Category: Azer News

Željka Cvijanovic, Member of the Presidency of Bosnia and Herzegovina, has sent a congratulatory letter to the President of Azerbaijan, Ilham Aliyev, on the occasion of Azerbaijan’s Victory Day anniversary.

According to Azernews, the letter reads:

His Excellency Mr. Ilham Aliyev, President of the Republic of Azerbaijan

Your Excellency, Mr. President,

It is my honour and privilege to extend to you and the friendly people of Azerbaijan my most sincere congratulations and best wishes on the occasion of Victory Day, along with heartfelt hopes for the continued progress and prosperity of your country.

This day holds deep significance for the people of Azerbaijan, serving as a reminder of the strength, perseverance, and unity demonstrated in the pursuit of your national goals.

We follow with particular respect the development and success of your country, as well as the efforts you are making to safeguard stability and prosperity in the region.

I am confident that the friendly relations between the peoples of Republika Srpska, Bosnia and Herzegovina and Azerbaijan will continue to develop in a spirit of mutual understanding and respect, to our shared benefit.

Please accept, Your Excellency, the assurances of my highest consideration and my best wishes for your personal health and success, and for peace and prosperity for the people of Azerbaijan.

Respectfully,

The amendments to Azerbaijan’s Tax Code were prepared with the objective of stimulating strategic sectors, improving the investment climate, and increasing capital inflows, according to Orkhan Nazarli, Head of the State Tax Service under the Ministry of Economy, Azernews reports.

Nazarli made the remarks during discussions on the draft law ‘On Amendments to the Tax Code’ at the Milli Majlis Committee on Economic Policy, Industry and Entrepreneurship.

‘The draft also takes into account tasks such as the introduction of tax and social insurance benefits within the framework of the socio-economic development program of the Nakhchivan Autonomous Republic, expanding state support for the fisheries and agricultural sectors, based on relevant decrees and orders of the country’s president,’ Nazarli said. ‘The draft proposals also envisage the regulation of existing tax benefits for hired labor after 2026, the alignment of excise policy with international requirements, the promotion of local automobile production, the reduction of import dependence and the protection of the domestic market, the increase of tax compliance and transparency, as well as the strengthening of the fight against illegal entrepreneurship.’

He noted that the draft consists of three main blocks and includes 145 changes in 45 articles overall. ‘The main directions of the draft are to stimulate the investment climate and entrepreneurial activity, reduce the tax burden on business entities, effectively regulate tax revenues and budget revenues, improve the tax theory mechanism and strengthen the fight against the ‘shadow economy’,’ he said.

According to Nazarli, the proposed changes cover several strategic sectors of the economy, including local automobile production, shipbuilding, the oil and gas industry, public-private partnerships, fisheries, public catering, and the labor market. ‘The aim of making tax policy more flexible and introducing concessional mechanisms in these areas is to increase economic activity, expand export potential and maintain the stability of state revenues,’ he added.

The exclusive ‘?sg?rcell’ offer will keep soldiers connected with their families during military service, Azernews reports.

‘Azercell Telecom’ LLC and the Ministry of Defense of the Republic of Azerbaijan have signed a Memorandum of Understanding to introduce dedicated communication services for military personnel.

Under this partnership, Azercell is launching a special offer called ‘?sg?rcell,’ aimed at ensuring secure and reliable communication between soldiers and their families throughout the service period.

Under the ‘?sg?rcell’ offer, starting from 2026, each serviceman will be able to obtain a mobile device and a new SIM card on exclusive terms. Every soldier may register up to five phone numbers on a ‘whitelist,’ enabling them to make and receive calls exclusively with these contacts. Access to essential emergency numbers, such as ambulance, police, and fire services, will also remain available. To safeguard communication security and ensure proper use of the service, features such as SMS, mobile data, international, and roaming calls will be disabled on these lines.

Soldiers will be able to obtain devices and SIM cards at temporary Azercell service points set up within military units. Azercell representatives will manage registration and SIM activation on-site.

Minister of Digital Development and Transport Rashad Nabiyev has met with Muhammad Suleiman Al-Jasir, Chairman of the Islamic Development Bank (IsDB) Group, to discuss strengthening cooperation and exploring new partnership opportunities, Azernews reports.

According to the Ministry, the meeting focused on establishing effective collaboration with companies under AZCON Holding and identifying potential financing mechanisms for future projects. Both sides exchanged views on expanding mutual cooperation in areas of shared interest.

Minister Nabiyev highlighted Azerbaijan’s readiness to enhance experience exchange and deepen cooperation with the IsDB Group, particularly in the fields of digital transformation and transport infrastructure development.

In turn, Muhammad Suleiman Al-Jasir praised Azerbaijan’s achievements in digitalization in recent years, noting that the country’s progress reflects its strong commitment to innovation and sustainable development.

The meeting reaffirmed the mutual interest in further strengthening strategic ties between Azerbaijan and the Islamic Development Bank Group, particularly in advancing digital connectivity and regional infrastructure initiatives.

In a historic moment for Azerbaijani football, Qarabag FC secured their first-ever unbeaten result against an English club in European competition, Azernews reports.

The Agdam-based side played to a 2-2 draw with Chelsea in Baku during the fourth round of the UEFA Champions League group stage. This draw marked a significant milestone for the Azerbaijani champions, who had previously faced English opposition seven times and suffered defeat in every encounter.

Before this match, Qarabag had endured a challenging record against English teams, with a goal difference of 1-21 across their previous European meetings. Their first taste of English opposition came in the 2017/18 Champions League season, where they were comprehensively beaten by Chelsea in both home and away fixtures, losing 0-6 at Stamford Bridge and 0-4 at home.

The club also faced Tottenham Hotspur three times in the Europa League. In the 2015/16 group stage, they were defeated 1-3 away and 0-1 at home. The following season, Qarabag met Spurs again in the Europa League, suffering a 0-3 loss in London. During the 2018/19 Europa League group stage, Qarabag also took on Arsenal, with the London side claiming victories of 3-0 in Baku and 1-0 in London.

Despite these previous setbacks, Qarabag’s 2-2 draw against Chelsea represents a major achievement in the club’s history. The team will now look to build on this positive result as they prepare for their next Champions League match away to Napoli on November 25.

For Gurban Gurbanov and his squad, this result not only boosts morale but also demonstrates their growing resilience on the European stage, proving they can hold their own against some of Europe’s top teams.

The UEFA Champions League is a continental tournament that brings together the best teams from Europe’s top domestic leagues.

It is widely regarded as the pinnacle of club football, attracting millions of fans around the world. Clubs from UEFA’s member countries compete for the title, which is seen as the ultimate achievement for European club teams.

The format of the UEFA Champions League has evolved over time.

The current structure includes several stages: Qualifying Rounds, Group Stage, Knockout Rounds and Final.

The 2025-26 UEFA Champions League marks the 71st edition of Europe’s top club football competition, and the 34th since it was rebranded from the European Cup to the UEFA Champions League.

The final will take place on May 30, 2026, at the Puskás Aréna in Budapest, Hungary.

The digital portal of the Cultural Ambassadors Platform has been presented within the framework of the Azerbaijan Cultural Ambassadors Forum held in Antalya, Turkiye, Azernews reports.

The portal has been developed as a joint initiative of the Azerbaijan Culture Ministry and the Azerbaijan State Committee on Work with Diaspora.

In his statement to the press, the Culture Minister Adil Karimli highlighted that the portal will serve as an electronic platform for coordinating cultural ambassadors, facilitating the implementation of joint projects and mutual cooperation:

“Through this portal, every Azerbaijani living abroad can log into their personal account and access general information, cultural projects organized in each country, events, and other updates. The portal will also ensure continuous information exchange regarding projects carried out by the Culture Ministry and the State Committee on Work with Diaspora”.

He added that the implementation of this system will contribute to the coordinated promotion of Azerbaijani culture internationally and strengthen cultural solidarity among Azerbaijanis living abroad.

The minister spoke about the overall importance of the forum. He underlined that over 200 cultural figures from more than 40 countries are participating in the forum:

“The main goal of the forum is to discuss innovations in the field of culture, develop a unified approach to promoting and presenting Azerbaijani culture globally. An important part of these efforts is to support the activities of cultural figures and Azerbaijanis living both abroad and within the country and use their potential to present Azerbaijani culture to the world more widely.”

The new portal serves as a global network that connects and promotes Azerbaijani culture worldwide. The main goal of the project is to bring together Azerbaijani cultural representatives operating in various countries into a unified digital space, coordinate their activities, and encourage international cooperation.

Through the platform, each cultural ambassador can create a personal account to share information about their activities, projects, and events. The portal also features an interactive map, an event calendar, a search system, and an analytics report section.

The digital system aims to promote Azerbaijani culture on a global scale and present its creative potential in a coordinated manner.

The project titled “National Language” was also presented as part of the event.

The project’s goal is to promote the Azerbaijani language, introduce its richness and expressive possibilities at an international level, and strengthen activities aimed at preserving and developing the national language among Azerbaijanis living abroad.

As part of the “Wind of Culture” event series, organized by the Culture Ministry’s Scientific, Methodological and Qualification Center for Culture (MEMIM) with the support of the Garabagh Regional Department of Culture, five-day masterclasses have been held at Fuzuli State Drama Theater in Horadiz settlement, Azernews reports.

The masterclasses were conducted under the project “Professional Theater Lessons in the Regions.”

The workshops, which reflected contemporary creative approaches in stage arts, were conducted by director and actor Jeykhun Dadashev, as well as theater scholar and MEMIM staff member Daglar Yusif.

The goal of these masterclasses was to enhance the professional level of the theater’s troupe and foster an active, creative environment, and they were well-received by the theater’s creative team.

As part of the project, masterclasses were also organized at the Agdam State Drama Theater from October 20 to 25.

Media partners of the event are Azernews.Az, Trend.Az, Day.Az, and Milli.Az.

The Swedish Chemicals Agency has reported that counterfeit Labubu dolls imported from countries outside the European Union contain dangerous levels of DEHP, a phthalate that can cause fetal and reproductive system disorders, Azernews reports.

This hormone-disrupting substance, used to soften plastic, has been banned in toys in Sweden for over 20 years.

According to the Customs Service, more than 5,300 counterfeit dolls have been seized this year, most of them in the Gothenburg area. Tests revealed that 5 out of 7 fake dolls contained hazardous chemicals, with DEHP concentrations up to 250 times higher than the legal limit.

Inspectors emphasize that the situation is particularly alarming because children are more vulnerable to toxins, and their hormonal systems are still developing. They also warned that there is no way for consumers to tell by appearance whether a toy is dangerous, and selling counterfeit toys is illegal.

The Chemicals Agency recommends that parents dispose of fake dolls in household waste. Original Labubu dolls, however, have been tested by experts and were found to be completely safe.

Interesting fact: DEHP is part of a group of phthalates that can enter the body through skin contact and even breathing, making daily contact with contaminated toys especially risky for children.

Azerbaijan Railways CJSC (ADY) continues to advance efforts to ensure more efficient freight transport, faster operations, and the elimination of bottlenecks along the North-South and East-West international transport corridors that cross the country, Azernews reports, citing ADY.

To this end, the company is holding meetings with partners, conducting negotiations, reaching agreements, and upgrading key segments of railway infrastructure.

According to the company, design and construction work is progressing on the Sumgayit-Yalama railway line, one of the crucial segments of the North-South Corridor passing through Azerbaijan.

‘The design phase of the Sumgayit-Yalama railway line has been completed, and 96 percent of construction and installation work on the first and second sections is finished. In addition, reconstruction of the Alat-Osmanli-Astara line, another vital part of the North-South Corridor, began in 2024. Construction is planned for completion by 2028. Fifty-five percent of the design work on the Alat-Osmanli-Astara line has been finalized, and 37 percent of construction and installation work on the Alat-Osmanli section has been completed,’ the company noted.

ADY stated that the overall modernization of infrastructure will significantly enhance the speed and efficiency of freight operations.

Recently, the company completed the implementation of an alternating current (AC) traction power system along the Ujar-Hajigabul segment (122 km) of the Baku-Böyk K?sik mainline railway. This work was carried out as part of the larger project to design, supply, and install the power system along the corridor that carries the bulk of transit cargo moving through Azerbaijan. The upgrade fully transitions the Ujar-Hajigabul section of the Baku-Böyk K?sik line to AC power.

‘The transition to AC power will improve the traction capacity of electric locomotives, increase the volume of freight transported by rail, reduce energy and resource consumption, and raise train operating speeds. These are major advantages for long-distance rail corridors,’ ADY emphasized.

The company added that applying the AC system on the Baku-Böyk K?sik line will boost the efficiency and capacity of freight operations along the Middle Corridor. All main international rail routes through Azerbaijan, especially the Middle Corridor, stand to benefit directly from this modernization.

ADY also highlighted a recent milestone reached during Kazakhstan Transport Week. The heads of the railway administrations of Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan, and Georgia-Rovshan Rustamov, Talgat Aldybergenov, and Lasha Abashidze-signed a Roadmap on eliminating bottlenecks along the Trans-Caspian International Transport Route (Middle Corridor).

‘Under the document, priority areas include infrastructure upgrades, renewal of rolling stock, optimization of operational procedures, enhanced coordination among the three countries, and strengthening the infrastructure and operational efficiency required to accommodate rising cargo volumes,’ the company said.

The 6th edition of the Islamic Solidarity Games will be held in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, from November 7 to 21, 2025, Azernews reports.

Organised by the Islamic Solidarity Sports Association (ISSA), the event will see athletes from 57 member countries competing across 23 sports.

This marks the return of the Games to Saudi Arabia, which originally hosted the inaugural edition in 2005.

Azerbaijan has sent 179 athletes to compete in 20 sports at the 2025 Islamic Solidarity Games.

Azerbaijani athletes have earned a total of 300 medals at the Islamic Solidarity Games to date, including 114 gold, 99 silver, and 87 bronze.

The country currently ranks third in the overall medal standings, trailing behind Turkiye, which leads with 239 gold, 206 silver, and 200 bronze, and Iran, which holds second place with 118 gold, 96 silver, and 106 bronze.

At the inaugural Games in 2005, held in Mecca, Saudi Arabia, Azerbaijani athletes won 15 medals -4 gold, 4 silver, and 7 bronze -finishing 8th in the medal table.

The 2009 Islamic Solidarity Games in Tehran, Iran, were cancelled for unspecified reasons.

In 2013, Indonesia hosted the Islamic Solidarity Games, where Azerbaijan again finished 8th, winning 6 gold, 9 silver, and 9 bronze medals.

The 2017 Islamic Solidarity Games held in Baku saw Azerbaijani athletes dominate the standings, earning 162 medals (75 gold, 50 silver, and 37 bronze), finishing first overall.

At the 2021 Islamic Solidarity Games in Konya, Turkiye, Azerbaijani athletes won 99 medals (29 gold, 36 silver, and 34 bronze), ranking fourth in the final standings.