Category: Azer News

The new annual subscription offers 12 months of personalized ringback tones

Azercell has introduced an annual subscription for its ZengimCELL service, offering subscribers 12 months of personalized ringback tones on more favorable terms. The new subscription allows users to replace the standard ringback tone with their favorite music, providing a more personalized calling experience.

To activate the annual subscription, customers should send an SMS with the keyword 756716 to the short number 6900. Once the subscription is activated, subscribers can set or change their preferred ringback tones free of charge by sending an SMS with the code of the selected ringback tone to the short numbers 6900 or 6070.

The annual subscription is available for AZN 18. More information about the ZengimCELL service, subscription terms, and the list of available ringback tones is available at zengim.az.

International rating agency Fitch Ratings has upgraded the ratings of Azerbaijan’s ABB, raising the bank’s Long-Term Issuer Default Rating (IDR) from BB to BB+, AzerNEWS reports.

Fitch also upgraded ABB’s Viability Rating from bb to bb+, while maintaining a Stable Outlook on the bank’s ratings.

The upgraded ratings represent the highest ratings Fitch has assigned to ABB in the past 15 years. ABB’s current international ratings are also among the highest in Azerbaijan’s banking sector.

According to Fitch, the upgrade reflects ABB’s continued strong financial profile and improving risk profile. The agency highlighted the bank’s strong market position, resilient balance-sheet structure and solid financial performance as key factors behind the rating action.

Fitch expects ABB’s loan portfolio to continue expanding over the medium term, while asset quality and profitability are expected to remain strong.

The rating agency’s assessment underscores ABB’s strengthening financial position and its ability to maintain solid operating performance while expanding its lending activities.

Azerbaijan and Vietnam are exploring new opportunities for cooperation in the film industry, including joint film production, professional exchanges, and the development of creative projects.

This was discussed during a meeting between the leadership of the Azerbaijan Republic Cinema Agency (ARKA) under the Ministry of Culture and a Vietnamese delegation visiting Azerbaijan, AzerNEWS reports, citing ARKA.

During the meeting, the sides focused on expanding collaboration between the two countries’ cinematography sectors, with particular attention given to the creation of joint films, the exchange of experience among filmmakers, and the strengthening of professional ties at the international level.

Representatives of both sides highlighted the importance of closer cooperation between the film communities of Azerbaijan and Vietnam, emphasizing that joint initiatives could contribute to the development of new forms of partnership and help promote cinematic projects on international platforms.

As part of the visit, the Vietnamese delegation took part in an information tour of the Creative Center, where guests were introduced to its modern infrastructure, creative spaces, and opportunities available for representatives of the creative industries. The tour concluded with a presentation showcasing the Center’s facilities and the conditions created for the implementation of artistic and creative projects.

Strengthening cooperation with international partners remains a significant priority for the development of Azerbaijani cinema.

Through professional exchange, joint productions, and expanded global connections, Azerbaijan’s film industry continues to create new opportunities for growth and greater international visibility.

Cinema has historically played an important role in strengthening cultural ties between Azerbaijan and Vietnam. One of the most significant figures connecting the two countries’ film traditions is Azerbaijani filmmaker Ajdar Ibrahimov, who made a major contribution to the development of Vietnamese cinema. In the late 1950s and early 1960s, Ibrahimov worked in Vietnam, where he helped establish the foundations of the country’s national cinematography, participated in the creation of the National Film School, and trained a new generation of Vietnamese filmmakers.

Ibrahimov’s legacy remains an important symbol of the historical friendship between Azerbaijan and Vietnam. His contribution has been recognized as a bridge between the two cultures, with Vietnamese officials and cultural representatives highlighting the role of his work in strengthening humanitarian and cultural relations between the two nations.

In recent years, Azerbaijan and Vietnam have shown renewed interest in expanding cooperation in the field of cinema. Discussions between representatives of the two countries have focused on joint film projects, professional exchanges, cooperation between filmmakers, and educational initiatives aimed at supporting future generations of cinema professionals.

Culture has become one of the key pillars of Azerbaijan-Vietnam relations, serving as a vital bridge between the two nations and strengthening connections between their peoples. A wide range of cultural initiatives, including artistic exchanges, exhibitions, concerts, academic forums, and student exchange programs, continue to promote mutual understanding and provide audiences in both countries with opportunities to discover each other’s rich cultural heritage.

A notable example of this growing cultural dialogue is Vietnam Days in Baku, a festival dedicated to showcasing Vietnam’s traditions through music, handicrafts, cuisine, fashion, and performing arts. The 2026 edition of the festival was organized by the Embassy of Azerbaijan in Vietnam with the support of the Icherisheher State Historical and Architectural Reserve Administration, the Vietnam National Academy, and several Vietnamese companies.

The ongoing cultural exchange between Azerbaijan and Vietnam continues to create new opportunities for cooperation, bringing the peoples of the two countries closer through shared experiences and artistic dialogue.

Global food prices rose by 0.6% in July, reaching their highest level in more than three years, according to the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO).

The FAO Food Price Index averaged 131.1 points in July, up 0.6% from June and 1% from the same month a year earlier. Increases in the prices of cereals, sugar and vegetable oils were partly offset by declines in meat and dairy prices.

The FAO’s cereal price index averaged 113.8 points in July, rising 3.4% from June and 6.9% year-on-year. Global wheat prices increased by 5.8% during the month and were 9.9% higher than a year earlier.

Corn prices also rose 3.6% from June, while the rice price index remained unchanged in July.

The vegetable oil price index averaged 195.7 points, up 2% month-on-month and reaching its highest level since June 2022.

Meanwhile, the meat price index averaged 127.7 points in July. Although it fell 2.8% from June, it remained 0.8% above its level a year earlier.

The dairy price index averaged 116.2 points, down 0.7% from June and 24.8% from July 2025. Butter prices declined by 2.4%, while the cheese price index increased 1.7%, marking its first monthly increase since July 2025.

The sugar price index averaged 95 points in July, rising 5.6% from June but remaining 8% below its level a year earlier.

Experts attributed the overall increase primarily to higher cereal, sugar and vegetable oil prices, amid concerns over disruptions affecting grain supplies through the Black Sea and unfavorable weather conditions in major producing regions.

Trkiye, Saudi Arabia, and Pakistan have signed a Joint Defense Agreement, establishing a trilateral military alliance, AzerNEWS reports.

According to a statement by Pakistan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the defense pact is aimed at promoting peace, security, and stability both in the region and beyond, while contributing to a secure and prosperous future.

The agreement was signed on August 7 during the Joint Defense Summit held at Al Safa Palace in Makkah. The document was signed by President Recep Tayyip Erdogan of Trkiye, Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman Al Saud, and Pakistan’s Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif.

Under the terms of the agreement, an armed attack against any one of the three member states will be regarded as an attack against all parties to the pact.

The agreement is designed to strengthen collective deterrence and significantly expand defense cooperation between the three countries across all areas of military collaboration.

Discussions on creating the alliance have reportedly been underway since late last year. One of the alliance’s potential areas of cooperation could involve Saudi Arabia and Pakistan joining Trkiye’s KAAN fifth-generation fighter jet development program.

The English Football Association (FA) has officially withdrawn its support for FIFA President Gianni Infantino’s re-election, AzerNEWS reports, citing The Independent.

The decision remains unchanged despite Infantino abandoning his plan to further commercialise the FIFA World Cup-a proposal that drew widespread criticism and issuing a formal letter of apology.

Reports say that following a FIFA leadership crisis meeting on August 5, Infantino apologised for the controversial initiative in a letter circulated to officials. Senior FIFA executives reaffirmed their full support for him. However, the English FA proceeded with its previously planned decision and formally withdrew its endorsement of Infantino’s candidacy through an official letter.

Earlier, the Football Association of Wales became the first national association to withdraw its support for Infantino. It was later joined by the football associations of Serbia, Sweden, and Finland, which also announced they were withdrawing their backing.

A court in the U.S. state of New Mexico has ordered Meta, the company that owns Facebook and Instagram, to pay $567 million in damages over allegations that its platforms negatively affected the mental health of underage users, AzerNEWS reports.

The ruling was issued during the second phase of a major legal case against the technology giant. According to the court’s decision, $420 million of the settlement will be allocated to psychological support programs for children and teenagers. The remaining funds will go toward public awareness campaigns, prevention initiatives, risk assessment services, and other child protection measures over the next five years.

The decision follows an earlier stage of the trial, in which a jury ordered Meta to pay $375 million after concluding that the company was aware of potential risks associated with its platforms but failed to take sufficient action to protect young users. The case also focused on allegations that minors were exposed to risks, including online exploitation.

As part of the ruling, Meta will also be required to introduce additional safety measures for teenagers using Facebook and Instagram. These measures include limiting excessive screen time, improving notification controls, strengthening protection against unwanted contact from adults, and increasing oversight of artificial intelligence-powered chatbots used by minors.

New Mexico Attorney General Raúl Torrez previously accused Meta of designing features that encourage addictive behavior among young users and failing to adequately prevent harmful interactions on its platforms.

Meta has rejected the allegations and announced that it plans to appeal the decision. The company stated that it continues to invest in improving online safety, removing harmful content, and developing new tools to protect younger users.

The case is part of a broader global debate over the responsibility of social media companies for the impact of their platforms on children. In recent years, governments and regulators in several countries have increased pressure on major technology firms, demanding stronger safeguards for minors in the digital environment.

Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan has criticized the Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU), saying that its founding principles are not being fully implemented in practice, AzerNEWS reports.

He made these remarks at a meeting of the Eurasian Intergovernmental Council in expanded format.

According to Pashinyan, restrictions and administrative barriers continue to hinder the free movement of capital, goods, services, and labor within the bloc, reducing business predictability and undermining the effectiveness of regional economic integration.

“Unfortunately, in practice, these principles are not fully implemented. Certain restrictions and administrative measures continue to hinder the full functioning of the common market, reducing the predictability of business conditions and the effectiveness of integration processes,” Pashinyan noted.

The prime minister stressed that Armenia provides equal and non-discriminatory conditions for companies from all EAEU member states and believes the same approach should be applied consistently across the entire union.

“We need to promptly remove emerging barriers, prevent the deterioration of trade and economic relations within the EAEU, minimize reputational and business risks, and consistently strengthen mutual trust,” he emphasized.

Pashinyan also added that a number of the EAEU’s strategic goals have not yet been fully achieved, so it is necessary to focus not only on new initiatives but also on the practical implementation of decisions that have already been adopted.

Azerbaijan has gained significant experience in hosting major international sporting events, strengthening its reputation as a reliable venue for global competitions.

Building on this experience, the country is preparing to host the FIFA U-15 World Cup and Festival in 2026, as well as the FIFA U-20 World Cup in 2027.

A meeting of the Organizing Committee was held to assess the progress of preparations for both tournaments and discuss upcoming organizational tasks, AzerNEWS reports.

During the meeting, officials reviewed key issues related to the competitions, including the readiness of sports facilities, infrastructure projects, and coordination between relevant institutions.

The discussions took place after a relevant decree by the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan dated July 27, 2026, assigned the organization of the FIFA U-15 World Cup and Festival to the same Organizing Committee responsible for the FIFA U-20 World Cup

Opening the meeting, Azerbaijan Deputy Prime Minister and Chairman of the Organizing Committee Samir Sharifov noted that the FIFA U-15 World Cup and Festival will be held in Azerbaijan from October 22 to 31, 2026. He pointed out that hosting this prestigious international sporting event, which will be held for the first time in the history of world football, demonstrates the high level of confidence placed in Azerbaijan.

It was also highlighted that more than 175 countries are expected to participate in the event, with each delegation consisting of 20 members. The main goal of the youth competition, which will be held under the FIFA banner for the first time, is to support the development of young talents at the highest international level.

During the meeting, officials reviewed the readiness of sports facilities, the progress of construction and infrastructure projects, and other organizational matters related to the FIFA U-15 World Cup and Festival.

The committee also discussed preparations for the FIFA U-20 World Cup, which will be jointly hosted by Azerbaijan and Uzbekistan in 2027.

The tournament will feature national teams from 24 countries.

The FIFA U-20 World Cup is one of the most prestigious youth football tournaments in the world, providing a platform for emerging talents and future football stars. Organized by FIFA every two years, the competition has featured many players who later achieved success at the highest level of international football.

The FIFA U-15 World Cup and Festival is part of FIFA’s broader efforts to support youth football development and provide young players with international experience at an early stage of their careers. The event will be attended by the young athletes and football representatives from different countries, combining competitive matches with activities focused on the development of youth sport.

Recall that Azerbaijan has previously hosted high-profile football competitions, including matches of the UEFA European Championship and the UEFA Europa League final, while continuing to develop its sports infrastructure and support football development.

Azerbaijan’s preparations for hosting the 2026 CEV Women’s European Volleyball Championship were discussed at an expanded meeting of the Board of the Azerbaijan Volleyball Federation (AVF), AzerNEWS reports.

The meeting was held at the Volleyball Centre of the Ministry of Youth and Sports. Before the discussions began, Minister of Youth and Sports Farid Gayibov and AVF leadership watched a training session of the Azerbaijan women’s national volleyball team, which is continuing preparations for the tournament starting on August 21.

AVF President Shahin Baghirov presented a report on the federation’s recent activities, including efforts to develop volleyball in the country, support youth volleyball, and prepare the women’s national team for the European Championship.

Speaking at the meeting, Minister of Youth and Sports Farid Gayibov praised the AVF’s work, describing it as one of the country’s most effective sports federations. He said he had been closely following the national team’s training sessions and noted the positive atmosphere within the squad. Gayibov expressed confidence in the team’s performance under head coach Faig Garayev and said the ministry would continue supporting the federation and the organisation of the European Championship. He also expressed confidence that Azerbaijan would host the tournament at a high level and wished success to the national team.

AVF Vice President Bahruz Guliyev provided an update on preparations for the European Championship, covering organisational arrangements, logistics, marketing, media activities, volunteer programs, ticket sales, and other areas.

Head coach of the Azerbaijan women’s national volleyball team, Faig Garayev, spoke about the team’s preparation, training camps, friendly matches, and the squad’s current condition. He noted that the team has been preparing intensively since July and emphasised that the players will do their best to achieve a successful result in front of home supporters. Garayev added that hosting such a prestigious tournament places major responsibility on the federation, including both the successful organisation of the competition and the national team’s performance.

The meeting also included discussions on beach volleyball competitions scheduled for September, as well as further preparations for the European Championship. Officials noted that installation work at the National Gymnastics Arena would begin the following day, with the venue to be fully prepared for both tournament matches and national team training sessions.

The participants also discussed organisational issues related to the final stage of the national beach volleyball championship and reviewed the remaining preparations for the upcoming European Championship.

The 2026 CEV Women’s European Volleyball Championship will take place from August 21 to September 6 across four host countries – Azerbaijan, Turkiye, Czechia, and Sweden. A total of 24 national teams will compete in the tournament. Azerbaijan will host one of the preliminary round groups, with matches scheduled at the National Gymnastics Arena in Baku from August 21 to 28. The Azerbaijani team will compete in a group alongside Belgium, the Netherlands, Portugal, Romania, and Spain.

This will mark Azerbaijan’s return as a host of the CEV Women’s European Volleyball Championship after previously organising matches of the tournament in 2017.

The event is expected to bring some of Europe’s strongest national teams to Baku and further strengthen Azerbaijan’s experience in hosting major international volleyball competitions.