Category: Azer News

A new industrial project focused on the production of enriched quartz sand and technical construction sand will be implemented in Azerbaijan’s Hajigabul Industrial Park, AzerNEWS reports.

According to the Ministry of Economy, ‘AzerKvars’ LLC has been granted resident status in the park, which is managed by the Economic Zones Development Agency under the ministry.

The project, valued at 15 million manats, es the construction of a manufacturing facility that will process raw materials extracted from the Hajivalli deposit located in the Hajigabul district. The plant will specialize in the production of enriched quartz sand and technical construction sand.

As part of the initiative, 50 new jobs are expected to be created, contributing to local employment and industrial development.

Currently, the Hajigabul Industrial Park hosts 14 resident companies and 5 non-resident entrepreneurs. To date, more than 66.8 million manats have been invested by businesses operating in the park, resulting in the creation of nearly 570 permanent jobs.

The new project underscores Azerbaijan’s broader strategy to diversify its industrial base and enhance value-added production in the non-oil sector.

The Conference of the Parties to the Convention on the Conservation of Migratory Species of Wild Animals (CMS) has decided to add 40 new species to the list of animals granted international protection, AzerNEWS reports.

The decision was made during the COP15 summit held in the city of Campo Verde, Brazil, attended by representatives from 132 countries and the European Union.

The updated list includes both terrestrial and aquatic species, such as the polar owl (Bubo scandiacus), the endangered Hudson sandpiper (Limosa haemastica), and the giant hammerhead shark (Sphyrna mokarran). Additionally, the striped hyena (Hyaena hyaena) and the giant otter (Pteronura brasiliensis) have been granted protected status.

Under the provisions of the CMS, participating countries are required to protect listed species, preserve and restore their habitats, remove obstacles to migration, and coordinate conservation efforts internationally.

According to data presented at the conference, nearly 49% of species listed in the CMS are declining in number, and almost a quarter face the risk of extinction.

Special attention at COP15 was given to migratory freshwater fish, whose populations are declining rapidly. In some cases, these populations are at risk of collapse, according to an international assessment published during the summit.

The main threats to migratory species include habitat destruction, overfishing, and water pollution, affecting ecosystems from the Amazon Basin to European rivers, including the Danube.

The conference took place in the Pantanal, one of the world’s largest wetlands, renowned for its remarkable biodiversity and as a critical refuge for countless migratory species. Experts highlighted that protecting these habitats is not only vital for wildlife but also for maintaining the health of global ecosystems and the services they provide to human populations.

Five people have been arrested in Armenia over an alleged election-related bribery scheme tied to Russian-Armenian businessman Samvel Karapetyan and his Strong Armenia party, which has denied the accusations, AzerNEWS reports.

The Anti-Corruption Committee of Armenia said it had obtained ‘factual data’ suggesting that a group planned to distribute electoral bribes to ensure participation in the parliamentary elections scheduled for June 7 and to secure votes in favor of a specific political force.

According to investigators, the scheme dates back to 2025, when an office of the Our Way NGO was opened in the town of Metsamor, located in Armavir Province. Organizers allegedly registered local residents in the NGO and tasked them with recruiting voters to support the Strong Armenia party.

Authorities claim that payments were disguised as salaries and planned to be distributed in stages to conceal their purpose. Among the alleged conditions for participation were having a large family, a broad social network, and voter eligibility.

The committee also accused individuals linked to the party of distributing money to residents under the guise of charitable assistance for medical expenses between February and March 2026, despite legal restrictions on such activities during the pre-election period.

Law enforcement bodies reported conducting dozens of searches, leading to the arrest of five individuals and the launch of a criminal case under relevant charges. Officials also pledged continued monitoring of organizations connected to political parties to prevent electoral violations.

The Strong Armenia party rejected the allegations, claiming that the evidence, including reportedly recorded phone conversations, was fabricated and that law enforcement agencies are being used as political tools by the authorities.

On April 1, Adylbek Kasymaliev, Chairman of the Cabinet of Ministers of Kyrgyzstan, embarked on a visit to Azerbaijan, AzerNEWS reports.

Adylbek Kasymaliev was welcomed at Heydar Aliyev International Airport by Minister of Digital Development and Transport Rashad Nabiyev, Deputy Foreign Minister Samir Sharifov and other officials.

United States President Donald Trump told British news outlet The Telegraph in an interview published on Wednesday that he is considering pulling his country out of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) as the alliance refused to join the Iran war, AzerNEWS reports.

“I was never swayed by NATO. I always knew they were a paper tiger, and [Russian president Vladimir] Putin knows that too, by the way,” Trump said. He also criticized the alliance for failing to help reopen the Strait of Hormuz, blocked by Iran for weeks.

“Beyond not being there, it was actually hard to believe. And I didn’t do a big sale. I just said, ‘Hey,’ you know, I didn’t insist too much. I just think it should be automatic,” the US president stated.

Trump further blasted British Prime Minister Keir Starmer for failing to get involved in the Middle East conflict, stressing that the British Royal Navy is not up for that task.

“You don’t even have a navy. You’re too old and had aircraft carriers that didn’t work,” he pointed out.

Abdulla Aripov, Prime Minister of the Republic of Uzbekistan, embarked on a visit to Azerbaijan on April 1, AzerNEWS reports.

The Uzbekistani PM was welcomed at Heydar Aliyev International Airport by Minister of Economy Mikayil Jabbarov, Deputy Foreign Minister Samir Sharifov, along with other officials.

An informative meeting was recently organized at the International Mugham Center for teachers from music and art schools operating under the Karabakh Regional Department of Culture and based in Baku, AzerNEWS reports.

The session aimed to support teachers in navigating recent reforms in arts education led by the Ministry of Culture. Participants were provided with detailed guidance on the procedures for professional attestation, systematic presentation of program topics, and preparation for the attestation process.

The event, organized by the Culture Ministry’s Scientific, Methodological and Qualification Center for Culture (MEMIM), included discussions on the purpose and legal framework of teacher attestation, the content of attestation programs, and both theoretical and practical topics relevant to specific specialties.

Recommendations and practical advice were also shared with participants.

Note that MEMIM has previously held similar sessions in Baku and across other regions.

Plans are underway to organize additional informative meetings for teachers from music and art schools under other regional departments of culture.

The United States Department of Defense announced on Wednesday that it made a new framework agreement with the Boeing Company and Lockheed Martin Corporation to triple the output of seekers for the Patriot Advanced Capability-3 (PAC-3) Missile Segment Enhancement (MSE) as part of US President Donald Trump and US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth’s plans to build the “Arsenal of Freedom”, AzerNEWS reports.

The new deal will build on the US government’s seven-year agreement with Boeing, which supplies the PAC-3 missiles, and it represents an application of the Pentagon’s Acquisition Transformation Strategy.

“This agreement with Boeing is a direct reflection that speed, volume, and a resilient supply chain are paramount. We are moving beyond the old model and forging direct partnerships with critical suppliers to ensure the entire defense industrial base is postured to expand production and deliver the decisive capabilities our warfighters need at speed and scale,” US Under Secretary of War for Acquisition and Sustainment Michael Duffey said.

Kubanychbek Omuraliev, Secretary General of the Organization of Turkic States, arrived in Azerbaijan on 1 April.

AzerNEWS reports, citing Azertag that, the guest was received at Heydar Aliyev International Airport by Gursel Ismayilzadeh, Head of the Department for Eastern Europe, the South Caucasus, Western and Central Asia at Azerbaijan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, along with other officials.

The Azerbaijan Under-21 national football team has played its latest match in the qualifying round of the UEFA European Championship, AzerNEWS reports.

The team, competing in Group B, faced their Bulgarian counterparts away from home. The match took place at the Hristo Botev Stadium in Plovdiv and ended in a goalless 0-0 draw.

With this result, Azerbaijan U-21 increased their points tally to six and currently sit in fifth place in the group standings.

The team will play their next match on September 25, hosting the Czech Republic.

Organized by UEFA, the UEFA European Championship brings together the top national teams from across Europe to compete for continental glory. First held in 1960, the tournament has grown significantly in scale and popularity, evolving from a small four-team finals event into a major spectacle featuring 24 teams since 2016.

The competition is held every four years and includes a lengthy qualification phase, where national teams are divided into groups and compete for a place in the final tournament. The finals consist of a group stage followed by knockout rounds, culminating in a high-profile final watched by millions worldwide.

Seventeen editions of the UEFA European Championship have been claimed by ten different national teams.

The Spain national football team lead the way with four titles, followed by the Germany national football team with three. The Italy national football team and the France national football team have each secured two championships.

So far, Spain remains the only side to have won back-to-back European titles, achieving this remarkable feat in 2008 and 2012.

The UEFA Euro 2028 is scheduled to take place from 9 June to 9 July 2028, spanning a full month of top-level international football.

The tournament will begin with the opening match in Cardiff and conclude with the final at Wembley Stadium in London, bringing together Europe’s best national teams to compete for the continental title.