Category: Azer News

President of the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus Ersin Tatar arrived in Azerbaijan on October 6 to participate in the 12th Summit of the Council of Heads of State of the Organization of Turkic States (OTS), Azernews reports.

The 11th Baku International Book Fair has opened at the Baku Expo Center, featuring the participation of hundreds of local and international organizations, Azernews reports.

Among the most visited pavilions was the booth of ICESCO’s Regional Office in Baku, which attracted a diverse range of visitors, including academics, students, publishers, and culture enthusiasts.

Throughout the fair, the booth has served as a hub for dialogue and the exchange of ideas. Visitors have had the chance to explore publications from five different countries, engage in discussions on scientific and literary heritage, and learn more about ICESCO’s initiatives in education, science, and culture.

Dr. Abdulhakeem AlSenan, Director of ICESCO’s Baku Regional Office, noted that the strong interest reflects growing attention to ICESCO’s mission.

“Our booth has become a vibrant platform for communication, idea-sharing, and promoting a culture of reading and knowledge exchange,” he said.

Over the course of the seven-day fair, more than 220 events will take place.

The significant interest in ICESCO’s booth underscores the importance of this space for cultural exchange and intellectual dialogue.

Note that the main task of ICESCO’s Regional Office in Baku, which opened on April 29, 2025, is to coordinate cooperation between the countries of the Caucasus and Central Asia – Azerbaijan, Uzbekistan, Tajikistan, Kazakhstan, and Kyrgyzstan.

This region is home to unique cultural treasures, ranging from the Great Silk Road to various examples of intangible heritage, and is capable of playing a significant role in shaping the global cultural landscape.

With its rich cultural legacy, Azerbaijan joined the Islamic World Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organisation (ICESCO) in 1991.

Since then, Azerbaijan has actively promoted the preservation of its Islamic cultural heritage.

The country successfully collaborates closely with various organisations, including the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation, the Islamic Development Bank, the Islamic Conference of Parliamentary Union, and the Islamic Conference of Youth Forum.

The 11th Baku International Book Fair runs until October 7 at the Baku Expo Center.

This year’s fair, under the theme “Technoman: yesterday’s legend, today’s event,” provides a platform for in-depth discussions on the role of technology in shaping human life within the modern scientific and cultural context.

The event features 41 international organizations from 18 countries, alongside over 100 local publishers, printing houses, and book-related institutions.

Over 250 events, including masterclasses for both children and adults, book presentations on topics like inclusion, book signings, conferences, symposiums, contests, as well as reading and music sessions are being held throughout the fair.

Notable authors and scholars from countries including Turkiye, Argentina, the UK, Lithuania, Qatar, and more are participating in the event.

Shuttle buses are available for visitors from “Elml?r Akademiyasi,” “28 May,” and “Koroglu” metro stations to the Baku Expo Center. Entry to the fair is free, and it is open daily from 10:00 to 20:00.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky revealed on Sunday that Russia’s latest overnight assault involved the launch of 50 missiles and 500 drones targeting multiple regions across the country, Azernews reports.

In a Telegram post, Zelensky listed the affected areas as Lviv, Ivano-Frankivsk, Zaporizhia, Chernihiv, Sumy, Kharkiv, Kherson, Odesa, and Kirovohrad. According to preliminary reports, the attacks resulted in five fatalities and left ten others injured.

The president emphasized that rescue operations and restoration efforts are currently underway. ‘We urgently need enhanced protection and faster implementation of all defense agreements,’ Zelensky urged, stressing the crucial role of the United States and Europe in applying pressure on Russian President Vladimir Putin to halt the aggression.

The 3rd Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) Games are in full swing across seven cities in Azerbaijan, showcasing intense competition and strong performances from participating nations.

Azernews reports that Russia currently tops the medal table with an impressive total of 157 medals – 89 gold, 40 silver, and 28 bronze. Host country Azerbaijan is in second place with 139 medals: 23 gold, 44 silver, and 72 bronze. Belarus follows in third with 84 medals, including 20 gold, 23 silver, and 41 bronze.

So far, athletes from 9 of the 13 participating countries have secured medals in the Games, which continue to serve as a key platform for athletic development and regional cooperation among CIS member states.

Advisor to the President of the Azerbaijan Badminton Federation, Ajdar Jafarov, has commended the performance of the national badminton team during the 3rd CIS Games, Azernews reports.

Speaking to journalists in Gabala, where the badminton events were held, Jafarov highlighted the athletes’ strong preparation and promising results.

‘I rate our athletes’ performance positively,’ he said. ‘We didn’t rely on regional players this time. The fact that our junior athletes performed well on the international stage is truly encouraging. I believe these Games will play an important role in their development.’

Jafarov noted that while the team showed technical strength, a lack of experience was a key factor in missing out on gold:

‘In my view, what we lacked was experience, not skill. Our technical preparation was at a high level. Some of our players were competing internationally for the first time. Hosting the Games added pressure and responsibility, but I’m confident these athletes will achieve strong results in the future.’

Azerbaijan’s badminton team concluded the 3rd CIS Games with one silver and six bronze medals.

Azerbaijani badminton player Leyla Jamalzade has claimed a silver medal at the 3rd Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) Games.

Azernews reports that Jamalzade competed in the girls’ singles final, where she faced Russia’s Marina Tarasova. Despite a strong effort, the Azerbaijani athlete was defeated 0-2, securing second place on the podium.

Prior to this, Azerbaijan’s badminton team had already earned six bronze medals in various categories, bringing their total tally in the sport to seven.

The badminton competitions at the 3rd CIS Games are set to conclude today.

As part of the ‘Korkut Ata’ Turkic World Film Festival held in Aktau, the National Center for State Support of National Cinema of Kazakhstan has signed memorandums of cooperation with state film institutions from Azerbaijan, Kyrgyzstan, Turkmenistan, Trkiye, and Uzbekistan.

Azernews reports, according to Kazakhstan’s Ministry of Culture and Information, the agreements are part of a broader effort under the umbrella of the International Organization of Turkic Culture (TÜRKSOY) to strengthen cultural unity among Turkic nations through cinema – a powerful medium that reflects shared values and historical heritage.

The memorandum signed with the Azerbaijan Cinema Agency outlines a wide range of collaborative initiatives, including co-production of feature films, documentaries, and animation projects; organization of masterclasses and workshops; and joint efforts in translation and dubbing.

Among the key priorities is the promotion of mutual cultural understanding and the preservation of friendly relations between the peoples of the Turkic world.

In connection with the ongoing 3rd CIS Games being hosted in Azerbaijan, the Ministry of Internal Affairs has implemented around-the-clock security operations in the city of Gabala to ensure the safety of participants and spectators.

Azernews reports, according to the Ministry’s press service, additional police forces have been deployed throughout the district, particularly at venues where the competitions are taking place.

Police officers and members of the Internal Troops are working in continuous shifts to maintain public order and swiftly prevent any potential unlawful activities.

The enhanced security measures reflect Azerbaijan’s commitment to ensuring a safe and secure environment for all athletes, officials, and guests attending the Games.

Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze has stated that the opposition’s alleged attempt to incite unrest and overthrow the government has failed, calling it the fifth such effort in recent years.

Azernews reports that speaking at a briefing held at the ruling Georgian Dream party’s headquarters, Kobakhidze claimed that members of the former ruling United National Movement (UNM) party had tried to stage a ‘Maidan-style’ uprising in Georgia, referencing the 2014 protests in Ukraine.

‘As is now clear, the attempt to overthrow the government has failed,’ he said. ‘Over the past four years, this marks the fifth attempt to organize a so-called ‘National Maidan’ in our country.’

The Prime Minister’s remarks come amid heightened political tensions in Georgia, where opposition groups have accused the government of democratic backsliding, while the ruling party has pushed back with accusations of foreign interference and attempted coups.

An earthquake with a magnitude of 3.5 was recorded in the Caspian Sea early this morning, Azernews reports.

According to the Republican Seismological Service Center, the tremor occurred at 05:36 local time.

It should be noted that the Caspian Sea region lies within a seismically active zone influenced by the ongoing collision between the Arabian and Eurasian tectonic plates. Although Azerbaijan is not typically associated with large-scale earthquakes, small to moderate tremors are relatively common, especially in offshore and coastal areas.

Earthquakes in the Caspian Sea usually occur at shallow depths and are often not strongly felt on land. However, seismologists monitor these events closely as part of ongoing efforts to understand regional seismic activity and assess potential risks.