Category: Azer News

The American company OpenAI is reportedly dissatisfied with some of Nvidia’s latest chips and is exploring alternative options for powering artificial intelligence (AI) workloads, Azernews reports.

According to OpenAI, the shift in strategy is driven by the growing importance of specialized microprocessors used to execute specific AI tasks-essentially, the processes that generate responses when AI models interact with users.

This move by OpenAI, along with similar decisions by other tech companies to seek alternatives in the AI chip market, represents a significant challenge to Nvidia’s dominance in the AI hardware sector, according to industry analysts. While Nvidia continues to lead in chips for training large AI models, inference-the process of running models to produce outputs-has become a new competitive frontier.

Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang recently commented on the company’s ongoing investment in OpenAI. He confirmed that Nvidia would continue to fund the startup, describing it as a ‘good investment,’ but did not disclose the exact amount planned for the partnership.

The growing competition in AI hardware has led to innovations in AI-specific chips, such as processors designed for faster inference with lower energy consumption. Some emerging chips even aim to run complex AI models directly on smaller devices, like smartphones and edge servers, potentially reducing the need for massive data centers. This shift could fundamentally change how AI services are delivered in the near future.

NASA has announced that the countdown has officially begun for the wet dress rehearsal of the Artemis II mission to the Moon. On Friday, 30 January 2026, the space agency said it would target Monday, 2 February, for the rehearsal. By Saturday, 31 January, NASA confirmed that the countdown started at 20:13 EST (1 February, 01:13 UTC), marking 48 hours until the first wet dress rehearsal window, Azernews reports, citing foreign media.

The simulated launch window is scheduled to begin on 2 February at 21:00 EST (3 February at 02:00 UTC). The timing has been slightly delayed due to cold weather and high winds at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida, where the Artemis II Space Launch System (SLS) rocket is currently on the launch pad. As a result, the earliest potential launch date for Artemis II has now been pushed to 8 February 2026. Previous target dates of 6 or 7 February are no longer possible, according to NASA.

The wet dress rehearsal will allow NASA’s ground teams to practice the full launch-day procedures to ensure a smooth mission. While the four astronauts will not participate directly, the rehearsal will involve key operations such as loading cryogenic liquid fuel into the SLS rocket, conducting a launch countdown, testing the ability to recycle the countdown clock if the launch needs to be scrubbed and restarted, and draining the rocket’s tanks to simulate scrub procedures. Once these tests are complete, NASA will set an official launch date for Artemis II.

Artemis II will mark the first mission to return humans to the Moon since the Apollo era. The four astronauts – Reid Wiseman, Victor Glover, Christina Koch, and Jeremy Hansen – will orbit the Moon but will not land. Their Orion capsule will launch into Earth orbit aboard the SLS rocket and, after a final go-ahead, begin the journey toward the Moon. The mission will take the crew farther than any humans have ever traveled, using the Moon’s gravity to slingshot around the far side before returning to Earth for a splashdown in the Pacific Ocean.

With the countdown for the wet dress rehearsal now underway, humanity could be less than a week away from witnessing Artemis II lift off, beginning a new chapter in crewed space exploration. Interestingly, during the Apollo missions, astronauts could see only about 59% of the Moon’s surface from orbit, but Artemis II will give the crew a view of nearly 100% of the lunar far side, offering a perspective never before seen by humans.

Spectacular concert featuring piano pieces by the renowned composer Sergei Bortkiewicz has been presented to the audiences, Azernews reports citing the Azerbaijan State Children’s Philharmonic Hall.

The concert program was inspired by the fairy tales of the famous Danish writer Hans Christian Andersen.

An engaging concert program featuring piano pieces by the renowned composer Sergei Bortkiewicz, inspired by the fairy tales of the famous Danish writer Hans Christian Andersen, was presented to audiences.

Prior to the concert, the Philharmonic’s director and pianist Saida Taghi-zade addressed the audience, speaking about the creative legacies of both artists.

She highlighted the young and talented pianists’ individual interpretations of the works, their performance techniques, and their emotional expressiveness.

The creative harmony between Hans Christian Andersen and Sergei Bortkiewicz can be described as follows: Andersen creates fairy tales, while Sergei Bortkiewicz retells those tales through music.

Guided by this concept, the concert showcased young, gifted soloists who not only narrated stories on stage but also brought their imaginations to life through the magical sounds of the piano.

Organizing the concert in this format made a significant contribution to the children’s development, both in literary and musical terms.

Israeli military sources have told the Maariv newspaper that ongoing talks between Washington and Tehran have not led to any reduction in Israel’s defensive or offensive readiness, and that the security establishment continues to prepare for the possibility of a U.S. military strike against Iran, according to the report, Azernews reports.

The sources said Israel is maintaining heightened alert levels even as diplomatic engagement proceeds.

The assessment underscores growing concern in Israeli defence circles that negotiations between Washington and Tehran are unlikely to prevent escalation, and that military action remains a real option. Israeli officials told Maariv that they believe the United States may move to strike Iran, with readiness levels kept high across forces.

The remarks come amid renewed diplomatic efforts between the U.S. and Iran aimed at addressing nuclear and regional security issues. Officials say indirect talks are planned in Istanbul later this week, involving envoys from both sides, in an attempt to revive nuclear negotiations and reduce tensions. Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Oman, Pakistan, Egypt, and the UAE have been invited to participate in talks regarding Iran in Istanbul.

However, the broader strategic environment remains fraught:

U.S. military assets, including warships and aircraft, have been deployed in the region, interpreted by analysts as a buildup that could enable a future strike.

Iranian leaders, including the foreign minister and army chief, have publicly stated Tehran is prepared for conflict while also signalling openness to dialogue under certain conditions.

Tehran’s Supreme Leader has warned that any U.S. attack would trigger a regional war, illustrating the high stakes involved.

Israeli assessments reported by other media suggest that the United States could carry out military action against Iran within the coming weeks to months, though not necessarily immediately, and that such plans are being discussed at the highest levels of Israel’s defence establishment.

Despite this, diplomatic actors continue to push for negotiations, with regional voices arguing that war between the U.S. and Iran would be detrimental to Middle East stability and calling for more robust diplomatic solutions.

The State Oil Company of Azerbaijan (SOCAR) is exploring the expanded use of remote monitoring technologies, including drones and data modeling tools, to improve the assessment of its assets.

As reported by Azernews, Bora Engin, Manager for Digitalization and Operational Technologies at SOCAR Downstream, shared these insights during an interview with Honeywell’s Communications Director, Nadiya Dubani.

Engin noted that SOCAR plans to scale these technologies across other facilities and business segments, including its upstream operations.

He emphasized that digitalization has significantly enhanced data accuracy and transparency across the company’s operations.

‘The installation of sensors and cameras has enabled real-time monitoring and early leak detection, reducing false alarms and strengthening rapid response capabilities,’ Engin said. ‘The data we collect can also be used to forecast future energy savings. Wireless, battery-powered solutions are especially valuable for remote sites. These technologies help personnel adopt new tools while setting new standards for operational excellence and environmental responsibility.’

Engin explained that SOCAR selected Honeywell for its proven, reliable, and innovative solutions.

‘The plug-and-play simplicity of the Signal Scout solution and its minimal configuration requirements shortened deployment timelines and reduced cost risks,’ he said. ‘Sensors are magnetically mounted and easily repositioned, while cameras help accurately identify the location and volume of emissions. Integration was carried out with early infrastructure planning and close coordination between maintenance and operations teams, ensuring seamless compatibility with existing plant systems.’

Following the implementation of Honeywell’s solutions, SOCAR has seen notable improvements in its emissions monitoring capabilities, Engin added.

‘We can now detect leaks in real time and respond immediately, which has helped reduce unintentional emissions and operational losses,’ he said. ‘While precise reporting methodologies are still being refined, early results show a significant reduction in time spent on manual data collection and improved compliance with ISO 14001 standards. Continuous monitoring and data analytics have also enabled us to forecast and achieve energy savings across all our facilities.’

Bitcoin has fallen below the $75,000 mark for the first time since April 7, 2025, signaling a notable pullback in the cryptocurrency market.

Azernews reports that the world’s largest cryptocurrency dipped sharply in early trading hours.

As of 07:30 a.m. Baku time, Bitcoin was valued at $74,859.9, reflecting a 4.89 percent decline. Minutes later, at 07:35 a.m., the downward momentum eased slightly, with Bitcoin trading at $74,865, down 4.88 percent.

The drop marks a significant psychological breach of the $75,000 threshold, a level that had held for several months amid strong institutional interest and expectations of continued market resilience.

A total of $2.62 million in investment was attracted by 22 startups in 2025, according to Farid Osmanov, Chairman of the Board of the Innovation and Digital Development Agency (IRIA).

As reported by Azernews, speaking at a press conference today on the agency’s annual performance, Osmanov noted that the number of residents registered at the technopark has reached 165 to date.

‘Over the past year alone, 47 companies were issued registration certificates at the technopark, including four foreign and 43 local companies,’ he said.

Osmanov also highlighted progress in the Digital Document Management System, noting that 17 educational institutions and 16 business entities were integrated into the system last year.

‘More than 1,300 organizations have now been integrated into the Digital Document Management System, resulting in savings of over 31 million pages, which is equivalent to preserving approximately 5,700 trees. This technology has become one of the successful projects contributing to the development of a green society,’ he added.

The International Air Transport Association (IATA) has released its annual aviation statistics for 2025, reporting solid growth in both passenger and air cargo traffic, while warning that capacity constraints remain a major challenge for the industry, Azernews reports.

Passenger traffic continued its post-pandemic normalization, with global demand rising by 5.3% year-on-year, closely matched by a 5.2% increase in capacity. The average annual passenger load factor reached 83.6%, the highest level ever recorded for a full year.

International travel was the main growth driver, expanding by 7.1%, while capacity rose by 6.8%. The international load factor climbed to 83.5%, also a record. Domestic passenger traffic grew more modestly at 2.4%, with a load factor of 83.7%.

Regionally, the Asia-Pacific market posted the strongest growth and highest load factors, while North America recorded the weakest expansion. Latin America saw the sharpest decline in load factor despite continued demand growth.

Commenting on the results, IATA Director General Willie Walsh said:

‘The growth in passenger demand in 2025 confirmed the industry’s return to sustainable, historically normal growth rates. However, record load factors clearly demonstrate that capacity constraints remain a key challenge for aviation today.’

Air cargo also delivered a solid performance in 2025. Global cargo demand increased by 3.4%, while capacity rose by 3.7%. International cargo traffic grew faster, expanding by 4.2%. Although cargo yields declined by 1.5%, this was the smallest annual drop in three years, and yields remain 37.2% above 2019 levels.

The Asia-Pacific region led cargo growth with an 8.4% increase in demand. IATA noted a clear shift in global cargo flows away from Asia-North America routes toward Asia-Europe, alongside steady growth within Asia and on Middle East-Asia corridors.

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‘Air cargo in 2025 once again demonstrated its key role in supporting global supply chains. Even amid trade and geopolitical uncertainty, the industry was able to quickly adapt to changing demand flows.’

According to IATA, the 2025 results underline both the resilience of global aviation and the urgency of addressing supply-chain bottlenecks, fleet shortages, and long-term capacity expansion as demand continues to rise.

Ahead of Youth Day, Azercell welcomed members of Azerbaijan’s national team preparing for international Informatics Olympiads with the company’s support. The meeting highlighted the young talents’ achievements on the international stage, as well as the long-term, systematic cooperation model that underpins these successes.

Sona Abbasova, Director of the Corporate and Marketing Communications Department at ‘Azercell Telecom’ LLC, company representatives, Fuad Garayev, Deputy Director of the Institute of Education of the Republic of Azerbaijan, and the coaches of the national Informatics team participated at the event.

Cooperation between Azercell and the Institute of Education, aimed at training the national Informatics team, has been ongoing since 2017. Through this collaboration, students have the opportunity to participate in additional training sessions. The partnership also supports a structured and comprehensive program for international Olympiad preparation and the development of young people’s programming and IT skills. Currently, about 90 students involved to the additional training program each year.

As a result of this long-term cooperation, members of the national team have successfully represented Azerbaijan at prestigious international and regional Informatics Olympiads, winning a total of 104 medals, including 6 gold, 33 silver, and 65 bronze medals.

Opening the event, Sona Abbasova stated: ‘Our company is committed to developing talented young people and fostering a knowledge-driven, highly qualified human capital in the fields of IT and programming. In this context, the Institute of Education is one of our key partners. Your achievements at international Olympiads once again demonstrate the significance of this initiative. I am confident that the young people we support today will become the professionals driving the country’s technological development tomorrow.’

Fuad Garayev also commended the partnership, noting: ‘With Azercell’s support, members of the national Informatics team undertake international competition preparation in a structured and professional manner. Additional training classes, implementation of targeted training programs, and the establishment of a dedicated learning environment empower students to fully develop their potential. This comprehensive approach enhances their performance at international Olympiads and contributes to nurturing the next generation of IT and ICT specialists in the country.’

At the conclusion of the event, medalists of international Informatics Olympiads were presented with certificates and special gifts.

Starting from the beginning of the new academic year, Georgia will introduce new rules in secondary schools. Amendments to legislation concerning these innovations have already been submitted to Parliament, Azernews reports.

The Ministry of Education and Science of Georgia has released official information on the upcoming changes. It is reported that Parliament will soon review the draft amendments to the Law on General Education prepared by the Ministry.

According to the draft, general education in Georgia will now last between 11 and 12 years, with the minimum age for starting primary education set at 6 years. Schools will accept children who turn 6 by September 15. Additionally, school uniforms will be mandatory for primary-level students.

The draft also stipulates that if a teacher, or any other staff member at a general education institution, is found guilty of violence against a student, their employment contract will be terminated. Furthermore, these employees will be banned from working in the education sector for a period of 3 years.

In addition, the amendments introduce new norms regarding the duration of basic and secondary levels of education, setting clearer guidelines for how long students will spend in each stage of their academic journey.

These changes reflect an ongoing push by the Georgian government to modernize the education system, not only by extending the length of education but also by ensuring a safer environment for students. With mandatory school uniforms and stronger penalties for misconduct, these reforms aim to improve both the quality of education and the overall student experience in Georgia’s schools.