Category: Azer News

Azerbaijan and Estonia have agreed to hold the next round of political consultations in Baku during the first half of 2026, Azerbaijani Foreign Minister Jeyhun Bayramov announced at a joint press conference with his Estonian counterpart, Margus Tsahkna.

Azernews reports that during the meeting, Minister Bayramov highlighted the positive trajectory of Azerbaijan’s engagement with the European Union, noting that since early 2025, the dialogue between Baku and Brussels has shown ‘very positive dynamics and renewed vitality.’

Azerbaijani top diplomat also underlined the rapid development of the country’s transport and logistics sector, emphasizing that freight traffic along the East-West Corridor through Azerbaijan has increased by 90 percent since 2022.

‘This growth demonstrates Azerbaijan’s emerging role as a key transit hub connecting Asia and Europe,’ he said.

Turning to regional issues, the foreign minister confirmed that the process of dissolving the OSCE Minsk Group-a structure rendered obsolete after the normalization of the situation in the South Caucasus-will be completed by the end of this year.

The joint press conference reflected the strengthening of Azerbaijan’s diplomatic outreach both regionally and with European partners, underscoring Baku’s growing influence as a reliable actor in the evolving Eurasian landscape.

A roundtable titled “Uzeyir Hajibayli – 140” has taken place at the Baku Music Academy (BMA), organized by the Department of Humanities, Azernews reports.

The event was dedicated to the 140th anniversary of the birth of Azerbaijan’s outstanding composer Uzeyir Hajibayli.

Vice-Rector for Academic Affairs at Baku Music Academy, Professor Narmina Guliyeva, addressed the roundtable.

In her remarks, Professor Narmina Guliyeva highlighted Uzeyir Hajibayli’s contributions to the development of Azerbaijani musical culture.

She pointed out that his rich legacy continues to serve as an example for the younger generation today.

Head of the Department of Humanities, Professor Tarlan Guliyev, delivered a speech on the topic “One of the Preservers of History,” speaking about Uzeyir Hajibayli’s role in preserving national cultural values and shaping musical education.

Researcher at the Azerbaijan Institute of Manuscripts, Yegana Rahnulla, gave a presentation on “Manuscript Copies of Musical Works with Known Authors.”

Associate Professor of the Department, Mehriban Javadova, presented a report titled “Uzeyir Hajibayli and Fuzuli’s ‘Leyli and Majnun”, discussing the spiritual and aesthetic connections between the works of these two great artists.

Dr. Naila Samadova, an employee of the Institute of Manuscripts, gave a presentation titled “A Glimpse into the Archives of Uzeyir Hajibayli and Muslim Magomayev,” sharing interesting facts about the creative legacies of these prominent composers.

Senior Researcher at the Institute of Manuscripts, Aytan Imanova, discussed “Uzeyir Hajibayli’s Socio-Political Activity,” noting the composer’s significant role in the formation of national liberation and educational ideologies.

PhD in Philology and Senior Lecturer at the Department of Humanities, Yaqut Guliyeva, reported on “Uzeyir Hajibayli’s Journalism Activities,” discussing the composer’s contributions to the field of journalism.

Uzeyir Hajibayli significantly shaped national musical identity, achieving the distinction of composing the first opera in the Islamic world.

His opera “Leyli and Majnun” (1908) drew upon traditional folk music and dance, forms of expression transmitted orally.

Hajibayli’s subsequent operas, including “Sheyh Sanan,” “Rustam and Sohrab,” “Asli and Karam,” “Shah Abbas,” “Khurshudbanu and Harun,” and “Leyli,” also prominently featured national folk music elements, particularly mugham.

Beyond opera, Hajibayli composed three comedies: “Husband and Wife” (1910), “If not this one, that one” (1911), and “Arshin Mal Alan” (1913).

“Arshin Mal Alan,” or “The Cloth Peddler,” stands out as one of his most beloved and enduring operettas.

This operetta has enjoyed widespread international success, with performances in numerous languages across over 60 countries, encompassing the U.S., Austria, France, China, Greece, India, Russia, and Turkiye.

Azerbaijan and Kazakhstan, two Caspian neighbors with deep historical, cultural, and economic ties, are accelerating their cooperation in both traditional and renewable energy sectors. These nations are no longer content with bilateral goodwill alone – they are now actively laying the groundwork for a long-term strategic alliance, bolstered by shared geopolitical visions and complementary economic strengths.

President Ilham Aliyev’s state visit to Kazakhstan on October 20-21 marks a critical juncture in this deepening relationship, with energy, connectivity, digital development, and transport emerging as key pillars of bilateral synergy. As President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev emphasized: ‘Kazakhstan and Azerbaijan are not only friendly states but also brotherly peoples and nations… This visit is a very important event from the perspective of further strengthening the strategic partnership and allied relations between our countries.’

The visit began with an official welcome ceremony at Akorda Presidential Palace in Astana, followed by a one-on-one meeting between Presidents Tokayev and Aliyev. In their public statements, both leaders reaffirmed the allied nature of the relationship.

President Aliyev responded warmly to the reception: ‘Thank you for your kind words about Azerbaijan. We share the same sentiments toward the fraternal people of Kazakhstan… We are focused on strengthening interaction across all areas.’

The diplomatic tone was matched by concrete achievements across multiple domains. One of the most notable outcomes of the visit was the ceremony for the exchange of bilateral documents, which formalized an ambitious and multi-sectoral framework for cooperation between the two countries.

Today’s event marks a new stage in strengthening economic partnerships between Azerbaijan and the business communities of Latvia, Estonia, and Finland, said Ziya Hajiyev, Secretary General of the National Confederation of Entrepreneurs (Employers) Organizations of Azerbaijan, during a conference held as part of B2B meetings between entrepreneurs from the four countries, Azernews reports.

According to Hajiyev, the Baltic and Northern European countries are globally recognized for their innovative economies, sustainable industrial models, and advanced digital solutions.

“In turn, Azerbaijan presents new opportunities for cooperation as the economic hub of the South Caucasus and a regional leader in energy, transport, logistics, and modern agriculture,” he noted.

The event follows the recent signing of Memorandums of Understanding (MoUs) between the National Confederation of Entrepreneurs of Azerbaijan and business and industry associations from the three European countries.

‘These agreements are not symbolic gestures,’ Hajiyev stressed. ‘They serve as a practical roadmap for building long-term, institutional cooperation between our business communities.’

He highlighted several key areas with strong potential for collaboration, including green energy and renewable technologies, the digital economy, innovative ecosystems (including startups), as well as agriculture and the food industry.

Hajiyev also noted that over the past decade, the Azerbaijani government has approved various strategies and action plans aimed at developing the agricultural sector. Today, ministries such as the Ministry of Agriculture and the Ministry of Economy actively support investors.

Additionally, Azerbaijan offers favorable conditions for agricultural exports, including tax and customs incentives and preferential trade regimes with CIS and Islamic countries.

The cycle of master classes dedicated to the 140th anniversary of the birth of the great composer, musicologist, and educator Uzeyir Hajibayli has concluded, Azernews reports.

The events were organised by the Culture Ministry’s Scientific, Methodological, and Qualification Centre for Culture (MEMIM).

The project, which took place in Baku, Sumgayit, and Khyrdalan from October 8 to 18, was implemented for teachers and students of music and art schools, with support from the Azerbaijan Cultural Workers’ Trade Union, as well as assistance from the Baku City Department of Culture and the Absheron-Khizi Regional Department of Culture.

On October 13, as part of the project, a cello master class was held at the 11-year music school No. 21 named after Leopold and Mstislav Rostropovich in Baku. The session was conducted by honoured artist, professor, and dean of the Faculty of Performance Arts at the Baku Music Academy named after Uzeyir Hajibayli, Nazmiya Abbaszadeh.

On October 14, another master class in the class of khanende (traditional vocal music) was held at the Baku Children’s Art School No. 2 named after Vagif Mustafazadeh, with participation from honoured artist and associate professor at the Azerbaijan National Conservatory, Tayyar Bayramov.

On October 15, a master class on playing the tar was conducted at the Children’s Art School No. 3 named after Said Rustamov in Sumgayit. In addition to this educational institution, teachers and students from a number of schools under the regional administration participated in the class, led by the outstanding tar player, educator, people’s artist, and professor Vamig Mamedaliev.

On October 16, a master class on playing the saz was held at the 11-year music school No. 35 named after Georgy Sharoeyev in Baku. The lesson was conducted by Mubarik Aliyev, associate professor at the Azerbaijan National Conservatory, Dr. of Philosophy in Art Studies.

On October 17, a piano master class took place in Khyrdalan, Absheron district, at the Gara Garaev Art School, with participation from the school’s director, Dr. Philosophy in Art Studies, and Professor Kyonul Huseynova.

On the same day, another master class on the clarinet was organised at the Baku Children’s Music School No. 33.

The session, led by the chief instructor at the Baku Music Academy named after Uzeyir Hajibayli, Anar Mammadov, featured performances by students from a number of Baku’s music schools, performing works by Azerbaijani and international composers.

On the final day of the project, October 18, a dance master class was held at the Central Art School named after Gara Garayev in Baku, with participation from the People’s Artist, choreographer, and artistic director of the Azerbaijan State Dance Ensemble, Rufat Khalilzade. This class attracted interest from young talents studying in the dance speciality.

On the same day, another vocal master class took place at the Baku Children’s Art School No. 2 named after Vagif Mustafazadeh, conducted by honoured artist and chief instructor at the Azerbaijan National Conservatory, Zemfira Ismayilova.

At the beginning of the master classes, the heads of MEMIM departments, Dr. Philosophy in Art Studies, associate professor Jamila Mirzoyeva, Honoured Cultural Worker Lala Karimova, centre specialist Leyla Rzayeva, and head of the cultural institutions sector at the Absheron-Khizi Regional Department of Culture, Zaur Jafarov, spoke about the special importance of the project in developing the talents of children and youth.

It was emphasised that the master classes were dedicated to the 140th anniversary of the birth of the great composer Uzeyir Hajibayli for a reason. Uzeyir bay, as an outstanding organiser of education, made exceptional contributions to the establishment and development of music education in Azerbaijan. At all of the master classes, renowned specialists offered valuable advice to children, youth, and teachers, which is very helpful for their professional growth and future activities.

The master classes were held at music and art schools with the aim of adapting the educational process to the requirements of specialised programs, enhancing the professionalism of teachers, and enriching the knowledge and skills of students.

The master classes covered 12 specialities, including tar, kamancha, saz, balaban, kanun, khanende vocal art, piano, violin, cello, clarinet, vocal singing, and choreography.

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

A recent study published in the prestigious journal JAMA found that children who frequently use social media tend to have poorer memory, language skills, and reading abilities. The study involved 6,554 adolescents aged 9 to 13 years, Azernews reports.

According to the research, conducted as part of the Adolescent Brain Cognitive Development (ABCD) Project in the United States, children who spend more time on social media performed worse on tests measuring reading aloud, memory, and vocabulary. On average, children spend about 5.5 hours a day on screens for non-educational purposes, with the majority of that time devoted to social media.

The researchers suggest that these findings highlight a potential need to tighten age restrictions on social media platforms. However, it’s important to emphasize that the study found only an association-not a direct cause-and-effect relationship. In other words, it’s unclear whether social media use leads to poorer cognitive skills, or if children with lower cognitive abilities are more likely to use social media heavily.

Parallel studies have also been exploring the impact of social media on teenagers’ anxiety levels, self-esteem, and sleep quality. Some evidence suggests that frequent social media use may increase stress and reduce concentration even among adults.

Given the growing influence of digital technology, parents and educators should monitor the amount of time children spend online-especially on social media-and encourage more active, enriching activities to support healthy cognitive development.

The Azerbaijan Judo Federation has conducted an extraordinary conference, Azernews reports.

The Minister of Youth and Sports, Farid Gayibov, the President of the Azerbaijan Judo Federation, Rashad Nabiyev, members of the Executive Committee, and other official figures attended the event.

The conference began with the national anthem of the Republic of Azerbaijan.

Rashad Nabiyev expressed his gratitude to the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan, Ilham Aliyev, for his attention and support towards Azerbaijani sports and the development of judo.

He pointed out that thanks to the continuous support of the head of state, Azerbaijan is now recognised as a strong sports country worldwide. During the conference, it was decided to send a letter of gratitude to the country’s president on behalf of the Federation.

The achieved successes are the result of the joint efforts of the Ministry of Youth and Sports, the National Olympic Committee, the Federation, sports organisations, coaches, athletes, and all members of the judo community.

The Minister of Youth and Sports, Farid Gayibov, highly appreciated the activities of the Azerbaijan Judo Federation in recent years. He stressed the significance of the work done in terms of both sports achievements and the popularisation of judo and its educational aspects.

During the conference, the composition of the Azerbaijan Judo Federation’s Executive Committee was determined.

Rashad Nabiyev, Rovshan Rustamov, Elnur Mammadli, Rashad Rassullu, Asif Asgarov, Azer Asgarov, Nazim Huseynov, Movlud Miraliyev, and Elkhan Mammadov were elected as committee members.

Based on the decision of the conference, Rashad Nabiyev was confirmed as the president of the Federation, Rovshan Rustamov and Elnur Mammadli as vice-presidents, and Rashad Rassullu as the executive vice-president.

A vote was also held to elect the members and chairperson of the AJF’s Control and Inspection Committee. Natiq Baghirov, Dilara Mammadova, and Orkhan Asadov were confirmed as committee members, and Natiq Baghirov was elected as the chairperson.

Following this, an extended meeting of the newly elected Executive Committee was held. Representatives from sports organisations, clubs, and judo coaches participated in the meeting.

At the beginning of the meeting, the Executive Vice-President of the Azerbaijan Judo Federation, Rashad Rasullu, presented the activity report for the period 2022-2025. Afterwards, discussions were held with the coaches about the development and popularisation of judo in the regions, and the proposals and recommendations of the participants were listened to.

President of the Azerbaijan Judo Federation, Rashad Nabiyev, stated at the meeting that judo is developing in almost all regions of the country today, new clubs are being established, and restoration works are being carried out in existing halls. He noted that judo plays an important role in keeping children and youth away from harmful habits, allowing them to spend their time productively, and protecting girls from early marriages by involving them in sports.

The meeting emphasised the decisive role of coaches in this process and stated that the Federation’s goal is not only to win medals but also to support the development of healthy and worthy young people.

It was also mentioned that the AJF will continue to implement training programs for the professional development of coaches. Efforts will also continue in strengthening the material and technical base of judo halls, creating new clubs, and opening judo sections.

The proposals raised during the meeting will be analysed by the Federation’s secretariat, and after relevant assessments, they will be added to the Federation’s work program and implemented systematically.

Apple Inc. is significantly scaling back production of its iPhone Air due to weaker-than-expected demand outside of China, Nikkei Asia reported on Wednesday, citing sources familiar with the matter, Azernews reports, citing foreign media.

In contrast, the tech giant is increasing production orders for other models in the iPhone 17 lineup, driven by what the report described as ‘unexpectedly robust’ demand for the iPhone 17 and iPhone 17 Pro. Sources revealed that Apple plans to manufacture between 85 million and 90 million units of its latest iPhone series, with the iPhone Air now accounting for less than 10% of total output.

The iPhone Air – introduced in September as Apple’s ‘thinnest ever’ and ‘most power-efficient’ smartphone – initially generated buzz for its sleek design and lightweight profile. However, it appears the minimalist design hasn’t resonated with global consumers as strongly as anticipated.

Analysts suggest that Apple’s decision to focus more on the iPhone 17 and 17 Pro models reflects a shift in consumer priorities – with users increasingly favoring devices that offer high-end performance, advanced camera systems, and AI-driven features over ultra-thin design. The underperformance of the iPhone Air may also hint at saturation in the mid-range smartphone market, where competition from Chinese brands is especially fierce.

A bilateral round table was held in Yerevan on October 21-22, 2025, as a joint initiative by a group of representatives from the expert communities of Armenia and Azerbaijan, with the support of the official structures of both countries.

The Armenian side was represented by Areg Kochinyan, Boris Navasardyan, Naira Sultanyan, Narek Minasyan, and Samvel Meliksetyan.

The Azerbaijani side was represented by Farhad Mammadov, Rusif Huseynov, Ramil Iskandarli, Kamala Mammadova, and Dilara Afandiyeva.

The initiative was aimed at promoting a peace agenda in the spirit of the Joint Declaration adopted on August 8, 2025, in Washington D.C., and became the first meeting of representatives of the civil societies of Armenia and Azerbaijan in this format.

During the meeting, participants addressed a wide range of issues of concern to both societies, including the prospects of the peace process between Armenia and Azerbaijan, humanitarian issues, economic and logistical opportunities in the context of normalizing relations, and further confidence building measures. The discussions focused especially on shaping plans and identifying future directions for the group’s joint initiatives.

As part of the visit, the participants met with Armen Grigoryan, Secretary of the Security Council of the Republic of Armenia.

The participants emphasized the importance of engagement of broad social groups, civil society, the expert community, and the media.

At the conclusion of the meeting, the group confirmed readiness to continue joint endeavors aimed at strengthening mutual understanding and achieving sustainable peace in the region.

As part of the Azerbaijan-Kazakhstan Business Forum held in Astana, a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was signed between the Small and Medium Business Development Agency of Azerbaijan (SMBDA /KOBIA) and Kazakhstan’s Foreign Trade Chamber. The agreement focuses on cooperation around Azerbaijan’s ‘SME House’ model, Azernews reports.

The MoU was signed by Orkhan Mammadov, Chairman of SMBDA, and Murat Karimsakov, Chairman of the Board of the Foreign Trade Chamber of Kazakhstan.

The agreement outlines collaboration on the potential application of Azerbaijan’s SME House model in Kazakhstan. Under the memorandum, SMBDA will share its experience in establishing and managing SME Houses – a one-stop service centre for entrepreneurs – with the Kazakh side. The cooperation will include organising training programs and visits, offering advisory support for developing the necessary legal framework, adapting SME House services to the needs of Kazakhstan’s small businesses, and exchanging information on support infrastructure, innovative solutions, and digital services for SMEs.

As part of the visit, SMBDA representatives also participated in the 3rd meeting of the Azerbaijan-Kazakhstan Business Council. Speaking at the event, Orkhan Mammadov emphasised that the Council has become a key platform for fostering cooperation, sharing expertise, and exploring partnership opportunities between entrepreneurs of both countries. He reaffirmed SMBDA’s support for such platforms and its commitment to organising business missions, facilitating meetings, and supporting joint projects.

Additionally, SMBDA officials met with Ambassador Kairat Sarybay, Secretary-General of the Conference on Interaction and Confidence Building Measures in Asia (CICA), at the organisation’s new headquarters in Astana. The meeting focused on Azerbaijan’s activities and upcoming initiatives during its chairmanship of CICA’s Business Council.

Azerbaijan assumed the chairmanship of CICA for the 2024-2026 period by decision of the CICA Council of Ministers. As part of this role, the Business Council is chaired by SMBDA.