live WUF13 opening ceremony held in Baku as global forum advances sustainable urban development
The World Urban Forum (WUF13) continues in Baku, Azerbaijan on 18 May, addressing the global housing crisis. The day’s agenda includes the of...
AD Ports Group has signed a contract with Baku Shipyard in Azerbaijan to build two 780-TEU shallow-draft container vessels for trade across the Caspian Sea.
The vessels are due for delivery in the fourth quarter of 2027 and will operate on key routes to boost maritime connectivity, increase cargo capacity and strengthen the trans-Caspian logistics corridor.
“This step aligns with the vision and directives of our wise leadership in the UAE and reaffirms AD Ports Group’s commitment to supporting the growing trade needs of the Caspian region,” said Captain Mohamed Juma Al Shamisi, Managing Director and Group CEO of AD Ports Group.
“Partnering with Baku Shipyard ensures these vessels will meet the highest international standards, enabling us to deliver greater capacity, improved service reliability and contribute to the long-term growth of supply chains.”
The agreement was formalised at a ceremony attended by Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev and UAE President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan.
The move comes after AD Ports Group’s recent expansion in Central Asia, including the launch of the first phase of the Tbilisi Intermodal Hub in June 2025 and the signing of a Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement between the UAE and Azerbaijan in July.
The UAE is among Azerbaijan’s largest foreign investors, with more than US$1 billion in direct investments. Bilateral non-oil trade rose by 43 per cent in 2024 to US$2.24 billion, underlining the growing momentum of economic ties.
Bulgaria has won the Eurovision Song Contest for the first time, taking victory in a final overshadowed by a boycott over Israel’s participation and the war in Gaza.
At least eight people were injured after a driver rammed a car into pedestrians in the northern Italian city of Modena, authorities said on Saturday. Four of the victims were reported to be in serious condition.
The World Urban Forum (WUF13) continues in Baku, Azerbaijan on 18 May, addressing the global housing crisis. The day’s agenda includes the official opening press conference, the WUF13 Urban Expo opening and a ministerial dialogue on the Nairobi Declaration to advance Africa's urban agenda.
Jeffrey D. Sachs, an economist, public policy analyst, Columbia University professor, and UN advisor, said Azerbaijan and the wider South Caucasus could become one of the world’s key strategic connectors in an emerging multipolar order.
U.S. President Donald Trump says China's Xi Jinping agreed Iran must reopen the Strait of Hormuz, as Tehran prepares a new shipping mechanism. Tensions over the U.S. blockade and stalled nuclear talks continue to disrupt global oil supplies.
Israeli military strikes across Gaza killed at least eight Palestinians on Sunday, according to local health officials, as the Israel Defense Forces intensified operations targeting Hamas commanders and infrastructure across the enclave.
The World Urban Forum (WUF13) continues in Baku, Azerbaijan on 18 May, addressing the global housing crisis. The day’s agenda includes the official opening press conference, the WUF13 Urban Expo opening and a ministerial dialogue on the Nairobi Declaration to advance Africa's urban agenda.
A 5.2 magnitude earthquake struck China’s Guangxi region early on Monday, killing two people and forcing more than 7,000 residents in Liuzhou to evacuate as rescue efforts continued.
Russia carried out overnight drone strikes, air raids and shelling across Ukraine, hitting cities including Odesa and Dnipro, killing one person and injuring more than 30, according to Ukrainian officials on Monday (18 May).
Iran and Pakistan reviewed bilateral ties and the latest developments in the stalled Iran-U.S. peace negotiations mediated by Islamabad, as Tehran and Washington continue to refuse tangible concessions amid a fragile ceasefire and escalating verbal threats.
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