Category: Azer News

A cooperation memorandum on the organized and temporary employment of labor forces between the Ministry of Labor and Social Protection of the Population of Azerbaijan and the Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratisation of the United Arab Emirates (UAE) has been officially approved, Azernews reports.

President of the Republic of Azerbaijan, Ilham Aliyev, has signed a decree endorsing the memorandum.

Under the decree, once the memorandum enters into force, the Ministry of Labor and Social Protection of the Population of Azerbaijan must ensure the implementation of its provisions.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Azerbaijan has been instructed to notify the Government of the UAE that all required domestic procedures for the memorandum’s entry into force have been completed.

Montenegro stands out as the most advanced and prepared candidate for European Union membership, President Jakov Milatovic has stated, Azernews reports.

‘We must strengthen the resilience of our institutions, combat hybrid threats more effectively, work on media literacy among youth, and reinforce social cohesion,’ Milatovic emphasized regarding his country’s EU integration efforts.

The Montenegrin president highlighted that Montenegro is the only candidate country to have opened all negotiation chapters and aligns its foreign policy fully with the EU’s Common Foreign and Security Policy. ‘EU enlargement has always been an investment in Europe’s stability, benefiting not only the joining countries but the continent as a whole. This was true for both Southern and Eastern European nations. Today, Western Balkan countries are in a similar position. If Europe does not seize this momentum, others will. We are already seeing hybrid threats and disinformation campaigns from third parties, which makes Europe’s active engagement in these processes even more crucial,’ Milatovic added.

The analysis of the flight recorder from the Turkish C-130 military aircraft that crashed in Georgia is expected to be completed this week, Azernews reports.

The information was shared by journalist Abdlkadir Selvi, who is known for his close ties to government circles.

‘Some 180 parameters recorded in the black box are being examined. The analysis is expected to be finalized by the end of the week,’ he said.

He added that preliminary findings from the crash site suggest that the likelihood of external interference is extremely low. ‘However, this possibility, like all other scenarios, is still being reviewed,’ Selvi noted.

The Turkish Air Force’s C-130 aircraft crashed on November 11 in Georgian territory. The wreckage was scattered across steep slopes near the Kholaghiri Monastery, where it was discovered by local residents. All 20 people on board were killed. Their bodies have been recovered and sent to Trkiye.

First Vice-President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Mehriban Aliyeva has shared a post on her official Instagram page on the occasion of 17 November- National Revival Day.

At the Los Angeles Awards ceremony, 63-year-old American actor Tom Cruise was honored with an honorary Oscar for his outstanding contribution to cinema. Alongside him, three other artists received the award in recognition of their transformative impact on the film industry across generations, Azernews reports.

This marks Tom Cruise’s first Oscar statuette. It was presented to him by Mexican director Alejandro González Iñárritu. Cruise had been nominated four times previously but finally achieved this milestone in 2025.

‘I don’t make movies, I live by them,’ Cruise said in his acceptance speech. Explaining his deep connection to cinema, he added, ‘When we’re in the cinema, we laugh, empathize, hope together, and that’s the power of this art form,’ as quoted by Variety magazine.

Over a 40-year career, Tom Cruise has starred in dozens of films, with his breakout role coming in Risky Business (1983). Many of his performances have earned him Golden Globe Awards, and in June, Cruise was entered into the Guinness World Records for frequently performing complex stunts himself in action films.

In addition to Cruise, the honorary Oscars celebrated production designer Wynn Thomas, actress and choreographer Debbie Allen, and 79-year-old country singer and actress Dolly Parton for their lasting contributions to the film industry. According to the American Academy of Motion Picture Arts, Parton has topped the Billboard country charts 25 times, written over 5,000 songs, and performed in more than 1,000 shows during her illustrious career.

Notably, this year’s honorary awards highlighted a wide spectrum of cinematic talent, from acting and choreography to production design and music, emphasizing the collaborative nature of filmmaking and the enduring cultural impact of artists like Cruise and Parton.

‘By hosting the World Telecommunication Development Conference, Baku is not only a global telecommunications center today but also an international platform for digital cooperation,’ President Ilham Aliyev said in his address to participants of the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) World Telecommunication Development Conference, Azernews reports.

The President noted that, within the framework of the conference, the opening of an ITU Regional Acceleration Centre in Baku is planned, adding: ‘This Centre, which will become part of the ITU’s global innovation network, will transform into a leading platform for innovation and entrepreneurship in the region.’

‘By hosting the World Telecommunication Development Conference, Baku is not only a global telecommunications center today but also an international platform for digital cooperation,’ President Ilham Aliyev said in his address to participants of the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) World Telecommunication Development Conference, Azernews reports.

The President noted that, within the framework of the conference, the opening of an ITU Regional Acceleration Centre in Baku is planned, adding: ‘This Centre, which will become part of the ITU’s global innovation network, will transform into a leading platform for innovation and entrepreneurship in the region.’

The 27th General Conference of the International Council of Museums (ICOM) has taken place in Dubai, UAE, under the theme “The Future of Museums in Rapidly Changing Societies”, Azernews reports.

More than 3,000 museum professionals from around the world participated in the conference. This year, the ICOM conference was held for the first time in the Middle East, Africa, and South Asia region.

Asmar Babayeva, Chair of the ICOM Azerbaijan National Committee, Associate Professor at the Azerbaijan State Academy of Arts, PhD in Philosophy, international expert in creative industries, and member of the Board of Directors of Azerkhalcha OJSC, participated in the event.

Held every three years, this conference serves as a platform for the exchange of views among the international museum community and the expansion of cooperation between museums.

The conference program included more than ten keynote sessions, over 400 speakers, over 100 papers, panels, and workshops, as well as a number of cutting-edge interactive educational sessions.

At the conference, Asmar Babayeva presented the ICOM Azerbaijan National Committee’s activities for 2023-2025 to an international museum audience, including past events, international conferences, and innovations in the country’s museum life.

“Azerbaijan’s participation in such a large-scale international platform confirms our country’s active role in the development of the global museum community. We presented innovations in museum life, past events, and international conferences. A museum is a non-profit organization that researches, collects, preserves, interprets, and displays tangible and intangible heritage, continually serving society. Accessible and inclusive museums promote diversity and sustainable development by offering a variety of educational, entertaining, and educational experiences, operating ethically, professionally, and with community participation,” Asmar Babayeva said.

Azerbaijan was also represented by members of the ICOM National Committee of Azerbaijan: Aybeniz Aliyeva, Head of the Fine Arts Sector of the Arts and Intangible Cultural Heritage Department at the Azerbaijan Culture Ministry; Alla Bayramova, Director of the Azerbaijan State Museum of Musical Culture; Turan Hasanova, Assistant to the Chairperson of the Icherisheher State Historical and Architectural Reserve; Amina Malikova, Director of the Azerbaijan National Carpet Museum; Shirin Malikova, Director of the Azerbaijan National Art Museum; Tural Ibrahimov, Director of the Surakhani Ship Museum; Vugar Isayev, Director of the Gobustan State Historical-Artistic Reserve as well as professional staff from various museums.

Each country representative participated in the work of their respective ICOM committees and presented their reports.

Azerbaijan has concluded the 2026 FIFA World Cup Qualifying, Azernews reports.

Renat Dadashov scored for Azerbaijan in the 4th minute. France responded with goals from Jean-Philippe Mateta in the 17th minute and Akliouche in the 30th minute.

An own goal by Shahruddin Mahammadaliyev in the 45th minute also counted for France.

France topped Group D with 16 points; Azerbaijan finished last with one point.

The 2026 FIFA World Cup qualification UEFA Group D was one of twelve groups in the European qualifying tournament that determined which teams would secure a spot in the 2026 FIFA World Cup finals in Canada, Mexico, and the United States.

Group D included Azerbaijan, France, Iceland, and Ukraine. The teams competed in a home-and-away round-robin format between September and November 2025.

France, as the group winners, qualified directly for the World Cup, while the second-placed team, Ukraine, progressed to the second round (play-offs).

The 2026 FIFA World Cup will take place from June 11 to July 19, 2026. It will be jointly hosted by 16 cities in three North American countries; the main host country of matches is the United States, while Canada and Mexico will co-host. The tournament will be the first to be hosted by three nations.

The 7th Consultative Meeting of the Heads of State of Central Asia, held yesterday in Uzbekistan, marked another decisive milestone in the political evolution of a region that is rapidly redefining its role on the Eurasian map. What was once a set of isolated, post-Soviet republics, lacking a shared political voice, geopolitical agency, and the ability to act as a collective actor, is now emerging as a coherent and increasingly influential regional bloc. The significance of the meeting goes far beyond declarations and photo opportunities. It represents a deepening of Central Asia’s new regionalism, one that creates genuine synergy and positions the region as a strategic player rather than a passive geopolitical space. This shift also opens a timely debate: what would Azerbaijan gain from joining or formally engaging with this format? The answer is clear: Azerbaijan stands to benefit significantly, both in terms of regional influence and strategic connectivity.

To understand why yesterday’s meeting matters, it is essential to consider the historical context. During the Soviet era, the Central Asian republics lacked the opportunity to demonstrate unity and possess meaningful geopolitical weight. Moscow’s administrative design ensured that the republics remained economically dependent, politically marginalised, and strategically fragmented. Borders were drawn to limit cohesion, resources were tightly controlled, and independent regional initiatives were essentially impossible.

There was no platform for Kazakhstan to coordinate with Uzbekistan, nor for Kyrgyzstan to align its policies with Tajikistan or Turkmenistan. Central Asia existed merely as an administrative periphery of a superpower.

Fast forward to the present day, and the contrast is striking. The Consultative Meeting format, launched in 2018, has grown into the region’s most effective political mechanism. It allows leaders to articulate common interests, coordinate on strategic issues, and shape a shared vision for their future. The unity that was once denied has now transformed into synergy, a collective strength far greater than the sum of its parts.

The meeting held yesterday in Uzbekistan reflected the maturity of this regional project. Central Asia is no longer experimenting with cooperation; it is institutionalising it.

It can now be proudly stated that several important outcomes have been reinforced, including strengthened regional autonomy, accelerated economic integration, and most importantly, collective security and climate resilience. A unified Central Asia is better equipped to navigate the geopolitical pressures exerted by Russia, China, the EU, the USA, and the Gulf states. By coordinating their positions, the five republics, along with Azerbaijan, increase their bargaining power while reducing vulnerability to external shocks.

Besides, the region’s potential as a major transport and logistics hub is now becoming a reality. The discussion on harmonised transit policies, coordinated customs regimes, and joint infrastructure planning directly supports the long-term competitiveness of the Middle Corridor, the route that runs from China through Central Asia and the Caspian Sea to the South Caucasus and Europe.

Moreover, Central Asia faces shared threats: border tensions, water scarcity, Afghanistan-related instability, and climate-driven ecological risks. The meeting emphasised joint responses rather than isolated national strategies, demonstrating a recognition that regional security is inseparable from regional cooperation.