Category: Azer News

Azerbaijan National Carpet Museum has hosted the presentation of the project “The New Story of Kelaghayi”, Azernews reports.

The event dedicated to the 11th anniversary of the inclusion of the Azerbaijani kelaghayi in UNESCO’s Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity was opened by Amina Melikova, the Director of the Azerbaijan National Carpet Museum and Honoured Worker of Culture.

In her opening speech, she said that kelaghayi is not merely a nice woman’s accessory or a decorative and applied art sample; this is also an expression of the deep philosophy of the nation and a defender of the memory that is passed down through generations.

She also underlined that the Azerbaijan National Carpet Museum consistently works on the preservation and promotion of this heritage among future generations. Honoured Worker of Culture, PhD in Art History, Professor, Kubra Aliyeva, talked about the kelaghayi art – the ancient attribute of the national women’s costume. She underlined that the kelaghayi art remains a subject of study across many disciplines. The Chair of the State Committee for Family, Women and Children Affairs of the Republic of Azerbaijan, Bahar Muradova, said that kelaghayi is a precious accessory that emphasises the tenderness and the best qualities of the Azerbaijani women. She also added that Gulnara Khalilova is an artist who has studied the art of kelaghayi from both scientific and theoretical perspectives, and has managed to bridge the gap between its past and future.

Designer Gulnara Khalilova, Head of the Azerbaijani National Clothing Centre, member of the Eurasian Ethnodesigners Association, PhD in Art Studies, and founder of the CIZGI brand, said in her speech that she tried to demonstrate the connection of kelaghayi with women’s destiny, cultural memory, and national identity through blending the spiritual power of kelaghayi and contemporary fashion in her new collection.

Within the framework of the project, the Magic of Silk clothing collection by Gulnara Khalilova was showcased. The new collection that reveals the brightest and most poetic shades of silk, by blending the profound meanings of kelaghayi with the delicate aesthetics of contemporary fashion, caused great interest.

The event also included an exhibition showcasing historical and modern kelaghayis selected from the collection of the Azerbaijan National Carpet Museum, as well as contemporary clothing from Gulnara Khalilova’s Silk Treasure collection. The museum specialists conducted a masterclass on kelaghayi-making.

The artistic part of the event included the Kelaghayi dance performed by members of the Children and Youth Development Centre No. 3 acting under the Baku Education Agency.

The presentation, which harmoniously brings together the centuries-old spirit of the kelaghayi with today’s creative energy, aesthetic vision, and way of thinking, demonstrates once again that this ancient heritage is not merely a cultural legacy of the past but an ever-evolving artistic language gaining new meaning.

The project took place with the support of the Azerbaijan Culture Ministry and through the collaboration of the Azerbaijan National Carpet Museum and the Gulnara Khalilova Fashion House.

An international seminar titled ‘Artificial Intelligence in Cybersecurity’ was held in Baku on 25-26 November, organized by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Azerbaijan, Azernews reports, citing the Ministry.

According to information, the seminar aimed to enhance the awareness of representatives from relevant Azerbaijani institutions regarding artificial intelligence and related issues in the cybersecurity sphere.

The event brought together experts from NATO’s relevant structures, centers of excellence, as well as specialists from member and partner countries of the Alliance.

During the seminar, participants discussed the role of artificial intelligence in securing digital infrastructure, emerging trends in both defensive and offensive uses of AI, and the importance of AI technologies in countering a wide range of cyber threats-including malware and information operations.

Joint projects are planned between the opera institutions of Azerbaijan and Turkiye, Azernews reports.

Cooperation issues were discussed between the Azerbaijan State Academic Opera and Ballet Theaters and the Turkish State Opera and Ballet Theater.

Director of the Azerbaijan State Academic Opera and Ballet Theater Yusif Eyvazov and Director-General of the Turkish State Opera and Ballet Tan Sagtrk reached agreements on joint projects.

The sides touched upon the preparation of reciprocal tour programs, the exchange of soloists and creative teams, as well as the organization of master classes by specialists in both theaters.

The French-German pianist and blogger, Emilio Piano (Emil Jean Joachim Rainer), shared a heartwarming moment on social media during his recent visit to Baku, Azernews reports.

While playing the piano in the Philharmonic Garden, a charming little girl approached and asked him to play the song “Pretty Little Baby.” However, what happened next took everyone by surprise: the girl began singing the song herself.

“Today I was playing piano in a park in Azerbaijan when a cute little girl came up to me and asked me to play Pretty Little Baby. But nobody expected her to start singing. Her voice was so good and so adorable. Later, I found out she’s only four years old and already super popular on social media!”

The young singer Nafas Huseynova was just 4 years old and had already gained significant popularity on social media.

The little girl who sang “Pretty Little Baby” with her performance made an impression on both Emilio and the audience.

SIMA, the next-generation digital signature solution, has introduced a new QR-based sharing function that allows users to securely delegate their signing authority to another person-such as an accountant or responsible employee-on a one-time basis, without any additional risk, Azernews reports.

The new feature is designed to minimize time loss in document workflows and ensure faster, more flexible process management.

How the new functionality works:

1. The person performing an identification or signing operation on any electronic portal scans the relevant QR code using the SIMA Imza mobile app.

2. After the QR code is scanned, a unique signing link is automatically generated.

3. This link is sent to the signature owner through any communication channel.

4. When the signature owner clicks the link, they are redirected to their SIMA Imza app.

5. The document is signed with a 6-digit PIN, fingerprint, or Face ID authentication.

6. After successful verification, the document is marked as signed in the system, completing the process.

This feature provides users with a secure and fully controlled way to delegate signing authority. It is especially beneficial for business managers who need to grant temporary signing rights to other responsible employees without exposing their personal security data. Because the process relies on the signature owner’s own authentication, the owner sees exactly which system is being accessed and which document is being signed before confirming.

Currently, taxpayers can obtain a SIMA digital signature free of charge. By entering the ‘6AYPULSUZ’ promo code while obtaining an entrepreneur or legal entity signature certificate in the mobile app, users can enjoy six months of free subscription.

SIMA, a next-generation digital signature created in 2022 by AzInTelecom, a company under AZCON Holding, can be obtained entirely remotely-users only need to download the SIMA Imza mobile application and complete the registration process.

On 25 November, SOCAR President Rovshan Najaf met with Tetsuya Yamada, Chairman of the Japan-Azerbaijan Economic Committee and Chief Operating Officer of ITOCHU Corporation, Azernews reports, citing SOCAR.

The meeting highlighted the successful development of mutually beneficial cooperation between Azerbaijan and Japan. It was noted that the constructive discussions held to date have played an important role in strengthening bilateral relations. In this context, the participants recalled with satisfaction the twelfth joint meeting of the Intergovernmental Commission on Economic Cooperation between Azerbaijan and Japan, held in Tokyo in September of this year.

During the meeting, the parties exchanged views on joint projects implemented by SOCAR and ITOCHU, and discussed potential areas for cooperation across various segments of the energy sector. They reviewed opportunities related to oil and gas production and transportation, energy infrastructure, the application of modern industrial technologies, and other issues of mutual interest.

The AFFA Executive Committee has convened for its latest meeting, during which AFFA President Rovshan Najaf outlined the agenda for the session, Azernews reports.

The first topic was a report from head coach Aykhan Abbasov on the national team’s recent World Cup qualifying matches. The team’s performance was thoroughly reviewed, and there was an exchange of ideas regarding upcoming games.

Next, AFFA Executive Vice-President Sarkhan Hajiyev provided an update on preparations for the 2027 FIFA U-20 World Cup, which will be jointly hosted by Uzbekistan and Azerbaijan. Plans and next steps for the event were discussed in detail.

It is expected that each country will host 26 matches including 18 group stage games, 4 round of 16 games, 2 quarter-finals and a semi-final.

Around 24 teams will qualify for the final tournament. Alongside Azerbaijan and Uzbekistan, which automatically qualify as hosts, the remaining 22 teams will secure their spots through six different continental competitions.

AFFA General Secretary Jahangir Faradjullayev then presented an overview of the state of refereeing.

Following his presentation, the current situation was assessed, and several structural changes were approved.

As part of these changes, Frank De Bleker, Chairman of the Referees Committee, will now also serve as the International Refereeing and Referee Training Advisor to the Secretary General.

The AFFA committee then discussed and unanimously approved the nomination of Rahim Hasanov as the new Chairman of the Referees Committee.

It also accepted Zaur Akhundov’s request to step down from his position on the AFFA Executive Committee.

New appointments were made to the AFFA Disciplinary Committee, with Zumrud Aghayeva and Murad Mammadov confirmed as members.

Lastly, the licensing regulations for the 2026/2027 season were officially approved.

Formed in 1992, the Azerbaijan Association of Football Federations (AFFA) is the governing body of football in Azerbaijan.

The Association is responsible for overseeing all aspects of amateur and professional games in its territory.

It runs numerous competitions, the most famous of which is the Azerbaijan Cup. AFFA is a member of both UEFA and FIFA.

During his visit to Ankara on Monday, South Korean President Lee Jae Myung and Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) aimed at enhancing cooperation in the nuclear energy sector, Azernews reports, citing foreign media.

Speaking at a joint press conference, President Erdogan said that negotiations with South Korea on the construction of a nuclear power plant in Trkiye are ongoing. The discussions particularly focus on Trkiye’s second planned nuclear facility in the northern province of Sinop, where South Korea is exploring potential partnership opportunities.

The leaders also touched on cooperation in the defense industry, highlighting the broad scope of strategic collaboration between the two nations.

President Lee emphasized that the meeting reaffirmed the countries’ strategic partnership, expressing confidence that these ties will continue to strengthen and benefit future generations.

‘Trkiye, located at the crossroads of Europe and Asia, has become a key base for Korean companies seeking access to the European market,’ Lee noted. He added that South Korea is committed to deepening joint ventures in areas such as renewable energy, artificial intelligence, and advanced science and technology.

Analysts suggest that this agreement could accelerate technology transfer and innovation, while positioning Trkiye as a hub for South Korean companies in both energy and high-tech industries. The collaboration also signals growing geopolitical and economic alignment between the two nations in a rapidly evolving regional landscape.

A meeting was held between Rovshan Rustamov, Chairman of Azerbaijan Railways (ADY), part of AZCON Holding, and Oleg Belozyorov, CEO and Chairman of the Management Board of Russian Railways (RZD), Azernews reports citing ADY.

During the discussions, the two countries’ railway administrations reviewed ways to strengthen bilateral cooperation, improve route efficiency, and ensure the safety of freight operations. The officials also exchanged views on ongoing initiatives to digitalize freight transportation, including the implementation of digital solutions, accelerated data sharing, and optimization of the logistics chain.

The meeting concluded with the signing of an agreement on bilateral electronic data exchange between Azerbaijan Railways and Russian Railways. The agreement is expected to enhance the efficiency of freight transport and enable fully digital document circulation.

In line with the instructions of President Ilham Aliyev, the Great Return to the liberated territories continues.

Azernews reports that the former IDP families relocated to the city of Kalbajar had previously been temporarily settled in various parts of the country, mainly in dormitories, sanatoriums, and administrative buildings.

In this phase, a total of 27 families comprising 112 people have been resettled in the city of Kalbajar.

The returning residents expressed their gratitude to President Ilham Aliyev and First Vice-President Mehriban Aliyeva for the comprehensive state support they have received. They also conveyed their appreciation to the valiant Azerbaijani Army, whose bravery liberated the country’s lands, and paid tribute to the martyrs who sacrificed their lives on this path.