Cultural Diplomacy & Heritage: Azerbaijan’s cultural scene gets a spotlight at the Venice Biennale 2026, with Faig Ahmed presenting “The Attention,” a surrealist rug-based installation framed as an ongoing “state of transition.” Arts & Performance: The 2nd Opera Days project wraps with Verdi’s “Otello,” while conductor Ayyub Guliyev says the festival also aims to revive rarely staged Azerbaijani operas and open new paths for young performers. Education & Culture Law: Azerbaijan holds its first master’s thesis defenses in cultural law at Baku State University, signaling a new graduate specialization built to train legal experts for heritage protection and restoration. Digital Services for Heritage: The Culture Ministry expands e-Culture services via the MyCulture portal, letting citizens submit and track heritage-related requests online through a “one-stop shop” model. Human Rights & Journalism: The Council of Europe’s human rights commissioner asks Azerbaijan for clarification on journalist Afgan Sadigov’s resumed criminal case and detention, urging exceptional restraint for pre-trial detention. Privacy in Schools: Turkey issues new rules limiting schools’ sharing of students’ personal data online, including IDs, attendance, grades, health and disciplinary records. Regional Community Life: A Shabbat dinner in Yerevan highlights growing Jewish community ties, including participants with Azerbaijani roots.