live Iran closes Strait of Hormuz again over U.S. blockade, state media says- Saturday 18 April
Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps (IRGC) said in a Saturday statement that the Strait of Hormuz has...
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.
The past 24 hours of the Russia-Ukraine war have seen a drastic escalation in both aerial bombardment and frontline losses.
Iran reopened the Strait of Hormuz to commercial shipping on Friday (17 April) for the first time since the U.S. and Israel killed Iran's ex-Supreme Leader in air strikes, triggering the Middle East conflict, at the end of February. A U.S. blockade on Iranian ports, however, remains in force.
Russia published addresses of manufacturers allegedly producing drones or components for Ukraine on Wednesday (15 April), warning European countries against plans to step up UAV supplies to Kyiv.
Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps (IRGC) said in a Saturday statement that the Strait of Hormuz has returned to its "previous state" under the control of its "armed forces," citing the ongoing U.S. blockade on Iranian ports.
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An average of at least 47 women and girls were killed each day during the war in Gaza, according to new figures released by UN Women.
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A low-profile diplomatic visit to Tbilisi may prove more consequential than it first appears, as representatives of France, Germany and Poland meet figures across Georgia’s political spectrum, signalling that Brussels is watching closely ahead of a key EU foreign ministers’ meeting.
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