Baku will host the 13th World Urban Forum (WUF13) from 17 to 22 May, bringing together around 25,000 participants from 176 countries to address the global housing crisis and sustainable urban development.
Held under the theme “Housing the world: Safe and resilient cities and communities”, the forum will focus on housing as a key driver of inclusive and resilient urban growth.
Organisers say the event will emphasise housing as a human right and its role in shaping global policy frameworks.
WUF13 will feature six high-level dialogues bringing together global leaders, policymakers and experts to examine solutions to housing challenges. Discussions will explore how equitable housing can support wider goals such as climate resilience, inclusive governance, land security and integrated urban planning.
The forum comes at a time when global housing pressures remain severe.
Organisers note that nearly three billion people are affected by inadequate housing conditions, with more than 1.1 billion living in informal settlements or slums, and over 300 million experiencing homelessness. Rising climate risks and widening inequalities are further compounding the challenge.
As a midpoint milestone in the implementation of the New Urban Agenda, WUF13 is expected to influence global urban policy discussions and contribute to the United Nations Secretary-General’s 2026 report on its progress.
Hosting the forum places Baku at the centre of global urban discussions.
Officials highlight the city’s transformation and its blend of heritage and modern development, positioning it as a meeting point between East and West.
Anar Guliyev, chairman of the State Committee on Urban Planning and Architecture and WUF13 national coordinator, said the city was prepared to welcome participants.
“We invite you all to Baku to join WUF13, a significant milestone in our partnership with UN-Habitat,” he said.
“Our city welcomes you with friendship and a spirit of collaboration, ready to work together to advance our shared goals and contribute to shaping a better urban future for all, leaving no one behind.”
The forum is expected to highlight practical approaches linking housing policy with broader urban systems, including climate adaptation and locally driven development.
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Ukraine is monitoring “unusual activity” along its border with Belarus, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said in a video statement released on Saturday (2 May). He warned that Kyiv is ready to respond if necessary amid continued regional tensions linked to Russia’s war.
President Trump has issued a warning to the international community, claiming a nuclear-armed Iran would strike Israel "very quickly" before targeting Europe and the United States.
Hundreds of young people in South Korea have gathered in Seoul to take part in a city-backed “power nap contest”, aimed at drawing attention to the country’s chronic sleep deprivation.
More than 100 pro‑Palestinian activists aboard boats carrying aid to Gaza were taken to the Greek island of Crete on Friday after Israeli forces seized their vessels in international waters near Greece, according to flotilla organisers.
Minval Politika has released further footage it says shows former International Criminal Court Chief Prosecutor Luis Moreno Ocampo discussing alleged funding behind campaigns linked to Armenia and Azerbaijan.
Iran’s Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei warned “foreigners who commit evil” have no place in the Gulf, outlining a “new phase” for the Strait of Hormuz, while a senior adviser said U.S. blockade efforts would fail and could trigger confrontation.
U.S. President Donald Trump told reporters he was "not satisfied" with Iran's latest peace proposal, which was delivered to Washington via Pakistani mediators on Friday (1 May).
Dubai chef Shaw Lash at Mexican restaurant Lila Molino flies in her avocados and tomatillos, small, tart green fruits native to Central America that are a staple of Mexican cuisine and key for her colourful and spicy dishes.
President Trump has issued a warning to the international community, claiming a nuclear-armed Iran would strike Israel "very quickly" before targeting Europe and the United States.
Türkiye’s Vice President Cevdet Yılmaz is set to visit Armenia in early May to take part in the 8th European Political Community Summit, in what will be the highest-level Turkish visit to the country to date. Meanwhile, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz is reportedly expected to miss the forum.
The Milli Majlis Temporary Commission on Foreign Interference and Hybrid Threats has issued a statement warning of what it describes as an information campaign by pro-Armenian groups targeting Azerbaijan and the Armenia–Azerbaijan peace process.
On 1 May, Azerbaijan summoned the European Union’s ambassador, Marijana Kujundžić, to the country’s foreign ministry in protest over a resolution adopted by the European Parliament a day earlier.
Pakistan has accused Afghan border forces of deliberately targeting civilians during renewed clashes along the border, saying at least nine people have been killed and 15 injured over the past two days.
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