Category: Azer News

The opening ceremony of the fifth SALAM International Youth Film Festival was held at the Nizami Cinema Center.

The festival is organized by Narimanfilm Studio with the support of the Azerbaijan Culture Ministry and the Azerbaijan Cinema Agency (ARKA).

PASHA Holding is the festival’s general sponsor, while the Nine Senses Art Center is the special partner of the cultural and educational programme. The festival is taking place at the Nizami Cinema Center from August 24 to 27, bringing together young participants, film industry professionals and international guests. The festival promotes the idea that cinema can help people understand one another, overcome cultural and social barriers and discover new talent, a Trend correspondent reports.

Guests and delegations from Indonesia, Turkiye, Moldova and Poland also attended the opening ceremony. Their participation highlighted the festival’s role in promoting cultural exchange, professional cooperation and new connections in the film industry.

Speaking at the opening, festival General Manager Tamara Mammadova said SALAM is more than a series of film screenings. She described it as a space where children and teenagers can express their ideas, discover world cinema, meet film professionals, develop their creativity and create their own stories.

Mammadova also stressed that young participants are active members of the festival. They watch and discuss films, meet filmmakers, take part in masterclasses and gain practical experience in filmmaking.

ARKA Director General Rashad Azizov spoke about the importance of festivals focused on children and teenagers. He said such events help introduce young people to the film industry and may encourage them to pursue careers as directors, screenwriters or actors.

Children from the Tut ?limd?n Children’s Social Rehabilitation Center also participated in the festival. They attended film screenings, discussions, masterclasses and creative meetings and interacted with other participants. Their participation reflects SALAM’s aim to make cultural and educational opportunities available to every child.

The opening film was “Tegar” by Indonesian director Anggi Frisca. The film tells the story of a 10-year-old boy with a disability who dreams of going to school, making friends and living independently. It explores themes of dignity, acceptance, inner strength and the right of every child to participate fully in society.

After the screening, Frisca met with the young audience and answered questions about the film, its characters and the filmmaking process. The meeting ended with an autograph session.

The first day also marked the start of SINEMARAFON, a practical filmmaking programme in which participants develop their own short films from the initial idea and script through filming and editing to the final presentation.

This year’s SINEMARAFON theme is “A Stranger Among Your Own, One of Your Own Among Strangers”. The theme encourages young participants to explore belonging, loneliness, acceptance, the relationship between individuals and society, and the importance of staying true to oneself.

The first festival day ended with a screening of “The Crown Prince” by Swedish director Tord Danielsson.

The SALAM programme continues on August 25 with competition screenings, educational and creative meetings. The SINEMARAFON teams will also begin work on their film projects.

SALAM aims to support young talent, broaden cultural horizons and provide opportunities for children and teenagers to learn more about cinema. The festival also promotes cinema as a way to encourage education, dialogue and creative development.

The festival is supported by the Ministry of Culture, ARKA, international guests, film professionals and its partners.

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

Dutch Formula 1 driver Max Verstappen is reportedly set to become the highest-paid driver on the F1 grid after signing a new contract with Red Bull Racing.

According to F1 journalist Joe Saward, Verstappen’s new deal could give him a base salary of around $100 million per year, with performance bonuses potentially pushing his total earnings above $120 million. However, these figures have not been officially confirmed by Verstappen or Red Bull.

On August 20, Red Bull announced that Verstappen had extended his contract with the team until the end of the 2030 season. His previous agreement was due to expire in 2028. The new deal ends months of speculation about a possible move to Mercedes or McLaren.

If the reported salary is accurate, Verstappen would move ahead of Lewis Hamilton and Charles Leclerc in terms of base pay. Hamilton is reportedly earning around $60-70 million per year at Ferrari, while Leclerc is believed to be earning considerably less. These figures are also estimates rather than officially published salaries.

Verstappen joined Red Bull’s junior programme as a teenager and made his Formula 1 debut in 2015. In 2016, he moved to the senior Red Bull team and won his very first race for them at the Spanish Grand Prix, becoming the youngest race winner in F1 history at the time.

Since then, Verstappen has won four consecutive world championships from 2021 to 2024 and has established himself as one of the dominant drivers of his generation. He currently has 71 Grand Prix victories and 131 podium finishes.

The 2026 season, however, has been much more difficult for the Dutchman. After 12 Grands Prix, Verstappen is sixth in the championship with 112 points and has yet to win a race this season. Red Bull has also struggled for pace under the new 2026 regulations.

Despite the difficult season, Verstappen decided to stay with Red Bull. He explained that he has a strong relationship with the team and believes they can return to the front of the grid. His decision is especially interesting because there had been serious speculation about a possible move to another team.

One interesting fact is that, if Verstappen remains with Red Bull until the end of his new contract, he could spend 15 seasons racing for the team in Formula 1. That would make his relationship with Red Bull one of the longest and most significant partnerships in modern F1 history.

Armenia will make its own decision on whether to pursue membership in the European Union (EU) or remain in the Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU) if the issue becomes a concrete matter, Armenian Security Council Secretary Alen Simonyan said in an interview with Russian television.

Simonyan said that if a referendum on Armenia’s EU membership or continued participation in the EAEU were held in the near future, the result would likely disappoint many people in Russia.

He attributed this sentiment to what he described as Armenia’s dissatisfaction with Russia’s position during the 2020 war and subsequent developments, as well as statements made by Russian journalists, public figures and officials and representatives of the Belarusian authorities.

At the same time, Simonyan stressed that Armenia has not currently taken concrete steps toward joining the EU.

‘We will make our choice when that matter becomes real. There are currently no concrete steps towards joining the European Union. We do not want and are not preparing to leave the EAEU,’ he said.

Simonyan also addressed Armenia’s request for Russia to transfer management of the country’s railway system to a third party, insisting that the move should not be viewed as political.

‘We ask the Russian side to show flexibility and for these railways to operate. Otherwise, the current logic fits into the expression ‘A dog in a manger,” he said.

He added that if no solution could be reached, Armenia could take the matter to court, arguing that the operation of the country’s railway network is a matter of national security.

Simonyan: Armenia Has Long Known It Can Leave CSTO

Simonyan also said Armenia had long been aware that it could withdraw from the Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO), but initially chose to freeze its participation.

‘We knew about it when the CSTO did not respond in any way during the invasion of the territory of Armenia by the troops of a third country; they did not respond not only militarily, but also politically,’ Simonyan said.

He also referred to comments by Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko about preparations for military operations with Azerbaijan, saying these developments further demonstrated Armenia’s concerns about the CSTO.

‘We knew that we could withdraw from the CSTO, but we decided to freeze [our membership in it],’ he said.

According to Simonyan, Armenia initially refrained from taking further steps in order to give time for the situation to be resolved.

‘At the initial phase, we gave time so that it would be possible to somehow smooth everything out. But the time for a response has long run out, so now the prime minister of Armenia has announced what he announced,’ he said.

Azerbaijani young badminton players won a number of medals at the Batumi Cup Youth International 2026 in Batumi, Georgia.

Murad Garayev and Aida Gurbanova won gold in the U11 mixed doubles. Garayev and Turkish player Dogan Ayan also took gold in the U11 boys’ doubles.

Other Azerbaijani gold medalists included Ismayil Garayev and Zulfugar Karimov in the U13 boys’ doubles, Omar Mehdi in the U15 boys’ singles, and Yusif Kamalov and Omar Mehdi in the U15 boys’ doubles.

Murad Garayev and Yusif Kamalov won silver in the U11 and U15 boys’ singles events, respectively, while Banu Ibrahimli took silver in the U15 girls’ singles. Omar Mehdi and Ayla Zeynalova also finished second in the U15 mixed doubles.

Azerbaijani players also won bronze medals in several events. Aida Gurbanova and Turkish player Melis Demir took bronze in the U11 girls’ doubles.

In the U13 events, Ismayil Garayev and Zulfugar Karimov won bronze in the boys’ singles, while Deniz Ahmadli and Lala Ismayilova took bronze in the girls’ singles. Karimov and Ahmadli, as well as Garayev and Ismayilova, won bronze in the mixed doubles. Ahmadli and Ismayilova also claimed bronze in the U13 girls’ doubles.

Azerbaijani badminton has developed steadily in recent years, with national team players competing successfully at European and international tournaments.

The country has also placed greater focus on youth development, with young badminton players taking part in international competitions and gaining experience at different age levels.

The Azerbaijan Badminton Federation has played an important role in supporting the development of the sport and promoting its growth at both youth and senior levels.

Founded in 1962, the federation has become one of the most active members of the world badminton family with international tournaments, development programs and strategic partnerships.

In 2023, Baku hosted the Congress of the Badminton Europe Confederation for the first time.

The large-scale event covered the issues on the agenda of badminton competitions during the preparation period for the 2024 Summer Olympic Games in Paris.

The motto of the Congress was Inclusive Badminton, celebrating the accessibility of badminton for all.

The Azerbaijan Junior Open 2026 international badminton tournament in Baku brought together promising young badminton players from several countries, providing them with an opportunity to gain international experience and compete in a strong field.

The tournament will also mark an important step in the development of junior badminton in Azerbaijan.

The tournament featured athletes from Azerbaijan, Turkiye, the United States, Iran, India, Uzbekistan, Tajikistan, the United Arab Emirates, and Georgia.

The results of Turkiye’s centralized university entrance exam, known as YKS, have revealed a sharp decline in interest in certain academic programs. In the new academic year, some departments will have almost no new students. In several cases, only students repeating the year or international students will attend first-year classes.

Some Turkish universities are now facing a particularly unusual situation: there are departments where the number of teachers significantly exceeds the number of first-year students. The problem affects both engineering programs and faculties of education.

For example, at Harran University in Sanliurfa, all 10 places in the Environmental Engineering program remained vacant after this year’s YKS results. The department has 11 academic staff members, including five professors, while 28 students are currently enrolled in the program. Eighteen of them are citizens of Syria and Iraq. This means that the department has far more teaching staff than students entering the program this year.

Similar situations have been reported at universities in other parts of Turkiye. Lecture halls that once accommodated around 50 students can now sometimes have only one or two students sitting in them. This raises questions about how universities will maintain departments with such low enrollment and whether some programs may eventually have to be merged or closed.

Another striking example can be found at Kafkas University in Kars, where the Department of Food Engineering has only four students: two from Chad, one from Palestine and just one from Turkiye. The department has four teachers, including a professor, meaning that classes can resemble almost private lessons.

The decline in applications is not limited to engineering. Over the past two or three years, Turkish universities have reported weak interest in education programs and several scientific disciplines. This year alone, 265 places in related programs remained vacant across 26 universities, including institutions in Bolu, Kirsehir, Aksaray, Amasya, Bayburt, Yozgat, Sivas, Kars, Burdur, Nevsehir and Ordu.

At Hakkari University, for example, only one student is currently enrolled in the Department of Science Education – and he is already in his fourth year. This means that the department could potentially have no new students at all in the coming academic year.

The reasons behind this trend are complex. Young people increasingly consider future employment opportunities, salaries and the possibility of working abroad when choosing a degree. Some traditional academic fields, particularly teaching and certain scientific disciplines, may appear less attractive compared with professions in technology, medicine, business and other rapidly growing sectors.

The demographic situation may also play a role. Turkiye has experienced a decline in birth rates in recent years, meaning that the number of young people entering higher education could gradually decrease. At the same time, the country has expanded its university system significantly, creating a situation where there may simply be more university places than students willing to fill them.

Many universities are now hoping to attract additional students through the second round of university placements, as well as through the ‘Student Amnesty’ recently introduced in Turkiye. The amnesty gives certain students who previously left university an opportunity to return and continue their education.

Interestingly, the situation illustrates a broader transformation taking place in Turkish higher education. Universities that once competed primarily to attract as many students as possible are increasingly facing the opposite problem: how to keep entire academic programs alive when there are too few students to fill them. If the trend continues, Turkiye may have to reconsider not only university admission policies but also the structure and number of academic programs offered across the country.

The Bilgah Art School was inaugurated in Baku on August 26.

First Vice-President of the Republic of Azerbaijan and President of the Heydar Aliyev Foundation Mehriban Aliyeva and her daughter, Arzu Aliyeva, attended the opening ceremony.

Minister of Culture Adil Karimli briefed the First Lady on the developments at the art school.

The Bilgah Art School was established as a result of the reorganization of the Bilgah Settlement House of Culture, Children’s Music School No. 27, and Library Branch No. 10 of the Sabunchu District Centralized Library System.

The administrative building of the Bilgah Settlement House of Culture, constructed in 1987, had deteriorated over the years and become unfit for use. Therefore, a new 220-seat school building was constructed by the Heydar Aliyev Foundation.

Equipped with the necessary furniture, equipment, and visual aids, the school features rooms for music, music theory, choir, photography, painting, sculpture, and design, as well as a choreography hall, assembly hall, cloakroom, library, and canteen.

Landscaping and greening work was also carried out in the school courtyard.

A panel discussion on cooperation between Azerbaijan and Turkiye in cinema has been held in Lachin as part of the Lachin International Film Festival (LIFF 2026).

The discussion focused on joint film projects, cooperation between filmmakers from the two countries and the development of modern cinema. Turkish director Suat Köç?r spoke about the joint feature film “Maryam”, while Azerbaijani director Elchin Musaoglu highlighted the role of film festivals in developing professional contacts and creating opportunities for new projects.

The panel also covered the development of young filmmakers, creative work and international cooperation. The event continued with questions from the audience and an exchange of views.

The Lachin International Film Festival is the first international film festival held in Karabakh and Eastern Zangazur. The festival focuses on short films and provides a platform for filmmakers, young creative professionals and cinema experts from Azerbaijan and other countries.

Nearly 300 films from 47 countries were submitted for LIFF 2026. A total of 38 films were selected for the official programme, including 20 international and 18 Azerbaijani productions. The programme includes films from Turkiye, Uzbekistan, Iran, Russia, Kyrgyzstan, Greece, Norway, France, Ukraine, Pakistan, Germany, Poland, Spain, Indonesia, Moldova, Serbia and India.

Film screenings are being held at LaCinema in Lachin, alongside panel discussions, meetings and other events involving Azerbaijani and international cinema professionals.

The festival also focuses on supporting new filmmakers and encouraging international cooperation. Its main award, the Golden Oak Branch, is inspired by the oak trees of the Lachin region.

LIFF 2026 provides an opportunity for filmmakers and young creative professionals to present their work, exchange ideas and develop professional contacts through screenings, discussions and meetings in Lachin.

A fire broke out at a Wildberries logistics center in the city of Kotovsk, Russia’s Tambov Region, after a drone crashed into the facility.

Tambov Region Governor Yevgeny Pervyshov said the fire spread across an area of more than 100,000 square meters. One company employee was injured in the incident.

Kotovsk Mayor Alexey Plakhotnikov urged residents to remain indoors and keep their windows closed due to the risk of carbon monoxide poisoning and exposure to burning materials. Residents were also advised to avoid unnecessary movement around the city for the next two days and to use delivery services instead.

Meanwhile, in the Lipetsk Region, two people, including a 14-year-old teenager, were killed after a drone crashed into a private residential house.

A fire broke out at the house following the drone crash.

Amid the continuing attacks, Kazakhstan’s Minister of Trade, Arman Shakkaliyev, announced that Wildberries plans to build logistics warehouses in Kazakhstan. However, on August 5, the e-commerce company said it has no plans to relocate its main logistics hubs outside Russia, while confirming it will continue expanding its network by constructing new facilities abroad.

President Ilham Aliyev congratulated Sabah football club on qualifying for the main stage of the UEFA Champions League.

This was shared on President Ilham Aliyev’s “X” social network account.

“I sincerely congratulate “Sabah” football club on their splendid victory and securing qualification for the main stage of the UEFA Champions League.

The special joy and pride it brings to see a newly formed team achieve such a great success in such a short time. Our clubs’ consistent qualification for the second consecutive time to compete in the main stage of the world’s strongest club tournament is yet another clear indicator of the progress Azerbaijan has made across all spheres and of our country’s position as a sports nation.

I wish the “Sabah” club new victories and successes in the upcoming matches!” the post says.

Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar has ordered the expulsion of Dutch representatives from the International Support Center for Gaza in Kiryat Gat, citing what he described as a series of ‘anti-Israel’ measures by the Dutch government.

Sa’ar announced the decision on Tuesday, saying it had been approved by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. He said the latest trigger was a Dutch law banning trade in products originating from Israeli settlements in the occupied West Bank, East Jerusalem and the Golan Heights, which is due to take effect next month.

‘Representatives of the Netherlands will be expelled immediately from the International Support Center for Gaza in Kiryat Gat,’ Sa’ar said in a post on X.

According to the Israeli foreign minister, a formal notification was delivered to the Dutch Embassy in Israel, while US representatives were also informed of the decision. The Dutch representatives have been given one week to leave Israel.

Sa’ar accused the Dutch government of pursuing an increasingly hostile policy toward Israel, pointing to the new legislation as the latest example.

He also alleged that the Dutch government’s policy was accompanied by what he described as an ‘unprecedented wave of antisemitism and boycotts’ in the Netherlands.

‘Our message is clear: Whoever acts against Israel will have no foothold in the region. Israel will not allow steps against it without a response,’ Sa’ar said.