Category: Azer News

Poland is advancing a new bill that would ban social media use for children under the age of 15, AzerNEWS reports.

According to the government, the legislation would impose fines on social media companies if their platforms remain accessible to minors and would hold these companies responsible for verifying the ages of their users.

‘We are seeing a worrying decline in the mental health of children and adolescents, as well as a decrease in attention spans and cognitive development,’ said the minister leading the initiative. She added that the exact level of fines for noncompliance is still under discussion.

If passed, Poland would join a growing list of European countries, including Germany, Denmark, France, Spain, and the United Kingdom, that are considering restrictions on young users’ access to platforms deemed harmful or addictive. Regulators argue that such measures are necessary to protect children from exposure to inappropriate content, online bullying, and addictive digital habits.

Some experts suggest that this legislation could also push social media companies to develop ‘youth-safe’ versions of their platforms or introduce stronger parental controls. Others warn that strict bans may drive children to seek workarounds, such as using adult accounts or VPNs, raising new enforcement challenges.

Interestingly, the Polish initiative reflects a broader global debate about the responsibility of tech companies in safeguarding young users, highlighting how governments are increasingly willing to intervene in the digital lives of minors.

In Russia, the Deputy Chairman of the Management Board of Gazprom Neft, Anton Chalyabov, has been detained on suspicion of accepting a large bribe.

As reported by AzerNEWS, citing Interfax, citing an official representative of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Russia, Irina Volk, law enforcement authorities have charged Chalyabov with accepting a bribe totalling approximately 30 million rubles (about $388,000).

‘Law enforcement agencies have brought charges against the Deputy Chairman of the Management Board of Gazprom Neft for accepting a bribe of around 30 million rubles. He has been detained,’ Volk stated.

Police reports indicate that between 2021 and 2022, while serving as branch director of Gazprom Invest, Chalyabov allegedly received illegal payments on multiple occasions from executives of commercial organisations.

The draft law on amending the “Law on Cinematography” has been approved in its third reading, AzerNEWS reports.

The draft was included on the agenda of the National Assembly of Azerbaijan session held on February 27.

The amendments aim to modernize the legal framework for film production in Azerbaijan in line with international best practices, clarify key concepts, expand institutional mechanisms for state support, and enhance the investment attractiveness of the country’s cinema industry.

The draft introduces more precise definitions within the sector. Notably, the law will now explicitly define terms such as “national film,” “foreign film,” “co-production film,” film production,’ and the stages of film production (preparation, shooting, post-production).

The draft also distinguishes between “local producer” and “foreign producer.” These changes clarify the legal status of entities, ensure greater transparency in applying state support and incentive mechanisms, and replace the term “jointly shot film” with “co-produced film” to align Azerbaijani legislation with international legal terminology, improving the language and style of the legal text.

Amendments to Article 3 establish the involvement of foreign producers in film production in Azerbaijan as a distinct component of state policy. This measure facilitates the country’s integration into the international film market and promotes cultural diplomacy.

Provisions added to Article 13 allow partial reimbursement of expenses for foreign and co-produced films in accordance with the Rules. This mechanism, successfully applied in many countries, encourages foreign investment, develops the local service sector, and creates new jobs.

The proposed changes aim to strengthen the legal framework for cinematography in Azerbaijan. They are expected to increase the number of international and co-production projects, attract foreign funding to the national film industry, promote Azerbaijan’s cultural and creative potential on the global stage, and expand cooperation opportunities between the public and private sectors.

The 125th anniversary of the birth of People’s Writer Ali Valiyev has been widely celebrated in Azerbaijan, honoring one of the nation’s most influential literary figures, AzerNEWS reports.

National Library has organized special exhibitions to mark the anniversary of the prominent writer, who left a distinctive mark on the development of 20th-century Azerbaijani prose.

The virtual exhibition is titled “Prominent Writer, People’s Writer Ali Valiyev.” In addition, the library has presented the traditional book exhibition “People’s Writer Ali Valiyev – 125” to its visitors.

The exhibitions feature the writer’s short stories, novellas, novels, essays, fairy tales, and legends, as well as books he edited or wrote prefaces for.

They also demonstrate materials on his life and creative work, memories of prominent figures about him, photographs, and press publications.

Those interested in exploring the virtual exhibition can visit the following link:

Ali Valiyev (1901 – 1983) was a prominent Azerbaijani prose writer, journalist, and cultural figure, whose work played a great role in the Azerbaijani literature.

Valiyev began his literary career while studying at the Baku Central Party School, contributing as an active worker-peasant correspondent to newspapers such as “Kommunist”, “K?ndli”, “G?nc Isçi” and and “Yeni Fikir”.

His early stories were also published in journals including “Inqilab v? M?d?niyy?t”, “Hcum”, “?d?biyyat C?bh?sind?”, establishing him as a notable voice in Soviet Azerbaijani literature.

In 1930, he published his first books, “The Journey of God” and “My Grandmother’s Wrath.” Between 1937 and 1941, he continued to produce significant works such as “Snowy Mountains,” “The Hero,” “The Decorated Shepherd,” and “Proof”.

During the Great Patriotic War (1941-1942), Valiyev served as a writer-journalist on the frontlines, documenting the heroism of soldiers and civilians in his collection “Frontline Stories”.

After the war, he published notable works including the novellas “Gulshan” and “The Spoiled One”, and the novel “The Flowered”, which earned him the prestigious M.F. Akhundov Prize in 1958. Throughout the 1950s and 1960s, he held editorial positions at “Kommunist” newspaper, the Azerbaijan Writers’ Union, and “Azerbaijan” journal.

The writer continued to expand his literary repertoire with historical and contemporary novels, short stories, essays, and children’s literature. Among his significant later works are “Madar’s Epic,” “Friends of the Heart,” “Memories of Budag,” “The Road to Turajli”, and the collections “Gifts for Children” and “A Pair of Stars”. His writings were published in Azerbaijani, Russian, and Ukrainian, reflecting both local and broader Soviet literary currents.

Beyond writing, Ali Valiyev was actively engaged in cultural administration, serving as executive secretary of the Azerbaijan Writers’ Union and editing leading literary journals.

His editorial and organizational work significantly influenced Azerbaijani literature, nurturing younger writers and promoting national literary traditions.

Nadir Imanov has been appointed Vice President for Finance for bp’s Azerbaijan, Georgia and Trkiye (AGT) region, effective April 1, 2026, AzerNEWS reports.

Currently serving as Vice President for Finance for bp’s Middle East and North Africa region, Imanov will assume responsibility for overseeing all financial matters across the AGT region in his new role.

He will report to the Senior Vice President for Finance for Production and Operations at bp’s London office and will lead the company’s regional financial management strategy.

Imanov succeeds Colin Allan, who currently holds the position of Vice President for Finance in the AGT region. Allan will return to the United Kingdom starting April 1.

With this appointment, Imanov becomes the seventh Azerbaijani national to serve as Vice President at bp in Azerbaijan and will join the company’s AGT regional leadership team.

Imanov brings more than 30 years of experience in planning and commercial operations. Throughout his career, primarily with bp, he has led large teams and major business operations across Azerbaijan, Trkiye, Egypt and Oman, building extensive international leadership expertise in the energy sector.

An official welcome ceremony was held in Baku for Prime Minister of the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia Abiy Ahmed Ali on February 27, AzerNEWS reports.

A guard of honor was arranged for the Ethiopian Prime Minister in the square decorated with the national flags of both countries.

President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev and First Lady Mehriban Aliyeva welcomed Prime Minister of Ethiopia Abiy Ahmed Ali and First Lady Zinash Tayachew.

The chief of the guard of honor reported to the Prime Minister of Ethiopia.

The national anthems of the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia and the Republic of Azerbaijan were played.

The guard of honor marched in front of President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev and Prime Minister of Ethiopia Abiy Ahmed Ali to the accompaniment of a military march.

Both leaders posed for official photographs.

Germany’s decision to develop its next-generation fighter aircraft with France rather than the United Kingdom has been described as a strategic error by former Airbus chief executive Tom Enders.

As reported by AzerNEWS, Enders openly criticized the Paris-Berlin cooperation under the Future Combat Air System (SCAF/FCAS) program, Europe’s flagship next-generation combat aircraft initiative.

He characterized the choice as politically driven and strategically flawed, suggesting that Germany would have been better off partnering with the United Kingdom or Sweden’s defense company Saab instead.

In an article published by the German media outlet Redaktionsnetzwerk Deutschland, Enders, who served as CEO of Airbus from 2005 to 2019 argued that the 2017 decision, taken in the aftermath of Brexit, was motivated more by political considerations than by military necessity.

While noting that Germany is technically capable of developing a fighter jet independently, Enders stressed that pursuing such a path would be impractical and economically inefficient.

His remarks come at a time of growing industrial and political tensions surrounding the SCAF program, with German Chancellor Friedrich Merz also expressing open doubts about the project’s direction.

An international scientific conference titled ‘Founders and Lessons of the First Turkology Congress: History and Modernity’ is being held in Baku to commemorate the 100th anniversary of the landmark First Turkology Congress.

As reported by AzerNEWS, a century has passed since the historic First Turkology Congress convened in 1926 in the Azerbaijani capital – an event that played a pivotal role in the development of global Turkology studies.

The conference is taking place in the Grand Assembly Hall of the Azerbaijan National Academy of Sciences on Istiglaliyyat Street, the same venue where the original congress was held from February 26 to March 6, 1926, in what is now the Presidium building of the Academy.

As noted in the official decree signed on October 22, 2025, by Ilham Aliyev on celebrating the 100th anniversary of the First Turkology Congress, Baku hosted the historic event in the early 20th century due to its distinguished intellectual environment and its recognition as one of the leading centers of global Turkology.

The revival of the congress in Baku is seen as opening broad prospects for strengthening cooperation and expanding ties among Turkic peoples who share common historical roots and national-spiritual values.

The conference has brought together representatives and scholars from Trkiye, Northern Cyprus, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan and Kazakhstan, highlighting the continued relevance of Turkic unity and academic collaboration.

It is worth noting that the 80th and 90th anniversaries of the First Turkology Congress were also commemorated at a high level in accordance with presidential decrees.

On February 27, an official luncheon was given in honor of Prime Minister of Ethiopia Abiy Ahmed Ali and First Lady Zinash Tayachew on behalf of President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev and First Lady Mehriban Aliyeva, AzerNEWS reports.

Khatai Arts Center will host the opening of the “Winter Tale” art competition project, AzerNEWS reports.

The project is held under the motto “Touch Nature, Depict Its Mystery” and is organized for children, teenagers, and young people aged 8 to 21.

More than 1,000 applications were received from various regions, and participants submitted over 1,500 artworks dedicated to winter themes.

The submitted works reflect scenes of winter evenings, winter landscapes, the mood created by snowy weather, snow-covered scenery, the “winter sleep” of nature, and imaginative winter compositions. The selected artworks will be presented in turn at the Khatai Arts Center.

The exhibition will be held on March 3, March 4, and March 5, with visiting hours at 12:00 and 16:00.

Each participant whose work is exhibited will receive a certificate. In addition, the authors of the 30 best works will be awarded commemorative gifts. The artworks will not be returned; they will become part of the collection of the Khatai Children’s Art Gallery and will be used for exhibitions and participation in cultural events.

It is also noted that schoolchildren from Estonia are participating in the exhibition. Their works will be printed by the organizers, displayed as part of the exhibition, and the authors will receive certificates.

The organizers express confidence that the “Winter Tale” exhibition will help foster a respectful attitude toward nature among the younger generation, draw attention to environmental protection issues, and reveal the creative potential of children and youth.

The selected works and their authors can be viewed at the following link:

The organizers of the project are Azerbaijan Artists’ Union, Azerbaijan State Art Gallery, Khatai Children’s Arts Gallery and Khatai Arts Center.

The event is supported by Azerbaijan State Academy of Fine Arts, Azerbaijan Television and Radio Broadcasting, Khatai District Executive Power and Artists’ Unionof the Nakhchivan Autonomous Republic.

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