Category: Azer News

On August 30, an exhibition and rally of classic cars will be held under the organization of the Azerbaijan Automobile Federation (AAF).

The event will begin with a display of classic cars in front of the ‘Panorama’ attraction (Ferris wheel) at the Seaside National Park. Vehicles registered with the AAF for the event, as well as several cars from the Federation’s permanent classic car exhibition at the Heydar Aliyev Center, will be put on display.

Vehicles from different years will not only reflect the stages of development of the automotive industry, but will also evoke a sense of nostalgia from a visual perspective.

The retro cars will then take part in a rally along the route Azneft Circle – Neftchilar Avenue – Yusif Safarov Street – Heydar Aliyev Avenue – Airport Road – Zagulba – Sea Breeze, including the central streets of the city.

An exhibition of the classic cars participating in the rally will be held at the Sea Breeze Marina Bay area.

At the end of the entertainment programme, the owners of the winning cars will be presented with awards in various categories.

Kairat Sarybay, Secretary General of the Conference on Interaction and Confidence Building Measures in Asia congratulated Azerbaijan’s First Vice President Mehriban Aliyeva on the occasion of her birthday.

According to AzerNEWS, the letter reads:

Your Excellency, dear Mehriban khanum,

Please accept my warmest congratulations on your birthday, together with my sincere wishes for good health, happiness and well-being.

Throughout your many years of public service, you have devoted particular attention to initiatives that touch upon the lives of people, foster mutual understanding and bring societies closer together. This enduring commitment resonates with CICA’s aspirations to nurture dialogue, confidence and a stronger sense of community across Asia.

It is in this spirit that I warmly welcome the Azerbaijani Chairmanship’s initiative to establish and organize the First Meeting the CICA Women Council in Baku this year, further enriching our common efforts and opening new avenues in this direction.

On this special day, may the years ahead bring you continued inspiration and fulfilment in all your endeavors, surrounded by the warmth and support of your family and loved ones.

Yours sincerely,

Kairat Sarybay

Secretary General of the Conference on Interaction and Confidence Building Measures in Asia

More than 100 companies working in the field of artificial intelligence (AI), including Google, Microsoft, OpenAI, and Anthropic, have signed an open letter calling on governments and organizations to strengthen cybersecurity measures.

According to the authors of the letter, this needs to be done before AI systems become powerful enough to bypass existing security protections. Other major companies that have signed the letter include Capital One, Mastercard, Visa, Oracle, and IBM.

The authors warn that in the coming months, AI-powered cyberattacks could become more frequent and sophisticated. They believe that the security measures currently in place may not be sufficient to protect organizations from increasingly capable AI systems.

‘We have limited time to improve cybersecurity,’ the authors of the letter state.

The signatories are calling for stronger security systems that make greater use of AI technologies. They argue that governments should coordinate their efforts to strengthen cybersecurity, invest more money in this area, and provide critical businesses with access to advanced AI systems that can help protect them from cyberattacks.

The companies also emphasize the importance of cooperation between governments, technology companies, and businesses. According to the letter, cybersecurity can no longer be treated as a problem that individual organizations can solve on their own, as AI-powered threats can spread quickly across different sectors and countries.

Recently, there have been increasing reports of AI agents behaving unexpectedly during security testing and gaining access to systems belonging to other companies. It was reported that an OpenAI model was able to hack the Modal and Hugging Face platforms during testing. Anthropic’s Claude model was also reported to have gained access to data from three companies.

These incidents highlight how quickly AI agents are becoming more capable of performing tasks that previously required experienced cybersecurity specialists. In some cases, AI can analyze large amounts of code, identify potential vulnerabilities, and attempt to exploit them much faster than a human.

Interestingly, the same technology that creates new cybersecurity risks could also become one of the most powerful tools for defending against them. AI systems can continuously monitor networks, detect unusual activity, identify vulnerabilities, and respond to attacks in seconds.

This creates a new kind of technological race: AI systems are increasingly being used to attack digital infrastructure, while other AI systems are being developed to protect it. The companies behind the open letter believe that governments and businesses need to act now, before the balance shifts too far in favor of attackers.

The Embassy and Consulate of Azerbaijan in the Islamic Republic of Iran have been classified as diplomatic missions operating during wartime.

The relevant decision was signed by Prime Minister Ali Asadov.

Based on the decision adopted upon the recommendation of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Azerbaijan, the Islamic Republic of Iran has been included in the List of Foreign States in a State of War or Armed Conflict in Which Diplomatic Missions and Consulates of the Republic of Azerbaijan Operate, which is Annex No. 6 to the ‘Rules on the Provision of Security and Compensation to Diplomatic Service Personnel.’

This decision takes effect on March 1, 2026, and will remain in force until December 31, 2026.

The U.S. Army has signed agreements with five companies to develop, build, and operate compact nuclear power plants as part of the Janus program.

The total value of the contracts could reach $2.2 billion. The initiative calls for the deployment of more than 20 nuclear microreactors at U.S. military facilities by 2028.

The first reactors are expected to be installed at five military bases in different states. Antares Nuclear will provide a reactor for Fort Bragg in North Carolina, while BWXT Advanced Technologies will supply one for Fort Campbell in Kentucky. General Atomics Electromagnetic Systems is responsible for a reactor at Fort Hood in Texas. Two additional bases will receive systems developed by Radiant Industries and Westinghouse Government Services.

The Janus program was launched by the U.S. Army in 2025. Its main goal is to create a network of small nuclear power plants capable of providing reliable and uninterrupted electricity to military bases and other critical defense facilities.

Unlike traditional large nuclear power plants, microreactors are designed to be much smaller and potentially easier to deploy in remote locations. They could provide electricity for years without requiring frequent fuel deliveries, which could be particularly valuable for military installations that need to remain operational during emergencies or disruptions to the power grid.

The project is also part of a broader effort by the U.S. government to strengthen the energy security of critical infrastructure. Reliable on-site power could reduce military bases’ dependence on civilian electricity networks and conventional fuel supplies.

Interestingly, the Janus program could also become an important test for the wider commercial use of nuclear microreactors. If the technology proves safe, reliable, and economically viable at military facilities, similar systems could eventually be considered for remote industrial sites, research centers, and other locations where a stable power supply is essential.

The Royal Palace has announced the death of King Harald V at the age of 89. He had reigned since 1991. While the king was on medical leave, his 53-year-old son, Crown Prince Haakon, served as regent. He will now succeed him to the throne as the next king.

Haakon’s eldest child, Crown Princess Ingrid Alexandra, is now the heir to the throne.

Haakon knows the ropes. As his father aged and his health began to fail in recent years, the prince stepped in as the country’s regent on several occasions.

He earned a bachelor’s degree in political science from the University of California, Berkeley, followed by a master’s in development studies from the London School of Economics and Political Science, where he focused on international trade and Africa. He graduated from the Royal Norwegian Naval Academy in 1995 and later completed the Foreign Ministry’s diplomatic trainee program.

Norway’s monarchy dates back centuries, with its roots traditionally traced to King Harald Fairhair in the ninth century. When Norway regained independence in 1905, around three-quarters of voters supported the restoration of the monarchy in a national referendum. Although the monarchy is largely ceremonial today, with political authority resting in the elected parliament, the royal family remains highly visible and continues to play a prominent role in representing Norway and promoting the country internationally.

Recall that Crown Prince Haakon previously visited Azerbaijan in 2011, where he held meetings with Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev, as well as representatives from the business community and civil society. During his visit, the heir to the throne of Norway is accompanied by Deputy Foreign Minister Eespen Eide, Norwegian Minister of Petroleum and Energy Ola Borten Moe, as well as a number of government and business representatives.

The claim that Azerbaijan is being used as a route for Russian gold to reach Western markets, based solely on a comparison between gold production and export volumes, fails to take into account the structure of the country’s state reserves and requires additional evidence.

Russian political commentator Vyacheslav Shiryaev told Deutsche Welle that, amid sanctions, Russian gold is reaching Western markets through intermediary countries and that Azerbaijan has allegedly recently been used for this purpose.

As his main argument, Shiryaev cited the discrepancy between Azerbaijan’s gold production and export volumes. According to him, the country produces around three tonnes of gold a year, while it exported around 24 tonnes in six months.

However, the fact that exports exceed current domestic production does not, in itself, indicate the re-export of Russian gold. Such a conclusion requires an analysis of the origin of the exported metal, the structure of reserves and transactions involving gold assets.

In Azerbaijan’s case, one of the key factors is the State Oil Fund of the Republic of Azerbaijan (SOFAZ), which has built up a gold portfolio over many years as part of its investment strategy. As of 30 September 2025, SOFAZ’s gold sub-portfolio stood at around 184.8 tonnes. This means that the amount of gold held by Azerbaijan’s state institutions is significantly greater than the country’s annual domestic production.

This is crucial when assessing export statistics. Gold exported by a country during a particular period does not necessarily have to have been mined in the same year. It may represent an investment asset acquired previously. The sale of part of such reserves is also a normal asset-management operation. State funds and central banks around the world purchase gold when prices are relatively low and may sell part of their accumulated holdings when the market value of the asset rises substantially.

Azerbaijan has publicly outlined such a strategy. President Ilham Aliyev said at the beginning of 2025 that the country had taken a strategic decision to increase its gold reserves.

‘Last year, we also took a strategic decision to increase the country’s gold reserves. We clearly saw geopolitical developments, and I was absolutely certain that the price of gold would rise. And it has skyrocketed,’ the Azerbaijani President said on 5 January in an interview with local television channels.

Emphasising that the decision had generated significant returns for Azerbaijan, he said: ‘Thanks to increasing our gold reserves, our State Oil Fund earned more than US$10 billion from this alone. But if the price falls, of course, our reserves will decrease. So our reserves are changing every day now. Today, they are probably US$84 billion or US$83 billion. Tomorrow, they will be US$85 billion. Nevertheless, these are among the highest reserves per capita in the world.’

SOFAZ has previously purchased gold on international markets, including in London, when prices were significantly lower than current levels. As prices subsequently rose, selling part of the accumulated portfolio became one of the instruments available for managing state assets.

This practice is not unique to Azerbaijan. State funds and central banks in various countries regularly adjust their gold holdings depending on investment strategies, market conditions and reserve-management requirements. In recent years, gold transactions, including sales of accumulated holdings, have been carried out by countries including Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, the Philippines and Singapore. International statistics from the World Gold Council show that gold holdings in these countries can change substantially from year to year: central banks can be major buyers or sellers depending on market conditions.

The experience of Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan is particularly illustrative, as both are major gold producers while also actively managing their official gold reserves. Therefore, comparing domestic gold production with exports, without taking into account transactions by central banks and state funds, does not automatically establish the origin of the exported metal. The same approach should therefore be applied to Azerbaijan.

Another issue is the selective approach to assessing such trade flows. Since 2022, Armenia’s trade turnover with Russia has exceeded US$10 billion, while Armenia’s exports of precious metals, which had remained at minimal levels before 2022, increased sharply. International trade statistics show that exports of precious and base metals from Armenia recorded multiple increases during certain periods in 2023-2024. At the beginning of 2024, monthly exports of precious metals exceeded US$1.1 billion. Such a sharp increase formed part of the broader expansion of Armenia’s trade with Russia after 2022 and has repeatedly been examined by international analysts in the context of changing trade flows.

Against this backdrop, claims that Azerbaijan is allegedly being used to re-export Russian gold require particularly careful scrutiny. If a specific scheme is being alleged, evidence should be provided regarding the origin of the metal, its suppliers, routes, ultimate buyers and the relevant customs transactions.

A difference between production and exports alone is insufficient to support such a conclusion. Professional analysis of international gold trade must take into account not only production, but also accumulated reserves, transactions by state funds, imports and exports, changes in the value of holdings and the structure of buyers.

In Azerbaijan’s case, the existence of a substantial SOFAZ gold portfolio is a publicly known fact. Therefore, export volumes exceeding current domestic production do not, by themselves, constitute evidence that the country is being used as an intermediary.

Former Iranian ambassador to Azerbaijan Mohsen Pakayin previously told Trend that the economic and trade relations between countries in the region should be considered in a broader context. However, such links must be assessed on the basis of verifiable data.

For Azerbaijan, the issue also has a broader economic dimension. The state’s reserve-management strategy provides for asset diversification, while gold has remained one of the instruments of that diversification in recent years. The sharp rise in global gold prices has increased the value of the state’s accumulated assets. Gold-portfolio transactions may therefore reflect normal investment management and do not require an explanation based on unsubstantiated intermediary schemes.

In this context, Vyacheslav Shiryaev and Deutsche Welle should clarify the specific data on which the claim that Azerbaijan is being used to channel Russian gold to Western markets is based. In particular, it would be relevant to know whether the author has data on the origin of the gold exported by Azerbaijan, its suppliers and ultimate recipients, and whether SOFAZ’s transactions involving its gold portfolio were taken into account when preparing the material.

Until such clarification is provided, the claim that Azerbaijan is being used as a channel for the re-export of Russian gold remains an allegation rather than an established fact. Amid changing global trade flows and the growing role of gold as a reserve asset, it is particularly important to distinguish statistically verifiable facts from interpretations. In Azerbaijan’s case, the publicly available data point to the existence of a substantial state gold portfolio and a long-term investment strategy, both of which must be taken into account when analysing export figures.

The Trump administration is working on a rule to limit China’s access to advanced artificial intelligence chips made in the United States, the Information reported on Friday.

The rule would seek to stop China from using US chips remotely through data centers in third countries, according to people familiar with the matter.

The report said the rule is being prepared by the Commerce Department’s Bureau of Industry and Security and could be submitted to AI companies and other stakeholders in September.

It would replace the Biden-era AI Diffusion Rule, which limited the sale of advanced chips to some countries. The bureau rescinded the AI Diffusion Rule in 2025, claiming that it would have “stifled American innovation and saddled companies with burdensome new regulatory requirements.”

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky confirmed that Ukrainian forces had carried out strikes against an oil refinery in Russia’s Yaroslavl Region and a Tu-95MS strategic bomber in Engels.

“Over the past 24 hours, our Defense Forces struck an oil refinery in the Yaroslavl region, 1,000 kilometers from the front line. Retaliatory strikes were also carried out against Russia in the Black Sea. In Engels, an Alpha unit of Ukraine’s Security Service struck a Tu-95MS missile carrier,” Zelensky wrote on social media X.

Earlier, the governor of the region, Mikhail Evraev, announced the temporary closure of traffic at the exit from Yaroslavl towards Moscow. Due to security measures, vehicles are not allowed to pass on the section from the intersection of Moskovsky Prospekt with South-Western Okruzhnaya.

The Yaroslavl Oil Refinery (Slavneft-YANOS) is one of the largest oil refineries in Russia with a capacity of about 15 million tons of oil per year.

The company produces gasoline, diesel, aviation fuel and other petroleum products. According to the network, a large-scale fire started on the territory of the refinery after drone strikes.

Azerbaijani professionals have been contributing to some of the world’s biggest video game projects for years.

Developers from Azerbaijan have worked on globally recognized titles and brands such as Call of Duty, Assassin’s Creed, FIFA, Chess.com, and many others, taking on roles as programmers, artists, designers, and managers.

Far less common, however, is the story of an Azerbaijani developer directly leading an international game studio developing its own ambitious AA/AAA-scale project.

One of the most notable examples today is Guns of Eschaton, an upcoming title developed by international studio Eschatology Entertainment under the leadership of Azerbaijani developer Fuad Guliyev.

The project has attracted approximately $13 million in investment, while its publisher, 4Divinity, has previously been involved with major titles including S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2: Heart of Chornobyl and Black Myth: Wukong.

The development team also includes renowned art director Viktor Antonov, who gained worldwide recognition for shaping the visual identity of Half-Life 2 and Dishonored.

Another particularly significant development for Azerbaijani players is the possibility of official localization. In a personal conversation, Fuad Guliyev said that Guns of Eschaton is highly likely to receive official Azerbaijani language support following its release.

The project has now received another major international recognition: Guns of Eschaton has been nominated for the Gamescom Awards 2026 in the Best PC Game category.

This means that a game led by an Azerbaijani developer is now competing for one of the awards at one of the world’s largest and most influential gaming events.

Public voting for the Gamescom Awards 2026 is currently underway, giving players the opportunity to support Guns of Eschaton and vote for it in the Best PC Game category.