Category: Azer News

The death toll from Typhoon Kalmaegi in the Philippines climbed Sunday to 224, with 109 others remaining missing, according to state-run media, Azernews reports, citing Tribune.

A total of 526 people were injured due to the devastation caused by Kalmaegi, locally known as Tino, the Philippines News Agency reported, citing National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) officials.

Cebu, the hardest-hit province in the Central Visayas region, has reported 158 fatalities. The death toll includes 27 in Negros Occidental, 20 in Negros Oriental, eight in Caraga, three in Capiz, two in Southern Leyte, two in Leyte, and one each in Antique, Bohol, Guimaras, and Iloilo.

The typhoon has impacted 946,660 families, or around 3.3 million people, across the country. According to the NDRRMC, 74,781 homes have been damaged across seven regions, and authorities are still assessing the full extent of Typhoon Tino’s devastation.

Filipino President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. declared a state of national calamity on Thursday due to the effects of Kalmaegi and in anticipation of another typhoon.

On Friday, the Philippines was also hit by Super Typhoon Fung-wong, locally known as Uwan, bringing heavy rain to regions that forced authorities to cancel work in government offices, flights, close schools, and suspend sea travel in certain areas.

Fung-wong is expected to make landfall in central Aurora late Sunday or early Monday at its peak intensity, according to the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration.

The agency warned of life-threatening winds and storm surges hitting parts of Bicol, with potential devastation along the eastern coast of Central Luzon. Tropical cyclone wind signals are in effect in several areas.

The national police have mobilized nearly 10,000 personnel and resources as Super Typhoon Fung-wong impacted the country.

Meanwhile, Kalmaegi moved to Vietnam on Friday, where it has killed five people, with three missing and 17 others injured. Authorities said 244 houses were destroyed and 17,562 other unroofed, while about 2.3 million people were affected by the typhoon, with around 398,000 sheltering in evacuation centers.

Heavy rain and wind also disrupted power supply in several areas, with over 1.6 million people experiencing power outages.

The typhoon also sank 21 vessels, and 44 others were damaged by the waves that also caused damage to crops and livestock.

The Victory Tour round of the Misli Premier League will come to an end today, Azernews reports.

The first match of the day will feature Kapaz and Sabah. The game will kick off at 15:44 at the Gabala City Stadium.

With only 3 points so far, the Ganja side sits at the bottom of the table in 12th place, while the Baku club holds 6th position with 18 points.

The day’s second clash will take place at Az?rsun Arena, where Qarabag and Neftçi will face each other in the latest edition of the Azerbaijan derby. The match is scheduled to begin at 18:44.

Qurban Qurbanov’s team currently occupies 2nd place with 20 points, while Neftçi, known as the White-and-Blacks, stands 7th with 15 points.

Earlier results saw Shamaxi defeat Imishli 1-0, Sumqayit beat Gabala 2-0, and Araz-Nahchivan overcome Karvan-Yevlax 2-1. The match between Zira and Turan Tovuz ended in a goalless draw.

Azerbaijan’s women’s table tennis team played their latest match at the VI Islamic Solidarity Games, held in Riyadh, the capital of Saudi Arabia, Azernews reports.

The team faced Pakistan in their final Group C match and secured an 8-3 victory.

With this win, the Azerbaijani team topped their group and advanced to the quarterfinals.

Renowned journalist and media manager Mikhail Gusman was presented with an international media award in Trkiye, Azernews reports, citing Azertag.

The award ceremony took place on November 8 in Alanya, Trkiye. Deputy Secretary-General of the Organization of Turkic States Ömer Kocaman presented the media award to Mikhail Gusman.

The event highlighted Gusman’s long-standing effective work in the international media space. It was also noted that the journalist is the author of a documentary dedicated to the leadership and political activities of President of the Republic of Trkiye Recep Tayyip Erdogan.

The Turkish Journalists Association evaluated his activities as a significant contribution to strengthening international information relations and promoting professional journalism principles.

Two Azerbaijani judokas have advanced to the finals of the VI Islamic Solidarity Games, held in Riyadh, the capital of Saudi Arabia, Azernews reports.

Zelim Kotsoyev (100 kg) and Sudaba Agayeva (70 kg) have secured their places in the decisive bouts.

Aytac Gardashkhanli (70 kg), Gunel Hasanli (78 kg), Elcan Hajiyev (90 kg), and Ushangi Kokauri (+100 kg) will compete for bronze medals.

It should be noted that Azerbaijani judokas won one gold, one silver, and two bronze medals yesterday.

President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev has shared a post on his official social network accounts on the occasion of November 9 – National Flag Day.

Azernews presents the post:

The Embassy of Azerbaijan in Slovakia held an event in Bratislava dedicated to the celebration of 8 November – Victory Day, bringing together members of the Azerbaijani community, as well as diplomats from brotherly Trkiye and Kazakhstan.

According to Azernews, the event began with a minute of silence in memory of all the martyrs who heroically fought in the Patriotic War and sacrificed their lives for the territorial integrity and sovereignty of Azerbaijan.

Azerbaijan’s Ambassador to Slovakia, Vusal Abdullayev, stated that under the leadership of the Victorious Supreme Commander-in-Chief, President Ilham Aliyev, the valiant Azerbaijani Army put an end to 30 years of historical injustice and granted the nation a glorious Victory, inscribing a golden chapter in the country’s history.

The ambassador noted that the ‘Iron Fist,’ which became a symbol of national spirit and willpower, embodied the determination and unity of the Azerbaijani people during the Patriotic War. He also highlighted the political and moral support that brotherly Trkiye provided to Azerbaijan from the first days of the conflict.

In his remarks, the diplomat stressed that large-scale reconstruction and development work is underway in the liberated territories, and that major projects are being implemented within the framework of the ‘Great Return’ program. He emphasized that the Joint Declaration signed in Washington in August 2025 holds historic significance for the future development and prosperity of the South Caucasus region.

Ambassador Abdullayev added that Azerbaijan’s glorious Victory is the logical outcome of the wise and forward-looking policy founded by National Leader Heydar Aliyev and successfully continued by President Ilham Aliyev. He noted that the 30th anniversary of the adoption of the Constitution of Azerbaijan coinciding with the 5th anniversary of the Great Victory makes 2025, celebrated as the ‘Year of the Constitution and Sovereignty,’ even more meaningful.

Erkan Özoral, Trkiye’s Ambassador to Slovakia and former Ambassador to Azerbaijan during the Patriotic War, stated in his remarks that Armenia’s occupation of Azerbaijani territories had long been a wound not only for Azerbaijan but for the entire Turkic world. He reiterated that brotherly Trkiye has always supported Azerbaijan’s just cause and conveyed his sincere congratulations on the historic Victory. He added that Azerbaijani-Turkish brotherhood, built on the principle of ‘One Nation, Two States,’ continues to make an important contribution to transforming the South Caucasus into a region of peace and stability.

Following the speeches, a video dedicated to Azerbaijan’s glorious Victory was screened.

The cultural part of the event featured a concert program performed by musician Ruhulla Aziz (kamancha), presenting works by the great Azerbaijani composer Uzeyir Hajibeyli. Musical pieces from the cultures of brotherly Trkiye and Kazakhstan were also performed.

The European Commission is considering pushing back parts of the EU’s Artificial Intelligence Act after sustained pressure from businesses and the Trump administration, according to media reports, Azernews reports, citing Tribune.

The Commission confirmed that ‘a reflection’ was ‘still ongoing’ on possible delays, following a Financial Times report that said Brussels was assessing changes intended to ease requirements for major tech companies.

The act, the world’s first broad legal framework for governing AI, took effect in August 2024, though many of its rules have not yet kicked in.

Most requirements for companies building high-risk AI systems that ‘pose serious risks to health, safety or fundamental rights’ are scheduled to apply starting in August 2026, or even a year later.

The Financial Times reported that the Commission is weighing a one-year ‘grace period’ for companies violating the strictest AI rules.

Under an internal document cited by the Financial Times, generative AI providers with products already on the market before the rules take effect could receive a one-year pause ‘to provide sufficient time . to adapt their practices within a reasonable time without disrupting the market.’

The report said the Commission is also weighing postponing fines for breaches of the new AI transparency rules until August 2027 to ‘provide sufficient time for adaptation of providers and deployers of AI systems.’

The MLex news organisation reported that Brussels is likewise exploring more flexible, less prescriptive monitoring requirements for developers of high-risk AI systems.

The proposals may still change before their expected Nov. 19 release, after which EU states and the European parliament must sign off, the Guardian reported.

Brussels has faced pressure from the Trump administration to soften tech rules, with the US president warning of tariffs on countries whose regulations ‘harm or discriminate against American technology.’

Meta, the parent company of US social media firms like Facebook and Instagram, has already declined to sign the commission’s code of practice for general-purpose AI models. ‘Europe is heading down the wrong path on AI,’ wrote Joel Kaplan, arguing the code creates ‘legal uncertainties’ and goes ‘far beyond the scope of the AI Act.’

Dozens of European firms have also called for a two-year halt to the act, arguing it is needed for ‘reasonable implementation’ and ‘further simplification.’

In an open letter, CEOs from 46 companies, including Airbus, Lufthansa and Mercedes-Benz, said a delay would signal that Europe is committed to ‘simplification and competitiveness.’

The State Security Service has posted a themed video on its official YouTube channel in connection with November 9, National Flag Day.

Azernews presents the shared video:

A 6.7-magnitude earthquake struck northeastern Japan, Azernews reports, citing the country’s National Meteorological Agency.

According to the agency, the epicenter was located east of Iwate Prefecture at a depth of 10 kilometers. A tsunami warning was issued for the northeastern coast of Japan in the minutes following the quake, but the alert was later lifted.

No emergency situations have been reported at the country’s nuclear power plants following the earthquake.