Category: Azer News

NASA announced that the International Space Station’s Crew-11 mission will return to Earth no earlier than Wednesday, January 14, following a medical issue affecting one crew member, Azernews reports.

The four astronauts are scheduled to complete their return by landing in the Pacific Ocean off the coast of California aboard the SpaceX Crew Dragon Endeavour early on January 15.

The decision to bring the crew back ahead of their originally planned departure was made as a precautionary measure to ensure the health and safety of all crew members.

The European Union and the Mercosur bloc are set to sign their long-awaited trade agreement on Saturday, marking a major milestone in relations between Europe and South America.

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen will travel to Paraguay on 17 January for the signing ceremony, a Commission spokesperson confirmed. She will be accompanied by European Council President António Costa, according to his cabinet.

The move follows a vote on Friday in which a majority of EU member states backed the signing of the agreement, clearing the final political hurdle after years of negotiations.

Once in force, the EU-Mercosur deal would create the world’s largest free-trade area, covering around 700 million people. From Brussels’ perspective, the agreement represents a significant geopolitical gain at a time when China’s economic influence in Latin America is expanding and US trade policy has become increasingly protectionist under President Donald Trump.

The deal aims to reduce tariffs and deepen trade links between the EU and Mercosur, which comprises Argentina, Brazil, Paraguay and Uruguay.

Supporters argue the agreement will boost exports, investment and strategic ties on both sides of the Atlantic, while critics within Europe have raised concerns over environmental standards, agricultural competition and enforcement mechanisms.

Saturday’s signing is expected to open the door to ratification processes in both the EU and Mercosur member states, a step that could still face political challenges in several European capitals.

The supply of petroleum products from Azerbaijan to Armenia is continuing, with a new shipment dispatched on January 11, Azernews reports.

A train consisting of 18 rail wagons loaded with 979 tonnes of AI-92 grade petrol departed from Bilajari station towards Böyk K?sik. The cargo will be delivered to Armenia in transit through Georgia.

Earlier, on January 9, 2026, Azerbaijan sent a total of 2,698 tonnes of fuel to Armenia, including 1,742 tonnes of AI-95 petrol and 956 tonnes of diesel fuel, transported in 48 rail wagons.

Prior to that, on December 18, another shipment of 1,220 tonnes of AI-95 automotive fuel was delivered to Armenia.

The ongoing deliveries highlight the continued logistical and energy trade flows between the two neighbouring countries despite longstanding political tensions.

Recently, the argument surrounding a possible Nobel Peace Prize for US President Donald Trump has begun to gain considerable momentum. The situation has reached a point where even the Nobel Committee itself has intervened in the matter in a critical capacity.

The issue concerns María Corina Machado, who seeks to come to power in Venezuela following the recent overthrow of Maduro, more precisely, her intention to bestow the Nobel Peace Prize upon President Donald Trump. Upon learning of this proposal, the Nobel Committee immediately rejected the opposition leader Machado’s ‘generous’ offer.

‘Once awarded, a Nobel Prize ‘cannot be revoked, shared, or transferred to others,’ the committee said on Jan. 9

The warning came after Machado said she wants to give Trump the award, and after a report stated that accepting the honor sullied her chance of becoming Venezuela’s new leader

After Venezuelan opposition leader María Corina Machado shared her desire to give her Nobel Peace Prize to President Donald Trump, the Nobel Committee spoke out, stating that the honor cannot be transferred to anyone but the recipient.

Interestingly, against the backdrop of strong dissatisfaction within the Nobel Committee, President Trump has displayed a notably calm and unperturbed attitude towards Machado’s initiative. In an interview with the international media on the matter, he did not hide the fact that he believes he has made considerable efforts in pursuit of the Peace Prize. It is precisely in this context that the 79-year-old president’s expression of consent in response to Machado’s proposal should be understood.

Equally intriguing is how the public perceives the question of whether President Donald Trump deserves the Nobel Peace Prize. Does he truly merit such an award? Naturally, obtaining a definitive answer would require engaging not just one, but the populations of several countries. For now, however, it is Trump himself who asserts that he has taken successful steps towards achieving peace in many parts of the world. Yet on the ground today, it is increasingly evident that Trump’s ‘lightning-fast’ peace plan on Ukraine is advancing only slowly. Ultimately, words alone are not enough; results must follow in practice. In this regard, a peace agreement between Armenia and Azerbaijan in the South Caucasus, expected to be signed in the near future, is also waiting in line. Trump has given his word, and it is assumed that, sooner or later, he will remain true to it.

Countries must now accelerate their renewable energy strategies, not only to meet climate objectives but also because renewables offer the most sustainable, low-risk path for economic growth, energy security, decarbonisation, and competitiveness.

Azernews reports that this was highlighted by Francesco La Camera, Director-General of the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA), during his address at the agency’s 16th Assembly in Abu Dhabi.

‘The market has already made its choice. Last year, 92% of newly installed power capacity came from renewable energy sources. This year, we are moving towards another record, with approximately 700 gigawatts of new renewable capacity expected to be commissioned,’ La Camera said.

He also emphasised that the competitiveness of future economies will largely depend on the ability to move electrons and molecules at the lowest possible cost, while providing clean, safe, and accessible energy services.

The 16th IRENA Assembly is hosting nearly 1,600 participants, including 45 ministers from member countries. Discussions will focus on strategies to accelerate the global energy transition, ensure equitable access to clean energy, and enhance economic resilience.

IRENA, which counts 171 members (170 countries plus the European Union), promotes the widespread adoption and sustainable use of renewable energy, including bioenergy, geothermal, hydropower, ocean, solar, and wind energy, while supporting low-carbon economic growth, energy security, and sustainable development.

Azerbaijan joined IRENA in 2009 and became a full member after the ratification of the agency’s statute by the Milli Majlis on May 2, 2014. In the agency’s 13th Assembly, Azerbaijan was elected to the IRENA Council for the 2023-2024 term, demonstrating its growing engagement in shaping global renewable energy policy.

Indonesia has temporarily suspended access to the Grok application amid concerns over the misuse of artificial intelligence to generate fake pornographic content, the country’s Minister of Communication and Digital, Meutya Hafid, announced on Saturday.

As reported by Azernews, according to the minister, the decision aims to protect women, children, and the wider public from the risks posed by AI-generated content, particularly non-consensual sexual deepfakes. Hafid emphasized that such practices constitute a serious violation of human rights, personal dignity, and citizen security in the digital space.

She noted that in several countries women have reported their photos being manipulated using the application to create unauthorized nude images, raising alarms over Grok’s failure to adequately prevent or control such abuse.

The ministry has also requested Platform X to urgently clarify the negative impacts associated with Grok’s use. The application was developed under the oversight of billionaire Elon Musk through the social media platform X and the X.AI Corp.

Authorities in Iran have arrested 100 individuals in the Baharistan region for leading unrest and disrupting public order, while schools across Isfahan province have been ordered to switch to remote learning, local media reported.

As reported by Azernews, according to Tasnim news agency, the Baharistan governor stated that the arrested individuals used both cold and firearms against civilians and security forces during the disturbances.

The crisis management director of Isfahan province confirmed that all schools, kindergartens, and pre-school institutions in the province and its districts will remain closed tomorrow, transitioning to online education at all levels.

These developments come amid two weeks of mass protests across Iran against the current political administration. Over the past week alone, at least 217 protesters have reportedly been killed.

The official Washington has sent a message of support to protesters in Iran. Secretary of State Marco Rubio addressed the Iranian people in a post on his X account, saying, ‘The United States stands with the brave people of Iran,’ Azernews reports, citing foreign media.

Meanwhile, U.S. President Donald Trump described the situation in Iran as highly complex, noting that the central government has already lost control over several cities, a scenario that would have seemed unimaginable just days ago.

Trump also reiterated that the United States would respond strongly if violence is used against the protesters.

The unrest began in late December of last year due to the sharp depreciation of Iran’s national currency, the rial, high inflation, and other economic problems. Reports indicate that there have been casualties among the protesters.

During operations conducted by police officers on January 9, more than 31 kilograms of narcotics were seized, Azernews reports, citing the Ministry of Internal Affairs.

The confiscated drugs included over 1 kilogram of heroin, nearly 25.9 kilograms of marijuana, more than 1.4 kilograms of the psychotropic substance methamphetamine, over 2.2 kilograms of hashish, and nearly half a kilogram of opium.

Authorities said that firm measures to combat illegal drug circulation will continue.

Azerbaijan is poised to take a significant step forward in both renewable energy and water infrastructure, as Saudi Arabia’s ACWA Power prepares to implement a large-scale seawater desalination project alongside its expanding renewable energy portfolio in the country. The announcement comes amid broader global and regional efforts to diversify energy sources and enhance climate resilience.

The planned desalination facility, with a capacity of 300,000 cubic meters per day, represents one of the largest water infrastructure projects in Azerbaijan’s history and will be built near Baku at the Sumgayit Chemical Industrial Park. The project was awarded to ACWA Power following a public-private partnership (PPP) tender, and a Public-Private Partnership Agreement valued at approximately USD 400 million has already been signed with the Azerbaijan State Water Resources Agency. The agreement covers the design, construction, financing, ownership, operation, and maintenance of the facility over a 27.5-year period, after which it will be transferred to the state agency.

This initiative comes at a time when Azerbaijan is placing increased emphasis on water resource management and water security, recognizing that a significant share of the country’s water resources originates outside its borders. Desalination helps address growing demand in urban and industrial centers such as Baku and the surrounding Absheron Peninsula, which rely heavily on external water sources.

Officials and experts have highlighted the strategic importance of diversifying water supply to complement traditional freshwater sources, especially in the face of climate change and increasing urbanization. By securing a reliable, high-capacity source of drinking water, the project is expected to significantly enhance water resilience for households, industry, and public services.

ACWA Power did not arrive in Azerbaijan with its desalination plans alone. The company has already established a strong presence in the country through its 240 MW Khizi-Absheron Wind Power Plant, which was inaugurated recently and marks the largest renewable energy project of its kind in Azerbaijan and the wider Caucasus region. That project, co-financed by international lenders including the OPEC Fund for International Development and the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development, illustrates how foreign direct investment can complement national energy diversification goals.

The wind plant, divided between Absheron and Khizi with a total of 37 turbines and producing enough clean electricity to power over 300,000 households, will also reduce natural gas consumption and cut hundreds of thousands of tons of carbon emissions annually once fully operational.

ACWA Power’s leadership sees Azerbaijan as more than just a project location. Selim Guven, Head of ACWA Power for Trkiye and Azerbaijan, emphasized that the desertion plant is part of a broader cooperation strategy, noting that Azerbaijan’s strong energy potential and commitment to renewables create favorable conditions for long-term investment. Guven has also mentioned plans to develop energy export interconnection lines that could enable wind and solar power capacity in Azerbaijan to reach markets such as Europe, enhancing regional energy integration.

The inland desalination project is expected to help Azerbaijan not only address domestic water needs but also increase resilience against climate variability and manage long-term resource scarcity. It aligns with national water strategies that prioritize efficient resource use and support sustainable development goals.

Internationally, ACWA Power’s involvement underscores the growing trend of integrating energy transition projects with critical water infrastructure, which is increasingly seen as a key feature of climate-resilient development. The company, renowned as one of the largest private water desalination operators globally, brings extensive experience in deploying large-scale water technology solutions in multiple regions worldwide.

For Azerbaijan, the combined momentum of renewable energy expansion and the deployment of advanced water infrastructure signals a maturing sustainability landscape.

While renewable generation directly supports reductions in fossil fuel dependence, the desalination plant addresses another pillar of modern infrastructure: reliable access to freshwater. By attracting major foreign investment and leveraging public-private partnership frameworks, the country is building foundations for a more resilient and diversified economy.