Ukraine, Palestine & other topics – Daily Press Briefing (8 September 2025) | United Nations

Source: United Nations (video statements)

Noon Briefing by Stéphane Dujarric, Spokesperson for the Secretary-General.

Highlights:
– Briefings Tomorrow
– Senior Personnel Appointment
– UN General Assembly
– Ukraine
– Ukraine/Humanitarian
– Occupied Palestinian Territory
– Jerusalem
– Haiti
– Democratic Republic of the Congo
– Yemen
– Sudan
– Pakistan
– Afghanistan
– Nigeria
– Human Rights
– International Literacy Day
– Micronesia/New Resident Coordinator

———————————

BRIEFINGS TOMORROW
Tomorrow, at 10:00 a.m., there will be a briefing here on the launch of the UN Secretary-General’s report entitled The Security We Need: Rebalancing Military Spending for a Sustainable and Peaceful Future.
The Secretary-General will be here to make opening remarks, but he will not take any questions.
He will be joined by Izumi Nakamitsu, the Under-Secretary-General and High Representative for Disarmament Affairs, and Haoliang Xu, Acting Administrator of the UN Development Programme (UNDP). .
Then, at noon, the incoming President of the General Assembly, Annalena Baerbock, will speak to you at the General Assembly Stakeout area.
The Secretary-General will hold a press conference next week, most likely on Tuesday, September 16th, ahead of the General Assembly.

SENIOR PERSONNEL APPOINTMENT
Today, the Secretary-General is appointing Mr. Miroslav Jenča of Slovakia as Special Representative for Colombia and Head of the United Nations Verification Mission in Colombia.
He will succeed Mr. Carlos Ruiz Massieu of Mexico, to whom the Secretary-General is grateful for his dedication and service.
Mr. Jenča brings more than 35 years of experience in diplomacy, mediation, leadership and oversight of UN peace operations, as well as close knowledge of the Colombian peace process and its regional and international context. 
He is currently serving as Assistant Secretary-General for Europe, Central Asia and the Americas in the United Nations Departments of Political and Peacebuilding Affairs and Peace Operations, a role he has held since 2019. 

UN GENERAL ASSEMBLY
We’ve seen in the last few days a high volume of misinformation regarding whether a vote had taken place in the General Assembly to move the high-level session out of New York. I want to be clear that there was no such vote in the General Assembly and that I am not aware of any preparations being made to move the General Assembly’s high-level session.

UKRAINE
The Secretary-General strongly condemns the attacks by the Russian Federation on 7 September, which killed and injured several people, including children. The attacks struck a Government building in central Kyiv and damaged residential and other civilian infrastructure in the capital and other regions of Ukraine.
The targeting of government institutions represents a further escalation of the conflict. Attacks against civilians and civilian infrastructure violate international humanitarian law. They are unacceptable and must end immediately.
The Secretary-General reiterates his call for a full, immediate and unconditional ceasefire as a first step towards a just, comprehensive, and sustainable peace in Ukraine, one that fully upholds Ukraine’s sovereignty, independence and territorial integrity, in line with the UN Charter, international law and relevant UN resolutions.

Full Highlights: https://www.un.org/sg/en/content/ossg/noon-briefing-highlight?date%5Bvalue%5D%5Bdate%5D=08%20September%202025

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AdifUiqFIvU

How this company is using data and AI to boost yields for millions of small-scale farmers

Source: World Economic Forum (video statements)

Getting the right information at the right time is critical for any sector but especially small-scale farming. Losing a yield could mean a farmer has no income for a year while weakening food security and local economies. To bridge these gaps, company Farmerline has created AI-powered tools, including one that acts like a “911 for farmers,” bringing critical information on weather, crop diseases and more on demand to people who need it, all in 34 languages. The company has also developed ways alternative data can be used to develop credit scores for farmers, helping prove the investing opportunity to lenders while connecting them to much-needed financing. With small scale farmers locked out of some of the biggest innovations in the last century thanks to access and affordability, founder Alloysius Attah shares what’s needed to ensure agriculture is future ready – including the power of a database that can create a national pulse on food security for NGOs, governments and the private sector. Attah also shares his company’s founding journey, what he’s learned in the past 10 years – and how global crises like COVID have helped him rethink how he prioritizes as a leader.

This interview was recorded in January 2025 at the World Economic Forum’s Annual Meeting in Davos, Switzerland. Updated statistics can be found in the corresponding transcript.

About this episode:

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Transcript: https://www.weforum.org/podcasts/meet-the-leader/episodes/alloysius-attah-farmerline-ai-data-finance

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https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IkOu9As6J60

UN Peacekeeping Chief Visit DRC | United Nations

Source: United Nations (video statements)

The Under-Secretary-General for Peace Operations, Jean-Pierre Lacroix, concluded a visit to the Democratic Republic of the Congo from 3 to 7 September. He visited Kinshasa, Bunia, Fataki, and Beni, accompanied by senior MONUSCO and UN peace operations officials.

In Kinshasa, Mr. Lacroix met with President Félix Tshisekedi, the Prime Minister, members of the government, and opposition leaders. He conveyed the UN’s continued commitment to supporting peace and stability in the DRC. The Congolese authorities emphasized the necessity for MONUSCO to continue fulfilling its mandate, expressing clear support for the Mission’s efforts.

Mr. Lacroix emphasized that hundreds of thousands of Congolese people, including displaced persons, rely on MONUSCO for daily protection — particularly in areas like Fataki and Beni, where joint operations with the FARDC continue against armed groups.

He highlighted the importance of international diplomatic efforts, including the Washington and Doha processes, and called for intensified engagement to achieve tangible results such as a ceasefire and reduced violence. He reiterated the UN’s readiness to support the implementation of the Security Council’s resolution 2773.

He also cautioned about the severe financial challenges confronting UN peacekeeping, urging Member States to contribute the necessary resources to enable the peacekeeping missions to fulfill the mandates they have assigned.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XKtGQl65AsA

Secretary-General Strongly Condemns Terror Attack in Jerusalem

Source: United Nations (video statements)

Spokesperson for the Secretary-General Stéphane Dujarric told press that the UN Secretary-General strongly condemns the 8 September 2025 terror attack in Jerusalem, in which at least six people were killed and many others injured. He conveys his heartfelt condolences to the families of the victims and wishes a full and speedy recovery to those who were wounded.

https://www.youtube.com/shorts/qRmLYVGdVWg

Cannabinoid Conundrums Webinar Series Expert Panel

Source: US National Institute of Justice (video statements)

As evident by the Cannabinoid Connundrums webinar series, the rapidly changing world of cannabinoids offers many conundrums. To tackle some of these questions, Dr. Ruth Winecker led a panel discussion with Dr. Ed Cone, Dr. Nathalie Desrosiers, Mr. Justin Poklis, and Mr. Nelson Santos. This diverse slate of thought leaders includes experts in analytical chemistry, forensic toxicology, clinical research, and drug chemistry.

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https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qXUZe_3XXqQ

From local markets to the global digital economy

Source: World Trade Organization – WTO (video statements)

WafR is a Moroccan fintech start-up transforming how small, informal merchants access and sell digital services. By turning corner shops into points of sale for phone credit and other prepaid services, WafR is helping bring more people into the digital economy.

Backed early on by the Startgate incubator at the University Mohammed VI Polytechnic, WafR gained the tools and support needed to accelerate its growth.

Download this video from the WTO website:
https://www.wto.org/english/res_e/webcas_e/webcas_e.htm

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Cannabinoid Pharmacology: Three Decades of Controlled Human Cannabinoid

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UK E-petition debate relating to the qualifying period for ILR – Monday 8 September 2025.

Source: United Kingdom UK Parliament (video statements)

The Petitions Committee has scheduled a debate relating to the qualifying period for indefinite leave to remain.

Ben Goldsborough MP has been asked by the Committee to open the debate. The Government will send a Minister to respond.

Read the petitions:
https://petition.parliament.uk/petitions/727360
https://petition.parliament.uk/petitions/727356

Find petitions you agree with, and sign them: https://petition.parliament.uk/

What are petition debates?

Petition debates are ‘general’ debates which allow MPs from all parties to discuss the important issues raised by one or more petitions, and put their concerns to Government Ministers.

Petition debates don’t end with a vote to implement the request of a petition. This means that MPs will not vote on the issues raised in the petition at the end of the debate.

The Petitions Committee can only schedule debates on petitions to parliament started on petition.parliament.uk

Find out more about how petition debates work: https://committees.parliament.uk/committee/326/petitions-committee/content/194347/how-petitions-debates-work/

Stay up-to-date
Follow the Committee on Twitter for real-time updates on its work: https://www.twitter.com/hocpetitions

Thumbnail image ©UK Parliament / Jessica Taylor

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sGBlfyO5VhI