Category: Azer News

More than 25,000 participants are expected to attend the 13th session of the United Nations World Urban Forum (WUF13) in Azerbaijan next year.

As reported by Azernews, this was stated by Gulshen Rzayeva, Deputy Head of the Secretariat of the State Committee on Urban Planning and Architecture and Deputy National Coordinator for WUF13, during the second meeting of the Heads of Cartography Agencies of the Turkic States Organization (OTS) held in Baku.

Rzayeva noted that both local and international guests will take part in the forum: ‘The regional representation will be very diverse. We hope that countries from the region will actively participate in the forum this time as well.’

The forum is scheduled to take place in Baku from 17 to 22 May 2026.

Furthermore, the World Urban Forum (WUF) is a non-legislative, high-level global platform for debating the most pressing challenges and opportunities facing cities.

It focuses on:

– Sustainable urban development

– Affordable housing and slum upgrading

– Urban climate resilience

– Smart city technologies

– Urban mobility and infrastructure

– Social inclusion in cities

– Financing for urban development

Because cities now host more than 56% of the world’s population, WUF has become increasingly influential in shaping global urban policy.

So far, the event has been hosted by the cities, including Nairobi, Barcelona, Vancouver, Rio de Janeiro, Naples, Medellín, Kuala Lumpur, Abu Dhabi, Katowice, and Kigali.

Azerbaijan and Estonia have held discussions on expanding cooperation in the development of innovative tax administration and digital management models.

As reported by Azernews, according to the State Tax Service under Azerbaijan’s Ministry of Economy, a delegation led by Janek Rozov, Deputy Director General of the Estonian Tax and Customs Board, visited Baku for a working visit. The main purpose of the trip was to strengthen collaboration between the two countries in tax administration, digital services, and innovative governance practices.

During meetings at the State Tax Service, the sides held extensive discussions on Estonia’s globally recognised digital governance ecosystem, the automation of tax processes, real-time data processing, cross-border data exchange, and the application of next-generation analytical solutions. They also reviewed potential joint projects, integration opportunities, and new cooperation formats.

Both parties emphasised the importance of enhancing tax administration, advancing digital ecosystems, improving secure data management, and strengthening risk-based tax control mechanisms. They exchanged experiences and demonstrated various practical digital tax solutions and management tools.

As part of the visit, the Estonian side presented projects related to real-time economy solutions, taxpayer assessment, and risk management. The State Tax Service of Azerbaijan showcased its work in digital tax administration, newly implemented e-services, analytical tools used for tax risk management, as well as data security and management models.

On 3 December 2025, Azerbaijan’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, Jeyhun Bayramov, departed for Vienna, Austria, on a working visit.

As reported by Azernews, citing the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Minister Bayramov will participate in and deliver remarks at the 32nd Meeting of the OSCE Ministerial Council, scheduled for 4-5 December.

As part of the visit, he is also expected to hold bilateral meetings with senior officials from other participating states.

A seminar on ‘Countering Improvised Explosive Devices (C-IED)’ is being held in Baku as part of NATO’s Individual Partnership Cooperation Programme, Azernews reports, citing the Ministry of Defense.

The workshop is led by a mobile training team from NATO’s Joint Force Command Brunssum. According to the Ministry, participants include servicemembers from the Main Department of Engineer Troops and its subordinate military units, as well as engineering officers from specialized military education institutions.

Throughout the training, attendees are receiving briefings on a range of topics related to C-IED tactics, detection, and prevention.

The seminar-workshop will run until December 5.

Baku is hosting the 26th International Conference of the heads of fire and rescue services from member states of the International Sport Federation of Firefighters and Rescuers, Azernews reports.

On the sidelines of the conference, Azerbaijan’s Minister of Emergency Situations, Colonel-General Kamaladdin Heydarov, held a bilateral meeting with Aleksandr Chupriyan, President of the International Sport Federation of Firefighters and Rescuers and a Colonel-General of the Internal Service.

The event brings together Minister Heydarov, Federation President Chupriyan, Uzbekistan’s Minister of Emergency Situations Botir Kudratkhodjayev, and more than 100 delegates from member countries including Germany, Austria, Belarus, Bulgaria, China, the Czech Republic, India, Iran, Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Tajikistan, Cameroon, Latvia, Mongolia, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, Russia, Serbia, Slovakia, and Vietnam, along with representatives of the Federation’s partner companies.

Turkiye and Kyrgyzstan are participating via videoconference.

An exhibition “Palette of Love” featuring handicrafts by children with various developmental disabilities, including children with Down syndrome, has opened at the Baku Museum Centre, Azernews reports.

The exhibition is dedicated to the International Day of Persons with Disabilities, which is marked on December 3.

The event was attended by representatives of the public association “Care – For a Healthy Generation,” artists, members of the public, and art enthusiasts.

The purpose of the exhibition is to promote the integration of children with physical disabilities into society, showcase their creative abilities, and draw public attention to this topic.

The exhibition presents the artwork of 21 children with Down syndrome and other developmental disabilities. It has been warmly received by visitors.

International Day of Persons with Disabilities was established by the United Nations General Assembly Resolution on October 14, 1992.

The day seeks to foster an inclusive and accessible society, emphasising the value of full engagement by people with disabilities.

Observances typically involve collaboration among UN agencies, civil society groups, and other organisations to host events and raise public awareness.

Yerevan and Brussels have agreed to maintain the duration of the European Union Mission in Armenia (EUMA) along the border with Azerbaijan, depending on Armenia’s security needs, Azernews reports.

This provision is reflected in the document ‘Strategic Agenda for the Armenia-EU Partnership’, adopted in Brussels on December 2, 2025, and published on the website of the Armenian Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

The document emphasizes that EUMA should ensure its full operational potential to monitor and report on the security situation along the border, assist in safeguarding people in conflict-affected regions, and foster confidence to support peace and stability in the area. The mission is expected to maintain its presence for as long as necessary.

EUMA began operations on February 20, 2023. On January 30, 2025, the Council of the European Union extended its mandate for two years, until February 19, 2027.

The 30th Baku Championship in Rhythmic Gymnastics has taken place at the National Gymnastics Arena in Baku, Azernews reports.

The three-day competition featured gymnasts from “Ojag Sport”, “Grasiya Sports Club”, Baku Gymnastics School, the Republic Complex Sports School, the Water Sports Palace, and the Zira Culture Centre.

The championship included gymnasts in different age categories: young children (2015, 2016, 2017), juniors (2012, 2013, 2014), and seniors (2009 and older). The gymnasts performed with various apparatuses, including ribbon, hoop, ball, and clubs.

On the first day, the qualification round took place. On the second day, winners in different apparatus events for the younger age groups (children and juniors) were determined and awarded.

On the final day, the competition continued with the final round for juniors and seniors.

Based on the final results, the gymnasts with the highest scores secured positions in the top three.

Founded in 1956, the Azerbaijani Gymnastics Federation comprises seven gymnastics disciplines recognised by the International Federation of Gymnastics (FIG).

The federation has been experiencing a revival since 2002. The restructured federation has brought gymnastics to a completely new level. The high-level organisation of the gymnastics events did not go unnoticed.

The International Gymnastics Federation (FIG) has included the Azerbaijan Gymnastics Federation (AGF) in the list of meritorious federations.

For many years, the AGF has been included in the FIG list of the Top 10 gymnastics federations.

‘The Organization of Turkic States is our principal international organization because it is our family. These words accurately capture the spirit of our cooperation.’

As reported by Azernews, this was stated by Murad Najafbayli, Head of the Secretariat of the State Commission on the Delimitation of the State Border between the Republic of Azerbaijan and the Republic of Armenia under the Cabinet of Ministers of Azerbaijan. He made the remarks at the second meeting of the heads of cartography agencies of the Turkic States Organization (OTS).

Najafbayli emphasized that the work of the Cartography Working Group is one of the important directions of this cooperation:

‘Thanks to geodesy, cartography, and geographic information systems, new opportunities and capacities are emerging for our countries.

Strengthening cooperation in this field is particularly important ahead of World Environment Day and the World Urban Forum, which will be held in Baku in 2026.

This also demonstrates once again Azerbaijan’s commitment to environmental protection and sustainable development.

I am confident that today’s meeting will be successful and will open new avenues for future collaboration.’

As part of the “Green Marathon” mass tree-planting campaign initiated by Leyla Aliyeva, Vice-President of the Heydar Aliyev Foundation, founder and leader of the IDEA Public Union, new tree-planting actions were organised in the Khachmaz and Shabran districts, Azernews reports.

With the participation of IDEA volunteers, more than 1,500 Eldar pines, oaks, and junipers were planted in the Niyazoba village area of Khachmaz district. Moreover, during the event held in the Chayqaragashli village of Shabran district, over 700 Eldar pines, thuja, and cypress trees were planted.

National Greening Marathon” (Green Marathon), jointly organised by the IDEA Public Union and the Ministry of Ecology and Natural Resources, aims to increase green spaces, promote tree-planting traditions, contribute to environmental protection, enrich the country’s floral biodiversity, and raise awareness about the preservation of greenery.

Within “Green Marathon,” it is planned to plant nearly 2 million trees across the country during the autumn 2025 and spring 2026 planting seasons.