Category: Azer News

In the midst of the global race for AI dominance, Chinese tech companies are offering record-breaking salaries to attract top talent. According to sources, ByteDance (owner of TikTok) and Tencent have significantly increased their budgets for salaries and bonuses to secure leading AI experts, Azernews reports.

ByteDance has reportedly boosted its employee bonus fund by 35% compared to last year and is planning a future salary increase of up to 150%. Tencent, meanwhile, has been actively recruiting high-caliber specialists from competitors, sometimes offering salaries twice as high as their current pay.

Recently, Tencent announced the hiring of Yao Shunyu, a former OpenAI researcher, as its new chief AI scientist-a move that underscores the company’s commitment to building cutting-edge AI capabilities.

However, industry observers note that this ‘golden age’ for AI professionals sharply contrasts with the broader tech sector, which has seen significant layoffs. In the first half of 2025 alone, more than 100,000 technology workers lost their jobs worldwide, highlighting the growing divide between highly specialized AI talent and the general workforce.

Analysts suggest that this trend may intensify global competition in AI, as Chinese companies strive to secure talent that could give them a decisive edge in areas ranging from natural language processing to autonomous systems.

Former Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores, will face criminal prosecution following an indictment issued in New York, the U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi has said.

Azernews reports that Bondi announced the development in a post on the social media platform X, stating that Maduro and Flores would be held criminally liable in connection with the charges brought against them in New York.

In her post, Bondi emphasized that the couple would soon face ‘the full force of American justice’ on U.S. soil and in American courts.

Earlier, U.S. President Donald Trump announced that Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro and his wife had been detained and removed from the country. Trump said the United States had carried out a ‘successful large-scale operation’ against Venezuela and its leader.

A state of emergency has been declared in Venezuela, according to an official statement from the country’s authorities, Azernews reports, citing international media outlets.

The corresponding decree was signed by President Nicolás Maduro.

According to Venezuela’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, President Maduro has ordered the implementation of the decree to ensure the protection of citizens’ rights, guarantee the full functioning of republican institutions, and enable an immediate transition to armed response measures across the country.

Earlier on Saturday morning, residents of Caracas reported hearing loud explosions, the roar of aircraft flying overhead, and observing at least one column of smoke rising into the air.

Witnesses also said that power outages were recorded in the southern part of the capital, near a major military base, adding to concerns over the rapidly deteriorating security situation.

The National Hydrometeorology Service has issued a yellow alert for strong winds expected on January 4 in Baku, the Absheron Peninsula, and several other regions, Azernews reports.

According to the Service, westerly winds will blow in Baku, the Absheron Peninsula, and the districts of Dashkasan, Ganja, Samukh, Goranboy, Naftalan, Neftchala, Khizi, Mingachevir, Oghuz, Shaki, Shamakhi, and Gobustan. Wind speeds are expected to reach 13.9-20.7 meters per second.

Residents are advised to exercise caution, especially in exposed areas, and secure any loose objects that could be affected by the strong winds.

President of the United States Donald J. Trump has announced that Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro and his wife have been captured and removed from the country. The statement was made via Trump’s official account on the social media platform Truth Social, Azernews reports.

In his post, Trump declared:

‘The United States of America has successfully carried out a large-scale strike against Venezuela and its leader, President Nicolás Maduro, who has been, along with his wife, captured and flown out of the country. This operation was done in conjunction with U.S. Law Enforcement. Details to follow. There will be a News Conference today at 11 A.M., at Mar-a-Lago. Thank you for your attention to this matter!’

The announcement has sparked immediate global attention due to its geopolitical significance. Trump emphasized that the operation was conducted in coordination with U.S. law enforcement agencies and promised further details at a scheduled press conference.

As of now, no official statements have been released by Venezuelan authorities. The international community is closely monitoring developments surrounding this unprecedented event.

Saudi Arabia’s Ministry of Hajj and Umrah has strongly urged all Hajj missions worldwide to complete Hajj registration procedures at an earlier stage, as preparations for the upcoming pilgrimage season intensify.

According to Azernews, the announcement was made by Vusal Jahangiri, Head of the Foreign Relations Department of the Caucasus Muslims Office (CMO) and supervisor of the Hajj electronic system.

Jahangiri said that the visa issuance process will begin on the first day of Ramadan and is expected to be completed within one and a half months.

He also called on Azerbaijani citizens intending to perform Hajj to register without delay, stressing the importance of timely applications.

‘Regardless of whether the quota is filled or not, the acceptance of documents will end on February 15, 2026,’ Jahangiri said.

The statement underscores the stricter timeline set by Saudi authorities as part of efforts to streamline Hajj organization and ensure smoother logistical planning.

The Azerbaijan Trade Unions Confederation (AHIK) is holding a series of festive celebrations in Baku for children in connection with December 31 – World Azerbaijanis Solidarity Day and the New Year.

AHIK told Azernews that the events are aimed at ensuring children enjoy their leisure time in a meaningful and engaging way, while creating a joyful atmosphere and lasting memories for young participants. The festively decorated venues, adorned with colorful lights and New Year-themed ornaments, have attracted significant interest from children thanks to specially designed entertainment programs.

The cheerful interactions of Father Frost and the Snow Maiden, along with dancing around the New Year tree together with children, added to the festive spirit and brought smiles to young faces.

Vibrant musical performances and entertaining stage shows further heightened the holiday mood. Children, particularly those entrusted to society as the legacy of fallen heroes, enjoyed themselves freely in a caring and warm environment, experiencing moments of genuine happiness.

It was also noted that Azerbaijan’s trade unions are organizing similar celebrations for orphans and children deprived of parental care at children’s homes and boarding schools across various cities and regions of the country.

The Trump administration demonstrated a clear commitment to Azerbaijan’s peace agenda, according to Hikmet Hajiyev, Assistant to the President of Azerbaijan and Head of the Foreign Policy Affairs Department of the Presidential Administration, Azernews reports.

Speaking to The Washington Times, Hajiyev said the prompt response of the U.S. President to Azerbaijan’s peace initiatives should be positively assessed. The remarks were made in an article focusing on peace-building efforts between Azerbaijan and Armenia, steps toward lifting the Section 907 amendment in the U.S. Congress, Azerbaijan’s relations with Russia, and Azerbaijan-Israel ties.

Hajiyev stressed that the continued existence of Section 907 works against peace, noting that both Baku and Yerevan are actively striving to strengthen stability in the region.

‘Both governments, Azerbaijan and Armenia, are working intensively to consolidate peace. However, some members of Congress introduce legislative acts that are completely unnecessary and contain seeds of discrimination,’ he said.

He also stated that the Biden-Blinken administration damaged Azerbaijan-U.S. relations, contrasting its approach with the warmer ties seen during Donald Trump’s presidency.

‘Unfortunately, there were many misunderstandings with the Biden and Blinken administration, and they caused significant harm to relations,’ Hajiyev noted.

He recalled that the Biden administration reinstated the Section 907 restrictions immediately after the conclusion of the Afghanistan mission.

As an example of positive cooperation with the Trump administration, Hajiyev highlighted its decisive role in advancing the Southern Gas Corridor, which enabled Caspian gas to reach European markets during Trump’s first term.

Touching upon Azerbaijan’s efforts to build economic relations with Armenia, Hajiyev pointed to exports of oil products and the facilitation of grain transit to Armenian markets.

‘This may seem symbolic, but beyond symbolism there are truly important geopolitical nuances. We are building peace not only with the Armenian government, but also with the Armenian people,’ he said.

Emphasizing Azerbaijan’s longstanding tradition of religious tolerance, Hajiyev described the country as a natural partner for the West in an unstable region.

‘Jewish, Christian, and Muslim communities have lived side by side here for centuries. This is our tradition and our identity. We have an even stronger determination for our peace agenda, and we have the full support of the Trump administration,’ he concluded.

On January 2, rainy and windy weather conditions are being observed across most regions of Azerbaijan, Azernews reports, citing the information released by the National Hydrometeorological Service (NHS).

NHS states that snowfall is currently recorded in several areas. Snow depth has reached 38 cm in Shahbuz, 25 cm in Gakh, 20 cm in Gusar and Gadabay, 18 cm in Zagatala (Alibey village), 13 cm in Dashkasan, 10 cm in Khinalig and Gryz, 9 cm in Shahdag, 6 cm in Goygol and Sadarak, 5 cm in Kalbajar, Lachin, Gubadli and Shaki, 3 cm in Guba, Khalatan and Ordubad, 2 cm in Jeyranchol and Nakhchivan, and 1 cm in Gobustan, Ismayilli, Oghuz, Gabala, Altigach, Shamakhi, Shabran, Balakan, Julfa, Shusha and Khankendi.

Strong westerly winds are blowing in some parts of the country. Wind speeds have reached up to 28 m/s in Baku and on the Absheron Peninsula, 23 m/s in Goranboy and Tartar, 20 m/s in Barda, Neftchala, Shahdag, Naftalan and Shabran, 18 m/s in Dashkasan, Mingachevir, Ganja and Aghdam, 17 m/s in Kalbajar, and up to 15 m/s in Shaki.

Fog has been observed in Sharur, Khalatan, Dashkasan, Goygol, Ganja, Shaki, Gakh, Shamakhi, Gryz, Goychay, Yardimli and Lerik, with visibility reduced to up to 500 meters.

Weather conditions are expected to gradually improve starting January 3, with mostly dry weather forecast across the country and a gradual rise in temperatures.

President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev has sent a letter of condolence to Guy Parmelin, President of the Swiss Confederation, Azernews reports.

“Dear Mr. President,

We were deeply saddened by the news of the fire in Crans-Montana that claimed numerous lives.

In connection with this tragedy, on my own behalf and on behalf of the people of Azerbaijan, I extend my profound condolences to Your Excellency, to the families and loved ones of the victims, and to the entire people of Switzerland. I wish a speedy recovery to those injured,” the letter reads.