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October 7, 2025 Economic development

Economic growth in Europe and Central Asia has slowed, but the region remains resilient despite global and domestic challenges, according to a new World Bank report.

In 2025, the region's economic growth is likely to be 2.4 percent, down from 3.7 percent in 2024. The main reason is the slowdown in Russia, which accounts for approximately 40 percent of the region's output. Excluding Russia, growth will remain stable at approximately 3.3 percent this year and next.

According to Antonella Bassani, World Bank Vice President for Europe and Central Asia, countries need to implement reforms to boost productivity, create more jobs, and adapt to population changes. To do this, it's important to develop private enterprise, improve education, and strengthen ties with other countries. It's also essential to attract more private investment and transform low-wage positions into full-time, sustainable jobs.

The report emphasizes that investments in infrastructure, education and training, and support for entrepreneurship are the foundation for accelerating economic growth. To create more and better jobs, countries need to invest in human development and improving working conditions. Unleashing the underutilized potential of women and youth is particularly important. This will help offset the expected decline in the labor force—projected to fall by 17 million in the coming decades, particularly in Eastern and Central Europe and the Western Balkans.

At the same time, the number of people of working age will grow in Central Asia and Turkey, creating other challenges—for example, the need to provide employment for everyone. However, development is hampered by issues such as weak competition, small businesses that rarely grow, a lack of funding, outdated education systems, and the large number of state-owned companies that hinder business development.

Ivaylo Izvorski, the World Bank's Chief Economist for the region, believes that each country can find its own path by leveraging its strengths—its people, infrastructure, and natural resources. Focusing on job creation and skills development will help countries achieve sustainable economic growth.

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October 7, 2025 UN

The top news of the day at the UN and around the world: the second anniversary of the attacks on Israel, new detentions of UN staff in Yemen, a rise in climate change-related litigation, World Cotton Day.

Anniversary of the attacks on Israel

October 7 marks two years since the attacks on Israel by Hamas and other Palestinian armed groups. On this occasion, the UN Secretary-General made a statement, in which he honored the memory of the victims, expressed solidarity with the victims and once again demanded the immediate release of all hostages and an end to the bloodshed. According to Antonio GuterresThe events of that day will forever remain etched in people's memories: the attackers brutally murdered more than 1,250 Israelis and foreign citizens. More than 250 people, including women, children, and the elderly, were taken hostage and taken to the Gaza Strip. These events were followed by military action, which led to a humanitarian catastrophe in the enclave.

Detention of UN staff in Yemen

The UN reported new cases of arbitrary detention of UN staff in Yemen by Houthi forces, bringing the total number of detained UN personnel to 54. Some have been in detention since 2021. UN Secretary-General António Guterres strongly condemned these actions, as well as the illegal seizure of UN premises and property in Houthi-controlled areas. The statement noted that such actions hinder the work of humanitarian services and threaten the safety of staff. The whereabouts of the detainees are unknown, and the de facto Houthi authorities continue to deny access to them, despite repeated requests from the UN.

Climate litigation

Number climate-related litigation, is growing rapidly, and they are affecting an increasing number of countries. This trend is noted by the authors of a new report by the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) and the Center for Climate Change Law at Columbia University. Among the most significant decisions highlighted in the document is the advisory opinion of the International Court of Justice, which affirms the obligations of states to combat climate change. In total, as of June 30, 2025, according to the report, 3,099 climate-related cases were registered worldwide – in 55 countries and 24 international or regional judicial and quasi-judicial bodies. This is significantly more than in 2022 (2,180 cases) and in 2017 (884 cases).

Cotton Day

October 7th – World Cotton DayThis year, the Day focuses on the vast opportunities offered by the cotton sector, including its crucial contribution to international trade and inclusive economic growth. Cotton plays a vital role in the global economy, social sustainability, and international trade. It provides livelihoods for over 100 million families worldwide and helps address key sustainable development challenges. The cotton industry creates jobs, particularly in rural areas, empowers women and youth, and promotes local processing.

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October 7, 2025 Peace and security

On Monday, the UN Security Council held a meeting dedicated to strengthening cooperation between the United Nations and the African Union (AU). In their statements, UN representatives emphasized that the partnership between the two organizations remains a key tool for maintaining peace and security on the continent.

Under-Secretary-General for Africa Martha Pobi updated the Council on the progress of implementation resolution 2719 (2023)This resolution aims to improve the effectiveness of the African Union's response to armed conflicts, with the support of the international community and the Security Council.

Pobi stressed that “as we rethink the future of peacekeeping operations and strive for greater effectiveness, it becomes even clearer that resolution 2719 meets the challenges of the times.”

According to her, the document's implementation is progressing along four areas defined by the Joint Roadmap, approved by the UN Secretary-General and the Chair of the AU Commission in October 2024. These include joint planning of operations, organizing mission support, setting financial standards, and ensuring respect for human rights, including the protection of civilians and taking into account gender aspects.

Common Challenges and the Way Forward

In turn, the Special Representative of the Secretary-General to the African Union, Parfait Onanga-Anyanga, noted the strong nature of cooperation between the UN and the AU.

He stressed that security sector reform and strengthening governance remain central elements of the partnership, particularly in the context of addressing the root causes of conflict and consolidating peace.

In his speech, Onanga-Anyanga noted that despite successes, Africa continues to face serious challenges: rising conflicts, climate change, violent extremism, human rights violations and humanitarian crises.

The Special Representative also stated that “no military solution can address the root causes of conflicts – not in Sudan, not in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, not in other parts of Africa,” calling on the Security Council to continue to use its influence to advance a peaceful settlement.

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October 7, 2025 Climate and environment

Climate-related litigation is rapidly growing and is spreading to more countries, according to a new report by the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) and the Columbia University Climate Change Law Center.

The report, titled “Climate Change in the Courtroom: Trends, Impacts, and Emerging Lessons,” is the fourth in a series launched in 2017. Among the most significant decisions highlighted in the document are: advisory opinion of the International Court of Justice, confirming the commitments of states to combat climate change.

According to the report, as of June 30, 2025, a total of 3,099 climate-related cases had been filed globally – in 55 countries and 24 international or regional judicial and quasi-judicial bodies. This is significantly higher than the 2,180 cases registered in 2022 and the 884 cases registered in 2017. While countries in the Global South account for less than 10 percent of all cases, their participation is gradually increasing.

"Climate jurisprudence has emerged as a powerful tool for advancing climate action and accountability," said UNEP Executive Director Inger Andersen. "The transformation of energy, transport, housing, and food systems must be achieved through collaborative efforts, based on ambitious and science-based policies. An independent judiciary plays a key role in ensuring that this transition is fair and effective."

Since the first climate change-related case was filed nearly forty years ago, the field has expanded and matured significantly. Litigation covers an increasingly broad range of issues, from greenwashing (false environmental claims) and carbon offset disputes to the regulation of energy-intensive data centers.

Today, courts are considering virtually all aspects of climate governance—from emission reduction and climate change adaptation to human rights protection and corporate financial responsibility. Cases related to biodiversity loss and environmental pollution are increasingly being heard in court.

Judicial bodies increasingly rely on scientific evidence, including studies linking specific extreme weather events to greenhouse gas emissions. Such decisions help shape international legal norms and liability standards.

At the same time, there has been a rise in the number of "anti-climate" cases aimed at weakening environmental regulations or restricting investments based on environmental and social criteria. Particularly alarming is the increase in lawsuits against environmental activists, journalists, and civil society organizations opposing high-emission projects.

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October 7, 2025 Economic development

In a project implemented by the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) in partnership with the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), Azerbaijani scientists and farmers, by introducing climate-smart agriculture (CSAA) methods using nuclear and related technologies, were able to more than double cotton yields.

Thanks to the use of the new Cotton Super variety and the careful implementation of COA practices that can increase agricultural productivity in a sustainable manner, yields in the pilot project increased from the national average of three tons per hectare to eight.

A pilot project, launched in 2021, aimed to develop recommendations for CSA practices applicable to cotton production, train Azerbaijani scientists and progressive farmers in CSA practices, and conduct on-farm pilot field trials. In 2022, another project began, aimed at improving best practices for nutrient application and soil and water management in cotton production. It also aims to increase cotton productivity, as Azerbaijan's lands are particularly vulnerable to climate change and soil degradation. Since 1991, the country's average annual temperature has increased by 0.4 degrees Celsius, while precipitation has decreased, and extreme weather events such as floods, droughts, and heat waves have become more frequent.

"Overall, soil nutrient application and water management strategies account for 60 percent of crop productivity gains," says Mohammad Zaman, a soil scientist at the Joint FAO/IAEA Centre for Nuclear Techniques in Food and Agriculture and the project's lead specialist. "It's important to accurately determine the volume, mode, and stage of growth."

KSAH methods involve the use of isotopic techniques to obtain important data that allows for the optimization of fertilizer use and the improvement of agricultural production efficiency while maintaining soil health.

"When we first started, Azerbaijan's soils were severely degraded, fertility was very low, and the soil lacked a range of essential nutrients necessary for cotton growth," says Zaman. To address this problem, IAEA specialists developed and provided cotton growers with a full range of nuclear and related techniques covering a wide range of crop production aspects, including soil preparation, selection of the best cotton varieties, nutrient application, irrigation of cotton fields, and control of weeds, pests, and diseases.

"Using improved nutrient application, soil, and water management techniques, along with the Cotton Super variety, has allowed us to improve productivity, enhance quality, and increase profits," says Sakhavat Mammadov, a farmer from Azerbaijan who participated in the pilot project and has been implementing COSH practices on his farm for the past two years.

Read also:

Cotton: The "White Gold" That Feeds Millions

Nuclear and related methods help improve not only agricultural productivity but also the resilience of agricultural systems to climate change. In Azerbaijan, scientists used a method using the stable isotope nitrogen-15 (N-15). Nitrogen plays a vital role in plant growth and photosynthesis—the process by which plants convert carbon dioxide and sunlight into food. Zaman explained that a deficiency of nutrients such as nitrogen in the soil negatively impacts crop yield and nutritional value. Conversely, excessive or improper application of nitrogen fertilizers leads to increased greenhouse gas emissions and pollution of surface and groundwater.

"Cotton is expected to be one of the crops in Azerbaijan with the greatest decline in yield due to climate change and rapid soil degradation," says Zaman. "The use of isotopic techniques, including N-15, can help adapt to new conditions and make the cotton industry more competitive, as well as provide employment and improve the well-being of the rural population."

Azerbaijan was once a major cotton producer and exporter: in the 1980s, harvests reached 830,000 tons and provided up to a quarter of state budget revenue. However, the transition to a market economy and the rapid growth of other industries in the 1990s led to cotton losing its key role in the Azerbaijani economy, and in 2009, its production fell to a record low of 31,000 tons.

The project results demonstrate the high potential of climate-smart practices to increase agricultural productivity.

"Considering that the total area of cotton plantations in Azerbaijan is 105,000 hectares, implementing the IAEA-proposed CSA methods on 10 percent of this area will yield 84,000 tons of cotton, a 166 percent increase over traditional cultivation methods," explains Zaman. "The application of climate-smart agriculture methods in this project has yielded excellent results; this is very encouraging and opens up exciting prospects for Azerbaijan, which will be able to significantly increase cotton production and, as a result, significantly improve its economic performance."

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