Source: US National Institute of Justice (video statements)
This presentation is part of the virtual workshop "Qualifications of an Expert Witness for Legal Professionals – The Daubert Standard," hosted by the NIJ Forensic Technology Center of Excellence on August 2, 2023.
(Opinions or points of view expressed represent the speaker and do not necessarily represent the official position or policies of the U.S. Department of Justice. Any product or manufacturer discussed is presented for informational purposes only and do not constitute product approval or endorsement by the U.S. Department of Justice.)
Briefing by Hans Grundberg, UN Special Envoy for Yemen, on the situation in the Middle East.
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The Special Envoy of the Secretary-General for Yemen, Hans Grundberg, told the Security Council that stability in Yemen cannot be separated from broader regional dynamics. He warned that Yemen’s unresolved conflict acts as a fault line, sending tremors across borders and amplifying existing regional rivalries, while broader Middle East instability continues to feed divisions within Yemen. “Yemen is both a mirror and a magnifier of the region’s volatility,” Grundberg said, stressing that peace in Yemen is contingent on progress across the region.
Grundberg expressed concern over recent escalations, including drone and missile attacks by Ansar Allah on Israel, as well as Israeli strikes in Sana’a and other areas controlled by Ansar Allah, which reportedly killed civilians and senior interlocutors. He emphasized that these cycles of retaliation must end to prevent a return to widespread conflict. At the same time, he warned that viewing Yemen solely through a regional lens risks sidelining the voices, needs, and aspirations of Yemenis themselves. “The current cycle of violence is dragging Yemen further away from a peace process that would bring sustainable, long-term peace and economic growth,” he said, calling for a renewed focus on internal challenges and unlocking Yemen’s potential.
The Special Envoy highlighted the ongoing humanitarian and operational challenges faced by the UN, including the arbitrary detention of over 40 UN staff in Sana’a and Hudaydah, the forced entry into UN premises, and the seizure of UN property. He condemned these actions as violations of international law that endanger the UN’s ability to advance peace and deliver humanitarian support. Grundberg expressed solidarity with detained colleagues, called for their immediate and unconditional release, and urged Ansar Allah to repatriate the surviving crew members of the Motor Vessel Eternity C.
Turning to the frontlines, Grundberg noted that while relative stability has been maintained, recent military activity in Al Dhale’, Ma’rib, and Ta’iz highlights the risk of miscalculations triggering renewed full-scale conflict. He underscored the importance of ongoing de-escalation efforts and meaningful security dialogue, noting the productive engagement of the Yemeni Government, regional actors, and the Military Coordination Committee, including the reopening of key roads as a demonstration of cooperation.
Grundberg also highlighted economic progress, including improvements to currency value and reductions in living costs, crediting dialogue with the Central Bank of Yemen, government ministers, and private sector representatives. He stressed that sustainable economic stabilization requires depoliticizing national institutions and taking a nationwide view.
Finally, Grundberg reiterated the urgent need for a nationwide ceasefire, inclusive political process, and country-wide economic reforms, emphasizing that dialogue and collaboration remain the only viable path to lasting stability. He reaffirmed the UN’s commitment to supporting a Yemeni-led peace process that is credible, regionally supported, and insulated from wider geopolitical shocks.
Source: US National Institute of Justice (video statements)
In this specialized workshop intended for forensic science service providers (FSSPs), we explore the increasing adoption of Time-of-Flight and Quadrupole Time-of-Flight Mass Spectrometry (TOF/QTOF-MS) technologies within forensic laboratories. The session provides an in-depth examination of various critical stages, encompassing planning, validation methodologies, analytical techniques, data review processes, and report generation. Subject matter experts disseminate knowledge and share first-hand experiences related to the utilization of TOF/QTOF-MS technology. This discussion aims to lower the barrier for implementing TOF/QTOF-MS instrumentation for screening or confirmatory analysis.
This video is part one of two from a webinar hosted by the NIJ Forensic Technology Center of Excellence on October 18, 2023.
(Opinions or points of view expressed represent the speaker and do not necessarily represent the official position or policies of the U.S. Department of Justice. Any product or manufacturer discussed is presented for informational purposes only and do not constitute product approval or endorsement by the U.S. Department of Justice.)
Source: US National Institute of Justice (video statements)
In this specialized workshop intended for forensic science service providers (FSSPs), we explore the increasing adoption of Time-of-Flight and Quadrupole Time-of-Flight Mass Spectrometry (TOF/QTOF-MS) technologies within forensic laboratories. The session provides an in-depth examination of various critical stages, encompassing planning, validation methodologies, analytical techniques, data review processes, and report generation. Subject matter experts disseminate knowledge and share first-hand experiences related to the utilization of TOF/QTOF-MS technology. This discussion aims to lower the barrier for implementing TOF/QTOF-MS instrumentation for screening or confirmatory analysis.
This video is part two of two from a webinar hosted by the NIJ Forensic Technology Center of Excellence on October 18, 2023.
(Opinions or points of view expressed represent the speaker and do not necessarily represent the official position or policies of the U.S. Department of Justice. Any product or manufacturer discussed is presented for informational purposes only and do not constitute product approval or endorsement by the U.S. Department of Justice.)
Source: US National Institute of Justice (video statements)
The world of forensic science and death investigation is always unpredictable and demanding. Large caseloads, hazardous materials, traumatic evidence, and other complexities related to the job can have a direct effect on staff. Individuals working in this field are continually faced with an incredible amount of grief, sadness, pressure, and stress. This webinar presents a comprehensive literature review as well as preliminary results from a cross-discipline, cross-sectional study examining the prevalence of vicarious trauma and burnout from more than 500 forensic practitioner respondents. Additionally, the need for stress and trauma awareness training and a structured peer support system are discussed as a valuable endeavor for any organization whose employees are faced with sensitive, challenging, and traumatic events or information every day.
This webinar was hosted by the NIJ Forensic Technology Center of Excellence on March 28, 2023.
(Opinions or points of view expressed represent the speaker and do not necessarily represent the official position or policies of the U.S. Department of Justice. Any product or manufacturer discussed is presented for informational purposes only and do not constitute product approval or endorsement by the U.S. Department of Justice.)
On 16 September 2025 Commission President Ursula von der Leyen hosts the conference: "One year after the Draghi report".
President von der Leyen and Prof. Mario Draghi will discuss what has been achieved and what has changed.
"One year ago, the Draghi Report called on Europe to shift gears in the global race for competitiveness. We heard that call. Loud and clear. And we responded, fast and forcefully.
This Tuesday, with Mario Draghi, let’s take stock of how far we’ve come together." Commission President Ursula von der Leyen
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The future is young. Half the world is under 30 and this generation is emerging as a powerful force for peace in a world marred by conflict and injustice.
Across the globe, young people are organizing protests, sparking global movements, and forging bonds of solidarity. In communities ravaged by violence, they serve as peacemakers, peacekeepers, and peacebuilders, laying the groundwork for a resilient tomorrow.
These are some of their many voices – calling for change, hope and a world that is fit for their generation. They have the greatest stake in our common future, yet they are too often excluded from the spaces where solutions are shaped.
It’s time to hear their voices and act now.
Learn more about the UN campaign guided on the powerful agency of young peacemakers – https://www.un.org/en/peace-and-security/hear-us
Press conference by Tom Fletcher, Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs and Emergency Relief Coordinator, on humanitarian affairs.
The United Nations top humanitarian official, Tom Fletcher, today (15 Sep) said, “there are many who would like to see the UN being weakened" and called for the Organization to “push back against this crisis of finance” and “these challenges to our legitimacy and to our confidence.”
Talking to reporters in New York ahead of High-Level week, Fletcher said the financial situation “got worse since I was last here,” noting that “we’ve only been funded 19 percent of what we need.”
He said, “those funding cuts have already meant that we have hyper, hyper prioritised our planning in order to target saving 114 million lives, which would cost 29 billion dollars.”
Fletcher stressed that humanitarian workers are “under attack,” adding that last year, 380 plus aid workers were killed, the “highest ever.”
He said, “it’s a record that I fear will break again. And that violence against us – and I’ll come on to Yemen, for example, and of course OPT, Gaza- is somehow being normalized.”
On Gaza, Fletcher said, “we need the crossings open. We need functional access. We need unimpeded safe passage inside Gaza. We need the looting to stop. We need the hostages to be released. We need a ceasefire now.”
And all of this, he added, “is against the backdrop where the rules of war are being corroded day by day.
On Sudan, he said, “particular focus on trying to get this siege of El Asher lifted,” where “900,000 people there are in desperate, desperate need of our lifesaving work.”
On Syria, he said he expected the visit of President Ahmed al-Sharaa and his team “to ensure we’ve got the right balance in the conversation between the humanitarian imperative and that longer term development and resilience and reconstruction effort that will allow the people of Syria, as they wish to, to reduce that dependence on humanitarian aid.”
On Haiti, which he visited last week, Fletcher said, “the violence has to end.”
He noted that the capital Port au Prince is “pushed to the brink” and told reporters he had met “young people trapped by violence, but who are finding ways to rebuild their lives,” as well as “IDP families living in the most unthinkable conditions” and survivors of gender based violence, “who have faced just unspeakable and repeated attacks.”
Responding to a journalist’s question on aid delivery in Gaza, Fletcher said, “can I guarantee that every grain of rice that gets looted from our lorries doesn’t end up on the market in some way or doesn’t get stolen by Hamas fighters? No, it’s impossible in those chaotic conditions to guarantee that. But we feel very confident that we have a system that ensures the majority does get to civilians. If we’re allowed to operate. You know, if we could flood Gaza with hundreds of trucks a day, the looting would go away. The prices in the markets would come down. So, we know we can do that. And we can do that even in these incredibly difficult conditions that exist.”
