Category: Azer News

Egypt’s former minister of tourism and antiquities, Khaled El Enany, was nominated on Monday as the next Director General of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), Azernews reports.

The announcement came after the conclusion of voting during the 222nd session of UNESCO’s Executive Board in Paris.

It is worth noting that, this candidacy will then be approved by the General Conference in November.

The Azerbaijani Cultural Center in Vienna has once again participated in the “Long Night of Museums” project, organized by the Austrian Broadcasting Corporation (ORF), Azernews reports.

More than 700 museums, galleries, and cultural institutions across Austria, with nearly 200 from the capital Vienna, took part in the event.

The Azerbaijani Cultural Center presented the exhibition titled “In the Beginning Was the Word… and Music, Colors, and Thoughts”.

This exhibition, held in collaboration with the Azerbaijan National Art Museum, the Azerbaijan State Theater Museum, Azerbaijan State Museum of Musical Culture, the Azerbaijan National Academy of Sciences (ANAS), and ADA University, showcased the development of the national cultural identity formed in Azerbaijan through literature, music, theater, and fine arts.

At the heart of the exhibition were the life and work of Mirza Gadim Iravani, Uzeyir Hajibayli, Hasan bay Zardabi, and Mirza Fatali Akhundov, focusing on their contributions to Azerbaijani culture, modern perspectives, and ideas of enlightenment.

The exhibition, which attracted hundreds of visitors, also featured the European debut of the works of Mirza Gadim Iravani, whose 200th anniversary is being celebrated this year. Iravani played a crucial role in the development of 19th-century national visual arts in Azerbaijan.

Additionally, to promote the upcoming new production of Uzeyir Hajibayli’s “The Cloth Peddler” operetta in Vienna, arias and duets from the work were performed. The performances by Gunel Shirinova (soprano), Lukas Kartzel (tenor), and Tamilla Sadigbayli (piano) were met with great interest and applause.

A special program was also prepared for young visitors. Azerbaijani Cultural Center staff Rashida Asgarli and Guler Azizova presented a puppet show in German, based on the motifs of the fairy tale “Cirtdan”.

For the 25th time, the Austrian Broadcasting Corporation organized the “Long Night of Museums,” where a ticket purchased for one museum grants access to other participating museums for the evening.

Last year, over 300,000 visitors attended the museums during the event, with half of them visiting locations in the capital, Vienna.

On October 6, President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev met with Prime Minister of Hungary Viktor Orbán in Gabala, Azernews reports.

President of the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus Ersin Tatar arrived in Azerbaijan on October 6 to participate in the 12th Summit of the Council of Heads of State of the Organization of Turkic States (OTS), Azernews reports.

The 11th Baku International Book Fair has opened at the Baku Expo Center, featuring the participation of hundreds of local and international organizations, Azernews reports.

Among the most visited pavilions was the booth of ICESCO’s Regional Office in Baku, which attracted a diverse range of visitors, including academics, students, publishers, and culture enthusiasts.

Throughout the fair, the booth has served as a hub for dialogue and the exchange of ideas. Visitors have had the chance to explore publications from five different countries, engage in discussions on scientific and literary heritage, and learn more about ICESCO’s initiatives in education, science, and culture.

Dr. Abdulhakeem AlSenan, Director of ICESCO’s Baku Regional Office, noted that the strong interest reflects growing attention to ICESCO’s mission.

“Our booth has become a vibrant platform for communication, idea-sharing, and promoting a culture of reading and knowledge exchange,” he said.

Over the course of the seven-day fair, more than 220 events will take place.

The significant interest in ICESCO’s booth underscores the importance of this space for cultural exchange and intellectual dialogue.

Note that the main task of ICESCO’s Regional Office in Baku, which opened on April 29, 2025, is to coordinate cooperation between the countries of the Caucasus and Central Asia – Azerbaijan, Uzbekistan, Tajikistan, Kazakhstan, and Kyrgyzstan.

This region is home to unique cultural treasures, ranging from the Great Silk Road to various examples of intangible heritage, and is capable of playing a significant role in shaping the global cultural landscape.

With its rich cultural legacy, Azerbaijan joined the Islamic World Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organisation (ICESCO) in 1991.

Since then, Azerbaijan has actively promoted the preservation of its Islamic cultural heritage.

The country successfully collaborates closely with various organisations, including the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation, the Islamic Development Bank, the Islamic Conference of Parliamentary Union, and the Islamic Conference of Youth Forum.

The 11th Baku International Book Fair runs until October 7 at the Baku Expo Center.

This year’s fair, under the theme “Technoman: yesterday’s legend, today’s event,” provides a platform for in-depth discussions on the role of technology in shaping human life within the modern scientific and cultural context.

The event features 41 international organizations from 18 countries, alongside over 100 local publishers, printing houses, and book-related institutions.

Over 250 events, including masterclasses for both children and adults, book presentations on topics like inclusion, book signings, conferences, symposiums, contests, as well as reading and music sessions are being held throughout the fair.

Notable authors and scholars from countries including Turkiye, Argentina, the UK, Lithuania, Qatar, and more are participating in the event.

Shuttle buses are available for visitors from “Elml?r Akademiyasi,” “28 May,” and “Koroglu” metro stations to the Baku Expo Center. Entry to the fair is free, and it is open daily from 10:00 to 20:00.

Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban arrived in Azerbaijan on October 6 to attend the 12th Summit of the Council of Heads of State of the Organization of Turkic States (OTS), Azernews reports.

A guard of honor was lined up at Gabala International Airport in honor of the high-ranking guest.

Orban was welcomed at the airport by Azerbaijani Minister of Culture Adil Karimli and other officials.

The Organization of Turkic States (OTS), previously known as the Turkic Council or the Cooperation Council of Turkic Speaking States, is an intergovernmental entity that includes all but one of the internationally recognized Turkic sovereign nations. The primary objective is to foster extensive collaboration among the Turkic nations. The General Secretariat of OTS is situated in Istanbul, Trkiye.

Although many Swedish schools offer instruction in English, current legislation allows the hiring of foreign teachers without a Swedish teaching license. According to the law, these teachers must have an educational background equivalent to a Swedish teaching degree and must be capable of teaching in English. However, it has emerged that no government body is actively verifying whether these requirements are actually being met, Azernews reports.

Recent inspections have revealed that many of these teachers are not native English speakers, and in several cases, their pedagogical qualifications are questionable. The responsibility for checking teacher credentials falls entirely on individual schools – a situation that, according to education experts, poses a serious risk to the quality of education.

‘This is unacceptable. The state must ensure that laws and standards are enforced,’ said a representative of Almega Utbildning, a trade organization representing private education providers in Sweden.

Sweden’s Education Minister, Simone Mohamsson, acknowledged the lack of oversight and admitted there are no reliable statistics on how many schools are employing such teachers. ‘It is unacceptable that teachers in Swedish classrooms may not be proficient in either Swedish or English,’ she said, calling for a formal review of the current legal framework.

Sweden has seen a rise in international and bilingual schools in recent years, largely due to increased globalization and growing demand from expatriate families and internationally-minded Swedes. However, this push for internationalization may be outpacing regulatory oversight. Critics warn that without stricter control, the reputation of Sweden’s education system-which is traditionally known for high standards-could be at risk.

Kur Olympic Training and Sports Center has hosted rowing competitions as part of the third CIS Games, Azernews reports.

Based on the results of the two-day competition, Azerbaijani rowers have won a total of four medals.

Alimurad Hajizade claimed the silver medal. Amil Ramazanov won two bronze medals.

The duet of Ivan Vorobyanski and Huseyn Hasanov secured third place and earned a bronze medal.

Azerbaijan is hosting the third Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) Games from September 28 to October 8, 2025, marking a significant event in the region’s sports calendar.

This multi-sport competition brings together athletes from CIS member states and invited countries, aiming to promote friendship, cooperation, and athletic excellence.

For the first time in the history of the CIS Games, competitions are being held across seven cities in Azerbaijan: Ganja, Mingachevir, Gabala, Shaki, Goygol, Yevlakh, and Khankandi.

Each city hosts events in different sports, with the second-largest city, Ganja, serving as the main hub and officially designated the CIS Sports Capital for 2025.

Around 23 sports are being contested across 12 venues, highlighting a broad and inclusive athletic program.

A total of 1,624 athletes from 13 countries had confirmed participation. Event mascots Babir and Leyla are helping to generate enthusiasm among young fans.

On November 2, Azerbaijan will celebrate the 5th anniversary of its glorious victory in the 44-day Patriotic War, Azernews reports.

To mark this occasion, the Ministry of Youth and Sports, in collaboration with the Baku City Circuit Operations Company and the Azerbaijan Athletics Federation, will organize the next charity event, the “Victory Run.”

The Victory Run will start near the “Seven Beauties” fountain in the Seaside National Park. The run will cover a distance of 10 km, and the participants who reach the finish line first will be declared winners and awarded prizes.

In addition to the race, various interesting and entertaining activities will be organized. All participants who reach the finish line will receive a medal. They will also be able to download their participant certificate from the official website of the event.

Those who wish to join the race, held under the slogan “Pride Forward,” must pay a minimum registration fee of 20 manat for charitable purposes. The funds raised from the run will be donated to YASHAT Foundation.

The Victory Run has been held annually since 2021 as a tradition.

On October 6, President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev met with President of the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus Ersin Tatar in Gabala, Azernews reports.