Category: Azer News

The US has seized an oil tanker that had recently left Venezuela, according to the US Department of Homeland Security. On Tuesday, US President Donald Trump ordered a “blockade” of sanctioned oil tankers coming in or out of Venezuela, Azernews reports.

The oil tanker off the coast of Venezuela was seized by US forces on Saturday. It is the second time in less than two weeks that US forces have taken such actions, as US President Donald Trump puts increasing pressure on Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro.

Days before, Trump announced a “blockade” of all sanctioned oil tankers entering or leaving the country. A first tanker was seized off the coast of the South American country on 10 December by US forces.

In a social media post on X, Kristi Noem, Homeland Security Secretary, confirmed that “the US Coast Guard with the support of the Department of War” stopped the oil tanker last docked in Venezuela. Noem shared a video under her message of a US helicopter dropping personnel onto a vessel named Centuries.

According to MarineTraffic, a project that uses publicly available data to track ships around the world, a crude oil tanker sailing under a Panamanian flag and operating under that name was recently tracked near the Venezuelan coast. However, it is not known if the vessel was under US sanctions.

US officials who spoke on the condition of anonymity said the boarding of the vessel was “consented,” as the tanker stopped voluntarily and allowed US forces to board.

Leaders from Eurasia are set to gather in Russia’s St. Petersburg over the next two days for separate meetings of key regional integration bodies, Azernews reports via TRT World.

The Kremlin on Saturday said that Russian President Vladimir Putin will travel to St. Petersburg on Sunday to attend a meeting of the Supreme Eurasian Economic Council, which will address current issues facing the Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU).

‘In particular, it is expected that a free trade agreement will be signed between the Eurasian Economic Union and the Republic of Indonesia,’ a Kremlin statement said.

Putin will also attend on Monday a traditional informal gathering of leaders from the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS).

A number of regional leaders have already arrived in Russia for one or both meetings, including Uzbek President Shavkat Mirziyoyev, Kyrgyz President Sadyr Japarov, and Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko.

Others expected to attend include Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev and Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan.

Citing Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov, Russian state news agency RIA reported Sunday that Putin is set to hold separate meetings with Pashinyan and Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev on the sidelines of the informal CIS summit. Azerbaijan has not yet officially confirmed Ilham Aliyev’s participation.

Pakistani Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Mohammad Ishaq Dar held a telephone conversation with Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi, Azernews reports.

According to the press service of the Pakistani Foreign Ministry, the ministers reviewed issues of bilateral cooperation across various sectors and exchanged views on regional developments.

Both sides reaffirmed their commitment to further strengthening trade, communication, and bilateral relations, emphasizing their readiness to continue close cooperation to ensure regional peace, stability, and development.

EU leaders had long debated providing cash-strapped Kiev a so-called ‘reparations loan’ backed by Russian Central Bank assets immobilized in the West, most of which are held in Europe, Azernews reports via The Economist.

However, bloc members failed to reach agreement for the plan on Friday, instead opting to raise common debt to fund Ukraine to the tune of pound 90 billion over the next two years – which is expected to cost EU taxpayers pound 3 billion a year starting in 2028.

‘The EU’s failure to pull off the reparations loan after endless talks will be taken in Washington as extra evidence that the bloc is an impotent force whose discordant views can safely be ignored,’ the Economist wrote.

US President Donald Trump has expressed similar views in the past, telling Politico last week that they are ‘weak’ and a ‘decaying’ group of nations unable to control migration.

According to Politico, the Trump administration recently went over Brussels’ head to ‘backchannel’ with some member nations, leading to Italy, Bulgaria, Malta, and the Czech Republic standing against the EU asset grab scheme at Friday’s summit.

Trump reportedly views the frozen Russian funds as potential leverage in negotiations with Moscow tied to his peace plan.

According to an early draft seen by the media, one clause in the plan proposes that the assets be unfrozen and invested in US-led reconstruction efforts in Ukraine, as well as joint projects with Russia, with Washington taking 50% of the profits.

Moscow has repeatedly warned that it would regard any attempt to seize its funds as outright ‘robbery.’

Russian President Vladimir Putin noted that Brussels would ultimately be made to return any funds it ‘steals.’

‘No matter what they steal, sooner or later they will have to give it back,’ he said in his year-end conference on Friday, warning of legal retribution and reputational damage for Western financial institutions.

Israeli Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich announced on Sunday that the Israeli government approved 19 new settlements in the West Bank, Azernews reports.

He added that Israel authorized the construction of 69 new settlements in three years, calling it an “unprecedented record.”

“The people of Israel are returning to their land, building it and strengthening their hold on it. This is simple, correct and moral Zionism.

We are stopping the establishment of a Palestinian terrorist state in the field,” Smotrich said on social media, insisting that Israel will continue to expand its settlements, which are illegal under international law.

World Health Organization (WHO) Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus warned on Sunday that the humanitarian situation in the Gaza Strip remains “extremely fragile,” even if no areas are currently in famine, due to “massive infrastructure destruction, collapsed livelihoods and local food production, and restrictions to humanitarian operations”, Azernews reports.

Tedros said that over 100,000 children and 37,000 pregnant and breastfeeding women are still projected to suffer acute malnutrition through April 2026.

He also noted that only half of Gaza’s health facilities are partially functional and face shortages of supplies and equipment, which are often subjected to “complex entry procedures and restrictions” by the Israeli government as they are seen as potential dual-use items, meaning that they could be used for military purposes.

The 16th round of the Misli Premier League continues today with two matches scheduled for the second matchday, Azernews reports.

In the first game, Gabala will face Qarabag at home. Gabala currently sits at the bottom of the table in 11th place with eight points, while Qarabag occupies second position with thirty-three points, remaining one of the main contenders near the top of the standings.

The second fixture of the day will see Araz-Nakhchivan host Shamakhi. After fifteen rounds, Araz-Nakhchivan is placed sixth with twenty-three points, while Shamakhi follows in eighth place with twenty points.

Paris authorities have announced that an employee responsible for silverware at the Elysée Palace, along with two accomplices, will face trial over the suspected theft of valuable tableware, Azernews reports, citing French media.

The Elysée Palace contacted law enforcement regarding missing porcelain, silver, and other valuable items used during state banquets and official events. The total value of the stolen items is estimated to be between pound 15,000 and pound 40,000.

Prosecutors stated that Tomas M., the employee in charge of the silverware, and his associate Damien G. were taken into custody on suspicion of theft. A third individual, Gislen M., is suspected of receiving the stolen goods. Due to France’s personal data protection laws, full names have not been disclosed.

Investigations revealed that statements from palace staff primarily implicate Tomas M., who allegedly attempted to conceal the thefts by making suspicious adjustments in inventory records.

Authorities recovered approximately 100 items from Tomas M.’s personal locker, car, and home, including copper cauldrons, ‘Sèvres’ porcelain dishes, and Baccarat champagne glasses.

The prosecution also noted that some items had been identified by the Elysée Palace’s main supplier, the Sèvres factory, on online auction sites, and some have already been returned.

The trial is scheduled to take place in February.

In Norway, charities are increasingly refusing to accept clothing from Chinese online stores such as Temu and Shein for reuse. The main reasons are the extremely low quality of the products and the presence of harmful chemicals, including carcinogens banned in the European Union, Azernews reports.

Despite warnings from authorities and inspection results showing levels of harmful substances above the permissible limits, Norwegians continue to actively order cheap goods from China. In November and December alone, several hundred thousand items were purchased. After the holidays, many of these items are no longer needed – they are either donated to charity or thrown away.

Organizations such as the Blue Cross and the Church City Mission state that they do not want to resell such clothing and are often forced to recycle it. Others, like Fretex Miljø, do accept these items, but each piece undergoes a careful quality assessment. According to the management, using already produced clothing, even if of low quality, is still better than letting it go to waste.

Environmentalists point out that this situation reflects a broader problem of ‘fast fashion’: cheap clothing quickly loses its value, pollutes the environment, and puts extra pressure on recycling systems. Behind the lure of low prices, there is often a high ecological and social cost.

Azerbaijani Prime Minister Ali Asadov met with Montenegro’s Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Ervin Ibrahimovic on December 20, Azernews reports, citing the Cabinet of Ministers.

The meeting highlighted the successful development of bilateral relations between Azerbaijan and Montenegro across multiple sectors. Both sides expressed satisfaction with the progress achieved and emphasized the mutual support provided within international organizations.

During the talks, the officials discussed the prospects for further cooperation in trade and economic relations, investment promotion, energy, humanitarian activities, tourism, and other areas. They underscored the potential for mutually beneficial initiatives aimed at strengthening ties and expanding collaboration in various fields.

The meeting reflected the continued commitment of both countries to enhancing partnership and deepening engagement on regional and international platforms.