AnewZ Morning Brief - 17 January, 2026
Start your day informed with AnewZ Morning Brief: here are the top news stories for the 17th of January, covering the latest developments you need to ...
Azerbaijan is strengthening its role in international energy projects through foreign investment, Azerbaijan’s Foreign Minister Jeyhun Bayramov said on Thursday, describing the energy sector as a central pillar of the country’s economic diplomacy.
Speaking at a press conference reviewing Azerbaijan’s foreign policy outcomes for 2025, Bayramov said energy cooperation was helping the country deepen international partnerships and expand its geopolitical influence.
"Our energy sector is a key tool of economic diplomacy," he said, adding that it had enabled Azerbaijan to build long-term strategic ties with a growing number of countries.
Azerbaijan’s gas export reach has expanded significantly since 2020, Bayramov mentioned, highlighting the completion of the Southern Gas Corridor, which increased the number of countries receiving Azerbaijani gas from two to 14 within five years.
New exports began in 2025, with Azerbaijan supplying between one and two billion cubic metres of natural gas to Syria, marking an expansion of its regional energy engagement.
Azerbaijan is also investing in major energy projects abroad, including in the United Arab Emirates, Israel, Türkiye and Uzbekistan, initiatives Bayramov noted were creating economic opportunities while strengthening the country’s strategic reach.
More broadly, the foreign minister said Azerbaijan had pursued an independent, balanced and pragmatic foreign policy in 2025 despite complex global geopolitical conditions, reinforcing both bilateral and multilateral cooperation.
He added that economic diplomacy was closely linked to Azerbaijan’s ambition to position itself as a regional transport, energy and trade hub.
At least four people were injured after a large fire and explosions hit a residential building in the Dutch city of Utrecht, authorities said.
A railway power outage in Tokyo disrupted the morning commute for roughly 673,000 passengers on Friday (16 January) as two main lines with some of the world's busiest stations were halted after reports of a fire.
Russian President Vladimir Putin has warned that the international situation is worsening and that the world is becoming more dangerous, while avoiding public comment on events in Venezuela and Iran.
A SpaceX capsule carrying a four-member crew home from orbit in an emergency return to earth necessitated by an undisclosed serious medical condition afflicting one of the astronauts splashed down safely early on Thursday (15 January) in the Pacific Ocean off California.
President Donald Trump announced Thursday evening that the long-awaited “Board of Peace” to oversee Gaza’s reconstruction has officially been formed.
The Regional Environmental Summit 2026 will be held in Astana from 22-24 April, bringing together Central Asian countries to strengthen regional dialogue on climate and environmental challenges.
Kazakhstan has begun recalibrating its oil export logistics amid ongoing restrictions affecting the Caspian Pipeline Consortium (CPC), a vital conduit for the country’s crude supplies to global markets.
Reza Pahlavi, the exiled son of Iran’s last shah, has called for support for protesters seeking to overthrow Iran’s government. Speaking at a press conference in Washington on 16 January, Pahlavi outlined plans to return to Iran and called for action against the country’s Revolutionary Guards.
The Turkish Defence Ministry has voiced its support for recent military operations by Syrian government forces against the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), which enjoy the support of the United States.
Uzbekistan plans to establish production facilities in Qatar as part of a strategy to expand exports and strengthen its presence in Gulf markets.
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