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Taming the monstrous domestic violence in marriage

Domestic violence, which is a prominent aspect of marital abuse, is fast becoming a recurring decimal. It’s something that we must not treat with kid gloves – not with the reported incident of last week, resulting in the death of a lieutenant in the Nigerian Army, during a marital conflict between him and his wife, a few months old in the marriage. He was set ablaze in the scuffle. That’s why I am returning to domestic violence this week, and probably, the next one or two weeks, as we revisit this monster ravaging the marriage institution.

I was provoked to do this because of the serious damage it’s causing the marriage institution, making it less attractive for more people in society. Last year, I read about what the Emir of Kano, His Royal Majesty, Sanusi Lamido Sanusi, reportedly said some time ago. He was reported to have said that he would slap any daughter of his who came to report that her husband slapped her, without her returning the slap.

As if that was not enough, the husband of my dearest sister, some time ago, violently inflicted injury on her body.

These two incidents informed my decision to consider the issue of marital abuse again, so as to make sanity prevail in an abusive marriage as much as possible.

My heart bleeds for the abused. May the soul of the dead in last week’s marital violence rest in perfect peace.

Abusive marriage is one that one should not wish for, even for an adversary. It comes in various shades and versions. It’s something I don’t like to think about because it stirs up emotions in me. Though it’s very common for men to be the abuser, a few cases end up with the wives as the abuser. In last week’s incident, the accusing finger points to the wife as the aggressor who set her husband ablaze. Whichever way, it’s not good for our society, and it must be fought to a standstill.

Abusive by definition means to treat someone badly by coarse, insulting words or other maltreatment, vituperative, reproachful, or scurrilous – first attested in the early 17th century – according to the free dictionary, Wiktionary. It involves being physically or emotionally injurious; characterised by repeated violence or other abuse.

For the marriage institution, an abuse is characterised by the bad treatment of a spouse in all respects and manner of physical, sexual, and emotional torture. It’s a scary situation that leaves a lasting, damaging effect on the abused, which may culminate in death if there is no timely intervention. This is why it should be a source of serious concern for all.

Traits of an abusive marriage

These tell you that a marriage is abusive in nature. Whenever a marriage evidences any or all of the following traits, it’s suffering from abuse.

Isolation of a spouse. One spouse is isolated from friends, family members, and neighbours. No visitors, no phone calls, or outings by the abused. When this is noticed about a marriage, those around and family members, and friends must do more than pay lip service to the situation.

Secrecy. This means information about the family is gagged. The abused is prohibited from talking to anyone, including her siblings and parents, about the affairs of the marriage or family. So, it’s difficult to know what goes on in the marriage. It thrives under the notion ‘let’s keep our secrets, secret.’

Physical hurts or bruises. One common way to identify an abusive marriage is physical scars. You notice that the abused, usually the wives, have bloodshot eyes, bruises on the face, broken lips, and the like. When you make an enquiry, the answer is very similar – a fall in the bathroom or the staircase, or a collision with the door, etc. In reality, the common hidden reason is a physical assault on the wife by her husband. Many times, we have ignored such signs or swallowed the proffered reasons, line, hook, sinker, ignorantly, to the detriment of the abused. This must not be allowed henceforth.

Irrational or weird behaviour. Putting words into the mouth of the spouse, living in perpetual fear of the spouse, jittery, or having incoherent speech. These should trigger anyone’s curiosity about a marriage.

These are some of the pointers to an abusive marriage. We must watch out for more and be our neighbours’ keeper. Lives can be saved and destiny salvaged through such an intervention.

Weapons of the abuser

For an abusive marriage to thrive, the abuser usually employs the following weapons:

Intimidation. It means to make someone afraid. Fear is created in the heart of someone. You make one feel weaker and unable to withstand someone or something. The purpose and the intent of intimidation is to dominate and control someone, for a selfish advantage. In an abusive marriage, fear is created in the abused to dominate him or her, to make him or her dance to one’s tune. That’s why the abused scarcely talks to another person about his or her situation in the marriage.

Control. This is to dictate to someone what to do or not to do. It’s like issuing a command that must not be disobeyed. This makes the abused vulnerable without going beyond the dictates of the abuser.

Manipulation. This is the act of exerting undue influence on someone to gain control over him or her, for one’s selfish advantage. Manipulation plays on the mind of someone so as to make him or her subjective to the ways and manners of the abuser. In marriage, the abused is influenced in such a way to obey and accept any position or proposal presented by the abuser. It usually presents false narratives about people, events, and situations.

Threats of physical and emotional torture. This is a major weapon of the abuser. It threatens dire consequences for the abused if he or she doesn’t abide by the instructions or wishes of the abuser. Such threats are usually executed at the slightest opportunity to achieve the aim of the abuser.

These are simply to keep the abused traumatised in such a way to prevent her from reaching out to others for help. In most cases, it takes advantage of the weaknesses of the abused in terms of blind love, poor family background, and previous bad experiences to traumatise her. These make the abused unable to stand up to the abuser. It’s a terrible situation that is unpalatable.

We must all be armed to recognise an abusive marriage, as well as be able to confront it headlong to save vulnerable partners from agony or even death.

We will conclude this on the steps to take to deal with the monster called abusive marriage in the next write-up.

You can avail yourself of copies of my books, ‘Enjoying Great Sex Life’, and ‘How To Help Your Wife Enjoy Sex’. Contact 08112658560 for details. SMS only

Special infra body feels press for more lawyers, promised funds

Independent Commission for Infrastructure (ICI) Chair Andres Reyes Jr. said on Friday that ‘it will take some time’ for the commission to have rules and procedures for livestreaming its hearings because they do not have enough lawyers to process such legal matters.

Reyes said this after he said on Thursday that the commission would need to study and draft the rules of procedure and parameters before it goes on livestreaming its hearings.

‘I don’t know. It will take some time,’ Reyes noted when asked ‘how soon’ the ICI would have the livestreaming procedures, as the commission only has a total of 13 lawyers.

‘We have to look at the procedures of all the courts, all the heading bodies. We have to remember we only have five lawyers. So, it’ll take some time,’ Reyes said.

‘We borrowed eight from the PAO (Public Attorney’s Office). So, now we have 13. But we’re undermanned. But we will try to finish it,’ he added.

No volunteers

Protesters staged a rally at the ICI headquarters in Taguig City on Friday amid calls for accountability and justice.

The ICI released the statement in response to the disaster survivors and progressive groups who conducted Black Friday protest in front of the commission’s gate on Friday morning to condemn the alleged whitewashing and cover-ups in the commission’s investigation process. ‘The ICI hears and understands the public’s call for accountability and justice. The Commission is one with them against corruption,’ the ICI said in the statement.

‘The Commission remains committed to fulfilling its mandate of gathering evidence and testimonies related to anomalous flood control and other infrastructure projects in the country,’ it pointed out.

But ICI noted that it is only about ’40 days old’ and is a newly established entity.

‘Our budget approval with DBM (Department of Budget and Management) is still pending, and resources remain limited. Despite multiple constraints, we continue to move quickly while maintaining thoroughness and accuracy in vetting the reports and data submitted to us,’ the ICI noted. ‘Before referring cases to the Office of the Ombudsman, we ensure that all findings are substantiated and capable of withstanding scrutiny in the court of law to prevent dismissal,’ said the ICI.

Enrile, Reyes, Napoles cleared in ‘pork’ case

The Sandiganbayan on Friday acquitted former Senate President Juan Ponce Enrile of 15 graft charges in connection with the alleged diversion of P172.8 million of his pork barrel funds, clearing all criminal complaints against the 101-year-old presidential legal counsel.

The antigraft court’s Special Third Division also acquitted Enrile’s former chief of staff, Jessica Lucila ‘Gigi’ Reyes, and businesswoman Janet Lim Napoles, who is serving time for a separate plunder conviction as mastermind of the P10-billion scam involving lawmakers’ Priority Development Assistance Fund (PDAF).

In its 193-page decision, the three-member division ruled that there was ‘clear lack of evidence’ showing that Enrile had received any form of kickbacks or commissions for endorsing the nongovernmental organizations (NGOs) linked to Napoles for projects using his PDAF from 2004 to 2010.

Under the scheme, PDAF allocations for senators and congressmen were funneled into a network of bogus NGOs run by Napoles in exchange for kickbacks.

The court noted that one of the prosecution’s witnesses, Ruby Tuason, could not substantiate the allegation that Enrile received kickbacks from Napoles for his PDAF.

The antigraft court also noticed inconsistencies between the statements of Tuason and whistleblower Benhur Luy regarding the alleged kickbacks received by Enrile and Reyes.

‘Tuason claimed that the commission from the PDAF transactions was released in three tranches, whereas Luy stated that there were only two,’ the court said in a ruling by Associate Justices Ronald Moreno, the division chair, Arthur Malabaguio and Juliet Manalo-San Gaspar. ‘These discrepancies cast doubt on the reliability of accounts regarding the alleged receipt of kickbacks,’ the court said, adding that Luy admitted that he never met Enrile, never saw him visit Napoles’ office, nor witnessed the former senator’s supposed agents delivering kickbacks to him.

Tuason, a former Malacañang social secretary during the Estrada administration, supposedly gave the kickbacks to Reyes for Enrile.

Luy is a cousin of Napoles who served as a finance officer for the latter’s company, JLN Corp.

The Sandiganbayan said that the prosecution failed to establish that Enrile’s endorsement of the NGOs was ‘made with evident bad faith or manifest partiality, or that he demanded or received kickbacks or commissions from his PDAF in exchange for his endorsement of the NGOs.’

Enrile and Napoles, who is an inmate at the Correctional Institution for Women in Mandaluyong City, both attended the promulgation remotely.

Enrile appeared briefly via Zoom during the reading of the decision, looking frail on a hospital bed with a tube inserted in his nose. Court officers ordered photographers not to take pictures of him on a TV screen.

Reyes was present in court during Friday’s promulgation hearing. When asked for her reaction to the antigraft court’s decision, she said she was ‘thankful’ and ‘grateful.’

The court pointed out that the complaints against Enrile and the others specifically alleged that they received kickbacks from portions of Enrile’s pork barrel funds, but the evidence was not enough to convict.

‘Overall, the court finds that the evidence for the prosecution does not pass the test of moral certainty and is insufficient to rebut the constitutional presumption of innocence,’ the Sandiganbayan said.

The court explained that conviction of the accused-in any case-must not rest on the weakness of the defense, but on the strength of the prosecution.

‘The burden is on the prosecution to prove guilt beyond reasonable doubt, not on the accused to prove his or her innocence,’ the court said. ‘With the prosecution having failed to discharge its burden establishing the accused’s guilt beyond reasonable doubt, the court is constrained, as is its bounden duty when reasonable doubt persists, to acquit them.’

All 35 acquitted

In all, Enrile and 34 coaccused, including Reyes and Napoles, were acquitted. Four other accused were dismissed from the cases due to their deaths and one for lack of probable cause. Nine others had not been arraigned and are at large.

Excepting Enrile, Reyes and more than a dozen others, the Sandiganbayan ordered Napoles and about six other coaccused, to jointly pay the government a total of P338 million in amounts ranging from P8 million to P40 million for each of the 15 counts of graft.

The Sandiganbayan explained that acquitted persons could still be held civilly liable if sufficient evidence showed they caused damage to the government.

‘A person acquitted of a criminal charge is not necessarily civilly free because the quantum of proof required in criminal prosecution (proof beyond reasonable doubt) is greater than that required for civil liability (mere preponderance of evidence),’ it said.

The Sandiganbayan said the funds lost from PDAF were ‘actual damages suffered by the government.’

The court pointed out that Napoles and the other individuals who were made to pay had facilitated the release of the PDAF funds.

In the case of Napoles, the court said the ‘preponderance of evidence’ that she ‘owned and controlled the NGOs that received public funds.’

The Sandiganbayan ruling was criticized by the Center for People Empowerment in Governance (CenPeg), which said that the acquittal only underscored the ‘entrenched culture of impunity and nonaccountability among the country’s political elite.’

‘This development comes amid growing public outrage over the ongoing flood control corruption scandal, where billions of pesos in public funds were allegedly diverted from infrastructure projects intended to protect lives and communities,’ said the public policy advocacy group.

‘Taken together, these events reveal a justice system that continues to favor the powerful while the ordinary Filipino bears the brunt of corruption, poverty and recurring disasters,’ it also said.

Former Justice Secretary and currently Mamamayang Liberal Rep. Leila de Lima also lambasted the decision by the Sandiganbayan, noting how this could be frustrating for the Department of Justice and the Office of the Ombudsman after they built up the case years ago.

De Lima, who was the justice chief at the time, said the pieces of evidence they collected were ‘strong enough’ that even the bail requests of Enrile and Reyes were denied by the court.

‘Public’s short memory’

‘The problem is the slow wheels of justice, with the accused relying on the public’s short memory to eventually be absolved because of less scrutiny over their cases over years of trial,’ De Lima said.

‘But then, some people are just really luckier than others,’ De Lima noted. ‘Faith in our justice system is difficult to achieve and/or sustain if the courts apply a different kind of justice to privileged offenders as compared to common accused.’

The Inquirer exposed the P10-billion scandal in a series of reports in 2013, prompting investigations that led to indictments against Napoles and some lawmakers.

In June 2014, the Office of the Ombudsman filed separate criminal charges against Enrile and Senators Ramon ‘Bong’ Revilla Jr. and Jinggoy Estrada, with Napoles as their coaccused, for plunder and multiple counts of graft in connection with the pork barrel scam. Weeks later, the Sandiganbayan ordered their arrest.

Enrile allegedly pocketed more than P172 million in payoffs from his pork barrel. Reyes, his chief of staff then, was charged along with him.

Granted bail

He was detained at the Philippine National Police General Hospital while Estrada and Revilla were held at the PNP Custodial Center in Camp Crame.

Citing his advanced age and poor health, the Supreme Court granted bail to Enrile in August 2015.

President Marcos appointed Enrile as his presidential legal counsel in 2022. Enrile was the defense minister who led a mutiny against Ferdinand Marcos Sr. that triggered the 1986 Edsa People Power Revolution that drove the Marcoses from Malacañang.

In September 2023, the Sandiganbayan allowed Enrile to file a demurrer to evidence for his plunder case.

On Oct. 4, 2024, the court granted the separate demurrers from Enrile and Napoles in the plunder case, dismissing the case against them. The Sandiganbayan denied a similar motion filed by Reyes, but acquitted her in a trial.

Obasanjo drops bombshell: Why I didn’t make El-Rufai my successor in 2007

Former President Olusegun Obasanjo has revealed that he once turned down a proposal suggesting Nasir El-Rufai, then Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, as his successor at the end of his administration in 2007.

He said the former Kaduna governor was ‘not yet mature enough’ to lead Nigeria at the time.

Obasanjo made the startling revelation on Friday during the second edition of the Ajibosin Platform Annual Symposium held in Abeokuta, Ogun State.

The former president spoke in reaction to a speech by former Minister of Aviation, Osita Chidoka, who delivered the keynote address at the event.

Chidoka had recounted how El-Rufai introduced him to Obasanjo at the age of 34, a meeting that later led to his appointment as Corps Marshal of the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC).

But Obasanjo, cutting in mid-speech, decided to complete what he called ‘the missing part of the story.’

‘Let him tell you,’ Obasanjo said with a smile. ‘He didn’t mention that when I was leaving government, he was pushing that his friend, El-Rufai, should be brought in as my successor.’

Turning to Chidoka, the former president added playfully, ‘No be so?’ This prompted laughter from the audience as Chidoka nodded in agreement.

Obasanjo then went on to explain why he dismissed the idea.

‘I did not yield to the pressure. Later, he asked why I didn’t agree, and I told him El-Rufai needed to mature. Many years later, after seeing his performance, he came back to me and said, ‘You were absolutely correct, El-Rufai needed to mature.”

The former president, however, struck a conciliatory tone, praising both men and other members of his former team, whom he described as ‘individuals with special attributes’ who played significant roles in the success of his administration between 1999 and 2007.

Ooni, Alaafin reunite in Lagos, seal historic Yoruba Unity Pact

In a landmark move to strengthen peace and solidarity across Yorubaland, the Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Enitan Ogunwusi, Ojaja II, and the Alaafin of Oyo, Oba Abimbola Owoade, met in Lagos on Friday, reaffirming their shared commitment to unity, cultural preservation, and mutual respect among the Yoruba people.

The historic meeting, held at the Eko Hotel Signature Building, was convened by the Odole Oodua of The Source, Sir Dr. Kessington Adebutu, as part of his birthday celebration.

In a joint communiqué issued after the session, both monarchs announced the establishment of a Joint Council for Yoruba Unity, a body dedicated to promoting peacebuilding, cultural preservation, and socioeconomic advancement throughout Yorubaland.

The communiqué described the meeting as a defining moment in Yoruba history, emphasizing that the strength of the Yoruba nation lies in unity and collective progress.

‘Today marks a defining moment in our shared history. We are committed to promoting harmony among Yoruba sons and daughters and upholding the sacred values of mutual respect and brotherhood bequeathed to us by our forebears,’ the communiqué stated.

The gathering, attended by eminent Yoruba leaders, traditional rulers, and cultural custodians, focused on fostering inter-kingdom cooperation and encouraging other monarchs to emulate the spirit of reconciliation demonstrated by the Ooni and Alaafin.

In their closing prayers, both royal fathers jointly sought divine guidance, peace, and prosperity for Yorubaland, Nigeria, and the African continent. The event ended with an exchange of royal blessings and goodwill between the two revered thrones.

Sir Adebutu expressed delight at witnessing the renewed unity between the monarchs, describing it as ‘a milestone that will strengthen peace and progress among the Yoruba people.’

The communiqué was jointly signed by Ooni Adeyeye Ogunwusi and Alaafin Abimbola Owoade, and witnessed by Sir Dr. Kessington Adebutu. It was issued by Aare Dr. Kola Oyefeso, Secretary of the Communiqué Drafting Committee.

More sexual abuse raps filed vs PNPA exec

Two more cadets of the Philippine National Police Academy in Silang, Cavite have filed complaints of sexual abuse against a PNPA official who was arrested in July for a similar offense.

The complainants said the suspect, a police major and tactical officer at the PNPA, brought them to his quarters where the abuse happened.

They said the abuses also occurred in July.

PNPA chief Brig. Gen. Andre Dizon said one of the complainants is facing dismissal for violating the honor code while the other has academic problems.

‘The suspect offered to help cadets with problems in their schooling. By doing so, he was able to earn their trust, which led to abuses,’ Dizon said.

Public may request voter registration in preferred areas

The public or any group can request the Commission on Elections (Comelec) to conduct voter registration in their preferred sites.

While each office of election officer is mandated to conduct satellite voter registration, the poll body can hold the activity in areas suggested by voters, according to Comelec Resolution 11177.

‘Any interested party may request for the establishment of additional satellite registration sites subject to the approval of (poll) officials,’ the Comelec said.

Satellite voter registration activities require that the number of prospective applicants in a proposed venue must not be lower than 200, the Comelec said.

In remote areas where only a few registrants are eligible, the number of prospective applicants must not be lower than 50.

The Comelec said the activity must be held in a public or private property not owned, leased or occupied by any incumbent national or local official, or by any person related to them within the fourth civil degree of consanguinity or affinity.

The holding of voter registration must be at no additional cost to the poll body.

‘Election officers will evaluate and recommend actions to the office of the Provincial Election Supervisor regarding such requests,’ the Comelec said.

The voter registration for the barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan elections scheduled in November next year resumed on Oct. 20 and will run until May 18, 2026.

President Ilham Aliyev sends congratulatory letter to Kazakh leader Kassym-Jomart Tokayev

President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev has sent a congratulatory letter to President of Kazakhstan Kassym-Jomart Tokayev on the occasion of his country’s national holiday, Azernews reports.

“Dear Kassym-Jomart Kemelevich,

On behalf of myself and the people of Azerbaijan, I am pleased to convey to you, and through you, to the brotherly people of your country, my sincerest congratulations and best wishes on the occasion of the national holiday of the Republic of Kazakhstan – Republic Day.

The brilliant successes achieved by Kazakhstan in every field, its economic development, the improvement of the well-being of its population, and its high prestige in the international arena are the results of the significant reforms implemented under your leadership and your tireless efforts.

The common historical and cultural roots of our peoples are among the primary factors shaping our interstate cooperation. Relations between our brotherly countries are developing in the spirit of mutual trust and high respect. The “Treaty on Strategic Partnership and Allied Relations between the Republic of Azerbaijan and the Republic of Kazakhstan,” the 20th anniversary of which we marked this year, vividly reflects the strategic nature of our interstate relations.

The intensity of our political contacts, the presence of mutual understanding at the highest level, and active dialogue create a favorable ground for deepening our cooperation in various fields, particularly in trade and economic relations, energy – including green energy – transport, investment, information technologies, cultural and humanitarian spheres, and other areas.

The results achieved, the agreements reached, and the documents signed during my recent state visit to your brotherly country are a clear manifestation of our unwavering will and determination to further deepen our relations.

I am confident that we will continue our joint efforts successfully in the future to strengthen the brotherhood, reliable strategic partnership, and alliance between Azerbaijan and Kazakhstan, as well as to comprehensively expand our cooperation.

On this joyous day, I wish you good health, happiness, and success in your high state activities, and lasting peace, prosperity, and abundance to the brotherly people of Kazakhstan,” the letter reads.

Azerbaijan’s rising voice in Global Urban Governance

Azerbaijan’s election as Co-Chair of the United Nations Intergovernmental Working Group on ‘Adequate Housing for All’ marks yet another chapter in the country’s growing influence within the global policy architecture. The decision, taken at the UN-Habitat headquarters in Nairobi, is more than a ceremonial appointment – it is a recognition of Baku’s vision for sustainable urban development, inclusive housing, and forward-looking governance.

At a time when many nations grapple with the urban crises of overcrowding, inequality, and environmental degradation, Azerbaijan stands out as a model of balanced modernization. The country’s urban policy, shaped by both social responsibility and smart planning, demonstrates that progress and human dignity can coexist – a principle the global North has often failed to reconcile.

Over the past two decades, Baku has transformed from a post-Soviet industrial city into a dynamic urban hub that blends heritage with innovation. Its skyline, infrastructure, and green development initiatives reveal a deliberate strategy: to build cities that serve people, not just capital. This approach, rooted in the idea of ‘people-centered smart cities,’ lies at the core of UN-Habitat’s global agenda – and Azerbaijan’s leadership within this framework is therefore no coincidence.

The Co-Chairmanship shared with Somalia for the 2025-2026 term symbolizes the growing participation of the Global South in shaping international norms. For decades, housing policy and urban planning were dictated by Western institutions whose models often ignored cultural, demographic, and climatic realities of the developing world. Azerbaijan’s role signals a rebalancing of that dialogue – one that values local wisdom, regional cooperation, and practical innovation over abstract theorizing.

Baku’s forthcoming hosting of the 13th World Urban Forum (WUF13) in May 2026 will further cement this role. The event, under the theme ‘Housing for All: Safe and Sustainable Cities and Human Settlements,’ is expected to gather global policymakers, architects, and experts to discuss the future of urban life. Yet beyond the formal sessions and policy papers, WUF13 will carry symbolic weight: it will showcase Azerbaijan as a country capable of translating international commitments into visible, human-centered results.

Few nations in the post-Soviet space have managed such a transformation. Through projects that prioritize livability, accessibility, and environmental care, Azerbaijan has redefined its development identity. The reconstruction and revitalization efforts in the liberated territories after the Garabagh victory exemplify this. The concept of ‘smart villages’ and ‘green cities’ being built from the ground up demonstrates how a country emerging from conflict can embrace sustainability, technology, and inclusivity – values that resonate deeply with the UN’s housing and urban goals.

Furthermore, Azerbaijan’s partnership with UN-Habitat has grown steadily in recent years. Hosting the 2023 World Habitat Day, participating in the drafting of international guidelines for people-centered smart cities, and maintaining membership in the UN-Habitat Executive Board all reflect a consistent pattern of engagement. These are not isolated gestures of diplomacy; they are part of a broader narrative where Azerbaijan positions itself as a bridge between developed and developing nations – a meeting point of cultures, policies, and perspectives.

In this sense, Baku’s election is also a political statement. It reflects the global recognition that Azerbaijan’s urban philosophy – balancing modernity with cultural continuity – can inspire others. While some Western capitals struggle with homelessness, decaying infrastructure, and social alienation, Azerbaijan promotes a vision of the city as a shared home where economic progress does not come at the expense of human connection.

The election also signals that global institutions are gradually diversifying leadership beyond the usual centers of influence. As the world faces converging crises – from climate change to mass migration – it is precisely nations like Azerbaijan, with experience in resilience, reconstruction, and strategic foresight, that can offer practical solutions.

Ultimately, the Co-Chairmanship of the UN Working Group on Adequate Housing for All is not just a diplomatic victory. It is a moral one. It affirms that Azerbaijan’s commitment to sustainable development, social inclusion, and innovation is being noticed – and increasingly emulated. The country’s journey from rebuilding its own cities to helping the world build better ones is a testament to what visionary leadership can achieve when anchored in values of dignity, justice, and human-centered growth.

In Nairobi, Azerbaijan was chosen to help shape the world’s housing future. In Baku, that future is already taking form – one sustainable neighborhood, one smart village, one hopeful home at a time.

North Korea builds memorial to fallen soldiers of Ukraine war

North Korea’s leader Kim Jong-un said military brotherhood between his country and Russia would “advance non-stop,” Azernews reports via KCNA.

North Korea has broken ground on a new memorial in Pyongyang dedicated to its soldiers killed fighting alongside Russian troops to push Ukrainian forces out of Kursk, state media reported.

The groundbreaking ceremony for the “Memorial Museum of Combat Feats” was attended by North Korea’s leader Kim Jong-un and Russia’s ambassador to North Korea Aleksandr Matsegora as well as other embassy officials.

Speaking at the event on Thursday, Kim said the memorial “is a sacred sanctuary dedicated to the immortality of true patriots,” state-run news agency KCNA reported on Friday.

It is not uncommon for North Korean state media to report on events a day after they happened.

Speaking about the operation in Kursk where Ukraine launched a surprise incursion in August last year, Kim said that the “military brotherhood” between his country and Russia would “advance non-stop,” KCNA reported.

According to South Korean assessments, North Korea has sent around 15,000 troops to Russia since last autumn and supplied large quantities of military equipment, including artillery and ballistic missiles, in support of Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine.

Seoul estimates that at least 600 North Korean soldiers have been killed fighting alongside Russian troops, with thousands more wounded.

Kim has also agreed to send thousands of military construction workers and deminers to Kursk, as Kim deepens military ties with Russia.

South Korean officials have expressed concern that North Korea could receive badly needed economic aid and advanced military technologies in exchange for its war support.