President Ilham Aliyev addresses participants of 5th Azerbaijan International Exhibition on Restoration, Reconstruction, and Development of Garabagh- ‘Rebuild Garabagh”

President Ilham Aliyev addressed participants at the 5th Azerbaijan International Exhibition on the Restoration, Reconstruction, and Development of Garabagh- ‘ Rebuild Garabagh.’

Azernews presents address:

”Dear exhibition participants,

It is my sincere pleasure to welcome you to the opening of the 5th Azerbaijan International Exhibition on the Restoration, Reconstruction, and Development of Garabagh- ‘Rebuild Garabagh.’

This year, within the framework of Caspian Construction Week, we are proud to host both the 5th ‘Rebuild Garabagh’ and the 30th Azerbaijan International Construction Exhibition ‘BakuBuild’ anniversary events.

The 5th ‘Rebuild Garabagh’ exhibition coincides with a landmark period in the history of statehood of the Republic of Azerbaijan, marking key anniversaries that embody our sovereignty and national unity. We proudly commemorate the 30th anniversary of the adoption of our Constitution and the fifth anniversary of our historic Victory in the Patriotic War. All these achievements not only attest to the unwavering will and solidarity of our people and their commitment to advancing toward strategic goals, but also mobilize us around a new mission – the restoration of Garabagh and East Zangezur.

Currently, within the framework of the ‘Great Return’ program, large-scale reconstruction and development projects are being successfully carried out in the liberated territories, fundamentally transforming the region’s landscape. Cities are being built in accordance with modern urban planning concepts; new schools and hospitals are being constructed; road, transport, and communications infrastructure is being developed; jobs are being created; and green energy zones and industrial parks are being established. Garabagh is evolving not only as a symbol of our national pride, but also as a 21st-century area of sustainable development.

It is gratifying to see the growing significance of the ‘Rebuild Garabagh’ exhibition for both local and international participants. The exhibition showcases cutting-edge technologies and innovative solutions, facilitates discussions on joint projects and partnership opportunities, and creates new prospects for the socio-economic development of the region. Held for the fifth time, this event not only demonstrates Azerbaijan’s achievements to the world but also strengthens our country’s position as a global hub for investment, technology, and innovation.

Held annually, this prestigious exhibition embodies the reality of sustainable construction, progress, and peace, while remaining a forward-looking, high-impact event. Partnerships forged here strengthen mutual trust among people and nations, build new bridges of cooperation, and place Garabagh at the heart of a sustainable development agenda.

I am confident that this exhibition will continue to play a crucial role in fostering partnerships among participants, identifying modern development and investment initiatives, and advancing the reconstruction of Garabagh and the entire region.

On this auspicious occasion, I once again warmly congratulate all organizers and participants on the 5th anniversary of the exhibition and wish ‘Rebuild Garabagh’ continued success and new achievements in the years to come.”

Azerbaijan, Iran, Russia adopt communiqué to enhance cooperation on North-South transport corridor

A trilateral meeting between Azerbaijan, Iran, and Russia was held in Baku on October 13, 2025, bringing together Deputy Prime Minister of Azerbaijan Shahin Mustafayev, Deputy Chairman of the Government of the Russian Federation Alexey Overchuk, and Iran’s Minister of Roads and Urban Development Mehrdad Bazrpash, Azernews reports.

The sides discussed prospects for expanding cooperation in the fields of transport, energy, and customs. The meeting concluded with the adoption of a joint Communiqué outlining key directions for strengthening regional connectivity and advancing shared infrastructure projects.

The communiqué reaffirmed satisfaction with ongoing trilateral cooperation and highlighted the guiding role of the 2016 Declaration and the 2017 Joint Statement of the presidents of the three countries in promoting mutually beneficial economic, trade, and transport ties. The sides emphasized the importance of enhancing the region’s transit potential, accelerating infrastructure projects, and coordinating efforts to expand the ‘North-South’ international transport corridor.

The participants underscored the goal of increasing freight volumes along the corridor to 15 million tons and agreed to establish a Working Group to prepare an Action Plan for implementation within three months. Additionally, a special Working Group on automobile transportation, including representatives of customs, border, and transport agencies, will be formed.

The signing of the charter of the trilateral working group on customs cooperation was also welcomed, aimed at facilitating transit transportation between Azerbaijan, Iran, and Russia. The sides stressed the importance of completing major infrastructure components of the corridor, such as the Rasht-Astara railway line, the Agband-Kalala highway bridge over the Araz River, and new border checkpoints.

Efforts to simplify border crossing procedures and digitalize customs and transport operations were also discussed. Furthermore, the parties agreed to continue technical consultations on the project to interconnect their electricity networks and to conduct a joint on-site inspection of key infrastructure projects of the North-South corridor on October 14, 2025.

The Communiqué was formally adopted in Baku on October 13, 2025.

Men’s chess team shines at European Team Chess Championship [PHOTO]

The Azerbaijani men’s chess team has played their latest match at the European Team Chess Championship, held in Batumi, Georgia, Azernews reports.

In the 8th round, the team faced Ukraine. The national team won 2.5:1.5, bringing their total points to 13 and rising to the top of the standings. The victory for the team was secured by Shakhriyar Mammadyarov.

Rauf Mammadov, Aydin Suleymanli, Mahammad Muradli, and Eltaj Safarli all ended their matches in a draw.

If the Azerbaijani team wins the final round, they will become European champions for the fourth time, regardless of the results in other matches. The Azerbaijani women’s team is currently facing Romania.

The European Team Chess Championship features separate Open and Women’s sections, with each competition consisting of 9 rounds played under a Swiss system.

The chess tournament showcases 75 teams, including 39 in the Open tournament and 36 in the Women’s Championship.

Chess, for centuries, has been a popular game in Azerbaijan with ancient roots closely related to traditions. The country could preserve these traditions as chess remains a crucially popular sport for now.

To popularise this original game, Azerbaijan President Ilham Aliyev, who is also the chairman of the National Olympic Committee, signed in 2009 an executive order initiating a state-supported chess development program, covering the years 2009-2014.

The 42nd Chess Olympiad, held in Baku, is indeed an excellent example of great attention paid to the development of chess games in the country.

The large-scale event attracted a total of 1,587 participants, including 894 in the Open category and 693 in the Women’s event, making the Baku Chess Olympiad a significant event.

Similarly, the FIDE World Chess Cup 2023 in Baku captivated chess fans with its high-calibre competition and exhilarating matches.

Featuring a highly competitive lineup, the World Cup provided an exciting venue to display the remarkable skill and strategic finesse of elite chess players.

Approximately 206 competitors participated in the open section, along with 103 players in the women’s competition.

The national chess players have always been taking high places at top-ranked tournaments.

Tens of thousands of new jobs planned in Garabagh and East Zangazur

Favorable conditions are being created for employment and entrepreneurial activity in Azerbaijan’s liberated territories, with plans to open tens of thousands of new jobs, Azernews reports.

This was stated by Mammad Musayev, President of the Azerbaijan Entrepreneurs Confederation, at the 30th Anniversary Caspian Construction Week.

He noted that the ‘Great Return’ program to Azerbaijan’s liberated territories is already being implemented in practice:

“Over the past two years alone, hundreds of infrastructure projects, including airports, highways, railways, and energy centers, have been commissioned in the Garabagh and East Zangazur economic regions. Favorable conditions are being established for employment and entrepreneurship, with tens of thousands of new jobs planned.

Declaring Garabagh a ‘green zone’ and implementing projects on alternative and renewable energy further strengthens confidence that Azerbaijan will become a green energy exporter.”

Musayev emphasized that the BakuBuild and Rebuild Garabagh exhibitions are not only business platforms but also symbols of joint solidarity, cooperation, and confidence in the future for the reconstruction of Garabagh.

“As the Azerbaijan Entrepreneurs Confederation, we are ready to support all efforts for the restoration of Garabagh, the development of entrepreneurship, and the strengthening of our country’s economic power,” he added.

Martin Romualdez faces ICI over corruption claims

Former House Speaker Martin Romualdez on Tuesday, October 14, appeared before his cousin President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s fact-finding anti-corruption body, the Independent Commission for Infrastructure (ICI).

Romualdez, who has been implicated in alleged kickback schemes together with resigned House lawmaker Zaldy Co, said he was ready to cooperate with the ICI.

Upon arriving at the ICI, Romualdez thanked the body for the invitation but clarified that he was not a member of the bicameral conference committee, where most of the alleged budget insertions for kickbacks were believed to have occurred.

‘I will share any information to help determine the truth and to give all the facts and information. I will be here to help in any way to speed up the resolution of the fact-finding investigation of the ICI,’ Romualdez told reporters.

In a separate statement, Romualdez said he wanted to help establish the truth about the corruption issue.

‘At the end of the day, it is evidence – not political noise or unfounded accusations – that will reveal what really happened. My presence here reflects my commitment to state the truth and not allow politics to prevail,’ Romualdez said.

Romualdez was first implicated in the corruption controversy when several House lawmakers allegedly name-dropped him while collecting kickback money, according to the testimony of the Discaya couple.

However, the contractor duo admitted that they never directly dealt with Romualdez.

It was Co’s self-described former security aide, Orly Guteza, who first directly accused Romualdez of corruption. Guteza alleged that he delivered 35 suitcases of money to Romualdez – a claim that the Leyte representative denied.

Guteza’s statement later came into question when the lawyer who reportedly notarized his affidavit disowned it, denying ever having signed the document.

MPBL: Quezon, Gensan win quarterfinals opener

The Quezon Huskers rode on LJ Gonzales’ triple-double and Gab Banal’s clutch hits to subdue the Mindoro Tamaraws, 83-74, on Monday and rev up their South Division title-retention bid in Manny Pacquiao Presents MPBL 2025 Season at the Quezon Convention Center in Lucena City.

Gonzales posted 14 points, 11 rebounds and 13 assists on top of two blocks to power the Huskers in the opener of their best-of-three quarterfinal series.

Banal wound up with 19 points, including a triple that derailed the Tamaraws’ rally, five assists and three steals, and put the Huskers within a win of advancing to the semifinal round of the tournament.

The Huskers, who repeated their 88-72 victory over the Tamaraws in the elimination round, also drew 15 points and five rebounds from Judel Fuentes, and nine points plus two rebounds from Will Gozum.

Mindoro, the eighth and last playoff qualifier in the South, got 14 points from Bam Gamalinda; 13 points and five rebounds from Joseph Sedurifa; 12 points plus four rebounds from Axel Inigo; and nine points from Ino Comboy, who converted only 3-of-12 field goal attempts.

The Gensan Warriors broke free late in the third quarter, then fended off the Basilan Starhorse Portmasters’ final assaults to prevail, 85-78, in their quarterfinal tussle earlier.

Gensan bunched nine points, the last four by Larry Rodriguez for a 64-52 lead, from which Basilan couldn’t recover.

Jackson Corpuz, formerly of the Philippine Christian University Dolphins, finished with 14 points, seven in the fourth quarter, plus eight rebounds; Kyle Tolentino with 17 points, six assists and three rebounds; and Larry Rodriguez 10 points, five rebounds and four assists for the Warriors.

Val Acuna and Eloie Tan also delivered for Gensan with 11 and nine points, respectively.

Basilan went down fighting, with Gab Dagangon pouring in 15 of his 20 points in the fourth quarter; followed by Adi Santos with 15 points, nine rebounds and three steals; and Arwind Santos with 15 points plus seven rebounds.

With Marwin Dionisio snagging nine rebounds, the Warriors ruled underneath, 50-42, but made fewer points than the Portmasters, 24-30, in the paint.

The MPBL playoffs continue on Wednesday at the Nueva Ecija Coliseum in Palayan City, with North Division games featuring Pasay against San Juan at 4 p.m., and Nueva Ecija against Pangasinan at 6 p.m.

DILG orders rapid assessment of quake-hit structures in Cebu, Davao

The Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) on Monday directed local government units (LGUs) to conduct rapid structural assessments of damaged structures in areas affected by the recent earthquakes in Cebu and Davao.

‘Priority should be given to structures in heavily affected barangays and those reported to have visible cracks, partial collapse or foundation damage,’ the DILG said in a statement.

‘LGUs are likewise instructed to inspect tilted or displaced buildings and structures affected by ground fissures, sediment venting, and subsidence before allowing reoccupation,’ it added.

Ground fissures are cracks in the surface rock or soil. Sediment venting is a hazard connected to liquefaction or when sediments behave like liquid, similar to quicksand, while subsidence is the sinking of land.

The DILG further said that LGUs must also assess residential structures and relocate affected families to temporary shelters if the structures are declared unsafe.

Local governments were also urged to coordinate with their respective Department of Public Works and Highways district engineering offices, disaster risk reduction and management offices and barangay officials for joint inspections.

The DILG issued the advisory after a magnitude 6.9 earthquake struck off Bogo City, Cebu, on Sept. 30, followed by a magnitude 7.4 earthquake off Manay, Davao Oriental, on Oct. 10.

NDRRMC updates

At least 74 individuals were reported dead while 559 were reported injured by the Cebu tremor, according to the latest situational report by the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC).

A separate NDRRMC report said the Davao quake left at least eight individuals dead and 403 injured as of Monday.

Meanwhile, League of Cities of the Philippines President and San Juan City Mayor Francis Zamora urged other city mayors to boost their disaster preparedness.

The successive tremors have reignited concerns, especially in the National Capital Region, over the ‘Big One’ or a scenario in which a magnitude 7.2 earthquake may be generated by the West Valley Fault, which runs through Metro Manila.

More anti-corruption rallies set on Oct. 17, 21 in Manila

Two major rallies against corruption will be held on Oct. 17 and Oct. 21 in Manila by the groups behind the Sept. 21 Luneta protest, the Kilusang Bayan Kontra Kurakot said on Monday.

The ‘Baha sa Luneta’ rally was organized by Taumbayan Ayaw sa Magnanakaw at Abusado Network Alliance (Tama Na) and other organizations, while Kilusang Bayan Kontra Kurakot is a network consisting of anticorruption groups whose members will also be joining the protests.

‘Groups that spearheaded the massive protest in Luneta last Sept. 21 are gearing up for more mass actions in the coming weeks to sustain public pressure and demand accountability in the ongoing flood control and corruption scandals,’ Kilusang Bayan said in a statement.

Youth groups will lead the rally and march to Mendiola in Manila on Oct. 17, it added.

‘The youth refuse to be silent while billions in public funds are stolen. We will bring our voices to the gates of power,’ the organizers said.

On the other hand, the Oct. 21 protest will be spearheaded by farmers’ groups from flood-affected areas at Liwasang Bonifacio to protest against what they refer to as an ‘obvious cover-up’ of alleged corruption in Congress and the Independent Commission for Infrastructure. They will be joined by multisectoral organizations.

Bigger mass action

Kilusang Bayan said that a group of over 100 people had coordinated with organizers of the mass action on Oct. 17, promising to ‘sustain their coordinated efforts’ in the following weeks in preparation for a nationwide rally on Nov. 30 rally.

‘These actions are part of our growing people’s movement against corruption and neglect. The government cannot sweep this under the rug,’ the organizers stressed in the statement.

Although the Sept. 21 rally in Luneta ended peacefully, riots broke out afterward in Mendiola and Ayala Bridge, leading to the arrest of over 200 people, including minors, following clashes with the police.

Some of the rioters set fire to a trailer parked at the foot of the bridge while others hurled rocks at police officers blocking the road leading to Malacañang.

The Sept. 21 protests in Luneta and the People Power Monument on Edsa were prompted by revelations about corruption-tainted flood control projects that allegedly led to the pocketing of billions of pesos by some government officials, contractors and lawmakers.

UK-based innovators to unveil CVI AI

United Kingdom-based Nigerian innovators are set to unveil Career Virtual Intelligence (CVI AI) app next month.

A statement by the project lead, Damilola Fatungase, said the app, whose launch was held in January, was designed to simplify employability, address labour shortages and help people learn and earn.

She described the app as a platform to transform global job market, noting that unlike the traditional job portals, the app would provide one million jobs for people.

Fatungase said the app would have features such as AI-powered CV generation, interview preparation, continuous professional development and a dedicated NHS career support portal.

She said the project would be held in collaboration with her company director, a UK-based Nigerian, Dr. Oyewole Alegbeye, the director of London Tilcareer Institute, UK.

She said she and Alegbeye had supported over 500,000 young Nigerians with similar career software, which had earned them nominations for Africans in Tech-United Kingdom Award, which would hold in Birmingham on November 13.

Aiyedatiwa clears N1.4b gratuity arrears

Ondo State Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa has cleared N1.4 billion backlog of gratuities owed retired local government workers and primary school teachers, who exited service in 2014.

Speaking at the launch in Akure yesterday, the governor described the gesture as a continuation of the bulk gratuity payment initiative he introduced while serving as deputy governor – aimed at clearing outstanding entitlements and restoring confidence among retirees.

He said the disbursement followed his administration’s structured payment process, which used the year of exit from public service as the sole qualification criterion to ensure fairness, transparency and predictability.

Aiyedatiwa added that the bulk payments for 2011, 2012 and 2013 sets under his administration were unprecedented in the history of the state.

He stressed that prompt payment of pensions and gratuities was not an achievement, but a moral and constitutional duty.

Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Health, Dr. Adeniran Ikuomola, who represented the Head of Service, hailed the governor’s compassion and prioritisation of pensioners’ welfare.