Category: Azer News

The ‘CyberCell Hackathon,’ jointly organized by Azercell Telecom and Baku Engineering University (BMU), will be held on October 18-19, 2025, uniting young talents in cybersecurity and artificial intelligence. The two-day competition aims to enhance participants’ digital competencies, provide opportunities to apply theoretical knowledge in real-world scenarios, and foster teamwork capabilities.

During the competition, participants will work on Red Team (attack) and Blue Team (defense) scenarios to identify cybersecurity vulnerabilities and develop innovative solutions for detecting, responding to, and preventing cyberattacks. Teams will also employ AI-powered tools to design solutions for anomaly detection, log analysis, and threat forecasting.

The ‘CyberCell Hackathon’ received nearly 200 applications. Following a rigorous selection process, 25 teams from the country’s leading universities, including Azerbaijan State University of Economics, ADA University, Baku Higher Oil School, Baku Engineering University, Azerbaijan State Oil and Industry University, the French-Azerbaijani University, the Academy of the State Customs Committee, Azerbaijan Cooperation University, Khazar University, and Azerbaijan Technical University, earned the right to compete.

The top-performing team will be awarded a cash prize of 4,000 AZN, while the second and third place winners will receive 3,000 AZN and 2,000 AZN, respectively.

On October 18, President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev received Brad Cooper, Commander of the US Central Command and admiral of the US Navy.

Admiral Brad Cooper conveyed his congratulations to President Ilham Aliyev on the achievements in advancing the peace agenda between Azerbaijan and Armenia, which were witnessed by the US President in Washington.

Expressing gratitude for the congratulations, the head of state highlighted the special role of President Donald Trump in this process. Emphasizing that the documents signed in Washington create ample opportunities for the region’s development, President Ilham Aliyev stated that Azerbaijan and Armenia have already adapted to living in conditions of peace.

During the conversation, they hailed the recent development of Azerbaijan-US bilateral relations and exchanged views on the prospects for cooperation in military and military-technical fields.

Germany will deploy three members of the Bundeswehr to Israel to help monitor compliance with the ceasefire agreement between Israel and Hamas, Azernews reports, citing local media and the German Defense Ministry’s press service.

According to the ministry, two officers and one brigadier general will travel to Israel next week to perform their duties ‘in uniform but unarmed.’ The German contingent will operate in southern Israel at the Civil-Military Coordination Center, which is still under construction.

The center will host around 200 military personnel in total. Its mission includes monitoring adherence to the ceasefire and coordinating the delivery of humanitarian aid to the Gaza Strip.

As Astana prepares for the state visit of the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan, Ilham Aliyev, Kazinform News Agency shares an exclusive interview with His Excellency. During the conversation, President Ilham Aliyev spoke about his view of bilateral cooperation with Kazakhstan, as well as ongoing partnerships in trade, energy, culture, and the Organization of Turkic States (OTS).

Azernews presents the interview.

– Your Excellency, your state visit to the Republic of Kazakhstan is expected very soon. How would you characterize the current level of political relations between Azerbaijan and Kazakhstan, and what are your expectations for the upcoming visit?

– The political relations between Azerbaijan and Kazakhstan today are distinguished by a high degree of strength and mutual trust. Over the past decades, based on the historical bonds of brotherhood, friendship, and mutual support, as well as on the solid foundation of our shared Turkic identity, similar cultural traditions, and spiritual values of our peoples, we have built relations of genuine strategic and allied partnership.

Undoubtedly, an important factor contributing to the strengthening of bilateral cooperation is the active and constructive dialogue conducted at the highest level, which gives new impetus to the comprehensive deepening of interstate ties in all areas.

Over the past three years, this will be my seventh visit to the brotherly country. I am pleased to observe dynamic development and new achievements during each visit to Kazakhstan. These accomplishments reflect the purposeful and well-calibrated state policy carried out under the leadership of President of Kazakhstan Kassym-Jomart Kemelevich Tokayev. I am particularly impressed by the successful implementation of reforms aimed at modernizing the country and diversifying its economy. I would like to congratulate the entire brotherly nation of Kazakhstan on these results. During the same period, President Kassym-Jomart Kemelevich Tokayev has visited Azerbaijan six times. All this demonstrates our mutual commitment to developing comprehensive partnership and strategic interaction between our countries. Furthermore, regular contacts allow us to promptly address pressing issues on the agenda and coordinate positions on key areas of cooperation.

Taking this opportunity, I would like once again to express my gratitude to brotherly Kazakhstan for the construction of the Kurmangazy Children’s Creativity Center in the liberated city of Fuzuli. This center has become an important cultural and educational institution, currently providing education to about 100 children.

Over the years, we have developed a solid contractual and legal framework – about 170 documents – and established mechanisms for productive interaction in political, trade, economic, investment, cultural, humanitarian, and other spheres. I would particularly like to note the significance of the Treaty on Strategic Partnership and Allied Relations between Azerbaijan and Kazakhstan, the 20th anniversary of which we celebrated this year. This document laid a reliable foundation for the development of Azerbaijani-Kazakh cooperation in various fields, and over the years, collaboration between our countries has significantly expanded in all directions.

It is also worth emphasizing the importance of the Supreme Interstate Council, whose first meeting took place last year during the state visit of the President of Kazakhstan to Azerbaijan. During the upcoming second meeting in Astana, further prospects for mutually beneficial cooperation and steps to elevate Azerbaijani-Kazakh relations to a new level will be discussed.

Azerbaijan and Kazakhstan also cooperate effectively in multilateral formats, particularly within international and regional organizations, including the United Nations (UN), the Organization of Turkic States (OTS), the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC), and the Conference on Interaction and Confidence Building Measures in Asia (CICA), among others. Our countries support each other in the international arena, sharing common positions on many issues.

– How has trade and economic cooperation between Azerbaijan and Kazakhstan developed in recent years?

– The scope of trade and economic cooperation between Azerbaijan and Kazakhstan is very broad. We are pleased to note the steady growth of trade and economic interaction. Both countries are consistently implementing joint initiatives, expanding cooperation across various sectors of the economy. This progress has been made possible thanks to a purposeful state policy, active dialogue between business representatives, and our shared commitment to developing mutually beneficial and partnership-based relations.

To date, about 250 commercial entities with Kazakh capital are registered in Azerbaijan, which confirms the high level of trust in the investment climate and creates a strong foundation for further expansion of economic cooperation.

Positive dynamics are also clearly visible in the field of mutual trade. In 2024, the volume of trade turnover between the two countries amounted to $470 million, and in the period from January to August 2025 it reached $547 million, exceeding the same period of the previous year by more than threefold. This growth is due to the effective use of the Middle Corridor’s potential and the systematic modernization of transport and logistics infrastructure.

At the same time, investment cooperation between Azerbaijan and Kazakhstan is also strengthening: Azerbaijani investments in Kazakhstan’s economy have reached $225 million, while Kazakh investments in Azerbaijan total $136 million. These figures demonstrate both sides’ mutual interest in long-term partnership and sustainable development.

– How would you assess the level of cooperation between Azerbaijan and Kazakhstan in the transport and logistics and oil and gas sectors, as well as in the field of green energy? What is the significance of the Middle Corridor for both countries? What steps are taken to improve the efficiency of transportation through the ports of Aktau and Alat?

– Transport and logistics cooperation between Azerbaijan and Kazakhstan is a strategically important direction that opens new opportunities for economic growth and the integration of regional markets. The continuous development of infrastructure and expansion of tariff and logistical advantages create favorable conditions for increasing the volume of freight transport and further strengthening bilateral relations.

Today, this area of cooperation demonstrates significant progress. The volume of transit shipments between Azerbaijan and Kazakhstan in 2024 exceeded 3.5 million tons, which is 20% higher than the previous period. The Middle Corridor plays a key role in ensuring stable and efficient connectivity between the two countries.

In 2022, in the city of Aktau, the ‘Roadmap for 2022-2027 on the Development and Operation of the Middle Corridor’ was signed, covering the territories of Trkiye, Azerbaijan, and Kazakhstan. The document provides for the synchronized development of the transport and logistics infrastructure of the three countries, optimization of operations, attraction of additional cargo flow, implementation of a unified tariff policy, development of a network of logistics centers, and resolution of other key issues.

One significant infrastructure project is the construction of submarine fiber-optic communication lines along the bottom of the Caspian Sea between Kazakhstan and Azerbaijan. The construction contract was signed in March 2025 in Baku, with completion planned for the end of 2026, which will strengthen digital integration.

In the oil and gas sector, a general agreement on the transit of Kazakh oil with a volume of 1.5 million tons per year via the Aktau-Ceyhan route has been signed between SOCAR and the National Company ‘KazMunayGas.’ In 2024, an agreement was signed on the phased increase of transit volumes and reduction of tariffs.

To enhance transportation efficiency through the ports of Aktau and Alat, measures are being implemented to modernize infrastructure, renew rolling stock, and more – all of which will strengthen the position of the Middle Corridor as a key transit route between Europe and Asia.

In industrial cooperation, an important area is also partnership in the shipbuilding industry.

The development of green energy occupies an important place on the bilateral agenda. In 2024, Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan, and Uzbekistan signed a series of strategic agreements and memorandums aimed at integrating energy systems and promoting renewable energy sources. These initiatives reflect the shared commitment of our states to sustainable development and the transition to environmentally clean technologies.

– How do you assess the role of the Organization of Turkic States in strengthening ties between Azerbaijan and Kazakhstan?

– The Organization of Turkic States (OTS) plays a key role in strengthening the brotherly ties between Azerbaijan and Kazakhstan and serves as an effective platform for deepening political dialogue, expanding economic relations, and developing humanitarian cooperation.

Founded in 2009 on the ancient Azerbaijani land of Nakhchivan, the Organization of Turkic States has made a great contribution to strengthening cooperation and enhancing solidarity among Turkic peoples and countries. Last year, the first informal Summit was held in Shusha, and recently, the 12th Summit of the OTS Heads of State took place in Gabala. During these high-level meetings, key issues of cooperation among our countries within the organization were productively discussed, and declarations were signed to strengthen the OTS, consolidate the Turkic world, and enhance its political, economic, and military potential, turning it into a center of power on the global stage.

In the cultural, humanitarian, and educational spheres, cooperation between our countries within the OTS is systematic and progressive. Joint initiatives cover a wide range of areas – from organizing festivals, exhibitions, literary evenings, and conferences to active collaboration among academic and educational institutions.

Within the framework of the OTS, the International Turkic Academy operates successfully, playing an important role in research and strengthening scientific and educational ties. We also cooperate closely within TURKSOY, the Turkic Culture and Heritage Foundation, the Parliamentary Assembly of Turkic States (TURKPA), and other international organizations, which once again testifies to the high level of trust between Azerbaijan and Kazakhstan.

I would like to especially emphasize the historical significance of the First Turkological Congress, held in Baku in 1926. This event became an important milestone in the development of Turkic science, culture, and unity. Next year will mark the 100th anniversary of this remarkable forum, and the jubilee of the First Turkological Congress is planned to be solemnly celebrated within the framework of the OTS.

– How closely do our countries cooperate in the cultural and humanitarian spheres?

– As I have stated earlier, our peoples are united by centuries-old history, culture, religion, and common values. The development of cultural ties plays an important role in bringing our peoples closer together and strengthening brotherly bonds.

In 2023, the Days of Kazakh Culture were held in Azerbaijan, and in 2024, the Days of Azerbaijani Culture took place in Kazakhstan. Such events reflect the dynamic development of creative cooperation between our peoples and contribute to the mutual enrichment of the cultural traditions of both countries.

I would like to note with satisfaction the publication in Azerbaijani of the collection of stories ‘Night Shot’ by Kemel Tokayev, one of the most outstanding figures who made a great contribution to the development of Kazakh literature.

In 2023, an international conference dedicated to the 100th anniversary of Kemel Tokayev and the 115th anniversary of Mir Jalal Pashayev was also held in Baku.

– The issue of the Caspian Sea’s shallowing is becoming increasingly urgent. How are Azerbaijan and Kazakhstan coordinating their actions on this matter?

– Today, unfortunately, the Caspian Sea is facing a number of serious environmental challenges. One of the most pressing problems is the shallowing – the rapid decline in the water level – which poses both ecological and economic threats. At the Sixth Caspian Summit, held in 2022, I raised the issue of ecological imbalance in the Caspian Sea. Unfortunately, since then, the situation has only worsened. The water level in the Caspian Sea is rapidly declining, and the reasons for this lie not only in climate change.

In this situation, it is extremely important for all Caspian littoral states to establish close cooperation, actively exchange scientific information, and develop coordinated measures to mitigate the consequences.

The drop in the Caspian Sea’s water level and the resulting environmental changes threaten biodiversity and the sustainability of the ecosystem, requiring coordinated actions to protect nature and restore ecological balance.

In addition, Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan, and other Caspian states can and should actively promote initiatives for the protection of the Caspian Sea at regional and international platforms. Amid growing transnational environmental risks, the Caspian Sea is no longer merely a body of water but has become a symbol of our shared responsibility and the necessity for united action.

The U.S. government’s decision to cut hundreds of jobs at the Department of Commerce during the ongoing government shutdown is threatening to derail its national artificial intelligence (AI) strategy, Axios reports, citing sources close to the department, Azernews reports, citing foreign media.

Since October 1, approximately 600 positions have been eliminated across key agencies, including the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST), the Bureau of Industry and Security (BIS), and the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

Among those let go are technical experts critical to ensuring compliance with emerging AI regulations, safeguarding intellectual property, and maintaining industry collaboration. These personnel cuts have sparked concern within the tech community, as many of these agencies play a pivotal role in setting standards and guiding responsible AI innovation in the private sector.

Earlier this week, a federal judge issued a temporary injunction to halt some of the layoffs, acknowledging the potential long-term consequences for national security and technological leadership.

Experts warn that the disruption could give other global powers, including China and the EU, an edge in the race to shape international AI norms and standards.

A concert dedicated to Azerbaijani mugham music was held at the Cultural Center under the Embassy of Azerbaijan in Italy, bringing together diplomats, academics, and members of the Azerbaijani community, Azernews reports.

The event was jointly organized by the Embassy of Azerbaijan in Italy, the Cultural Center, the Agency for State Support to Non-Governmental Organizations, and the Khan Shushinski Foundation. The audience included representatives from Italy’s cultural and academic circles, ambassadors, diplomats, and Azerbaijani expatriates living in the country.

Gulnar Taghizade, Deputy Director of the Cultural Center, noted that the concert was held within the framework of the ‘Year of the Constitution and Sovereignty’ and in celebration of October 18 – the Day of Restoration of Independence. She provided detailed information about Azerbaijan’s rich cultural heritage and its deep-rooted musical traditions.

Azerbaijan’s Ambassador to Italy, Rashad Aslanov, highlighted that the declaration of 2025 as the Year of the Constitution and Sovereignty by President Ilham Aliyev was an important political step toward strengthening the country’s independence. He recalled that the adoption of the Constitutional Act on State Independence on October 18, 1991, marked the beginning of a new era for Azerbaijan.

The ambassador also underlined the unique place of mugham in Azerbaijani culture, noting that the tar, kamancha, and ghaval-the three core instruments of the genre-have been recognized by UNESCO as masterpieces of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity. This traditional trio, he said, represents the timeless spirit and authenticity of Azerbaijani music.

Performances by Mugham TV competition winner Nisbat Sadraeva, tar player Rustam Muslumov, and kamancha performer Parviz Farhadov captivated the audience, who responded with warm applause.

Following the concert, Beyimkhanim Javanshirova-Verdiyeva, founder and head of the Khan Shushinski Foundation, spoke about the Azerbaijani state’s strong support for culture has helped promote the nation’s rich heritage worldwide. She emphasized the major role of Mehriban Aliyeva, President of the Heydar Aliyev Foundation, whose initiatives to establish Cultural Centers abroad have significantly advanced Azerbaijan’s cultural diplomacy and international visibility.

Javanshirova-Verdiyeva added that music serves as a bridge of friendship and understanding among peoples, and mugham is one of the most precious gifts Azerbaijan has offered to the world. While performed in many countries, she stressed, mugham attains its highest and most refined expression only in Azerbaijan.

Since its founding in 2011, the Khan Shushinski Foundation has implemented numerous projects to promote national music, organizing international events and anniversary evenings dedicated to renowned Azerbaijani artists.

On October 17, First Vice-President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Mehriban Aliyeva met with Sister Raffaella Petrini, President of the Governorate of Vatican City State.

During the meeting, Sister Raffaella Petrini expressed deep and sincere gratitude to the Azerbaijani state for the projects implemented by the Heydar Aliyev Foundation in the Vatican. She highly appreciated First Vice-President Mehriban Aliyeva’s visits to the Holy See, expressing gratitude for her valuable support in promoting mutual understanding, interfaith dialogue, and the development of cultural ties. She noted that such initiatives foster friendship, mutual understanding, and warm relations among peoples.

First Vice-President Mehriban Aliyeva thanked the Vatican City State Governorate for the warm reception and attention shown. She invited Sister Raffaella Petrini to make an official visit to Baku, emphasizing the importance of expanding cooperation between Azerbaijan and the Vatican in new directions. Sister Raffaella Petrini warmly accepted the invitation, expressing her intention to visit Azerbaijan in the near future.

The meeting, held in an atmosphere of mutual respect, included an exchange of views on the prospects for practical cooperation between Azerbaijan and the Vatican Governorate in the cultural, religious, and humanitarian fields.

The National Aviation Academy (NAA) and Bayraktar Technologies Azerbaijan Limited Liability Company (LLC) have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on mutual cooperation, Azernews reports, citing Trend.

The document was signed on October 17, 2025, by the Rector of the NAA, academician Arif Pashayev, and the Director of Bayraktar Technologies Azerbaijan LLC, Huseyin Topuz.

The MoU envisions collaboration in science, education, research, and production, including the implementation of joint projects, organization of training sessions with the participation of students and academic staff, and the development of professional development and internship programs.

As part of the event, the guests were introduced to the NAA’s educational and research laboratories, production facilities, Student Creativity House, and the Technorhythm Center.

This partnership seeks to optimize the transfer of scientific and technical expertise between the two entities, facilitate the execution of groundbreaking initiatives, and bolster the advancement of professional development frameworks and the cultivation of highly skilled practitioners.

Researchers have discovered dozens of new methane seeps littering the ocean floor in the Ross Sea coastal region of Antarctica, raising concerns of an unknown positive climate feedback loop that could accelerate global warming, according to Live Science, Azernews reports, citing Azertag.

A potent greenhouse gas has begun seeping out of the Antarctic seafloor in dozens of places, scientists have discovered.

Researchers documented the emergence of these methane seeps in shallow regions of the Ross Sea, a bay off the southern coast of Antarctica. The patches of leaking gas could be caused by global warming, and they could also threaten to accelerate it further, according to a new study published Oct. 1 in the journal Nature Communications.

“Every time we discover or hear of a new one, we feel immediate excitement, but that excitement is quickly replaced with anxiety and concern about what it all means,” study lead author Sarah Seabrook, a marine scientist at the research institute Earth Sciences New Zealand, said in a statement.

“If they follow the behaviour of other global seep systems, there is the potential for rapid transfer of methane to the atmosphere from a source that is not currently factored into future climate change scenarios,” Seabrook added.

Methane (CH4) is a greenhouse gas that traps heat in the atmosphere by absorbing outgoing radiation. When methane first enters the atmosphere, it is a lot more effective at trapping heat than carbon dioxide (CO2), being about 80 times more potent across the first 20 years it’s in the atmosphere. This makes methane a particularly aggressive short-term driver of climate change. (CO2 stays in the atmosphere for longer, so it’s a more significant long-term driver.)

About 60% of methane emissions come from human activities such as farming and burning fossil fuels, while the remaining 40% come from natural sources. Scientists are concerned that as the planet gets warmer, more natural methane and carbon dioxide sources, such as those in melting permafrost, are being unlocked, creating a positive feedback loop that accelerates warming even further.

Researchers have previously spotted tens of thousands of methane leaks in the Arctic, but prior to the new study, there was only one confirmed Antarctic methane seep, identified in 2011. Underwater seeps create streams of bubbles as methane and other chemicals dissolve in ocean water following their release from beneath the seabed. White mats of microbial communities live around seeps, making them identifiable on the seafloor.

In the new study, researchers used acoustic surveys, divers and a remotely operated vehicle to explore seeps located between 16 feet (5 meters) and 787 feet (240 m) below the icy surface of the Ross Sea, off the Antarctic mainland. The team initially only went to investigate one seep in Cape Evans, located on the west side of Ross Island, and were surprised to find the seafloor littered with them.

“Last year, we went to Cape Evans to look at one small area where gas bubbles had been discovered and were hoping to find that one site still bubbling,” Seabrook said. “Instead, we found dozens more.”The researchers studied areas that have been regularly surveyed for decades, meaning that the seeps must be a new feature. It’s not known exactly what is causing the seeps to appear, but the researchers noted that similar processes in the Arctic and paleorecord (past environments) have been attributed to climate-driven cryospheric change – the degradation of Earth’s ice that previously locked these chemicals in place.

It’s unclear how much methane might be leaving Antarctica and reaching our atmosphere, nor how much remains trapped beneath its thawing ice, but the researchers are concerned that the seeps could be widespread. This raises fears of positive feedback loops as well as a variety of other knock-on effects caused by methane, such as ocean acidification.

Seabrook and her colleagues recommended coordinated, international efforts to urgently study the seeps.

“If these seeps keep emerging at the areas we are working in, it really begs the question of what the shallow coastal environment of Antarctica may look like five or 10 years from now,” Seabrook said. “This system is rapidly changing before our eyes from one year to the next.”

The ships and personnel of the Iranian Navy, who had arrived in Azerbaijan to participate in the AZIREX-2025 joint search and rescue exercise, departed from the Baku port on October 18, Azernews reports, citing the Azerbaijani Ministry of Defense.

The Ministry noted that Iranian naval vessels and crews belonging to the Islamic Republic of Iran Navy entered Azerbaijan’s territorial waters on October 15 to take part in the exercise and proceeded to the designated meeting area.

The AZIREX-2025 drills aimed to enhance coordination between naval forces in conducting joint search and rescue operations, improve operational readiness, and strengthen regional maritime cooperation.