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The 14th Gabala International Music Festival opened on 24 July with a grand ceremony honouring the 140th anniversary of Azerbaijani composer Uzeyir Hajibeyli.
The event, nestled in the heart of Azerbaijan brings together global performers for a week of concerts across classical, folk, jazz, and opera genres.
Organised by the Heydar Aliyev Foundation, with support from the Ministry of Culture, the Baku Music Academy, and “Gilan,” this year’s edition marks Hajibeyli’s 140th anniversary, to whom the festival is dedicated.
The ceremony was attended by senior government officials including Farah Aliyeva, Anar Alakbarov, and Culture Minister Adil Karimli, alongside prominent public figures and music lovers from across the region.
Festival Artistic Director and People’s Artist Farhad Badalbeyli underlined the event’s growing role as a cultural bridge since its inception in 2009, highlighting its mission to foster international musical dialogue and spiritual unity.
The opening concert featured the Azerbaijan State Orchestra of Folk Instruments conducted by Aghaverdi Pashayev and the Choir of the Azerbaijan State Song and Dance Ensemble.
The evening began with Hajibeyli’s “Jangi” and included pieces by Said Rustamov, Vasif Adigozalov, Fikret Amirov, and others, blending classical compositions with folk traditions.
Running until 29 July, the festival offers a rich, inclusive programme featuring performers and ensembles from Azerbaijan, Latin America, Lithuania, and Georgia.
All performances are open to the public free of charge.
China and Russia vetoed a United Nations Security Council resolution on Tuesday aimed at coordinating defensive efforts to protect commercial shipping in the Strait of Hormuz, leaving no agreed international framework for securing the vital route.
Lebanon’s Hezbollah said it had stopped firing on northern Israel and Israeli forces on Wednesday as part of a two-week ceasefire in the Middle East brokered between the United States and Iran. However, a Hezbollah lawmaker warned that the pause could collapse if Tel Aviv does not adhere to it.
Pakistan’s Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif said Iran and the United States, along with their allies, have agreed to an immediate two-week ceasefire covering all areas, but Israel says the deal excludes Lebanon. Tel Aviv says the U.S. is committed to achieving shared goals in upcoming negotiations.
Construction has begun on a major new solar power project in Xizang, as China continues to expand its renewable energy capacity and push towards a greener future.
Iran suggested it would be "unreasonable" to proceed with talks to forge a permanent peace deal with the U.S. after Israel pounded Lebanon with its heaviest strikes yet on Wednesday, killing hundreds of people. The warning came from Iran's lead negotiator, parliament speaker Mohammed Bager Qalibaf.
Afghanistan and Pakistan have agreed to continue dialogue and avoid steps that could worsen tensions after China-hosted talks in Urumqi, with Kabul and Beijing saying the meetings focused on easing differences and improving relations.
Lithuania’s Prime Minister’s visit to Azerbaijan on 9 April signals a deepening strategic dialogue between Baku and European partners. Analysts say economic interests and geopolitical shifts are driving closer engagement.
Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni said on Thursday (9 April) that restoring freedom of navigation in the Strait of Hormuz is a vital interest for both Italy and the European Union, pledging coordination with international partners to ensure safe passage.
Kazakhstan says oil exports via the Caspian Pipeline Consortium (CPC) remain stable after drone strikes on facilities near Novorossiysk, despite damage to key infrastructure and rising risks to a major export route.
Israel launched its heaviest strikes on Lebanon since hostilities escalated last month, killing over 100 people, even as Hezbollah halted attacks under a disputed U.S.-Iran ceasefire.
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