Category: Azer News

Head of the State Agency for the Protection of Strategic Objects of Azerbaijan, Major General Ilgar Abbasov, has been dismissed from his post, Azernews reports.

President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev signed the relevant decree.

The World Coaching Organization (WCO) has been delivering international coaching programs for years, empowering individuals and organizations across various countries, Azernews reports. This year, for the first time, the program will be held in Azerbaijan.

On December 12, 13, and 14, the World Coaching Organization (WCO) will present the International Coaching Certification (ICC) training program in Baku.

The event is being implemented as a result of a collaboration memorandum signed between Soulmind and the World Coaching Organization (WCO) in Finland, marking a new stage in the development of the coaching field in Azerbaijan.

Led by social psychologist and executive coach Pauliina Hallama (Finland) and WCO Director of Development John Swallow (Finland), participants will engage in an experience of mutual learning, deep understanding, and professional growth.

Training Packages

DISCOVER Package – (Basic Package)

30 hours of live training

Invitation to join the World Coaches Community

Participant Certificate upon completion

DEVELOP Package – (Most Popular and Optimal Package)

60-hour comprehensive program:

30 hours of live training

30 hours of practical coaching and supervision

? The ideal choice for gaining practical knowledge, deep experience, and real-world coaching skills.

EXCEL Package – (Premium Package)

Includes all the content of the Develop package, plus:

1-year paid membership in the World Coaches Community

A 60-minute 1:1 personal coaching or mentoring session with a Master Coach

? Designed for those who aim to stand out in the professional coaching field and grow on an international level.

Participants who successfully complete the training hours will receive an International Coaching Certification (ICC).

Registration seats are limited.

Azerbaijan should align its artificial intelligence (AI) practices with international standards to ensure effective governance and economic growth, Azernews reports.

According to information, Salar Imamaliyev, Director General for Commercial Affairs of the Innovation and Digital Development Agency (IDDA) under the Ministry of Digital Development and Transport, made the remarks at the international conference ‘SOCGOV 2025: Artificial Intelligence – for People and Transformation’ in Baku.

Imamaliyev stressed the importance of harmonising institutional and technological standards in Azerbaijan with global practices:

‘Four international standards have already been adopted and made available to the public. However, the formation of a new regulatory framework in the field of artificial intelligence and the continuation of the process of applying standards remain one of the main challenges.’

He added that adopting such standards is crucial for improving the quality of life of citizens, both in governance and in driving economic growth.

On October 24, 2025, at around 10:50 a.m., a deadly explosion occurred at the Ovruch railway station in the city of Ovruch, Zhytomyr Oblast, Azernews reports via Ukrainian media.

According to preliminary reports, a man detonated a grenade, causing multiple casualties.

Initial information confirmed four fatalities, including a border guard and two civilian women, as verified by Ukraine’s State Border Service. Additionally, twelve individuals, among them two soldiers, sustained injuries of varying severity.

Law enforcement authorities stated that the explosion took place during a document inspection of passengers on a diesel train stationed at the platform. During the inspection, a 23-year-old resident of Kharkiv pulled out an explosive device and detonated it, killing himself instantly.

It was later revealed that the suspect had previously been detained for attempting to illegally cross the state border, raising questions about his motives and background.

Investigators are currently working at the scene to establish all the circumstances surrounding the incident, while security measures have been tightened in the area to prevent further threats.

Central Bank of Russia Governor Elvira Nabiullina stated on Friday that the national economy is expected to recover from overheating in the first half of 2026, Azernews reports.

Speaking at a press conference following the central bank’s monetary policy decision, Nabiullina said that the bank revised down its GDP growth projections for 2025, and now anticipates that the Russian economy will grow between 0.5% and 1%. “GDP growth will accelerate in the coming years,” she noted.

The governor further said that inflationary pressures will linger until mid-2026. “The updated forecast raises the inflation estimate for next year to 4-5%.

This revision is due to temporary inflationary factors, including the situation in the fuel market, tax increases, and the faster indexation of utility rates,” she underlined, adding that inflation is expected to hit the central bank target of 4% in the second half of 2026.

During the 9th meeting of the Azerbaijan-Serbia Intergovernmental Commission on Trade and Economic Cooperation held in Belgrade, the Small and Medium Business Development Agency (KOBIA) and Serbia’s Development Agency (RAS) approved a roadmap for bilateral collaboration, Azernews reports.

The document outlines the implementation of the Memorandum of Understanding signed in 2022 between KOBIA and RAS, aiming to strengthen cooperation in the development of small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs).

Covering the period 2026-2027, the roadmap includes measures to support connections between Azerbaijani and Serbian SMEs, organize SME-related events, share best practices and business opportunities, establish collaboration among SME-related organizations, exchange data, and facilitate participation in jointly organized events.

Orkhan Mammadov, Chairman of KOBIA, highlighted at the Intergovernmental Commission meeting and the Azerbaijan-Serbia Business Forum the importance of expanding cooperation in SME development. He emphasized the value of sharing experiences related to the SME House initiative and noted that Azerbaijan’s participation in the Baku Climate Pledge, promoted by KOBIA, would contribute to joint efforts.

Mammadov also provided a detailed overview of KOBIA’s activities and the support and services it offers to SMEs.

Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro urged the United States to avoid conflict, following US President Donald Trump’s authorization of the CIA to conduct covert missions in Venezuela as part of what he called a broader campaign against narcotics trafficking in the Caribbean and the Pacific, Azernews reports.

Speaking at a meeting with loyalist trade unions, Maduro called for ‘peace forever,’ warning against military escalation.

‘No crazy war, please,’ Maduro said in English.

Flight-tracking data indicated that a US B-1 bomber flew over the Caribbean near Venezuelan airspace on Thursday-the second such flight in a week. It was unclear whether the aircraft entered Venezuelan territory.

Trump vowed to continue strikes against ‘drug traffickers abroad’ without seeking a formal declaration of war from Congress, adding that upcoming operations would target suspected cartel members in countries including Venezuela.

US defense officials maintained that every targeted vessel was linked to narcotics smuggling. However, several lawmakers have voiced concern over the limited evidence presented to justify the strikes, which, according to AFP, have killed at least 37 people since September 2.

Maduro responded by highlighting Venezuela’s defensive capabilities, claiming the country has 5,000 Russian-made Igla-S anti-aircraft missiles deployed across key military sites. The short-range systems are designed to intercept low-flying aircraft and drones.

On October 24, President of the Russian Federation Vladimir Putin made a phone call to President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev, Azernews reports.

The Presidents of Azerbaijan and Russia, as a continuation of their meeting held on October 9 as part of the session of the CIS Heads of State Council in Dushanbe, discussed a number of topical issues on the bilateral agenda.

The heads of state reaffirmed their mutual interest in further developing economic and trade relations, as well as in implementing joint projects in the energy and transport-logistics sectors.

During the phone conversation, they also touched upon some aspects of regional cooperation and the international situation.

The Presidents agreed to continue contacts at various levels.

The updated 2025-2026 Activity Plan of the Turkic States Organization (TSO) is set to form the foundation for technological integration among Turkic states, TSO Secretary-General Kubanychbek Omuraliev said during the 2nd meeting of the ministers of industry, science, technology, and innovation in Baku, Azernews reports.

Omuraliev noted that the revised plan aims to strengthen cooperation among member states in artificial intelligence, digital and green technologies, standardization, space research, and support for small and medium-sized enterprises.

He emphasized that the ministerial meeting follows the successful 12th TSO Summit in Gabala and marks an important step for Turkic states in moving from strategic partnership toward technological integration. Since the first meeting held last year in Istanbul, cooperation in industry, science, technology, and innovation has expanded significantly.

‘Achievements include progress of working groups and subgroups under the 2024 Activity Plan, knowledge exchange in AI and digital transformation, and the development of innovative ecosystems through international technology festivals such as Technofest in Turkey and Istanbul and Innoweek in Uzbekistan,’ Omuraliev said.

He also highlighted the first meeting of heads of intellectual property institutions of TSO member states in Bishkek and described the initiative to establish the Common Turkic Patent Organization (CTPO)-aimed at protecting intellectual property and supporting innovations-as a key regional project.

As global trade routes continue to shift under the weight of geopolitical uncertainty, Azerbaijan is accelerating its efforts to transform the Middle Corridor into a central artery of Eurasian logistics. The country’s strategy aims not only to enhance regional connectivity but also to reposition Azerbaijan as a key player in the emerging global transport architecture.

Speaking at the 5th Tbilisi Silk Road Forum, Rashad Nabiyev, Minister of Digital Development and Transport of Azerbaijan, highlighted the country’s ongoing efforts to unlock the full potential of the Trans-Caspian International Transport Route (TITR), commonly known as the Middle Corridor.

‘We have been working closely with our partners in Kazakhstan and especially Georgia, and I am grateful to them for ensuring the full use of the existing infrastructure,’ the minister said.

According to Nabiyev, cargo traffic through Azerbaijani territory has expanded dramatically since 2022, reflecting both the modernization of infrastructure and growing international confidence in the route.

‘The volume of cargo passing through our territory has increased almost fivefold. In 2023, we had only one or two block trains from China, but last year this figure rose to almost 280. In the first nine months of this year, it has already reached 290, and we expect about 400 container trains by the end of the year – and this is not the limit,’ he noted.

The Middle Corridor, which connects China, Kazakhstan, Azerbaijan, Georgia, Trkiye, and onward to Europe, has become an increasingly viable alternative to traditional northern trade routes. One of its biggest advantages lies in reduced delivery times. Minister Nabiyev emphasized that transit time from the China-Kazakhstan border to the Georgian ports of Poti and Batumi has fallen from 53 days to 15-18 days, with further improvements in sight.

‘Our colleagues in Brussels have noted that it is quite possible to reduce this time to about 14 days, and we believe in this,’ he added.

In August, Azerbaijani, Georgian, and Kazakh railway authorities carried out a joint audit along the route to identify infrastructure and bureaucratic bottlenecks. With the support of an international consulting firm, the study covered the section from the Kazakh border to the Georgian ports and Azerbaijan’s Akhal-Tekelyak terminal.

As a result, a joint roadmap was signed in September, outlining specific actions to be completed by 2028. This marks a shift from ad-hoc improvements toward structured, cross-border coordination – a necessary step for transforming the Middle Corridor from a promising route into a reliable global transport network.

A key dimension of Azerbaijan’s connectivity agenda is the integration of the Zangezur Corridor, which Nabiyev described as ‘the main extension of the Middle Corridor.’ The project, he said, underscores Azerbaijan’s determination to diversify its transit routes and solidify its role as a regional transport hub.

‘Agreements on the Zangezur corridor were reached on August 8. Yesterday, it became known that for the first time since our independence and the war with Armenia, we have allowed Armenian grain to pass through our territory,’ Nabiyev revealed.

According to the minister, the Zangezur Corridor could increase the Middle Corridor’s throughput capacity by an additional 15 million tons.

‘This is not an alternative, but rather a factor that strengthens the reliability of the entire transport direction. If I am a customer from China and I want to be sure that my cargo will reach Europe, I must have various route options through the railways of Kazakhstan, Georgia, and Azerbaijan,’ he explained.

Minister Nabiyev underlined that Azerbaijan’s commitment to regional connectivity extends beyond its borders. The country has invested approximately $1 billion in the Baku-Tbilisi-Kars railway, a move that signals not just financial involvement, but also strategic foresight.

‘We have gone beyond our borders and invested in the infrastructure of our friendly and neighboring Georgia,’ he said, adding that the country’s modernization efforts encompass thousands of kilometers of renewed railway and nine international airports, including three in the liberated territories.

Since 2022, interest from Western partners in the Middle Corridor has surged, coinciding with Azerbaijan’s large-scale infrastructure upgrades. Yet, as Nabiyev pointed out, physical connectivity alone is not enough.

‘The issue is not only in infrastructure. At the same time, it is extremely important to harmonize all bureaucratic procedures – customs, border, and other issues,’ he emphasized.

Strategically located at the heart of Eurasia, Azerbaijan’s evolving role along the Middle Corridor marks a transition from a transit participant to a critical connector – and increasingly, a policy shaper in global logistics. The integration of the Zangezur Corridor adds a new geopolitical layer to this transformation, linking Central Asia and the South Caucasus into a unified trade ecosystem.

By enhancing efficiency, diversifying routes, and deepening regional partnerships, Baku is positioning itself as an indispensable link in the global supply chain – a role that may redefine the balance of trade across the continent.

As Minister Nabiyev concluded, ‘We are making all necessary efforts to bring the importance of the Middle Corridor to the attention of our partners in both the East and the West. The Middle Corridor can be much more important than the Northern route.’

In conclusion, Azerbaijan’s proactive and strategic approach to developing the Middle Corridor underscores its ambition to become a pivotal hub in Eurasian logistics. Through significant infrastructure investments, enhanced regional cooperation, and targeted efforts to streamline bureaucratic processes, the country is not only boosting the corridor’s capacity and efficiency but also reshaping the broader geopolitical and economic landscape of transcontinental trade.

The integration of the Zangezur Corridor further solidifies Azerbaijan’s role as a critical connector, offering diversified and reliable transit options that respond to shifting global trade dynamics. As the Middle Corridor continues to gain momentum, Azerbaijan’s leadership and commitment position it as an indispensable actor in fostering a more interconnected and resilient global supply chain.