Category: Azer News

On Monday, Sri Lanka launched an integrated operational task force named “Wana Surakuma” under the Ministry of Environment, aimed at safeguarding the country’s natural forests and wildlife resources, Azernews reports, citing foreign media.

According to the ministry, the primary goal of Wana Surakuma is to enhance the efficiency of forest and wildlife protection operations, while preventing and suppressing environmental crimes such as illegal logging, poaching, and wildlife trafficking.

The task force brings together officers from the Department of Wildlife Conservation, the Department of Forest Conservation, the Police Special Task Force, and representatives from Sri Lanka’s tri-forces. By uniting these agencies, the initiative seeks to strengthen coordination and enable rapid responses to forest-related crimes nationwide.

As part of its outreach, the task force will operate a 24-hour hotline through the short code 1995, allowing the public to report incidents of forest destruction, wildlife harm, or other environmental violations. Officials emphasized that public participation will play a crucial role in protecting Sri Lanka’s natural heritage.

Environmental experts note that Sri Lanka faces increasing pressures from deforestation, illegal wildlife trade, and human-wildlife conflicts, making coordinated initiatives like Wana Surakuma vital. Some analysts also highlight that the task force could become a model for regional cooperation in tackling environmental crimes, potentially inspiring similar efforts in South Asia.

In addition to law enforcement, the task force plans to launch educational campaigns and community engagement programs, aiming to raise awareness about sustainable forest management and wildlife conservation across the country.

Masterclasses on playing the tar and piano have been conducted at the Garabagh Mugham Center named after Uzeyir Hajibayli in Agjabadi, Azernews reports.

The workshops were held as part of the “Wind of Culture” project, organized by the Culture Ministry’s Scientific, Methodological and Qualification Center for Culture (MEMIM).

Director of the Garabagh Mugham Center, Tural Niftaliyev, addressed the event. In his speech, he stressed the significance of holding these masterclasses in celebration of the 140th anniversary of the birth of the great composer, musicologist, and educator Uzeyir Hajibayli, which is being officially marked this year.

The masterclass on tar was conducted by Nemat Mursalov, head of the MEMIM sector and People’s Artist.

The tar virtuoso explained that the goal of the masterclasses was to enhance the knowledge and skills of students in the respective speciality, improve the professionalism of teachers, and provide them with methodological assistance.

Afterwards, students from the Garabagh Mugham Center in Agjabadi and the Uzeyir Hajibayli Children’s Art School performed at the event.

Nemat Mursalov shared insights into the nuances of playing the tar, proper care of the instrument, selecting pieces for performance, and offered advice to both teachers and students.

The piano masterclass was led by Dr. Nargiz Kangarli, a PhD in Art History and a renowned pianist.

Students from the Agjabadi City Uzeyir Hajibayli Children’s Art School performed works by Azerbaijani and international composers.

Nargiz Kangarli highlighted the technical aspects of playing the piano and demonstrated key techniques related to the instrument.

Both masterclasses, which were conducted in an interactive format, generated great interest among teachers and students. Experienced instructors provided detailed answers to participants’ questions.

The project “Wind of Culture” in the Garabagh region is being implemented with the support of the Garabagh Regional Department of Culture.

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

Deputy Minister of Economy Samad Bashirli met with Ukrainian Minister of Health Viktor Lyashko to discuss prospects for expanding cooperation between the two countries, Azernews reports.

At the meeting held at Azerbaijan’s Ministry of Economy, both sides emphasized the importance Baku places on strengthening economic cooperation with Ukraine.

The discussions highlighted opportunities for broadening collaboration in various economic sectors, particularly in trade and investment.

The officials also exchanged views on deepening partnerships in the healthcare industry, including the potential for joint production of medicines and pharmaceutical products, aimed at enhancing mutual industrial capabilities and bilateral economic ties.

Azerbaijan has shared its experience in energy transformation and the transition to sustainable economic activity during the Abu Dhabi International Petroleum Exhibition and Conference (ADIPEC) in the United Arab Emirates.

As reported by Azernews, Minister of Economy Mikayil Jabbarov announced the news in a post on his X account.

‘As part of our business visit to the United Arab Emirates, we attended the opening ceremony of the ADIPEC Exhibition and Conference. The event showcased modern technologies and innovative solutions in the oil and gas industry. We explored advancements in energy, digitalization, and renewable energy strategies, and shared Azerbaijan’s experience in energy transition and sustainable economic development,’ the minister wrote.

The Abu Dhabi International Petroleum Exhibition and Conference (ADIPEC) is one of the world’s largest and most influential gatherings for the oil and gas sector, bringing together professionals, decision-makers, and innovators from around the globe. Each year, the prestigious exhibition highlights the latest achievements in energy technology, oil and gas innovation, and industrial sustainability.

‘In a few days, we will celebrate the fifth anniversary of our glorious Victory. Over the past five years, wars, clashes, and conflicts have occurred in many places around the world, and everything is measured by comparison. Scientists know this well,’ President Ilham Aliyev said in his speech at the conference marking the 80th anniversary of the Azerbaijan National Academy of Sciences, Azernews reports.

The head of state emphasized: ‘I can say that no second country has achieved a Victory as brilliant, complete, and absolute as ours.’

Azerbaijan’s Defense Ministry has announced that expired and unusable ammunition will be safely destroyed in the coming days, Azernews reports.

According to the ministry, the disposal process will take place from November 3 to 7 at designated military sites near the Pirekeshul settlement and within the Aghdara district. The operation will be conducted in strict compliance with all safety standards.

The ministry emphasized that the process involves the demolition of ammunition that has exceeded its service life and is no longer fit for use.

Residents living near the mentioned areas have been advised not to be alarmed by the sounds of explosions that may occur during the controlled detonation process.

‘We urge the public to remain calm. The explosions are part of planned disposal activities, and there is no reason for concern,’ the ministry said in its statement.

This operation is part of ongoing efforts by the Azerbaijani Armed Forces to ensure the safe and environmentally responsible management of outdated munitions.

Since the start of the year, authorities in Kazakhstan have blocked more than 26,000 websites and intercepted over 64 million suspicious phone calls, according to information revealed at a forum in Taraz dedicated to investigating crimes involving cryptocurrency platforms, Azernews reports.

Speaking at the event, Deputy Minister of Internal Affairs Sanzhar Adilov noted that while the digitalization of the economy brings new opportunities for innovation and growth, it also introduces significant cybersecurity risks. Over the past two years, Kazakhstan has registered more than 1,000 criminal cases linked to cryptocurrency operations. Of these, 60% involve fraud, 25% concern illegal crypto exchange activities, and 15% are related to money laundering through digital assets, Adilov said.

He emphasized that the government is taking systematic measures to strengthen digital security. A specialized Anti-Fraud Center has been established, which actively monitors, identifies, and blocks suspicious web resources, mobile applications, and phone numbers used for scams and phishing attacks.

Adilov also highlighted that Kazakhstan is working on enhancing cooperation between law enforcement, financial institutions, and telecom operators to detect and prevent online financial crimes in real time. He added that public awareness campaigns are being launched to educate citizens about safe online behavior and how to recognize potential digital fraud schemes.

Experts note that Kazakhstan’s growing attention to cybersecurity reflects its ambition to become a regional hub for financial technology and digital innovation, while ensuring that its rapidly developing digital economy remains secure and transparent.

Some analysts also suggest that as global cryptocurrency use expands, Central Asia may face increasing pressure from international cybercrime networks, making Kazakhstan’s new initiatives a potential model for neighboring countries.

Azerbaijan and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) have signed a new economic cooperation agreement aimed at strengthening bilateral ties and expanding joint investments in the energy sector, Azernews reports, citing a post by Azerbaijan’s Minister of Economy, Mikayil Jabbarov, on his official X account.

‘As part of our business visit to the United Arab Emirates, we signed a new cooperation agreement between the Azerbaijan Ministry of Economy and XRG, the investment platform of ADNOC, together with my counterpart, the UAE’s Minister of Industry and Advanced Technology, Dr. Sultan Ahmed Al Jaber,’ Jabbarov wrote.

He noted that the agreement will expand the partnership between SOCAR and XRG in the natural gas production sector, focusing on energy supply diversification.

According to Jabbarov, the agreement holds strategic importance for strengthening economic relations between Azerbaijan and the UAE, attracting new investments into Azerbaijan’s energy infrastructure, diversifying national revenues, and reinforcing Azerbaijan’s role as a reliable energy partner.

The Muay Thai fighters who will represent Azerbaijan at the 6th Islamic Solidarity Games have been officially announced, Azernews reports.

The national team includes Khayal Aliyev, Emili Rzayeva, Ali Aliyev, and Selahaddin Gojazade, who will compete in the event.

The 2025 Islamic Solidarity Games are set to take place on November 7-21 in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, marking the sixth edition of this multi-sport event for athletes from countries that are members of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC).

Approximately 3,500 athletes from 57 countries will compete in the 2025 Islamic Solidarity Games

The event is expected to feature a wide array of sports, with athletes from across the Muslim world competing to promote solidarity and cultural exchange through sports?.

Recall that Azerbaijan hosted the Islamic Solidarity Games in 2017. A total of 24 disciplines from 21 sports were contested in this edition of the Islamic Solidarity Games.

Some sports also include disabled sports events such as athletics and judo.

A delegation from Beijing Foreign Studies University (BFSU) has paid an official visit to the Azerbaijan State University of Economics (UNEC), Azernews reports.

During the meeting with UNEC Rector Professor Adalat Muradov, the two sides discussed new directions for academic and institutional cooperation between their universities.

Professor Muradov highlighted UNEC’s adoption of international standards in English-language education, emphasizing that the university’s goal is to ensure every graduate achieves at least an intermediate level of English proficiency. He expressed particular interest in learning from BFSU’s extensive experience in foreign language instruction.

The rector noted that teaching and administrative processes at UNEC have been fully digitalized, with plans to integrate artificial intelligence technologies in the near future. He also announced that UNEC is establishing an Artificial Intelligence Laboratory as part of this broader digital transformation.

Professor Muradov recalled that, since 2019, more than 500 young people have participated in online Chinese language courses organized by UNEC’s Confucius Institute, launched at the initiative of Leyla Aliyeva, Vice President of the Heydar Aliyev Foundation. He pointed out that interest in learning Chinese has been steadily growing in Azerbaijan.

He further briefed the delegation on recent agreements reached during his visit to China with various universities and institutions, noting that these partnerships will deepen bilateral educational cooperation.

BFSU Vice President Zhao Gang praised UNEC’s strong standing in international university rankings and commended its achievements in digitalizing education. He said that BFSU currently teaches 101 foreign languages, including Azerbaijani, and operates an innovative learning platform called ‘MOG’ designed to support foreign language acquisition.

During the meeting, both sides reached an agreement on several joint initiatives, including student and faculty exchange programs, the launch of a dual-degree program in ‘Foreign Language + Economics,’ English-language training for UNEC instructors, the establishment of a Foreign Language Learning Center at UNEC, as well as joint academic conferences and translation projects.