoing practical evaluation in private medical practices and clinical teams in the state of Florida-a region that encapsulates key characteristics of American healthcare, including patient diversity, the predominance of independent clinics, and a complex regulatory environment.
Clinical evaluation focuses primarily on applied outcomes: reducing documentation burden, accelerating comprehension of patient medical histories, and achieving seamless integration into existing workflows. This evaluation framework reflects the conservative nature of medical organizations, for which reliability, predictability, and real-world applicability take precedence over technological novelty.
The growth of AIdMD is driven not by marketing metrics but by the system’s practical value. The company deliberately avoids aggressive promotion-based scaling, instead prioritizing systematic clinical feedback, incremental functional refinement, and operational readiness. Updates on the platform’s development are published on AIdMD’s official LinkedIn page:
https://www.linkedin.com/company/aidmd/
Engineering for Real-World Healthcare Environments
The engineering logic behind AIdMD was shaped by the requirements of mission-critical systems that must operate predictably even under maximum load. Team members bring experience from organizations such as NASA, JPMorgan, M3 USA, and Amazon, directly influencing the platform’s architectural, reliability, and security standards.
The platform analyzes patient medical histories, laboratory results, prescriptions, and prior encounters to identify clinically significant signals. Interaction with the system occurs through natural language, with outputs integrated into clinical documentation and workflows. Artificial intelligence is employed not as a replacement for human expertise, but as a means of structuring complexity and reducing operational friction.
A brief explanatory video is available at:
Significance for Azerbaijan
Despite its current focus on the U.S. market, AIdMD’s development trajectory holds strategic relevance for Azerbaijan. Many countries are currently choosing between incremental modernization of fragmented healthcare IT systems and the creation of unified, cloud-based clinical platforms designed from the outset for analytics and artificial intelligence.
For countries where electronic health record implementation remains incomplete or fragmented, this presents an opportunity not merely to catch up but to transition directly to the next generation of AI-enabled healthcare systems. Given its centralized governance model and declared digital priorities, Azerbaijan is structurally well positioned to evaluate such approaches.
The implementation of intelligent clinical infrastructure may lead to more efficient resource utilization, reduced administrative burden, and earlier identification of population-level risks. Beyond clinical benefits, these systems offer economic and strategic advantages by lowering long-term operational costs, reducing service duplication, and improving planning quality through more comprehensive and accurate medical data. At the same time, they strengthen data security and digital sovereignty in alignment with national interests.
More Than a Single Company’s Story
The story of AIdMD extends beyond an individual corporate case and reflects a broader trend of Azerbaijani professionals contributing to the development of complex, high-load systems at a global level. In healthcare-where time, accuracy, and decision quality directly affect long-term outcomes-such approaches are poised to shape the next phase of digital medicine.
For Azerbaijan, projects of this nature represent not only professional recognition but also a tangible opportunity to study, evaluate, and potentially adopt scalable, physician-centered, and intelligently integrated healthcare models.
Ingilab Mammadov
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Asian nations tighten border controls amid Nipah virus cluster in India
26 January 2026 20:42 (UTC+04:00)
In response to reports of a Nipah virus cluster in Kolkata, India, Hong Kong authorities are stepping up health precautions for inbound travelers, while closely monitoring developments in the region, Azernews reports.
The Centre for Health Protection (CHP) of the Department of Health (DH) announced on January 26 that it has requested updated information from the World Health Organization (WHO) and Indian health authorities. Health screenings are being conducted on travelers arriving from the affected area who display possible symptoms, with suspected cases being referred promptly to hospitals for investigation. Currently, Hong Kong has reported no imported or local Nipah virus cases.
Preliminary reports indicate that a hospital in West Bengal has recorded five confirmed cases since mid-January, primarily among healthcare workers through nosocomial transmission. No deaths or cross-border transmissions have been reported so far. Around 100 close contacts have been quarantined and tested in India. The CHP assesses the risk of importation to Hong Kong as low.
Background on Nipah virus
First identified during 1998-1999 outbreaks in Malaysia and Singapore, the Nipah virus primarily affects humans who have close contact with infected animals, particularly pigs. Other animals, such as horses, goats, sheep, cats, and dogs, can also be infected. In India and Bangladesh, outbreaks typically occur between December and April, with fruit bats as the natural reservoir. Transmission to humans usually occurs through consumption of food contaminated by bat saliva, urine, or droppings – particularly raw date palm sap – or via close contact with infected persons in household or healthcare settings.
Dr. Edwin Tsui, Controller of the CHP, explained that early symptoms can mimic the flu, including fever, headache, vomiting, sore throat, and muscle aches, while severe cases may develop pneumonia, seizures, encephalitis, coma, or death. Fatality rates range from 40% to 75%, and some survivors may experience long-term neurological complications. There is currently no specific treatment, and care is limited to supportive measures.
Hong Kong’s precautionary measures
The CHP emphasized that Hong Kong has robust surveillance and medical assessment systems at boundary control points and hospitals. While there are no direct flights from Kolkata to Hong Kong, authorities have arranged temperature screenings, medical assessments, and referral protocols for travelers arriving from India as a precautionary measure.
‘Hong Kong has the ability to detect infections of unknown causes and emerging infectious diseases at boundary control points and in hospitals,’ Dr. Tsui said. ‘We will continue to monitor the situation and step up measures as necessary to safeguard public health.’
The move comes as neighboring Asian countries have implemented stringent control measures, including military deployment and travel restrictions, in response to the outbreak in India.
Azerbaijan and the World Bank have reviewed potential areas of cooperation to support the country’s green economy transition, Azernews reports.
According to Economy Minister Mikayil Jabbarov, the discussions took place during a meeting with Charles Cormier, the World Bank’s Regional Director for Infrastructure for Europe and Central Asia, and Roland Price, Regional Director for the South Caucasus.
In a post on his X social media account, Jabbarov said the sides expressed satisfaction with the productive cooperation between Azerbaijan and the World Bank. He noted that the meeting included an assessment of the implementation status of ongoing joint projects.
The discussions covered initiatives in urban development, the regional prospects of the Middle Corridor, urban mobility, renewable energy, as well as potential World Bank support for green economy transition initiatives in Azerbaijan.
On Monday, the Council of the European Union reached an agreement on rules to ban the import of Russian gas, according to a statement from the EU press service, Azernews reports.
‘Today, the 27 member states of the European Union officially approved rules prohibiting the import of both liquefied natural gas (LNG) and pipeline-delivered natural gas from Russia,’ the statement said.
Under the agreement, the ban on LNG imports will take effect in early 2027, while the ban on pipeline gas imports will begin in the fall of 2027.
In addition, the European Commission plans to propose legislation for a gradual phase-out of Russian oil imports by the end of 2027, signaling a broader strategy to reduce the EU’s reliance on Russian energy.
Analysts note that this decision marks a significant step in the EU’s energy transition, pushing member states to accelerate investments in alternative energy sources and diversify suppliers. It also reflects the ongoing geopolitical tensions, demonstrating how energy policy and international relations are increasingly intertwined in Europe’s strategic planning.
Horrifying figures have surfaced regarding the number of people killed during the mass protests that swept Iran in December-January, sharply reigniting debate over the true scale of violence used to suppress nationwide unrest.
Azernews reports that Time magazine, citing senior officials from Iran’s Ministry of Health, claims the death toll from clashes that occurred on January 8 and 9 alone may have reached as many as 30,000 people. According to the publication, these two days marked one of the deadliest episodes of the protest movement, which had already spread across multiple provinces and involved thousands of demonstrators.
The report paints a grim picture of the aftermath of the violence. Hospitals were reportedly overwhelmed by the number of casualties, running out of body bags as morgues exceeded capacity. Witnesses and officials cited by Time stated that tractor-trailers and large trucks were used to transport bodies due to a severe shortage of ambulances, highlighting the scale of the crisis faced by medical facilities.
The protests, which erupted amid widespread public anger over economic hardship, political repression, and social restrictions, were met with a heavy security response. According to the report, security forces used lethal force against demonstrators, resulting in mass casualties within a very short timeframe.
These claims stand in stark contrast to Iran’s official narrative. Iranian Foreign Minister Seyyed Abbas Araghchi has stated that 3,117 people were killed during the unrest, asserting that 690 of them were identified as ‘terrorists.’ Iranian authorities have consistently rejected higher casualty estimates, describing them as exaggerated or politically motivated.
The Board of the Mirvarid Dilbazi Poetry Society Public Union has convened to review the organization’s accomplishments in 2025 and to prepare its program of activities for 2026, Azernews reports.
The meeting highlighted the Union’s numerous literary and cultural projects over the past year, including poetry nights, commemorative events, and public gatherings.
The Board praised the Society’s efforts to promote the legacy of Mirvarid Dilbazi, engage young people in literature, and preserve the nation’s spiritual and cultural values.
During the session, Board members Vusal Sehranoglu, Taleh Aliyev, Sevil Huseynova (mother of martyr Zaur Ismayilzade), Fakhreddin Mahmudov, Vagif Osmanli, Turan Ibrahimov, Terlan Musayeva, Aybeniz Jamalova, Tarkhanim Musayibgizi, Lale Ismayil, Birliyant Atesh, Sayali Dadashova, Azade Guliyeva, Qulu Ismayilov, Gulnara Mammadova, and Polad Aga Ibrahimov noted that since its establishment, the Mirvarid Dilbazi Poetry Society has made remarkable progress.
They emphasized that the public highly appreciates the Union’s work in honoring martyrs, visiting elderly homes, and promoting Azerbaijan’s spiritual and cultural values both domestically and internationally.
The Board also highlighted the support of the state in promoting national values, citing the establishment of the Mirvarid Dilbazi Poetry Society club at the Vali Mammadov Cultural Center under the Baku City Department of Culture, with Gullu Eldar Tomarli appointed as its head.
Looking ahead, the Society approved the 2026 annual activity and events program for the newly formed club. Plans include continued commemorations of martyrs, meetings with war veterans, a series of events marking the 25th anniversary of the passing of People’s Poet Mirvarid Dilbazi, a memorial evening for martyr Vali Mammadov, and other cultural and social initiatives.
The meeting also announced the appointment of director and composer Polad Aga Ibrahimov as head of the Society’s Youth Department.
In conclusion, the Board stressed that in the coming period, the Mirvarid Dilbazi Poetry Society Public Union will further expand its activities, continuing to promote national literature, poetry, and spiritual values while prioritizing new projects and initiatives that enrich the country’s literary and cultural landscape.
Taiwan’s Centers for Disease Control (CDC) has announced plans to classify Nipah virus infection as a Category 5 notifiable disease, following a recent outbreak in India that has heightened regional and global health concerns, Azernews reports via Taiwanese media.
According to CNA, CDC officials said on Sunday that a proposed amendment to Taiwan’s infectious disease control measures was released on January 16, formally initiating the process to add Nipah virus infection to the Category 5 list. The proposal will now undergo a 60-day public consultation period before it can take effect.
Nipah virus has been under priority surveillance in Taiwan since 2018, but it has not previously been classified as a notifiable disease. CDC data show that globally more than 750 cases have been reported since the virus was first identified in 1998, with a fatality rate of around 58 percent, making it one of the deadliest known zoonotic viruses.
If designated as a Category 5 disease, Nipah virus would be categorized as an emerging or rare infection posing major public health risks. This status would require immediate reporting of suspected cases and the implementation of special control and containment measures.
The move comes amid efforts by Indian authorities to contain a Nipah virus outbreak in the eastern state of West Bengal, where five infections had been confirmed as of January 19, according to CDC Deputy Director-General Lin Ming-cheng. Nearly 100 people have reportedly been placed under quarantine as part of containment efforts.
Despite the outbreak, Lin said Taiwan is maintaining a Level 2 ‘yellow’ travel alert only for Kerala state in southwestern India, a region traditionally associated with Nipah virus cases. No travel warning has been issued for West Bengal or other areas. Under Taiwan’s four-tier travel advisory system, a Level 2 alert urges travelers to exercise heightened caution and take preventive measures but does not restrict travel.
Lin noted that travel advisories will be adjusted depending on how the outbreak develops. If community transmission is detected, alerts could be raised, while infections limited to hospital settings would prompt advice for travelers to avoid medical facilities in affected areas.
The CDC also warned that fruit bats are the natural reservoir of the Nipah virus and that coconuts contaminated by bat saliva or urine pose a significant infection risk. Travelers to India were urged to avoid raw or unheated foods and beverages, with particular caution against consuming raw coconut juice.
According to the CDC, Nipah virus can spread to humans through contact with infected bats or animals such as pigs, as well as via respiratory droplets or direct contact with bodily fluids. Limited human-to-human transmission has also been documented. Symptoms can range from no signs of illness to severe respiratory disease and fatal encephalitis, underscoring the virus’s serious public health threat.