Category: Глобальная политика

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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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October 7, 2025 Peace and security

Two years after Hamas and other armed groups attacked Israel on October 7, 2023, the suffering of civilians on both sides of the conflict has reached unbearable levels and demands immediate action to end the violence and ensure free access for aid. Representatives from several leading UN agencies stated this at a briefing in Geneva on Tuesday.

Call for the protection of civilians and the release of hostages

Jens Laerke, a spokesman for the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), read a statement from Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs and Emergency Relief Coordinator Tom Fletcher.

"We reiterate our call for the unconditional and immediate release of all hostages. Until then, they must be held in humane conditions," the document emphasizes. "Civilians must be protected under all circumstances."

As of October 1, 48 people remain held hostage, including those known or presumed dead, Laerke said.

Casualty figures and humanitarian catastrophe

Since the beginning of the conflict, the death toll in Gaza has reached 66,288, including 18,430 children. Around 400 Palestinians have died of malnutrition.

According to the UN, more than 8,000 applications for humanitarian missions and movements have been submitted since October 2023, but only 45 percent of them were approved by Israeli authorities. More than a quarter of the applications were rejected or remained unanswered for a long time.

Read also:

Anniversary of attacks on Israel: UN Secretary-General calls for immediate release of hostages and end to hostilities

UNICEF: "Every 17 minutes, one child suffers."

UNICEF Deputy Spokesperson Ricardo Pires recalled that many women and children were killed and wounded on that fateful day, and reiterated his demand for the release of those taken hostage.

A UNICEF representative also condemned violence against children in Gaza, stating that 61,000 children have been killed or injured as a result of Israel's ongoing "disproportionate" attacks. "That's one child every 17 minutes," he warned. "Children are experiencing unimaginable suffering—orphaned, displaced, and exposed to disease and violence. The violence must stop; there must be a ceasefire."

He added that dozens of newborns in northern Gaza are being forced to share oxygen masks and incubators because UNICEF is not receiving permission to deliver vital equipment.

UNRWA: 'Two years of destruction and fear'

Alexandra Vellucci read a statement from Philippe Lazzarini, head of the UN Relief and Relief Agency for Palestinians in the Near East, published on the social media platform X. "Grief, suffering, and immeasurable pain—this is the reality for too many people since October 7, 2023," the statement reads. "For two long years, people in Gaza have seen nothing but destruction, fear, hunger, and death."

Lazzarini reiterated his demand for the release of all hostages and Palestinian detainees, an immediate ceasefire, the unimpeded delivery of sufficient humanitarian aid, including through UNRWA, and for all those responsible for the atrocities committed on both sides to be held accountable.

WHO: Spread of hunger and collapse of health system

According to the World Health Organization, more than 640,000 people are on the brink of starvation. 1,050 children have been admitted to WHO centers for treatment for the effects of malnutrition, half of them this year alone.

Of the 36 hospitals in Gaza, only 14 are functioning, and in the northern part of the Strip, all hospitals are closed.

Call for a truce and hope for diplomatic efforts

The UN welcomed the American initiative as a chance for a ceasefire and stressed the need for immediate access of humanitarian supplies and ensuring the safety of civilians.

"There is a glimmer of hope for an end to the suffering that must be preserved," Fletcher said in a statement.

The organization reiterated that respect for international humanitarian law and the protection of civilians are the responsibility of all parties.

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October 7, 2025 Economic development

Today, October 7, is World Cotton Day. This year, the observance will focus on the vast opportunities offered by the cotton sector, including its vital contribution to international trade and inclusive economic growth.

Cotton is more than just a fiber used to make T-shirts and jeans. It's a strategic resource, playing a vital role in the global economy, social sustainability, and international trade. It supports the livelihoods of over 100 million families worldwide and helps address key sustainable development challenges.

The Cotton Industry: An Engine of Inclusive Growth

At all stages of the cotton value chain, the industry creates jobs, particularly in rural areas, empowers women and youth, and promotes local processing. Women make up approximately 43 percent of cotton workers, particularly active in planting and harvesting in Africa and Asia. The use of by-products, such as cottonseed oil and feed components, increases profits and unlocks the industry's economic potential.

To improve the sustainability and efficiency of cotton farming, investment in research, digitalization, innovation, and improved governance is essential. This isn't just modernization—it's a path to a more equitable and environmentally friendly future, where cotton becomes not just a commodity but also a tool for social progress.

Global cotton production in 2024 reached 26 million tonnes, of which over nine million tonnes were exported. In value terms, production is valued at over $75 billion annually, and trade volume is approximately $20 billion. The largest exporters are Brazil and the United States, while the main importers are Bangladesh and Vietnam. The top five producers are China, India, Brazil, the United States, and Pakistan, accounting for over 75 percent of the global total.

Cotton vs. Synthetics: The Battle for the Market

Although cotton accounted for 60 percent of global fiber consumption in the 1960s, its share had fallen to 22 percent by 2024. This is due to the growing popularity of synthetic materials such as polyester, which now ranks first in terms of consumption. Nevertheless, cotton remains the second most popular fiber in the world. About 80 percent of cotton is used in clothing, and the remaining 20 percent is used in home textiles and industrial goods.

International cotton trade must be open, transparent, fair, and non-discriminatory. Only under such conditions can sustainable livelihoods be secured for millions of people, especially in low-income countries. Closer coordination across the entire supply chain—from field to store—enhances efficiency, transparency, and the value of products.

World Cotton Day highlights the historical, economic and social significance of this product, draws attention to the industry's problems and demonstrates how cotton helps achieve the goals 2030 Agenda for Sustainable DevelopmentThis day is an opportunity to support farmers, improve nutrition, protect the environment, and ensure a decent life for everyone on Earth.

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October 6, 2025 Peace and security

October 7 marks two years since the attacks by Hamas and other Palestinian armed groups on Israel. On this occasion, the UN Secretary-General issued a statement honoring the memory of the victims, expressing solidarity with the injured, and reiterating his demand for the immediate release of all hostages and an end to the bloodshed.

According to the head of the Organization, the events of that day will forever remain etched in people's memories. "Two years ago, on this day, Hamas and other Palestinian armed groups carried out a horrific, large-scale terrorist attack on Israel. 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. On this day, we honor the memory of all those killed and subjected to horrific violence," the Secretary-General said.

Release the hostages – unconditionally and immediately.

He emphasized that the suffering of the victims and their families continues today: "The horror of that dark day will forever remain etched in our memory. Two years later, the hostages are still in horrific conditions in Gaza. I have met with the families of the hostages and survivors, who have shared their unbearable pain with me."

"I've said it again and again, and I repeat it today with even greater urgency: release the hostages—unconditionally and immediately. End all suffering," the UN chief urged. "We are witnessing a humanitarian catastrophe of a scale beyond comprehension. Stop the fighting in Gaza, Israel, and the region—now. Stop forcing civilians to pay with their lives and futures."

According to him, the world needs hope today. The Secretary-General noted the need to intensify diplomatic efforts. "The recent proposal by US President Donald Trump offers an opportunity that must be seized to end this tragic conflict," the Secretary-General emphasized.

He emphasized the need for a lasting ceasefire and a resumption of political dialogue, which, he said, would prevent further bloodshed and pave the way for peace. The UN chief also called for respect for international law.

Antonio Guterres He assured that the United Nations would continue to support peace efforts and called for the memory of the victims to be honored by continuing to work for a just resolution to the conflict. "On this somber anniversary, let us honor the memory of the victims by working for the only way forward—a just and lasting peace in which Israelis, Palestinians, and all peoples of the region live side by side in security, dignity, and mutual respect," he concluded. Antonio Guterres.

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October 6, 2025 Peace and security

Audrey Azoulay, Director-General of UNESCO, condemned the murder of photojournalist Anthony Lallican near the town of Druzhkivka in the Donetsk region of Ukraine on October 3.

"I condemn the killing of Anthony Lallican and call for a full and transparent investigation. Journalists play a key role in informing the world and ensuring the right of local populations to access information. I reiterate the need to respect international humanitarian law, including UN Security Council Resolution 2222 on the protection of journalists, media workers, and associated persons in conflict, the provisions of which are reaffirmed in the UN Pact for the Future," Azoulay said.

Antoni Lallican worked as a photojournalist for Le Monde, Le Figaro, Libération, Mediapart, Der Spiegel, Die Zeit, Die Welt, Le Temps, Der Standard, and La Presse. He was reportedly killed in a drone strike while wearing a vest emblazoned with the word "Press" and on assignment for the Hans Lucas photo agency.

According to UNESCO, at least 23 journalists and media workers have died in the line of duty in Ukraine since February 2022. This figure does not include those whose deaths were not related to their journalistic work.

UNESCO promotes the safety of journalists through global awareness-raising campaigns and coordination of efforts to implement the UN Plan of Action on the Safety of Journalists and the Issue of Impunity.

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October 6, 2025 Human rights

"We're looking for everyone. No exceptions." With these words, Carla Quintana, head of the UN Independent Institute for Missing Persons in Syria, began a discussion about the work of the new body, created at the initiative of the families of missing persons. In an interview with the UN News Service, she discussed the initial results, challenges, and the hope her mission brings.

The Institute, just two years old, was established by a UN General Assembly resolution. It has become a unique example of international support for an initiative coming from the victims themselves. "This is not just an institution; it is a collective effort of the Syrian people, the international community, civil society organizations, and the new authorities," Quintana emphasizes.

"The most important thing is to gain the trust of the victims' families."

The institute's mandate covers all missing persons in Syria and those who disappeared while attempting to flee the country. This includes victims of enforced disappearances, children who disappeared during the conflict, migrants, and people who disappeared after the overthrow of the Assad regime.

"We started with cases where we already have reliable information. These are disappearances related to the former regime, ISIS activities, and migration. But that doesn't mean we're ignoring other cases. We just have less data on them yet," Quintana explains.

One of the main problems in the work remains limited access to information.

"To find missing people, we need to gather all the pieces of the puzzle – oral testimony, documents, and information from various sources. But the most important thing is to gain the families' trust," says Quintana.

The Institute is actively working to create data exchange channels between all parties, from the Syrian authorities to international organizations.

Time is of the essence

Quintana, who has experience working in Mexico and other Latin American countries, emphasizes: "We can't waste time experimenting. We know what methods work, and we're ready to share them."

"Every day of delay means lost witnesses, vanished documents, and dying relatives. We must act quickly," she says.

© IIMP

Carla Quintana during a meeting with the Minister of the Interior of the interim government of Syria, Asaad Al-Shibani.

The Institute has already formed a forensic unit to work with both the living and the deceased.

"We were created thanks to the efforts of Syrian families, and we work with them every day," Quintana emphasizes. The institute holds regular meetings, updates information, and consults with relatives and organizations. The first meeting of the advisory board, which includes family representatives, experts, and activists, was recently held.

A story that remains in the heart

When asked about the most touching encounter, Quintana recalls the women from Daraya who met with representatives of an international organization for the first time.

"One of them told me she started looking for a husband when her daughter was just three months old," Quintana recalls. "This woman was with her daughter when she shared this story with us. She told me she'd started studying and was now a teacher herself. I looked at her daughter's face, now 13 or 14 years old, and realized that for the first time, she was understanding everything her mother had gone through. She was so proud of her. Ultimately, this woman managed to find her husband and give her daughter hope and new opportunities. These are the moments we work for."

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October 6, 2025 UN

The main news of the day at the UN and around the world: shelling in the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant area, $9 million for Gaza, a Security Council meeting on the resolution "Women, Peace and Security," and the election of the next Director-General of UNESCO.

Shooting near Zaporizhzhya Nuclear Power Plant

International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) experts at Ukraine's Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant (ZNPP) heard multiple gunshots today. The shelling poses a threat to nuclear safety, as ZNPP has been without external power for almost two weeks, according to IAEA Director General Rafael Mariano Grossi. The incident, according to Grossi, demonstrates the ongoing danger facing Europe's largest nuclear power plant during armed conflict.

The situation in Gaza

UN Emergency Relief Coordinator Tom Fletcher allocated $9 million from the Central Emergency Response Fund to ensure sufficient fuel reserves to maintain vital services in the Gaza Strip. Meanwhile, according to the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs, shelling in the enclave continued over the weekend, but the intensity of airstrikes has been reported to have decreased in recent days. The previous day, according to Gaza health authorities, 21 people were killed and 96 injured in the Strip.

Women in conflict situations

Peace cannot be built without women's participation, but real change in the lives of women and girls caught up in conflict is still a long way off, he said. at a Security Council meeting on resolution 1325, UN Secretary-General Antonio GuterresThe resolution, adopted in 2000, affirms the role of women in conflict prevention and resolution and calls for their equal participation in all efforts to maintain peace and security. The UN chief expressed concern that women-led organizations are being deprived of resources, even though they provide vital support to millions of people.

Election of the Director of UNESCO

Following a vote, members of UNESCO's Executive Board nominated Khaled El-Anani, a representative of Egypt, for the post of Director-General of the Organization. The decision will be put to a vote by all UNESCO Member States on November 6 during the Organization's General Conference, which will be held in Samarkand, Uzbekistan. Khaled El-Anani is a professor of Egyptology at Helwan University and a former Minister of Tourism and Antiquities of Egypt.

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October 6, 2025 Healthcare

Europe has become the world leader in tobacco smoking rates: 24.1 percent of adults in the region used tobacco in 2024. Europe also has the highest smoking prevalence among women – 17.4 percent. This is according to a new global report from the World Health Organization (WHO).

According to the WHO, despite the decline in the number of smokers globally, the tobacco epidemic is far from over. The number of tobacco users worldwide has declined from 1.38 billion in 2000 to 1.2 billion in 2024. Since 2010, this number has decreased by 120 million people, or 27 percent. However, one in five adults worldwide remains dependent on tobacco, resulting in millions of preventable deaths annually.

Millions of people quit or never started using tobacco thanks to countries' efforts to combat tobacco addiction" , said WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus. "In response to this progress, the tobacco industry is fighting back, introducing new nicotine products and aggressively targeting young people. Governments need to act faster and more decisively to implement proven tobacco control measures."

New products of the tobacco industry

For the first time, the WHO has assessed the global spread of e-cigarettes, and the figures are alarming: more than 100 million people worldwide already vape.

There are at least 86 million adult users, most of whom live in high-income countries. Among adolescents (13-15 years old), there are at least 15 million, and in countries where data is available, children are, on average, nine times more likely to use e-cigarettes than adults.

According to WHO, the tobacco industry continues to introduce new products and technologies – electronic cigarettes, nicotine pouches, heated tobacco and other products that are harmful to people’s health, especially young people and teenagers.

"E-cigarettes are fueling a new wave of nicotine addiction," noted Etienne Krug, Director of the WHO Department of Health Determinants, Promotion, and Prevention. "They are promoted as a means of harm reduction, but in reality, they are introducing children to nicotine even earlier and threatening to undo decades of progress."

Women quit smoking faster than men

Although tobacco consumption has steadily declined among both men and women of all ages from 2000 to 2024, women are leading the way in quitting. This population group achieved the global target of reducing consumption by 30 percent by 2025 five years earlier, in 2020. Smoking prevalence among women fell from 11 percent in 2010 to 6.6 percent in 2024, and the number of female tobacco users decreased from 277 million to 206 million.

Men, on the other hand, won't reach the target until 2031. Today, more than 80 percent of the world's tobacco users are men, and there are still nearly 1 billion of them. Although prevalence among men has declined from 41.4 percent in 2010 to 32.5 percent in 2024, the rate of decline remains too slow.

Picture by region

Southeast Asia: Once the global smoking hotspot, male tobacco prevalence has fallen by almost half here, from 70 percent in 2000 to 37 percent in 2024; the region accounts for more than half of the global decline in smoking rates. Africa: has the lowest prevalence of any region, 9.5 percent in 2024; the region is on track to meet the global target, but the absolute number of tobacco users continues to rise due to population growth. Americas: The region has achieved a relative reduction of 36 percent, with smoking prevalence falling to 14 percent in 2024, although insufficient data are still available for an estimate in several countries. Eastern Mediterranean: Prevalence is 18 percent, with further increases in some countries. Western Pacific: 22.9 percent of adults use tobacco in 2024, down from 25.8 percent in 2010; progress is the slowest. While prevalence among women is low (2.5 percent), men remain the world's leading smokers, at 43.3 percent.

Call to action

WHO calls on governments to strengthen tobacco control by fully implementing and enforcing the MPOWER package of measures and WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control, eliminate loopholes that allow the industry to influence children, and regulate new nicotine products, including e-cigarettes. The organization recommends raising tobacco taxes, banning advertising, and expanding smoking cessation programs.

"Nearly 20 percent of adults still use tobacco and nicotine products. We can't let up on our efforts now," emphasized Jeremy Farrar, Assistant Director-General for Public Health Promotion, Disease Prevention, and Control. "The world has made some progress, but only more decisive and accelerated action will help defeat the tobacco epidemic."

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