Category: Azer News

Azerbaijan’s representative in the UEFA Conference League, Qarabag, will play the second leg of the third qualifying round on August 13, AzerNEWS reports.

The Aghdam-based club will host Ukraine’s Dynamo Kyiv. The match will take place at the Tofig Bahramov Republican Stadium and will kick off at 20:00. The referee for the match will be Englan’s Stuart Attwell.

It should be noted that the first leg between the teams was played in Poland and ended with a 1-0 victory for the Kyiv side.

The winner of this tie will face the winner of the Twente (Netherlands) – Dunajska Streda (Slovakia) tie in the Conference League play-off round. The Dutch club secured a commanding 6-0 victory in the first leg.

The 2026-27 UEFA Conference League marks the sixth edition of UEFA’s third-tier European club competition, bringing together teams from across the continent to compete for continental success.

The tournament champions will earn an automatic place in the league phase of the 2027-28 UEFA Europa League, provided they have not already qualified for the UEFA Champions League or the Europa League through their domestic league results.

Defending champions Crystal Palace will not have the opportunity to retain their Conference League title, having already secured a place in the 2027-28 UEFA Europa League league phase.

Under UEFA’s current competition format, clubs competing in the Europa League league phase can no longer drop into the Conference League later in the season.

Swedish music streaming giant Spotify is preparing to introduce a special AI-persona label for artists created with the help of artificial intelligence. The new tag is designed to help users distinguish virtual performers from real musicians and, according to the company, make the platform more transparent and trustworthy, AzerNEWS reports.

The AI label will appear in the mobile app on an artist’s profile, in search results, and next to their songs in playlists. A large-scale rollout of the new system is expected to begin in mid-September.

Previously, Spotify launched the Verified by Spotify system, which required musicians to prove that they were real people. Artists could demonstrate their authenticity through social media activity, merchandise, and other forms of public presence. However, the initiative faced criticism. AI-music expert and copyright advocate Ed Newton-Rex argued that such requirements could disadvantage legitimate artists who do not have a strong social media presence or sell merchandise.

Spotify now plans to combine human verification with AI-powered tools to identify profiles representing AI-generated personas. Artists will also be able to voluntarily declare that their profile represents an AI persona. If Spotify automatically applies the label, profile owners will have the opportunity to confirm the status or appeal the decision.

The new policy will also affect Spotify’s recommendation algorithms. AI-persona artists will not be included in editorial or personalized recommendations unless users have already chosen to follow or listen to them.

Importantly, Spotify is not banning AI-generated music. Instead, the company is focusing on transparency, allowing users to listen to AI-created music while making its origin clear. This could become an important step as generative AI continues to transform the music industry.

If an AI-generated artist becomes a global star, should it be treated the same way as a human musician? As AI music becomes increasingly sophisticated, streaming platforms may soon have to rethink not only how music is recommended, but also what it means to be an ‘artist’ in the digital age.

Germany’s Rheinmetall defense group has conducted tests of its FV-014 unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV).

AzerNEWS reports that the company said the new system was successfully launched from a containerized missile launcher developed by Rheinmetall. The tests were conducted at the National Test Center for Unmanned Aircraft Systems of the German Aerospace Center in Saxony-Anhalt.

The FV-014 was launched both from a stationary position and while mounted on a moving Rheinmetall HX military truck. During the trials, the system successfully completed a range of simulated missions and attack flight scenarios.

According to Rheinmetall, the FV-014 is designed for highly mobile operations and can operate at ranges of up to 100 kilometers. The system combines reconnaissance, target identification and precision-strike capabilities on a single platform.

The UAV has a flight endurance of up to 70 minutes, a launch weight of approximately 22 kilograms and a payload capacity of 6 kilograms. The containerized launcher can carry up to 18 FV-014 drones.

The company described the tests as an important milestone in expanding its capabilities in the field of unmanned combat systems.

President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev received Dirk Lölke, the newly appointed Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary Ambassador of Germany to Azerbaijan, on August 13, AzerNEWS reports.

The ambassador presented his credentials to President Ilham Aliyev.

The head of state then held a conversation with the ambassador.

Recalling with fondness his official visit to Germany last month, President Ilham Aliyev noted that fruitful discussions on bilateral relations and international issues were held with President Frank-Walter Steinmeier and Chancellor Friedrich Merz during the trip. The President emphasized that the positions of the two countries on regional stability, security, and development coincide. Stating that new areas of potential cooperation were identified during the discussions, contributing to mutual understanding and the development of bilateral partnership, the head of state highlighted the importance of the ‘Joint Declaration on a Strategic Agenda for Bilateral Partnership between the Republic of Azerbaijan and the Federal Republic of Germany’ signed in Berlin, noting that it elevates bilateral ties to a qualitatively higher level.

President Ilham Aliyev noted that the two countries are currently engaged in strategic interaction across many areas, while existing opportunities in trade, investment, and business are further strengthening bilateral ties. The head of state emphasized that the ambassador had begun his diplomatic mission in Azerbaijan following his official visit to Germany and stressed the importance of this for the future development of bilateral relations.

The President wished the ambassador success in his diplomatic activities.

Expressing gratitude for the reception, Dirk Lölke congratulated President Ilham Aliyev on the first anniversary of the Summit between Azerbaijan and Armenia held in Washington on August 8 last year.

For his part, President Ilham Aliyev reiterated that the peace agenda in the region was initiated at Azerbaijan’s initiative and that Azerbaijan would continue its efforts to advance this agenda. He underlined that peace in the region is already irreversible.

The ambassador noted that the German government is very satisfied with the results of President Ilham Aliyev’s visit and expressed hope that the issues discussed would be implemented promptly.

During the meeting, the sides highlighted relations between Azerbaijan and the European Union, as well as the positive dynamics observed in the development of these relations in recent times.

The sides also discussed the East-West Transport Corridor and the prospects for German companies to benefit from the opportunities offered by this route, as well as cooperation opportunities in traditional and renewable energy and education.

In Azerbaijan, nuts have never been merely something placed in a bowl and served as a snack. They are ground into fillings, layered between sheets of pastry, mixed with sugar and spices, cooked with meat and pomegranate, and placed on festive tables.

Walnuts, hazelnuts and almonds have found their way into some of the country’s most recognizable foods, becoming part of the tastes associated with family gatherings, weddings, Novruz and regional culinary traditions.

Walk into an Azerbaijani kitchen before Novruz and the scent of freshly ground nuts is often among the familiar signs of preparation. Bowls of walnuts, hazelnuts or almonds are brought out, shells are cracked, kernels are cleaned and the nuts are ground for pastries.

Among Azerbaijan’s traditional pastries, shekerbura has perhaps the clearest connection with this custom. The delicate, crescent-shaped pastry is filled with ground nuts and sugar, with hazelnuts, almonds or walnuts used according to the recipe and family tradition. The patterned surface is made by hand with special tweezers, creating the familiar decorative design. Shekerbura is particularly associated with Novruz, when it appears alongside pakhlava and gogal on the festive table.

Pakhlava has an even wider regional story. There is no single Azerbaijani pakhlava: different parts of the country have developed their own versions, with variations in shape, dough, filling and spices. Baku, Guba and Ganja are among the places particularly associated with different styles of the sweet. Nuts are central to many of these recipes, giving the filling its rich texture and characteristic flavor.

In Guba, for example, pakhlava is prepared with a filling based on walnuts, while the pastry is assembled in layers and finished with syrup. The result is quite different from the more familiar commercial versions of baklava found elsewhere in the region.

Then there is Shaki halva, one of the country’s best-known regional delicacies. Despite its name, it is closer to a layered pastry than to the soft halva found in many other countries. Thin sheets of rice-flour dough are arranged in layers and filled with a mixture containing hazelnuts, sugar and spices. Saffron gives the upper layer its distinctive appearance, while coriander and cardamom contribute to the aroma. For visitors to Shaki, trying the local halva is almost inseparable from experiencing the city itself.

Badambura takes its name from the Azerbaijani word for almond. It is a light, layered pastry filled with ground almonds, sugar and cardamom. Like shekerbura and pakhlava, it has a particularly strong association with Novruz and is also prepared for family celebrations and special occasions.

The role of nuts becomes even more interesting when the conversation moves away from sweets. Azerbaijani cuisine has never drawn a strict line between nuts and savory food.

One of the best examples is fisincan. The dish combines ground walnuts with pomegranate, creating a deep, rich and slightly sour sauce that is served with poultry or meat. The contrast between the oiliness of the walnuts and the acidity of pomegranate is characteristic of the flavor combinations found in Azerbaijani cooking.

In the south, particularly around Lankaran, nuts are part of lavangi, a dish traditionally prepared with chicken or fish. The stuffing can include ground walnuts, onions and sour ingredients such as plum paste or lavashana. The mixture is cooked inside the bird or fish, allowing the flavors to develop slowly. Lavangi is closely connected with the cuisine of southern Azerbaijan and is one of the dishes through which the country’s regional differences become especially apparent.

Nuts also appear in pilaf, meat dishes and a variety of sauces and fillings. In some recipes, walnuts provide richness where other cuisines might use cream or butter; in others, they provide texture or balance the acidity of pomegranate, plum or dried fruit.

The tradition is especially visible during Novruz. The khoncha, the decorated festive tray prepared for the holiday, traditionally carries sweets, colored eggs, dried fruits and nuts. Hazelnuts, walnuts, almonds and other nuts sit alongside shekerbura and pakhlava. Their presence is not decorative alone. They represent the abundance of the season and are part of the food that families share during the holiday.

There is also something particularly Azerbaijani about the way nuts are used in these foods. The same ingredient can move from one part of the meal to another. A walnut may be ground for a sweet pastry, mixed with pomegranate for a savory dish or simply served with dried fruits and tea. Hazelnuts can be exported by the tonne but can just as easily end up in a family’s Novruz sweets.

This connection between the orchard and the kitchen is particularly strong in northern Azerbaijan. The Shaki-Zagatala region is the country’s principal hazelnut-growing area, and villages around Zagatala, Gakh, Gabala and neighboring districts have long been associated with hazelnut cultivation. The nut is part of the landscape there: orchards occupy the foothills, and hazelnuts are harvested, dried, stored and prepared for both domestic consumption and sale.

Azerbaijan has turned that traditional crop into an important export business.During the first six months of the year, Azerbaijan exported 8,341 tonnes of hazelnuts worth $95.584 million, according to official data released by the State Customs Committee.

Walnuts have their own long-standing place in Azerbaijani agriculture, while almond cultivation has also been developing. State agricultural programs currently support the establishment and development of intensive orchards for hazelnuts, walnuts, almonds and several other crops.

It is there in the sound of walnuts being cracked before a family celebration. It is in the smell of cardamom and ground almonds in freshly prepared badambura. It is in the careful decoration of shekerbura before Novruz. It is in the saffron-colored surface of Shaki halva and the walnut-pomegranate richness of fisincan. It is in a bowl of roasted hazelnuts placed beside tea when guests arrive.

Azerbaijan’s relationship with nuts is part of the country’s memory of food. Recipes have passed from mothers and grandmothers to younger generations, regional sweets have carried the names and tastes of their hometowns, and nuts have remained one of the ingredients capable of connecting everyday meals with the country’s oldest celebrations.

Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan has appointed former parliamentary speaker Alen Simonyan as Secretary of Armenia’s Security Council, AzerNEWS reports.

The appointment was formalized by a decree signed by Pashinyan. Simonyan will replace Armen Grigoryan, who has been relieved of his duties as Secretary of the Security Council.

Grigoryan had held the position since August 2021, playing a key role in Armenia’s security and foreign policy discussions during a period marked by significant regional developments.

Simonyan previously served as Speaker of Armenia’s National Assembly and has been a prominent figure in the country’s political leadership.

Turkiye’s air passenger traffic continued to grow in the first seven months of 2026, with airports across the country serving nearly 138.8 million passengers, including direct transit passengers.

Turkish Minister of Transport and Infrastructure Abdulkadir Uraloglu assessed the air transport data for July 2026 released by the General Directorate of State Airports Authority (DHMI).

According to Uraloglu, the number of aircraft landing at and taking off from passenger and environmentally friendly airports in July reached 98,158 on domestic routes and 101,160 on international routes. Including overflights, total aircraft traffic reached 249,520.

The minister said domestic passenger traffic amounted to 10,478,151 in July, while international passenger traffic reached 16,311,398.

‘Together with direct transit passengers, a total of 26,797,638 passengers were served at our airports in July,’ Uraloglu said.

During the January-July period, aircraft traffic at airports across Turkiye totaled 570,028 on domestic routes and 505,357 on international routes. Including overflights, total aircraft traffic reached 1,363,506.

Domestic passenger traffic amounted to 60,481,018 during the first seven months of the year, while international passenger traffic reached 78,215,195. Including direct transit passengers, Turkish airports served a total of 138,758,202 passengers during the period.

Uraloglu noted that the number of passengers traveling by air during the seven-month period exceeded the combined population of 18 European Union member states.

Compared with the same period of 2025, total passenger traffic, including direct transit passengers, increased by 2.6% by the end of July 2026.

The minister also reported that airport cargo traffic reached 3,027,448 tons during the January-July period. Domestic cargo traffic accounted for 542,898 tons, while international cargo traffic stood at 2,484,550 tons.

Istanbul Airport, one of Turkiye’s major infrastructure projects, also recorded significant traffic in July. According to Uraloglu, aircraft traffic at the airport totaled 50,748 in the month, comprising 12,190 domestic and 38,558 international flights.

Istanbul Airport served 8,146,411 passengers in July, including 1,816,429 domestic passengers and 6,329,982 international passengers.

During the January-July period, Istanbul Airport recorded 313,019 aircraft movements, consisting of 70,461 domestic and 242,558 international flights.

The airport served a total of 48,068,524 passengers during the first seven months of the year, including 10,051,727 domestic passengers and 38,016,797 international passengers.

Uraloglu also provided data on Istanbul Sabiha Gökçen Airport, where aircraft traffic reached 25,355 in July. Domestic flights accounted for 11,301 movements, while international flights totaled 14,054.

Passenger traffic at Sabiha Gökçen Airport reached 4,489,072 in July, including 2,081,886 domestic passengers and 2,407,186 international passengers.

Over the first seven months of 2026, Sabiha Gökçen Airport recorded 160,890 aircraft movements, consisting of 71,664 domestic and 89,226 international flights.

The airport served 28,014,566 passengers during the seven-month period, including 12,932,511 domestic passengers and 15,082,055 international passengers.

Uraloglu added that aircraft traffic at Istanbul Atatrk Airport stood at 2,444 movements in July and totaled 15,309 during the January-July period.

Airports serving Turkiye’s major tourism destinations also recorded substantial passenger traffic during the first seven months of the year.

According to Uraloglu, these airports served a total of 32,189,634 passengers during the January-July period, including 11,648,259 domestic passengers and 20,541,375 international passengers.

Aircraft traffic at the tourism-focused airports totaled 219,278 movements during the period, comprising 88,718 domestic and 130,560 international flights.

During the first seven months of 2026, Izmir Adnan Menderes Airport served 7,406,646 passengers, while Antalya Airport handled 19,209,979 passengers.

Mugla Dalaman Airport served 2,739,692 passengers during the same period, while Mugla Milas-Bodrum Airport handled a total of 2,348,806 passengers.

Gazipasa-Alanya Airport recorded 484,511 passengers during the first seven months of the year.

Shares of Lenovo Group surged more than 20% on Thursday after the Chinese technology giant reported record revenue for the first quarter of fiscal 2026/27, AzerNEWS reports, citing foreign media.

The company posted an all-time high quarterly revenue of $26.9 billion, representing a 43% increase compared with the same period a year earlier. Adjusted net income rose even more sharply, jumping 176% to $1.1 billion.

Lenovo said the strong performance was driven largely by growing demand for artificial intelligence infrastructure, data-center equipment and AI-powered devices. The company has been expanding its presence in the AI market as businesses around the world increase spending on computing capacity and advanced hardware.

Following the results, Lenovo’s Hong Kong-listed shares jumped 20.25% to HK$34.92 at 7:58 a.m. CET, marking one of the company’s strongest market moves in recent years.

The results highlight how the global AI boom is benefiting not only software developers but also hardware manufacturers. As companies invest billions of dollars in AI servers, chips and data centers, demand for the infrastructure needed to run these systems has become a major source of growth for the technology industry.

Lenovo, traditionally known for its personal computers, has been gradually transforming itself into a broader technology company. Its expanding AI infrastructure business could become increasingly important as demand for artificial intelligence continues to reshape the global hardware market.

The selection stage of the 2026 competition held by the Azerbaijan Culture Ministry under the “Special Scholarship Program for Cultural and Creative Industries” has been completed, AzerNEWS reports.

Applications were accepted from June 2 to 16 this year through the personal accounts on the MyCulture portal for the financing of education abroad at the bachelor’s and master’s levels in audiovisual arts, design, architecture, management in the cultural and creative sectors, and other fields of specialization.

During the application period, a total of 51 people registered through the portal. Of these, 18 applied for bachelor’s programs and 33 for master’s programs.

In accordance with the Rules of the Scholarship Program, the selection of candidates was conducted in two stages. At the first stage, the documents submitted by the candidates were evaluated. At the next stage, interviews were held with candidates who met the requirements, during which their theoretical knowledge, practical skills, and creative potential were assessed. A total of 34 candidates participated in the interview stage.

Based on the evaluation results of the “Commission for the Special Scholarship Program for Cultural and Creative Industries,” comprising specialists in relevant fields under the Ministry of Culture, 17 candidates became eligible to benefit from the Scholarship Program.

Under the Scholarship Program, education expenses will be fully or partially financed, taking into account the candidates’ final evaluation results.

Seven of the scholarship recipients will pursue bachelor’s degrees and 10 will pursue master’s degrees at higher education institutions in the United States, the United Kingdom, Italy, Canada, China, Turkiye, and other countries.

Scholarship Program is being implemented under the activity area of “Ensuring the dynamic development of cultural and creative industries and strengthening export potential in this field,” outlined in the Action Plan of the “Socio-Economic Development Strategy of the Republic of Azerbaijan for 2022-2026.”

At the same time, the 2026-2030 Action Plan of the “Azerbaijani Culture 2040” Cultural Concept envisages the training of professional personnel in cultural fields through education programs abroad, as well as the development of a talent pool with creative and innovative thinking that meets the needs of the labor market.

Scholarship Program is intended for Azerbaijani citizens aged 15 and above who seek to develop their creative potential and pursue professional careers in various fields of culture.

The program covers the full or partial financing of education expenses for individuals who have been admitted to foreign higher education institutions or who are already studying at such institutions at their own expense.

Azerbaijan and China have discussed the development of bilateral economic relations, diversification of business partnerships and opportunities to expand cooperation in the industrial sector, AzerNEWS reports.

According to Azerbaijan’s Ministry of Economy, Minister Mikayil Jabbarov met with Ma Bin, Deputy General Manager of China-based Xinjiang Joinworld Co., Ltd., a company operating in the aluminum and metallurgical technology sectors.

During the meeting, the sides reviewed the current dynamics of economic ties between Azerbaijan and China and highlighted opportunities to diversify business cooperation and strengthen industrial partnerships.

The parties also considered prospects for implementing joint projects in the aluminum and metallurgy industries. Discussions focused on the potential application of modern technologies, innovative solutions and technical know-how, as well as opportunities to promote the transfer of expertise between the two countries.

The meeting also included an exchange of views on potential areas of cooperation of mutual interest, with the sides exploring opportunities to further strengthen business and industrial ties between Azerbaijan and China.