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President of Pakistan congratulates President Ilham Aliyev on the occasion of Victory Day

President of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan Asif Ali Zardari has sent a congratulatory letter to President Ilham Aliyev.

According to AzerNEWS, the letter reads:

“His Ecellency Mr. Ilham Aliyev, President of the Republic of Azerbaijan

Ecellency,

On behalf of the Government and the people of Pakistan, and personally, I etend my warmest felicitations to Your Ecellency and the brotherly people of Azerbaijan on the auspicious occasion of Victory Day.

This historic occasion commemorates the sacrifices, resilience and unity of the Azerbaijani people in restoring the sovereignty and territorial integrity of their homeland. The remarkable progress made in the reconstruction and development of the liberated territories reflects Azerbaijan’s determination to secure a peaceful and prosperous future for its people.

Pakistan deeply values its longstanding fraternal relations with Azerbaijan, founded on mutual trust, shared values and consistent support for each other. I am confident that the bonds of friendship and brotherhood between our two countries will continue to grow stronger as we epand cooperation in diverse fields and work together towards our shared objectives of regional peace, stability and prosperity.

On this joyous occasion, I reaffirm Pakistan’s close friendship and solidarity with Azerbaijan and convey my best wishes for Your Ecellency’s good health and happiness, and for the continued progress and prosperity of the brotherly people of Azerbaijan.

Please accept, Ecellency, the assurances of my highest consideration.”

Passenger traffic at Cyprus’ airports 3% down in October, says Hermes Airports

Airlines have expressed intention to strengthen their flight programmes to Cyprus in 2027, Hermes Airports said in a press release issued after its participation in Routes World 2026, noting at the same time that in October there was a 3% decrease in passenger traffic at Larnaca and Paphos airports.

Hermes Airports pointed out that it participated in Routes World 2026, the most significant event for the development of air connectivity, which was hosted in Frankfurt from October 21-23, holding over 30 meetings with airlines. The focus of the discussions, it noted, was on the winter period 2026-2027, as well as the planning of companies for both 2027 and the following years.

According to the press release, airlines expressed particular interest in a substantial extension of the winter period, “provided that Cyprus continues to enrich its tourism product and offer attractive experiences throughout the year.”

In a parallel development, “regarding passenger traffic, according to Hermes Airports’ data, October closed with a total of 1.43 million passengers passing through Larnaca and Paphos airports, recording a 3% decrease compared to the corresponding month last year.”

Despite this slight decline, Hermes Airports estimated – as it said – that 2026 will close with approximately 13.3 million total passengers and a decrease of about 3% compared to 2025, the year that recorded the highest passenger traffic historically, “confirming Cyprus’s enduring dynamics as a tourist and air travel destination.”

Barau’s agriculture revolution Bill scales second reading in Senate

A bill sponsored by the Deputy President of the Senate, Senator Barau Jibrin, to provide a comprehensive legal framework for transforming and modernising Nigeria’s agricultural sector, on Wednesday scaled second reading in the Senate.

The Senate considered the bill in plenary, presided over by the President of the Senate, Senator Godswill Obot Akpabio.

Leading the debate on the bill, titled A Bill for an Act to Provide a Comprehensive Legal Framework for the Transformation and Modernisation of Agriculture in Nigeria, Promote Food Security, Agricultural Productivity, Mechanisation, Irrigation, Agricultural Financing, Agro-industrialisation, Rural Development and Climate-Resilient Farming, Senator Barau said its objective was to review the agricultural sector, introduce necessary reforms and set the country on the path to an agricultural revolution.

Recalling the glorious days of Nigeria’s agricultural sector, he attributed its decline to the collapse of agricultural production systems that once supplied the country’s industries with essential raw materials.

Describing the present administration as reform-oriented, Senator Barau said the bill intends to complement the government’s efforts to stimulate various sectors of the economy for the benefit of all.

He stressed, however, that the responsibility for driving national development should not be left to the President alone, noting that all stakeholders, including the legislature, have a role to play in complementing the administration’s efforts.

‘This is a reforming government. The government is making changes and introducing reforms across different sectors. I acknowledge that the President is doing well in pursuing reforms in various aspects of our national life.

‘However, we cannot leave everything to the President alone. Government is a collaborative undertaking, and we all have a responsibility to complement what the President is doing.

‘That is why I have introduced this bill. A lot of thought and effort have gone into its preparation. The objective is to examine the agricultural sector, introduce the necessary changes and bring about a revolution in the sector.

‘What does that mean? It means bringing about a fundamental, far-reaching transformation in how we approach agriculture. We need to change the existing trajectory. As we proceed with consideration of this bill, I expect it to provoke conversations and debate. People will bring forward their views and expertise,’ he said.

Seconding the bill, the Chief Whip of the Senate, Senator Mohammed Tahir Monguno, said its passage would provide the necessary legal framework to revolutionise the agricultural sector and diversify the nation’s economy.

Three other senators who contributed to the debate: Senator Babangida Hussaini (Jigawa North-West), Senator Anthony Okorie Ani (Ebonyi South), a professor of Agricultural Extension, and Senator Adeniyi Adegbonmire Ayodele (Ondo Central) also supported the bill.

They commended Senator Barau for the initiative, noting that the proposed legislation comprehensively addresses critical areas of the agricultural sector.

Following the debate, the President of the Senate, Senator Godswill Obot Akpabio, referred the bill to the Senate Committees on Agricultural Production Services and Rural Development, and Agricultural Colleges and Institutions, for further legislative scrutiny.

He gave the committees four weeks to report back to the Senate.

Nainhabo set for emotional Victoria Pearls debut

For Kampi Nainhabo, Uganda has always carried a cricketing story that began before she was old enough to write her own.

Her father, Aloysius Nainhabo, represented Uganda and helped shape the country’s grassroots cricket development programmes before moving to Australia with his family in 2005. Now, nearly two decades later, his daughter is back – and on the verge of wearing the national colours he once did.

The 23-year-old is the new face in the Victoria Pearls squad preparing to defend their Victoria Series title at Entebbe Cricket Oval, where Uganda open against Namibia on Friday morning.

‘I am extremely excited to have been selected. I think it’s an amazing opportunity,’ Nainhabo said. ‘My dad played for Uganda and it feels like such a privilege and an honour to be following in his footsteps as well.’

It is only her second return to Uganda since the family relocated to Melbourne. But the country’s cricketing past is not unfamiliar territory.

Nainhabo grew up hearing about her father’s playing days and his work with the game, although she says he rarely talks about his own achievements.

‘He’s a very humble man,’ she said. ‘It’s been nice to hear from other people here what he’s done for cricket.’

From Melbourne to the Pearls

Nainhabo has built her game in Australia, progressing through Victoria’s junior high-performance pathway before playing for South East Bayside Breakers and Melbourne Cricket Club in premier cricket. She also experienced cricket in Africa last year when her club toured South Africa.

The opportunity to try out for the Victoria Pearls came after her return to Uganda last year and a conversation with coaches Deus Muhumuza and Brian Masaba who had learnt she was playing in Australia. The call-up gave her a fresh reason to push herself.

‘Sometimes you just need that little extra push to want to make you a better player,’ she said. ‘Having this opportunity was quite amazing.’

The transition into the Pearls set-up has been demanding. Nainhabo says the intensity of training – particularly the fitness work – has been a significant step up from what she was used to in Melbourne.

‘The sessions have been very difficult, which has been a nice and positive challenge,’ she said. ‘The girls have all been very supportive and they’ve been good at helping me get used to the training and the intensity.’

A new voice in the dressing room

Captain Janet Mbabazi believes Nainhabo’s Australian experience could add a different dimension to a squad whose core has remained largely settled.

Mbabazi said the team was excited to welcome a new player, particularly one arriving from a different cricketing environment.

‘She brings a fresh perspective from Australia,’ Mbabazi said. ‘These are two different environments. She has knowledge that we probably don’t have as Victoria Pearls, so it’s good to have someone with a fresh perspective on the squad.’

The adjustment has not been limited to training. Nainhabo has also had to find her feet in a dressing room where some communication initially presented a challenge. Mbabazi and the senior players have been helping her settle in, talking her through team routines and making sure she feels included.

For Nainhabo, the priority is not to arrive with expectations of instant impact, but to understand the group and contribute to its energy.

‘I’m hoping to bring my positive attitude and just my spirit and love for the game to the team,’ she said. ‘I’m really excited to see how the girls work on the field and how they work together, and just become a part of that space and mesh with the girls.’

Learning before the spotlight

Victoria Pearls coach Muhumuza says Nainhabo’s background in a professional set-up, coupled with her willingness to learn, has impressed the technical team.

‘She is young, has the passion and energy, and comprehends things much quicker,’ Muhumuza said. ‘She is a quick learner, and hopefully that will translate into her being a big player for us.’

The coach wants to develop her into a batting all-rounder, while carefully managing her introduction to international cricket. Her playing time will be guided by how she settles into the group and the demands of the tournament, rather than placing the weight of expectation on a debutant.

Nainhabo, meanwhile, knows the first international appearance will bring nerves alongside the excitement.

‘There’s always that little bit of nervousness mixed with excitement,’ she said. ‘I’m a lot more focused on just soaking up being part of the team for the first time, playing international cricket for the first time, and focusing more on the positive part of it.’

She is concentrating on what she can control: her attitude, her preparation and supporting her teammates.

By the morning after the tournament’s final, she hopes the experience will have become real – and that she will have a first cap, new lessons and a stronger connection to the country whose cricketing legacy she is now helping carry forward.

THE TALKING POINT

Fresh Perspective. Nainhabo’s call-up brings experience from a different cricketing environment, a family connection to Uganda’s game and the enthusiasm of a debutant eager to learn. Her challenge is to turn that promise into a contribution while settling into a squad preparing for a demanding season ahead.

VICTORIA PEARLS SQUAD

Janet Mbabazi (C), Stephanie Nampiina, Proscovia Alako, Ritah Musamali (VC), Esther Iloku (WK), Immaculate Nakisuuyi, Kevin Awino (WK), Malisa Ariokot, Sarah Walaza, Naume Amongin, Consylate Aweko, Sarah Akiteng, Asumin Akurut, Kampi Nainhabo.

QUICK PROFILE

Full Name: Kampi Nainhabo

Age: 23

Role: Right-handed batting / bowling all-rounder

Based: Melbourne, Australia

Clubs/Pathway: South East Bayside Breakers; Cricket Victoria Female High Performance Academy; Melbourne Cricket Club

International: Named in Uganda’s Victoria Pearls squad for the 2026 Victoria Series

Family Link: Daughter of former Uganda cricketer and cricket administrator Aloysius Nainhabo

Education: Studied Biochemistry at Monash University; pursuing Master’s Degree

VICTORIA SERIES 2026

Dates: November 6-14

Venue: Entebbe Cricket Oval

Teams: Uganda, Namibia, Rwanda, USA

Format: Double round-robin fixtures, followed by third-place playoff and final

Uganda’s Objective: Defend the title, gain ranking points and build towards the 2027 ICC Women’s T20 World Cup Africa Qualifier Finals

Uganda’s Standing: Highest-ranked team at No.17, with Namibia a close challenger at No.19

UGANDA FIXTURES

Fri, Nov 6: Uganda vs. Namibia, 9:30am

Sat, Nov 7: Uganda vs. Rwanda, 2pm

Sun, Nov 8: Uganda vs. USA, 2pm

Tue, Nov 10: Uganda vs. Namibia, 2pm

Wed, Nov 11: Uganda vs. Rwanda, 9:30am

Thu, Nov 12: Uganda vs. USA, 9:30am

Sat, Nov 14: Third-place playoff, 9:30am

Sat, Nov 14: Final, 2pm

Katikkiro Mayiga rallies Kalangala fishermen on indigenous conservation, HIV prevention

The Katikkiro of Buganda, Owek. Charles Peter Mayiga, has urged fishing communities across the island district of Kalangala to revive indigenous conservation practices and embrace agriculture to preserve depleting fish stocks in Lake Victoria while diversifying their livelihoods.

Addressing hundreds of islanders at the Lwazi Bubeke Landing Site in Bubeke Sub-county on November 3, 2026, the Premier stressed that traditional norms once played a pivotal role in protecting aquatic life, warning against overreliance on the lake and destructive fishing methods.

‘Practise fishing that saves the lake. In the past, fishermen were not fishing every day because they knew there were days when one should not go fishing to allow fish stocks to increase in the lake,’ Katikkiro Mayiga told the gathering. He noted that historically, fishermen used designated non-fishing days to till the land, a practice that allowed fish to reproduce naturally while ensuring household food security. ‘Whenever fishermen went to the gardens, the fish would return into the lake, and that is how they managed to keep the fish stocks in the lake. Do not catch immature fish. You are the owners of the lake, so you should lead in making sure you handle the lake so well.’

The Katikkiro, who was on an official tour of Ssese County to assess community development and spearhead health sensitization, expressed deep concern over the high prevalence of HIV among the island population. Official district health records indicate an HIV prevalence rate of 12 percent-significantly higher than the national average.

Emphasizing that the virus is preventable, Mr Mayiga urged the islanders to take personal responsibility for their health and strictly adhere to medical advice if diagnosed. ‘HIV/Aids doesn’t enter your body the way malaria does. HIV enters the body when you are well aware of how it enters you. Now, if you know how it enters the body, why don’t you use preventive methods?’ he questioned. ‘If you are found with HIV, it’s not the end of the world. Go get medication and adhere to the advice given by medical doctors. How can you brave these strong winds on the lake and fear taking your medication?’

Echoing the Premier’s call, the Kweba (the Kabaka’s Chief for Ssese County), Mr Augustine Kasirye, challenged local residents to take full ownership of the water bodies surrounding them and actively reject illegal fishing. He urged those engaged in unlawful practices to reform, noting that local vigilance is crucial to stopping outsiders from destroying the lake.

‘There is no one that should be the first to protect this lake more than you who are living in Kalangala District. God gave others oil, but He gave us the lake that we should jealously protect,’ Mr Kasirye said. ‘I ask all fishermen to accept that the full responsibility is theirs, and those coming from other countries or elsewhere should not be allowed to involve themselves in fishing methods that destroy the lake. Now is the time to get a hoe and grow something, and when the fish come back in the lake, you can go fishing and keep the garden to have two economic activities to widen your resource base.’

The call for livelihood diversification comes at a critical time when economic hardship continues to strain social structures in the archipelago. Kalangala District Chairperson, Ms Agnes Lunkuse, highlighted the severe socio-economic toll that recent fishing restrictions have had on families, particularly young girls.

Reflecting on her recent inspection of educational institutions in the area, Ms Lunkuse revealed that the economic downturn following the government’s halt on silverfish (Mukene) harvesting has left many parents unable to provide basic necessities.

‘On my official oversight visit at Kasekuro Primary School, I realised that out of 352 pupils, only 10 could have something to eat while at school. The remaining 342 couldn’t have a meal, and their parents could not afford to buy them sanitary wear,’ Ms Lunkuse revealed. She further warned that the economic slump has escalated vulnerability to sexual exploitation on the landing sites. ‘Commercial sex workers had run away, saying there were no men with money to buy their services. As a result, men began targeting these young school-going girls to satisfy their desires.’

Kingdom officials and district leaders resolved to work together through cultural and administrative structures to push for sustainable fishing enforcement, farming initiatives, and heightened health interventions across the Kalangala islands.

Cyprus and Oman’s FMs discuss regional developments

Foreign Minister, Constantinos Kombos, discussed on Wednesday regional developments with his counterpart from Oman, Badr Albusaidi.

Kombos posted on X that he had a telephone conversation with the Foreign Minister of the Sultanate of Oman on current regional developments.

He noted that they focused on the need for de-escalation and the continuation of dialogue through diplomacy.

FM discusses regional developments with his counterparts from Greece and Egypt

Foreign Minister Constantinos Kombos discussed regional developments in two separate calls he held on Wednesday with his counterparts from Greece and Egypt.

Kombos said on a post on ‘X’ that within the framework of regular contacts and the close coordination between Cyprus and Greece, he spoke by phone with his counterpart George Gerapetritis.

They focused, he added, on the Cyprus problem and current regional developments, with an emphasis on the Eastern Mediterranean.

The Foreign Minister also held a telephone call with Foreign Minister of Egypt Badr Abdelatty, with whom he discussed the strategic partnership between the two countries, preparations for the upcoming Cyprus-Egypt G2G and the Trilateral Ministerial meeting between Cyprus, Egypt and Greece to be held in Cyprus in January, he said in another post on X.

“We also discussed current regional developments, and reiterated our condemnation of the illegal ‘mou’ between Libya and Turkey. Agreed to remain in close coordination,” Kombos concluded.

UNESCO: Female corps members with disabilities to be trained in digital skills

The Read and Earn Federation for UNESCO (UNESCO REF) and the Risqat Societal Development Foundation (RSD Foundation) have partnered to roll out a digital skills empowerment programme for women serving in the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) who are living with disabilities.

The initiative, known as The VOICE Initiative, is designed to equip women with disabilities with practical digital and artificial intelligence (AI) skills to improve their employability, promote economic inclusion and expand their participation in the digital economy.

Speaking on the partnership, Founder of RSD Foundation, Risqat Oluwatoyin Jimoh, said the initiative was aimed at ensuring that women with disabilities were not excluded from opportunities in the rapidly evolving digital economy.

She said every young Nigerian woman deserved equal opportunities to contribute to national development, regardless of her physical circumstances.

‘By standing with UNESCO REF behind The VOICE Initiative, we are making sure that women corps members living with disabilities are not spectators of the digital age, but its builders,’ she said.

Jimoh added that the partnership represented the foundation’s commitment to building a society where talent, rather than circumstances, determined how far young women could go.

Under the partnership, RSD Foundation will support the identification, enrolment and sustained participation of eligible corps members, while UNESCO REF will provide the curriculum, certification and programme delivery.

The VOICE Initiative, which stands for Visionary, Outcomes-Driven AI for Inclusion, Capacity for Empowerment, is a professional advancement programme for women with disabilities in Nigeria and Africa.

Its first course, AI Innovation and Digital Enterprise (AIDE), is fully funded under the UNESCO REF Educational Financial Facility Scheme (EFFS).

Also speaking, President of UNESCO REF, Prince Abdulsalami Ladigbolu-Oranmiyan, in a statement on Monday, described the partnership as a significant step towards expanding access to digital education and economic opportunities for women with disabilities.

He said the initiative was conceived to ensure that women were adequately equipped to participate in the emerging digital economy, regardless of their circumstances.

Nigeria, Barbados to establish pharmaceutical plant, deepen trade ties

Nigeria and Barbados are set to establish an intravenous fluids manufacturing plant in the Caribbean as part of a broader initiative to strengthen pharmaceutical production, healthcare cooperation and trade between Africa and the Caribbean.

The proposed joint venture between Nigeria’s AMA Medical Manufacturing and Barbados Pharmaceutical Incorporated is expected to facilitate technology transfer, skills development and local manufacturing capacity, with the African Export-Import Bank (Afreximbank) supporting the project’s preparation and exploring financing options.

Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Senator George Akume, announced this during a Fireside Chat at the Commonwealth Business Forum in Antigua on the sidelines of this year’s Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM).

Speaking alongside Barbados Prime Minister Mia Amor Mottley, and World Trade Organisation (WTO) Director-General, Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, Senator Akume said Nigeria was determined to transform its historical and cultural ties with the Caribbean into a sustainable economic partnership.

In a statement in Abuja by his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Yomi Odunuga, the SGF described the proposed manufacturing investment as a major step towards establishing a two-way healthcare and trade corridor across the Atlantic.

‘This is Nigerian enterprise putting down roots in the Caribbean. It is an opportunity to transfer skills, develop local expertise and establish productive capacity that will remain and grow in the region,’ Akume said.

The SGF stressed that Africa and the Caribbean must leverage their shared heritage to reduce dependence on external suppliers of essential medicines and medical products.

‘When we speak of Africa and the Caribbean, we are speaking of a shared history, a shared heritage and, above all, a shared people. Many Barbadian families trace their ancestry to the lands that are now Nigeria. Prime Minister Mottley herself has spoken of her Nigerian roots.

‘The African Union (AU) recognises the diaspora as Africa’s sixth region. For Nigeria, therefore, the Caribbean is not simply another market or another partner. The Caribbean is family,’ he said.

Akume said the historic relationship must now translate into measurable economic benefits through stronger South-South cooperation, particularly in healthcare manufacturing, investment, trade and technical expertise.

‘For too long, countries across the Global South have depended on others for essential medicines and medical supplies. We must have a greater role in developing the solutions to these challenges.

‘We must be able to produce more of the medicines our people need, and ensure that those medicines are safe, effective and accessible,’ he stated.

The SGF explained that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s administration prioritised domestic pharmaceutical production through the Presidential Initiative for Unlocking the Healthcare Value Chain to expand manufacturing capacity and strengthen Nigeria’s healthcare industry.

He noted that Nigerian manufacturers must explore opportunities beyond the domestic market to achieve sustainable growth and international competitiveness.

‘The Caribbean offers an opportunity to deepen our historic relationship while building new economic connections across the Atlantic and into the Americas,’ he said.

Highlighting progress in bilateral cooperation, Akume recalled that Nigeria’s Presidential Initiative and Barbados Pharmaceutical Inc. signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) in November 2025 to strengthen collaboration in healthcare manufacturing.

He announced that AMA Medical Manufacturing subsequently delivered its first shipment of intravenous fluids from Nigeria to Barbados in March 2026, describing the development as evidence of the growing commercial relationship.

The SGF also identified Air Peace flights connecting Lagos with Barbados and Antigua as an important factor in improving connectivity and facilitating trade between both regions.

He said the proposed partnership must not be limited to Nigerian exports, adding that Barbados had equally demonstrated capacity to supply specialised healthcare products to the African market.

According to him, intraocular lenses manufactured by Barbados-based Lenstec have already undergone evaluation and early clinical use in Nigeria.

‘This is a reminder that the Caribbean also has expertise and products to offer Africa. We should be building a corridor through which goods, investment, skills and knowledge move in both directions,’ Akume said.

The SGF emphasised the importance of regulatory cooperation, pointing to the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) as a critical institution in guaranteeing product quality and protecting consumers against substandard and falsified medicines.

He noted that closer collaboration between Nigerian and Caribbean regulatory authorities would promote technical exchange, strengthen public confidence and facilitate the movement of quality-assured pharmaceutical products.

Akume also called for coordinated action among government agencies, investors, manufacturers and financial institutions to translate the emerging partnership into concrete results.

‘As the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, I also recognise that partnerships of this nature require sustained coordination. Health, trade, regulation, investment and financing must work together if our ambitions are to translate into results,’ he said.

The SGF reaffirmed Nigeria’s commitment to building an enduring economic relationship with Caribbean countries, declaring that both regions possessed the expertise, resources and historical connections necessary to develop a mutually beneficial partnership.

‘Our shared history has given us a powerful bond. Our responsibility now is to give that bond an equally powerful future.

‘Let us build a partnership in which Africa and the Caribbean can rely more confidently on our own capabilities, respond to the health needs of our people and create opportunities for generations to come,’ he said.

’Victory Round’ to be held in Azerbaijan Premier League on November 6-8

The 21st round of the Azerbaijan Premier League has been designated the ‘Victory Round’ to mark the sith anniversary of the historic victory achieved in the 2020 Patriotic War.

The Professional Football League of Azerbaijan announced the decision.

Under the initiative, Azerbaijan’s national anthem will be performed before all matches scheduled for November 6-8 as part of the 21st round.

The initiative aims to commemorate the anniversary of the victory and honour the memory of those who sacrificed their lives for Azerbaijan.