Category: Azer News

According to The Wall Street Journal, Warner Bros. Discovery has entered exclusive negotiations with Netflix to potentially sell its film studios and the HBO Max streaming service. Sources familiar with the matter say this move positions Netflix ahead of rivals Paramount Global and Comcast, both of which have also submitted bids, Azernews reports.

Netflix’s offer, estimated at around $28 per share, could become the largest acquisition in the company’s history.

Industry insiders suggest that an announcement could come soon. Some analysts are calling the deal ‘the boldest shake-up in the media market in a decade,’ noting that combining Warner’s content with Netflix’s global streaming infrastructure could significantly reshape the competitive landscape.

Google has begun testing a new feature in its Phone by Google app (“Calls”) that allows users to mark outgoing calls as urgent. The feature, called Call Reason, is designed to help ensure important calls are not ignored due to a lack of context, Azernews reports.

Users can activate a special toggle before calling a saved contact, and the recipient will see the call marked as “Urgent” on their incoming call screen. Even if the call is missed, the urgency indicator remains in the call history, signaling that a prompt response may be required. Currently, the feature only works for contacts saved in the address book, which helps prevent potential abuse by spammers.

Call Reason is just one of several innovations Google is testing. Earlier, references to a more advanced system called Expressive Calling were discovered in the APK files of the Calls app. This system allows users to send animated effects and emojis along with their calls, adding a playful, visual layer to voice communication that can make calls more engaging and expressive.

Google has not yet disclosed when Call Reason or Expressive Calling will be fully rolled out, but the introduction of these features suggests a broader effort to make phone calls more informative and interactive in an era dominated by messaging apps.

As part of the First State Program on the Great Return to Azerbaijan’s liberated territories, the next wave of resettlement has taken place in Horovlu village, Jabrayil district. Families, who were sent off earlier in the morning, have now reached their ancestral homes.

According to Azernews, Horovlu welcomed 18 families today, totaling 66 people. Residents stepped into the rebuilt village with tears of joy, witnessing firsthand the restoration and beauty of their homeland.

The village covers a total area of 248 hectares. In the first phase, 334 individual houses were constructed on 94 hectares. The homes, featuring 2 to 5 rooms, are equipped with modern utilities including water, electricity, gas, solar panels, and high-speed internet. Roads within the village have been asphalted. Key infrastructure has also been established, including a school for 624 students, a 220-seat kindergarten, a two-story administrative building, a market complex, multi-purpose catering facilities, a medical station, and a sports and wellness center.

Traditional water channels (‘?sg?r’, ‘Sigi’, ‘Orta’, ‘Glqasim’, and ‘X?lif?’) that were destroyed during the occupation have been restored. A 4.4-hectare park complex has been built, with walking paths laid from the Flag Square to the market area. Additionally, 3.1 hectares of green space have been planted with olive, plane, and Eldar pine trees.

Returning residents expressed heartfelt gratitude to President Ilham Aliyev and First Vice-President Mehriban Aliyeva for the comprehensive state support. They also thanked the heroic Azerbaijani Army, its soldiers and officers, and paid tribute to the martyrs who gave their lives to liberate the homeland, extending condolences and strength to their families.

The 11th Vugar Hashimov Memorial, dedicated to the memory of the late chess player and European champion Vugar Hashimov, will take place in Khankandi on December 9-11, Azernews reports.

The tournament, organised by the Vugar Hashimov Chess Foundation, the Ministry of Youth and Sports, and the Azerbaijan Chess Federation, will feature six players competing in rapid and blitz events.

The participants Ian Nepomniachtchi (FIDE), Amin Tabatabaei (Iran), Vladimir Fedoseev (Slovenia), Nodirbek Yakubboyev (Uzbekistan), Rauf Mammadov, and Aydin Suleymanli will face each other in two rounds.

Vugar Hashimov Memorial was first held in 2014, and since 2023, the tournament has held the status of a FIDE World Championship qualifying event.

In 2024, the Vugar Hashimov Memorial took place in the city of Shusha.

Ian Nepomniachtchi, competing under the flag of the International Chess Federation (FIDE), outperformed all his rivals to take first place in the memorial tournament.

In the rapid competition, the grandmaster scored 10 points and added 9 points in blitz, ultimately finishing with a total of 19 points to win the tournament.

Uzbekistani player Nodirbek Abdusattorov (18 points) secured second place, while Azerbaijani representative Shakhriyar Mammadyarov (16 points) took third place.

Vugar Hashimov (1986-2014) made a remarkable contribution to the chess history of Azerbaijan.

He played for Azerbaijan’s national team in the Chess Olympiads in 2002, 2004, 2006, and 2008.

Hashimov won a bronze medal in the European Team Championship in 2007 and became the European Champion with the national team in 2009.

He was the European vice champion of the national team in 2011 and the winner of the Reggio Emilia tournament in 2010-2011.

The OIC Culture Festival: Baku Creative Week – 2025, set to take place in the capital from December 5 to 11 and jointly organized by the Azerbaijan Culture Ministry and the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC), Azernews reports.

This was noted by Azerbaijan Deputy Culture Minister Saadat Yusifova during a press conference dedicated to the festival, held on December 5 at the International Mugham Center.

“The OIC Culture Festival: Baku Creative Week – 2025 will be held in our capital from December 5 to 11, jointly organized by the Azerbaijan Culture Ministry and the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC). These events are not only a celebration of culture but also an important platform for the development of creative industries, the expansion of cooperation opportunities, and the establishment of new partnerships,” she said.

She underlined that the festival is a significant example of presenting our country’s multicultural values, cultural diversity, and traditions of tolerance to the world.

“Nearly 5,000 visitors are expected to participate in the festival. This demonstrates the event’s strong public interest, as well as Azerbaijan’s potential to become a regional hub for creative industries,” the Deputy Minister emphasized.

Google has begun testing a new feature in its Phone by Google app (“Calls”) that allows users to mark outgoing calls as urgent. The feature, called Call Reason, is designed to help ensure important calls are not ignored due to a lack of context, Azernews reports.

Users can activate a special toggle before calling a saved contact, and the recipient will see the call marked as “Urgent” on their incoming call screen. Even if the call is missed, the urgency indicator remains in the call history, signaling that a prompt response may be required. Currently, the feature only works for contacts saved in the address book, which helps prevent potential abuse by spammers.

Call Reason is just one of several innovations Google is testing. Earlier, references to a more advanced system called Expressive Calling were discovered in the APK files of the Calls app. This system allows users to send animated effects and emojis along with their calls, adding a playful, visual layer to voice communication that can make calls more engaging and expressive.

Google has not yet disclosed when Call Reason or Expressive Calling will be fully rolled out, but the introduction of these features suggests a broader effort to make phone calls more informative and interactive in an era dominated by messaging apps.

A solemn event dedicated to the 200th anniversary of the outstanding artist and founder of realistic easel painting in Azerbaijani visual art, Mirza Gadim Irevani (1825-1875), has taken place at Azerbaijan National Art Museum, Azernews reports.

At the opening, it was emphasized that, in accordance with the decree of the President of Azerbaijan, Ilham Aliyev, various anniversary events are being held in the country to celebrate the 200th anniversary of Mirza Gadim Irevani. The event included the presentation of the book “Mirza Gadim Irevani: Artist at the Turn of Eras” and the opening of the exhibition “Mirza Gadim Irevani: 200 Years of Art History”.

The opening ceremony of the exhibition was attended by the Azerbaijan Culture Minister, Adil Karimli, the Director of the Azerbaijan National Art Museum, Shirin Melikova, the Chairman of the Western Azerbaijan Community, Aziz Alakbarli, the Chairman of the Azerbaijani Artists’ Union, Farhad Khalilov, the Deputy Director of the Georgian National Museum, Mikheil Tsereteli, and the Head of the Research Department of the Azerbaijan National Art Museum, Telman Ibrahimov.

The speeches particularly highlighted Mirza Gadim Irevani’s historical role in shaping Azerbaijani visual art. It was noted that the artist’s works are valuable examples of art, carrying the cultural memory of the region in which he lived and worked.

In his speech, the Culture Minister Adil Karimli emphasized the importance of the anniversary events held this year in terms of transmitting Mirza Gadim Irevani’s heritage to future generations and introducing him to the global public. Art history Ph.D. Telman Ibrahimov provided detailed information about the book “Mirza Gadim Irevani: Artist at the Turn of Eras”, of which he is one of the authors, and spoke about the significance of this publication for Azerbaijani visual art and art history.

The book “Mirza Gadim Irevani: Artist at the Turn of Eras”, published by the Azerbaijan Culture Ministry and the National Art Museum, presents a deep exploration of the life and work of the artist. The publication, prepared under the guidance of art history Ph.D. and Associate Professor Shirin Melikova, reveals the exceptional role of Mirza Gadim Irevani in the history of Azerbaijani visual art, presenting scientifically substantiated and updated biographical information compared to previous research.

The book provides a comprehensive analysis of his works from the collections of museums in Azerbaijan, Georgia, and Russia, including previously unexplored works in art history publications. Some works of the artist are newly attributed. An interesting aspect of the publication is that it features artworks from the museum collection that reflect the historical and cultural environment of 19th-century Irevan – the city where Mirza Gadim Irevani was born and spent his entire life. The publication is richly illustrated, including archival photographs taken in Irevan in the 19th century.

After the official part of the opening ceremony, the guests familiarized themselves with the exhibition.

The exhibition “Mirza Gadim Irevani: 200 Years of Art History”, organized jointly by the Azerbaijan Culture Ministry, the Azerbaijan National Art Museum and the Georgian National Museum, for the first time brings together works of the Master from the collections of both museums in one space. The exhibition, curated by Shirin Melikova, features 33 works by the artist in the fields of painting and graphics, as well as other museum exhibits complementing the concept of the exhibition. One of the key moments was the presentation of the artist’s work featuring the motif “rose and nightingale”, stored at the Georgian National Museum and newly attributed as a result of scientific research.

The artist’s work serves as a bridge between the elegance of Eastern poetics and European painting style. His portrait and ornamental works on paper, canvas, leather, and glass reflect the aesthetic views of the era. In his compositions, there is a combination of the multi-layered cultural environment of 19th-century Irevan, the influence of Qajar style, local craft traditions, and Western influence. The works of the artist that have survived to the present day are now held in the collections of the Azerbaijan National Art Museum, the Georgian National Museum and the State Hermitage Museum.

The exhibition features works by the artist with the “rose and nightingale” motif, mature period works such as “Portrait of Fath Ali Shah”, “Portrait of the Qajar Princess Mah Talat Khanum”, “Portrait of the Qajar Prince Vejulla Mirza”, “Portrait of a Noblewoman”, and other works in the portrait genre, as well as stencils for artistic embroidery and wall painting. An important part of the exhibition consists of samples of the artist’s monumental painting from the collection of the Georgian National Museum, which once decorated the walls of the Sardar Palace – a jewel of Irevan’s architecture. These works depict Fath Ali Shah Qajar, the last ruler of Irevan, Hussein Gulu Khan, his brother Hassan Khan, and heroes from the Shahnameh- Rustam, Sohrab, and Vishtaspa – reflecting the artist’s creative search for a skillful synthesis of miniature traditions and European principles of depiction. After the destruction of the Sardar Palace in the early 20th century, these works, which are among the first examples of realistic easel painting in Azerbaijani visual art, were taken to Georgia.

The paintings displayed at the exhibition, such as “View of Yerevan and Aghri Dag” by I. Zankovsky and “Sardar Mosque in Yerevan” by N. Grushev, bring to life the remarkable nature and architecture of this ancient city, the birthplace of Mirza Gadim Irevani.

Inspired by the wall paintings of Mirza Gadim Irevani and his stencils for artistic embroidery, museum staff made their creative contribution to the exhibition. Restorer-artist Samir Talibov recreated the ornamental world of the master on glass, and researcher Esmira Aghasiyeva prepared elegant compositions in the traditional embroidery technique.

For the first time in Azerbaijani museum practice, augmented reality (AR) technology has been used in this exhibition. Viewers can see the state of the portraits from the Sardar Palace before restoration using QR codes. Moreover, by scanning the QR code at the exhibition, the famous portraits by the artist from the collection of the Azerbaijan National Art Museum “come to life” and tell visitors their stories.

One of the key features of the exhibition is its multisensory concept. The exhibition is designed not only for visual perception, it also engages hearing, smell, and touch, allowing visitors to fully experience the artworks. For example, in the hall dedicated to the “rose and nightingale” motif, the scent of roses emanates from antique incense burners. In the section dedicated to portraits, special tactile reliefs are provided for visitors with visual impairments, ensuring additional accessibility and inclusivity for the exhibition.

A video “Chukhur-Saad” by the renowned artist Orkhan Huseynov is also part of the exhibition, presenting the works of Irevani under the folk music of the region, thereby creating an immersive atmosphere of the era.

Note that the exhibition will run until January 31, 2026.

Media partners of the event are Azernews.Az, Trend.Az, Day.Az and Milli.Az.

The Azerbaijan National Championship in Rapid and Blitz Chess for Men and Women has kicked off, bringing together the country’s strongest chess players, Azernews reports.

The tournament is jointly organized by the Azerbaijan Chess Federation (ACF) and the Ministry of Youth and Sports.

The championship is conducted in 9 rounds according to the Swiss system, based on the FIDE (International Chess Federation) Laws of Chess.

The total prize fund for the men’s and women’s events is 10,000 manats.

Thirty-two players are competing in the men’s section, while twenty players are taking part in the women’s section.

The chief arbiter of the Azerbaijani Championship is Lutfiyar Rustamov.

The top three players of the championship will be nominated by the ACF to participate in the World Championship.

For centuries, chess has been a popular game in Azerbaijan, with ancient roots closely related to traditions.

The country could preserve these traditions as chess remains a crucially popular sport for now.

To popularise this original game, Azerbaijan President Ilham Aliyev, who is also the chairman of the National Olympic Committee, signed in 2009 an executive order initiating a state-supported chess development program, covering the years 2009-2014.

The 42nd Chess Olympiad, held in Baku, is indeed an excellent example of great attention paid to the development of chess games in the country.

The large-scale event attracted a total of 1,587 participants, including 894 in the Open category and 693 in the Women’s event, making the Baku Chess Olympiad a significant event.

Similarly, the FIDE World Chess Cup 2023 in Baku captivated chess fans with its high-calibre competition and exhilarating matches.

Featuring a highly competitive lineup, the World Cup provided an exciting venue to display the remarkable skill and strategic finesse of elite chess players.

Approximately 206 competitors participated in the open section, along with 103 players in the women’s competition.

The national chess players have always been taking high places at top-ranked tournaments.

The trial of Armenian citizen Ruben Vardanyan, accused under articles of the Criminal Code of the Republic of Azerbaijan related to crimes against peace and humanity, war crimes, terrorism, financing of terrorism and other serious crimes, continued on December 5.

The open court session at the Baku Military Court was held under the chairmanship of Judge Zeynal Aghayev, with judges Anar Rzayev and Jamal Ramazanov on the panel (reserve judge Gunel Samadova). The accused was provided with an interpreter in Russian, the language he understands, as well as a state-funded defence lawyer.

Judge Zeynal Aghayev introduced the panel of judges, the prosecutors upholding the state accusation, the interpreters and others to the victims and legal successors of victims participating for the first time, and explained their statutory rights and obligations.

The presiding judge stated that a group of individuals known as victims in the case had applied to the court in previous proceedings, and submitted applications noting that they could not attend the sessions for a valid reason, and that they confirmed the statements they gave during the preliminary investigations.

The parties raised no objection to the announcement of those statements in court, and it was confirmed they would be heard during today’s session.

Subsequently, the court session heard the announcement of the statements made by a group of victims, along with expert opinions, protocols, and other evidentiary documents found in the criminal case files.

The next court hearing has been scheduled for December 8.

Ruben Vardanyan faces multiple charges under the Criminal Code of the Republic of Azerbaijan, including Articles 100.1, 100.2 (planning, preparing, initiating, and waging a war of aggression), 107 (deportation and forced displacement of the population), 109 (persecution), 110 (forcible disappearance of persons), 112 (deprivation of liberty contrary to international law), 113 (torture), 114.1 (mercenary activity), 115.2 (violation of the laws and customs of warfare), 116.0.1, 116.0.2, 116.0.10, 116.0.11, 116.0.16, 116.0.18 (violation of international humanitarian law norms during an armed conflict), 120.2.1, 120.2.3, 120.2.4, 120.2.7, 120.2.11, 120.2.12 (intentional murder), 29.120.2.1, 29.120.2.3, 29.120.2.4, 29.120.2.7, 29.120.2.11, 29.120.2.12 (attempted intentional murder), 192.3.1 (illegal entrepreneurship), 214.2.1, 214.2.3, 214.2.4 (terrorism), 214-1 (financing of terrorism), 218.1, 218.2 (creation of a criminal group), 228.3 (illegal acquisition, transfer, sale, storage, transportation, and possession of firearms, ammunition, explosives, and devices), 270-1.2, 270-1.4 (acts threatening aviation safety), 278.1 (forcible seizure or retention of power, forcible change of the constitutional structure of the state), 279.1, 279.2, 279.3 (creation of armed formations not provided for by law), and 318.2 (illegal crossing of the state border of the Republic of Azerbaijan).

The Western Azerbaijan Community is holding the 3rd International Conference titled ‘The Right to Culture and Return: Restoring the Cultural Heritage of Azerbaijanis Expelled from Armenia as a Path to Justice, Reconciliation, and Peace,’ Azernews reports.

The conference aims to discuss the protection and revitalization of cultural heritage as a guarantee for dignified return, as well as a pathway toward justice, reconciliation, and lasting peace.

The event seeks to reaffirm the right of return as a fundamental framework for safeguarding and restoring cultural heritage, assess the current state of Azerbaijani cultural heritage in the territory of Armenia, identify legal, diplomatic, and technical tools necessary for its protection and revival, and promote heritage restoration as a means of fostering justice, reconciliation, and peaceful coexistence.

The conference features panel discussions titled ‘Right of Return and Cultural Heritage: Legal and Moral Foundations,’ ‘Tangible Heritage: Preserving the Physical Foundations of Return,’ ‘Intangible Heritage: Revitalizing the Living Pillars of Return,’ and ‘International Cooperation: Mobilizing Global Support.’ More than 100 foreign guests and local participants from over 60 countries are expected to take part in the discussions.