Category: Azer News

Google has cut more than 100 design jobs, according to recent reports. Employees from the “quantitative user experience research” and “platform and service experience” teams within the cloud technology division, along with staff from several other departments, were laid off earlier this week, Azernews reports.

These roles typically involve using data, surveys, and other analytical tools to understand user behavior and influence product design decisions. The report also highlights that some cloud technology development teams have been reduced by as much as half, with a significant portion of the layoffs affecting employees based in the United States.

Some employees were reportedly given until early December to secure another position within Google. These layoffs come as part of broader organizational changes linked to the company’s increased focus and investment in artificial intelligence infrastructure. Just last month, Wired magazine revealed that over 200 contractors working on AI projects like Gemini and AI Overviews were also let go.

The report further pointed out underlying tensions related to wages and working conditions. Some insiders believe that the layoffs were partially intended to quell growing protests over low salaries and job insecurity.

Earlier this year, in February, Google also laid off staff from its cloud technology division, stating the need to concentrate on areas deemed ‘critical to our business and ensuring our long-term success.’

These cuts reflect the tech giant’s strategic pivot towards AI-driven innovation, which is reshaping how products are developed and delivered. However, the challenge remains balancing rapid technological advancement with maintaining employee morale and trust-a delicate act that many companies in Silicon Valley are currently navigating.

The open trial of several former leaders and figures of the separatist regime in Garabagh, charged with committing grave crimes against peace and humanity, will continue next week at the Baku Military Court, Azernews reports.

According to Azernews, the proceedings are scheduled for October 6 under the chairmanship of Judge Zeynal Agayev, with Judges Jamal Ramazanov and Anar Rzayev, and reserve Judge Gunel Samadova.

Among the defendants are Arayik Harutyunyan, Arkadi Ghukasyan, Bako Sahakyan, Davit Ishkhanyan, David Babayan, Levon Mnatsakanyan, and others. They face charges for crimes including the planning and conduct of aggressive war, genocide, war crimes, terrorism, financing terrorism, forcible seizure and retention of power, and multiple other violations arising from Armenia’s military aggression against Azerbaijan.

In total, 15 individuals are being tried within the criminal case, which reflects numerous offenses committed by Armenian state officials, armed forces, and illegal armed groups. According to the prosecution, these crimes were carried out under direct orders and instructions from Armenia’s leadership, with material, technical, and personnel support provided by the state.

The list of accused also includes former Armenian leaders and commanders such as Robert Kocharyan, Serzh Sargsyan, Vazgen Manukyan, Vazgen Sargsyan, Samvel Babayan, Vitali Balasanyan, Zori Balayan, Seyran Ohanyan, Monte Melkonyan, and others, who are cited as organizers and perpetrators of the crimes in question.

The charges cover a wide range of articles under the Criminal Code of Azerbaijan, including:

Article 100 – planning, preparing, initiating and waging a war of aggression;

Articles 102-107 – crimes against humanity, including genocide, extermination, slavery, deportation, and persecution;

Articles 109-116 – violations of international humanitarian law, torture, mercenary activity, and war crimes;

Articles 214-218, 278-279 – terrorism, financing of terrorism, creation of criminal organizations, forcible seizure of power, and establishment of illegal armed groups.

The court proceedings are viewed as a landmark step in holding accountable those responsible for crimes committed during Armenia’s decades-long aggression against Azerbaijan and its civilian population.

On October 2-3, an international conference titled ‘A Turning Point for the Caspian Sea: From COP29 and UNOC 2025 Outcomes to COP30 Action’ was held at the Baku Congress Center.

Azernews reports that the event was initiated by Leyla Aliyeva, Vice-President of the Heydar Aliyev Foundation and founder and head of the IDEA Public Union.

The opening session on October 3 featured speeches from Mukhtar Babayev, Special Representative of the President of Azerbaijan on Climate Issues and COP29 President; Rauf Hajiyev, Deputy Minister of Ecology and Natural Resources; Michael Fishbach, founder and director of the Great Whale Conservancy; Jeyhun Aliyev, Director of the Fisheries and Aquaculture Center under the Ministry of Agriculture; Eugene Seah, Chief Operations Officer at Baku International Sea Trade Port; and Pascal Peduzzi, Director of the UN Environment Programme’s (UNEP) Global Resource Information Database in Geneva, who joined virtually.

Speakers addressed the mounting environmental challenges facing the Caspian Sea, the world’s largest enclosed inland body of water. These include a significant drop in sea levels, depletion of marine biodiversity, degradation of coastal ecosystems, and increasing pollution-issues that, as emphasized by participants, cannot be resolved by individual countries alone.

It was noted that over the past decade, the Caspian Sea has experienced a drop of 2.5 meters, posing serious risks to coastal infrastructure, fisheries, local communities, and ecosystems. The receding shoreline introduces further environmental threats such as soil salinization and loss of biodiversity. The speakers stressed that the Caspian’s climate-driven transformations carry regional implications and require coordinated action, joint research, and mutual trust among littoral states. The importance of translating the outcomes of Azerbaijan’s COP29 presidency into practical steps and long-term solutions was also underlined.

The conference continued with expert panel discussions involving representatives from COP29, UNEP, UN-Habitat, and leading scientific and research institutions from various countries. Discussions focused on strengthening regional cooperation for Caspian Sea protection, sustainable water resource management, and enhancing international coordination. Participants highlighted the need for stronger scientific collaboration in addressing the region’s complex ecological challenges.

Jointly organized by the IDEA Public Union and the Caspisnet scientific network, the conference brought together experts from more than 10 countries, specializing in marine ecology, sustainable aquaculture, hydrology, geographic information systems, and other relevant fields. The aim was to exchange knowledge on sea level fluctuations, marine biodiversity conservation, and ecological balance, while identifying shared solutions.

As part of the event, participants are also scheduled to visit Absheron National Park to gain firsthand insight into the Caspian’s rich biodiversity.

Azerbaijani boxer Subhan Babayev has kicked off the U-19 European Championship with a win, Azernews reports.

The national team member competing in the 60 kg weight category eliminated Luka Crnogorac (Croatia) in the round of 16.

The boxer defeated his opponent with a score of 3:1 (29:27, 28:27, 29:27, 28:28, 27:29).

Babayev will face Simonas Puniskis (Lithuania) in the quarterfinals. The bout is scheduled for October 4.

It should be noted that the European Championship will conclude on October 9.

Boxing is recognized as one of the oldest sports in human history, with the earliest records of the sport dating back to ancient Egypt around 3,000 BC.

The Greeks introduced boxing to the ancient Olympic Games in the late 7th century BC.

In 1924, the International Amateur Boxing Federation (FIBA) was founded, and in 1946, it was renamed the International Boxing Association (AIBA). Boxing made its Olympic debut at the 1904 Games in St. Louis.

Azerbaijan hosted its first boxing championship in 1926, with national boxers claiming first place. Since 1992, the Azerbaijani Boxing Federation has been a full member of AIBA.

Azerbaijani boxers have earned numerous prestigious accolades in international competitions. Aghasi Mammadov made history by becoming Azerbaijan’s first gold medalist at the World Championships. Fuad Asadov also earned a spot on the podium at the 2004 Summer Olympics.

Azerbaijan has been chosen multiple times to host major boxing events.

In 2019, Baku hosted the AIBA Youth World Championships, which was the first youth tournament to serve as a qualifier for the 2010 Singapore Olympics.

The country also hosted the 2011 AIBA World Boxing Championships, which served as the primary qualification event for the London 2012 Olympics.

A presentation of the anthology “Classic Czech Short Stories” has taken place in Baku, Azernews reports.

The book was published by “Elm v? T?hsil” Publishing House, edited by Ivana Bozdechová and Jaroslav Olša Jr., with stories translated from Czech into Azerbaijani by Shabnam Asadova.

The presentation was attended by diplomats, public figures, members of the Azerbaijani intellectual community, scholars, journalists, and literature lovers.

Milan Sedlácek, the Ambassador of the Czech Republic to Azerbaijan emphasized that the publication of Czech short stories in Azerbaijani would strengthen Czech-Azerbaijani cultural relations and provide Azerbaijani readers with an opportunity to explore Czech literature more deeply.

He pointed out that this was a historic moment, as for the first time, works by 14 Czech authors were translated into Azerbaijani and published in a single collection. The project showcased Czech literature from the 19th century to the modern era.

In his speech, Sedlácek noted that Azerbaijani readers could gain a broader understanding of Czech literature by exploring such a diverse selection of works. He also mentioned that if readers were drawn to any particular writer, they would be encouraged to seek out their other works, thus further immersing themselves in Czech prose.

The Ambassador highlighted that the anthology is a continuation of cultural exchange between the two nations, referring to the release of an Azerbaijani short story collection in Czech three years earlier in Prague, edited by Bozdechová. He expressed hope that such initiatives would continue through collaborative literary and cultural projects in the future.

Dr. Ivana Bozdechová, the editor of the collection, stressed that “Classic Czech Short Stories” is a unique anthology featuring works by 14 Czech authors, including both 19th-century writers and those who became literary icons in their lifetimes. She shared her personal connection with some of these authors, with whom she had the privilege of meeting.

Reflecting on her journey, Dr. Bozdechová explained that she first came to Azerbaijan 10 years ago to teach Czech at Baku Slavic University. Over time, she grew fascinated with the country and its rich culture.

Recognizing that Czech readers were largely unfamiliar with Azerbaijani literature, she decided to introduce them to works by Azerbaijani writers. This effort resulted in the publication of the “Sari G?lin” anthology, translated by Shabnam Asadova, for which Dr. Bozdechová also served as editor.

She noted that the current project “Classic Czech Short Stories” aimed to introduce Azerbaijani readers to Czech literature. After carefully selecting works for the anthology, they were translated into Azerbaijani by Asadova. Dr. Bozdechová expressed her belief that this project would help both nations gain a better understanding of each other’s culture, enriching their spiritual lives.

She also thanked the Czech Embassy in Azerbaijan and everyone who contributed to the realization of the project.

The event also featured readings from selected stories in both Czech, read by Dr. Bozdechová, and Azerbaijani, read by Azerbaijani poetess Leyla Begim Jafarova, which sparked considerable interest among the audience.

Bilateral memorandums of cooperation have been signed between the National Libraries of Azerbaijan and Turkiye, Azernews reports.

Trilateral memorandum has been signed involving the National Library of Azerbaijan, the Institute of Manuscripts named after Muhammad Fuzuli of the Azerbaijan National Academy of Sciences (ANAS), and the National Library of Morocco. The documents were inked as part of the 11th Baku International Book Fair.

In his speech during the ceremony, the Director of the National Library, Professor Karim Tahirov, provided information about the library’s international cooperation. He highlighted that Azerbaijan has signed cooperation memorandums with the national libraries of 54 countries to date. Tahirov emphasized that these new agreements would create new opportunities for book and information exchange, the establishment of literature corners, the use of electronic resources, the exchange of expertise, exhibitions, conferences, and online services.

Ayhan Tuglu, Director of the National Library of the Republic of Turkiye, noted that the signed document would contribute to the development of cultural and scientific cooperation between the two countries.

President of the Azerbaijan National Academy of Sciences (ANAS), Academician Isa Habibbayli, stated that the signing ceremonies held within the framework of the international book fair would make a significant contribution to strengthening international relations in the fields of science, education, and culture.

Samira El Malizi, Director of the National Library of Morocco, remarked that libraries play a bridging role between nations, and the signed trilateral memorandum would open new opportunities for future joint projects, exhibitions, and scientific research.

With over 5 million books, manuscripts, and maps, the Azerbaijan National Library is considered one of the largest libraries in the Caucasus region. Since 1939, the library has borne the name of the eminent playwright Mirza Fatali Akhundov.

The library has an extensive collection of literature in Azerbaijani, Russian, English, and other languages. It has collected and preserved national editions, works of Azerbaijani and foreign authors about Azerbaijan published abroad.

The National Leader, Heydar Aliyev, visited the National Library four times in 1995-1997 and donated nearly 300 books from his personal library.

In 2004, the Mirza Fatali Akhundov Library was granted the status of a national library by the decision of Azerbaijan’s Cabinet of Ministers.

The building of the library is no less impressive. The library’s fa?ade is decorated with the statues of eminent poets and writers like Nizami Ganjavi, Mahsati Ganjavi, Uzeyir Hajibayli, Shota Rustaveli, Alexander Pushkin and many others.

The scope of the library’s activities is constantly expanding. In 2005, on the basis of legal copies received from publishing houses and printing companies, the library published the yearbook “Books of Azerbaijan” for 1990, 1991, 2000, and 2001.

Over the past years, the National Library has signed a memorandum on bilateral mutual cooperation with about 80 libraries.

In 2021, the Culture Ministry and Mirza Fatali Akhundov Library launched a joint campaign, “Let’s go to Garabagh with a book”, to restore libraries in the Garabagh region.

A large number of books were donated to the Garabagh Book Fund by a number of international organizations working in the field of culture, Turkic-speaking countries, famous foreign and local authors, publishers, and printing houses.

In 2025, Memorandum of Cooperation (MoC) as w officially signed between the National Libraries of Tajikistan and Azerbaijan during a ceremony held in Dushanbe.

The agreement was inked by the director of the Azerbaijani National Library, Karim Tahirov, and the director of the Tajikistan National Library, Farzalizada Jumakhon.

This memorandum provides a framework for enhanced collaboration between the two institutions, emphasising the exchange of books, publications, and other cultural materials to foster mutual understanding and strengthen the cultural ties between the two nations.

It also sets the stage for joint activities and projects aimed at promoting literacy, preserving cultural heritage, and supporting scholarly research.

A delegation from the Cultural and Creative Industries Development Center, operating under the Azerbaijan Culture Ministry, has been on a business trip to South Korea, Azernews reports.

It was noted that the visit took place as part of a project implemented under a memorandum signed between the Culture Ministry and ADA University. The main purpose of the trip was to learn about South Korea’s experience in the development of cultural and creative industries, as well as to discuss new cooperation opportunities in the fields of innovation and technology.

The delegation participated in the “EdTech 2025” exhibition held in Seoul and familiarized themselves with educational programs at the Korea Museum of Contemporary Art. Meetings at the Korea Creative Content Agency (KOCCA) focused on the international exchange of creative content and the implementation of joint projects.

As part of the program, the delegation also visited the country’s leading science and innovation center, Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (KAIST). During the visit, they were introduced to the “Startup KAIST” program and provided information on projects at the intersection of culture and technology.

As a result of the visit, it is expected that Azerbaijan’s creative industries will expand their international cooperation network, new opportunities will arise for young people, and the country’s creative ecosystem will be enriched with global trends.

A presentation of ” Classic Czech Short Stories”, an anthology edited by Dr. Ivana Bozdechová from Charles University and Jaroslav Olša, Jr, has taken place in Baku.

The translation into Azerbaijani was carried out by Shabnam Asadova, a renowned translator.

The publication of the book in Azerbaijani by the “Elm v? T?hsil N?sriyyati” Publishing House represents an important step forward in the cultural exchange between the Czech Republic and Azerbaijan.

In an interview with AZERNEWS, Ambassador of the Czech Republic to Azerbaijan Milan Sedlácek emphasized the significance of this publication for strengthening the cultural ties between the two countries.

He highlighted that this was the first-ever translation of Czech literature into Azerbaijani, describing it as a “momentous step” towards building a stronger cultural connection between the two nations.

Q: How do you assess the significance of publishing the anthology for strengthening cultural ties between our countries?

A: As I pointed out during the opening ceremony, this is a truly momentous occasion, as it represents the first-ever translation of Czech literature into Azerbaijani.

I believe such events do not happen very often. I am very glad that we were able to dedicate three years to preparing this project.

In my opinion, this is an important step in the development of our political and economic relations.

Q: What contribution does your project make to the development of bilateral relations?

A: This anthology covers Czech literature from the 19th century to the present, which allows the reader to gain a comprehensive understanding of the Czech literary tradition.

This is a very significant aspect for a single book. After reading it, the reader may become interested in the works of such authors as Karel Capek, Jaroslav Hašek, and other prominent Czech writers. This will give them the opportunity to deepen their knowledge and continue exploring further. If there is demand, we will continue to translate and publish new works.

It is also worth noting that this is not the second book in this series, as the first one was a collection of Azerbaijani short stories translated into Czech. This project was carried out by one translator, Shabnam Asadova.

The anthology includes Azerbaijani short stories. This project was completed three years ago, and now, as a continuation, we have presented this new anthology.

Q: What initiatives are being undertaken to further expand cultural ties between Azerbaijan and the Czech Republic, as well as in other areas?

A: One of the key steps, in my opinion, is the opening of the Azerbaijani House in Prague. This is a significant event for the development of cultural exchanges. I know that the director of the Azerbaijani House is actively working in this direction. Many cultural events are held at the Azerbaijani House, and, as is well known, culture is always closely linked to economic development.

When the economy prospers, successful businesses emerge that support culture.

We are actively working in this direction, and the economic ties are already showing positive results. I hope that based on this, we will continue to develop both cultural and educational projects.

Azerbaijan has been represented at European Languages Fair in Sofia, Azernews reports.

The event, which took place at Ivan Vazov National Theater, covered 19 languages and was organized in collaboration with language and culture institutes that are members of EUNIC-Bulgaria, as well as cultural centers, consulates, and embassies of non-EU countries, under the auspices of the European Commission’s “Written Translations” Directorate in Bulgaria.

The Azerbaijan Language and Culture Center, operating under Sofia University’s Saint Kliment Ohridski, joined the initiative again this year, introducing festival participants to the Azerbaijani language, culture, and literature.

The center’s stand was supported by students specializing in Turkology-Katrin Nikova and Veronika Balkanci, who study Azerbaijani language. They provided guests with detailed information about the Center’s activities and the Azerbaijani and Turkish languages taught in the Turkology department.

At the stand, translations of works by Azerbaijani writers and poets into various European languages, including Bulgarian, were presented. The display also included interesting facts about Azerbaijan, excerpts from Margarita Pavlova’s book “Plamiçka and Plamiçko” dedicated to Azerbaijan, and educational leaflets titled “Would you like to learn expressions in several Turkic languages?”

It is noteworthy that the main goal of the presentation was to promote the activities of the Azerbaijan Center created by Baku Slavic University and to make the Azerbaijani language taught in the Turkology department of the Faculty of Classical and Modern Philology at Sofia University more appealing to young people, encouraging them to choose this field of study.

The II National Competition Forum is underway in Baku, bringing together government officials, business leaders, and experts to discuss key issues in market regulation and competition policy, Azernews reports.

The forum was convened to analyze the current state of competition policy in modern economic conditions, regulate the activities of natural monopolies, safeguard public interests, and address existing challenges in the sector. It also aims to facilitate the exchange of views on shaping effective and fair market relations in Azerbaijan.

The event is being attended by Minister of Economy Mikayil Jabbarov, Chairman of the Committee on Economic Policy, Industry and Entrepreneurship of the Milli Majlis Azer Amiraslanov, Chairman of the State Agency for Antimonopoly and Consumer Market Supervision under the President Elnur Baghirov, and President of the National Confederation of Entrepreneurs’ Organizations Mammad Musayev, along with representatives from business associations and the private sector.

Officials emphasized that strengthening competition policy is essential for ensuring consumer rights, increasing efficiency in natural monopolies, and creating a more transparent and competitive business environment. The forum serves as a platform to outline reforms and promote dialogue between the state and the private sector.