Category: Translation

Translation. Region: Russian Federal

Source: United Nations – United Nations –

An important disclaimer is at the bottom of this article.

September 18, 2025 Peace and security

The United States on Thursday vetoed a draft UN Security Council resolution proposed by the 10 non-permanent members that would have demanded an immediate, unconditional and permanent ceasefire in Gaza and the immediate release of all hostages.

Amid growing hunger, the document also called for the lifting of Israeli restrictions on humanitarian aid and called on the occupying power to ensure the safe and unhindered distribution of aid to all those in need.

The material is being updated

Please note: This information is raw content obtained directly from the source. It represents an accurate account of the source's assertions and does not necessarily reflect the position of MIL-OSI or its clients.

.

Translation. Region: Russian Federal

Source: United Nations – United Nations –

An important disclaimer is at the bottom of this article.

September 18, 2025 Healthcare

Estonia has achieved a significant reduction premature mortality from noncommunicable diseases (NCDs) – cardiovascular diseases, cancer, and others. It was among the top ten countries in the WHO European Region to achieve the 2025 target of reducing NCD mortality by 25 percent. With limited resources, the country demonstrated that consistent policies and intersectoral collaboration can yield results.

Tobacco and alcohol

Since 2014, a national strategy has been in effect, including strict bans on flavored tobacco, remote sales, and tobacco advertising. These measures have reduced smoking rates. However, new problems have emerged, such as nicotine products for youth.

The authorities increased excise taxes on alcohol and restricted advertising and sales. Alcohol consumption declined, but increased again after taxes were relaxed in 2019. Excise taxes will be increased again starting in 2024.

Fighting obesity

IN fight against obesity Progress has been more modest: free school meals, physical activity programs, and "fruit initiatives" have only partially curbed the rise in obesity. Attempts to impose a tax on sugary drinks have failed, and instead, agreements are being reached with manufacturers to reduce sugar and salt content. However, as former Health Minister Riina Sikkut notes, "self-regulation is ineffective: about 70 percent of advertising directed at children violates agreements."

Primary health care

A strong primary care system with no co-pays has become key to reducing cardiovascular mortality. Treatment guidelines and affordable medications (such as statins) ensure equal access to therapy. In the future, there are plans to include dietitians in family physician teams.

The situation in the world

On September 18, the World Health Organization (WHO) released a new report, "Saving Lives, Spending Less," which found that an additional investment of just three dollars per person annually in tackling noncommunicable diseases (NCDs) could generate economic benefits of up to one trillion dollars by 2030.

At the same time, WHO published a new analysis of countries' progress in reducing NCD mortality between 2010 and 2019. While 82 percent of countries achieved reductions during this period, the rate of progress slowed significantly in most regions, and in some countries, NCD mortality rates have begun to rise again.

Read also:

Kazakhstan's achievements in the fight against cardiovascular diseases and cancer are noted in a WHO report.

NCDs remain the leading cause of death in the world, with over a billion people living with mental health disorders. Particularly alarming is that nearly 75 percent of deaths related to NCDs and mental health occur in low- and middle-income countries, where 32 million people die from these causes annually.

In just a few days – on September 25, 2025 – heads of state and government will gather in New York for the Fourth High-Level Meeting of the UN General Assembly on the Prevention and Control of NCDs and Promoting Mental Health and Well-being. The goal of the meeting is to adopt an ambitious Political Declaration that will accelerate global action and investment in these key areas of health and development.

“Noncommunicable diseases and mental health conditions are silent killers […],” said WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus. “We have the tools to save lives and alleviate suffering. Countries like Denmark, the Republic of Korea, and Moldova are leading the way, while others are lagging behind. Investing in the fight against NCDs is not only sound economics, but also essential for societal prosperity.”

Lessons from Estonia

Experts from the WHO Regional Office for Europe are urging other countries in the region to take a closer look at Estonia's experience. Specifically, they are focusing on strengthening cooperation between various ministries and agencies, aligning national and European policies, taking into account political realities and engaging with public opinion, as well as relying on scientific data and ensuring transparency in this process.

Estonia faces many challenges along the way, but continues to implement effective measures. The country's experience shows that even a small country can achieve significant success in the fight against NCDs and serve as a role model for others.

Please note: This information is raw content obtained directly from the source. It represents an accurate account of the source's assertions and does not necessarily reflect the position of MIL-OSI or its clients.

.

Translation. Region: Russian Federal

Source: United Nations – United Nations –

An important disclaimer is at the bottom of this article.

September 18, 2025 UN

Their work may seem invisible at first glance, but without them, not a single meeting of the General Assembly or Security Council, not a single conference or forum at the UN would be held. The High-Level Week, which begins on September 22, would also be impossible without them. Simultaneous interpreters help world leaders understand each other. Moreover, the interpreters themselves sometimes have to catch on quickly, as not all delegations submit speeches in advance.

Ahead of High-Level Week, Lyudmila Blagonravova spoke with translators Anna Kadysheva from the English booth and Sergey Gogin from the Russian booth about how they are preparing for the event and how they are using new tools, such as artificial intelligence, in their work.

Always be up to date

During the UN General Assembly High-Level Week, also known as the Week of General Policy Debates, there will be so many meetings and sessions that there won't be enough interpreters to cover all the events. Staff from other UN language services, such as translation and verbatim reporting specialists, will be called upon to handle the work. Among them are some who have previously provided simultaneous interpretation and are currently undergoing the necessary training.

"Our colleagues work with colleagues from other language services so they can help us when we have a particularly heavy workload," says Kadysheva.

"We will actively engage them. This work is very important. And, by the way, it will pay off handsomely during High-Level Week," says Gogin.

Photo from personal archive

Sergey Gogin

To prepare for general political debates at the individual level, it is crucial for interpreters to understand the context and stay up-to-date on the latest events and trends, as speeches from world leaders and other delegates are not always provided in advance, and sometimes they must be interpreted literally by ear.

"You can look at the list of speakers in advance and have a rough idea of who you'll be interpreting for, although your schedule may be disrupted. That's why we carefully familiarize ourselves with what's happening in a given country recently, looking at last year's speeches and the topics covered. You can listen to a specific speaker or head of state to get used to their delivery," explains Kadysheva.

"I think a general outlook is also very important. A translator must constantly follow the news. We must always be up-to-date with events, aware of what's going on," notes Gogin.

Artificial Intelligence – a Threat or a Working Tool?

Translation is one of those fields directly affected by the rapid development of artificial intelligence. There are dire predictions that translators—like many other professionals—will soon be completely out of work. However, our colleagues at the simultaneous interpretation service are optimistic. Artificial intelligence is still far from perfect, especially from replacing simultaneous interpreters.

"In a high-level context like the UN, where every word, every nuance is important, a specialized human translator is truly needed, human oversight is essential, especially since there are untranslatable wordplays, nuances, allegories, irony, and artificial intelligence isn't very good at handling all of that yet," explains Kadysheva.

"It will be, in my opinion, a symbiosis of man and machine. It's still impossible to hand over everything to artificial intelligence for various reasons. For example, there are strictly confidential closed meetings where, in principle, technical means are not used. Paper presentations are brought to us at the last minute, and then immediately withdrawn. There are negotiations on international conventions and treaties where UN member states would prefer not to see new technologies used," Gogin adds.

Virtual assistant

Today, simultaneous interpreters actively use AI to prepare for meetings or as a virtual assistant during them. Artificial intelligence, for example, can compile a glossary on any topic—even the most complex—in seconds, arming the interpreter with the necessary terminology.

Photo from personal archive

Anna Kadysheva

"A couple of months ago, I was translating at the Commission on the Limits of the Continental Shelf, and one of the experts said, 'I'm now going to give a short technical briefing on geochemistry as it applies to seafloor morphology.' I asked the AI to quickly create a glossary for me—the key terms in my working languages that might arise in this context. Without such technology, it would have been much more difficult to translate on the fly," says Kadysheva.

"AI greatly simplifies our preparatory work. So, as you can imagine, we no longer need to review all the documents. We can ask AI to prepare a summary or identify key points in a report or presentation," Gogin emphasizes.

Every second counts

Artificial intelligence can also help interpreters in situations where a speaker hasn't provided a transcript. This often happens during High-Level Week: there are many speakers, and the order of the speeches can change, leaving interpreters without the necessary materials.

"When you don't have a text, you can ask the AI what a particular member state's position is on a particular issue, or request a summary of the latest Security Council meeting on a particular topic to get context," Kadysheva explains.

In a world where much of the work has moved online since the pandemic began and new technologies are rapidly developing, the work of interpreters has become a little easier, she adds: "When speeches are provided in advance, we receive them immediately online. Printed copies are also distributed to our booths, but before, you had to wait for them to reach you. When someone is about to begin their presentation, those seconds can be incredibly valuable, so in this regard, it's become easier."

Please note: This information is raw content obtained directly from the source. It represents an accurate account of the source's assertions and does not necessarily reflect the position of MIL-OSI or its clients.

.

Translation. Region: Russian Federal

Source: United Nations – United Nations –

An important disclaimer is at the bottom of this article.

September 18, 2025 UN

The main news of the day at the UN and around the world: the catastrophic situation in Gaza, the Security Council meeting on Syria, the report on UN activities, International Equal Pay Day.

The Gaza crisis

The Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs is warning of the catastrophic situation facing civilians in Gaza City. In just five days, strikes have damaged 11 UNRWA facilities, sheltering approximately 11,000 people. According to the latest data, approximately 200,000 displacements from north to south of the enclave have been documented in the past month alone. The UN is reiterating its call for a ceasefire, increased supplies to Gaza, and the immediate and unconditional return of hostages and the release of those arbitrarily detained.

The situation in Syria

Success political transition in Syria Depends on the broad participation of all communities and population groups. This requirement was emphasized by the Secretary-General's Special Envoy for Syria, Geir Pedersen, speaking to the Security Council. UN Emergency Relief Coordinator Tom Fletcher, in turn, recalled that more than 70 percent of Syrians require humanitarian support. Fletcher called on the members of the UN Security Council to maintain stability through continued engagement to prevent violence, to adequately fund humanitarian measures, and to facilitate the reconstruction of Syria.

Report of the UN Secretary-General

In a year when international crises are only intensifying, the United Nations has maintained its commitment to promoting peace and sustainable development. in the annual report of the Secretary-General, presented ahead of the High-Level Week of the 80th session of the UN General Assembly. Thus, in 2024, the UN and its partners managed to mobilize $25 billion (50 percent of the target), which enabled them to provide assistance to 116 million people in need in nearly 80 countries. UN efforts also contributed to the protection of hundreds of thousands of civilians and the advancement of peace processes.

Equal pay

Women worldwide still earn, on average, 20 percent less than men. Gender equality is not fully achieved due to persistent historical and structural barriers that limit opportunities for women and girls. UN Women notes this. International Equal Pay Day, which is celebrated on September 18. The organization calls for coordinated action aimed at reducing the gender gap.

Please note: This information is raw content obtained directly from the source. It represents an accurate account of the source's assertions and does not necessarily reflect the position of MIL-OSI or its clients.

.

Translation. Region: Russian Federal

Source: United Nations – United Nations –

An important disclaimer is at the bottom of this article.

September 18, 2025 Climate and environment

Water is the source of life on Earth, but today it is increasingly becoming the cause of natural disasters. According to a report released Thursday by the UN World Meteorological Organization (WMO), climate change is increasing pressure on the planet's water resources, triggering disasters affecting millions of people worldwide.

A year of record heat and devastating floods

Last year was the hottest in 175 years of record-keeping, with the average surface temperature of the Earth exceeding pre-industrial levels by 1.55 degrees Celsius.

The anomaly directly affects the water cycle: warm air holds more moisture, leading to more intense precipitation and, as a result, devastating floods.

"Water disasters continue to take a heavy toll this year," said WMO Secretary-General Celeste Saulo. "Flooding in Pakistan and South Sudan, and deadly downpours in Bali, are just part of the alarming picture. Unfortunately, there's no end in sight to this trend."

Storm Boris and the "centennial" floods

In September 2024, Central and Eastern Europe were hit by the powerful storm Boris, causing flash floods and the evacuation of tens of thousands of people. In the Czech Republic, river levels reached levels that, statistically, would only occur once in a century. As Stefan Uhlenbruck, Director of the WMO's Hydrology Division, notes, such "century-scale" events are becoming increasingly common.

Monsoons off schedule and drought in the Amazon

Water cycle instability is also evident in other regions. In India, the monsoon arrived earlier than usual this year, bringing heavy rains to the states of Himachal Pradesh and Jammu and Kashmir. Meanwhile, the Amazon basin, northwest Mexico, and southern Africa experienced severe drought, exacerbated by the El Niño phenomenon.

"El Niño certainly played a role, but scientific evidence shows that it is climate change and rising temperatures that lead to extreme events – both droughts and floods," Saulo explained.

Melting glaciers: a global threat

One of the most alarming trends on the planet is the rapid disappearance of glaciers. In 2024, they lost 450 gigatons of ice—a volume equivalent to 180 million Olympic-sized swimming pools. This added 1.2 mm to global sea levels, increasing the risk of coastal flooding.

Everything is interconnected: from the Arctic to Asia

The report emphasizes that the water cycle is a closed global system.

"We're not dealing with localized problems," says WMO researcher Sulagna Mishra. "Melting glaciers in the Arctic influence monsoons in Asia, and hurricanes in the Pacific influence weather patterns around the world."

Against the backdrop of global climate change, the World Meteorological Organization is calling for urgent action: improved monitoring, data sharing on water flows, groundwater and its quality, as well as international cooperation and urgent investment in early warning systems.

Please note: This information is raw content obtained directly from the source. It represents an accurate account of the source's assertions and does not necessarily reflect the position of MIL-OSI or its clients.

.