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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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October 6, 2025 Peace and security

Intensive attacks continued in several regions of Ukraine over the weekend, resulting in further civilian casualties and damage to civilian infrastructure. According to local authorities, more than ten civilians were killed and over 100 injured between October 4 and 6, according to the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA).

According to the OCHA, Lviv, Zaporizhzhia, and parts of the Ivano-Frankivsk and Lviv regions came under fire on Sunday. The attacks reportedly killed and wounded civilians. Residential buildings were damaged, and basic services were disrupted. Humanitarian organizations and emergency services are working on the ground, providing emergency aid to those affected.

The UN Office also reports that fierce fighting continues in the Donetsk region, resulting in civilian deaths and injuries. Furthermore, thousands of people have been left without power in recent days due to freezing temperatures.

On Saturday, a train station in the Sumy region came under attack. Numerous civilians were reportedly injured in the attack. The UN Humanitarian Coordinator in the country, Matthias Schmale, strongly condemned the incident.

"Civilians and civilian infrastructure are protected by international humanitarian law. There is no justification for harming civilian lives. These attacks must stop," he said.

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October 6, 2025 Peace and security

Peace cannot be built without the participation of women, but real change in the lives of women and girls caught up in conflict is still a long way off, UN Secretary-General António Guterres said at a Security Council meeting dedicated to Resolution 1325.

The Women, Peace and Security resolution was adopted 25 years ago, in October 2000. It is a landmark document that affirms the role of women in conflict prevention and resolution and calls for their equal participation in all efforts to maintain peace and security.

"We need real results"

“Too often we gather in rooms like these, full of conviction and determination, but ultimately fail to achieve real change in the lives of women and girls caught up in conflict,” the Secretary-General said.

The UN chief emphasized that over the past 25 years, women have played a key role in mediation, legislative reform, and protecting the rights of survivors of gender-based violence. More than 100 countries have adopted national plans to implement the Women, Peace, and Security agenda, and the number of women serving in UN peacekeeping missions has doubled.

He also noted that recent years have seen an increase in military spending, armed conflicts, and violence against women and girls. According to the UN, 676 million women live within 50 kilometers of war zones—a record high in decades.

The surge in sexual violence is particularly concerning: the number of reported attacks on girls increased by 35 percent last year. The Secretary-General also noted the increase in maternal mortality in conflict zones.

He specifically addressed the situation in Afghanistan, where “the systematic exclusion of women and girls from public life is in full swing,” and also mentioned the critical situations in the occupied Palestinian territories, Sudan, Haiti and Myanmar.

The Secretary-General is concerned that women-led organizations are being deprived of resources, even though they provide vital support to millions of people. According to the UN, 90 percent of such groups in conflict zones are experiencing financial difficulties, and almost half are at risk of closing within six months.

The Secretary-General called for women's participation in peace negotiations and emphasized that women's role in peacebuilding is irreplaceable.

“The world doesn’t need more reminders of this truth – it needs real results that reflect it.”

Sima Bacchus: "Opponents of equality are against the future"

UN Women Executive Director Sima Bacchus stated at a Security Council meeting that support for the principles of equality and women's participation in peacebuilding remains strong globally, despite pressure. She emphasized that even in Afghanistan, the majority of citizens—women and men—support girls' right to education.

"Even in Afghanistan, our monitoring data shows that 92 percent of Afghans – both women and men – believe that girls should have the opportunity to receive secondary education," Bacchus said.

She noted that despite the severe restrictions, Afghan women retain hope for the future.

The head of UN Women stated that the normalization of misogyny in politics and conflict is not an inevitable trend: "Some believe the growth and normalization of misogyny in politics and conflict is unstoppable. This is not the case. Those who oppose equality do not own the future—it is ours."

Photo by UN

Bacchus stressed that the situation for women and girls could get worse before it gets better, primarily due to conflict and reduced humanitarian funding.

Despite this, she emphasized that women continue to be a driving force for peace. For example, in Haiti, women achieved near-equal representation in the new electoral council, and in Chad, they doubled their presence in parliament. Syria adopted an interim constitution guaranteeing the protection of women's rights, and Ukraine implemented gender-responsive budgeting.

Sima Bacchus called on states to increase investment in women's organizations, especially at the grassroots level. She emphasized that for 25 years, the global community has focused too much on international institutions, neglecting movements within countries. The head of UN Women proposed measuring progress not by declarations, but by concrete results – the number of women at the negotiating table and access to justice.

"When women lead, peace comes," Bacchus said.

Robotic tractors and combines will help protect agricultural workers.

Olga Uskova, President of the Russian company Cognitive Pilot, a leading developer of AI-powered autonomous ground transportation systems and AI-powered service robots, also spoke at the Security Council. The company produces "artificial brains" for tractors, combine harvesters, and sprayers, enabling modern machines to perform a full range of agricultural tasks without human intervention.

According to Uskova, women in Russia have historically been actively involved in the most complex and cutting-edge scientific and technological fields. Of the 73 patents registered by Cognitive Pilot in robotics and AI, 28 belong to teams led by women.

She recounted her trip to Kigali, Rwanda, seven years ago, as well as a recent trip to Belgorod: "Some Belgorod children and their mothers are experiencing panic attacks, bedwetting, and forced to switch to distance learning," Uskova said.

"We're deploying robotic tractors and combines all over the world so that no one's parents will ever be blown up in fields by mines and war drones while growing grain. And so that the little ones of Belgorod will always smile when they greet their living parents coming home from work. So that the children of Africa will eat bread grown in Russia and no longer die of hunger or bombs," she added.

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October 6, 2025 Refugees and migrants

Filippo Grandi addressed the Executive Committee of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) in Geneva for the last time as its head. The UN High Commissioner for Refugees summed up a decade marked by rising numbers of internally displaced people, declining humanitarian funding, and a crisis of confidence in international cooperation.

He recalled that since his appointment in 2015, the number of people forced to flee their homes due to conflict and persecution has almost doubled, reaching 122 million.

Crisis of confidence and the rise of isolationism

Anti-immigrant sentiment has grown stronger over the decade, fueled by "manipulation and politicization" and "people's general disillusionment with the institutions that are supposed to represent them," Grandi said.

Read also:

World Refugee Day: One in 67 people on the planet is forced to flee

"We see how the pendulum of state behavior has swung from cooperation to transactional politics," he noted.

The High Commissioner stressed that “the atrocities committed in Gaza, the West Bank, Ukraine, Sudan and Myanmar demonstrate the abandonment of norms in the name of violence.”

Protection of international law

Grandi warned against trying to revise Convention relating to the Status of Refugees of 1951, calling it a "catastrophic mistake."

"The right to seek asylum wasn't invented 75 years ago. The moral obligation to provide shelter to those fleeing danger is enshrined in sacred texts around the world," he said.

The High Commissioner stressed that the principles of sovereignty and the right to asylum do not contradict but complement each other.

He also recalled that three-quarters of all refugees are not in Europe or North America, but in low- and middle-income countries.

The UN representative noted that the Global Compact on Refugees, adopted in 2018, has become a tool for practical solutions.

The financial crisis and its consequences

Grandi called financial situation humanitarian agencies "as a result of political decisions with disastrous consequences." The High Commissioner noted that the amount of funds available to UNHCR has been estimated to have fallen to $3.9 billion in 2025, a decrease of $1.3 billion from the previous year.

The High Commissioner reported that due to resource shortages, more than 5,000 staff had to be laid off and programs to prevent gender-based violence, provide psychosocial support, support schools, and resettle refugees had to be suspended. He warned that such drastic cuts in foreign aid would create a domino effect, destabilizing countries and institutions.

"We must not put up with war."

Grandi noted that, despite the crisis, UNHCR continues reforms aimed at simplifying coordination mechanisms and increasing operational efficiency. He emphasized that the Office is actively involved in developing a roadmap for reforming the humanitarian system and strengthening cooperation with the International Organization for Migration (IOM), including in Afghanistan, North Africa, and Latin America.

In the final part of his speech, Filippo Grandi turned to examples that inspire hope: the return of Syrian refugees, peace efforts in the Great Lakes region and growing opportunities for recovery.

“We must not put up with war, even if it seems inevitable,” he stressed.

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October 5, 2025 Sustainable Development Goals

According to the UN, approximately one in eight people on the planet lives in informal settlements, and more than 300 million people have no home at all. The United Nations is reminding us of this ahead of World Habitat Day, which will be celebrated on October 6.

This day is held annually on the first Monday in October. It aims to remind the world of every person's right to decent housing, as well as the importance of developing cities and other populated areas.

Housing problems aren't limited to developing countries. For example, in wealthy countries like the United States, many young people can't afford decent housing.

Forced migrants

In 2025, the Day will be held under the theme "Urban Solutions for Crisis." The UN is drawing attention to scalable solutions to the challenges of forced displacement.

In his message on the occasion of the Day, the UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres noted: “Conflict, political instability and the climate emergency have forced 123 million people to flee their homes, with most seeking safety in already struggling cities and towns.”

Urban solutions

The Secretary General emphasized that it is cities that are capable of offering effective solutions.

"A city isn't just brick buildings. It's the promise of home," he said, calling for "more resilient cities where everyone feels safe and in their place."

As part of World Humanitarian Day, events aimed at promoting effective urban solutions will be held at the United Nations Human Settlements Programme (UN-Habitat) headquarters in Nairobi. The focus will be on the importance of urban and territorial planning, inclusive urban governance, and the role of local authorities in improving conditions for internally displaced persons.

Additionally, the fifth meeting of the UN Mayors' Forum, under the theme "Cities Shaping the Future," will take place at the Palais des Nations in Geneva on October 6–7. Mayors from around the world will gather to share experiences and jointly develop recommendations highlighting the key role of cities and local governments in shaping a sustainable future.

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