Source: Republic of South Africa (video statements)
President Cyril Ramaphosa says he has studied and accepted the Madlanga Commission’s interim report. He adds, “I’m not going to – in the end – let the Madlanga Commission report or recommendations not be implemented.”
Source: United Nations (video statements)
Noon Briefing by Stéphane Dujarric, Spokesperson for the Secretary-General.
Highlights:
Nigeria
Olympics
New Start Treaty
Security Council
Human Rights Office
Ukraine
Occupied Palestinian Territory
Democratic Republic of the Congo
Democratic Republic of the Congo/Peacekeeping
Central African Republic
Chad
Peace-building Fund
Burkina
Faso Costa Rica
Honour Roll
———————–
NIGERIA
The Secretary-General strongly condemns the terrorist attack of 3 February, in Kwara State, in Nigeria, which reportedly killed over 100 people.
The Secretary-General conveys his heartfelt condolences to the families of the victims and to the people and Government of Nigeria, and of course, he wishes a speedy recovery to all those injured.
The Secretary-General reiterates the solidarity of the United Nations with the Government and people of Nigeria in their efforts to fight terrorism and violent extremism. He stresses the importance of bringing the perpetrators to justice.
OLYMPICS
The Secretary-General is arriving in Milan in a few hours, where he will attend the Opening Ceremony of the Winter Olympics that will take place on Friday. While there, he will meet with the new President of the International Olympic Committee (IOC), Kirsty Coventry.
the Secretary-General will deliver a video message for the Opening Ceremony, and he will underscore that the Olympics and the Paralympics are a beacon of hope, as well as a celebration of human potential, of teamwork, fair play and mutual respect.
Maryam Bukar Hassan of Nigeria, who was named the first Global Advocate for Peace for the UN’s Peace & Security Pillar, will also be present at the Olympics.
Along with other global influencers, she will be serving as an official Olympic Flag Bearer at the opening ceremony.
She was selected by the IOC for her ongoing commitment to gender equality, youth empowerment, and inclusive peace.
NEW START TREATY
In a statement issued yesterday evening, the Secretary-General said that the expiration of the New START Treaty marks a grave moment for international peace and security. For the first time in more than half a century, we face a world without any binding limits on the strategic nuclear arsenals of both the Russian Federation and the United States.
The Secretary-General said that this dissolution of decades of achievement could not come at a worse time, as the risk of a nuclear weapon being used is the highest it has been in decades. Even in this moment of uncertainty, however, we must search for hope, he said.This is an opportunity to reset and create an arms control regime fit for a rapidly evolving context.
He welcomes that the Presidents of both the Russian Federation and the United States have made clear that they appreciate the destabilizing impact of a nuclear arms race and the need to prevent the return to a world of unchecked nuclear proliferation.
Mr. Guterres urges both States to return to the negotiating table without delay and to agree upon a successor framework that restores verifiable limits, reduces risks, and strengthens our common security.
Full Highlights: https://www.un.org/sg/en/content/noon-briefing-highlight?date=2026-02-05
Source: International Monetary Fund – IMF (video statements)
The most prosperous of civilizations were the most open. The Romans, for example, expanded their empire by integrating the populations they conquered, creating a melting pot of new ideas. Johan Norberg’s latest book, Peak Human, examines the rise and fall of seven golden age civilizations. In this podcast, he says that if openness to learning and trade are what great societies make, building walls to protect their dominance often sparks their demise. Norberg is a historian and senior fellow at the Cato Institute.
Transcript (https://traffic.libsyn.com/imfpodcast/Johan_Norberg-transcript-IMF_Podcast.pdf) : https://traffic.libsyn.com/imfpodcast/Johan_Norberg-transcript-IMF_Podcast.pdf
Read the article Finance & Development: IMF.org/fandd
Source: International Monetary Fund – IMF (video statements)
Behind every headline about central banks buying gold or defending a currency is a careful statistical system. In this episode of The Economy: How Do You Measure That?, we explore reserve assets. Carlos Sanchez Muñoz joins host Jim Tebrake to explain how reserves help countries weather economic shocks and sustain investor confidence.
Source: US National Institute of Justice (video statements)
Participants will learn about the Vicarious Trauma Organizational Readiness Guide (VT-ORG), an evidence-informed assessment of an organization’s current capacity to address vicarious trauma.
This webinar was presented by the NIJ Forensic Technology Center of Excellence on September 13, 2018.
(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)
Medicolegal death investigators serve a fundamental role for public safety and ensuring justice by conducting death scene investigations and providing investigation services for suspected homicides and violent deaths, sudden and unexpected deaths, and deaths due to suspicious circumstances, as well as deaths related to drugs, drug overdoses, terrorism, and mass fatality incidents.
This webinar was presented by the NIJ Forensic Technology Center of Excellence in July 2018.
(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)
Census and Surveillance Efforts: Insight into the U.S. Medicolegal Death Investigation System Presenters: Dr. Jeri Ropero-Miller & Dr. Hope Smiley-McDonald In 2015, nearly 2.5 million people died in the United States. Of these, about one million were referred to the nation’s medical examiner and coroner offices (MECs), which accepted about half of these cases. MEC caseloads are at all-time high because many of these deaths require a complex, in-depth investigation. Drug overdose deaths require significant resources to investigate, and the exponential escalation of drug related deaths in the United States have led to national efforts to implement more effective and timely awareness of the epidemiology, drug statistics, and unprecedented challenges that burden the medical examiner and coroner community.
This webinar was presented by the NIJ Forensic Technology Center of Excellence in July 2018.
(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)
Update on Legalized Marijuana from the Mile High City Presenter: Dr. James Caruso In 2012, the state of Colorado passed amendment 62, which allowed the possession, recreational use, production, distribution, and personal cultivation of marijuana. Since then, other states have also legalized marijuana for medical and recreational uses. This session covers the history, “discovery,” criminalization, and legalization of marijuana in Colorado and other states. Additionally, this presentation discusses the metabolism and physiologic activity of THC and cannabinoids, laboratory analysis, Cannabinoid Hyperemesis Syndrome, and case reports.
This webinar was presented by the NIJ Forensic Technology Center of Excellence in July 2018.
(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)
Ethics & Report Writing Presenter: Mr. Paul Parker There are currently many resources that explore ethics within law enforcement, but there is a lack of resources on ethics within the field of medicolegal death investigation (MDI). MDI personnel are placed in a position of public trust, and it is necessary that there is a focus on the ethics, character, and behavior of MDI personnel. This session discusses professional ethics, ethical and unethical behaviors, and fostering and maintaining professional integrity.
This webinar was presented by the NIJ Forensic Technology Center of Excellence in July 2018.
(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)
Death Scene Investigations: Roles & Responsibilities Presenter: Ms. Barbara Butcher This presentation discusses the difference between the cause and manner of death, steps of a scene investigation, and the role of a medicolegal death investigator. Additionally, this session describes what happens after death, artifacts caused after death, and methods for identifying a decedent. Finally, Ms. Butcher provides examples of scenarios that a death investigator may encounter.
This webinar was presented by the NIJ Forensic Technology Center of Excellence in July 2018.
(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.)
