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The opening ceremony of the 6th Islamic Solidarity Games will take place on November 7 in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, Azernews reports.

The ceremony is expected to start at 21:00 (Baku time).

Azerbaijan will be represented by 179 athletes in 20 sports. In total, 57 countries will compete in 23 sports for medals.

The closing ceremony of the Games will take place on November 21.

Saudi Arabia is hosting the Islamic Games for the second time. The Games were first held in 2005 in the city of Mecca.

Recall that Azerbaijani athletes have earned a total of 300 medals at the Islamic Solidarity Games to date, including 114 gold, 99 silver, and 87 bronze.

The country currently ranks third in the overall medal standings, trailing behind Turkiye, which leads with 239 gold, 206 silver, and 200 bronze, and Iran, which holds second place with 118 gold, 96 silver, and 106 bronze.

At the inaugural Games in 2005, held in Mecca, Saudi Arabia, Azerbaijani athletes won 15 medals -4 gold, 4 silver, and 7 bronze -finishing 8th in the medal table.

The 2009 Islamic Solidarity Games in Tehran, Iran, were cancelled.

In 2013, Indonesia hosted the Islamic Solidarity Games, where Azerbaijan again finished 8th, winning 6 gold, 9 silver, and 9 bronze medals.

The 2017 Islamic Solidarity Games held in Baku saw Azerbaijani athletes dominate the standings, earning 162 medals (75 gold, 50 silver, and 37 bronze), finishing first overall.

At the 2021 Islamic Solidarity Games in Konya, Turkiye, Azerbaijani athletes won 99 medals (29 gold, 36 silver, and 34 bronze), ranking fourth in the final standings.

Baku Music Academy (BMA) has hosted an international scientific-practical conference themed “Dialogue of Eastern and Western Music Cultures” as part of the festival dedicated to Uzeyir Hajibayli’s 140th anniversary, Azernews reports.

The conference was organised at a high level with the initiative of Narmin? Guliyeva, Vice-Rector for Academic Affairs at Baku Music Academy, Honoured Teacher, PhD in Pedagogy, Professor, and Gulzar Mahmudova, Dean of the Department of History and Theory, Honoured Teacher, Doctor of Art Studies, Professor.

Scholars from Azerbaijan, Turkiye, Russia, the USA, Germany, Kazakhstan, Tajikistan, and Uzbekistan participated in the conference.

The hybrid format of the conference allowed over 50 participants from various countries to join. Presentations were made in four languages: Azerbaijani, Turkish, Russian, and English.

The State Anthem was played at the opening of the conference.

The conference, moderated by Honoured Art Worker, PhD in Art Studies, Professor Zumrud Dadashzade, and Honoured Teacher, PhD in Art Studies, Professor Konul Nasirova, included presentations on various contemporary issues in music science.

BMA Rector, People’s Artist of the USSR and Azerbaijan, State Prize laureate, Professor Farhad Badalbayli, congratulated the participants and highlighted Uzeyir Hajibayli’s significant role in the development of Azerbaijan’s music culture.

Vice-Rector for Academic Affairs, Professor Narmina Guliyeva, wished success to the conference participants.

The article collection titled “Uzeyir Hajibayli 140: A Lifetime in the Rhythm of War” and the “SABAH: Yesterday. Today. Tomorrow” journal, dedicated to the 140th anniversaries of Uzeyir Hajibayli and Muslim Magomayev, prepared by musicology students from Baku Music Academy’s SABAH groups, were presented as part of the international conference.

Representatives from the Baku Music Academy, the Azerbaijan National Conservatory, the Kazakh Kurmangazy National Conservatory, the Uzbekistan State Conservatory, the M. Tursunzade Tajikistan State Institute of Culture and Art, the M. Glinka Novosibirsk State Conservatory, the S. Rakhmaninov Rostov State Conservatory, and the N. Zhiganov Kazan State Conservatory participated in the event and presented highly interesting and relevant topics.

At the end of the conference, all participants were awarded certificates.

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.

A joint lunch between the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan, Ilham Aliyev, and the Prime Minister of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan, Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif, took place on November 7, Azernews reports.

Energy cooperation between the European Union and Azerbaijan continues to play a crucial role in reducing the bloc’s dependence on imported fossil fuels, particularly Russian gas, as outlined in the EU’s ‘REPowerEU’ plan, Azernews reports.

EU Commissioner for Energy and Housing Dan Jorgensen highlighted this in a written response to a European Parliament inquiry, noting the strategic importance of the Southern Gas Corridor (SGC).

‘Since 2021, Azerbaijan’s gas supplies to the EU through the Southern Gas Corridor have increased by more than 40 per cent. The SGC is directly connected only to Azerbaijani gas fields and is not integrated with the country’s national gas transportation system. Therefore, it is not used to transport Russian gas to the EU,’ Jorgensen emphasised.

According to him, Azerbaijan imported less than 1 billion cubic meters of gas from Russia for domestic needs in 2023, a volume that sharply decreased in 2024-2025. At the same time, Azerbaijan’s total gas exports in 2024 exceeded 25 billion cubic meters, nearly half of which went to the EU market, a clear indication of the country’s major contribution to Europe’s energy diversification.

Jorgensen also reaffirmed the EU’s support for lasting peace in the South Caucasus, noting that ‘it is of utmost importance that both countries continue to make progress towards full normalisation of relations.’ He praised the initialling of the Armenia-Azerbaijan peace agreement in Washington on August 8, 2025, calling it ‘a significant step toward ending the long-standing conflict,’ and reiterated that the EU ‘stands ready to support the implementation of the Washington agreements.’

London, the capital of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, hosted a concert titled ‘Melody of Unity, Harmony of Victory,’ featuring renowned Azerbaijani musician and Honored Artist Elchin Shirinov, who resides in England, Azernews reports.

The event took place at the prestigious Kings Place cultural center in commemoration of Azerbaijan’s Victory Day.

The concert, organized with the support of the State Committee for Work with the Diaspora of the Republic of Azerbaijan, brought together Azerbaijani compatriots residing in England, members of the local community, and distinguished guests. Among the attendees were Assistant to the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan and Head of the Department of Foreign Policy Affairs of the Presidential Administration, Hikmet Hajiyev; Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Azerbaijan to the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, Elin Suleymanov, and Head of Department at the State Committee for Work with the Diaspora, Salhat Abbasova.

The event honored the heroes who sacrificed their lives for the territorial integrity of Azerbaijan and provided a profound reflection on the nation’s illustrious history of Victory

Speakers recalled the unforgettable words of the Supreme Commander-in-Chief, President Ilham Aliyev, ‘Dear Shusha, you are free!’, once again emphasizing the profound historical significance of the liberation of Azerbaijani lands from occupation, achieved through the resolve of the head of state and the bravery of the national army.

The event underscored the active involvement of Azerbaijanis abroad in the information campaign, as they joined the sacred struggle for the liberation of their homeland and conveyed the nation’s legitimate message to the international community through timely and persuasive evidence.

The concert presented jazz-style interpretations of Azerbaijani music performed by Elchin Shirinov, accompanied by a diverse ensemble of accomplished artists representing various national backgrounds.

Members of the Azerbaijani diaspora and the local community warmly received the performers’ exceptional artistry, once again emphasizing the significant role of ‘stage diplomacy’ in conveying Azerbaijan’s historic victory to the global audience.

A joint meeting of the Committees on Legal Policy and State Building, Defense, Security and Combating Corruption, Human Rights, and Regional Issues of the Milli Majlis is underway to discuss the draft law ‘On the State Budget of the Republic of Azerbaijan for 2026’, Azernews reports.

The meeting focuses on reviewing key provisions of the draft budget, including projected revenues, expenditures, and borrowing limits for the coming fiscal year.

According to the draft, total revenues of the state budget for 2026 are projected at 38.6 billion manats (approximately $22.7 billion), while expenditures are expected to reach 41.7 billion manats (about $24.5 billion). Centralized revenues are forecast at 37.8 billion manats, and local revenues at 758.3 million manats. Expenditures include 40.9 billion manats in centralized spending and 759.1 million manats in local spending.

The upper limit of domestic borrowing is set at 2 billion manats ($1.17 billion), while foreign borrowing is capped at 6 billion manats ($3.52 billion). The ceiling for state guarantees to be issued during 2026 is projected at 3 billion manats ($1.76 billion).

The draft budget also sets the upper limit of the state budget deficit at 3.09 billion manats ($1.81 billion), to be financed through domestic and external borrowing as well as the balance of the unified treasury account, excluding privatization revenues.

The consolidated budget deficit, excluding revenues of institutions defined by the relevant executive authority, is projected at 16.9 billion manats ($9.9 billion).

The discussion of the draft law is expected to continue in upcoming committee sessions before being submitted for plenary consideration

President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev has shared a video on his social media accounts on November 8 – Victory Day.

Azernews presents the post: “The history of the last five years is the history of Victory, our glorious history.”

A scientific and practical seminar on the topic “The Theme of Patriotism in Azerbaijani Art” has taken place at the International Mugham Center, organized by the by the Culture Ministry’s Scientific, Methodological and Qualification Center for Culture (MEMIM), Azernews reports.

The seminar, dedicated to the 5th anniversary of the Azerbaijan’s glorious victory in the 44-day Patriotic War, was conducted with the support of the Baku City Department of Culture, the Azerbaijan State Art Gallery, and the International Mugham Center.

The event was attended by art historians, families of martyrs, veterans, creative youth, educational institution staff, and members of the public.

First, the guests were introduced to an art exhibition organized by the State Art Gallery to mark the 5th anniversary of the Victory. The exhibition showcased 21 works in the genres of graphics, painting, and posters by renowned artists such as Arif Huseynov, Mir Azer Abdullayev, Tahir Shiraliyev, Nazim Mammadov, as well as young artists.

The event began with a moment of silence to honor the martyrs.

The State Brass Orchestra (artistic director and chief conductor – People’s Artist Alibala Rzayev) performed the Azerbaijan National Anthem. The orchestra also played “Azerbaijani March” by Gara Garayev.

The acting director of MEMIM, Doctor of Philosophy in Art History, Associate Professor Vugar Humbatov, congratulated the participants on November 8th – Victory Day.

He emphasized that our historical victory became a source of inspiration for creative individuals, and many remarkable works in various fields of culture were created on this topic. The head of the Baku City Department of Culture, Ibrahim Aliyev, highlighted that the territorial integrity and sovereignty of our country were ensured through the unity of the people around the Supreme Commander-in-Chief and the heroism of our army.

The seminar continued under the moderation of MEMIM staff, Doctor of Philosophy in Art History, Honored Cultural Worker Saadat Takhmirazgizi.

Presentations were made on the following topics: “Patriotism in Music” by the Secretary of the Union of Composers of Azerbaijan, Doctor of Philosophy in Art History, Honored Art Worker, Professor Elnara Dadashova; “Love for the Motherland, the Power of Words” by Honored Art Worker, Poet Baba Vaziroglu; “Heroic Chronicles of Azerbaijani Cinema” by Honored Art Worker Ayaz Salayev; “The Spirit of Patriotism on the Theater Stage” by Honored Art Worker, Professor Azad Shukurov; and “Between Art and the Front” by MEMIM staff, veteran, theater scholar Daglar Yusuf.

As part of the seminar, the film “The Road to Victory,” directed by People’s Artist Jahangir Zeynalov, based on the musical composition of People’s Artist Firangiz Alizadeh, was shown.

Moreover, musical performances included “Jangi” performed by soloist of the Azerbaijan State Song Theater, Fakhri Kazim Nijat, accompanied by the author Elnara Dadashova, and the choir named after Jahangir Jahangirov of the International Mugham Center (artistic director – honored educator Tarana Yusifova), as well as “Victory March” and “Victory Hymn” by Firangiz Alizadeh. Music videos “Supreme Commander-in-Chief” (music: Kamal, lyrics: Baba Veziroglu, performed by Miralam Miralamov), “My Path” (composer: Ghazi Vugar Mammadzadeh) were also shown. Khananda Mirpasha Shukurov, accompanied by Kamal Shukurov (tar), Rustam Hajiyev (kamancha), and Vugar Najafov (nagara), performed “Garabagh Shikestesi.”

All presentations and performances were met with applause from the audience.

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

On November 7, President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev held a limited format meeting with Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif, Prime Minister of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan, Azernews reports.

President Ilham Aliyev welcomed Prime Minister of Pakistan Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif.

The head of state and the Pakistani Prime Minister posed together for photographs.

During the meeting, President Ilham Aliyev expressed his gratitude to Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif for participating in the military parade set to be held in Baku tomorrow on the occasion of the fifth anniversary of the glorious Victory in the Patriotic War, describing it as an example of brotherhood between the two countries.

Expressing his gratitude for the invitation to the parade, the Prime Minister of Pakistan affirmed his pleasure at participating in the event. Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif congratulated President Ilham Aliyev and the people of Azerbaijan on the occasion of the fifth anniversary of the brilliant Victory, noting that the capital Islamabad was decorated with Azerbaijan’s tricolor flag in honor of the Victory of Azerbaijan.

The President of Azerbaijan thanked Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif for the congratulations.

During the conversation, the sides hailed the further development of fraternal relations between the two countries covering various spheres, highlighting the mutual support that Azerbaijan and Pakistan provide to each other within international organizations. They praised the growth in bilateral trade turnover, and exchanged views on further enhancing economic and trade relations between the two countries in line with the spirit of political relations. It was mentioned that the application of preferential trade tariffs by Azerbaijan to rice and 15 other products imported from Pakistan constitutes a key factor in the advancement of economic and trade relations.

The sides recalled the successful convening of the Intergovernmental Commission in the first half of this year, and held discussions on cooperation in the military and military-technical fields.

An agreement was reached on the forthcoming mutual visits of government delegations and representatives of business circles.

The sides exchanged views on the participation of Pakistani companies in the restoration and construction projects implemented in the liberated territories.

The meeting also addressed the prospects for bilateral relations.

Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif, Prime Minister of Pakistan, arrived in Azerbaijan on November 7, Azernews reports.

A guard of honour was lined up in honor of the Pakistani PM at Heydar Aliyev International Airport.

Muhammad Shahbaz Sharif was welcomed by First Deputy Prime Minister of Azerbaijan Yagub Eyyubov, Deputy Foreign Minister Fariz Rzayev, and other officials.