Category: Azer News

Singapore has unveiled a new package of measures aimed at encouraging families to have more children, offering parents more than $55,000 in financial support for each child. The city-state is facing a serious demographic challenge, with a declining birth rate and a rapidly aging population.

Prime Minister Lawrence Wong announced a review of the country’s child benefits and parental leave system during his annual address on August 23. The government wants to make it easier for Singaporeans who wish to have children to start families and raise them, he said.

Singapore has a population of more than 6 million people. In 2025, the country recorded a record-low fertility rate of 0.87 children per woman, down from 0.97 in 2024. For comparison, South Korea recorded an even lower rate of around 0.8, one of the lowest in the world.

Demographers generally consider a fertility rate of 2.1 children per woman necessary to maintain a stable population without net immigration. Singapore’s falling birth rate, combined with longer life expectancy and advances in healthcare, is pushing the country toward becoming a ‘super-aged’ society. According to the UN definition, this means that more than 21% of the population is aged 65 or older. By 2030, experts expect roughly one in four Singaporeans to be over 65.

‘We want every family to know: if you decide to have children, the government will be with you,’ Wong said, promising more substantial support over a longer period of time.

According to the prime minister, families will receive nearly 70,000 Singapore dollars (about $55,000) in direct financial support for each child up to the age of 17. The package includes a 10,000 Singapore dollar payment at birth as well as additional support for education.

Childcare subsidies will also be expanded, particularly for larger families. The government plans to cover a greater share of childcare costs and provide additional support to working parents. Families with children will also have easier access to schemes designed to help them purchase their first home.

However, the government admits that financial incentives alone may not be enough to reverse the demographic trend. Wong said Singapore’s fertility rate will likely remain well below the replacement level even with the new measures. If the country relied entirely on births, its population would eventually decline.

For this reason, Singapore will continue its long-standing policy of carefully managed immigration. Wong said the country would welcome new arrivals ‘at a measured and steady pace’ while ensuring that Singaporeans remain the majority of the population.

Singapore has been trying to boost its birth rate for decades, using everything from financial bonuses and tax benefits to childcare subsidies and parental leave. Yet the fertility rate continues to fall, showing just how difficult it is for governments to reverse demographic trends once they become deeply rooted in society.

The situation is not unique to Singapore. Many wealthy Asian economies, including Japan, South Korea and China, are also struggling with low birth rates, making population decline one of the biggest long-term economic challenges facing the region.

The second day of the Silk Road Finance and Technology Forum has begun in Tashkent, focusing on the practical application of digital currencies across the Greater Silk Road region, the development of cross-border fintech corridors and efforts to strengthen investment cooperation.

The forum is jointly organized by the Central Bank of the Republic of Uzbekistan and Singapore-based international network Global Finance and Technology Network (GFTN).

The event has brought together more than 6,000 participants and around 200 speakers from 74 countries, including heads of regulatory authorities, representatives of relevant ministries, international financial institutions and investors whose combined assets under management exceed $4 billion.

During the key sessions on the second day, delegates and experts are discussing practical steps for transitioning from traditional banking to digital financial ecosystems, the development of Open Banking, and regulatory frameworks for stablecoins and central bank digital currencies (CBDCs).

Other key topics include the launch of Regulatory Sandbox 2.0 by Uzbekistan’s financial regulator, the implementation of venture capital programs and legislative initiatives related to Islamic finance.

Forum participants are also placing particular emphasis on cybersecurity and personal data protection amid the growing use of artificial intelligence in the financial sector. Discussions will also focus on creating a favorable environment for attracting international technology startups.

Atlanta Dream star Angel Reese has set a new WNBA record for the most rebounds in a single regular-season game.

In a 78-71 victory over Los Angeles, the American forward grabbed an incredible 26 rebounds, breaking the previous WNBA record of 24 rebounds, which had been set by Chamique Holdsclaw in 2023.

Reese, 24, joined the Atlanta Dream this season after previously playing for the Chicago Sky. Chicago selected her with the 7th overall pick in the 2024 WNBA Draft, and she quickly established herself as one of the league’s most dominant rebounders.

Her record-breaking performance is another milestone in what has already been an impressive young career. Reese has become known for her physical style of play, strong rebounding ability and consistency around the basket.

Reese’s 26 rebounds are not only a WNBA record but also a remarkable example of her impact on the game beyond scoring. A performance like this can completely change the rhythm of a match, giving a team many more second-chance opportunities and extra possessions.

At just 24, Reese is already making WNBA history – and her record-breaking night could be another sign that she is becoming one of the league’s biggest stars.

The Canadian government plans to invest 11.2 billion Canadian dollars (about US$8 billion) in the construction of six new icebreakers for the country’s Coast Guard.

Prime Minister Mark Carney announced the project during a speech in Lévis, Quebec. According to Carney, construction is expected to begin in autumn 2027, with the ships scheduled to be completed over the following five years. The project is also expected to create around 5,000 jobs.

The vessels will be built by Quebec-based shipbuilder Chantier Davie and will gradually replace Canada’s aging fleet of heavy and medium icebreakers. Carney described the agreement as the largest shipbuilding contract in Quebec’s history.

The new ships are intended to strengthen Canada’s ability to operate in the Arctic, where melting sea ice is opening previously inaccessible routes and increasing interest from major powers. Canada has one of the world’s largest icebreaker fleets, although Russia operates a significantly larger and more powerful fleet, including several nuclear-powered icebreakers.

Ottawa has increasingly focused on the Arctic because of its strategic importance. The region is rich in natural resources and is becoming more accessible as climate change reduces sea-ice coverage. At the same time, Canada faces the challenge of monitoring and protecting one of the largest coastlines in the world.

Carney has previously emphasized that Canada must be able to defend and monitor its vast Arctic territory without depending entirely on other countries. The new icebreakers are expected to play an important role in this strategy by supporting Arctic patrols, resupply missions, scientific research and emergency operations.

Canada’s Arctic coastline is so vast that it accounts for a huge share of the country’s total coastline. Icebreakers are therefore important not only for national security but also for maintaining access to remote communities, supporting commercial shipping and responding to emergencies in waters that can remain covered by ice for much of the year.

The project also highlights a broader trend: as the Arctic becomes more accessible, countries are investing heavily in ships, ports and other infrastructure to strengthen their presence in the region. Canada’s new icebreakers are expected to become a key part of that effort.

Azercell has opened applications for its 2026 social project competition, ‘Expanding Opportunities: Women’s Support Program.’ The competition aims to support initiatives that expand women’s economic opportunities, equip them with new knowledge and skills, and encourage their more active participation in the country’s social and economic life.

Priority will be given to projects that develop digital skills, promote inclusion, and use technology to improve women’s quality of life. Key evaluation criteria will also include audience reach, the sustainability of outcomes, and the potential for long-term social impact.

Submitted projects will be evaluated by an independent panel of experts. Selected projects will receive funding of up to AZN 7,000 to support their implementation.

Non-profit and non-governmental organizations can submit their project proposals in Azerbaijani by September 30, 2026, via the application link. Applications must also include a detailed budget breakdown covering the costs of project implementation.

Azercell has been running its social project competition since 2022. To date, the company has supported 10 projects addressing a range of social issues and contributing to positive change in communities across the country.

On August 24, Leyla Aliyeva viewed several artworks from the Bukhara Biennial during Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev’s state visit to Uzbekistan.

Organized by the Uzbekistan Art and Culture Development Foundation (ACDF), the Bukhara Biennial has emerged as one of Central Asia’s major cultural events since its inaugural edition in 2025.

An exhibition in Bukhara currently features around 70 works by local and international artists from the first Biennial. The second Bukhara Biennial is scheduled to take place in 2027.

Ren Quanxiu, head of the Lu Xun Academy of Fine Arts, one of China’s leading art academies, and Yuri Stanbek Shygaev, a People’s Artist of the Kyrgyz Republic, visited the Azerbaijan National Art Museum.

During their visit, they explored the museum’s permanent collections and temporary exhibitions.

The guests toured the museum’s main collections and exhibition projects, including “Treasury of Azerbaijani Art,” “Azerbaijani Painting and Graphics of the 1920s-1980s,” and “The Sixtiers: Azerbaijani Art Free from Conformism.”

They also viewed the international exhibition “Dialogue of Cultures: Kazakhstan – Azerbaijan,” which highlights the artistic ties between the two countries, as well as “Chronicle of the City of Winds: Baku in the Works of Artists of the 19th-21st Centuries,” an exhibition dedicated to the history and distinctive character of the Azerbaijani capital.

During the tour, particular attention was given to the stories behind the creation of the works on display. The guests explored how Baku’s architecture, everyday life and atmosphere have been reflected in the works of artists from different generations.

The museum’s extensive collection and diverse range of artistic styles attracted considerable professional interest from the visitors.

The Azerbaijan National Art Museum regularly hosts a wide range of cultural and scholarly events.

These events often bring together art historians, researchers, and curators to explore various aspects of national and international art history. They also provide a platform for presenting newly acquired artworks, discussing attribution studies, and highlighting the results of academic research.

Founded in 1937, the museum also offers art connoisseurs some of the finest examples of Western European decorative and applied arts. Its permanent exhibition features over 3,000 items displayed across 60 rooms, while approximately 12,000 additional works are preserved in its storage collections. Visitors can explore masterpieces by Italian, French, German, and Polish artists, among others.

Over the years, the museum has also successfully organized and hosted numerous high-level international exhibitions, presenting works by world-renowned artists. These initiatives have not only attracted art enthusiasts but have also played an important role in fostering cultural exchange between Azerbaijan and other countries.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced on Tuesday that the country’s authorities started evacuating facilities of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA) in Jerusalem.

“The State of Israel will not allow an organization whose employees were involved in terrorism and the October 7 massacre to operate in its territory and will act against it with all means,” Netanyahu stressed.

Moreover, Hamas condemned earlier today Israel’s raid on the UNRWA complex in the West Bank, which allegedly sheltered a “Hamas container.”

A meeting was held in Lachin on August 25 between representatives of Azerbaijan’s Ministry of Energy and Azerenerji OJSC, and representatives of Armenia’s Ministry of Territorial Administration and Infrastructure and the Electric Power System Operator company.

According to the Cabinet of Ministers, the sides discussed opportunities for the import and export of electricity between the two countries, as well as possible options for coordinating the energy infrastructure of the two countries at the state border for this purpose.

As tensions between the United States and Iran have escalated again, the number of tankers passing through the Strait of Hormuz has fallen to its lowest level.

According to Belgium-based company Kpler, only two tankers passed through the strait on Monday, marking the lowest daily number of crossings since the conflict began.

The tensions between the United States and Iran, which have continued since February 28, are putting increasing pressure on maritime traffic in the Strait of Hormuz. With Iran refusing to allow vessels to pass through the strait, tanker traffic along one of the world’s most important energy routes has slowed significantly.

Several LNG carriers and crude oil tankers entered the Strait of Hormuz from the Gulf of Oman today.

Data from UK-based ship-tracking company Vortexa showed that daily oil transit through the Strait of Hormuz fell to 5 million barrels on the previous day. During the seven days through Sunday, the average was approximately 6-7 million barrels per day.

Before the conflict in the Middle East, roughly one-fifth of global crude oil and petroleum product supplies, as well as around one-fifth of global LNG supplies, passed through the Strait of Hormuz.