Category: Azer News

The new ambassador of Azerbaijan to Trkiye has been appointed, AzerNEWS reports.

President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev signed the relevant decree. The text of the document was published on the official website of the President of Azerbaijan.

According to the decree, Rashad Aslanov has been appointed Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Azerbaijan to Trkiye.

By another order signed by President Ilham Aliyev, Rashad Fakhraddin oglu Aslanov was recalled from his posts as Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Azerbaijan to Italy, Malta, and San Marino, and Permanent Representative of Azerbaijan to the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, the World Food Program, and the International Fund for Agricultural Development.

Azerbaijan Presents the SECURE Model for Post-Conflict Cultural Recovery at UNESCO’s 48th World Heritage Committee Session, AzerNEWS reports.

As part of the 48th session of the UNESCO World Heritage Committee held in Busan, Republic of Korea, the Ministry of Culture of the Republic of Azerbaijan, with the support of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, organized an international panel titled “Sustainable and Empowering Cultural Revitalization (SECURE) Model: Best Practices for Post-Conflict Cultural Recovery.”

According to the Ministry of Culture, representatives of the UNESCO World Heritage Centre, ICCROM, ICOMOS, and ICESCO participated in the event.

During the panel, Azerbaijan presented its SECURE model to the international community of experts, highlighting the country’s approach to the protection, restoration, and revitalization of cultural heritage in the post-conflict period. The fact that the model was discussed on one of UNESCO’s most prestigious platforms reflects the growing international interest in and confidence in Azerbaijan’s experience in this field.

Opening the panel, Sabina Hajiyeva, Head of the State Service for the Protection, Development and Restoration of Cultural Heritage, spoke about the restoration and cultural revitalization efforts being carried out in the territories liberated from occupation. She noted that the SECURE model is an innovative approach based on Azerbaijan’s practical experience and has the potential to be applied in other post-conflict countries.

The panel was moderated by Elman Abdullayev, Ambassador and Azerbaijan’s Permanent Delegate to UNESCO. Representatives of international organizations discussed key issues related to post-conflict cultural heritage protection, institutional cooperation, capacity building, and the involvement of local communities in recovery processes. Speakers outlined that the SECURE model represents a promising platform for international cooperation and expressed support for expanding collaboration on its implementation and methodological development in different countries.

Note that the SECURE model was first introduced at the 13th World Urban Forum, held in Baku in 2026.

The organization of a dedicated panel on the model during the UNESCO World Heritage Committee session is regarded as another significant indication of the international recognition of Azerbaijan’s experience in post-conflict cultural heritage restoration.

A meeting with the staff of the Azerbaijan State Academic Musical Theatre has been held to mark the successful completion of the theatre’s 116th season and discuss preparations for the upcoming 117th season, AzerNEWS reports.

During the meeting, the theatre’s management reviewed the results of the past season and praised the work of both the creative and technical teams. It was noted that the theatre expanded its repertoire, staged new productions, organized tours, developed international cooperation, and achieved significant progress in various areas throughout the season.

The management emphasized that the professionalism and dedication of the theatre’s team allowed audiences to enjoy a series of engaging and memorable performances.

Theatre Director Agil Bahramli highlighted that the achievements of the 116th season were the result of the responsible and professional efforts of the entire creative and technical staff. He thanked the employees for their contribution and wished them further success in their future work.

The meeting also included discussions on upcoming creative plans, new productions, and projects scheduled for implementation during the 117th theatre season.

Al Jazeera has reportedly terminated the contracts of more than 20 journalists, correspondents, cameramen and producers based in the Gaza Strip following the ceasefire announced in October 2025, AzerNEWS reports via Gaza 24 Live.

The report claims the dismissals were carried out without prior notice and affected media workers who had remained on the ground throughout months of conflict, providing continuous coverage under difficult conditions.

Among those reportedly affected are correspondents Mohammed al-Sharif and Mohammad Shaheen, as well as cameraman and producer Mahmoud Shalha, who were involved in documenting the conflict alongside Al Jazeera journalists who were killed while reporting.

According to Gaza 24 Live, the reported layoffs have sparked criticism among journalists and media organizations across the region, with critics raising concerns over labor protections, compensation for work in conflict zones, and the treatment of Gaza-based staff compared with Al Jazeera personnel deployed in other international conflict areas.

The report also alleges that critics have renewed accusations against Al Jazeera’s management over its handling of local employees, citing previous controversies regarding salary payments to Gaza-based journalists following the deaths of colleagues.

Al Jazeera has not publicly commented on the reported dismissals, and the claims have not been independently verified.

U.S. President Donald Trump reportedly became dissatisfied with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu following the start of military operations against Iran, AzerNEWS reports.

According to The Wall Street Journal, citing senior officials within the U.S. administration, Donald Trump has repeatedly expressed disappointment with Benjamin Netanyahu since the conflict began. In some instances, he reportedly told aides that he did not want to meet or speak with the Israeli prime minister.

The newspaper also noted that Trump previously told Axios he would be willing to meet Netanyahu if the Israeli leader attends the funeral of Senator Lindsey Graham in Washington on July 28.

Earlier, it was reported that Trump was angered after Netanyahu criticized his plans to provide Turkey with F-35 fighter jets. According to an Axios source, the U.S. president said that “Bibi had no right” to interfere in the matter.

The Israeli prime minister himself acknowledged that he has disagreements with the U.S. president. Before that, he had also stated that Israel’s economy is strong enough and no longer requires financial assistance from the United States.

Trkiye is accelerating investments in industrial digital transformation as it seeks to boost productivity and strengthen its position in global competition. Small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), in particular, are increasingly modernizing their production lines by adopting artificial intelligence (AI), robotic automation, the Internet of Things (IoT), and advanced data analytics technologies. The transition is being further supported by the Ministry of Industry and Technology’s digital transformation strategies, alongside incentive programs offered by KOSGEB and regional development agencies. Industry experts note that in the coming years, competitiveness will be determined not only by manufacturing capacity but also by companies’ ability to operate intelligent, data-driven factories.

According to the Turkish Statistical Institute’s (TÜIK) 2025 Artificial Intelligence Statistics, the share of businesses employing AI among enterprises with 10 or more employees rose from 2.7 percent in 2021 to 7.5 percent in 2025. Among large enterprises, AI adoption reached 24.1 percent, while companies employing between 10 and 49 workers recorded an adoption rate of 6.6 percent. The growing use of AI in production planning, quality control, predictive maintenance, and warehouse management is encouraging SMEs to accelerate their own digital transformation investments as they seek to improve efficiency and remain competitive.

According to industry representatives, digital transformation is no longer viewed merely as an investment aimed at reducing operational costs. Production lines equipped with real-time sensors, automated quality control systems, and digital twin technologies are making manufacturing processes significantly more flexible while delivering substantial savings in energy consumption and raw material usage. Export-oriented SMEs, in particular, are investing heavily in digital infrastructure to comply with the traceability and sustainability standards increasingly required by European markets, where environmental and supply chain transparency have become key competitive factors.

Trkiye’s expanding industrial output is also providing strong momentum for digital investment. According to TÜIK data, sales generated from industrial products manufactured by Turkish enterprises reached a historic 24.03 trillion Turkish lira in 2025, marking an all-time high. As production volumes continue to grow, manufacturers are increasingly turning to automation, intelligent manufacturing systems, and advanced digital technologies capable of managing larger production capacities with greater efficiency, flexibility, and precision.

SMEs, which account for approximately 99.6 percent of all enterprises in Trkiye, are expected to remain the driving force behind the country’s industrial digital transformation. Experts anticipate that investments in AI-powered production planning systems, autonomous robotics, cloud-based manufacturing management platforms, and industrial cybersecurity will accelerate particularly among smaller manufacturers in the years ahead. Companies that successfully complete their digital transformation are expected not only to achieve significant gains in productivity and operational efficiency but also to strengthen their competitive position in international markets, enhancing Trkiye’s broader industrial competitiveness in the global economy.

American entrepreneur Elon Musk has warned that artificial intelligence could surpass the combined intelligence of all humans within the next five years.

According to AzerNEWS, Musk shared his views in an interview with The Economist, expressing both concern and admiration for the rapid development of AI technology.

He said that artificial intelligence makes him anxious because of its potential risks, but he remains optimistic about the future. According to him, by around 2036, robots and advanced AI systems may be capable of performing most types of physical and intellectual work.

If such progress continues, Musk believes that employment could become a personal choice rather than a necessity for survival. People may work because they want to, not because they need income to meet their basic needs.

The entrepreneur also suggested that widespread automation could lead to what he described as “unprecedented abundance.” In his view, as machines produce goods and services on a massive scale, the traditional importance of money could gradually decline. He argued that governments might eventually provide citizens with financial support, as the economy could face a greater risk of deflation than inflation due to extremely high levels of production.

The US House of Representatives has approved the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA), H.R. 8800, for fiscal year 2027, including a provision aimed at expanding defense cooperation and industrial integration between the United States and Israel, AzerNEWS reports via Mondoweiss.

The legislation passed on July 22 by a 216-212 vote, largely along party lines. Six Democrats joined Republicans in supporting the bill: Henry Cuellar (Texas), Don Davis (North Carolina), Jared Golden (Maine), Vicente Gonzalez (Texas), Adam Gray (California), and Marie Gluesenkamp Perez (Washington).

One of the bill’s provisions seeks to deepen defense-industrial cooperation between Washington and Jerusalem, potentially allowing for greater co-production of Israeli defense systems in the United States.

Commenting on the measure, Ben Freeman, Director of the Democratizing Foreign Policy Program at the Quincy Institute, warned that it could significantly expand Israel’s political influence in the United States.

“It would give the Israeli government the opportunity to greatly expand one of the most powerful levers of influence in U.S. politics: jobs in the U.S. By expanding or starting new co-production facilities like it already has in Mississippi and Arkansas, the Israeli government could boast of providing jobs on U.S. soil, thereby securing allies among members of Congress who represent the districts where those jobs lie,” Freeman said.

According to reports, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu referred to the provision, later adopted as Section 219, as “my plan” in a letter sent last month to Representative Marlin Stutzman (R-Indiana).

The Senate is expected to consider its own version of the NDAA in the coming weeks. Senators Chris Van Hollen (D-Maryland) and Bernie Sanders (I-Vermont) are leading an effort to introduce an amendment that would remove the Israel-related provision from the legislation.

If both chambers ultimately approve the measure following negotiations on the final version of the bill, the legislation could pave the way for a broader expansion of US-Israel defense cooperation and joint defense manufacturing.

White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt expressed hope on Wednesday that Saudi Arabia will join the Abraham Accords soon, reiteratingthat a nuclear agreement between the two countries is “totally subject” to Riyadh joining the Accords, AzerNEWS reports.

During a press briefing, Leavitt stated that the deal is “contingent on this condition as far as the president is concerned” and stressed that “there will be no enrichment of material.” She also noted that the administration of US President Donald Trump will work to finalize the agreement between the US and Saudi Arabia.

“The president is always the final dealmaker, as you know … If they don’t join the Abraham Accords, the deal is off,” she underscored.

The futsal team of the Azerbaijan Sports Academy (ASA) has advanced to the semifinals of the European Universities Games currently taking place in Salerno, Italy, AzerNEWS reports.

The team secured its place in the last four after defeating a Portuguese side 3-1 in the quarterfinals.

ASA’s participation in the European Universities Games is being organized by the Azerbaijan Student Football Federation with the support of the Association of Football Federations of Azerbaijan (AFFA), the Trade Union of Education Workers of Azerbaijan, the Association of Azerbaijan Trade Unions Sports Organizations, and the Azerbaijan Sports Academy.

The European Universities Games (EUG) is the largest multi-sport competition for university students in Europe. Organized every two years by the European University Sports Association (EUSA), the Games bring together student-athletes representing universities from across the continent, promoting sporting excellence alongside education, cultural exchange, and international cooperation

First held in 2012 in Córdoba, Spain, the European Universities Games have since become one of the continent’s premier university sporting events.

The 2026 edition, the eighth in the history of the Games, is being hosted in Salerno, Italy, from July 18 to August 1.

Around 4,000 student-athletes and officials from approximately 400 universities across Europe are expected to participate in the 2026 Games.

Student-athletes are currently competing for medals in 13 sports: 3×3 basketball, basketball, badminton, beach handball, beach volleyball, football, futsal, handball, padel, rugby sevens, table tennis, tennis, and volleyball.

The event also includes demonstrations of inclusive sports, reflecting EUSA’s commitment to accessibility and diversity.

The 2026 edition is being held under the slogan “Passion Never Ends,” reflecting the values of fair play, friendship, inclusion, and lifelong learning.

Beyond the competition itself, the European Universities Games aim to strengthen international ties between universities while encouraging young athletes to balance academic achievement with sporting success.