Category: Azer News

The next Children’s Paralympic Games have been held with the support of Azercell Telecom.

The event was organized by the National Paralympic Committee of the Republic of Azerbaijan, with the support of the Ministry of Youth and Sports and the partnership of Azercell Telecom LLC, and took place at the Sumgayit Paralympic Sports Complex operated under the Social Services Agency of the Ministry of Labor and Social Protection of the Population.

This year, the Children’s Paralympic Games were held on a larger scale. A total of 130 young para-athletes competed across eight sports disciplines. The competitions were held in para judo, para table tennis, para taekwondo, para swimming, para powerlifting, para badminton, para archery, and boccia, with winners announced and awarded at the end of the event.

The primary objective of the Children’s Paralympic Games is to create favorable conditions for the development of inclusive sports in Azerbaijan, support children with disabilities in realizing their potential, and contribute to the formation of a new generation of Paralympic athletes.

Azercell Telecom has been supporting the Children’s Paralympic Movement since 2014. Thanks to the company’s sustained support, the scope of activities of the Children’s Paralympic Committee has expanded, enabling hundreds of children to engage in sports.

This initiative has not only contributed to the development of the Paralympic Movement in Azerbaijan, but has also had a positive impact on children’s physical and psychological development, increased their motivation, and strengthened their social integration.

President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev attended the opening of an office furniture and furniture accessories production facility owned by Accurate Az LLC in Ballija village of the Khojaly district on December 23, Azernews reports.

Minister of Economy Mikayil Jabbarov and Ilkin Abushov, founder of Accurate Az LLC, briefed the head of state on the facility’s operations.

The facility is equipped with advanced technologies and equipment from Trkiye, Switzerland, Germany, Italy, China, and Japan. The enterprise is expected to produce 240,000 units of office furniture of 20 different types and four million furniture accessories annually. Of the total output, 60 percent will be exported, while 40 percent will be supplied to the domestic market. All stages of office furniture production – from raw materials to finished products – will be carried out at the facility. The total value of the project amounts to 20 million manats. A preferential loan of 7 million manats was provided for its implementation by the Azerbaijan Business Development Fund under the Ministry of Economy. The facility has also benefited from concessions and incentives applied to entrepreneurs operating in the liberated territories.

The launch of the enterprise is expected to contribute to the development of the furniture production sector in Garabagh, to the expansion of local production and export potential, and to increased employment in the liberated territories. Currently, 80 permanent jobs have been created, with plans to establish up to 450 permanent jobs in subsequent stages.

Ensuring sustainable settlement in the liberated territories, stimulating private initiative, attracting investment, and creating a favorable business environment have been defined as key strategic priorities of the state. To this end, legal entities and individuals operating in these territories are exempt from profit, income, property, land, and simplified taxes for a period of 10 years starting from January 1, 2023. In addition, equipment, technological devices, installations, raw materials, and materials imported by residents of these territories for economic activities are exempt from VAT and customs duties for the same period. These measures are aimed at fostering entrepreneurship, advancing industrial development, strengthening the economy, and increasing employment opportunities.

U.S. President Donald Trump has announced plans for a new class of U.S. Navy warships that would bear his name, unveiling what he called a future ‘Trump class’ as part of a broader vision for a ‘Golden Fleet.’

Speaking on Monday at his Mar-a-Lago residence in Florida, Trump said the proposed vessels would exceed all previous American-built warships in terms of size, speed, and firepower. The programme is expected to begin with two battleships, with a long-term ambition to expand the fleet to as many as 20 to 25 ships.

Trump claimed the new vessels would be vastly more powerful than existing U.S. battleships and would symbolise a revival of American shipbuilding, which he said has weakened over recent decades.

U.S. Navy Secretary John Phelan echoed the president’s remarks, arguing that the presence of a Trump class battleship would represent unquestioned U.S. naval dominance. He described the proposed USS Defiant, shown in conceptual images during the announcement, as the largest and most lethal warship ever to operate at sea.

Both Trump and Phelan compared the planned ships to the historic Iowa class battleships, which were built for direct offensive combat using heavy artillery. Phelan said the defining characteristic of the new class would be its offensive capability, including long-range strike power and the ability to command extensive naval formations, including drones and other platforms.

Battleships once formed the backbone of naval warfare, particularly during the Second World War. The U.S. Navy’s Iowa class, among the largest ever built, displaced roughly 60,000 tonnes. Their strategic relevance declined after the war as aircraft carriers and missile systems became dominant. Although modernised in the 1980s, all Iowa class ships were retired from service by the 1990s.

For the first time since the 1990s, grain wagons have been dispatched from Russia’s Volgograd region to Armenia through Azerbaijan, Azernews reports.

According to the press service of the Volga Railways, the shipment departed from the Gmelinskaya station, marking the resumption of this transit route.

The first batch consists of eight grain wagons, which are set to be delivered to the Yerevan station.

The railway operator noted that by the end of the year, a total of thirty grain wagons, carrying more than two thousand tons of grain are planned to be transported along this route.

The Volga Railways emphasized that the launch of the new logistics service became possible following the restoration of cargo transit to Armenia via Azerbaijan.

A commission has been established in Kazakhstan, and the investigation into the incident is still ongoing. The commission’s preliminary report, prepared within a year of the incident, was presented at the end of January this year, while the final report has yet to be completed.

According to Azernews, this was stated by Ilham Amirov, Vice President of Azerbaijan Airlines (AZAL), during the presentation ceremony of a commemorative postage stamp dedicated to Flight J2-8243.

Amirov noted that the preliminary report has already confirmed that an unlawful physical interference occurred while the aircraft was in the air.

‘After the black box data was disclosed, it became clear that all three of the aircraft’s vital systems failed simultaneously. This could only have happened as a result of an external force acting on the aircraft,’ he said.

The AZAL vice president emphasized that the purpose of the event was to present a postage stamp commemorating the victims of Flight J2-8243, adding that the stamp was issued as a joint initiative of AZAL and Azerpost.

‘I worked as a pilot for 40 years. After this incident, I have put myself in the position of that crew hundreds of times. How did they manage to control the aircraft under those conditions? I still cannot find an answer. Even the aircraft manufacturers themselves are astonished,’ Amirov said.

It was also reported that proceeds from the sale of the postage stamp will be allocated to the education and other needs of the families of the martyrs.

According to Amirov, the stamp will circulate worldwide, ensuring that the memory of those who lost their lives on that flight is preserved forever.

‘Today, the ‘Great Return’ Program is the most successfully implemented return program on a global scale,’ President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev said during a meeting with residents of the Karkijahan settlement in the city of Khankendi.

‘All former displaced persons are gradually returning to their ancestral lands, including today to the settlement of Karkijahan. This return process continues,’ the head of state emphasized.

‘You lived for many years in challenging circumstances, enduring both physical and emotional hardship. Now this has come to an end. After 34 years, you are returning to your native Karkijahan. This is a great happiness both for you and for our entire people,’ President Ilham Aliyev added.

On December 23, Masoud Pezeshkian, President of the Islamic Republic of Iran, made a phone call to Ilham Aliyev, President of the Republic of Azerbaijan, Azernews reports.

The President of Iran congratulated the head of our state on his upcoming birthday, wishing him new successes in his presidential activities and good health.

President Ilham Aliyev expressed his gratitude for the attention and congratulations.

Masoud Pezeshkian fondly recalled his visits to Azerbaijan and the discussions held with the Azerbaijani leader.

During the phone conversation, the parties exchanged views on contacts planned for 2026 and the future development of Azerbaijan-Iran friendly relations.

Chinese shipbuilders have unveiled the Kaito, the world’s first super-large oil tanker powered by methanol. Spanning an impressive 333 meters in length, this cutting-edge vessel can carry up to 2.1 million barrels of crude oil, Azernews reports.

The Kaito is equipped with a dual-fuel engine and a methanol supply system, marking a significant breakthrough in sustainable shipping. By using methanol instead of traditional fuel oil, the tanker reduces carbon dioxide emissions by 92% and sulfur oxide emissions by 99%, contributing to a cleaner, more eco-friendly maritime industry.

In addition to its advanced propulsion system, the Kaito features an intelligent platform designed to optimize cargo management, engine room operations, and maintenance. This innovative technology enhances the vessel’s efficiency, safety, and overall performance, setting new standards in maritime transport.

Built by the Dalian division of the China State Shipbuilding Corporation, the Kaito is set to operate along the Middle East to Far East trade route, potentially transforming the global shipping industry with its environmentally friendly approach.

This launch not only represents a technological leap forward but also highlights China’s growing role in pioneering green technologies for global industries. The Kaito could pave the way for future ships to embrace cleaner, more sustainable fuel alternatives.

President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev met with residents relocated to the Karkijahan settlement in the city of Khankendi on December 23, Azernews reports.

Welcoming the residents, President Ilham Aliyev said:

‘I congratulate you on your return to your native land after 34 years. Thank Allah, our lands have been liberated from the occupiers, and all former displaced persons are gradually returning to their ancestral lands, including today to the settlement of Karkijahan. This return process continues, and today the ‘Great Return’ Program is the most successfully implemented return program on a global scale.

You lived for many years in difficult conditions, enduring both physical and moral suffering. Now this has come to an end. After 34 years, you are returning to your native Karkijahan. This is a great happiness both for you and for our entire people.

At the end of December 1991, the Armenian state forcibly displaced you from your ancestral land. It was the end of December then, and now, at the end of December 2025, justice has been fully restored here as well. Of course, it is not difficult to imagine how much suffering you endured during these years – both in terms of living conditions and moral torment, as well as the feeling of injustice. But I am certain that, like the entire nation, you believed that one day we would return here.

Two years ago, as a result of an anti-terror operation, the settlement of Karkijahan, together with the city of Khankendi, was liberated from the occupiers, and life is now being rebuilt here.

I visited this settlement in October. At that time, I gave instructions for the repair of houses and the school, as well as the implementation of other necessary infrastructure projects. Today, while familiarizing myself with the settlement, I see that everything has been organized at a high level. The settlement is pleasing to the eye. Of course, this is only the first stage of restoration, because during the occupation the enemy rendered the settlement uninhabitable. Many houses were in a condition unfit for living. Therefore, repair and restoration works have been carried out for nearly two years. Now, some streets have been fully renovated, houses have been brought to full readiness, and all conditions for living here have been created.

I would like to congratulate you once again wholeheartedly on this occasion. I am confident that you will live comfortably and prosperously here. The main thing is that you are on your native land.

Unfortunately, at that time, the Azerbaijani leadership was unable to protect you, failed to demonstrate political will, showed cowardice, and in fact reconciled itself with the occupation. The subsequent government worsened the situation even further. The occupation of Shusha and Lachin occurred approximately five months after the occupation of Karkijahan. Before that, the Khojaly genocide was committed. At that time, both the leadership remaining from the Soviet era and the so-called leadership associated with the popular movement effectively abandoned the people living here to their fate. They could have defended you, but they did not.

Some acted out of cowardice, while others, in their pursuit of power, created chaos and anarchy in Azerbaijan and, in many cases, through betrayal, handed over our lands to the enemy. The APF-Musavat duo that later came to power plunged the country into a deep crisis through their incompetent and treacherous actions. Civil war, the occupation of Kalbajar, and the loss of the Lachin-Khankendi road gave Armenia significant advantages and ultimately led to large-scale occupation.

We, however, worked and fought day and night to liberate our ancient lands from enemy occupation and won the war. It is true that during the Second Karabakh War we did not completely end the occupation, but we never doubted that Khankendi, Khojavend, Aghdara, Asgaran, Karkijahan, and all other settlements and cities still under occupation at that time would be liberated.

Two years ago, as a result of an anti-terror operation that lasted only a few hours, we fully ended the occupation, restored our sovereignty, permanently expelled the occupiers from our lands, and today we live in peace. This is such a glorious history that I am confident both the current and future generations will always take pride in it.

Your return here once again proves that justice exists; one simply has to ensure it. I congratulate you once again.’

x x x

The residents thanked President Ilham Aliyev for the conditions created for them.

President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev attended the opening ceremony of the 110/35/10 kV Khankendi-1 substation, operated by Azerenerji OJSC, in the city of Khankendi on December 23, Azernews reports.

Chairman of the Board of Azerenerji Baba Rzayev briefed the head of state on the completed works at the facility.

In accordance with the directives of President Ilham Aliyev to establish a reliable electricity infrastructure in the liberated territories, a modern closed-type 110/35/10 kV substation meeting urban grid standards has been constructed in Khankendi. To connect Khankendi city and surrounding areas to the national power system, an 11-kilometer high-voltage transmission line was laid from Shusha, including 1.8 kilometers of underground cable installed across complex mountainous and forested terrain. This facility is the first closed-type 110 kV substation in the liberated regions, with all equipment, including transformers, installed indoors.

The substation is equipped with a modern microprocessor-based Digital Control Center operating on the Micro-SCADA system, developed by specialists of Azerenerji and applied here for the first time. The system enables real-time monitoring, control, and event recording of high-voltage lines and equipment. The substation will ensure a reliable and uninterrupted power supply to Khankendi city, as well as the Aghdara, Khojaly, and Khojavend districts.

President Ilham Aliyev was also informed about innovative technologies used in the creation of an approximately 1,000-kilometer ring-type power supply network across Garabagh and East Zangazur. Over the past five years, Azerenerji has built around 1,000 kilometers of high-voltage transmission lines interconnected through 12 newly constructed substations, forming a dual-circuit 330/110 kV ring system. This effort included the construction of the Jabrayil Energy Hub and the comprehensive reconstruction of the Imishli, Aghjabadi, and Ganja substations. This constitutes the largest modernization of the region’s power system in its history, ensuring automatic load redistribution and uninterrupted electricity supply in the event of any malfunction.

Another pioneering initiative is the introduction of Digital Monitoring and Analysis Systems for substations and overhead transmission lines, initially implemented in Garabagh and East Zangazur and planned for nationwide deployment. State-of-the-art digital equipment has been acquired, and young Azerbaijani engineers have undergone specialized training abroad. The system uses high-resolution cameras and thermal imagers mounted on vehicles and drones to collect and analyze data, while laser technologies allow for the detection of distances, overheating, and technical defects not visible to the naked eye.

President Ilham Aliyev was further briefed on major projects implemented by Azerenerji within the framework of the Green Energy Transition. Construction of the country’s largest 500 kV Navahi substation has been completed. New 330 kV and 220 kV substations in Jabrayil and Sangachal, respectively, have been commissioned to integrate the Shafag Solar Power Plant and electrify the Sangachal terminal. Battery Energy Storage Systems – the largest by capacity in the CIS – are currently under construction at the Absheron and Aghdash substations. To enable the integration of 2 gigawatts of new renewable energy capacity and enhance grid stability, Wide Area Monitoring and Wide Area Control systems are being introduced.