Category: Azer News

U.S. chipmaker Nvidia unveiled a range of new artificial intelligence (AI) innovations across graphics, computing infrastructure, and software at its annual GTC developer conference, which opened Monday in San Jose, AzerNEWS reports, citing foreign media.

One of the highlights was a new AI-powered graphics rendering technology called DLSS 5. Nvidia founder and CEO Jensen Huang said the technology can significantly improve image realism while reducing the computational load on hardware.

According to Nvidia, DLSS 5 represents a major leap in visual fidelity for games. It combines traditional 3D rendering techniques with generative AI models that can predict and automatically fill in missing visual details. This allows GPUs to create richer, more lifelike images while maintaining high performance.

‘Twenty-five years after NVIDIA invented the programmable shader, we are reinventing computer graphics once again,’ Huang said. ‘DLSS 5 is the GPT moment for graphics-blending handcrafted rendering with generative AI to deliver a dramatic leap in realism while preserving creative control for artists.’

On the hardware side, Nvidia also announced plans to launch its next-generation AI computing system, Vera Rubin, later this year. The company stated that the system includes roughly 1.3 million components and could deliver up to ten times better performance per watt compared to its predecessor, the Grace Blackwell platform. Such improvements are especially important as data centers face rising energy demands from large-scale AI models.

In software, Nvidia introduced a new stack called NemoClaw, designed to support the development and deployment of AI agents on the OpenClaw platform. This reflects a broader industry trend toward autonomous AI systems capable of performing complex tasks with minimal human input.

Interestingly, experts note that Nvidia’s latest announcements highlight a shift in the industry: AI is no longer just enhancing graphics or computing-it is becoming deeply integrated into how digital worlds are created, simulated, and experienced in real time.

A special calendar has been prepared for 2026 in order to promote the rich architectural heritage of Azerbaijan within the framework of the Year of Urban Planning and Architecture, AzerNEWS reports.

This initiative was carried out at the Jafar Jabbarli Republican Youth Library. The calendar has been posted on the library’s official website.

The electronic calendar features extensive information and rich photographic materials showcasing the architectural gems of the country.

The main goal of preparing the calendar is to introduce Azerbaijan’s architectural heritage, increase the younger generation’s interest in national and cultural values, and promote both ancient and modern architectural examples. Through this initiative, readers are provided with insights into the historical development of Azerbaijan’s architectural traditions, as well as achievements in this field.

The calendar also includes the full text of the Decree of the President of Azerbaijan, Ilham Aliyev, dated December 22, 2025. It provides detailed information about the Momina Khatun Mausoleum, one of the magnificent monuments created by the prominent architect Ajami Nakhchivani. In addition, it highlights significant architectural landmarks such as the Khudaferin Bridge, the Palace of the Shirvanshahs, the Maiden Tower, the Ateshgah Temple, and the Shaki Khan Palace.

The material prepared by the library staff also features buildings that reflect the modern architectural image of Azerbaijan, including the Heydar Aliyev Center, the Flame Towers, and the White City project.

Furthermore, readers are given comprehensive information about the Shusha Fortress, regarded as an important example of the country’s historical and cultural heritage, as well as the Victory Monument, which symbolizes the historic victory achieved in the 44-day Patriotic War.

This calendar, reflecting both Azerbaijan’s rich architectural heritage and its modern urban planning achievements, serves not only as a valuable source of information for readers but also as a meaningful contribution to the promotion of national and cultural heritage.

China’s Hua Hong Group Corporation, the country’s second-largest contract semiconductor manufacturer, has developed technologies to produce advanced chips optimized for artificial intelligence applications. This marks a major milestone in Beijing’s effort to reduce dependence on foreign semiconductor technology, AzerNEWS reports.

A division of Hua Hong, Huali Microelectronics Corporation, is preparing to launch a 7-nanometer (7nm) process technology at its factory in Shanghai. Until now, SMIC Corporation was the only Chinese manufacturer capable of producing microchips at this level of miniaturization, making Huali the country’s second player in the ultra-advanced semiconductor market.

Official details about the project remain scarce: production efficiency, yield rates, and the full list of equipment suppliers have not been disclosed. However, sources indicate that Huawei Technologies, which collaborates closely with Huali, played a pivotal role in the development of this 7nm technology.

The project is supported by a domestic ecosystem: local hardware companies, including the Huawei-backed startup SiCarrier, provide research and development support. Early customers have already begun testing the new production line. For example, Chinese GPU developer Biren is using Huali’s 7nm facility to create physical chip prototypes before scaling up for mass production.

The new 7nm production will be based at Hua Hong Fab 6 in Shanghai, a factory that previously manufactured logic chips using more mature 22nm and 28nm processes. Huali aims to reach an initial output of several thousand silicon wafers per month by the end of this year, with plans for further expansion in the coming years.

The key challenge remains the profitability of 7nm production. Analysts note that SMIC currently produces 7nm chips using previous-generation immersion lithography machines from Dutch company ASML, and the yield of usable chips is extremely low, making production expensive. Huali will need to overcome similar technical and economic hurdles to make the new facility commercially viable.

If successful, this development could reshape China’s domestic semiconductor industry, strengthening its self-sufficiency in AI and high-performance computing chips – a critical technology area amid ongoing global supply chain tensions.

Azerbaijan’s Foreign Minister Jeyhun Bayramov held a telephone conversation with Pakistan’s Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Muhammad Ishaq Dar.

According to AzerNEWS, the information was shared by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Pakistan on its official account on the X (formerly Twitter) platform.

During the call, the ministers exchanged views on the latest developments in the region and discussed bilateral issues of mutual interest.

During excavations at the ancient site of Nessana in the Israeli Negev Desert, archaeologists uncovered the remains of a 1,400-year-old church, AzerNEWS reports.

Research led by scientists from Ben-Gurion University of the Negev in Nitzan National Park indicates that this site was once a significant hub for Christian pilgrims. Among the church’s most remarkable features is a mosaic floor, still preserved today, adorned with intricate and colorful patterns. The excavations also revealed a hospice for travelers and a bathing complex, suggesting the site was well-equipped to welcome pilgrims.

Experts noted that during the Byzantine period, Nessana was a key stop along the pilgrimage route to Mount Sinai. Some of the mosaics even feature inscriptions and symbolic motifs that provide rare insights into the religious life and artistic traditions of the time.

Interestingly, the discovery offers a glimpse into how early Christian communities in the Negev blended spirituality, hospitality, and art, making Nessana not just a religious site but also a cultural crossroads in the desert.

Russia may be laying the groundwork for a potential incursion into eastern Estonia by promoting a coordinated propaganda campaign centered on the border city of Narva, according to intelligence assessments cited by Bild, AzerNEWS reports.

The report references statements by Andriy Kovalenko, head of the Center for Countering Disinformation under Ukraine’s National Security and Defense Council, who warned that the situation bears similarities to the early stages of the Russia’s annexation of Crimea and broader aggression against Ukraine in 2014.

According to the report, Russian-linked social media channels have for several weeks promoted narratives calling for the creation of a so-called ‘Narva People’s Republic.’ Narva, a city of about 50,000 residents located on Estonia’s eastern border, has a predominantly Russian-speaking population.

Estonian intelligence services reportedly view this information campaign as a potential precursor to destabilization efforts, echoing tactics used ahead of Russia’s actions in Ukraine more than a decade ago.

Since early March, posts circulating on social media have called for the distribution of leaflets, acts of sabotage, and even armed mobilization in support of the proposed entity. Propaganda messages have included slogans such as ‘Russians, we are not alone!’ and references to extending ‘Russian land’ across northeastern Estonia.

Maps and flags depicting the alleged ‘republic’ have also been shared, further fueling concerns over coordinated influence operations aimed at inciting unrest in the region.

On the night of March 16, the 98th Academy Awards ceremony took place in Los Angeles, celebrating the best achievements in cinema over the past year, AzerNEWS reports.

The ceremony was hosted by comedian and TV presenter Conan O’Brien, who once again entertained the audience with his signature humor and lively commentary.

The biggest winner of the evening was the film Battle After Battle, directed by Paul Thomas Anderson. The movie won six awards, including Best Picture and Best Director. It also received Oscars for Best Adapted Screenplay, Best Supporting Actor, Best Casting, and Best Editing, making it the most awarded film of the night.

The award for Best Actor went to Michael B. Jordan for his performance in the film Sinners, where he played twin brothers Elijah and Elias. Critics praised his performance for successfully portraying two very different personalities in one story.

The Best Actress award was given to Jessie Buckley for her role as Agnes, the wife of William Shakespeare, in the historical drama Hamnet. For both actors, this became the first Oscar of their careers.

The award for Best Supporting Actress went to Amy Madigan for her role in the film Guns. The victory was particularly notable because it came almost 40 years after her first Oscar nomination, making it one of the most emotional moments of the ceremony.

The film Sinners also won awards for Best Original Screenplay, Best Cinematography, and Best Original Score. Composer Ludwig Göransson received his third Oscar for the film’s music. He previously won Academy Awards for his work on Black Panther and Oppenheimer.

Another historic moment came when cinematographer Autumn Durald Arkapaw became the first woman to win the Oscar for Best Cinematography, marking an important milestone in the history of the awards.

In an unusual outcome, the Academy announced two winners in the Best Short Film category – Singers and Two People Exchange Saliva, a rare tie in Oscar history.

Other notable winners included Sentimental Value for Best International Feature Film, K-Pop: Demon Hunters for Best Animated Feature, and Avatar: Flame and Ash for Best Visual Effects. The documentary Mr. Nobody Against Putin won the Oscar for Best Documentary Feature, while The Girl Who Cried Pearls received the award for Best Animated Short Film. The Best Documentary Short award went to All the Empty Rooms.

This year’s ceremony highlighted the growing influence of international cinema and diverse storytelling, reflecting how global filmmakers are increasingly shaping the future of the film industry.

A regular meeting of the Coordination Headquarters for addressing issues in Azerbaijan’s liberated territories in a centralized manner, chaired by Samir Nuriyev, Head of the Presidential Administration of the Republic of Azerbaijan and head of the Coordination Headquarters, was held in the city of Khojavend on March 16, AzerNEWS reports.

As part of their visit to Khojavend, members of the Coordination Headquarters familiarized themselves with the repair and restoration work carried out in Guzeykhirman village.

Vessels operated by Azerbaijan Caspian Shipping Company (ASCO), part of AZCON Holding, have begun transporting pipes intended for the construction of the TAPI gas pipeline project, which will connect Turkmenistan, Afghanistan, Pakistan and India, AzerNEWS reports.

ASCO noted that the cargo shipments are being carried out from the Baku Port to the Turkmenbashi Port.

The operation involves several of ASCO’s universal dry cargo vessels, including Natavan, Rasul Rza, Garadagh, Teymur Ahmadov and Maestro Niyazi.

According to the company, a total of 11,700 pipes are scheduled to be delivered to their destination by the end of the year.

The transportation marks an important logistical step in the implementation of the TAPI pipeline project, a major regional energy initiative aimed at supplying Turkmen gas to South Asian markets.

On March 16, members of the Coordination Headquarters for the Centralized Resolution of Issues in the Liberated Territories of Azerbaijan visited the Hadrut Mosque, AzerNEWS reports.

On the same day, the next session of the Headquarters was held in Khojavend, chaired by Samir Nuriyev, Head of the Presidential Administration of the Republic of Azerbaijan.