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Gler Hseynova wins gold in boxing at CIS Games

The final stage of the boxing competitions at the 3rd CIS Games, hosted by Azerbaijan, continued in Baku with another moment of triumph for the home crowd, Azernews reports.

In the women’s 48-kilogram weight category, Azerbaijani boxer Gler Hseynova entered the ring against Russia’s Daria Gavrina in a highly anticipated final. Displaying composure, strength, and tactical precision, Hseynova outperformed her opponent and claimed the gold medal, further cementing Azerbaijan’s reputation as a rising power in women’s boxing.

Her victory was greeted with loud applause from spectators, who have turned out in large numbers to support the national team throughout the Games. The gold medal adds to Azerbaijan’s growing tally and underlines the host country’s success both in organizing the tournament and in sporting performance.

Hseynova’s success is not only a personal milestone but also a source of national pride, inspiring young athletes and highlighting the country’s commitment to strengthening women’s participation in sport.

The III CIS Games, which began earlier this month, have brought together 1,624 athletes from 13 countries to compete across a wide range of sports, from athletics and swimming to team disciplines and combat sports. Organizers have praised the high level of competition and the spirit of camaraderie among participating nations.

Baku Climate Action Week concludes

The second Baku Climate Action Week (BCAW) concluded in Azerbaijan, bringing together nearly 3,000 participants from 25 countries, Azernews reports.

The week-long event included government representatives, parliamentarians, scientists, business and women leaders, young climate activists, and officials from multilateral organizations.

Over eight venues across the capital, 46 sessions and events covered more than 30 topics, providing a platform for dialogue on the path to COP30 in Brazil. Key international organizations, including the United Nations, the Nizami Ganjavi International Center, Brazil’s SEBRAE, and the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development, participated alongside former heads of state, parliamentarians, academics, and youth leaders.

The breadth of topics highlighted the complexity of the climate crisis. Discussions focused on climate finance and accountability, energy transition and mobility, adaptation and resilience, sustainable food systems and circular economy, as well as gender and leadership in climate action. Roundtables examined institutional capacity for climate resilience, green construction, climate-smart agribusiness, green transition, and sustainable fashion. Notably, the COP29 Sustainability Report was presented for the first time, and the Azerbaijan Universities Climate Network was officially established.

Youth engagement was a central theme, featuring the Youth Climate Forum, the Art and Innovation for the Planet exhibition showcasing young artists and startups, the Sustainable Career Fair connecting students with green economy opportunities, and the Little Climate Champions program promoting environmental awareness among children.

BCAW 2025, held between Rio Climate Action Week and COP30, highlighted Azerbaijan’s emerging role as a climate dialogue hub. For the country, soon to hand over COP presidency to Brazil, the week offered more than discussion-it reinforced a climate legacy and strengthened international collaboration, positioning Azerbaijan as a proactive leader in global climate action.

Jabrayil celebrates city day for second time since liberation [PHOTOS]

For the second year, the city of Jabrayil has opened its arms to its returning residents, as citizens gathered to celebrate Jabrayil City Day on their native land, Azernews reports.

The event was organized by the Ministry of Culture together with the Special Representation of the President of Azerbaijan in the districts of Jabrayil, Gubadli, and Zangilan.

The celebration began with the opening of the exhibition ‘Garabagh – From the Lens to History,’ dedicated to the history and rebirth of the region. The program will continue with a concert performance marking the occasion of Jabrayil City Day.

The festivities carry a deep symbolic meaning, as Jabrayil was one of the Azerbaijani districts liberated during the 2020 Patriotic War after nearly three decades of occupation. For many residents, the opportunity to celebrate on their ancestral soil for the second consecutive year is both a moment of pride and a testament to the city’s revival.

City Day has quickly become not just a cultural event, but also a powerful reminder of resilience, return, and the unbreakable bond between the people of Jabrayil and their homeland.

Japan elects its first female ruling party leader

Japan’s former Minister of Economic Security, Sanae Takaichi, has been elected as the leader of the ruling Liberal Democratic Party (LDP), marking a historic first for the party, Azernews reports, citing Japanese media outlets.

Takaichi emerged victorious over four competitors in the party leadership race. In the first round, she secured 183 votes, narrowly edging out her main rival, Shinjiro Koizumi, who received 164 votes, advancing both to the second round. Takaichi ultimately prevailed in the decisive stage, securing her position as party leader.

In the coming days, the parliament will vote to confirm the ruling party’s new leader as the country’s prime minister. If approved, Takaichi will become Japan’s first female prime minister.

The leadership race follows the resignation of current Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba, who announced in early September that he would step down as head of the LDP.

Trump expected to visit S. Korea on Oct. 29 ahead of APEC summit

U.S. President Donald Trump is considering visiting South Korea later this month just ahead of an Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit, Azernews reports, citing Yonhap.

Government circles speculate that Trump may hold bilateral summits with South Korea and China before the APEC gathering opens and depart without attending the main session of the summit, slated for Oct. 31-Nov. 1 in the southeastern city of Gyeongju.

“President Trump is expected to arrive on Oct. 29 and visit Gyeongju,” a ruling party official told Yonhap News Agency by phone. “However, his schedule has yet to be finalized and is still being coordinated between South Korea and the U.S.”

Trump is expected to attend the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) summit in Kuala Lumpur from Oct. 26-28 before heading to Japan for talks with the country’s new prime minister.

He is then likely to travel to South Korea after his Japan stop, diplomatic observers said, raising the possibility of a one-day trip.

“As for when he will depart after arriving on the 29th, nothing has been confirmed at this point,” a government official said.

U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent earlier said Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping will have a “pull-aside” meeting in South Korea late this month.

A ruling party official, meanwhile, downplayed the possibility of Trump’s meeting with North Korean leader Kim Jong-un on the sidelines of the APEC summit.

International barbecue Festival brings global flavors to Shamakhi [PHOTOS]

The town of Shamakhi is once again hosting the International Barbecue Festival, a two-day culinary celebration that began on October 4 in the village of Meysari, Azernews reports.

Organized for the first time in Azerbaijan, the festival is supported by the Shamakhi District Executive Authority, the Nasimi Vineyards Complex, the ‘Abqora’ restaurant, and international culinary judge Sahib-David Israfilov, widely known as Don David.

The event has drawn celebrated chefs from more than 30 countries, including Willem Vink, President of the World Barbecue Association (WBQA); Christopher Sandford, WBQA’s chief judge; Thomas Gugler, former President of the World Association of Chefs’ Societies (WACS) and personal chef to the King of Saudi Arabia; as well as culinary association presidents, Michelin-starred masters, and international judges.

At the opening ceremony, Don David, WBQA President Willem Vink, and WACS Vice President Uwe Friedrich Herbert Micheel welcomed participants, noting that the festival’s purpose is to strengthen cultural exchange while showcasing Azerbaijan’s hospitality, cuisine, and cultural values. Guests were then invited to tour the pavilions, sample delicacies from different countries, and explore a variety of food brands and restaurant presentations.

Specially designated zones featured professional chefs representing both Azerbaijan and world cuisines, highlighting the richness of global gastronomy. Visitors also had the chance to attend family-friendly cooking masterclasses, where renowned chefs prepared burgers alongside children in an engaging and playful format.

A lively cooking competition added to the festival atmosphere, with teams tasked to prepare dishes from assigned recipes. Competitors were judged on flavor, cooking techniques, and presentation, with winners receiving certificates, medals, and the festival’s grand trophy, awarded by partners.

Throughout the day, local and international musicians performed on the festival stage, providing a vibrant soundtrack as visitors enjoyed an array of barbecue specialties.

The International Barbecue Festival will continue on October 5, offering another day of flavors, entertainment, and cultural exchange in the heart of Shamakhi.

Khanna Aliyeva wins silver in shooting at CIS Games

The shooting competitions at the 3rd CIS Games, hosted by Azerbaijan for the first time, continue to showcase intense rivalries and strong performances, Azernews reports.

Azerbaijani athlete Khanna Aliyeva secured a silver medal in the women’s 10-meter air pistol event. The competition took place at the Ganja Sports Palace, which is hosting several disciplines as part of the Games. Aliyeva’s precision and consistency carried her through the final round, earning her a place on the podium and adding another medal to Azerbaijan’s tally.

The achievement was met with enthusiastic support from local fans, who filled the arena to cheer for the national team. Aliyeva’s medal reflects not only her individual skill but also the progress Azerbaijan has made in developing shooting sports in recent years.

The 3rd CIS Games have brought together 1,624 athletes from 13 countries to compete across multiple disciplines. The multi-sport event, which serves to strengthen sporting and cultural ties among member states, will conclude on October 8.

Soft power left idle

A change in government can create a sense of renewal and excitement. New faces in the cabinet and new policies give the public hope for improved public administration and service.

Amid this, old policies are often put on ice, despite some of them already consuming a significant amount of tax revenue.

The previous Pheu Thai government had a “soft power” project, which focused on commodifying creativity, culture, and human potential, including sports and the arts. Former prime minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra was a champion of such soft power initiatives.

Indeed, the Pheu Thai government established the National Soft Power Strategy Committee to promote 13 key industries: tourism, food, films, fashion, festivals, sports, music, art, design, gaming, literature, wellness, and the performing arts.

National committees, such as the Thailand Creative Culture Agency and its related subcommittees, were established to drive these initiatives.

And last year, the soft power scheme got a 5-billion-baht budget.

One of the flagship projects is One Family One Soft Power (Ofos), which sought to create 20 million jobs with a minimum annual salary of 200,000 baht.

The past government also allocated a budget to develop festivals and events, such as the Maha Songkran Water Festival, as part of its soft power initiative to attract tourists.

There were also promising initiatives, such as grants given to artists and filmmakers, as well as proposals to implement tax incentives for art collectors.

The big question is what successive governments will do with these schemes.

Last week, lawmakers also raised the question about soft power in a parliamentary session, with a list-MP from the People’s Party, Apisit Laistrooglai, even asking the government to inspect soft power budgets. He also claimed that some of the projects, such as Ofos, failed to meet their targets.

So far, the Auntin government has not revealed a clear policy about these soft power schemes.

The new tourism minister, Artthakorn Sirilatthayakorn, has not included soft power ideas such as local cuisines, Muay Thai, or Thai crafts as instruments to attract and promote tourism.

Sabeeda Thaised, the new culture minister, has yet to outline her policy on promoting Thai culture or what she will do with the numerous projects that her predecessor, Ms Paetongtarn, who was also the cultural minister, had initiated.

Needless to say, the parliament must review the budget spending.

Yet, such reviews must be fair and not driven by politics.

After all, soft power, initially known as the creative economy, if handled efficiently, can indeed create a new economy and a source of income and economic opportunities for Thais.

Of course, there are a number of concerns regarding the redundancy of these soft power schemes.

There are complaints about irregularities in bidding, and questions arise about whether these projects, financed by taxpayers’ money, have met their goals.

What government and lawmakers need to do is investigate irregularities and improve these schemes, rather than abandoning them simply because they belonged to a past government.

Terrific golf, pity about unruly crowd

Now that the dust has settled on the dramatic events at Bethpage last weekend, it is time to reflect on what was a most extraordinary Ryder Cup tournament that will long be remembered for both good and bad reasons.

We should not allow the poor behaviour of sections of the crowd to detract from the terrific golf that was played throughout the tournament. It should also not be forgotten that on those first two days the American team didn’t play that badly but the Europeans were simply outstanding. It was teamwork at its best under the inspirational leadership of captain Luke Donald.

The American golfers produced a brave fightback in the singles. It made the last day much more gripping than had been expected and the final 15-13 score more acceptable for the hosts. However, the damage had been done on the opening two days.

The sad thing is that the brilliant golf from both teams at times became secondary to the unsavoury incidents sparked by some of the crowd. You know something is not quite right when mistakes by players are greeted by louder cheers than any fine shots. It’s a bit like tennis fans applauding double faults.

At most regular stroke-play golf tournaments around the world, the galleries are very respectful, knowing when to clap and when to keep quiet. But in the Ryder Cup it is a different story, brought on by the admittedly exciting match-play format in which every hole counts and the fans know it. As a result the galleries have become increasingly boisterous, sounding more like football crowds.

At Bethpage the raucous crowd was to be expected, but the vitriolic nature of the insults aimed at the Europeans was over-the-top. It didn’t do the American players any favours either, as it must have been uncomfortable for them hearing the slurs directed at their opponents. All credit to Justin Thomas who repeatedly gestured to the crowd to calm down when the Europeans were putting.

The great American golfer Tom Watson was so upset that he apologised for the “rude and mean-spirited behaviour” of the fans.

Unfortunately the event will always attract those who think it is clever to shout out something stupid when a player tees off. We should be thankful there were very few water hazards at Bethpage so at least we didn’t get those idiotic cries of: “in the water”. However, this time it was “in the bunker”. And of course the tiresome “get in the hole” accompanied virtually every shot.

Fortunately there were many things to admire on the playing side. US “rookie” Cameron Young performed well throughout the tournament, highlighted by a dramatic win over Justin Rose in the singles.

Despite the loss to Young, Rose epitomised the commitment of the European squad. Some of his putting was absolutely brilliant. Rory McIlroy played well considering the crowd hostility, which clearly affected him. Tommy Fleetwood was also outstanding and displayed an amazingly cool demeanour despite the pressure.

Shane Lowry will always be remembered for his Irish jig as he celebrated sinking the putt that guaranteed Europe would retain the trophy. His reaction reflected the tension the players were experiencing.

Arguably the best shot of the tournament came from Spaniard Jon Rahm when he chipped in from an almost impossible lie on the eighth hole on the second day. Rahm was a truly inspirational figure on those first two days.

Let’s hope that in the 2027 tournament at Adare Manor in Ireland we will return to fans cheering the good shots and not the mistakes.

New foreign minister vows to put Thailand back on the global stage

Thailand’s new foreign affairs minister, Sihasak Phuangketkeow, said on Thursday that Thailand will be back on the “global radar” while he serves in office.

Speaking to the media at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Bangkok, Mr Sihasak outlined his plans to execute diplomacy during the current administration’s four-month tenure.

Mr Sihasak said that after a long absence, Thailand deserves to make a global comeback, adding that it is necessary to restore its international image by presenting itself as a dynamic country of economic significance.

“Foreign countries often refer to Indonesia, Singapore, Malaysia, and Vietnam when they talk about Southeast Asia,” he said. “Thailand is only known for having good food, good people, and tourist spots, but we need to portray our economic dimensions as well.”

Mr Sihasak’s schedule is busy over the coming months with international meetings planned, including those related to the Thailand-Cambodia conflict, the general election in Myanmar slated for December, the Asean Summit in Malaysia’s Putrajaya in November, and the Apec Summit in South Korea at the end of October.

“We need to head in directions where Thailand’s benefits could be taking place,” he said.

Mr Sihasak said his ministry will aim to improve communication efficiency in its diplomatic efforts. During the border conflict, Thailand’s communication was perceived as limited and slow compared to that of the Cambodian side, he said.

It is necessary to respond more quickly while creating understanding among the Thai public, he said.

Thailand’s unstable politics have also been a factor limiting the country’s presence on the world stage, Mr Sihasak added.