Category: Azer News

Armenia imports certain products of Azerbaijani origin, including gasoline and diesel fuel, and cargo transit through Azerbaijani territory is carried out regularly, AzerNEWS reports, citing Armenian media.

This was stated by Armenia’s Minister of Economy, Gevorg Papoyan.

‘Only one or two Azerbaijani products enter Armenia: gasoline and diesel fuel. Almost every day, goods are transported through Azerbaijan. For example, one supermarket chain, Nor Zovk, applied to import semolina via Azerbaijani territory; another organization requested to import Russian coal; a third imports grain, and a fourth is already importing fertilizers. This has now expanded significantly. I am already having difficulty keeping track of how many products are being transported,’ he said.

Google has removed three state-affiliated YouTube channels belonging to Belarus, in a move linked to international sanctions, AzerNEWS reports.

According to reports by the state news agency BELTA, the deleted accounts included its own channel, as well as those operated by the television broadcasters ONT and STV.

BELTA noted that Google, which owns YouTube, has not provided any official explanation for the removals. The lack of transparency has drawn criticism from Belarusian authorities.

The Belarusian Ministry of Information condemned the decision as ‘unfriendly and unjustified,’ arguing that the affected media outlets are not included in any international sanctions lists. The ministry emphasized that it reserves the right to take retaliatory measures in response to the platform’s actions.

The development underscores growing tensions between global technology companies and state-controlled media outlets in sanctioned or politically sensitive environments, where questions of content moderation, compliance, and geopolitical influence continue to intersect.

A new personnel appointment has been made at Mingachevir State University, AzerNEWS reports.

Well-known journalist Firuze Jalilova has been appointed Head of the Public Relations and Marketing Department, as well as Press Secretary of the university.

Firuze Jalilova is a graduate of Baku State University, holds a PhD in pedagogy, and has more than 25 years of experience in television. Over the years, she has worked as an author-presenter and project manager at leading media outlets, including Space TV, Lider TV, Khazar TV and Baku TV.

Following the directive of Ilham Aliyev, a new batch of humanitarian assistance was dispatched from Baku to the Islamic Republic of Iran on April 4. AzerNEWS reports that the convoy, consisting of 10 trucks, crossed the border through the Astara State Border Checkpoint.

The aid package totaled 200 tons, including 190 tons of food and grocery products, 7 tons of medicines, and 3 tons of medical supplies.

This delivery aligns with a telephone conversation held on March 8, 2026, between Presidents Ilham Aliyev and Massoud Pezeshkian. The initiative aims to support the neighboring Iranian population and address urgent humanitarian needs.

Azerbaijan’s humanitarian assistance underscores the strong neighborly and friendly ties between the two countries, highlighting a commitment to regional cooperation and solidarity in times of need.

United States President Donald Trump announced on Friday that he was appointing Vice President JD Vance as the “FRAUD CZAR” of the country, AzerNEWS reports.

In a social media post, the president referred to the “massive and pervasive” fraud in the country, adding that it would be an honor to have Vance as a “major factor” in shaping the future of the United States.

“We will call him the ‘FRAUD CZAR,’ and his focus will be ‘EVERYWHERE,’ but primarily in those Blue States where CROOKED DEMOCRAT POLITICIANS … have had a ‘free for all,'” Trump added.

The move comes a day after Trump fired Attorney General Pam Bondi, stressing a broader shake-up in his administration’s enforcement agenda.

Azerbaijan President Ilham Aliyev has responded to the expression of gratitude by Iran’s President Masoud Pezeshkian.

According to AzerNEWS, the post, shared on the President’s X social media account, reads: ‘The expression of gratitude by the President of the Islamic Republic of Iran, my brother President Masoud Pezeshkian, to the Azerbaijani people and state for the support provided is highly appreciated by our people.

Our friendly and brotherly peoples have supported each other for centuries, and we will continue to stand by each other in both good and difficult times.’

Landmine contamination remains one of the most urgent humanitarian and socio-economic challenges facing Azerbaijan in the post-conflict period. AzerNEWS reports that years of occupation have left vast territories polluted with landmines and unexploded ordnance, creating a deadly barrier to recovery, reconstruction, and long-term development.

According to official estimates, more than 1 million landmines and unexploded devices are scattered across Azerbaijan’s liberated areas, affecting approximately 13,000 square kilometers. Since the end of the 2020 war, over 350 Azerbaijani citizens have been killed or injured in landmine explosions, highlighting the continuing human cost of the conflict.

The consequences extend far beyond casualties. Tens of thousands of internally displaced people remain unable to return safely to their homes due to the persistent danger. Large areas are still classified as high-risk, slowing down resettlement efforts and delaying the restoration of normal life. Demining operations are complex, costly, and time-consuming, making rapid progress difficult.

The economic impact is equally significant. Thousands of hectares of fertile agricultural land cannot be used, directly affecting food production and rural livelihoods. Major infrastructure projects-including roads, railways, and energy systems-face delays and increased costs due to necessary clearance work. In some cases, reconstruction timelines have been extended by several years because of mine contamination.

Environmental damage further complicates the situation. Forests, water resources, and ecosystems remain unsafe, limiting biodiversity and hindering sustainable development. Experts estimate that fully clearing the affected areas could take 20 to 30 years and require tens of billions of dollars in investment.

In response, Azerbaijan has made demining a national priority. Significant financial resources have been allocated, and modern technologies such as drones and specialized equipment are being deployed. Thousands of hectares have already been cleared, allowing gradual progress in reconstruction and the return of displaced populations.

However, the scale of the problem exceeds national capacity. One of the major challenges remains the lack of accurate and complete minefield maps, which slows operations and increases risks for demining teams. Although some maps have been provided, their reliability continues to be questioned.

This reality underscores the need for stronger international cooperation. Global organizations, donor countries, and humanitarian agencies must increase their support for demining efforts, technical assistance, and victim rehabilitation programs.

Ultimately, the landmine crisis in Azerbaijan is not only a national issue but also a global humanitarian concern. Without sustained international engagement, the legacy of conflict will continue to endanger lives, delay recovery, and obstruct the path toward lasting peace.

The administration of Donald Trump has proposed a record-level military budget for the 2027 fiscal year, signaling a sharp shift toward defense and national security priorities.

AzerNEWS reports that the proposal outlines key government spending directions for the new fiscal year set to begin on October 1.

Under the plan, discretionary spending is projected to reach $1.8 trillion in fiscal year 2027. When combined with mandatory expenditures, the total federal budget is expected to amount to $2.2 trillion.

The most striking element of the proposal is a dramatic increase in defense spending. The administration has earmarked $1.5 trillion for the defense sector, representing a 42% increase-or an additional $445 billion-compared to the 2026 fiscal year.

At the same time, non-defense spending is set to be reduced by $73 billion, underscoring the administration’s prioritization of security and military strength over domestic programs.

The proposal must still be debated and approved by the United States Congress, where it is expected to face significant scrutiny.

Analysts warn that such a substantial increase in military spending could intensify domestic political debates while also reshaping the global security landscape.

This convoy is the third humanitarian aid shipment sent from Azerbaijan to Iran. In essence, it is a convoy that conveys the solidarity and moral support of the Azerbaijani people and government to the Iranian people.

AzerNEWS reports via Azertag that these remarks were made by Iran’s Ambassador to Azerbaijan, Mojtaba Demirchilou, in an interview with journalists.

He stated that Iran is currently going through a difficult period, and that support provided at such a time is of great importance.

‘I would like to emphasise once again that the Azerbaijani government has taken certain initiatives in this regard. It first sent humanitarian aid, and plans are in place to continue these deliveries. This demonstrates that Azerbaijan intends to maintain its support and once again show its solidarity,’ Demirchilou added.

Chinese Vice Premier He Lifeng and Canadian Finance Minister Francois-Philippe Champagne on Friday agreed in Beijing to hold a China-Canada Economic and Financial Strategic Dialogue in the second half of this year, AzerNEWS reports, citing Global Times.

He, China’s lead person in the dialogue, called on the two sides to follow through on the important common understandings reached between the leaders of the two countries, deepen cooperation in areas such as economy, trade and finance, and foster the stable and sound development of China-Canada economic relations.

Champagne, the Canadian co-leader of the dialogue, said that Canada places high importance on its relations with China and stands ready to work with the Chinese side to advance economic and financial cooperation to deliver more practical outcomes.

The two sides also jointly met with representatives from the China-Canada Financial Working Group and Roundtable with Financial Institutions, welcoming institutions from both countries to do business in each other’s markets.