Category: Azer News

Unilever and Google Cloud announced on Tuesday a five-year strategic partnership aimed at accelerating the consumer goods giant’s digital transformation through advanced artificial intelligence and data-driven technologies, AzerNEWS reports, citing foreign media.

According to the companies, the agreement will focus on enhancing marketing effectiveness, improving brand discovery, and advancing so-called ‘agentic commerce’ – a new model in which AI-powered assistants and conversational platforms increasingly influence purchasing decisions. As more consumers rely on chatbots, recommendation engines, and voice assistants to shop, brands must adapt to remain visible and competitive.

The collaboration will leverage Google Cloud’s AI infrastructure, data analytics capabilities, and generative AI tools to optimize supply chains, forecast demand more accurately, and personalize customer interactions at scale. By integrating real-time data insights into decision-making processes, Unilever aims to respond faster to changing consumer trends and improve operational efficiency across its global portfolio of brands.

‘As brands are increasingly discovered and chosen in environments shaped by AI, we must lead this shift,’ said Willem Uijen, Chief Supply Chain and Operations Officer at Unilever. ‘This collaboration with Google Cloud sets a new benchmark for how technology can power commerce and growth in the fast-moving consumer goods industry, ensuring Unilever remains agile, future-ready, and capable of unlocking value at every level of the company.’

Industry analysts note that partnerships of this scale signal a broader transformation in the retail sector. Beyond marketing and e-commerce, AI is expected to reshape product development, sustainability tracking, and inventory management. For Unilever, which owns hundreds of household brands worldwide, embedding AI deeply into its operations could provide a significant competitive advantage in an increasingly digital marketplace.

Gold and silver markets experienced a sharp downturn recently, with an estimated $1.28 trillion in combined value erased in just a few hours as prices plunged amid heightened volatility and rapid liquidations, AzerNEWS reports.

According to market data, gold prices fell about 2.8 %, translating to roughly $1 trillion lost in market capitalization, while silver tumbled around 5.2 %, erasing approximately $280 billion in value. The sudden losses occurred during a period of thin trading and strong moves in the U.S. dollar, which makes dollar-priced bullion less attractive to international buyers.

Analysts point to a mix of profit taking after record rallies in precious metals earlier this year, expectations of firmer U.S. monetary policy, and technical selling once key price levels broke as key drivers of the downturn. In recent weeks, gold and silver have been exceptionally volatile, with prices swinging dramatically from multi-year highs.

Market participants noted that a stronger U.S. dollar, coupled with reduced safe-haven demand, has put additional pressure on bullion prices, especially during periods of low liquidity such as holiday-affected sessions.

Economists also say the sharp moves in the precious metals sector risk reverberating into broader financial markets as traders reassess risk positions across commodities, equities and fixed income. While some see the selloff as a healthy correction after an extended rally, others caution that extreme intra-day swings reflect deeper structural imbalances and rapid unwinding of leveraged positions in metals futures and ETFs.

On February 16, the 20th round of the Azerbaijan Premier League will conclude with two final matches, AzerNEWS reports.

The first fixture of the day will see Shamakhi host Turan Tovuz at the Shamakhi City Stadium. Kick-off is scheduled for 14:30.

Turan Tovuz currently sit fourth in the standings with 33 points, while Shamakhi occupy eighth place with 23 points.

The closing match of the round will take place between Gabala and Sabah at the Gabala City Stadium, starting at 17:00.

The Baku-based side Sabah lead the league table with 46 points. Meanwhile, Gabala’s “Red-Blacks”find themselves in 10th position with 14 points.

In the previous matches of the round, FC Qarabag defeated Imishli 1-0, Zira edged past Karvan-Yevlakh by the same scoreline, Araz-Nakhchivan secured a 1-0 victory over Sumgayit, and Neftchi claimed a 3-1 win against Kapaz.

The Azerbaijan Premier League was first organized in 2007 and succeeded the Top Division, which existed from 1992 to 2007. FC Qarabag won the title in the 2022-2023 season for the tenth time.

The 2024-25 Azerbaijan Premier League marks the 33rd season of Azerbaijan’s top-tier football competition.

On April 27, 2025, during the 32nd round of the Premier League, Qarabag FC clinched the title with four matches to spare after a 1-1 draw against Sabah.

This victory made them the champions for the 12th time overall and for the fourth consecutive season.

This season is the final one featuring 10 teams, as the league will expand to 12 teams starting from the 2025-26 season.

Following the directive of President Ilham Aliyev, the large-scale return of internally displaced persons to Azerbaijan’s territories liberated from occupation continues in a phased and systematic manner.

According to AzerNEWS, another stage of resettlement has commenced today in the Hadrut and Qirmizi Bazaar settlements of the Khojavend district.

Under this phase, 10 families comprising 47 people are returning to Hadrut, while 20 families totalling 91 people are being resettled in Qirmizi Bazaar. The families had been living temporarily in dormitories, sanatoriums, and administrative buildings across various regions of the country.

The relocation forms part of the broader Great Return programme aimed at restoring life, infrastructure, and economic activity in the liberated territories. Extensive reconstruction efforts, including housing, utilities, social services, and transport infrastructure, have paved the way for the safe and dignified return of former internally displaced persons.

Residents returning to their ancestral lands expressed profound gratitude to President Ilham Aliyev and First Vice President Mehriban Aliyeva for the comprehensive state support provided throughout the resettlement process.

They also conveyed appreciation to the Azerbaijani Armed Forces, the soldiers and officers whose courage ensured the liberation of their homeland, and offered prayers in honour of the martyrs who sacrificed their lives for the country’s territorial integrity.

The steady pace of resettlement reflects Azerbaijan’s continued commitment to rebuilding its liberated regions and ensuring that former displaced families can return to their homes in safety, dignity, and stability.

A conceptual exhibition titled “Antinomy” by visual arts theorist and artist Elchin Shamilli has been launched at the Azerbaijan National Art Museum, AzerNEWS reports.

The project invites viewers to step beyond traditional perceptions and engage in a dialogue with space, time, and the self.

The opening ceremony gathered leading figures from Azerbaijan’s artistic and academic communities. Among the speakers were Shirin Malikova, Director of the National Art Museum, Farhad Khalilov, Chairman of the Azerbaijan Artists’ Union, Natig Aliyev, Rector of the Azerbaijan State Academy of Arts, Ertegin Salamzade, Director of the Institute of Architecture and Arts at the Azerbaijan National Academy of Sciences (ANAS), and Dr. Teimur Daimi, a philosopher. They all emphasized that “Antinomy” fosters a new level of conceptual thinking in contemporary Azerbaijani art.

The exhibition explores the intricate relationships between society, the individual, and the environment. Through a language of symbols and visual metaphors, the artist uncovers the contradictions of existence-between the logical and the mystical, the material and the transcendent, the visible and the hidden.

The exhibition features 15 works, including photographs, graphic compositions, and installations. Each piece evokes the fragility of time: the compositions are structured as if the viewer is witnessing cracks in reality or transitional states between “here” and “there.” The space seems to pulsate, offering a simultaneous experience of presence and absence, stability and fracture.

The concept of antinomy-a philosophical contradiction where equal truths collide is explored through themes of memory, transformation, and metaphysical reality. The symbol in Shamilli’s works serves as a bridge between layers of being, acting both as a tool for knowledge and as an instrument for aesthetic experience.

Dr. Elchin Shamilli, an art theorist, is the author of over 40 scholarly articles on design theory and visual arts.

His monographs include “Perception of Visual Form in Design and Art”, “The Paradigm of Design: Replacing Architecture”, “Abstract Vector in Art”, and others. Shamilli’s solo exhibitions have been held at the Baku Art Center (New Gallery) and the Azerbaijan Artists’ Union’s exhibition hall. His works have been displayed in Baku, Recklinghausen, Budapest, Avignon, London, Aberdeen, Moscow, and St. Petersburg.

“Antinomy” is more than just an exhibition; it is an intellectual space for reflection. Here, aesthetic experience becomes a way of transcending the limits of rational knowledge, and the viewer becomes a co-author of meaning.

The exhibition will be open to the public until March 31.

Founded in 1937, the Azerbaijan National Art Museum offers art connoisseurs some of the best examples of decorative-applied arts of Western Europe.

Over 3,000 items in 60 rooms are on permanent display at the museum, and around 12,000 items are kept in storage. Here, you can see masterpieces of the Italian, French, German, and Polish masters of the brush.

The museum has successfully organized and hosted numerous high-level international exhibitions, showcasing the works of renowned artists.

These exhibitions have not only attracted art enthusiasts but have also contributed to the cultural exchange between Azerbaijan and other countries.

Azerbaijan State Academic Philharmonic Hall has presented the concert program “In the Shadow of Bach”, AzerNEWS reports.

The musical evening celebrated the enduring influence of the Baroque master and his echoes across centuries of music.

Accompanied by the Azerbaijan State Chamber Orchestra under the baton of conductor and Honored Artist Ayyub Guliyev, soloists Irina Bysova (bassoon) and Alim Sadikhov (oboe) performed before a captivated audience.

The concert was dedicated to the work of the great German composer Johann Sebastian Bach (1685-1750) and the reflection of his musical heritage across different eras – from Baroque to the 20th century.

The program opened with Johann Christian Bach’s Symphony No. 2 in E-flat major, Op. 9, Alessandro Marcello’s Oboe Concerto in D minor, and Johann Sebastian Bach’s Bassoon Concerto in E-flat major.

The second half of the program offered a 20th-century perspective. Eitor Villa-Lobos’ Brazilian Bachianas No. 4 showcased a vibrant synthesis of Brazilian national intonations with Bach-inspired polyphony.

This was followed by Arvo Part’s collage on the theme of Bach (Toccata, Sarabande, Ricercar), written in a minimalist style that reflected modern philosophical reinterpretations of Baroque forms, creating an atmosphere of deep contemplation.

The evening concluded with Cantabile by Latvian composer Peteris Vasks. Its profound lyricism and inner drama served as the emotional pinnacle of the concert.

“In the Shadow of Bach” united the musical languages of different eras on a single stage, once again demonstrating the timeless influence of the great master.

Johann Sebastian Bach, born on March 31, 1685 in Eisenach, Germany, is widely regarded as one of the greatest composers in Western music history. A towering figure of the Baroque era, he was celebrated for his extraordinary mastery of counterpoint, harmony, and musical structure.

Bach came from a highly musical family, receiving early training from his father and later studying with prominent regional musicians. Over his lifetime, he held important positions as an organist, composer, and music director in cities such as Arnstadt, Mhlhausen, Weimar, Köthen, and Leipzig, where he served as Thomaskantor at the St. Thomas Church.

Bach’s music spans a wide range of genres, from intricate fugues and sacred choral works to secular concertos and keyboard compositions.

His works, such as the “Brandenburg Concertos”, “Mass in B minor”, “St. Matthew Passion”, and “The Well-Tempered Clavier”, showcase his innovative approach to melody, harmony, and counterpoint. He was not only a prolific composer but also a master organist and improviser, influencing generations of musicians long after his death in 1750.

Though he was relatively underappreciated in some circles during his lifetime, Bach’s music was later rediscovered and revered in the 19th century, and today he is considered a foundational figure whose work bridges technical brilliance with profound emotional expression.

His legacy has shaped Western classical music, influencing composers from Mozart and Beethoven to modern-day musicians.

Energy security, sovereignty and strategic trust are drawing President Ilham Aliyev and President Aleksandar Vucic closer than ever. The first meeting of the Strategic Partnership Council in Belgrade meant more than diplomatic warmth: it marked a deliberate move to firm up Azerbaijan-Serbia relations in long-term energy investment, political coordination and economic integration. From a planned 500-megawatt gas-fired power plant near Nish to expanded gas exports, renewable energy cooperation and food security agreements, both countries are posing themselves as reliable partners in a volatile European landscape. United by a shared emphasis on statehood, sovereignty and mutual support in international forums, Baku and Belgrade are transforming political goodwill into infrastructure, capital flows and strategic leverage.

The inaugural session of the Azerbaijan-Serbia Strategic Partnership Council in Belgrade was carefully organised but strategically serious. Held on Serbia’s Statehood Day, the symbolism was unmistakable. President Aleksandar Vucic framed the meeting as a ‘turning point’, while President Ilham Aliyev underlined sincerity and continuity. Behind the language of friendship lay a clear political and economic agenda.

At its core, this was about energy, sovereignty and trust.

The most consequential outcome of the visit was the agreement on the design, construction and operation of a 500-megawatt gas-turbine power plant in Serbia. To be jointly overseen at presidential level, the project represents one of Azerbaijan’s most significant investments in Europe in recent years.

For Serbia, the logic is urgent. Vucic repeatedly stressed that Europe is entering what he described as the ‘era of electricity’. With demand rising, data centres expanding and industrial modernisation under way, Belgrade needs reliable baseload power. The planned plant near Nish would convert Azerbaijani gas into domestically generated electricity, strengthening Serbia’s energy security while reducing exposure to volatility.

For Azerbaijan, the project deepens its role as a strategic energy supplier to Europe. Baku has already begun exporting gas to Serbia. Now it is moving further along the value chain: from raw gas supplier to co-investor in electricity generation capacity.

President Aliyev highlighted that Azerbaijan’s export potential currently stands at around 2 gigawatts and is expected to grow significantly by 2032 due to major renewable energy projects. Serbia, therefore, is not simply a customer. It is becoming part of Azerbaijan’s broader European energy architecture.

The mutual benefit is clear. Serbia secures supply and new capacity. Azerbaijan expands market access and cements its image as a reliable partner at a time when Europe seeks diversification.

Beyond economics, the meeting reinforced a shared political narrative. Both leaders emphasised respect for territorial integrity and state sovereignty. Azerbaijan’s Aliyev congratulated Serbia on strengthening its statehood; Vucic underlined that Serbia has consistently supported Azerbaijan on difficult issues.

This alignment matters. Both countries operate in sensitive geopolitical environments, the Balkans and the South Caucasus, where questions of borders, identity and international recognition remain delicate. The repeated references to mutual support in international organisations were not incidental. They form part of a pragmatic diplomatic understanding.

The Strategic Partnership Council institutionalises this alignment. Serbia holds such a format with only a limited number of states. By placing Azerbaijan in this category, Belgrade signals that the relationship is no longer transactional but structural.

While energy dominated headlines, the breadth of documents exchanged shows a wider ambition.

Agreements were signed on food security, economic cooperation, media and communications, culture, sports and health insurance systems. These may appear secondary, but they serve two important functions.

First, they create bureaucratic momentum. By instructing ministries to produce concrete projects before Vucic’s upcoming visit to Azerbaijan, both presidents are demanding implementation, not symbolism.

Second, they expand the relationship into people-to-people domains. The launch of direct Belgrade-Baku flights in May is a practical step in this direction. Tourism, business travel and cultural exchange become easier when connectivity improves.

Food security cooperation is also strategically relevant. In an era of supply chain disruption, agricultural exchange between two politically aligned partners reduces vulnerability.

President Ilham Aliyev made a pointed remark: investment flows only to countries where there is trust and a stable climate. By committing substantial capital to Serbia’s energy infrastructure, Azerbaijan is effectively endorsing Serbia’s economic reforms and investment environment.

President Vucic reciprocated with unusually personal praise, repeatedly describing Aliyev as a trusted partner and experienced statesman. The tone reflected not merely diplomacy but political chemistry.

This chemistry underpins practical results. Serbia’s trade in services with Azerbaijan has increased dramatically over the past decade. More importantly, the relationship is moving from episodic cooperation to strategic planning.

The reference to EXPO 2027 in Belgrade, and Azerbaijan’s confirmed participation, further embeds the partnership in long-term planning cycles.

If one looks beyond the ceremony and diplomatic courtesies, the meeting reveals three defining themes at its core.

First, energy security is the engine of cooperation. Gas exports, electricity generation and renewable expansion form the backbone.

Second, sovereignty is the political glue. Both leaders frame their domestic and foreign policies around strong statehood and mutual respect for territorial integrity.

Third, implementation is being prioritised. Presidential oversight of the power plant project and explicit instructions to ministers signal that both sides expect delivery within months, not years.

Despite a fragmented European and Eurasian environment, mid-sized states are increasingly building selective, interest-based alliances. Indeed, the Azerbaijan-Serbia Strategic Partnership Council reflects that trend. It is less about grand geopolitical realignment and more about disciplined, sector-by-sector consolidation.

For Serbia, the benefit lies in diversified energy sources, foreign investment and reinforced international backing. For Azerbaijan, it lies in deeper European integration, expanded export routes and strengthened diplomatic support.

The meeting in Belgrade did not produce dramatic rhetoric. It produced something more durable: infrastructure plans, signed agreements and a framework designed to outlast political cycles.

If implemented at the pace both presidents publicly demanded, this partnership could become a model of how two strategically placed states convert political goodwill into tangible power, which is measured not only in megawatts, but in mutual leverage.

China has reduced its holdings of U.S. Treasury bonds to $683 billion, the lowest level since 2008, down from $769 billion a year earlier, reflecting a continued recalibration of its reserve strategy, AzerNEWS reports.

At the same time, China’s gold reserves have expanded for 15 consecutive months, reaching a new record value of $370 billion, underscoring Beijing’s accelerated move toward diversification.

The reduction comes amid reports that China has advised domestic banks to limit investments in U.S. Treasury securities as part of broader efforts to spread risk and reduce exposure to dollar-denominated assets. These steps coincide with growing global debate over the long-term reliability of the dollar and the United States as the world’s primary safe haven for capital.

Despite the decline, China remains the third-largest foreign holder of U.S. government debt. Japan continues to top the list with around $1.2 trillion in U.S. Treasury holdings. Overall, foreign investors account for roughly 30 percent of total U.S. government debt.

Initiated by the Azerbaijan Children Public Union, the special ‘After the dark.’ event was held.

Arzu Aliyeva, Head of the Baku Media Center, attended the event.

The event aimed to develop the creative skills of children residing at the Children’s Shelter-Reintegration Center operating under Azerbaijan Children Public Union, boost their self-confidence, and support their reintegration into society.

The event showcased 21 handicrafts made from recycled materials giving a second life to useless items, which reflected the principle of ecological responsibility and the creative thinking in children.

Subsequently, the children undergoing rehabilitation staged selected episodes from the Azerbaijani films, as well as performed dance compositions.

The Azerbaijani People’s Artists Flora Karimova, Alim Gasimov, Afag Bashirgizi, Honored Artist Fargana Gasimova, as well as singers Samir Baghirov and Elnur Mammadov joined the children on the stage.

In conclusion, the hymn of the Azerbaijan Children Public Union dedicated to the abandoned children was played.

President Ilham Aliyev’s return flight from Serbia to Baku was escorted by jets of the Serbian Air Force, underscoring Serbia’s deep respect for the Azerbaijani leader. Photos of the escort were shared by Serbian government officials, highlighting the ceremonial significance of the gesture.

In diplomacy, the escort of a presidential plane by fighter jets typically signifies a high-level honor, reflecting respect and friendship from the host nation or serving as a security protocol in sensitive areas. In the context of Azerbaijan-Serbia relations and the strong personal rapport between the two presidents, Belgrade’s gesture conveys a clear message about Baku’s importance as a strategic partner.

According to AzerNEWS, during his official visit, President Aliyev participated in multiple high-level events, including the signing of several agreements covering cooperation in areas such as trade, infrastructure, and energy. A key highlight of the visit was the signing of a deal to launch a joint power plant, marking a significant step in energy and economic collaboration between the two nations.

The visit further strengthened bilateral ties, reinforcing Azerbaijan and Serbia’s commitment to expanding strategic, economic, and energy cooperation.