Category: Azer News

Diplomatic passport holders between Azerbaijan and Sudan have been mutually exempted from visa requirements.

President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev approved the relevant “Agreement between the Government of Azerbaijan and the Government of Sudan on mutual visa exemption for diplomatic passport holders”. The text of the document was published on the official website of the President of Azerbaijan.

The agreement was signed on May 19, 2026, in Baku.

The Charter of the public legal entity “Center for Analysis of International Relations and Multiculturalism” has been approved, AzerNEWS reports.

President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev signed the relevant decree.

The text of the document has been published on the official website of the President of Azerbaijan.

The Cabinet of Ministers of Azerbaijan must resolve the issues arising from this decree.

“Mediacell” subscribers will receive a complimentary 5 GB mobile internet pack

The history of Azerbaijan’s national press began on 22 July 1875 with the publication of ‘Akinchi’, the country’s first Azerbaijani-language newspaper, founded by the prominent educator Hasan bey Zardabi. For more than 150 years, national media has played a vital role in informing the public, promoting social values, and documenting the country’s development.

To mark National Press and Journalism Day, Azercell is offering a complimentary 5 GB mobile internet package to all “Mediacell” tariff subscribers. The package will be valid for 30 days from the date of activation.

For more information, please visit: Media Day

On the occasion of National Press and Journalism Day, “Azercell Telecom” LLC extends its sincere congratulations to all media professionals and expresses its appreciation for their dedication, professionalism, and invaluable contribution to keeping society informed through accurate, timely, and reliable journalism.

The company also respectfully honors the memory of journalists Maharram Ibrahimov and Siraj Abishov, who lost their lives while carrying out their professional duties in Azerbaijan’s liberated territories.

Azerbaijani athlete Onur Guluzaade has won a bronze medal in the doubles competition at the European Youth Table Tennis Championships held in Gondomar, Portugal, AzerNEWS reports.

Guluzaade claimed the medal alongside his Turkish teammate Görkem Öcal, marking a historic achievement for Azerbaijani table tennis.

The young player became the first Azerbaijani table tennis athlete in the independence era to win a medal at this level of European competition.

Note that the national table tennis players have been increasingly active on the international stage, representing the country in various European and world competitions.

In recent years, their participation in training camps and tournaments abroad has played an important role in improving performance levels and gaining international experience.

The Azerbaijan Table Tennis Federation (ASTF) plays a key role in the development of the sport in the country.

The federation was established in the early 1950s, following the organization of a Baku section for table tennis. This came after a growing interest in the sport in the 1930s and 1940s.

Officially, ASTF has been a member of the International Table Tennis Federation (ITTF) since 1995, and at the same time a member of the European Table Tennis Union (ETTU).

One of the main goals of ASTF is to organize and develop table tennis across the country: to build a stable and well-equipped national federation; to ensure proper material and technical support and training for the national teams; to promote the sport at the grassroots level, including among youth; and to involve Azerbaijani athletes in national and international competitions.

July 22 marks the 151st anniversary of the founding of Azerbaijan’s national press, AzerNEWS reports.

The historic date commemorates the launch of Ekinchi (The Cultivator), the first Azerbaijani-language newspaper established by the renowned intellectual and educator Hasan bey Zardabi in 1875.

Since 1991, July 22 has been officially celebrated in Azerbaijan as National Press Day, honoring the legacy of the country’s journalism and the generations of journalists who have contributed to its development.

Although Ekinchi published only 56 issues during its short existence from July 22, 1875, until September 1877, its influence on Azerbaijani society was profound and long-lasting. The newspaper became a pioneering platform for education, enlightenment, and the exchange of ideas, reaching both the country’s intellectual circles and ordinary citizens.

The publication attracted contributions from many prominent writers, thinkers, and public figures of the time, who recognized its vital role in raising social awareness and promoting knowledge. However, its growing influence alarmed the authorities of Tsarist Russia, which viewed the newspaper’s efforts to educate the population and encourage awareness of social and political issues with suspicion. As a result, Ekinchi was eventually forced to cease publication.

Over the decades, Azerbaijani journalism has experienced numerous challenges, transformations, and periods of revival, consistently serving as a reflection of society and a platform for public dialogue.

One of the most significant milestones came in August 1998, when media censorship was abolished in Azerbaijan. The decree signed by President Heydar Aliyev on August 16, 1998, “On Measures to Ensure Freedom of Speech, Thought and Information in the Republic of Azerbaijan,” marked a new era for the country’s media landscape by strengthening press freedom and creating conditions for further media development.

Today, Azerbaijan’s media sector continues to evolve, with a wide range of newspapers, magazines, and digital platforms contributing to the modern information environment. Online journalism has become an increasingly important part of the country’s media ecosystem, reflecting global trends in communication and technology.

The celebration of National Press Day, state initiatives supporting media organizations, programs aimed at improving journalists’ social welfare, and recognition of outstanding media professionals demonstrate continued attention to the development of the press and the protection of journalism as a public institution.

As part of efforts to enhance journalists’ social conditions, two residential buildings were constructed for media workers. President Ilham Aliyev participated in ceremonies in 2013 and 2017 where apartments were awarded to journalists in recognition of their professional contributions.

Freedom of speech and freedom of the press, enshrined as fundamental principles in Azerbaijan’s Constitution, have played an important role in strengthening the media sector and establishing it as an essential element of public life. Azerbaijani journalists remain among the key contributors to this ongoing evolution.

In 2020, President Ilham Aliyev signed an order marking the 145th anniversary of Azerbaijan’s national press, followed by another order in 2025 dedicated to the 150th anniversary celebrations.

A further step in media modernization came on January 12, 2021, when President Ilham Aliyev signed a decree on deepening media reforms in Azerbaijan.

The decree led to the establishment of the Media Development Agency of the Republic of Azerbaijan, aimed at supporting media growth, strengthening institutional frameworks, and encouraging innovation and the use of advanced information and communication technologies in journalism.

Israeli Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich has described the renewed conflict between the United States and Iran as the most favorable scenario for Israel, saying it serves Israeli interests as long as the country does not become directly involved in the fighting, AzerNEWS reports.

Speaking on Tuesday in remarks carried by Kan News, Smotrich said, “Israel has no interest in joining the campaign – the current situation is the best for us.”

The comments came after the United States resumed military strikes against Iranian targets earlier this month, prompting retaliatory Iranian attacks on US assets across the region. Israel has not taken part in the latest round of hostilities.

Smotrich said Israel’s long-term objective remains the weakening of the Iranian government, arguing that the ultimate goal should be to undermine the regime to the point of its collapse.

He also stated that damaging Iran’s economy would be the most effective means of achieving that objective.

Smotrich, a leading figure in Israel’s far-right government, has previously advocated for the occupation of Gaza, the establishment of Israeli settlements in the enclave, and the expansion of Israeli military control.

International Energy Agency (IEA) Executive Director Fatih Birol said on Tuesday that the renewed hostilities in the Middle East increase concerns regarding the security of oil supply and uncertainty about the market outlook, AzerNEWS reports.

He noted that threats to close the Bab el-Mandeb Strait add to the issues already facing the Strait of Hormuz.

Birol said the oil market still benefits from several mitigating factors, including “significant supplies” from Gulf states via alternative routes, increased exports from countries including the United States, Brazil, Venezuela and Kazakhstan, China’s reduced imports and the IEA’s ongoing emergency stock releases.

However, he warned that commercial inventories continue to fall and that refinery activity and product supplies “have not picked up as much as crude deliveries.”

The National Aeronautics and Space Administration’s (NASA) planned nuclear-powered mission to Mars is expected to cost approximately $2.1 billion, excluding the scientific project it will transport to the planet, Politico reported on Tuesday, AzerNEWS reports.

“Early cost estimates are approximately $2.1 billion, and NASA will continue refining that figure through the acquisition process,” the agency confirmed in a statement. NASA intends to spend $640 million in fiscal 2026, $890 million in 2027, $415 million in 2028, and $180 million in 2029. The estimate does not include SkyFall, which will send three helicopters to Mars to collect scientific data and search for potential water sources.

NASA aims to launch Space Reactor-1 Freedom in late 2028 and is working with the US Department of Energy to design and assemble the reactor, as it also works to return astronauts to the Moon and build a lunar outpost. The spacecraft will reuse equipment developed for the canceled Gateway lunar station.

The trailer for the documentary “The Abode of Paradise” has been released, AzerNEWS reports.

The film was produced by AzernyuMedia under the presentation of Azerbaijan Culture Ministry, in partnership with ICESCO and the Real Analysis Information Center. The documentary has a runtime of 45 minutes.

The Abode of Paradise is the first audiovisual production created within the framework of the “Azerbaijani Culture-2040” Concept. Blending documentary storytelling, music, and ethnographic elements, the film aims to showcase Azerbaijan’s rich cultural heritage and traditions.

The film was written and directed by Kamran Gasimov, with Arif Zeynalov serving as director of photography. The original score was composed by renowned Azerbaijani composer Siyavush Karimi.

The project’s consultants are Mir Shahin Aghayev and Jamil Guliyev. Elchin Shukur served as the film editor, while Samir Asadov and Ugur Safarov were responsible for sound supervision.

Traditional bayati performances featured in the film are performed by Ilaha Murad, and Sevinj Khalilova served as the film’s finance director.

The official trailer for “The Abode of Paradise” is now available for viewing via the link provided by the filmmakers.

On July 22, YUDASHKIN House will close Azerbaijan Fashion Week with the presentation of its new demi-couture collection, AzerNEWS reports.

The collection embodies the aesthetics of the mid-20th century, the culture of elegant social occasions, and the decorative arts of different eras.Together,these influences create the image of a woman who is intellectual, independent, and impeccably elegant.

YUDASHKIN House’s participation in Azerbaijan Fashion Week is more than a runway presentation-it marks the brand’s entry into a new market, an opportunity to connect with new clients, and a long-awaited meeting with those who have been anticipating the House’s arrival in Azerbaijan.

‘Azerbaijan Fashion Week is a place where new names emerge while established fashion houses with rich histories come together. It is especially meaningful for us to be here in this context-alongside emerging talents, engaged in a dynamic professional dialogue, and moving with the spirit of the times. YUDASHKIN House continuously observes the contemporary world and evolves with it while remaining true to its unique DNA,’ says Galina Yudashkina, Creative Director of YUDASHKIN House.

The event will take place at Sea Breeze, a vibrant destination that reflects today’s lifestyle, where fashion, technology, real estate, and culture coexist.

‘YUDASHKIN House views fashion beyond the traditional boundaries of the industry. For us,fashion is part of a broader artistic and cultural landscape that exists at the intersection of art,tourism, real estate development, and new experiences. That is why participating in projects like Azerbaijan Fashion Week is a natural extension of our philosophy and an important step in our international growth,’ notes Pyotr Maksakov, Managing Partner of YUDASHKIN House.

Alongside Azerbaijan Fashion Week, the House will present its couture creations, the YUDASHKIN ready-to-wear collection, and introduce visitors to its beauty line at Dome.

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