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Ukraine takes centre stage at the Security Council. A first-ever Climate Ambition Summit opens. A pandemic-preparedness meeting agrees on a set of health priorities. And experts discuss the dangers and opportunities of Artificial Intelligence. The General Assembly high-level week kicks into high gear.

In the GA Hall, DRC President Félix Tshisekedi deplored that the different peacekeeping missions deployed for 25 years in his country have not succeeded in confronting the rebellions and armed conflicts nor protect civilian populations. It is therefore illusory and counterproductive to continue “to cling” to present mission, MONUSCO, to restore peace in the DRC, he stated.

President of Moldova, Maia Sandu, speaking about democracy in her speech to the GA: "The success or downfall of one democracy resonates globally. When one thrives, it inspires hope in others. When one falters, it risks a domino effect. Today, the fight for democracy anywhere is the fight for democracy everywhere, and in this interlinked fight for democracy we will prevail."

The UN Secretary-General once recorded a message to aliens that was blasted into space. Bill Nye the Science Guy breaks it down.

Members of United States Delegation arrive at Palais de Chaillot to attend the 3rd held in Paris, France, in September 1948. Eleanor Roosevelt walks with Ernest Gross and Phillip C. Jessup.
See more history:
UN Photo/Marvin Bolotsky

— United Nations Photo (@UN_Photo)

Check out this panel with young leaders Ayesha Siddiqui, Vishal Prasad and Noa Greene-Houvras, who will look at climate justice.

A busy day at UNHQ and in between speeches and meetings Volodymyr Zelenskyy, President of Ukraine and Prime Minister of Norway, Jonas Gahr Støre share a friendly moment in the GA Hall.

Ukraine's First Lady, Olena Zelenska, stopped to tour this exhibition taking place in UNHQ, featuring images of her own country along with others from Afghanistan, Iraq and Yemen. She was joined by Audrey Azoulay, Director-General of the UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), the event sponsor.

Brazilian performer Ingrid Silva on making the world a better place.

at : "it all starts by taking ONE single step!"

Brazilian performer, activist and Circle Supporter told UN News during her participation in the .

— UN News (@UN_News_Centre)

Addressing the matter of regional peace and security in West Africa, President of Sierra Leone, Julius Maada Bio stated : "We view with deep concern the rising tides of insecurity and the subtle erosion of democratic governance and ideals in the West African sub-region and the Sahel. Sierra Leone raises its voice alongside its ECOWAS allies in expressing unequivocal dissent towards any extra-constitutional changes of government."

Earlier today, the President of Rwanda, Paul Kagame called for greater intergovernmental cooperation in his speech to the GA - "Developing countries are constrained by a debt crisis, including higher costs of borrowing. This is causing economic disparities to widen and is slowing down our collective progress towards the Sustainable Development Goals. The primary cause of this crisis is high interest rates in developed economies in order to correct for years of quantitative easing. At the same time, developing countries face exaggerated risk premiums for both currency and political risk, which are simply unjustified. We need serious cooperation to address this."

Many Advocates for the SDGs and Climate are at UNHQ, Let's hear from Javier Munoz:

at : "we need YOU!"

Broadway actor, activist and Circle Supporter,
during his participation in the .

— UN News (@UN_News_Centre)

In his speech to the GA, President of Comoros, Azali Assoumani emphasised the need for countries to take action on climate change, saying: "The funding pledged to combat climate change have to, in fact, be translated into specific actions if we want to live, in future, in a world which is safer and more prosperous. I call, therefore, for support to the Moroni Declaration issued last June on Blue Economy and the Nairobi Declaration of last September, and this to make sure that the countries can defend with one voice their common interests.... in particular to do this during the upcoming COP28 in Dubai."

Speaking now at UNGA78 - Luis Rodolfo Abinader Corona, President of the Dominican Republic, addressed the situation in Haiti : "We face uncontrollable actors who foment insecurity in Haiti for their particular interest and are now conspiring against the security of their own government. There can be no doubt that the problem of Haiti is no longer just in Haiti. It is in the hands of the international community. The Security Council must authorize urgently the UN backed security mission ... and support the creation of a multinational backed force to assist the Haitian police."

3.3 billion people live in countries that spend more on debt interest than education”, says Rebeca Grynspan, Secretary-General, United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD). And “developing countries are paying 4 to 8 times more in interest rates than developed countries”. Grynspan expounds on the drivers of the global debt crisis as well as solutions, including the UN Secretary-General’s call for an SDG Stimulus.

Young entrepreneurs from Kenya have designed an award-winning eco-toilet that produces manure and chicken feed. Saniwise Technologies also sells the by-products to local farmers, like 77-year-old John Ochieng. a hot, humid morning on Mr. Ochieng’s farm on the outskirts of Kisumu, near a small lagoon, the bright and healthy 77-year-old strides through the fields in bare feet. Along the way, he collects a bag of manure from Chelsea and Steven. “I met Chelsea and Steven over there by the lagoon,” he said, pointing back the way he came. “I was curious about the toilet they had built. They told me that it makes manure and chicken feed, so I bought some samples from them. I like the products. The manure helps my crops grow very green and fruitful. When I gave my chickens the feed, they enjoyed it. It’s good to see young people helping themselves." .

As the world’s largest corporate sustainability initiative, the offers science-based guidance and strategies to its 23,000 participants in 166 countries, along with “accelerator” programmes for companies to set science-based targets and achieve results.

In shipping news, a fresh strategy adopted in July is poised to set global shipping on an ambitious path towards phasing out greenhouse gas emissions.

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Did you know that the UN cafeteria serves up fresh produce from its own backyard kitchen garden?

Okra, rosemary, tomatoes and more grow under sprays of sunflowers and lavender that keep it bee-friendly.

The compost comes from New York City, and the gardening team is made up of UN staff volunteers. Even during the COVID-19 lockdowns, volunteer staff came to water, tend and harvest the fresh produce.

The UN asks all of its 193 Member States how they prefer to spell their names? Once a 20th-century coveted item clutched closely by new UN staff, what’s become known as the “Blue Book” is now online.

You can find the and local .

Want to find out who was who in the 1940s? The UN Digital Library lists all , but older editions, from 1946 to 1993 are available for consultation in the UN Dag Hammarskjöld Library.