Category: Azer News

The ‘Women Entrepreneurs in Successful Partnership’ project has been relaunched through the joint organization of the Small and Medium Business Development Agency of Azerbaijan (SMBDA), Marsol Group, and the National Association of Entrepreneurs’ Society (ICMA), Azernews reports.

An official event marking the restart of the project was held at the Baku SME House, bringing together representatives of supporting organizations and women entrepreneurs.

Speaking at the event, SMBDA Chairman Orkhan Mammadov and ICMA Chairman and founder of Marsol Group, Tural Mustafayev, highlighted ongoing measures to support the development of women’s entrepreneurship in Azerbaijan, private sector initiatives in this field, and the objectives of the project. It was noted that now in its third year, the initiative aims to increase women entrepreneurs’ economic and social participation and to expand business networking opportunities among them.

This year’s project will involve more than 100 women entrepreneurs representing various sectors. As part of the initiative, a series of training sessions, seminars, and masterclasses will be organized, along with business meetings, office and production site visits, and social activities.

During the event, promotional films about the project were screened, and the views of this year’s project partners were presented. Participating women entrepreneurs also familiarized themselves with the operations of the Baku SME House and the services it provides to business owners.

The ‘Women Entrepreneurs in Successful Partnership’ project has been implemented since 2024. This year’s partners and supporters include Kapital Bank, Malham International Hospital, Corian Baku, Atirshah Perfume, Gizli Bahçe Restaurant, and Moon Group. The project is scheduled to conclude in March this year.

Azerbaijan has mutually exempted diplomatic passport holders from visas with Somalia, Azernews reports.

President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev signed the law on approving the “Agreement between the Governments of Azerbaijan and Somalia on mutual visa exemption for diplomatic passport holders” in this regard.

Thus, the above-mentioned agreement, signed in Kampala on October 15, 2025, was approved.

Donald Trump’s special envoy Steve Witkoff reportedly held a secret meeting with Reza Pahlavi, the former crown prince of Iran and a leading opposition figure, amid ongoing mass protests across the country, Azernews reports via Axios.

The meeting, first reported by Axios journalist Barak Ravid and citing a senior U.S. official, focused primarily on the scale and trajectory of the unrest in Iran.

U.S. officials have not officially confirmed the meeting. However, it is described as the first high-level contact between the Trump administration and the Iranian opposition since protests erupted on December 28. According to the report, Pahlavi is seeking to position himself as a ‘transitional leader’ should the current political system in Iran collapse.

Witkoff previously took part in nuclear negotiations with Iran as Trump’s representative, giving the meeting added political weight amid escalating tensions.

Meanwhile, the Human Rights Activists News Agency (HRANA) reported on January 13 that the unrest has resulted in 2,571 deaths, including at least 2,400 protesters, 147 government-affiliated individuals, 12 children, and 9 bystanders. The organization also confirmed 18,434 arrests, 1,134 serious injuries, and the release of 97 forced confessions.

At least 12,000 people have reportedly been killed during the ongoing protests in Iran, the editorial board of Iran International stated, describing the events as ‘the largest massacre in Iran’s contemporary history.’ The mass killings are said to have occurred mainly over two consecutive nights, January 8 and 9.

Iranian authorities have not independently confirmed the reported number of deaths. International reactions are expected as the scope of the alleged crackdown continues to emerge.

President Donald Trump has issued a stark warning, stating that the United States would take ‘very strong action’ if Iranian authorities begin executing detained protesters. In an interview, Trump said the situation in Iran ‘is not going to end well’ and noted that Washington is awaiting official confirmation of the reported death toll.

Trump stopped short of detailing potential U.S. actions but said the ‘ultimate goal is victory,’ referencing past U.S. operations against Iran’s nuclear facilities and the removal of Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro. He has also publicly encouraged Iranians to continue protesting, writing on Truth Social that ‘help is on the way.’

The reported meeting between Witkoff and Pahlavi underscores growing international attention on Iran’s internal crisis, as protests persist and pressure mounts on the Iranian leadership.

Apple and Google have announced a collaboration to develop the next generation of artificial intelligence infrastructure, Azernews reports.

As part of a multi-year partnership, Apple will build a new generation of its Foundation Models based on Google’s Gemini AI and cloud computing infrastructure. These models will power future Apple Intelligence features, including a more personalized Siri, expected later this year.

‘After a thorough evaluation, Apple concluded that Google’s AI technology provides the most advanced infrastructure for Apple Foundation Models. This collaboration will offer users exciting new opportunities and enable innovative services. Apple Intelligence will continue to operate both on Apple devices and Apple’s dedicated cloud infrastructure while maintaining the company’s high privacy standards,’ the two companies said in a joint statement.

Following the announcement, Alphabet, Google’s parent company, surpassed a $4 trillion market capitalization. Alphabet became the fourth company ever to reach this milestone, after Nvidia, Microsoft, and Apple. By comparison, the total market value of all companies in the S and P 500 in 2025 was about $44 trillion, highlighting the enormous influence of the ‘tech big four’ in the global market.

Experts believe this partnership could accelerate the development of a ‘universal assistant,’ combining the capabilities of Siri, Google Assistant, and other intelligent services-potentially transforming how people interact with devices and online services in the coming years.

The United States has been conducting reconnaissance operations in the direction of Iran, primarily over the Strait of Hormuz, for more than 12 hours, according to recent imagery, Azernews reports.

Such operations are part of a long-standing US military presence in the region, aimed at ensuring the free flow of oil and deterring potential threats to commercial shipping from Iran. While these patrols are routine, they continue to be a source of tension between Washington and Tehran.

This comes amid growing international scrutiny over Iran’s handling of the unrest.

“To all Iranian patriots, keep protesting,” the US President said during a speech in Michigan on Tuesday.

Trump warns of ‘very strong action’ if Iran executes protesters as more than 2,400 reported killed

Trump urged Iranians to “take over institutions” and to remember the names of “killers and abusers” – as they will “pay a very big price”.

Reviving his vow that the US would come to the rescue of Iranian civilians protesting against the government, he also pledged that “help is on the way”.

A similar pattern had been seen during the 2011 Libyan crisis, the U.S. and NATO conducted extensive aerial surveillance and no-fly zone enforcement over Libyan airspace for months, including intelligence-gathering on Gaddafi’s forces, before launching full-scale military operations. In both cases, the intelligence and reconnaissance phase preceded or accompanied broader strategic pressure, although in Libya it eventually led to direct intervention, while in the Strait of Hormuz it is mainly deterrence and monitoring as it seems for now.

Key details of the operations:

The U.S. Navy’s Fifth Fleet, headquartered in Bahrain, oversees maritime operations in the Persian Gulf, the Red Sea, and the Strait of Hormuz. Its responsibilities include surveillance, safeguarding navigational rights, and responding to regional threats.

U.S. naval vessels and reconnaissance aircraft, such as the P-8A Poseidon and MQ-4C Triton drones, routinely operate in international airspace and waters around the Strait.

Patrols have intensified following Iranian attempts to seize merchant vessels in recent years. The U.S. military presence is intended to discourage disruptions to this critical energy chokepoint.

Such activities have led to clashes in the past. In June 2019, Iranian forces shot down a U.S. RQ-4A Global Hawk surveillance drone, with both countries disputing whether it had entered Iranian airspace.

In early 2026, heightened U.S. reconnaissance activity, including drones and aerial refueling tankers, signals a sustained focus on monitoring Iranian movements amid broader regional tensions.

The U.S. maintains that these operations are conducted in accordance with international law to support regional security, while Iran often views them as provocative incursions into its territory.

President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev visited the village of Chapar in the Aghdara district to review the reconstruction and development works undertaken there, Azernews reports.

Elchin Yusubov, Special Representative of the President in the city of Khankendi and the Aghdara and Khojaly districts, provided the head of state with a detailed briefing on the progress of reconstruction in the village.

Chapar village is situated in the Imarat Garvand administrative territorial unit of Aghdara district, on the southeastern slopes of the Garabagh mountain range. It is home to historical fortress and temple architectural monuments. The village was liberated from occupation following the anti-terror operation carried out by the Azerbaijani Armed Forces in 2023.

Currently, there are 104 private houses in Chapar. Of these, 41 were deemed beyond repair, while 63 were found partially usable. To date, 40 houses have been fully commissioned, with an additional 23 scheduled for restoration by the end of the year. In the initial phase of the “Great Return” program, 26 families (96 people) have already resettled in the village.

Considerable work has been completed to address social needs. Three existing transformers and associated power lines have been rehabilitated, new electricity, natural gas, and telecommunications lines have been installed, a modern water supply network has been created, water reservoirs have been restored, and approximately 6 kilometers of internal village roads have been fully rebuilt. A newly landscaped park will soon be made available for residents’ use.

Following the briefing, President Ilham Aliyev visited the family of Kamala Dadashova, one of the families who have relocated to the village, and inquired about their living conditions.

China has criticised the United States’ decision to impose a 25% tariff on all countries engaged in cooperation with Iran.

As reported by Azernews, the Chinese Embassy in Washington expressed its stance through a statement by its spokesperson, Liu Pengyu, on the social media platform “X.”

Liu also emphasised that China would take necessary actions to safeguard its interests, stating:

“Tariffs and trade wars do not have winners; coercion and pressure cannot resolve issues. Protectionism harms the interests of all parties. China firmly opposes any unilateral sanctions. The Chinese government will take all necessary measures to defend its legitimate rights and interests.”

Earlier, U.S. President Donald Trump had announced that a 25% tariff would be imposed on all countries cooperating with Iran.

It is worth noting that China’s accession to the World Trade Organisation in 2001 marked a turning point, deepening economic ties. Bilateral trade expanded rapidly, making China America’s largest trading partner for many years. However, this economic interdependence also generated tensions, particularly over trade imbalances, intellectual property theft, market access restrictions, and state subsidies to Chinese firms.

By the mid-2010s, US policy shifted decisively toward strategic competition. The Trump administration labelled China a ‘strategic competitor,’ launching a trade war that included tariffs on hundreds of billions of dollars’ worth of Chinese goods. While the Biden administration rolled back some rhetoric, it largely maintained tariffs and reinforced restrictions on advanced technology exports, particularly in semiconductors, artificial intelligence, and quantum computing.

A major drug seizure was carried out by the Bilasuvar Customs Department, with authorities confiscating a significant quantity of narcotics hidden in a commercial shipment, Azernews reports via the State Customs Committee.

The operation targeted a vehicle transporting a cargo labeled as ‘cabbage’ from Iran to Georgia, transiting through Azerbaijan. As part of standard security measures, the shipment was inspected with the help of a canine service dog, which reacted to 13 bags in the trailer, signaling the presence of illegal substances.

Upon a thorough examination of the flagged cargo, customs officers discovered a total of 19 kilograms 475 grams of marijuana, physically concealed by folding the narcotics to resemble heads of cabbage. The creative concealment method had been intended to evade detection, but was successfully uncovered through the combined efforts of customs staff and the trained service dog.

The seizure highlights ongoing efforts by Azerbaijani customs authorities to combat the illegal trafficking of drugs through the country’s transit routes and ensure the integrity of cross-border trade.

As part of its winter online lecture series, the Confucius Institute at Azerbaijan University of Languages have recently organised a lecture titled “The Art of Chinese Ice Sculpture”, Azernews reports.

The lecture was delivered by Rafiq Abbasov, Director of the Confucius Institute. He spoke about the history of “The Great World of Ice and Snow” in Harbin, home to the world’s largest ice and snow-themed park.

Abbasov highlighted that the first Harbin Ice Lantern Festival was held in 1963 at the city’s Chaolin Park, featuring colourful light displays.

This event marked the beginning of the development of ice sculpting art and paved the way for the annual International Ice and Snow Sculpture Festival.

The festival’s main venue is recognised by the Guinness World Records as home to the largest snow sculpture in the world.

Visitors to the park can admire hundreds of large-scale ice replicas of famous historical buildings, sculptures of humans and mythical creatures, as well as representations of the Chinese zodiac animals.

Along the banks of the Songhua River, ice sculptures of various sizes and forms, including snowmen, are on display. During Harbin’s ice sculpture competitions, artists from around the globe showcase their skill and creativity in crafting intricate and original ice works.

Abbasov also discussed the styles and technological stages of ice sculpture creation, including the preparation of original designs, the use of traditional carving tools, and modern laser technology for fine details.

‘Azercell Telecom’ LLC has expanded its roaming portfolio with updated internet packages designed to better meet subscribers’ needs, Azernews reports.

These cost-efficient offers allow customers to stay connected outside Azerbaijan, ensuring uninterrupted communication and supporting both personal and professional activities during international travel, enhancing the overall roaming experience.

As the mobile operator with the most extensive roaming coverage in the local market, Azercell offers roaming internet packages with data volumes of 500 MB, 2 GB, 5 GB, and 10 GB.

For short-term trips, the 500 MB roaming package is available for AZN 10 with a 3-day validity period, while the 2 GB package is priced at AZN 25 and valid for 10 days. For longer stays and higher data consumption, subscribers can opt for the 5 GB package valid for 30 days at AZN 50, or the 10 GB package with the same validity period priced at AZN 75.

The updated roaming packages are available across the networks of 260 mobile operators in more than 100 countries, with the coverage list being updated regularly.

More detailed information about the roaming internet packages is available on Azercell’s official website.