The opening of yet another branch of the Megastore supermarket chain, which is growing rapidly in Azerbaijan’s retail market, is once again under the media spotlight, Report informs.

On November 6, on the occasion of the opening of the next branch of the Megastore supermarket chain located at 1C Khudu Mammadov Str., Khatai district of Baku, customers could enjoy unique discounts, campaigns and other offers.

The crowding of customers during the event has been on the agenda of social media for some time. The stampede in the distributed photos created confusion that some negative situation could arise. Despite this, there were no negative cases during the event. So, during the opening ceremony, the company brought an ambulance to the area, taking into account such cases.

The opening ceremony was also attended by Chairman of the Small and Medium Business Development Agency of Azerbaijan (KOBIA) Orkhan Mammadov. In his opening speech, the chairman of KOBIA touched on topics such as recent economic development in the country, state support for business entities and the importance of sustainable competition in economic development.

During the opening event, company managers, key leaders of the retail sector, Eshqin Ismayilli and Turan Ozbahceci, spoke to the public and informed them about the branch and at the same time about the next projects.

Megastore is known as a service brand in Azerbaijan’s national retail market. After a long break, Megastore supermarkets, which returned to the retail market in 2021, are offering this concept of service to customers with their Bakikhanov, Agjabadi, Guba, Saray and Albalilig branches.

In accordance with the combat training plan of the Land Forces for 2023, tactical-special training continues in the Operations Commando units, Report informs, citing the Defense Ministry.

In conditions close to real combat, commandos work out by laying a scout trail, overcoming an obstacle course, and other actions.

The tasks of surrounding and neutralizing an imaginary enemy’s sabotage group, resisting in shelters and human settlements, are also successfully fulfilled.

During the training held with the operations commando units, the main attention is paid to the further improvement of the servicemen’s individual abilities and combat skills.

In accordance with the plan approved by the Minister of Defense, combat training classes are conducted with engineering units, Report informs, citing the ministry.
According to the plan, engineering units fulfill tasks for engineering support of combat operations in a difficult operational situation.

During the training classes held with the participation of specialists from other government agencies, the main attention is paid to the further improvement of the professional level and combat readiness skills of servicemen providing engineering support, as well as their abilities in the effective use of modern engineering machinery and equipment adopted into the armament.

The military personnel involved in the training classes practically fulfill the tasks of detecting and neutralizing mines and unexploded ordnance, passing water obstacles by launching a pontoon bridge, opening passages in minefields in various ways, overcoming obstacles, and other tasks.

The training classes, conducted to further improve the combat readiness of the military personnel of the Azerbaijan Army’s Engineering Units, continue.

The Ukrainian channel ‘Ukraine Now’ has prepared an article on the process of demining the liberated Azerbaijani territories, Report informs.

The report of a Ukrainian journalist notes that despite the work of the Azerbaijan National Agency for Mine Action (ANAMA), civilians are periodically blown up by mines laid by Armenia during the occupation of these territories. So, since November 2020, about 300 Azerbaijanis have been killed or seriously injured as a result of mine explosions.

“The size of the mine-contaminated territory is comparable in area to a country like Qatar. It may take several decades to clear these territories,” reads the article.

The Ukrainian journalist also reminded that Armenia provided the Azerbaijanis with landmine maps, which are only 25% accurate.

In pursuance of the execution of the relevant Order of the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan, Supreme Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces, Mr. Ilham Aliyev “On the conscription of citizens of the Republic of Azerbaijan for active military service for the period from January 1 to 30, 2023” the admission of young soldiers to training military units of the Azerbaijan Army continues.

Report informs, citing the Ministry of Defense, that after being registered at the military units’ reception points conscripts, who recently entered military service, are re-examined by the military medical commission at medical points, and fully provided with seasonal military uniforms and other types of supplies.

Special attention is paid to the nutrition of military personnel. Delicious and high-quality dishes are cooked in soldiers’ canteens by following sanitary and hygienic rules.

Conscripts are provided with detailed information about the features of military service, the military unit in which they will serve, daily routine, and safety rules, also their psychological state is studied by carrying on enlightening and private conversations.

In accordance with the training plan, training classes are being held with young soldiers. During the training classes, young soldiers are taught the relevant requirements of legislation and military regulations, the rules of military discipline, as well as elements of the drill, physical and fire training.

The unhindered movement of three vehicles belonging to Russian peacekeepers was ensured on the Khankandi-Lachin road again.

According to a Report correspondent working at the site of the protests, one passenger car and two trucks moved from Lachin towards Khankandi.

There were 26 civilians of Armenian nationality in the vehicles, including 20 teens – participants of sports competitions in Armenia.

It is yet another proof that the Lachin road is open for humanitarian purposes.

The Issyk-Kul lake in northern Kyrgyzstan froze over due to extreme cold temperatures on Saturday.

Report informs via foreign media that Issyk-Kul means “warm lake” in Kyrgyz. The name was given because the water never freezes due to the lake’s depth and natural warmth of water.

The local who talked to Reuters said he and his neighbours had never seen the lake freeze.

The lake froze over during extreme cold weather in northern Kyrgyzstan, with the temperature at -30C (-22F) on Saturday.

Issyk-Kul is the seventh-deepest lake in the world, the tenth-largest by volume and the second-largest saline lake after the Caspian Sea.

On January 12, the Minister of Defense of the Republic of Azerbaijan, Colonel General Zakir Hasanov, met with a delegation led by the Minister of Defense of the Republic of Italy, Guido Crosetto, Report informs, citing the Defense Ministry.

First, a solemn welcoming ceremony was held at the Ministry of Defense. The defense ministers of both countries passed along the guard of honor, and the national anthems of Azerbaijan and Italy were performed.

Minister Crosetto signed the “Book of Honor” in accordance with the protocol. Then Colonel General Zakir Hasanov welcomed the guests and expressed satisfaction to see them in Azerbaijan.

The Minister of Defense of Azerbaijan informed the delegation about the military-political situation that had arisen in the region after the Patriotic War.

It was emphasized that cooperation between Azerbaijan and Italy in the field of military education, as well as within the framework of NATO, continues rapidly, and these relations are highly valued.

Colonel General Hasanov noted that this visit is the beginning of a new stage of development in the field of Azerbaijan-Italy military cooperation.

The Italian Minister, in turn, expressed gratitude for the hospitality and highlighted the importance of developing military cooperation between the two countries.
The significance of mutual visits in the development of relations between the countries based on strategic partnership was emphasized.

During the meeting, the further expansion of cooperation between the Republic of Azerbaijan and the Republic of Italy in the military, military-technical, and military-educational spheres, as well as other issues of mutual interest, were discussed.

In the end, the defense ministers of both countries signed a protocol of intent on cooperation in the field of training and education.

The clean-up begins in Brazil’s capital after thousands of supporters of former president Jair Bolsonaro broke into three main buildings in Brasilia on Sunday, smashing windows and chairs.

On the instruction of the Minister of Defense, Colonel General Zakir Hasanov, all necessary measures were carried out under the control of the relevant structures of the Ministry to organize a high level of service and combat activities in any weather conditions in subunits, especially in military units of the Azerbaijan Army, stationed in the mountainous area with difficult terrain. Currently, the work in this direction continues in a planned manner, Report informs, citing Defense Ministry.

In order to carry out combat duty day and night at the combat positions of the Azerbaijan Army Units, special warm clothing for a cold climate was distributed, and the necessary medicines, wood, coal, as well as liquid fuel were supplied in accordance with the preparation plan for the winter period.

The current provision of all units stationed in the territory of the Kalbajar and Lachin districts is carried out uninterruptedly through recently commissioned combined warehouses. Servicemen, who need evacuation for medical treatment and examination, as well as cargo, are transported by the use of specialized equipment and skis. Products that strengthen immunity and other foods are preferred in the nutrition of military personnel serving in mountainous and cold regions.

Moreover, regular enlightenment talks on seasonal diseases and frostbite injuries are held with personnel, as well as the necessary preventive actions are undertaken. As a result of preventive actions, there is not a single case of frostbite injury in the Azerbaijan Army Units.

As a result of the interaction of the Engineering Troops with other state structures, snow clearance of supply and other roads is alternately carried out, as well as the process of laying new roads continues in order to maintain the evacuation roads in working order during winter.

In the territory of the Kalbajar and Lachin districts, 804 km of roads have been cleared of snow since the beginning of this year, and thus the uninterrupted movement of military and civilian transport has been ensured.

Due to the fall of high snow cover, additional signs are buried in dangerous areas, and military personnel is instructed on strict compliance with safety regulations.

Thanks to the attention and care of the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan, Supreme Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces Ilham Aliyev, the moral-psychological state of the personnel of all military units, including subunits of the Azerbaijan Army stationed in the mountainous areas with difficult terrain, is at a high level, as well as the assigned service and combat tasks are professionally fulfilled during winter.

An Armenian resident of Karabakh was sent back to Khankendi at the site of the protest on the Khankendi-Lachin road.

At least 40 people were killed Sunday and many others seriously injured in a bus crash in central Senegal, according to the country’s president, Report informs via CNN.

“I am deeply saddened by today’s tragic road accident in Gniby, where 40 people died and many were seriously injured. I send my heartfelt condolences to the families of the victims and wish the injured a speedy recovery,” President Macky Sall said in a tweet.

The incident involved two buses that collided with one another, according to Radiodiffusion Télévision Sénégalaise (RTS), the country’s public broadcaster.

The western African nation will observe three days of national mourning for the victims, starting on January 9, the president announced.

The reason for the crash is as yet unknown. CNN has reached out to the Senegalese Transport Ministry for comment.

Dakar will also call an inter-ministerial council on January 9 to discuss “firm measures” to ensure transport safety, according to Sall.

The protest of Azerbaijani environmentalists on the Khankandi-Lachin road has already achieved certain results, Azerbaijan’s ex-Foreign Minister Elmar Mammadyarov said in an interview with Hamid Hamidov in the “Let’s talk?” show.

“The environmentalists’s protest has already achieved certain results. First of all, because the exploitation of our deposits – the Gizilbulag gold deposit and the Damirli copper-molybdenum deposit – has been stopped. The logic of the developments suggests that, in parallel with the presence of an environmental mission, it is necessary to set up customs, border and phytosanitary posts on the Azerbaijani-Armenian border. The Lachin road is operational, vehicles are moving along it. And Azerbaijan in no way violates the sixth point. After all, the Russian peacekeeping troops ensure the security of the passage, but the road is under Azerbaijan’s sovereignty. So Russian peacekeepers should be responsible for security, just like they should do along the Zangazur corridor,” Mammadyarov said.

Hamid Hamid and the guest also discussed the protests in Iran, the opening of the Azerbaijani embassy in Israel, the war in Ukraine, the future of Russia and Mammadyarov’s friendly relations with Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov.

Mammadyarov also spoke about what he does after leaving the post of the foreign ministry:

“In any case, I am in touch, a lot of journalists call, ask questions, ask for comments. Through my incomplete 17 years [as a minister], I tried to collect my speeches, interviews, articles, statements. That made more than 3,000 pages. And now I will decide what to leave, and what to not. I think either to make a website, or then I will publish a book for the future generation.”

Azerishiq OJSC, an Azerbaijani electrical grid operator, provided power supply to military units and facilities of particular state importance in the Kalbajar district of Azerbaijan, Report informs, citing the company.

The company says that large-scale work is underway in the district and modern electrical networks are being built in the most remote areas where there was no electricity even during the Soviet period.

Alagollyar and other territories of the Kalbajar district were provided with electricity for the first time thanks to Azerishiq OJSC.

According to the company, more than 23 km of 35 kV cable Istisu-Alagollar were laid as part of the work.

Design work on laying more than 12 km of the Chaykand-Zod 35 kV cable has been completed, and more than 7 km of the cable has been laid.

The Minister of Defense of the Republic of Azerbaijan, Colonel General Zakir Hasanov, and the leadership of the Ministry visited the mobilization support base of the Land Forces, Report informs, referring to MoD.

First, the leadership of the Ministry laid flowers in front of the bust of the national leader Heydar Aliyev, which was erected in the territory of the support base, and paid tribute to his memory.

The Minister of Defense inspected the base’s artillery, combat, and vehicle equipment, inquired about their technical state, and inspected the readiness level of personnel.

Relevant instructions were given regarding the timely maintenance of weapons and military equipment in compliance with safety regulations.

Colonel General Z.Hasanov highly appreciated the level of combat training of military personnel and set specific tasks for the relevant officials regarding increasing the efficiency of the sessions, field and combat training exercises held with the reserve military officers in various specialties during the new training period.