Category: Azer News

Nigar Manafli’s solo exhibition “The Heritage of Oil” has solemnly opened at D’Art Gallery in Baku, AzerNEWS reports.

The ceremony commenced with a welcome address by Dilara Muzaffarli, art historian, founder and director of D’Art Gallery, who briefly presented the exhibition and extended her best wishes to all attendees for an enjoyable evening.

People’s Artist of Azerbaijan and distinguished graphic designer, Professor Arif Huseynov, together with Aydin Yagubov, Senior Manager at Turan Drilling, highlighted Nigar Manafli’s artistic achievements.

They congratulated her on the occasion of her first solo exhibition and conveyed their best wishes for her continued success and forthcoming projects.

In turn, the author of the exhibition, Maintenance Superintendent at Central Azeri, Nigar Manafli, expressed her sincere gratitude to the organizers, provided an overview of her personal project “The Heritage of Oil”, and thanked all guests for sharing in this significant moment, which she had long anticipated and meticulously prepared for.

Following the formal proceedings, attendees were invited to view the exhibition.

The event brought together prominent representatives of Azerbaijan’s cultural and art figures, professionals from the oil and gas sector, as well as art connoisseurs.

“The Heritage of Oil” is a conceptual art project that merges 15 years of professional experience in the oil and gas sector with extensive industrial expertise and the capabilities of modern AI technologies. The project is the creation of Nigar Manafli.

Born in 1992, Nigar Manafli graduated in 2013 from the Azerbaijan State University of Oil and Industry with a degree in Geological Exploration. That same year, she embarked on her career as one of Azerbaijan’s first female well-logging specialists working on offshore platforms.

For seven years, she worked directly on offshore rigs, engaging in high-risk operations in real production environments. Her responsibilities included handling radioactive materials, explosives during perforation and specialized logging procedures, and managing high-pressure technological processes-complex tasks demanding exceptional expertise, precision, and strict adherence to safety protocols.

In 2023, Nigar Manafli was appointed Maintenance Superintendent at Central Azeri, becoming the first woman to hold this position. She continues to maintain professional connections with offshore platforms, conducting periodic technical audits and inspections.

The years she spent immersed in an environment defined by risk, responsibility, and the raw power of nature gradually shaped a vivid internal visual memory. This memory inspired her to express her experiences through art, giving rise to “The Heritage of Oil”, which highlights the often unseen human and emotional aspects of life on offshore platforms.

The project captures the hidden dimensions of offshore work: the scale and rhythm of towering metal structures, the quiet weight of responsibility alongside high-risk operations, the force of storms, the stillness of night shifts, and the silent dialogue between people and the sea.

By blending technical knowledge with personal recollection, “The Heritage of Oil” transforms industrial experience into a contemporary visual language, encouraging viewers to consider the delicate balance between human effort and technological achievement.

As one of Azerbaijan’s first public presentations of AI-driven art, the exhibition offers a fresh, personal perspective on the country’s rich oil history.

The collection features 29 original works and will remain on display until February 10, 2026.

President of Republic of Tajikistan Emomali Rahmon has sent a congratulatory letter to President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev, Azernews reports.

“Dear Ilham Heydar oglu,

I sincerely congratulate you on being awarded the prestigious Zayed Award for Human Fraternity.

This recognition is yet another testament to your consistent efforts and firm determination to achieve lasting peace and stability through the promotion of constructive policies and tolerance.

We consider the signing of a peace agreement between the Republic of Azerbaijan and the Republic of Armenia as a significant milestone in strengthening friendly relations and mutually beneficial cooperation between the two states, as well as in consolidating peace and security in the Caucasus region and beyond.

As a peace-loving country, Tajikistan once again welcomes this constructive, positive, and historic achievement and reaffirms its commitment to resolving conflicts exclusively through political and diplomatic means.

Taking this opportunity, I wish you, dear Ilham Heydar oglu, good health and success, and the people of friendly Azerbaijan – new achievements, peace, and continued prosperity,” the letter reads.

The People’s Bank of China has continued to increase its gold reserves since November 2024, official data showed on Saturday, with the country’s holdings rising by 40,000 troy ounces in January, AzerNEWS reports.

The update comes amid heightened volatility in precious metals markets. In January, a surge in speculative interest pushed gold and silver prices to new all-time highs, before a sharp pullback later in the month sent prices to record lows. Although the market has since partially recovered, analysts say volatility remains elevated.

According to the World Gold Council (WGC), central banks worldwide, the largest institutional players in the gold market, boosted gold purchases in the final quarter of 2025, lifting annual net buying to more than 860 tonnes.

While this figure is below the roughly 1,000 tonnes per year accumulated by central banks over the previous three years, the WGC expects official sector demand to remain strong, reinforcing gold’s role as a key component of sovereign reserve portfolios amid geopolitical and macroeconomic uncertainty.

The US House Judiciary Committee has released a report alleging that European Union institutions interfered in at least eight national elections across Europe by exerting pressure on digital platforms in the run-up to key votes, Azernews reports.

According to the document, the committee claims that officials from the European Commission held meetings with major online platforms ahead of elections in several EU member states, including the Netherlands (2023 and 2025), France (2024), Germany (2024), Poland (2023), Spain (2023), Belgium (2024), and Ireland (2024 and 2025). The report argues that these engagements went beyond routine regulatory coordination and may have influenced how political content was moderated during sensitive electoral periods.

Particular attention is given to Ireland’s media regulator, Coimisiún na Meán, which is accused of hosting so-called ‘Digital Services Act (DSA) election roundtables.’ The committee claims these meetings created indirect ‘censorship pressure’ on platforms, encouraging more aggressive content moderation under the framework of the EU’s DSA, especially regarding political speech.

The report also references claims related to Romania’s annulled 2024 presidential election, stating that TikTok informed EU officials it had found ‘no evidence’ of a coordinated Russian influence campaign on the platform. The committee notes, however, that this assertion has not been independently verified, and raises concerns about how such conclusions may have shaped regulatory and political responses.

Republican members of the committee argue that the findings point to a broader pattern of EU overreach that could undermine democratic processes and freedom of expression, particularly when regulatory bodies interact closely with private platforms during elections. The report frames these actions as part of a growing transatlantic dispute over content moderation, digital regulation, and the balance between combating disinformation and protecting political speech.

EU institutions have not formally responded to the report’s allegations. Brussels has previously maintained that the Digital Services Act is designed to ensure transparency, platform accountability, and election integrity, not to influence electoral outcomes.

A new report by US Republican lawmakers alleges the European Commission has orchestrated a ‘decade-long campaign’ to censor political speech globally, including on American soil.

The accusations, detailed in a 160-page interim staff report released Tuesday (3 February) by the House Judiciary Committee, claim that commission officials held over 100 ‘closed-door meetings’ with social media platforms since 2020 ‘where regulators had the opportunity to pressure platforms to censor content more aggressively.’

‘Though often framed as combating so-called ‘hate speech’ or ‘disinformation,’ the commission worked to censor true information and political speech about some of the most important policy debates in recent history – including the Covid-19 pandemic, mass migration, and transgender issues,’ the report states.

The document, dramatically titled ‘The Foreign Censorship Threat, Part II,’ is, according to itself, based on tens of thousands of pages of internal communications from 10 Big Tech companies including Meta, Google, TikTok, and X, obtained under congressional subpoena.

The report is likely to intensify debates in Washington and Europe over digital sovereignty, election security, and the role of regulators in shaping online political discourse.

Leyla Aliyeva and Alena Aliyeva familiarized themselves with the ‘Zarif Natural’ brand established by female entrepreneur Fidan Zari in Ganja.

They held a warm and sincere conversation with the entrepreneur, showing interest in the idea behind the brand, the story of its creation, and the production process. Later, Leyla Aliyeva and Alena Aliyeva jointly prepared various cold-pressed oils and other products at the facility.

Leyla Aliyeva and Alena Aliyeva wished the entrepreneur success in her activities, highly appreciated her initiative and dedication, and took commemorative photos together.

The ‘Zarif Natural’ brand specializes in the production and offering to consumers of cold-pressed oils, additive-free nut butters, and gluten-free flours, based on the principles of healthy and balanced nutrition.

The IR?LI Public Union has launched the project “Discover the Heritage of Western Azerbaijan”, organized with the support of the Azerbaijan Culture Ministry, Azernews reports.

The project, which will run from February to April, aims to preserve and promote the rich cultural heritage of Western Azerbaijan, introducing the region’s history, traditions, folklore, and artistic legacy to a wide audience.

At the same time, the initiative seeks to channel the potential of talented and creative young people toward this theme and support their activities in the field. By encouraging initiative and innovative approaches among youth, the project targets the sustainable preservation of Western Azerbaijani culture and its transmission to future generations.

Within the framework of the project, which is designed for talented and creative young people aged 16 to 29, a series of events is planned. These include conferences, photo exhibitions, an intellectual championship, an artistic program, and a youth forum to be held in Baku and Sumgayit.

The project emphasizes active youth participation rather than passive listening.

Through interactive presentations, audiovisual materials, and meetings with experts and guest speakers, participants will gain comprehensive knowledge about the heritage of Western Azerbaijan.

At the same time, they will form initiative groups to work on creative ideas. During practical sessions, young participants will develop digital content, social media initiatives, and public campaigns aimed at promoting cultural heritage.

The project “Discover the Heritage of Western Azerbaijan” is being implemented within the framework of the 2025 Culture Ministry’s grant competitions for non-governmental organizations – the “General Grant Competition in the Field of Culture.”

The project is carried out in partnership with the Western Azerbaijan Community and the Ministry of Culture’s Scientific-Methodological and Professional Development Center for Culture, and is organized by the IR?LI Public Union.

The IR?LI Public Union has previously implemented a number of successful initiatives in this area. Under its organization, conferences, festivals, camps, information sessions, and film screenings have been held to increase the role of youth in the process of returning to Western Azerbaijan and to promote the cultural heritage of the region.

Four people were killed on Saturday in a shooting in the countryside of Suwayda province in southern Syria, authorities said, confirming the arrest of a suspect and urging residents to remain calm to prevent further escalation.

In a statement published by Syria’s Interior Ministry on Telegram, Suwayda’s internal security commander Hussam al-Tahhan said the incident took place in the al-Matouneh area, where five local residents were targeted in what he described as a ‘heinous crime’.

‘The attack resulted in the killing of four individuals and the serious injury of a fifth,’ al-Tahhan said.

He added that preliminary investigations, conducted in coordination with one of the survivors, revealed that one of the suspects is a member of the Internal Security Directorate in the area. The individual was immediately arrested and referred for formal investigation to complete legal procedures.

Al-Tahhan stressed that ‘any violation against citizens is categorically unacceptable’ and warned that there would be no tolerance for acts threatening public safety, regardless of the perpetrator’s affiliation.

Calling on residents to exercise restraint, the official urged the people of Suwayda province to ‘remain calm and place their trust in the measures being taken’, assuring them that those responsible would be held accountable under the law.

Suwayda has remained under a fragile ceasefire since July, following deadly clashes between Druze factions and Bedouin tribes that left hundreds dead or injured. While the government has reiterated its commitment to the truce and facilitated civilian evacuations and the delivery of humanitarian aid, the agreement has been repeatedly violated by armed groups linked to Sheikh Hikmat al-Hijri, including attacks on military positions.

Authorities said investigations into Saturday’s shooting were continuing.

Leyla Aliyeva and Alena Aliyeva visited Special Secondary School No. 45 in Ganja.

They closely reviewed the facilities created at the educational institution and inquired about the students’ learning processes and rehabilitation opportunities.

It was noted that 297 students are currently enrolled at Ganja Special School No. 45. Among these children with special needs, 188 receive their education on-site at the school, while 109 are enrolled in home-schooling programs.

The educational facility is equipped with all necessary infrastructure, including specialized rooms for information technology and handicrafts, speech therapy (logopedics) rooms, an ecological classroom, a medical office, a library, and a gymnasium.

At the conclusion of the visit, Leyla Aliyeva and Alena Aliyeva presented gifts to the children and posed for commemorative photos with them.

Leyla Aliyeva and Alena Aliyeva familiarized themselves with the ‘Zarif Natural’ brand established by female entrepreneur Fidan Zari in Ganja.

They held a warm and sincere conversation with the entrepreneur, showing interest in the idea behind the brand, the story of its creation, and the production process. Later, Leyla Aliyeva and Alena Aliyeva jointly prepared various cold-pressed oils and other products at the facility.

Leyla Aliyeva and Alena Aliyeva wished the entrepreneur success in her activities, highly appreciated her initiative and dedication, and took commemorative photos together.

The ‘Zarif Natural’ brand specializes in the production and offering to consumers of cold-pressed oils, additive-free nut butters, and gluten-free flours, based on the principles of healthy and balanced nutrition.

The war between Russia and Ukraine, which erupted in 2022 and quickly became the deadliest conflict in Europe since World War II, has now entered its fourth year. Despite the efforts of various international actors to bring an end to hostilities, the conflict continues, with little indication that these interventions have achieved their intended effect.

In the early years, sanctions against Russia and military and financial aid to Ukraine produced some tangible outcomes. Kyiv was able to reclaim portions of the territory initially lost to Russian forces, and Russia’s economy experienced pressure. However, as the conflict has dragged on, it has evolved into a literal trench war, with neither side achieving decisive breakthroughs. Over the past year, Russia has secured minor tactical victories on the battlefield, but the front lines remain largely unchanged.

The West continues to devise new sanctions aimed at further weakening Russia, including restrictions on oil exports, yet at first glance, these measures appear to have lost their potency. Russia seems to have built a degree of immunity to the punitive measures. Early predictions of an economic collapse did not materialize, and the Kremlin retained enough maneuverability to circumvent restrictions on energy sales. Recent market speculation suggested that a drop in oil prices to $50 per barrel could make sanctions more effective, yet this scenario has yet to materialize.

Then, in a dramatic twist, global attention shifted to gold. The price of gold suddenly surged by more than 100%, turning the spotlight back to Russia, the world’s second-largest gold exporter. While Russian reserves of foreign currency and securities held in Western banks remain frozen, its gold reserves are physically held within Russia’s borders. According to available data, the Central Bank of Russia holds about 2,300 tons of gold, and the recent price spike has increased the bank’s reserves by roughly $250 billion-essentially offsetting the assets frozen in Western institutions.

Many analysts argue that this sharp rise in gold prices may provide Russia with a fresh lifeline in the war, strengthening its financial resilience. As the second-largest gold exporter globally, Russia possesses a significant buffer against sanctions.

Speaking to Azernews on issue, Ukrainian political analist Vadym Triukhan noted that this will absolutely not affect Russia’s position in the war. Gold is the last thing they usually trade; usually, they sell it. Plus, this is such a market fluctuation – it exists or it doesn’t.

‘Russia’s position in the war is directly influenced by another factor – its ability to quickly get money through selling its own resources. And this is exactly where it currently has serious problems. One can say that the West is gradually pushing it completely aside.

Literally two weeks ago, 14 European countries decided to block the Baltic Sea for tankers of the so-called ‘shadow oil fleet’ of Russia. Americans began seizing Russian tankers under different flags. In this way, Russia’s ability to export oil was significantly limited,’ he said.

Political analist underscored that Trump had announced that he had agreed with India that it would completely stop buying Russian oil. For Russia, this is a colossal loss, about 45 billion dollars. Therefore, Vadym Triukhan thinks that Russia will not manage to get by here with gold.

‘But one needs to be objective. Its reserves are still enough for at least a year of war. Everything will depend on how peace negotiations develop and what Trump’s attitude toward Putin will be, who constantly deceives him. Very recently he gave his word about a so-called energy ceasefire, but already on the fourth day carried out a massive missile-drone strike.

Tonight, half of Ukraine did not sleep. Strikes were carried out on Kyiv, Kharkiv, Dnipro, Odesa, and other cities. The goal was one- to plunge Ukraine into darkness and deprive Ukrainians of the ability to heat their homes and use electricity.

Trump also sees all this: he promised, gave his word, then took back his word. If he changes his position and introduces even stricter sanctions or provides Ukraine with the necessary weapons, the situation on the front could change,’ he concluded.