By TrendThe meeting of representatives of the Azerbaijani Ministry of Economy of Azerbaijan, the Ministry of Ecology and Natural Resources, the State Property Service under the Ministry of Economy, and AzerGold CJSC took place at the headquarters of the Russian peacekeepers, Head of the monitoring group Masim Mammadov told reporters on December 16, Trend's correspondent in Shusha reports.The officials noted once again that the 'Gizilbulagh' gold deposit and the 'Damirli' copper-molybdenum deposit should be inspected, and relevant monitoring and inventory work should be conducted, following the presented road map. The conditions required for the deposit inspection were not created and the tasks set were not fulfilled.The monitoring group members pointed out once again that the illegal exploitation of mineral resources should be immediately stopped and an all-inclusive monitoring of the area should be carried out.

President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev signed a decree approving the "Action Plan for the Protocol of Cooperation between the Government of the Republic of Azerbaijan and the Government of the Republic of Turkiye in the field of family, women, and children policy", signed on November 4, 2022, in Istanbul, on December 16.to be updated

By AzernewsSabina MammadliOn December 16, starting from 1200 to 1350 local time, using various calibers of weapons, units of the Armenian armed forces stationed in the direction of Musurskand of Tovuzgala (Tavush) region and Yukhari Shorzha (Verin Shorzha) settlement of Basarkechar (Gekharkunik) region shelled positions of the Azerbaijani army in Aghdam settlement of Tovuz and Zaylik settlement of Kalbajar districts, Azernews reports per Defense Ministry.Moreover, members of the illegal armed formations in Karabakh, where the Russian peacekeepers are temporarily stationed, periodically subjected to fire the Azerbaijan army positions stationed in the direction of Khojavand District at 1305 local time on December 16.Units of the Azerbaijani army took adequate retaliatory measures.

By AzernewsBy Laman IsmayilovaThe Khatai Arts Center is pleased to announce a final exhibition within the national Children's Art Competition, Azernews reports.The art contest stimulates the interest of the younger generation in art and forms artistic thinking and taste.Over 1,500 young talents submitted 2,000 artworks for the contest on a patriotic theme.Only 800 art pieces were selected for the exhibition timed to the World Azerbaijanis Solidarity Day (December 31).The art contest is co-organized by the Azerbaijan State Art Gallery and Khatai Arts Center with the support of the Culture and Education Ministries, Azerbaijan Artists' Union, the Khatai executive authorities, and Azerbaijan Television and Radio Broadcasting Company (AzTV).The Khatai Arts Center has previously showcased 100 watercolor paintings as part of the exhibition "Water and color harmony 2022.

By TrendEmployees of the representative office of the Heydar Aliyev Foundation in Russia, on the initiative of the Vice-President of the Heydar Aliyev Foundation Leyla Aliyeva, on the eve of the New Year, have visited the students of the Center for the Promotion of Family Education - "Our House", to celebrate the holiday with the orphans, Trend reports.to be updated

By TrendThe draft law "On political parties" was discussed at the plenary session of Azerbaijan's Milli Majlis (Parliament) on December 6, Trend reports.Previously, on July 26, 2022, the Milli Majlis invited political parties registered in Azerbaijan to submit their proposals on the new draft law "On Political Parties". Over the past period, about 50 political parties have officially submitted more than 250 proposals.On October 24, a public hearing on the draft law "On Political Parties" was held at Milli Majlis with the participation of chairmen and representatives of the majority of registered political parties, represented in parliament and operating in Azerbaijan. The next hearing was held on November 4. Based on the proposals presented at the hearings, an updated version of the draft bill was prepared.After discussion, the bill was put to the vote and approved in the third reading.

By TrendThe World Bank (WB) together with the government of Azerbaijan will start developing a Partnership Strategy for the next few years, the Advisor for Public Relations of the WB Office in Azerbaijan, told Trend.According to him, next year the World Bank and the government of Azerbaijan will start discussing the issues of the partnership strategy."During the discussion, priority areas of projects will be considered, taking into account the interests of Azerbaijan," Rzayev stressed.Remarkably, to date, the World Bank has allocated over $3 billion for the implementation of various projects in Azerbaijan.

By AzernewsBy Ayya LmahamadAzerbaijan can support the European Union (EU) in the transition to alternative energy, German Ambassador Ralf Horlemann said.He made the remarks during a lecture at ADA University on “Germany’s G7 presidency in 2022”, Azernews reports.The ambassador stated that the EU’s goal is to no longer import hydrocarbons and get closer to the ultimate goal of replacing fossil fuels.“Azerbaijan can support this initiative by supplying green hydrogen to Europe, including Germany,” he said.Moreover, Ralf Horlemann said that Azerbaijan has become an even more important partner for Europe since the beginning of the war in Ukraine.He stressed that the significance of Azerbaijan for EU countries will continue to grow.“Azerbaijan can increase its potential not only in hydrocarbons but also in green energy. The potential of green electricity in Azerbaijan is very high,” he said.

By TrendThe price of Azeri LT CIF Augusta decreased by $1.17 on December 15 compared to the previous price, amounting to $84.77 per barrel, Trend reports referring to the source from the country's oil and gas market.The price of Azeri LT FOB Ceyhan amounted to $81.94 per barrel, down by $1.15 as compared to the previous price.Azerbaijan also sells its URALS oil from the Russian Black Sea port of Novorossiysk, delivering it through the Baku-Novorossiysk pipeline.The price of URALS with shipment from the port equaled $46.43 per barrel, decreasing by $1.78 as compared to the previous price.Meanwhile, the cost of a barrel of Brent Dated oil, produced in the North Sea, decreased by $1.78, compared to the previous price, and made up $81.83 per barrel on December 15.The official currency for December 16 is 1.7 AZN/1 USD.

By AzernewsBy Ayya LmahamadThree years have passed since the commissioning of Azerbaijan's first domestic tanker Lachin, Azernews reports.On December 13, 2019, with the participation of President Ilham Aliyev, the tanker was commissioned at the Baku Shipyard LLC by order of the Azerbaijan Caspian Shipping Company (ASCO) CJSC.Over the past three years, the tanker has transported 23.3 million tons of oil and petroleum products.The length of the tanker is 141 meters, and the width is 16.9 meters. Its deadweight is 7,884 tons at sea and 5,455 tons in the river. The tanker has six oil tanks with a total capacity of 9,190 cubic meters.

By TrendOn December 15, at 20:00, the Armenian armed forces units from the positions in the direction of the Giziljig settlement of the Garakilsa region using small arms subjected to fire the Azerbaijan Army positions stationed in the direction of the Ahmadli settlement of the Lachin region, Trend reports citing Azerbaijani Defense Ministry."Moreover, on December 15, at 20:10, members of an illegal Armenian armed detachment in the territory of Azerbaijan, where the Russian peacekeepers are temporarily deployed, using small arms subjected to fire the Azerbaijan Army positions stationed in the direction of the Aghdam region.The Azerbaijan Army Units stationed in these directions took adequate retaliatory measures", the ministry said.

By TrendMembers of the Senate of the Parliament of Kazakhstan ratified the treaty on investment protection with the United Arab Emirates, Trend reports, citing Kazakh media.The agreement provides for the creation of a legal framework for cooperation by guaranteeing the rights of investors in their investment activities.According to the agreement, investments of a side cannot be nationalized, expropriated, or requisitioned on the territory of the other side, with exceptions being the measures taken for public purposes, in a non-discriminatory manner, in accordance with due process of law, with adequate, prompt and effective compensation.The agreement is concluded for 10 years, with an optional extension for additional 10-year periods. The sides can terminate the Agreement by notifying in writing the other party 1 year before the end of a 10-year period.

By TrendThe volume of goods transported by road between Kazakhstan and Lithuania from January through September 2022 increased by 11 percent to 162,900 tons, Iran Sharkhan, Deputy Minister of Industry and Infrastructural Development of Kazakhstan, said, Trend reports, citing the press service of the Ministry.During Sharkhan’s meeting with the President of the Lithuanian Confederation of Industrialists Vidmantas Janulevi?ius, the sides also discussed the role of Kazakhstan in development of value chains of critical raw materials.Sharkhan said that Kazakhstan is prepared to become a reliable partner for the EU, and described Astana’s approach as "resources in exchange for investments and technologies".Currently, out of 30 types of critical raw materials needed for the EU countries, 16 are produced and processed in Kazakhstan. They are exported to the US, Russia, China, South Korea, the EU member states, and the UK.

By TrendThe plane of Jordan Aviation airline landed at the international airport of Tashkent on December 14, 2022, Trend reports via Uzbekistan Airports JSC.According to the company, it is planned that flights between Tashkent and Amman will be carried out on a charter basis once every two weeks on Boeing 767 aircraft.Jordan Aviation is a Jordanian airline headquartered in Amman. In addition to providing charter flights, the company is an important provider of air transportation for UN peacekeeping missions.

By TrendThe territory of a recent mine explosion in Chirag village of Azerbaijan’s Kalbajar district has been inspected, and presumably, a TM 62 anti-tank mine was the one that exploded, an instructor at the Goygol Regional Center of the Azerbaijan National Agency for Mine Action (ANAMA) Vasif Jabrayilov told reporters on December 15, Trend reports from the scene."This mine contains 7.5 kg of the explosive and is triggered under pressure," he said.On December 14, the Military Prosecutor's Office of Azerbaijani Kalbajar district received information that eight people hit a landmine near the Chiragli village of Kalbajar district at around 18:00 (GMT+4).It was established that four employees of Azerbaijan's construction company and four servicemen suffered from an anti-personnel landmine blast in the mentioned village. Following the landmine blast, one of the servicemen died.

By TrendAs in previous years, the demand for rental housing in the regions of Azerbaijan increases during the New Year holidays, real estate expert Punhan Ismayilov told Trend."While the price of a daily rental housing in Ismayilli usually is 50 manat ($29), during the New Year's holidays it is between 100-200 manat ($25-117), as demand increases," he said.According to the other real estate expert, Ramil Osmanli, the increase in rental housing prices begins in late December."An increase in daily rental housing in regions favorable for winter tourism is expected during the New Year's holidays and is expected to last until mid-January. Rental prices vary depending on housing conditions," he noted.