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Agriculture is among the sectors most severely impacted by climate change. That’s why, alongside water, transport, and urban development, it stands as a central focus of today’s discussions. These sectors are essential pillars for Azerbaijani society and the national economy, and ensuring their sustainability while reducing their environmental footprint is critical.

Azernews reports that these remarks were made by Mukhtar Babayev, President of COP29 and Special Representative of the President of Azerbaijan for Climate Issues, during the opening session of Day 3 of Baku Climate Action Week.

Babayev noted that this morning’s session is dedicated to agriculture and food security, both of which were listed as key priorities in the COP29 Presidency’s Action Agenda last year.

‘As the host country, we are committed to sharing our experience and further strengthening efforts in this direction,’ Babayev said. ‘Severe water scarcity continues to affect our agricultural communities. That is why we introduced the ‘Water for Climate Declaration’ as part of the COP29 Presidential Initiatives. More than 60 countries have already committed to strengthening partnerships, advancing research, and raising the profile of water-related climate issues.’

He also highlighted the establishment of the Baku Water and Climate Dialogue, an initiative aimed at enhancing international cooperation, improving climate governance, and promoting joint management of trans-boundary water basins.

‘Just as rivers do not recognize borders, our responsibility for water must also transcend them,’ Babayev stressed. ‘Unfortunately, the sharp decline in water availability observed in our region has become one of today’s most pressing environmental challenges. This is driven not only by climate change, but also by mounting pressures on fragile ecosystems. If we fail to act in time, the consequences could be catastrophic.’

Babayev reaffirmed Azerbaijan’s readiness to closely collaborate with the United Nations in this area. He also acknowledged the existence of multiple programs supporting agriculture and rural communities but noted the real challenge lies in ensuring farmers can access these opportunities.

‘That’s why, within the COP29 framework, we officially launched the ‘Baku Harmony Climate Initiative for Farmers’ – a platform aimed at enhancing farmers’ resilience to climate change by expanding access to support mechanisms,’ he said. ‘This initiative will help farmers more easily reach the resources they need, while also helping policymakers identify and address funding gaps.’

In conclusion, Babayev emphasized the importance of turning international climate commitments into meaningful action at the national level:

‘Dear friends and colleagues, today we are presented with new opportunities to translate international agreements within the COP process into real results at home. I look forward to discussing with you how we can make this happen more effectively.’

Investigations are being conducted both in Azerbaijan and Russia regarding the crime committed against Azerbaijanis in Yekaterinburg, Azerbaijan’s Prosecutor General Kamran Aliyev told journalists, Azernews reports.

He noted that a separate inquiry is underway specifically concerning use of force and torture in the case.

“I believe this investigation will also reach a logical conclusion,” Aliyev added.

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On June 27, 2025, two Azerbaijanis, Hseyn and Ziyaddin Safarov, were killed during a raid by Russian Federal Security Service (FSB) forces in Yekaterinburg. The operation targeted residences reportedly linked to Azerbaijani citizens. The victims were brothers of journalist Seyfaddin Huseynli. Their deaths sparked outrage in Azerbaijan, prompting the Foreign Ministry to summon Russia’s chargé d’affaires for clarification. The bodies were returned to Azerbaijan and buried in Aghjabadi.

Sahil Babayev, Azerbaijan’s Minister of Finance, has met with Algeria’s ambassador to the country, Zakia Ighil, to discuss the development of bilateral ties, Azernews reports.

The sides hailed the successful progress of relations between Azerbaijan and Algeria in political, economic, energy, and other areas, while also exploring new prospects for strengthening cooperation.

Minister Babayev emphasized the importance of enhancing collaboration in the energy sector, supporting mutual investment initiatives, and boosting trade exchanges between the two nations.

Expressing appreciation for the warm reception, Ambassador Ighil noted that she would make every effort to further expand relations during her tenure in Azerbaijan.

Concluding the meeting, Minister Babayev wished the ambassador success in her diplomatic activity.

President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev shared a post on his social media accounts congratulating the Qarabag football club on their latest victory.

Azernews presents the post: ‘I wholeheartedly congratulate the Qarabag football club and the entire Azerbaijani football community on their confident victory over the Danish champion, Copenhagen football club.

Qarabag continues to make our nation proud by securing two brilliant wins in two matches in the league phase of the world’s strongest club tournament, sharing the top positions with the giants of international football.’

The Azerbaijani parliamentary delegation, led by the Speaker of the Milli Majlis, Sahiba Gafarova, has departed for a working visit to Cape Town, South Africa, on September 30, Azernews reports.

The delegation was welcomed at Cape Town International Airport by the Chairman of the Public Oversight Committee of the Parliament of South Africa, Cedric Thomas Frolik, the Chargé d’Affaires of Azerbaijan in South Africa, Huseyn Rahimli, and other officials.

During the visit, Speaker Sahiba Gafarova will take part in the 11th Summit of the Speakers of Parliaments of the “Big Twenty” (P20). She is scheduled to deliver a speech at the summit and hold bilateral meetings with the heads of participating parliamentary delegations.

Azerbaijan has expressed gratitude to Great Britain for its consistent support in the ongoing normalization of relations between Baku and Yerevan, Azernews reports.

Azerbaijani Ambassador to London Elin Suleymanov shared this on her social media account following her meeting with British Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper and the UK’s Minister of State for Europe, North America, and Overseas Territories Stephen Doughty during a conference in Liverpool.

Renewable energy sources are being actively deployed in Garabagh and East Zangezur, which have been declared ‘zero-emission zones,’ while master plans are being prepared for 12 cities and 90 villages, Azernews reports.

Chairman of the State Committee on Urban Planning and Architecture, Anar Guliyev, made the announcement during Baku Climate Action Week.

According to him, over the past four years, Azerbaijan has commissioned 38 small hydropower plants, which together have enabled a reduction of 620,000 tons of carbon emissions.

Azerbaijan has also put forward strategic initiatives in sustainable urban planning aimed at developing climate-resilient and inclusive cities.

Guliyev emphasized that while cities account for nearly 80 percent of global GDP, they are also responsible for about 70 percent of global emissions and two-thirds of world energy consumption.

‘Sustainable urbanization relies on master plans as its main instrument. These plans are designed for a 20-year period and are regularly updated. Currently, the master plans of 65 out of 79 cities across the country have been renewed, with another 10 awaiting approval. The flagship example is the Baku-2040 Master Plan. This document envisions polycentric development, preservation of cultural heritage, efficient land use, and the creation of an environmentally responsible urban environment,’ Guliyev said.

China’s General Manufacturing Purchasing Managers’ Index (PMI) rose to 51.2 in September, while the Services PMI reached 52.9, according to fresh data released Tuesday by RatingDog. Both figures remain above the 50-point mark, signaling continued expansion across key areas of the Chinese economy, Azernews reports, citing foreign media.

Commenting on the manufacturing data, Yao Yu, founder of RatingDog, said the latest reading ‘indicates a sustained improvement in manufacturing conditions.’ He also highlighted a notable milestone: ‘New export orders returned to growth for the first time since March 2025,’ suggesting a gradual rebound in external demand.

The services sector also remained resilient, although growth slightly moderated compared to August. ‘It’s encouraging to see that demand for services stayed solid in September,’ Yao added. ‘New export business expanded for the third consecutive month, with survey feedback pointing to a continued recovery in the tourism sector as a key driver.’

This uptick in economic indicators comes amid growing optimism around China’s post-pandemic recovery efforts, supported by targeted policy stimulus and improving global trade sentiment. Analysts suggest that sustained momentum in both manufacturing and services could help China stay on track with its annual growth targets, despite broader global headwinds.