Category: Azer News

January 6th is the memorial day for Mikayil Mushfig, a prominent representative of 20th-century Azerbaijani literature, a victim of repression, and a tragic poet.

Although he left this world early, he left behind a rich legacy of lyrical works filled with a deep love for life, freedom, and the human spirit, which continue to inspire readers across generations.

This year marks the 88th anniversary of the poet’s death.

Mikayil Mushfig’s first published work, the poem “Today”, appeared in the “Young Worker” newspaper in 1926, while his final poem, “Leaves of Emotion”, was published in the “Literature Newspaper” in 1937.

Due to his prolific creativity, starting from 1930, several of his books were published, including “Winds”, “Sounds of the Day”, “Among the Waves”, “One May”, “Cotton”, “Battles”, “Poems”, “Shengul, Shungul, Mengul”, “Rock”, “The Peasant and the Snake”, among others.

Starting from 1957, his books such as “Selected Works”, “Works”, “Leaves of Emotion”, “Song of Eternity”, “What My Heart Says”, “Love of Life”, and others were published.

The memoir book “My Days with Mushfig”, written by the poet’s wife, Dilbar Akhundzade, was published in 1968, with a revised edition released in 2005.

Mikayil Mishfig was also involved in translation. He translated works from A. Pushkin’s “The Gypsies” (together with Sh. Abbasov), M. Lermontov’s “Demon” (together with R. Rza), Shevchenko, O. Khayyam, and other poets, along with M. F. Akhundzadeh’s “The Eastern Poem” into Azerbaijani.

Mikayil Mishfig, who fell victim to the wave of repression in the Soviet Empire, was brutally executed on January 6, 1938. Although he was a tragic poet, he left a true artistic treasure for the Azerbaijani people and took with him the key to unlocking a great treasure.

His rich literary heritage includes almost every genre of lyric poetry, ranging from poems to epics, including works like “The Shepherd”, “My Friend”, “Rock”, “Broken Saz”, “Morning”, and “The Epic of Freedom”.

In the poem “The Holiday Evening”, by recalling childhood memories of Novruz, the author opposed the Soviet regime’s policy aimed at erasing national traditions from memory.

Mikayil Mishfig’s 100th and 110th birth anniversaries were celebrated with a series of events in Azerbaijan and abroad by the decree of President Ilham Aliyev.

His personality is a symbol of national consciousness and patriotism, and his creative works are an invaluable treasure for the development of national identity in the younger generation and for nurturing feelings of patriotism.

On January 4, Turkish airspace recorded a new milestone, handling the highest number of transit flights in a single day, 2,177 flights, Azernews reports.

This was announced by Turkiye’s Minister of Transport and Infrastructure, Abdulkadir Uraloglu.

According to the minister, the record was made possible by the exceptional coordination and operational efficiency of the Air Traffic Control Center operated by the Turkish State Airports Authority (DHMI). He noted that advanced air traffic management systems, along with highly trained controllers, played a key role in ensuring safe and seamless flight operations.

The achievement highlights Turkiye’s growing role as a major global aviation hub, connecting Europe, Asia, and the Middle East.

Industry experts say the country’s strategic location and continuous investments in aviation infrastructure are helping Turkish airspace handle increasing volumes of international traffic, even during peak travel periods.

United States Special Envoy to Greenland and former Louisiana Governor Jeff Landry (pictured) voiced his belief on Tuesday, saying that US President Donald Trump is “not ready to seize” Greenland, Azernews reports.

In an interview for CNBC, the newly appointed envoy stated that the US president supports Greenland’s independence, adding that Greenland is all “about robust trading,” after Trump’s recent statements about the island evoked strong reactions.

Earlier today, European leaders issued a joint statement, declaring that Greenland “belongs to its people” and that Denmark and the autonomous territory should decide on their issues.

President Donald Trump says the U.S. needs Greenland for national security, ostensibly to counter Russia and China. But Trump’s interest in the sparsely populated island appears to be as much about hemispheric dominance as homeland defense.

According to two people familiar with private high-level discussions and granted anonymity to share their details, the White House has shown little interest in an overture last year from Denmark’s prime minister offering the U.S. the option to increase its military presence in Greenland, where it already operates a base and has long deployed troops at liberty.

‘The option of more U.S. military presence has been on the table,’ said one of the people, a European defense official. ‘The White House is not interested.’

The second person, an American in frequent contact with the administration and European officials, said that most of what Trump says he wants out of Greenland – access to investment resources like critical minerals, more troops and military bases, better intelligence sharing – could be easily accomplished by negotiating directly with Denmark, a steadfast ally.

The list of construction projects that do not require a building permit will be changed, Azernews reports.

President Ilham Aliyev approved a request to issue permits for the construction of facilities used in agricultural activities, which was adopted by the Azerbaijani Parliament on December 19 last year.

According to amendments to the Urban Planning and Construction Code, the names of agricultural facilities have been removed from the list of constructions exempt from permit requirements.

Under the new rules, the construction of the following objects on private, leased, or otherwise used land will still not require a permit, provided they are not built on land designated for agriculture:

– Wells on private land with a maximum volume of 60 cubic meters and a maximum depth of 5 meters;

– Temporary structures with a capacity of up to 100 people;

– Greenhouses with a maximum height of 3 meters and a maximum area of 300 square meters.

All of these exemptions exclude constructions on land specifically designated for agricultural use.

The Malaysian central bank will provide an additional 2.5 billion ringgit (approximately 620 million U.S. dollars) to support small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) across the country, Azernews reports, citing foreign media.

Bank Negara Malaysia (BNM) said in a statement on Tuesday that the new funding will focus on first-time borrowers, helping them gain access to much-needed capital to grow their businesses.

So far, BNM has made 32.4 billion ringgit available in concessional financing through participating financial institutions, targeting viable micro and small enterprises that face challenges in securing traditional financing. With the new injection, the total allocation under BNM’s SME fund rises to 34.9 billion ringgit.

Looking ahead, BNM plans to transition toward guarantee-based support, aiming to provide guaranteed financing totaling 10 billion ringgit. This approach is expected to reduce risk for lenders while expanding access for SMEs that may otherwise struggle to obtain loans.

Analysts say the move comes at a critical time, as Malaysian SMEs face rising costs and tighter credit conditions, and could help stimulate innovation, employment, and overall economic growth. By supporting first-time borrowers, BNM hopes to nurture a new generation of entrepreneurs and strengthen the backbone of the country’s economy.

(1 ringgit equals roughly 0.25 U.S. dollars.)

Azerbaijan imposed temporary restrictions on meat imports from parts of Lebanon and Lithuania after outbreaks of foot-and-mouth and bluetongue diseases were reported, Azernews reports, citing the Food Safety Agency AQTA.

The ban covers Lebanon’s Akkar and Baalbek-Hermel provinces, where foot-and-mouth disease was detected.

In Lithuania’s Telšiai and Šiauliai districts, bluetongue cases prompted similar restrictions.

The Food Safety Agency said the measures follow World Organisation for Animal Health (WOAH) guidelines and apply under the principle of regional zoning.

Azerbaijan’s Customs Committee has been notified to enforce the restrictions at border checkpoints.

Officials noted the steps aim to protect domestic livestock and prevent potential economic losses from disease spread.

‘Joe Biden was very active in the adoption of Section 907. This fact alone is sufficient for everyone to understand why our relations with both the Obama-Biden and Biden-Blinken administrations were not at the desired level,’ President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev said during an interview with local television channels on January 5.

‘Relations with the Obama-Biden administration were quite distant, while the Biden-Blinken administration had effectively plunged our relations into a crisis,’ the head of state added.

A 1987 Chevrolet Camaro IROC-Z has been put up for sale in Florida, and it’s no ordinary muscle car. Known as a “time capsule,” this vintage gem has only 167 km on the odometer since its production. The car was carefully stored in a climate-controlled garage immediately after purchase, making it a rare find for collectors, Azernews reports.

The asking price is $92,500 (approximately 157,250 manats), nearly twice the original price (adjusted for inflation), and even higher than the cost of a new Chevrolet Corvette Stingray.

The Camaro IROC-Z was originally created to honor the International Race of Champions (IROC), a prestigious racing series. In addition to its unique visual styling, this model also featured several mechanical upgrades, such as stiffer lateral stability stabilizers, Bilstein shock absorbers, and reinforced brakes. These modifications gave the IROC-Z superior handling compared to regular Camaros of the time.

This Camaro IROC-Z is more than just a car-it’s a piece of automotive history. Experts say this rare find might attract serious collectors, especially since classic muscle cars like the Camaro have been seeing a significant rise in value.

Some car enthusiasts are speculating whether the IROC-Z might become even more valuable in the future, as the muscle car market continues to evolve. With its low mileage and iconic status, this Camaro is seen as a pristine example of 80s American performance engineering.

Unserviceable ammunition will be destroyed in the Pir?k?skl settlement and the Agd?r? district, Azernews reports, citing Azerbaijan’s Defense Ministry.

According to the Ministry, the disposal process will take place between January 5 and 9 in full compliance with safety regulations.

The ministry noted that ammunition whose service life has expired and which is no longer fit for use will be destroyed at a military training ground near the Pir?k?skl settlement, as well as at a training center located in the territory of the Agd?r? district.

The ministry also urged residents not to panic upon hearing explosion sounds, stressing that there is no cause for concern and that all necessary safety measures are being observed.

The Azerbaijan National Art Museum in partnership with the Early Intervention Center “Healthy Future for Children” (USG), has hosted a masquerade ball, Azernews reports.

This vibrant and inspiring inclusive event was designed to support young people’s creative self-expression and promote the principles of equal opportunities.

Young participants aged 18 to 22 showcased their talents and creativity during the event.

The program included refined classical dance performances as well as original musical pieces played on various instruments. Each act highlighted the performers’ individuality and their genuine passion for the arts.

The colorful performances and warm atmosphere were met with enthusiastic responses from the audience, who not only appreciated the performances but also actively joined in the festive celebration.

The masquerade ball served as a striking example of how art brings people together, encourages social integration, and nurtures young people’s creative potential, creating a space for dialogue, inspiration, and mutual understanding.