Monitoring Desk: Executive Director of the United Nations Human Settlements Programme (UN-Habitat) Anacláudia Rossbach revealed at WUF13 that over 1 billion people worldwide live in slums or informal settlements, and more than 150 million are born into such conditions, reports Azertac News Agency. Addressing at WUF13 in Baku, Anacláudia Rossbach portrayed the situation a global challenge and highlighted that climate change and disasters such as floods, droughts, and hurricanes have affected over 80% of the urban population in the past two decades. Aligning climate policy with nationally determined recommendations has increased the urban planning component from 49% to 80% by 2025,” said, in her remarks at the Ministerial Meeting on the New Urban Agenda held as part of the WUF13. She emphasized that the progress is important but still insufficient, noting uneven implementation and a strong need for sustainable investment.

Editorial The Financial Times report regarding Saudi Arabia’s proposal for a Middle Eastern non-aggression pact with Iran may prove to be one of the most consequential geopolitical developments in the post-Cold War Muslim world. If pursued seriously, it signals not merely an attempt to calm tensions after the devastating US-Israel-Iran war, but the beginning of a broader regional rethink about security, sovereignty, and dependence on external powers. The idea reportedly draws inspiration from the 1975 Helsinki Accords that reduced Cold War tensions in Europe through confidence-building measures, security guarantees, and economic cooperation among rival blocs. Riyadh’s willingness to explore such a framework with Iran indicates that Gulf capitals are no longer convinced that reliance on global powers alone can ensure regional stability. This is a major shift. For decades, the Middle East remained dependent upon external security umbrellas provided by the United States, Europe and Russia. Yet recent events have…