WUF13 in Baku highlights public-private cooperation on sustainable urban development
The World Urban Forum 13 (WUF13) in Baku has placed a strong emphasis on strengthening cooperation between the pub...
The World Bank has approved $700 million in new financing to support Pakistan’s efforts to stabilise its economy and strengthen public service delivery, marking a significant boost to the country’s reform agenda.
The funding will be channelled through the Public Resources for Inclusive Development – Multiphase Programmatic Approach (PRID-MPA), a nationwide initiative designed to back fiscal and institutional reforms at both federal and provincial levels. The programme focuses on improving domestic revenue mobilisation and ensuring public funds are used more efficiently and transparently. Overall, the PRID-MPA framework allows for total financing of up to $1.35 billion over multiple phases.
Under the newly approved package, $600 million will support federal-level reforms, while $100 million is earmarked for initiatives in Sindh province, targeting improvements in revenue systems and public service delivery.
Bolormaa Amgaabazar, the World Bank’s country director for Pakistan, said sustainable and inclusive growth depends on Pakistan’s ability to generate more domestic resources and manage them effectively. She stressed that stronger fiscal governance is essential to delivering tangible benefits for citizens and building long-term economic resilience.
United Nations World Urban Forum 13 continues in Baku, Azerbaijan on 19 May with sessions and roundtable discussions focused on strengthening dialogue and advancing cooperation in urban development. Organisers say there are nearly 3 billion people globally who face some form of housing inadequacy.
Azerbaijan and Georgia have agreed to resume daily passenger train services on the Baku-Tbilisi-Baku route from 26 May, 2026, marking a major step in restoring regional rail connectivity after services were suspended in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Day four of the World Urban Forum (WUF) in Baku brings a packed agenda on sustainable cities and the global housing crisis, with sessions on green housing, smart cities, public spaces and urban rights taking place on Wednesday (20 May) at Baku Olympic Stadium in Azerbaijan.
Russia’s ambassador to the United Nations Vasily Nebenzya warned on Tuesday (19 May) that Moscow could retaliate against Baltic states if Ukraine launches military drones from that region. Latvia, the United States and Ukraine responded strongly during a UN Security Council meeting.
Russia is considering the possibility of joint projects with the United States and China, Kirill Dmitriev, Head of the Russian Direct Investment Fund, (Russia's sovereign wealth fund), was quoted as saying by state media on Wednesday.
FormeFormer Cuban President Raúl Castro has been indicted in the United States, according to a senior Trump administration official. The move marks a significant escalation in Washington’s pressure campaign against Cuba’s communist leadership.
The red carpet had barely been rolled up after Donald Trump’s departure before Beijing was laying it out again. Vladimir Putin arrived in the Chinese capital on Wednesday for talks with Xi Jinping, just days after Trump’s own high-profile visit.
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen discussed Türkiye-EU relations and rising Middle East tensions during a phone call on Tuesday.
The visit of Russian President Vladimir Putin to China, just days after U.S. President Donald Trump left Beijing, has highlighted intensifying great-power signalling amid a rapidly fragmenting global order.
The European Union has moved closer to implementing tariff cuts under last year’s U.S. trade agreement after negotiators agreed on a provisional legislative text.
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