Team IT Security - Weltnachrichten

UN Peacekeepers Day 2026 - Press Conference | United Nations

Sat, 06 Jun 2026 06:00:07 +0200

Author: United Nations - Bewertung: 0x - Views:3 UN Under-Secretary-General for Peace Operations Jean-Pierre Lacroix said “The work of our peacekeepers matters. It is worth defending. Peacekeeping is worth the investment.”

Addressing the press on the occasion of the celebration of the International Day of UN Peacekeepers, Lacroix said, “At this moment, UN peacekeeping's entire budget, which is 5.38 billion dollars - that's the budget for one year. The same amount is spent in 16 hours - one six - on global military spending, so it's not even a full day. And if you want another measure, the budget of peacekeeping for one year for all operations is less than half the amount it costs to organize the upcoming FIFA World Cup.”

He continued, “It's a fact that the cost of supporting peacekeeping is far lower than the cost of responding when conflict spirals out of control, and therefore I call on this International Day of Peacekeeping is clear: Let us invest in peace. We need the political and financial backing of member states. We need parties to conflict to uphold international humanitarian law and the UN Charter. We need the support from all those who can hold their governments accountable for their actions.”

He stated, “Peace does not happen by accident. It requires political will, sustained support, and investment.”

Answering a question, he said, “UNIFIL - and whatever may come next, if anything - it's about supporting. It's about supporting Lebanese people; it's about supporting political efforts. This is really what peacekeeping is about, and that applies also to Lebanon.”

Addressing the press virtually from Goma, Sergeant Matías Reyes, who serves at the United Nations Organization Stabilization Mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (MONUSCO) spoke about his experience in January 2025, when he rescued wounded Congolese soldiers seeking refuge at a MONUSCO base.

He said, “Dozens of soldiers of the FARDC who have been wounded sought refuge and medical assistance. When I saw them in that situation I acted immediately. I carried on my shoulders 12 of these Congolese soldiers who were severely wounded and I took them to a safe area within the base where a medical tent was located. At that time, I did not think of myself, or of the risks involved. I was deeply worried about their lives because I knew that each second could have made a difference.”

Earlier this morning, Sergeant Matías Reyes received the Mbaye Diagne Medal.

Answering a journalist’s question, Major Abhilasha Barak of India, who serves at the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) and named the 2025 Military Gender Advocate of the Year, said, “Talks should take place; diplomacy should come to action and hopefully the ceasefire will continue. And then we can move on to rebuilding, not just physically with their roads and destructed homes, but also the post trauma, which they are going under, so we must work on that as a community, as a government, and as peacekeepers, and rebuild Lebanon.”

Police Inspector Stephanie Königs, winner of this year’s Woman Police Officer of the Year Award, served at the United Nations Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS)

She shared with the press what it takes to have an impact and emphasised the need for more woman in the field.

She explained, “Going out in the field, it's very obvious that half of the population is women, so it's for them much more comfortable to talk to a woman police officer, and to share their concerns, their opinions, their perspectives. So, these conversations, they are not just nice: they shape what we are doing on the ground in our operational daily life.”

Today, more than 51,000 civilians, military, and police personnel serve in 11 UN peacekeeping missions, confronting increasingly complex and interconnected challenges shaped by a shifting geopolitical landscape.

In this era of rising tensions, peacekeeping is a proven and cost-effective way to restore stability and hope.

The International Day pays tribute to their unwavering service and sacrifice, as well as the resilience of the communities they support.

It also solemnly honors the nearly 4,500 peacekeepers who have lost their lives in the cause of peace, including 59 in 2025 alone.

Syria: Chemical Weapons Concerns - UNODA Briefing | United Nations

Sat, 06 Jun 2026 04:30:32 +0200

Author: United Nations - Bewertung: 7x - Views:90 High Representative for Disarmament Affairs Izumi Nakamitsu said, “the current Government of Syria has been working with the OPCW Technical Secretariat to obtain clarifications on the full extent and scope of the programme developed by the previous Government and ensure Syria’s long-term compliance with the Chemical Weapons Convention (CWC).”

Nakamitsu briefed the Council on the implementation of Security Council resolution 2118 (2013) on the elimination of the chemical weapons programme of the Syrian Arab Republic.

She said, “the OPCW Technical Secretariat shares that, following an improvement in the regional security situation that permitted a safe and secure resumption of operations, the OPCW Technical Secretariat recommenced its deployments to the Syrian Arab Republic, in coordination with the Syrian National Authority.”

At the beginning of May 2026, a team from the OPCW Office of Special Missions (OSM) deployed to the Syrian Arab Republic to advance efforts to establish a complete and accurate inventory of the remnants of the chemical weapons programme developed by the previous Syrian Government. This deployment focused on several high-priority, undeclared sites in the northern coastal and central areas of the country, broadly within a geographic triangle encompassing Hama, Homs, and Latakia. Visits to these sites were conducted in full coordination with the Syrian National Authority and with substantial support from the relevant Ministries of the Syrian Government.

The High Representative said, “the findings include dozens of chemical munitions previously undeclared to the OPCW, including the same type of aerial bombs that were used in the chemical attacks in Ltamenah in March 2017 and Khan Shaykhun in April 2017. Rockets were also found, of the same type as those that were used in the chemical weapons attack in Ghouta in August 2013.”

Nakamitsu added, “the OPCW further reports that findings include quantities of separately stored chemicals and related equipment, which is currently being analysed, and thousands of pages of documentation.”

She highlighted that the OPCW Technical Secretariat has further emphasized the importance of effective support from the current Syrian Government, adding “this cooperation will remain critical going forward, as the newly discovered elements now need to be declared and destroyed, under the OPCW Technical Secretariat’s verification.”
The High Representative continued, “further investigations and deployments to additional sites will be required in order to discern the full scope of the chemical weapons programme developed by the previous Government.”

She reiterated, “given the risks posed by any remaining elements of the chemical weapons programme, these steps must be completed with urgency.”

Five Fact: Artificial Intelligence: Governance, Science and Global Cooperation

Fri, 05 Jun 2026 21:24:18 +0200

Author: United Nations - Bewertung: 1x - Views:4 In August 2025, the United Nations established two pathbreaking mechanisms for global cooperation on AI: the Independent International Scientific Panel on Artificial Intelligence and the Global Dialogue on Artificial Intelligence Governance. Together, they translate shared principles into practice by bridging scientific evidence, policy dialogue, and international cooperation. The first session of the AI Dialogue takes place in Geneva, Switzerland on 6 and 7 July 2026.

UN Peacekeepers Day, UNIFIL & other topics - Daily Press Briefing (5 June 2026) | United Nations

Fri, 05 Jun 2026 20:43:16 +0200

Author: United Nations - Bewertung: 3x - Views:28 Noon Briefing by Stéphane Dujarric, Spokesperson for the Secretary-General.

Highlights:
- UN Peacekeepers Day
- UNIFIL
- Lebanon
-Occupied Palestinian Territory
- Middle East
- Cyprus
- Libya
- Democratic Republic Of The Congo
- UNOPS
- Food Price Index
- World Environment Day
- The Fight Against Illegal, Unreported And Unregulated Fishing
- International Days/Weekend
- Programming Note/Monday

UN PEACEKEEPERS DAY

To mark UN Peacekeepers Day, the Secretary-General laid a wreath to commemorate the nearly 4,500 people who have lost their lives since we began our peacekeeping work almost 80 years ago.

Speaking at the ceremony, he said that as events of this very week remind us, peacekeepers continue to face peril in the cause of peace – and we pay the highest tribute to their service and sacrifice.

UN Peacekeeping has proven to be one of the international community’s most effective responses to conflict. Across the globe, Mr. Guterres said, the UN Blue Helmet is a symbol of hope for communities in their darkest hour.

He said he is inspired by the women and men who wear the Blue Helmet, as they are protectors of the vulnerable, and guardians of hope in places where hope is often in short supply.

UNIFIL

Just to give you a quick update on the status of the two peacekeepers who were injured on Wednesday, I can tell you that they continue to receive treatment at a UNIFIL medical facility in south Lebanon. We wish them a swift and full recovery.

UNIFIL continues to observe intensive Israel Defense Forces (IDF) activity across UNIFIL’s area of operations, including sustained airstrikes and helicopter fire in both sectors, East and West. Yesterday, UNIFIL peacekeepers reported a total of 773 firing incidents originating from IDF positions south of the Blue Line within the area of operations. In addition, 15 trajectories of projectiles were detected from north to south, including one crossing the Blue Line, while ground forces observed 29 projectile interceptions by Israel over the area.

Peacekeepers also observed IDF personnel and vehicles establishing two roadblocks near a UNIFIL position in Sector West. UNIFIL’s freedom of movement is essential for the implementation of its mandate and must be fully respected.

Also yesterday, UNIFIL observed two armed drones flying over or near a UNIFIL position north of Bayyadah. One of the drones dropped a grenade in the vicinity before turning back. Incidents of this nature are of concern, and we reiterate that all parties must avoid actions that could endanger UN personnel and assets.

In coordination with OCHA, the mission facilitated three humanitarian missions to Tyre in Sector West yesterday.

LEBANON

Earlier today, our Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator in Lebanon, Mr. Imran Riza, launched with the Lebanese government the revised Flash Appeal calling for an additional $331.5 million to cover the period from June to August. This brings the overall ask for the Flash Appeal, running from March through August, to nearly $640 million, and this is to sustain life-saving efforts for 1.4 million people.

You will recall that the Secretary-General announced the initial appeal three months ago in the immediate aftermath of the escalation. Donors have up till now provided $186 million to bolster the humanitarian response, and we and our partners have reached some 680,000 people. However, humanitarian needs are rising, and essential services, including health care and water systems, continue to be severely impacted.

Reminding that some 1 million people remain displaced because of the conflict, Mr. Riza called for sustained international support to enable the delivery of a broad range of life‑saving assistance, protect civilians, and help restore critical services in affected areas.

Full Highlights: https://www.un.org/sg/en/content/noon-briefing-highlight?date=2026-06-05

World Environment Day celebrated in Baku, Azerbaijan

Fri, 05 Jun 2026 20:10:27 +0200

Author: United Nations - Bewertung: 17x - Views:173 World Environment Day 2026 was celebrated in Baku, Azerbaijan, bringing together government leaders, climate advocates, artists and citizens to highlight the urgent need for climate action.

Speaking at the event, UNEP Executive Director Inger Andersen warned that rising temperatures and intensifying climate impacts are affecting communities worldwide, while emphasizing that solutions already exist and must be deployed urgently and at scale.

3D-Printed Guns and the Global Threat of Illegal Firearms | United Nations

Fri, 05 Jun 2026 18:13:13 +0200

Author: United Nations - Bewertung: 2x - Views:10 What happens when anyone with a 3D printer can potentially manufacture a firearm? Ahead of the 2026 Meeting to Combat Illicit Small Arms and Light Weapons, Izumi Nakamitsu and Rachel Bolton-King explore the growing threat of illicit firearms and the technological changes reshaping the global security landscape.

For more information:
https://meetings.unoda.org/poa-salw/bms9-2026

Middle East: Hunger Risk Grows for 45 Million - Press Conference | United Nations

Fri, 05 Jun 2026 18:00:19 +0200

Author: United Nations - Bewertung: 3x - Views:12 Press Conference by Carl Skau, Acting Executive Director of the World Food Programme (WFP).

Skau warned that the Middle East crisis could push some 45 million people into hunger. The escalation of geopolitical tension in the Middle East since February 28, 2026 has profound implications for global food security.

In an early projection released in March, WFP estimated that 45 million people would fall into acute food insecurity should oil prices remain around USD 100 per barrel through the end of June.

Other partners have warned of broad implications for the global food system in the short and medium term, due to the crisis’ impact on supply chains and energy and fertilizer markets.

To better ascertain country level food security dynamics, WFP worked with local partners to conduct three case studies in May in Afghanistan, Somalia, and Sri Lanka.

Addressing the press today (4 Jun) Skau said, “in Somalia, we're seeing 2.5 million people additional now being acutely food insecure. In Afghanistan the number is 2.3 million and in Sri Lanka1.3. In all three countries there is a different mix of issues that is driving this. Increased prices is one, but there is also the element of one underfunded humanitarian responses and development responses, but also that the cost of doing business, if you will, the cost of running humanitarian operations has gone up dramatically.”

On Ebola and the Eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo, Skau said, “This is really a crisis in a crisis already. In Ituri province, where the outbreak reportedly started, hundreds of 1000s of people are already displaced, and only in the past couple of months we saw additional tens of thousands of people displaced. And it's a place where a million people are also acutely food insecure, and we are just barely meeting the minimum requirements in terms of response that has been underfunded now for many years, but even more severely so over the past few months, but we are stepping up.”

On the humanitarian financing, he said “We are facing a perfect storm, with, you know, record high levels of hunger, is now, you know, risking to get even higher, and at the same time, we have seen historic drops in our funding, with a 40 percent drop year to year last year.”

He stressed, “We're not seeing the same kind of response when we also have sudden onset crisis that we used to. One example of that is Lebanon, where you basically have a greater crisis now than you did two years ago, and now we're only seeing about half of the money coming forward that we saw last time. Frankly, the government is doing all it can. It's doing all the right things. I think, as a humanitarian and UN system, we also, you know, we were well prepared and were geared up, working closely with those government and local authority efforts, and so everything is in place in a way. What is lacking is of course a ceasefire, so that we can access all the people and that people can return, but secondly it is the funding.”

Answering a question, he said, “We have been able to respond at scale in Gaza since the start of the ceasefire, but under increasing pressure over the past few weeks, I should say, or since the war in the Gulf escalated, and so you know we have been able to somewhat stabilize the food security situation.”

India's Major Abhilasha Barak Wins UN Gender Advocate Award | United Nations

Fri, 05 Jun 2026 16:03:42 +0200

Author: United Nations - Bewertung: 5x - Views:15 Major Abhilasha Barak of India has been named the 2025 Military Gender Advocate of the Year. Serving with UNIFIL in Lebanon, she led the mission's highest number of gender-focused field activities, supporting more than 5,000 women and girls through education, health, and vocational programs.

Major Barak also launched an AI-powered initiative to enable confidential reporting of gender-based violence and access to support services. As the first woman combat helicopter pilot of the Indian Army, she continues to break barriers while advancing the Women, Peace and Security agenda.

Palestine on the Occupied Palestinian Territory - Joint Media Stakeout | UN

Fri, 05 Jun 2026 15:20:27 +0200

Author: United Nations - Bewertung: 4x - Views:36 Joint comments to the media by Riyad Mansour, Permanent Observer of Palestine to the United Nations, Abdulaziz M. Alwasil, Permanent Representative of Saudi Arabia to the United Nations, and others on the situation in the Occupied Palestinian Territory.

Russia on Ukraine - Media Stakeout | United Nations

Fri, 05 Jun 2026 15:23:15 +0200

Author: United Nations - Bewertung: 2x - Views:16 Informal comments to the media by Vasily Nebenzya, Permanent Representative of the Russian Federation to the United Nations, on the situation in Ukraine.

Ambassador Vassily Nebenzia told journalists in New York that the Russian Federation was “extremely disappointed” by the “clearly biased and politicised decision” by Secretary-General António Guterres to include the Russian Armed and Security forces in the list of parties responsible for acts of sexual violence in the UN's annual report on sexual violence in conflict zones.

Nebenzia said, “the draft in the report contains information on crimes that not only cannot be verified due to the absence of data but also do not demonstrate the systemic nature of the alleged violations, which is a key criterion for listing.”

He said, “it gives the impression that the document was prepared perfunctorily and intended to reach a predetermined outcome to discredit Russia and conceal the unlawful actions of the Kyiv regime.

The Russian Ambassador said, “the UN human rights monitoring mission in Ukraine also routinely demonstrates anti-Russian bias. Its mandate is based on an agreement between Ukraine and the office of the UN High Commission of Human Rights, which raises questions about its authority to conduct investigative activities. Moreover, it is well known that this mission works as a laundering machine for Ukrainian narratives.”

Hr said, “the open bias is also confirmed by the absence of information on hundreds of civilians who have been subjected to torture, beatings, abuse, killing, sexual violence and ill treatment by Ukrainian armed formations.”

Nebenzia said, “we consider the UN’s omission of these cases unacceptable and added that the Russian Federation has “repeatedly requested additional information regarding the allegations against our armed forces. Yet, we have never seen a response.”

Responding to a reporter’s question, the Ambassador said, “when there is another prisoners of war exchange, Ukrainian soldiers arrive to their homeland, and they are immediately made to write confessions that they were sexually abused or tortured. And then these documents come to these independent commissions which form the basis of the accusations. That's as simple as that.”

António Guterres (UN Secretary-General) on World Environment Day 2026

Fri, 05 Jun 2026 14:00:32 +0200

Author: United Nations - Bewertung: 16x - Views:142 Video message by António Guterres, United Nations Secretary-General on World Environment Day 2026.

Ebola epidemic advancing rapidly: WHO | United Nations

Thu, 04 Jun 2026 21:52:57 +0200

Author: United Nations - Bewertung: 0x - Views:20 As the Ebola outbreak continues in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, a WHO team joined other partners to visit Mongbwalu, a town in Ituri province, which is the province most affected in this outbreak. As of 2 June, there have been 363 confirmed cases in the DRC, including 62 deaths. Six people have recovered from the disease so far and more recoveries are expected as the outbreak response intensifies.

UN Global Dance Challenge for the Environment #NowForClimate

Thu, 04 Jun 2026 21:43:47 +0200

Author: United Nations - Bewertung: 0x - Views:3 How did the United Nations Environment Programme come up with a global dance challenge, based on the the viral limbo move, to protect the environment?
UNEP's Multimedia chief, Miranda Grant, tells us the origin of the World Environment Day campaign.

Two Peacekeepers Receive UN's Highest Courage Award | United Nations

Thu, 04 Jun 2026 21:19:04 +0200

Author: United Nations - Bewertung: 23x - Views:126 Ukrainian peacekeeper Sergii Prykhodko and Uruguayan peacekeeper Sergeant Matias Reyes are honoured with the Captain Mbaye Diagne Medal for Exceptional Courage during the International Day of UN Peacekeepers commemorations.

One of the United Nations' most prestigious awards, the medal recognizes extraordinary bravery in the service of peace. Prykhodko lost his life during a high-risk evacuation mission in South Sudan in 2026, while Reyes repeatedly came under heavy fire to rescue wounded soldiers in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, saving lives. Their actions reflect the courage, dedication and sacrifice of peacekeepers serving in conflict zones around the world.

Lebanon, Gaza, Cuba & other topics - Daily Press Briefing (4 June 2026) | United Nations

Thu, 04 Jun 2026 20:34:51 +0200

Author: United Nations - Bewertung: 10x - Views:97 Noon briefing by Stéphane Dujarric, Spokesperson for the Secretary-General.

Full Highlights: https://www.un.org/sg/en/content/noon-briefing-highlight?date=2026-06-04

Austria on Election of non-permanent members of the Security Council - Stakeout | United Nations

Wed, 03 Jun 2026 23:20:46 +0200

Author: United Nations - Bewertung: 15x - Views:114 Informal comments to the media by Beate Meini-Reisinger, Minister for Foreign Affairs of Austria, on Election of non-permanent members of the Security Council for the term 2027-2028.

Portugal on Election of non-permanent members of the Security Council - Stakeout | United Nations

Wed, 03 Jun 2026 23:23:57 +0200

Author: United Nations - Bewertung: 3x - Views:24 Informal comments to the media by Paulo Rangel, Minister for Foreign Affairs of Portugal, on Election of non-permanent members of the Security Council for the term 2027-2028.

Germany on Election of non-permanent members of the Security Council - Stakeout | United Nations

Wed, 03 Jun 2026 23:32:44 +0200

Author: United Nations - Bewertung: 2x - Views:22 Informal comments to the media by Johann Wadephul, Minister for Foreign Affairs of Germany, on Election of non-permanent members of the Security Council for the term 2027-2028.

Trinidad and Tobago on Election of non-permanent members of the Security Council | United Nations

Wed, 03 Jun 2026 23:35:40 +0200

Author: United Nations - Bewertung: 1x - Views:11 Informal comments to the media by Sean Sobers, Minister of Foreign and CARICOM Affairs of Trinidad and Tobago, on Election of non-permanent members of the Security Council for the term 2027-2028.

A Gift of Peace: Ten Years After the Passing of Muhammad Ali

Wed, 03 Jun 2026 22:28:47 +0200

Author: United Nations - Bewertung: 1x - Views:44 Ten years after the world said goodbye to Muhammad Ali, a watercolor painting he made himself of United Nations Headquarters symbolizes his lasting legacy and vision for peace.

#Ebola in DRC: 'We're still behind' says #WHO Chief

Wed, 03 Jun 2026 20:54:21 +0200

Author: United Nations - Bewertung: 0x - Views:46 The head of the World Health Organization (WHO) said on Tuesday that the Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) is showing signs of progress – but significant challenges remain in testing, surveillance, vaccine development and building community trust.

A Gift of Peace: Ten Years After the Passing of Muhammad Ali

Wed, 03 Jun 2026 20:58:23 +0200

Author: United Nations - Bewertung: 2x - Views:83 Ten years after the world said goodbye to Muhammad Ali, a watercolor painting he made himself of United Nations Headquarters symbolizes his lasting legacy and vision for peace.

Iran, Lebanon/Israel & other topics - Daily Press Briefing (3 June 2026) | United Nations

Wed, 03 Jun 2026 19:48:15 +0200

Author: United Nations - Bewertung: 19x - Views:168 Noon Briefing by Stéphane Dujarric, Spokesperson for the Secretary-General.

Highlights:
- Iran
- Lebanon/Israel
- Occupied Palestinian Territory
- Yemen
- Sahel
- Ebola
- Haiti
- Resident Coordinator - Colombia
- World Bicycle Day

IRAN

The Secretary-General is alarmed by the reported exchange of fire overnight between the US and Iran and by reports that Iran has targeted Kuwait and Bahrain. He is deeply troubled by reports of civilian casualties. The Secretary-General calls on all parties to exercise maximum restraint and to avoid any further escalation that risks undermining ongoing diplomatic efforts. The sovereignty and territorial integrity of all countries must be fully respected.

The Secretary-General condemns all attacks on civilian infrastructure and recalls that international humanitarian law strictly prohibits the targeting of civilian objects. He calls on all parties to uphold their obligations under international law and to take all feasible precautions to protect civilians.

The Secretary-General reaffirms his full support for all ongoing mediation efforts, including those led by Pakistan, and urges all parties to engage constructively and in good faith with diplomatic initiatives.

LEBANON/ISRAEL

From Lebanon, we are deeply concerned by the impact of the hostilities, as people continue to be forced to leave their homes searching for safety.

In Beirut alone, an estimated 200,000 people were displaced from the southern suburbs following the evacuation order issued by the Israeli Defense Forces on June 1st. And according to local authorities, 30,000 families in South Governorate and 4,000 families in Nabatieh have escaped violence in recent days. The latest wave of displacement is putting severe pressure on already overstretched systems.

Our humanitarian colleagues tell us that as of today, nearly 135,000 people are registered in collective shelters, which are increasingly overcrowded, with thousands more staying on the streets and seaside, among other places.

We are also alarmed by the continued impact of hostilities on healthcare.

According to the Ministry of Public Health, night strikes on June 1st killed five people and injured 48 others, including a doctor and five hospital workers at Tebnine Governmental Hospital in Nabatieh Governorate. This marks at least the fourth strike since 2 March affecting this hospital, which is the only operating trauma hospital in the area.

We and our partners continue to deliver assistance wherever and whenever possible, including clean water, hygiene kits and other forms of aid to the people who need it most. We continue to call for the protection of civilians, including health workers, and for sustained and unimpeded humanitarian access to meet rising needs across the country.

Meanwhile, UNIFIL peacekeepers continue to monitor the tense situation along the Blue Line.

Yesterday, the Blue Helmets observed intensive ground and air activities by the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) across their area of operations. These activities included armored movements, large-scale engineering works and demolition, sustained logistical traffic, and air strikes.

UNIFIL detected 70 violations of Lebanese airspace by the IDF and approximately 24 airstrikes conducted across both sectors by Israeli fighter jets, as well as one rocket attack by an IDF helicopter.

Yesterday, peacekeepers detected 21 launches of projectiles from north to south, presumably launched by Hizbullah, including one that crossed the Blue Line. In addition, UNIFIL recorded approximately 826 trajectories of projectiles fired from IDF positions south of the Blue Line and within the area of operations, marking, for the third consecutive day, a concerning record high since 17 April.

The escalating intensity and growing number of IDF strikes in south Lebanon, alongside the continued launches by Hizbullah, are deeply alarming and heighten the risk of further escalation. We call on parties to exercise maximum restraint, respect the cessation of hostilities arrangements, and fully comply with their obligations under Security Council resolution 1701.

Full Highlights: https://www.un.org/sg/en/content/noon-briefing-highlight?date=2026-06-03

Lebanon: People facing appalling levels of violence & displacement - UNFPA Briefing | United Nations

Wed, 03 Jun 2026 06:00:14 +0200

Author: United Nations - Bewertung: 15x - Views:139 Press conference by Anandita Philipose, representative of UNFPA Lebanon, on the situation in Lebanon.

President-elect of the General Assembly on his election and priorities - Stakeout | United Nations

Wed, 03 Jun 2026 01:53:24 +0200

Author: United Nations - Bewertung: 15x - Views:84 Informal comments to the media by Khalilur Rahman, President-elect of the 81st session of the General Assembly, on his election and his priorities as the new President of the General Assembly.

Bangladeshi Foreign Minister Khalilur Rahman was elected President of the UN General Assembly’s 81st session today (2 Jun) after defeating Andreas Kakouris of Cyprus in a closely contested vote, positioning himself to steer the world body through a pivotal year marked by intensifying global crises, UN reform efforts, and major leadership transitions.

In a secret-ballot election, Rahman secured 99 votes to Kakouris’s 91. A total of 190 ballots were cast, with no invalid votes or abstentions.

The election comes amid what the current General Assembly President Annalena Baerbock described as “not only headwinds, but immense pressure.”

Addressing Member States after the vote, Baerbock said, “the role of the President of the General Assembly is no longer simply procedural, reading out notes, because even in the procedural rules themselves, they are being challenged, as we have experienced many times before. The role, therefore, and indeed that of the wider General Assembly, has to be evolved in an era where consensus is no longer a given.”

Rahman brings more than four decades of diplomatic and multilateral experience to the role. Bangladesh’s Foreign Minister since February, he previously served as National Security Adviser and High Representative on the Rohingya Issue. A career diplomat, he joined Bangladesh’s foreign service in 1979. He also held senior UN positions in New York and Geneva.

Accepting the position, Rahman expressed “deep appreciation to the member States of the United Nations for the trust and confidence they have reposed in me.”

He said, “the UN will commence its 9th decade at a time when trust in our organisation is being tested on multiple fronts. Scourges of conflict and war, from which our organisation aimed to save our succeeding generations, continue to inflict untold sufferings. Development gains remain fragile and uncertain, and in some cases are regressing. Despite advancements in human rights, we witnessed a general backsliding of certain rights and freedoms across the world and shrinking humanitarian space. All this is happening at a time when multilateralism has come under increasing pressure, and our organisation faces financial stress.”

The President-elect said, “we must collectively demonstrate that the UN can adopt reform and better deliver and justify every penny Member States - all of you - contribute in order to restore trust in our organisation.”

Rahman said his presidency would focus on six broad priorities: peace and security; accelerating progress on the SDGs; climate action and environmental protection; human rights; governance of emerging technologies, including artificial intelligence, and UN reform.

Drawing on Bangladesh's experience in peacekeeping, he pledged to support preventive diplomacy, peacebuilding, and civilian protection.

He also highlighted the need to address development financing gaps, advance implementation of the Global Digital Compact and strengthen the UN’s effectiveness at a time of growing pressure on multilateral institutions.

El Niño Is Here and the World Isn't Ready

Tue, 02 Jun 2026 23:04:52 +0200

Author: United Nations - Bewertung: 31x - Views:275 El Niño has officially returned and the UN is warning the world to prepare.

According to the World Meteorological Organization (WMO), El Niño 2026 could be severe, and the science says climate change is making it worse.

Here are 5 facts you need to know.

UN Chamber Music Society | “Don’t Ruin My World” with Julian Marley - on World Environment Day

Tue, 02 Jun 2026 22:10:31 +0200

Author: United Nations - Bewertung: 0x - Views:0 On Friday, 5 June 2026, the UN Chamber Music Society presents “Don’t Ruin My World – Soil of Life” with Julian Marley — son of reggae legend Bob Marley — in celebration of World Environment Day at the United Nations. The event will be broadcasted internationally through the global platforms of the United Nations: UN Web TV and UN YouTube.
Julian Marley — a Grammy Award-winning musician, singer-songwriter — carries forward his father Bob Marley’s lifelong message of justice, love, and reverence for the earth. Just as Bob Marley used music to speak truth across borders, Julian’s “Don’t Ruin My World – Soil of Life” channels that same spirit of conscience into one of the defining crises of our time: the climate emergency.

Climate change is no longer a distant warning — it is a humanitarian crisis unfolding now. As the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) documents, floods, droughts, extreme heat, and super-storms are driving surging displacement, food insecurity, and suffering on every continent. Since the year 2000, climate-related needs within humanitarian appeals have risen by 800 per cent. In 2026, humanitarians aim to assist 135 million people in need, with climate change identified as one of the two primary drivers of global humanitarian crises alongside conflict. Every fraction of a degree of warming matters — and every act of solidarity matters too.

In this spirit, the UN Chamber Music Society is dedicating 100% of its streams from this release to UN OCHA — so that this music does more than move hearts: it funds the frontline humanitarian response to the climate crises Bob Marley warned us about, and Julian Marley is calling us to face.

On this occasion, opening remarks will be delivered by Melissa Fleming, UN Under-Secretary-General for Global Communications. Founded in 2016 by Brenda Vongova, the UN Chamber Music Society of the United Nations Staff Recreation Council is dedicated to promoting the United Nations’ goals and values at large - through the universal language of music.

Listen to the UN Chamber Music Society’s remix of “Don’t Ruin My World – Soil of Life” with Julian Marley on Spotify, Apple, Deezer, Tidal, YouTube, TikTok, Pandora,
and all the major music distribution platforms worldwide.
100% of the UN Chamber Music Society’s streams will be donated to the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) — supporting its frontline response to climate-driven humanitarian crises worldwide.

Support the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA)
by donating to the UN Central Emergency Response Fund (CERF)
https://crisisrelief.un.org/

Daily Press Briefing (2 June 2026) | United Nations

Tue, 02 Jun 2026 20:06:52 +0200

Author: United Nations - Bewertung: 7x - Views:104 Noon Briefing by Stéphane Dujarric, Spokesperson for the Secretary-General.

Full Highlights: https://www.un.org/sg/en/content/noon-briefing-highlight?date=2026-06-02

Election of President of the UN General Assembly

Tue, 02 Jun 2026 19:44:45 +0200

Author: United Nations - Bewertung: 1x - Views:6 Khalilur Rahman of Bangladesh has been elected as President of the UN General Assembly at its 81st session.

'Don't close borders', IOM asks Ebola-affected countries

Tue, 02 Jun 2026 16:56:51 +0200

Author: United Nations - Bewertung: 1x - Views:4 Closing borders in reaction to Ebola 'may push people to less monitored informal border crossings', warns the International Organization for Migration.
Speaking at the UN news briefing in Geneva, spokepersons from IOM and the World Health Organization stressed that the reactive measure would hinder the response to the virus, as well as harming the population even further.

UN Development system: Increasingly under-resourced - UN Chief | United Nations

Tue, 02 Jun 2026 12:00:04 +0200

Author: United Nations - Bewertung: 5x - Views:18 Secretary-General António Guterres said, “the United Nations development system today is more coherent, more accountable and more closely aligned with national priorities than it has ever been before,” however, it is “increasingly under-resourced.”

The UN chief spoke at the opening of the ECOSOC Operational Activities for Development Segment in New York.

Guterres highlighted four areas where action is essential to ensure the UN can deliver with the scale and urgency needed.

First is more effective alignment with country and regional priorities, he said, reiterating “we must ensure that Resident Coordinators can optimally lead Country Teams in fast-evolving contexts and apply the full extent of the UN development system’s support on key issues, including climate change.”

Guterres continued, “We are also assessing potential mergers — between UNDP and UNOPS, and UNFPA and UN Women — to strengthen our ability to advance sustainable development and gender equality, while advocating for the rights of women, girls and youth.”

“At every step, we will respect mandates, consult with Member States and ensure that reforms do not affect ongoing UN operations,” the Secretary-General said.

Second, on continuing the next phase of reform under the UN80 initiative, Guterres said the Initiative contains key proposals to identify efficiencies and ensure a greater share of resources — human and financial — are allocated for development results. He noted joint knowledge hubs to streamline knowledge in priority areas; an expertise-on-demand mechanism for countries to access specialized UN capacity; a unified service roadmap to expand shared services; and a technology accelerator platform and a system-wide data commons so countries can access the tools and information they need.

On funding, the Secretary-General emphasized the need for “more stable, predictable and flexible funding.”

He urged Member States to “reach the 30 per cent core funding target called for by the Funding Compact, and help equip the system to deliver and succeed.”

And fourth, in the final years towards 2030, the Secretary-General urged Member States to continue the push to achieve the SDGs.

He said, “in the context of today’s out-of-control military spending, countries need to reprioritize, and spend more on the instruments of peace and development and less on the instruments of destruction and death.”

The UN chief renewed his call to Member States to support UN’s efforts to “reform the global financial architecture and deliver meaningful debt relief to countries swamped by debt.”

The Operational Activities for Development Segment (OAS) is held from 1 to 3 June 2026.

The Segment meets annually to provide overall coordination and guidance to the governing bodies of the United Nations development system. It reinforces the linkages between policy and operational functions while continuing to focus on improving the overall impact of operational activities for development of the United Nations system in support of issues relating to national development priorities.

Happy Republic Day, #Italy! 🇮🇹

Tue, 02 Jun 2026 08:00:00 +0200

Author: European Central Bank - Bewertung: 2x - Views:24 To celebrate, we’re looking back at Italy’s euro area journey, with a banger on repeat 💶💃

#Euro #Europe #ECB

Ukraine: Serious risk of further escalation - Briefing | United Nations

Tue, 02 Jun 2026 06:00:03 +0200

Author: United Nations - Bewertung: 4x - Views:28 Briefing by Kayoko Gotoh, Officer-in-Charge of Europe, Central Asia and Americas Division, Departments of Political and Peacebuilding Affairs and Peace Operations, on threats to International Peace and Security

When shocks collide: AI, war and financial stability – In Conversation with John Fell

Tue, 02 Jun 2026 05:00:30 +0200

Author: European Central Bank - Bewertung: 1x - Views:4 War in the Middle East, soaring energy prices and upside risks to inflation are clouding the financial stability outlook for the euro area.

How resilient are banks and markets? Are investors underestimating geopolitical risks? And how exposed is the financial system to stretched asset valuations? In this episode of Euro Matters, Paul Gordon speaks with John Fell about these questions and more.

The views expressed are those of the speakers and not necessarily those of the European Central Bank.

Further reading
Financial Stability review at a glance
https://www.ecb.europa.eu/press/financial-stability-publications/fsr/html/index.en.html

Financial Stability Review, May 2026
https://www.ecb.europa.eu/press/financial-stability-publications/fsr/html/ecb.fsr202605~50566915a7.en.html

ECB Instagram
https://www.instagram.com/europeancentralbank

Security Council Programme for June - Press Conference | United Nations

Tue, 02 Jun 2026 04:30:39 +0200

Author: United Nations - Bewertung: 1x - Views:7 Press conference by Ambassador Leonor Zalabata, Permanent Representative of Colombia to the United Nations, and President of the Security Council for the month of June,on the programme of work of the Security Council in June 2026.

Romania on International peace and security - Security Council Stakeout | United Nations

Tue, 02 Jun 2026 01:45:48 +0200

Author: United Nations - Bewertung: 11x - Views:100 Informal comments to the media by Oana-Silvia Țoiu, Foreign Minister of Romania, after of a Security Council meeting on Threats to international peace and security.

Romania on Russia - Security Council Media Stakeout

Mon, 01 Jun 2026 21:56:45 +0200

Author: United Nations - Bewertung: 6x - Views:76 Remarks to the media by Ms. Oana-Silvia Țoiu, Foreign Minister of Romania ahead of a Security Council meeting on threats to international peace and security.

Lebanon, Palestine, Sudan & other topics - Daily Press Briefing (01 June 2026) | United Nations

Mon, 01 Jun 2026 20:20:47 +0200

Author: United Nations - Bewertung: 12x - Views:115 Noon Briefing by Stéphane Dujarric, Spokesperson for the Secretary-General.

Highlights:
- World Food Programme
- Secretary-General/Quadrennial Comprehensive Policy Review
- Deputy Secretary-General/Report on Development Coordination
- Biennial Meeting of States on the Programme of Action on Small Arms & Light Weapons
- Lebanon/Israel
- Lebanon/Humanitarian
- Occupied Palestinian Territory
- Sudan
- Haití
- Nicaragua
- Security Council/Afternoon
- New Resident Coordinators - Brazil, Malaysia, Mauritania and Zimbabwe
- Global Day of Parents
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WORLD FOOD PROGRAMME

Today in Rome at the World Food Programme, it is transition day, as Cindy McCain takes leave of her post as Executive Director and Carl Skau will take over as the acting Executive Director.

On this day, I just want to, on behalf of the Secretary-General, express his deep appreciation to Ms. Cindy McCain for her dedicated service as she steps down from her role as Executive Director of the World Food Programme.

Under her leadership, WFP became leaner, became faster, and became more agile in responding to global crises. She strengthened accountability, fostered innovation, and advanced humanitarian diplomacy, while sustaining life-saving operations reaching nearly 100 million people each year. Her tenure also helped secure new sources of funding, expand critical partnerships, and prioritize the safety and wellbeing of staff and beneficiaries worldwide.

The Secretary-General is grateful for her steadfast commitment to the fight against global hunger and malnutrition. He wishes her all the very best in the future.

The Secretary-General welcomes Carl Skau as Acting Executive Director of the World Food Programme.

Mr. Skau has served as WFP’s Deputy Executive Director and Chief Operating Officer since May 2023. He assumes his responsibilities at a critical moment, when more than 360 million people worldwide face acute food insecurity.

The process of identifying a new WFP Executive Director, a process that is run jointly by the Secretary-General and the Director-General of the Food and Agricultural Organization, will now get underway.

SECRETARY-GENERAL/QUADRENNIAL COMPREHENSIVE POLICY REVIEW

This morning, the Secretary-General presented his report on the implementation of the Quadrennial Comprehensive Policy Review to ECOSOC's Operational Activities for the Development Segment.

The Secretary-General noted that the report reflects a shared journey over nearly a decade. Together, with the strong support and guidance of Member States and colleagues across the system, he said we have reshaped how we operate.

The Secretary-General pointed out that the UN development system today is more coherent, it is more accountable and it is more closely aligned with national priorities than it has ever been before. But with less than 1,700 days until the 2030 deadline of the Sustainable development goals, the Secretary-General warned that many countries face growing pressures and that this is a defining moment.

His full remarks were shared with you, and the full report on the QCPR [Quadrennial Comprehensive Policy Review] is available on the ECOSOC website.

DEPUTY SECRETARY-GENERAL/REPORT ON DEVELOPMENT COORDINATION

And this afternoon, the Deputy Secretary-General, Amina Mohammed, in her role as Chair of the UN Sustainable Development Group (UNSDG), will present her report on development coordination to ECOSOC’s Operational Activities Development Segment, complementing the Secretary-General’s landmark report delivered this morning.

Together, these reports tell a story of transformation. Since 2019, the reinvigorated Resident Coordinator system has made the UN more coherent, more efficient and more aligned with national priorities. Recognition of the Resident Coordinators as effective entry points to the UN system has surged from 62 per cent to 90 per cent since the reform launched.

The UN development system delivered in 2025: 121 million people were reached with food assistance; 191 million children were vaccinated against measles, often in war-like conditions; social protection was extended to 84 million people; and over half a billion more people were covered by essential health services since 2018.

The Deputy Secretary-General’s full report, including an interactive version, is also available on the Development Coordination Office website.

Full Highlights:
https://www.un.org/sg/en/content/noon-briefing-highlight?date=2026-06-01

Combatting the Illicit Trade of Small Arms and Light Weapons

Mon, 01 Jun 2026 18:52:31 +0200

Author: United Nations - Bewertung: 0x - Views:5 As States prepare for the Ninth Biennial Meeting on the implementation of the Programme of Action to Combat Illicit Small Arms and Light Weapons, High Representative for Disarmament Affairs Izumi Nakamitsu highlights the major challenges these weapons continue to pose around the world.

Conflict-Related Sexual Violence - Presser | United Nations

Sun, 31 May 2026 18:36:39 +0200

Author: United Nations - Bewertung: 13x - Views:125 Press conference by Pramila Patten, Special Representative of the Secretary-General, on Sexual Violence in Conflict.

Patten presented the Secretary-General’s report on conflict-related sexual violence, and said cases of conflict-related sexual violence verified by the United Nations in 2025 rose sharply from 2024, “marked by extreme brutality, and overwhelmingly targeted women and girls.”

The report says that in 2025, documented cases of sexual violence as a tactic of war, torture, terrorism, and political repression surged, while “multiple and overlapping political, security and humanitarian crises worsened.”

A total of 77 parties, including state and non-state actors, are listed this year for cases of conflict-related sexual violence, including parties added to the list in previous years.

New listings, Patten said, include three non-state actors operating in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, namely Wazalendo armed elements; Forces Nationales de Libération; and Mai Mai du groupe armé de l’Union des Patriotes pour la Libération du Congo.

Two new state actors are also listed, she said, “the Israel Armed and Security Forces; namely the Israel Defence Forces, Israel Prison Service, including the Keter Special Forces, and the Police Counter-terrorism Unit, Yamam, are listed on the basis of credible information indicating continued patterns of rape and other forms of sexual violence, with an increase in the number of verified cases this year.”

In 2025, Patten said, “the UN was able to verify 31 cases, primarily in detention settings, but also at checkpoints and during military operations against 14 men, seven women, nine boys and one girl from the Gaza Strip and the West Bank, adding that this was “a pattern of sexual violence against Palestinians, including as a form of torture.”

These violations, she said, “consisted of rape, including with objects, gang rape, attempted rape, physical violence to the genitals, instances of targeted shooting of the genitals, touching of breast and genitals, strip and cavity searches conducted without apparent security justification, forced nudity, and threats of rape.”

The Russian Armed and Security Forces, the Special Representative said, “have also been listed by the Secretary-General this year based on UN verified information indicating continued patterns of rape and other forms of sexual violence perpetrated primarily against Ukrainian prisoners of war and civilian detainees.”

She said, “in 2025, the UN was able to verify 310 cases of conflict related sexual violence, including rape, gang rape, genital mutilation, electric shocks and beatings to the genitals, affecting 280 men, 26 women and four girls perpetrated by the Russian Armed and Security forces, including the Federal Penitentiary Service, the Russian Armed Forces and the Federal Security Service.”

Patten stressed that her mandate “isa Security Council mandate, and this is how countries fall within the purview of the mandate.”

She said it was “based on whether it is - and this is spelt out in Security Council Resolution 1960. And even the Secretary-General can only list parties, credibly suspected of committing or being responsible for patterns of sexual violence for countries that are on the agenda of the Security Council.”

The report indicates that sexual violence was perpetrated in detention in multiple settings, such as in Israel and the State of Palestine, the Russian Federation and Ukraine. In Myanmar, patterns of sexual violence continued to be used in detention settings as part of the repertoire of political violence to intimidate and punish opponents.

Happy Statehood Day, #Croatia! 🇭🇷

Sat, 30 May 2026 08:00:00 +0200

Author: European Central Bank - Bewertung: 0x - Views:8 To celebrate, we’re revisiting the initial steps of Croatia’s membership of the euro area, set to the sound of a certified banger 💶💃

#Euro #Europe #ECB

A Wild Elephant Became My Guardian Angel

Fri, 29 May 2026 21:42:27 +0200

Author: United Nations - Bewertung: 0x - Views:4 "When I had an accident in Africa, a wild elephant became my guardian angel."
For journalist, artist and animal advocate Alessandra Mattanza, animals are more than subjects of admiration—they are companions, protectors and fellow beings.
Inspired by a remarkable encounter with a wild elephant, this short film explores the bond between humans and animals and the belief that protecting them ultimately means protecting ourselves.

Sexual Violence, Lebanon & other topics - Daily Press Briefing (29 May 2026) | United Nations

Fri, 29 May 2026 20:00:56 +0200

Author: United Nations - Bewertung: 22x - Views:181 Noon Briefing by Stéphane Dujarric, Spokesperson for the Secretary-General.

Highlights:
- Sexual violence
- Lebanon
- Occupied Palestinian Territory
- Romania
- South Sudan
- Ebola
- Passing of Lieutenant General Chikadibia Isaac Obiakor
- International Days
- Financial contribution

SEXUAL VIOLENCE

The Secretary-General’s report on conflict-related sexual violence was issued today, and it said that cases of conflict-related sexual violence verified by the United Nations in 2025 rose sharply from 2024, marked by extreme brutality, and overwhelmingly targeted women and girls. A total of 77 parties, including state and non-state actors, are listed this year for cases of conflict-related sexual violence, including parties added to the list in previous years.

The report says that in 2025, documented cases of sexual violence as a tactic of war, torture, terrorism and political repression surged, while multiple and overlapping political, security and humanitarian crises worsened.

Abduction and sexual violence formed part of a broader pattern of attacks by armed groups in remote areas in Burkina Faso, Mali and northern Mozambique, with girls as young as 11 being forced into sexual slavery and repeated rapes in captivity, leading to unwanted pregnancies.

The Secretary-General said that sexual violence was perpetrated in detention in multiple settings, such as in Israel and the State of Palestine, the Russian Federation and Ukraine. In Myanmar, patterns of sexual violence continued to be used in detention settings as part of the repertoire of political violence to intimidate and punish opponents.

The full report is online, and, as I mentioned, you just heard from Pramila Patten.

LEBANON

Moving to Lebanon, our peacekeeping mission there in southern Lebanon continues to observe intensive Israel Defense Forces (IDF) air and ground activity across the UNIFIL area of operations.

IDF activity was also reported north of the Litani River. Yesterday UNIFIL reported 350 firing incidents attributed to the IDF and 25 to Hizbullah.

Also yesterday, a UNIFIL convoy carrying an injured peacekeeper was stopped by the IDF and delayed for about an hour before being able to proceed. As a reminder, all parties have to ensure UNIFIL has unrestricted access and freedom of movement in the conduct of its activities mandated by the Security Council.

On the occasion of the International Day of the Peacekeepers, which, as you know is marked today, but ceremonies will take place next week on Friday. In Lebanon, UNIFIL held a solemn ceremony at its Naqoura headquarters, which included a tribute to fallen peacekeepers. As you will recall, six UNIFIL peacekeepers have been tragically killed in the hostilities in southern Lebanon since 2 March, with several more wounded. In his remarks at the ceremony, the General heading UNIFIL, General Diodato Abagnara stressed that a political and diplomatic path remains the only viable solution to the conflict, adding that UNIFIL remains committed to supporting the parties in restoring the cessation of hostilities and creating the conditions for a permanent ceasefire.

On the humanitarian front, our OCHA colleagues report that humanitarian access and emergency response capacity continue to face severe constraints.

In Nabatieh, strikes reportedly impacted a key road in Marjayoun. That took place yesterday. That road is critical for emergency medical evacuations, also for aid and humanitarian workers to move about, and for people’s access to essential goods and services.

Elsewhere in Lebanon, local authorities tell us that repeated evacuation orders forcing families to flee repeatedly and then return to their homes as security conditions shift.

The Humanitarian and Resident Coordinator for Lebanon, Imran Riza, said today that he is deeply alarmed by the intensification of hostilities and the impact the evacuation orders have on communities across the country.

In a statement, he referred to reports that airstrikes have harmed civilians as they attempted to leave areas under displacement orders, stressing that international humanitarian law clearly states that civilians, including health workers and first responders, must be protected.

Meanwhile, we and our humanitarian partners continue to provide critical assistance across the country. Since March 2nd, the World Food Programme and its partners have distributed more than 11 million hot and cold meals to people affected by this conflict in Lebanon.

OCCUPIED PALESTINIAN TERRITORY

Turning to the Occupied Palestinian Territory, our OCHA colleagues tell us that last night, an Israeli air strike hit a residential area less than 600 feet – that is about 200 metres - from five humanitarian facilities in Deir al Balah. Luckily, no casualties were reported.  

Full Highlights: https://www.un.org/sg/en/content/noon-briefing-highlight?date=2026-05-29

As football fever grows worldwide, Gaza players take to makeshift fields

Fri, 29 May 2026 18:04:00 +0200

Author: United Nations - Bewertung: 14x - Views:146 With football fever spreading around the world, Gaza’s players take their makeshift field, making do with what they have to play the sport.

Conflict-Related Sexual Violence Surged in 2025: UN Warns of Deepening Crisis

Fri, 29 May 2026 18:05:37 +0200

Author: United Nations - Bewertung: 7x - Views:46 Sexual violence used as a tactic of war escalated in 2025, with women and girls bearing the brunt of the violence. Presenting the Secretary-General’s latest report, UN Special Representative Pramila Patten warned that growing conflicts and shrinking humanitarian funding are leaving survivors without critical support when they need it most.

WHO chief, Dr. Tedros arrives in DRC - asks for more support to fight Ebola

Fri, 29 May 2026 14:13:38 +0200

Author: United Nations - Bewertung: 3x - Views:32 Upon arriving in the Democratic Republic of the Congo #drc, Director-General of the World Health Organization #WHO, Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus expressed solidarity with the people of Ituri, South Kivu and North Kivu, affected by Ebola. He also asked for more international support for healthworkers.

Ukraine: Two Million Residents Endured Over Seven Hours of Explosions - Briefing | United Nations

Fri, 29 May 2026 03:12:04 +0200

Author: United Nations - Bewertung: 8x - Views:64 Briefing by Khaled Khiari, Assistant Secretary-General, Departments of Political and Peacebuilding Affairs and Peace Operations, on the Maintenance of peace and security of Ukraine.

Khiari, said, “on the night of 23 to 24 May, the armed forces of the Russian Federation launched a massive strike across Ukraine, reportedly deploying as many as 90 long-range missiles and 600 drones. Among the weapons used was the so-called “Oreshnik” intermediate-range ballistic missile, which targeted the city of Bila Tserkva in central Ukraine.”

Khiari said, “at least five people were reported killed and at least 112 others injured across Ukraine, with the heaviest toll in Kyiv,” adding that “the city’s more than two million residents endured over seven hours of explosions, impacting dozens of residential buildings.”

He pointed out that Russian Federation authorities “have also reported rising civilian casualties from alleged Ukrainian strikes,” and on 25 May, “two civilians were reportedly killed in the Belgorod and Bryansk regions.”

Ukraine: Maintenance of peace and security - UN Chief's remarks | United Nations

Thu, 28 May 2026 22:12:10 +0200

Author: United Nations - Bewertung: 7x - Views:61 Remarks by António Guterres, Secretary-General of the United Nations, on the maintenance of peace and security of Ukraine.

Mr. President,
With your permission, I will make some brief remarks and Assistant Secretary-General Khiari will provide a detailed briefing.
Mr. President, Excellencies,
Allow me to make a direct appeal.
The large-scale strikes launched by the Russian Federation across Ukraine on 23-24 May – and the prospect of further such attacks – underscore the gravity of this moment.
Since February 2022, more than 15,000 civilians have been killed in Ukraine – nearly 800 children among them, as verified by the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights.
Reports from the Russian Federation indicate a growing number of civilian casualties – including children.
Humanitarian personnel have come under attack.
Serious violations of international humanitarian law continue.
The human toll is increasing.
In the first four months of this year, more civilians have been killed in Ukraine than in the same period in 2025.
Or 2024.
Or 2023.
The front line is virtually frozen with swarms of drones inflicting heavy casualties.
Civilian infrastructure is being destroyed on a vast scale – especially energy infrastructure.
This could go on and on and on.
But the direction of the war – the escalation and the intensification that we are witnessing – risks to get out of control.
The risk of miscalculation.
The risk of escalation with unknown and unintended consequences.
And so, let's speak plainly.
The current course is not sustainable.
This trajectory must change.
The death spiral must stop.
What is needed now is de-escalation – immediate and sustained.
What is needed now is a full and unconditional ceasefire.
What is needed now is more diplomacy.
What is needed is to create the conditions for a just, lasting and comprehensive peace -- in line with the Charter of the United Nations, international law, and UN resolutions.
Mr. President, Excellencies,
The choice is clear.
The responsibility is clear.
The time for peace is now.
Thank you.

Ebola: emergency facilities established #ebola #outbreak #doctor

Thu, 28 May 2026 21:00:18 +0200

Author: United Nations - Bewertung: 1x - Views:21 UN agencies and humanitarian groups are mobilizing rapidly as the WHO Director-General lands in the Democratic Republic of the Congo to spearhead Ebola containment efforts.
Since 15 May, UN agencies have been supporting the DRC and neighbouring Uganda to contain the outbreak caused by the rare Bundibugyo strain of the Ebola virus, for which there is no treatment.

UN80, Ukraine, Lebanon & other topics - Daily Press Briefing (28 May 2026) | United Nations

Thu, 28 May 2026 20:09:13 +0200

Author: United Nations - Bewertung: 2x - Views:16 Noon Briefing by Stéphane Dujarric, Spokesperson for the Secretary-General.

Highlights:
- UN Peacekeepers Day
- UN80
- Ukraine
- Lebanon
- Democratic Republic of the Congo
- Uganda
- Haiti
- World Meterological Organization
- Senior Personnel Appointment/UNOCA
-----------------------------------------------------------------
UN PEACEKEEPERS DAY

Tomorrow is the International Day of UN Peacekeepers. This year’s theme for the Day is “Invest in Peace.” In his message to mark the day, the Secretary-General said that we honour peacekeepers past and present and reaffirm our shared responsibility to respect and strengthen their work.

As usual, there will be ceremonies to mark the day here, but they are scheduled to take place next week, on 5 June. In the meantime, we can already tell you about the recipients of prizes awarded each year on Peacekeepers Day.

The Captain Mbaye Diagne Medal for Exceptional Courage will be awarded to the late Sergii Prykhodko of Ukraine as well as to Corporal Matias Reyes of Uruguay.

Major Abhilasha Barak of India will receive the Military Gender Advocate Award and Inspector Stephanie Königs of Germany will receive the Woman Police Officer of the Year Award. These awards will be officially presented to them next Friday. You can find more details about those receiving awards and about the ceremonies in press releases that we are sharing with you as I speak.

UN80

The Secretary-General briefed the General Assembly this morning on his UN80 initiative and said that the UN Secretariat has realized a 21 percent reduction in posts for 2026 – while also minimizing impact on staff, facilitated by actions we began taking in early 2024.

Among other steps, he said the Secretariat launched a Digital Hub in Valencia to support Secretariat-wide digital service delivery; consolidated 10 payroll centres into a single global team; and relocated 220 Secretariat posts from high-cost locations, plus approximately 1,900 more across the UN system.

Mr. Guterres added that the UN has begun piloting the New Humanitarian Compact – a push for innovation, impact, and integration as we grapple with soaring needs and plummeting resources. This includes simplifying humanitarian planning and unifying humanitarian supply chains, which account for 70 percent of overall humanitarian spending.

The Secretary-General reminded the Member States that decisions about structural reforms rest in their hands. He reminded them that change is a given, but the question is whether it will be reform that is planned and strategic, or change that is haphazard, costly, and driven by events beyond anyone’s control.

UKRAINE

The Secretary-General will make some introductory remarks on Ukraine to Security Council members at their formal meeting at 3:00 pm today. He will discuss the recent escalation of the conflict between Ukraine and the Russian Federation and will call for de-escalation and for a full and unconditional ceasefire. Assistant Secretary-General Khaled Khiari will also brief the Council this afternoon.

Meanwhile, the Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs says that the UN and our humanitarian partners continue to provide life-saving assistance across Ukraine, while increasingly coming under attack, with several incidents of violence against aid workers and their assets reported over the past few days.

Full Highlights: https://www.un.org/sg/en/content/noon-briefing-highlight?date=2026-05-28

Secretary-General says UN80 Initiative is improving the United Nations

Thu, 28 May 2026 18:36:57 +0200

Author: United Nations - Bewertung: 23x - Views:379 Secretary-General António Guterres says the wide-ranging UN80 Initiative, a major reform and restructuring project, is helping the United Nations better serve people and the planet.

Gaza's children mark Eid amid severe humanitarian crisis

Thu, 28 May 2026 18:38:48 +0200

Author: United Nations - Bewertung: 6x - Views:45 This year's Eid al-Adha comes as Gaza faces one of its worst humanitarian crises since the beginning of the war. Residents say this has transformed the holiday, making survival and securing basic necessities their primary concern.

UN80 Initiative - UN Chief's remarks | United Nations

Thu, 28 May 2026 17:27:03 +0200

Author: United Nations - Bewertung: 24x - Views:274 Remarks by António Guterres, United Nations Secretary-General, on the Informal meeting of the plenary to hear a briefing on the UN80 Initiative - General Assembly, 80th session.

International Day of United Nations Peacekeepers 2026 (29 May) - UN Chief Message | United Nations

Thu, 28 May 2026 15:00:07 +0200

Author: United Nations - Bewertung: 15x - Views:180 Video Message by António Guterres, Secretary-General of the United Nations, on the International Day of Peacekeepers.

"Right now, more than 50,000 UN peacekeepers are deployed across the globe protecting civilian lives.

Far from home, in some of the world’s most dangerous settings, they deescalate tensions between hostile parties, oversee aid delivery, support elections, and create space for political solutions to grow.

On this International Day, we honour peacekeepers past and present, and reaffirm our shared responsibility to respect and strengthen their work.

We pay tribute to the nearly 4,500 peacekeepers who have lost their lives since 1948, including 59 last year.

No one should die serving the cause of peace.

Attacks on peacekeepers are grave violations of international humanitarian law, and Member States must uphold their obligations to ensure the safety and security of UN personnel at all times.

In an era of rising tensions, peacekeeping is a proven and cost-effective way to restore stability and hope.

But it requires steady political backing – and reliable financial support.

This year’s theme, Invest in Peace, calls for decisive action to ensure peacekeepers have the resources to carry out their vital mandates.

An investment in peacekeeping is an investment in a safer future.

Let us always support the people who help make peace possible.

Thank you."

More info: https://peacekeeping.un.org/en

China: Upholding the UN Charter & Strengthening the International System - Media Stakeout | UN

Wed, 27 May 2026 02:09:11 +0200

Author: United Nations - Bewertung: 57x - Views:784 Briefing by Wang Yi, Minister for Foreign Affairs of the People's Republic of China, on Upholding the purposes and principles of the UN Charter and strengthening the UN-centered international system - Security Council Media Stakeout.

Russian Federation on the strike on the college in Starobelsk - Press Conference | United Nations

Wed, 27 May 2026 00:30:34 +0200

Author: United Nations - Bewertung: 11x - Views:133 Press conference by Vassily Nebenzia, Permanent Representative of the Russian Federation to the United Nations, regarding the strike on the college in Starobelsk.

Following the 22 May drone attack on a student dormitory and educational buildings in Starobelsk, Russian Ambassador Vasily Nebenzya told journalists in New York that Russian investigative authorities have opened a criminal case on charges of terrorism, and said, “all those responsible will be identified and will face inevitable and severe punishment.”

Nebenzya said “86 students aged 14 to 19 were among - with one staff member - were living in the dormitory,” stressing that “these were children and teenagers. They were not on the front line.”

According to the latest reports, he said, “21 people, mostly young girls, were killed and 63 students were injured in this horrific attack.”

The Russian Ambassador said, “the deliberate nature of the attack is further confirmed by the fact that 16 UAVs targeted the same location in three successive waves, causing the five-storey dormitory building to collapse down to the second floor. Yet another glaring manifestation of the Nazi and terrorist character of the Kyiv regime, which does not hesitate to kill minors in cold blood.”

Starobelsk is located in Luhansk Oblast, in eastern Ukraine. The city is under Russian control.

Nebenzia said Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy “is exterminating his former fellow citizens for refusing to live under his neo-Nazi rule,” adding, “how can he hypocritically argue that people matter more than territories when he is responsible for such terrorist attacks?”

He insisted the Russian Federation does not “target civilians deliberately. Unlike what the Ukrainian armed forces are doing, not just in Starobelsk, which we are discussing today, but they were doing that on a regular basis. Even before that.”

According to news reports, Ukraine admits striking a military site in Starobelsk on 22 May but denies striking any civilian infrastructure.

Ukraine, UNIFIL, Ebola & other topics - Daily Press Briefing (26 May 2026) | United Nations

Tue, 26 May 2026 19:48:45 +0200

Author: United Nations - Bewertung: 4x - Views:42 Noon briefing by Farhan Haq, Deputy Spokesperson for the Secretary-General.

Highlights:
Security Council
Ukraine
UNIFIL
Lebanon/Humanitarian
Occupied Palestinian Territory
Ebola
Sudan/Personal Envoy
Sudan
Haiti
Pakistan
Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons

SECURITY COUNCIL

The Secretary-General briefed the Security Council this morning on the importance of upholding the UN Charter. He said that the United Nations Charter is a survival guide for humanity, but today, the purposes and principles of the Charter are under profound strain. We now face the highest number of conflicts since the founding of the United Nations, Mr. Guterres warned.

The Secretary-General said that he was deeply concerned by a recent announcement by the Russian Federation to launch consistent and systemic strikes against Ukrainian defense enterprises in Kyiv, as well as against decision making centres and command posts, following reports of a Ukrainian drone attack on a college building and dormitory in the Ukrainian city of Starobilsk, presently occupied by the Russian Federation. He noted that on Friday, we condemned the attack on the school, as we condemn all attacks on civilians and civilian infrastructure, wherever they occur.

Now more than ever, he said, it is imperative to avoid any escalation of a conflict that has already exacted a devastating toll on civilians, and that risks making the search for peace even more distant, prolonging the suffering of people.

The Secretary-General added that this takes place as Israel has announced an escalation of its operations in Lebanon, we witness constant violations of the ceasefire in Gaza and the result of negotiations between the United States and Iran to end the conflict in the Gulf remain unpredictable.

He told the Council that there is a need for reform and nowhere is this need more urgent than in the Security Council. A Security Council that does not reflect the geopolitical realities of today’s world cannot fully deliver on its responsibilities, he said.

UKRAINE

The Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs tell us that over the weekend, the capital Kyiv and its neighbouring regions suffered from one of the largest combined air attacks on the country since the start of the full-scale war in 2022. There were scores of civilian casualties and civilian infrastructure sustained widespread damage.

According to authorities, an attack in Kyiv on Sunday killed at least 2 people and injured nearly 90 others, including several children, and destroyed or damaged residential buildings, a market, a trading centre, a subway station and other public spaces, including museums and other cultural sites.

The Humanitarian Coordinator, Matthias Schmale, visited one of the impacted sites in Kyiv and called for an end to civilian harm.

A drone struck a residential building next to UN offices, damaging the windows and facade of the business centre, including the World Health Organization office. Thankfully, no civilians, including aid workers, were injured in this incident.

Between January and April, at least 62 incidents affecting humanitarian personnel, vehicles, supplies and facilities were recorded across the country, according to our partners monitoring access constraints and operational risks.

Apart from Kyiv, attacks across the country and front-line hostilities between May 22nd and the early hours of May 25th killed nearly 20 and injured over 200 more civilians, with the regions of Kherson, Dnipro, Sumy, Kharkiv and Donetsk reportedly repeatedly impacted.

Humanitarians provided immediate emergency support after the attacks. In Kyiv City and the regions of Kyiv and Cherkasy, several national NGOs, with support from UN agencies, provided psychological support, legal assistance, protection counselling and emergency supplies to people affected by the attacks. Aid organizations also registered people for humanitarian cash assistance.

Full Highlights: https://www.un.org/sg/en/content/noon-briefing-highlight?date=2026-05-26

Ukraine on Russia - Security Council Media Stakeout | United Nations

Tue, 26 May 2026 19:00:51 +0200

Author: United Nations - Bewertung: 0x - Views:4 Remarks by His Excellency Mr. Dr. Andrii Melnyk, LL.M., Ambassador, Permanent Representative of Ukraine to the United Nations, on Russia’s deliberate attacks against civilians and civilian infrastructure in Ukraine.

Upholding the UN Charter and Strengthening the International System - UN Chief's remarks | UN

Tue, 26 May 2026 18:22:48 +0200

Author: United Nations - Bewertung: 10x - Views:147 Remarks by António Guterres, United Nations Secretary-General, on the Upholding the purposes and principles of the UN Charter and strengthening the UN-centered international system - Security Council, 10159th meeting.

UN Peacekeeping Body Armor For Women

Tue, 26 May 2026 16:15:23 +0200

Author: United Nations - Bewertung: 24x - Views:186 With their new, specialized personal protective equipment, Zambian women peacekeepers serving with MINUSCA, the UN mission in the Central African Republic, are able to carry out their mandated tasks more comfortably and safely.
The "Women’s Body Armor Quadrilateral Pilot Project", launched in 2023 by the U.S., Netherlands, Ghana, and Zambia, is a $3 million initiative that tests properly fitting body armor for women peacekeepers to improve safety and operational effectiveness.

Ahead of the International Day of UN Peacekeepers, we recognize the vital role of women peacekeepers in advancing protection, security, and stability around the world.

To #InvestInPeace, we must invest in women.

World Urban Forum backs 'Baku Call to Action'

Tue, 26 May 2026 08:16:43 +0200

Author: United Nations - Bewertung: 2x - Views:56 A landmark gathering of more than 57,000 participants - the largest in the history of the World Urban Forum - closed on Friday in Baku with an urgent call to rethink how the world houses its people, as a new roadmap urges governments, cities and communities to act collectively on a crisis affecting billions. UN Deputy Secretary‑General Amina Mohammed warned that the Forum was taking place at a difficult moment for global cooperation. The housing crisis sits at the crossroads of nearly every major global challenge - from poverty and inequality to climate change, conflict and instability.

Press Conference by UN Secretary-General António Guterres in Tokyo, Japan

Mon, 25 May 2026 23:55:23 +0200

Author: United Nations - Bewertung: 4x - Views:24 UN Secretary-General António Guterres remarks to the press Tokyo, in Japan, followed by Q&A.

#Gaza: There are no words

Mon, 25 May 2026 21:44:45 +0200

Author: United Nations - Bewertung: 18x - Views:115 Recently returned from a visit to Gaza, Dr. Renee Van de Weerdt, the World Health Organization (WHO)’s representative in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, briefs reporters in Geneva about the dire humanitarian situation marked by continuing violence. Dr. Van de Weerd highlights the work of national humanitarian colleagues who cannot leave Gaza, continuing to support communities amid collapsing health services, daily danger, and increasingly difficult living conditions.

Ukraine: More than 3,400 children killed or injured since 2022 - UNICEF Briefing | United Nations

Mon, 25 May 2026 17:00:33 +0200

Author: United Nations - Bewertung: 15x - Views:192 Briefing by Ted Chaiban, Deputy Executive Director, United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), on threats to international peace and security.
---
Also briefing the Council, UNICEF Deputy Executive Director Ted Chaiban said:
“The need for this discussion could not be more urgent. The war in Ukraine continues to rage and devastate children's lives. According to reports, last night drone strikes hit a dormitory housing at least 86 adolescents aged 14-18, in the town of Starobilsk in the Luhansk region. The attack reportedly left six dead and dozens of others injured, including children. It is too early to know the full extent of the casualties, as we understand rescue operations are still unfolding. This is yet another example of children paying the price for a war that is not of their own making. According to verified UN data, more than 3,400 children have now been killed or injured since the escalation of the war in 2022.”

Ukraine: Protection of Children in Armed Conflict - Briefing | United Nations

Mon, 25 May 2026 15:00:37 +0200

Author: United Nations - Bewertung: 0x - Views:1 Briefing by Vanessa Frazier, Special Representative of the Secretary-General for Children and Armed Conflict, on threats to international peace and security.
----
Also briefing the Council, Vanessa Frazier, Special Representative of the Secretary-General for Children and Armed Conflict, said, “When schools are damaged or destroyed, the consequences extend far beyond the immediate loss of infrastructure, sometimes of life too.”

Ukraine: Toll of the War on Civilians is 'Still Rising'- UN Humanitarian Briefing | United Nations

Sun, 24 May 2026 16:00:31 +0200

Author: United Nations - Bewertung: 0x - Views:1 The toll of the war in Ukraine on civilians is “staggering – and still rising,” a top UN humanitarian official told the Security Council.

Briefing the Security Council members, Edem Wosornu, Director of Crisis Response Division at the Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), said “The toll of this war on civilians is staggering – and still rising. The statistics bear repeating. Since February of 2022, the UN has recorded nearly 16,000 civilians killed and more than 44,000 injured. The real numbers are almost certainly much higher.”

She also reported that “a ballistic missile struck a UNHCR-contracted warehouse in Dnipro on the night of 19 to 20 May, killing two warehouse workers and destroying more than one million dollars worth of aid – including blankets and hygiene kits intended for evacuees and people sheltering in collective sites."

She said, "This is the fifth hit on humanitarian workers and assets in just nine days. Excellencies, Mr. President, this must stop.”

Libya: ICC Calls El Hishri Hearing a ‘True Landmark’ for Accountability - Briefing| United Nations

Sun, 24 May 2026 14:00:15 +0200

Author: United Nations - Bewertung: 6x - Views:68 Nazhat Shameem Khan, Deputy Prosecutor of the International Criminal Court, called the confirmation hearing in relation to Khaled Mohamed Ali El Hishri a “true landmark”, emphasizing that the Court remains committed to ensuring accountability.

Addressing the Security Council from the Hague via video link today (22 May), the ICC Deputy Prosecutor regretted that she is again unable to join the Council due to the non-issuance of a US visa required for her travel to deliver the briefing in accordance with Security Council resolution 1970.

Khan said, “It was my honour this Tuesday to address the Pre-Trial Chamber together with the OTP Libya Unified Team, opening the confirmation hearing in relation to Mr. Khaled Mohamed Ali El Hishri.”

She noted that in the first judicial proceedings stemming from this referral, El Hishri is accused of 17 counts of war crimes and crimes against humanity carried out principally in Mitiga Prison, including in the women’s section of the Prison over which Mr. El Hishri had direct control.

The Deputy Prosecutor said, “the actions of Mr Khaled El Hishri’s and the RADA militia are not the actions of a legitimate law-enforcement agency; and Mitiga was not a normal prison,” highlighting “it was a system designed to inflict extreme pain, deep humiliation, and, ultimately, to destroy the lives of those detained.”

“As the Court heard this week, Mr Khaled EL HISHRI was at the centre of this abuse,” she added.

Khan also said, “following submissions by Victim’s Legal Representatives and the Defence, the confirmation hearing has now concluded. In the event charges are confirmed, our Office stands ready to commence trial promptly.”

She said, “we remain focused on ensuring that this process ultimately leads to the full recognition of victims experiences through the conviction of Mr. El Hishri.”

The Deputy Prosecutor also said, “to those responsible for alleged Rome Statute crimes in Libya, to those carrying them out, to those facilitating them and ordering them, we have a simple message: Know that our Office remains committed to delivering accountability for your acts. And we are moving at speed across our lines of inquiry to ensure the rights of those you have mistreated are vindicated, in a court of law, as we saw here in the Hague this week.”

For his part, US diplomat Jeff Bartos reiterated Washington’s “ongoing, unequivocal opposition to the ICC's attempts to assert jurisdiction over the United States or any US ally that has not consented to ICC jurisdiction.”

He said, “the core US objections to the ICC have been the same for nearly three decades. To date, however, we have seen no indication that the ICC intends to reform its behavior or that states parties will exercise appropriate oversight and management of the Court.”

“As our long-standing concerns have not been realized, our response has escalated in proportion to the threat presented by the ICC and to the degree to which our concerns remain unaddressed,” the US diplomat added.

He said, “we will continue to take action as needed to safeguard US interests. Let me repeat that we will continue to take action as needed to safeguard US interests.”

Bartos also reiterated US’s “long standing calls on Libyan authorities to ensure that former senior officials of the Gaddafi regime face justice, ending impunity for those who commit serious human rights abuses in Libya is critical for the country's continued progress on a path to greater unity, stability and prosperity.”

For his part, Libyan Ambassador Taher M. El-Sonni stressed, “the extending cooperation until the end of 2027 strengthens the Court's jurisdiction based on the fundamental principle, the principle of complementarity rather than substitution.”

He added, “the Libyan national judiciary is the mandate holder. Judicial complementarity can be invoked. The role of the Court remains through cooperation and the exchange of evidence when national proceedings or the prosecution of suspects are not feasible.”

After the Council’s meeting, Ambassador of Liberia Lewis G. Brown spoke on behalf of the Member States of Security Council that are state parties to the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court. The countries are Colombia, the Democratic Republic of Congo, France, Greece, Latvia, Panama, the United Kingdom, Denmark and Liberia.

Ambassador Brown said, “We reaffirm our steadfast and unwavering support for the Court as an independent and impartial judicial institution,” reiterating the state parties’ “strong commitment to upholding and defending the principles and values enshrined in the Rome Statute. Safeguarding its integrity against any threats or actions aimed at the Court, its officials or its partners. Such actions are counterproductive to our shared goal of ensuring accountability for the most serious crimes, promoting the rule of law, and fostering lasting respect for international law, including international human rights law.”

Haiti: Armed Violence Hits Children Hardest - Press Conference | United Nations

Sat, 23 May 2026 16:00:45 +0200

Author: United Nations - Bewertung: 12x - Views:139 Press Conference by Vanessa Frazier, Special Representative of the Secretary-General for Children and Armed Conflict, on her recent mission to Haiti.

Frazier said, “children in Haiti are facing levels of violence that no children anywhere should ever endure. Armed gangs terrorise communities and children are paying the highest price.”

She said, “I witnessed profound suffering for many children,” which left her “deeply concerned, but also profoundly moved by the resilience and courage of Haiti's youngest generation.”

She said, “growing up means a daily struggle to survive, live in constant fear and be subject to intimidation, violence, family separation, displacement, and trauma, as gangs take advantage of the vulnerability of these children.

In 2025 alone, the Special Representative said, “the recruitment and use of children nearly tripled compared to previous years” and added that “it is estimated that more than half of gang members are children.”

Frazier said that in her meetings with Haitian government officials and its partners, she was reassured “that the protection of children is at the centre of their agenda,” and welcomed the government’s efforts “in taking concrete steps to protect children, including through the implementation of the handover protocol signed with the United Nations in 2024 to facilitate the transfer of children associated with gangs to child protection services.”

She said she had stressed “that children encountered during security operations must be treated first and foremost as victims.”

The Special Representative emphasised that “there is a window of opportunity now to do the right thing” as the Gang Suppression Force (GSF) deploys, and said, “security and child protection cannot be separated. Without protecting these children and supporting all children affected by violence, lasting stability in Haiti will not be possible.”

She said the special representative of the GSF had assured her that “protocols and systems were being put in place to protect children during operations and trained contingents pre and during deployment on child protection.”

Stressing the importance of economic activity for the implementation of training and reintegration programs, Frazier said, “you're going to give vocational training. But then they come out of the reintegration program, and they don't have anywhere where they can use this vocational training you gave them. What's the point? Right. So, we need to work hand-in-hand with many agencies, in order to ensure child protection, fully.”

She said, “the economic part of it is very important. We need to create jobs”.

NPT Review Conference Fails to Reach Agreement for Third Consecutive Time - Press Conference | UN

Sat, 23 May 2026 14:00:09 +0200

Author: United Nations - Bewertung: 1x - Views:4 After the Review Conference of the Parties to the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons, known as the NPT, failed today (22 May) to agree on a final document, the President of the Conference, Do Hung Viet expressed concerned for the future health of the Treaty, and said he was “disappointed” it was unable to “really seize this critical opportunity to make our world a safer place.”

It was the third failure in a row at a conference reviewing the NPT, considered the cornerstone of global non-proliferation and disarmament.

Talking to reporters Friday evening, after negotiations came to an end, Do said, “a substantive outcome would have strengthened the Treaty and advanced its objectives, but in absence of such an outcome, I am concerned for the future health of the Treaty.”

The Under-Secretary-General and High Representative for Disarmament Affairs Izumi Nakamitsu, for her part said, “we all need to remember that legal commitments or legal obligations under this Treaty, remain. So, we need to make sure that all states, especially nuclear weapon states, really understand it and then maintain their commitment and then really move to implement their commitments.”

As a member of the Secretariat, Nakamitsu said, “we don't criticise member states or states parties in their deliberations,” but going forward, she added, “they need to actually take this third time failure very seriously.”

Explaining the deliberations, Do said, “I can present a text that country A I know will block consensus. I can also present a text that is slightly tweaked but will make a country B block the adoption. And of course, there are other ways as well. So, I had to make the difficult decision not to present that document.”
He lamented that “we will need to wait at least five more years to see if we are able to, you know, reaffirm that commitment or take any further action, to strengthen the regime,” while in the meantime, “we are seeing the modernisation of nuclear arsenals. We are seeing the quantitative increase in some nuclear arsenals as well. So, and then, you know, the level of nuclear rhetorics, the tense international situation, are all extremely worrying of a risk of the use of nuclear weapons. So, I am concerned.”

Asked about the United States and Iran’s dispute over paragraph 15 of the document, Do said, “I cannot really say, that, you know, apart from one paragraph, everything else was agreed, that I don't think is it would be accurate to say.”

He said, “I did try to produce some textual changes to the draft outcome document. You know, it ranges from changing the text to the placement of some of the paragraphs, to be more amenable to both sides. But I think at about 4 p.m., 4:30 p.m. I felt that we were not able to find that consensus.”

Nakamitsu said, “we need to utilise all other available processes. To, to make sure that we will be able to reconstruct, our efforts. And maybe we should be creating, something else.”

She noted that the General Assembly’s First Committee “is able to create mandates. So, we need to actually think about those or available means, and then we will not give up.”

Earlier in the GA, when he realized consensus was not going to be achieved, Do said, “as I said at the start of this conference, my goal was to make everyone equally unhappy. In that I think we can all agree that I had made some progress towards that goal. I have now put forward four versions of the draft outcome document, all of which have been painstakingly revised in line with States Parties wishes. Despite our best efforts, however, it is my understanding that the Conference is not in a position to achieve agreement on its substantive work. Given that this is now apparent, I do not intend to put the document forward for adoption, as the Conference is not in a position to achieve agreement. “

The NPT entered into force in 1970 and was extended indefinitely in 1995. The Treaty is regarded as the cornerstone of the global nuclear non-proliferation regime and an essential foundation for the pursuit of nuclear disarmament. It was designed to prevent the spread of nuclear weapons, to further the goals of nuclear disarmament and general and complete disarmament, and to promote cooperation in the peaceful uses of nuclear energy.

Under the Treaty, the nuclear-weapon States are obliged not to transfer possession or control to any recipient nuclear weapons or other nuclear explosive devices, and not in any way to assist, encourage or induce non-nuclear-weapon States to manufacture, acquire, or control over such weapons or devices.

The Treaty guarantees the right of all States parties develop research, production, and use of nuclear energy for peaceful purposes without discrimination and in conformity with their basic non-proliferation obligations.

Conferences to review the operation of the Treaty have been held at five-year intervals since the Treaty went into effect in 1970.

UN Football for the Goals Launches #FFTG Champions on World Football Day | #ActNow

Sat, 23 May 2026 13:00:49 +0200

Author: United Nations - Bewertung: 22x - Views:162 This World Football Day, the UN Football for the Goals initiative launches the inaugural group of FFTG Champions, a global team of players and coaches using the power of football to support the Sustainable Development Goals.

From equality and inclusion to climate action, health and human rights, FFTG Champions will use their platforms to raise awareness and inspire action on the issues shaping our shared future.

Learn more about the Champions at the Football for the Goals website.

https://www.un.org/en/football-goals/football-goals-champions

Meet the inaugural FFTG Champions:

Eni Aluko (England)
Brena Bonta (Brazil)
Deyna Castellanos (Venezuela)
Moya Dodd (Australia)
Thembi Kgatlana (South Africa)
Khalida Popal (Afghanistan)
María Sánchez (Mexico)
Daniel Amokachi (Nigeria)
Carlo Ancelotti (Italy)
Borja Iglesias (Spain)
Ji-Sung Park (South Korea)
Jason Roberts (Grenada)
Alexei Rojas (Colombia)
Mikaël Silvestre (France)
Javier Zanetti (Argentina)
Zico (Brazil)

Inspired by real events 🍿😱

Sat, 23 May 2026 11:00:23 +0200

Author: European Central Bank - Bewertung: 0x - Views:39

Transforming Informal Settlements and Slums in a Changing Climate | WUF13 | United Nations

Sat, 23 May 2026 07:00:27 +0200

Author: United Nations - Bewertung: 9x - Views:91 At the thirteenth session of the World Urban Forum (WUF13) in Baku, urban development and climate experts examine how informal settlements and slums have become some of the places most exposed to the impacts of climate change. David Dodman (IHS, Erasmus University Rotterdam), Sarah Sabry (Save the Children), Elizabeth Maruma Mrema (UNEP), and Jose Antonio Puppim De Oliveira (FGV) discuss how flooding, extreme heat, inadequate infrastructure, and uneven access to urban services are affecting vulnerable communities, particularly children and families living in informal settlements. They reflect on the interconnected nature of urban systems and the need for faster, more inclusive, and climate-resilient approaches that strengthen informal settlements and support safer, more sustainable cities.

Video Producer Rosalie Boyle
Videographer Andres Felipe Carvajal Gomez

For more information about WUF13, please visit: https://enb.iisd.org/world-urban-forum-wuf13

#WUF13 #HousingTheWorld #Baku2026 #RoadtoBaku

The music we used is called "Euphoria Art" by Cody Martin.

ICC Caucus: Joint Stakeout on Libya | United Nations

Fri, 22 May 2026 21:26:53 +0200

Author: United Nations - Bewertung: 2x - Views:27 Ambassador Lewis Garseedah Brown II, Permanent Representative of the Republic of Liberia to the United Nations, on behalf of the ICC Caucus (Colombia, Denmark, France, Greece, Latvia, Liberia, Panama, UK), spoke to reporters, following the ICC Deputy Prosecutor’s briefing to the Security Council on Libya.

Ukraine, Ebola, Lebanon & other topics - Daily Press Briefing (22 May 2026) | United Nations

Fri, 22 May 2026 21:03:18 +0200

Author: United Nations - Bewertung: 17x - Views:154 Noon Briefing by Stéphane Dujarric, Spokesperson for the Secretary-General.

Highlights:

- Ukraine/Russia

- security council

- Deputy Secretary-General/Azerbaijan

- Ebola

- MONUSCO

- Lebanon/Humanitarian

- UNIFIL

- Occupied Palestinian Territory

- Bangladesh

- Afghanistan

- Nigeria

- Cuba

- Colombia

- Biological Biodiversity

- International Days
---------------------------------

UKRAINE/RUSSIA

We are following with concern the reports of the overnight attack on
college building and dormitory in the town of Starobilsk in the Luhansk
region of Ukraine, under temporary occupation by the Russian Federation,
resulting in multiple deaths and persons injured, including children.

We strongly condemn any attacks against civilians and civilian
infrastructure, wherever they occur. As the Secretary-General has
repeatedly underscored, such attacks are prohibited under international
humanitarian law and must end immediately. We urge all concerned to
refrain from any actions that would further escalate the already dangerous
situation.

SECURITY COUNCIL

This afternoon, the Security Council is scheduled to meet on Ukraine, at the
request of the Russian Federation. Edem Wosornu, the Director of the Crisis Response Division, together with the Special Representative for Children and Armed Conflict, Vanessa
Frazier. And this morning, the Security Council heard a briefing on Libya by the
ICC. ICC Deputy Prosecutor Nazhat Shameem Khan briefed via VTC.

DEPUTY SECRETARY-GENERAL/AZERBAIJAN

The Deputy Secretary-General, Amina Mohammed, participated today in the
closing ceremony of the 13th session of the World Urban Forum in Baku.
She stressed that the next decade of the New Urban Agenda demands
greater ambition, increased climate resilience and faster execution.
Ms. Mohammed also joined a discussion entitled “the Women’s Roundtable
on Adequate Housing for Gender Equality and the Empowerment of
Women.” In her remarks, she underscored the need to place women and
girls at the heart of housing and urban development, and to ensure that this
is reflected in discussions and outcomes across the World Urban Forum.
Later in the day the Deputy Secretary-General visited Azerbaijan’s
“ASAN Khidmat”, a network of one-stop, citizen-friendly service hubs that
bring multiple government services together under one roof. The concept
has received international recognition and serves as an inspiring model for
other countries. This evening, the Deputy Secretary-General will be travelling to the United Arab Emirates to meet with senior government officials.

EBOLA

Today, Tom Fletcher, the Emergency Relief Coordinator, has allocated up to
$60 million from the Central Emergency Response Fund to accelerate the
response to the Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of the Congo
and the wider region. A first tranche of $10 million has
just been released for the DRC.
The humanitarian community is fully mobilized, he said, with the
World Heath Organization (WHO) leading the response on our side. Mr.
Fletcher said we are applying lessons from previous
outbreaks: containment depends on fast, coordinated action at the
community level. More staff from key UN agencies and partners are
deploying this weekend to reinforce the effort.

Full Highlight:
https://www.un.org/sg/en/content/noon-briefing-highlight?date=2026-05-22

West Bank: settlement expansion, violence & incitement fuel tensions - Briefing | United Nations

Fri, 22 May 2026 15:00:07 +0200

Author: United Nations - Bewertung: 2x - Views:1 “In Gaza, delays in the implementation of UNSCR 2803, alongside daily violence and a continuing humanitarian crisis, have replaced the early momentum following the ceasefire,” the UN's Deputy Special Coordinator for the Middle East Peace Process said.

As the Security Council held its monthly briefing on the situation in the Middle East, including the Palestinian question, Deputy Special Coordinator for the Middle East Peace Process and UN Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator Ramiz Alakbarov said, “In the West Bank, including East Jerusalem, settlement expansion, settler-related violence, and incitement continue to drive tensions. As talks on advancing to Phase II of the ceasefire continue, calls are emerging in some circles for a resumption of widespread hostilities.”

Alakbarov also said, “As diplomatic efforts continue, people's lived reality in Gaza is marked by deep uncertainty. Israeli strikes continue on a nearly daily basis, killing dozens, alongside armed activity by Hamas and other Palestinian groups. Israeli authorities have said that strikes by the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) have targeted Hamas militants and related infrastructure. The Israeli Government said that it now controls 60 percent of Gaza, up from 52 percent since the ceasefire.”

Turning to the West Bank again, he said, “Throughout the West Bank, the frequency and severity of settler attacks have significantly increased in 2026, with some 220 Palestinian communities having faced attacks, which are increasingly leading to the displacement of entire communities.”

Session 6 - Keynote – Trade wars, exchange rates and monetary policy

Fri, 22 May 2026 11:47:07 +0200

Author: European Central Bank - Bewertung: 0x - Views:4 Session 6

Chair: Luc Laeven, European Central Bank

Keynote – Trade wars, exchange rates and monetary policy
Giancarlo Corsetti, European University Institute

Session 6 - Panel

Fri, 22 May 2026 11:48:54 +0200

Author: European Central Bank - Bewertung: 0x - Views:0 Panel
Moderator: Refet Gürkaynak, Bilkent University and Euro Area Business Cycle Network

Philip R. Lane, Member of the Executive Board, European Central Bank
Christopher J. Waller, Member, Federal Reserve Board

Session 6 - Flash presentations by young economists

Fri, 22 May 2026 11:51:21 +0200

Author: European Central Bank - Bewertung: 0x - Views:3 Flash presentations by young economists

Monetary Policy in the Euro Area, when Phillips Curves ... Are Curves
Alexandre Carrier, European Central Bank

Optimal Debt Policy and Liquidity Taxation
Ethan McClure, Federal Reserve Bank of Boston

Discretionary Spending is the Cycle, and Why it Matters for Monetary Policy
Chiara Vergeat, London Business School

Session 4 - The Employment Concentration Channel of Monetary Policy

Fri, 22 May 2026 11:34:33 +0200

Author: European Central Bank - Bewertung: 0x - Views:0 Session 4
Chair: Matteo Iacoviello, Federal Reserve Board

The Employment Concentration Channel of Monetary Policy
Guido Ascari*, De Nederlandsche Bank and University of Pavia
Andrea Colciago, De Nederlandsche Bank and University of Milano Bicocca
Marco Membretti, European Commission
Discussant: Sebastian Graves, University of Cambridge

Flash presentations by young economists

Fri, 22 May 2026 11:37:51 +0200

Author: European Central Bank - Bewertung: 0x - Views:1 Flash presentations by young economists

Mind the Gap: Disagreement and Credible Monetary Policy
Francesco Amodeo, University of California San Diego

The Fed Explicitly Speaks: Numerical Inflation Targeting and Smooth Diagnostic Expectations
Nayeon Kang, Deutsche Bundesbank

House Price Expectations and Inflation Expectations: Evidence from Survey Data
Roshni Tara, Bank of England

Session 5 - Are fiscal transfers inflationary?

Fri, 22 May 2026 11:41:07 +0200

Author: European Central Bank - Bewertung: 0x - Views:0 Session 5
Chair: Günter Coenen, European Central Bank

Are fiscal transfers inflationary?
Jonas E. Arias, Federal Reserve Bank of Philadelphia
Juan F. Rubio-Ramírez*, Emory University and Federal Reserve Bank of Atlanta
Minchul Shin, Federal Reserve Bank of Philadelphia
Discussant: Leonardo Melosi, European University Institute

Session 5 - Exchange rate disconnect and the trade balance

Fri, 22 May 2026 11:44:32 +0200

Author: European Central Bank - Bewertung: 0x - Views:0 Exchange rate disconnect and the trade balance

Martin Bodenstein*, Federal Reserve Board
Pablo Cuba-Borda, Federal Reserve Board
Nils Gornemann, Federal Reserve Board
Ignacio Presno, Federal Reserve Board
Discussant: Gernot Müller, University of Tübingen

Session 1 - The systematic origins of monetary policy shocks

Fri, 22 May 2026 11:13:21 +0200

Author: European Central Bank - Bewertung: 4x - Views:18 Session 1
Chair: Oreste Tristani, European Central Bank

The systematic origins of monetary policy shocks
Lukas Hack, ETH Zurich
Klodiana Istrefi, European Central Bank
Matthias Meier*, University of Mannheim
Discussant: Daniel Lewis, University College London

Session1 - How oil shocks propagate: Evidence on the monetary policy channel

Fri, 22 May 2026 11:18:47 +0200

Author: European Central Bank - Bewertung: 0x - Views:8 How oil shocks propagate: Evidence on the monetary policy channel

Wataru Miyamoto, University of Hong Kong
Thuy Lan Nguyen*, Federal Reserve Bank of San Francisco and Santa Clara University
Dmitriy Sergeyev, Bocconi University
Discussant: Davide Debortoli, Pompeu Fabra University

Session 2- Monetary policy along the yield curve: Why can central banks affect long-term real rates?

Fri, 22 May 2026 11:22:10 +0200

Author: European Central Bank - Bewertung: 1x - Views:12 Session 2
Chair: Anna Lipińska, Federal Reserve Board

Monetary policy along the yield curve: Why can central banks affect long-term real rates?
Paul Beaudry, University of British Columbia
Paolo Cavallino, Bank for International Settlements
Tim Willems*, Bank of England
Discussant: Keith Kuester, University of Bonn

Session 2 The great redistribution that wasn’t: A HANK-OLG perspective on monetary policy

Fri, 22 May 2026 11:24:35 +0200

Author: European Central Bank - Bewertung: 0x - Views:2 The great redistribution that wasn’t: A HANK-OLG perspective on monetary policy

Michał Brzoza-Brzezina*, Narodowy Bank Polski and SGH Warsaw School of Economics
Rodolfo Rigato, European Central Bank
Discussant: Bence Bardóczy, Federal Reserve Board

Session 3 - When the unthinkable happens: Perceptions of monetary policy in tail events

Fri, 22 May 2026 11:27:36 +0200

Author: European Central Bank - Bewertung: 0x - Views:1 Session 3
Chair: Annukka Ristiniemi, European Central Bank

When the unthinkable happens: Perceptions of monetary policy in tail events
Christiane Baumeister, University of Notre Dame
Fiorella De Fiore, Bank for International Settlements
Jasmine Xiao*, University of Amsterdam
Discussant: Laura Gáti, European Central Bank

Session 3 - Consumers’ attention to monetary policy: The importance of having “skin in the game”

Fri, 22 May 2026 11:29:55 +0200

Author: European Central Bank - Bewertung: 0x - Views:0 Consumers’ attention to monetary policy: The importance of having “skin in the game”

Ina Hajdini*, Federal Reserve Bank of Cleveland
Edward Knotek, Federal Reserve Bank of Cleveland
James Mitchell, Federal Reserve Bank of Cleveland
Mathieu Pedemonte, Inter-American Development Bank
Taylor Shiroff, Duke University
Discussant: Michael McMahon, University of Oxford

The Global Housing Crisis and the Poewr of Housing | WUF13 | United Nations

Fri, 22 May 2026 07:00:27 +0200

Author: United Nations - Bewertung: 8x - Views:75 At the thirteenth session of the World Urban Forum (WUF13) in Baku, global leaders and housing experts reflect on the growing pressures shaping the global housing crisis and the urgent need to rethink housing as a foundation for dignity, opportunity, and sustainable development. Dr. Koldo Casla (Special Rapporteur on Adequate Housing), Xenya Scanlon (UNCCD), Thembisile Simelane (Minister of Human Settlements, South Africa), and Jonathan Reckford (Habitat for Humanity International) discuss the structural inequalities, environmental pressures, rapid urbanization, and governance challenges affecting cities and communities around the world. They emphasize the importance of inclusive housing systems, stronger public leadership, and cross-sector partnerships that place communities at the center of efforts to build more equitable, resilient, and sustainable urban futures.

Video Producer Rosalie Boyle
Videographer Andres Felipe Carvajal Gomez

For more information about WUF13, please visit: https://enb.iisd.org/world-urban-forum-wuf13

#WUF13 #HousingTheWorld #Baku2026 #RoadtoBaku

Official Closing Press Conference of WUF13 (WUF13) | United Nations

Fri, 22 May 2026 08:20:19 +0200

Author: United Nations - Bewertung: 1x - Views:0 This press conference will mark the closing of the thirteenth session of the World Urban Forum (WUF13) and highlight key outcomes and messages from the week.

Organizers: UN-Habitat and State Committee on Urban Planning and Architecture of the Republic of Azerbaijan.

The thirteenth session of the World Urban Forum (WUF13) takes place in Baku, Azerbaijan, from 17 to 22 May 2026. The theme of WUF13 is: Housing the world: Safe and resilient cities and communities.

Bolivia, UNRWA, UNIFIL & other topics - Daily Press Briefing (21 May 2026) | United Nations

Thu, 21 May 2026 20:13:55 +0200

Author: United Nations - Bewertung: 3x - Views:30 Noon briefing by Stéphane Dujarric, Spokesperson for the Secretary-General.

Highlights:
Briefing - Tomorrow
General Assembly resolution on the ICJ’s Advisory Opinion on climate change
Bolivia
UNRWA
Security Council
Occupied Palestinian Territory
UNIFIL
Lebanon
Deputy Secretary-General
Democratic Republic of the Congo/Ebola
Sudan
International Days
Financial contribution

BRIEFING - TOMORROW

Tomorrow, 22 May, at 6:30 p.m., there will be a briefing by Ambassador Do Hung Viet, President of the Eleventh Review Conference of the Parties to the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons (NPT).

GENERAL ASSEMBLY RESOLUTION ON THE ICJ’S ADVISORY OPINION ON CLIMATE CHANGE

Yesterday, the Secretary-General issued a statement welcoming the adoption by the General Assembly of a resolution following up on the International Court of Justice’s Advisory Opinion on climate change.

The world’s highest body has spoken, he said and yesterday, the General Assembly has answered.

The Secretary-General said this is a powerful affirmation of international law, of climate justice, of climate science, and the responsibility of states to protect people from the escalating climate crisis.

He commended the leadership of Pacific Island countries and other Small Island Developing States — together with the young people whose moral clarity helped bring the world to this moment.

Those least responsible for climate change are paying the highest price, he said. That injustice must end, Mr. Guterres explained.

The science is clear: fossil fuels are the primary driver of the climate crisis. The path to climate justice runs through a rapid, a just, and an equitable transition away from fossil fuels towards renewable energy. Renewables have proved to be the cheapest and the most secure form of energy supply.

The task ahead is clear the Secretary-General concluded: keep 1.5°C within reach and build a safer, fairer, and more resilient future for all.

BOLIVIA

The Secretary-General is following developments in Bolivia with concern, including reports of violence and protests that have disrupted essential services.

The Secretary-General encourages all relevant actors to engage in inclusive and constructive dialogue to address grievances peacefully, with a view to de‑escalating tensions and safeguarding the country’s democracy and stability.

Full Highlights: https://www.un.org/sg/en/content/noon-briefing-highlight?date=2026-05-21

Joint Commitments to the Protection of Civilians amid Reforms & Constraints - Joint Media Stakeout

Thu, 21 May 2026 19:51:33 +0200

Author: United Nations - Bewertung: 9x - Views:108 Joint comments to the media by Frank Grütter, Permanent Representative of Switzerland to the United Nations, on behalf of 86 Member States having endorsed the Joint Commitments to the Protection of Civilians amid Reforms and Constraints.

Interview - what are the #ebola symptoms and how is the UN responding?

Thu, 21 May 2026 15:29:57 +0200

Author: United Nations - Bewertung: 0x - Views:12 'First symptoms of Ebola can appear suddenly', tells Emergency Director of the World Health Organization (WHO) Dr Marie Roseline Belizaire, adding that they can deteriorate to extensive bleeding.
Speaking in an interview with UN News, Dr Belizaire stresses that WHO's response relies on community-based approaches: 'Every epidemic begins in a community and ends in a community', she concludes.
#worldhealthorganisation #ebolavirus

"One civilian was killed every fourteen minutes in 2025" -Security Council Briefing | United Nations

Thu, 21 May 2026 14:01:17 +0200

Author: United Nations - Bewertung: 22x - Views:190 A top UN humanitarian official said “Protecting civilians requires more than expressions of concern. It requires genuine commitment that translates into concrete action.”

Addressing the Security Council, Edem Wosornu, Director of the Crisis Response Division of the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) reported that one civilian was killed approximately every fourteen minutes in 2025. These are only the deaths the United Nations could document across twenty armed conflicts. We know the real toll is far higher, in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, in Sudan, in Ukraine, in the occupied Palestinian territory, and beyond.

She said, “These patterns are the result of choices. The choice by parties to conflict to ignore their obligations to protect civilians, and too often, to target them. The choice by some to adopt increasingly permissive interpretations of international humanitarian law, hollowing out the very rules designed to protect civilians during war.”

She also said, “There is another path. Other choices are possible. They must be made. They must be made because protecting civilians, ensuring respect for the law, and ending impunity is not only a legal and moral obligation. It is also in Member States’ shared interest. In a world where conflicts are rising and rearmament is accelerating; unrestrained force and unapologetic brutality do not make anyone safer. They put everyone at risk. Those who believe war will never reach them, their families, or their people are living in a dangerous illusion.”

Housing at the Center of the New Urban Agenda | WUF13 | United Nations

Thu, 21 May 2026 11:08:59 +0200

Author: United Nations - Bewertung: 11x - Views:142 At the thirteenth session of the World Urban Forum (WUF13) in Baku, global leaders and urban development experts reflect on the urgent need to place housing at the center of sustainable development. Dr. Maimunah Mohd Sharif (Advisor on Sustainable Urban Development), Olivia Nielsen (Miyamoto International), Thembisile Simelane (Minister of Human Settlements, South Africa), and Dr. Renu Khosla (CURE) speak about the links between housing, resilience, inclusion, economic opportunity, and climate adaptation, while addressing the realities cities continue to face around rapid urbanization, land pressures, informal settlements, and unequal access to adequate housing. Ten years after the adoption of the New Urban Agenda, they emphasize the importance of moving beyond commitments toward more integrated, people-centered, and sustainable urban development.

Video Producer Rosalie Boyle
Videographer Andres Felipe Carvajal Gomez

For more information about WUF13, please visit: https://enb.iisd.org/world-urban-forum-wuf13

#WUF13 #HousingTheWorld #Baku2026 #RoadtoBaku

Security Council: Civilians in conflict under spotlight amid rising global toll

Wed, 20 May 2026 20:32:20 +0200

Author: United Nations - Bewertung: 3x - Views:89 The UN Security Council meets for its annual open debate on the protection of civilians in armed conflict amid mounting concern over rising civilian casualties, attacks on humanitarian workers and widespread destruction of homes and critical infrastructure in wars around the world. The UN's top humanitarian for crisis response tells ambassadors one civilian was killed every 14 minutes last year.

#WFP #Haiti: Rising gang violence displaces thousands

Wed, 20 May 2026 20:34:29 +0200

Author: United Nations - Bewertung: 3x - Views:27 Rising gang violence has torn through several areas of Port-au-Prince, Haiti, killing dozens and displacing around 30,000 people.

Much of the violence has been concentrated in Cité Soleil, an impoverished neighbourhood in Haiti's capital, where access routes to affected areas are blocked, hindering life-saving assistance.

The World Food Programme has already reached 8,500 newly displaced people from Cité Soleil with emergency food assistance.

United States, Iran, UNIFIL & other topics - Daily Press Briefing (20 May 2026) | United Nations

Wed, 20 May 2026 20:08:45 +0200

Author: United Nations - Bewertung: 11x - Views:171 Noon briefing by Stéphane Dujarric, Spokesperson for the Secretary-General.

Highlights:
Secretary-General Travel
United States
Deputy Secretary-General
Security Council
Protection of Civilians
Iran
UNIFIL
Lebanon
Occupied Palestinian Territory
Ebola
Sudan
Ukraine
Haiti
Guest tomorrow

SECRETARY-GENERAL TRAVEL

The Secretary-General is on a plane, heading back to New York, and should be landing in a few hours. He concluded today his chairing of the biannual Chief Executives Board (CEB) meeting. 

At the meeting of UN leaders in Japan, the heads of the UN system committed to building a stronger, more effective and more impactful United Nations in the face of greater challenges and fewer resources.

While in Tokyo, the Secretary-General also had an audience with His Majesty the Emperor of Japan.

I do need to apologize, because we issued a readout of that meeting that should not have been issued, and we withdrew it from our platforms. And we do apologize for having done so.

The Secretary-General also held a meeting with the Minister for Foreign Affairs of Japan, Motegi Toshimitsu. Discussions focused on the UN–Japan partnership, with the Secretary-General underscoring that the organization has benefited enormously from Japan’s generosity and commitment to the multilateral system.

At a press conference at the Japan National Press Club in Tokyo, Mr. Guterres said that he is determined to further strengthen that partnership for the future, noting that the true hallmark of a partnership is revealed in times of crisis.

In that context, he underscored the importance of international cooperation and solidarity in addressing today’s global challenges. The Secretary-General said that the world today is being rocked by conflicts, by climate chaos and by inequality. Inflation is rising and the cost-of-living crisis is deepening, made worse by the conflict in the Middle East, which is sending prices for energy and raw materials skyrocketing.

Stressing that it is essential to immediately reestablish freedom of navigation in and around the Strait of Hormuz, end all ceasefire violations, and create the conditions for a political solution to the conflict.

UNITED STATES

In response to questions, the Spokesman confirmed the Secretary-General received on Tuesday a call from Marco Rubio, Secretary of State of the United States.

During the call, they discussed the situation in and around the Strait of Hormuz. The Secretary-General reaffirmed his call to reestablish full freedom of navigation in the Strait, as well as the importance of efforts to help address global humanitarian needs, including emerging challenges such as the outbreak of Ebola in the DRC and other areas. 

They also discussed the important work of the World Food Programme, and the Secretary-General explained the process of selection for the next Executive Director of the World Food Programme.

DEPUTY SECRETARY-GENERAL

Meanwhile, the Deputy Secretary-General, Amina Mohammed, is on her way to Baku, in Azerbaijan, to attend the 13th session of the World Urban Forum.

During her visit, Ms. Mohammed will deliver remarks at the closing ceremony of the Forum and engage with governments and stakeholders to advance sustainable urban development and the implementation of the New Urban Agenda. In addition, the Deputy Secretary-General will meet with senior government officials in Azerbaijan to discuss the country’s partnership with the UN, especially on urban development, climate, and the environment.

On Friday, on her way back to New York, the Deputy Secretary-General will stop briefly in the United Arab Emirates. She will meet with senior government officials to discuss the socio-economic impacts of the conflict in the Middle East, as well as the preparations towards the 2026 United Nations Water Conference, which is scheduled later this year.

The Deputy Secretary-General will be back in New York on Monday.

Full Highlights: https://www.un.org/sg/en/content/noon-briefing-highlight?date=2026-05-20

Joint Stakeout on the Global International Humanitarian Law Initiative | United Nations

Wed, 20 May 2026 17:29:54 +0200

Author: United Nations - Bewertung: 10x - Views:32 Comments to the media by Walid Obeidat, Permanent Representative of Jordan to United Nations, along the six founding states of the Global Initiative to Galvanize Political Commitment to International Humanitarian Law: Jordan, Brazil, China, France, Kazakhstan, and South Africa, joined by other states that have officially joined the Global IHL Initiative as well as the International Committee of the Red Cross (total of 83 Member States), prior to the annual open debate on the Protection of Civilians in Armed Conflict in the Security Council.

Ukraine: Humanitarian Convoys Targeted - Security Council Briefing | United Nations

Wed, 20 May 2026 16:01:05 +0200

Author: United Nations - Bewertung: 3x - Views:34 Briefing by Edem Wosornu, Director, Crisis Response Division, Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), on Maintenance of peace and security of Ukraine.

Wosornu said, “Humanitarian workers in Ukraine came under repeated attack last week. As mentioned by my DPPA colleague, two separate convoys, clearly marked as being part of the United Nations, were hit while carrying life-saving assistance to civilians in need. Both missions had been notified well in advance through established channels.”

She stressed, “These attacks are intensifying, making the delivery of humanitarian assistance increasingly difficult, if not impossible in some areas. Humanitarian workers in Ukraine are taking immense risks to save lives. However, the weapons being deployed - cheap and deadly - are rapidly changing what it means to deliver life-saving assistance. Humanitarian workers and assets must be respected. This entails taking active steps to spare them.”

She said, “I remain deeply concerned about the situation for civilians in and around front-line communities. Whatever side of the line they may be, every day is a matter of life and death. Over a single weekend this month, 930 civilians – including more than 180 children – were evacuated from front-line areas in Donetsk with humanitarian support.”

She concluded, “Civilians across Ukraine cannot wait for a political breakthrough to be protected and have their basic needs met. Protection, humanitarian access and funding remain essential while efforts toward a just and lasting peace continue.”

#WHO #Tedros Ebola in DRC not a pandemic emergency, says head of WHO

Wed, 20 May 2026 16:21:08 +0200

Author: United Nations - Bewertung: 0x - Views:24 Speaking to reporters, the Director-General of the World Health Organization, Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus declared that the deadly Ebola crisis in the Democratic Republic of the Congo the situation was 'not a pandemic emergency'. He added that 'the Emergency Committee which met yesterday agreed that the situation is a public health emergency of international concern, but is not a pandemic emergency.'

UAE: Barakah Nuclear Plant Attack - IAEA Briefing Security Council | United Nations

Wed, 20 May 2026 14:01:31 +0200

Author: United Nations - Bewertung: 3x - Views:3 Briefing by Rafael Mariano Grossi, Director General of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), on the situation in the Middle East, during the Security Council, 10153rd meeting.

World Economic Situation and Prospects Mid-2026 - DESA Press Conference | United Nations

Wed, 20 May 2026 03:30:25 +0200

Author: United Nations - Bewertung: 20x - Views:271 A new report said that the crisis in the Middle East has delivered another major shock to the world economy, heightening uncertainty, stoking inflationary pressures and testing the resilience of global growth.

Countries face varying degrees of exposure to the shock and also differ in their capacities to cope, leading to uneven impacts.

For many developing economies, intensifying cost-of-living pressures, limited policy space, and slowing growth prospects risk further setbacks in advancing the Sustainable Development Goals, while entrenching inequalities across and within countries.

Published by the UN Department of Economic and Social Affairs (UN DESA), the World Economic Situation and Prospects as of mid-2026 updates the global and regional economic outlook for the year ahead.

Launching the report today (19 May) Shantanu Mukherjee, Economic Analysis and Policy Division’s Director of UN DESA, said that global growth is projected to slow to 2.5 percent in 2026 before edging up to 2.8 percent in 2027—a downgrade from January forecasts and well below pre-pandemic norms.

The Middle East conflict weighs heavily on the outlook, and with its duration and the pace of any recovery in energy flows highly uncertain, risks are tilted to the downside. Solid labour markets, resilient consumer demand, and AI-driven trade and investment in select economies provide only partial countervailing support.

Shantanu said, “Global inflation is projected to rise to 3.9 percent this year, which is 0.8 percentage points higher than we had anticipated in January. Increased energy prices are a potent factor, as are the prices of refinery products that are crucial to industrial production and commercial transport.”

He also said, “Though prospects are somber, there are concrete areas where international cooperation makes a difference: countries face a renewed impetus for establishing resilience, whether these be through investing in renewable energy and energy efficiency, diversifying their economies, making targeted sectoral interventions are improving mobilization and use of resources. All of these are shared priorities that the international system and the UN can help support.”

The energy shock has halted the global disinflation trend, with higher energy prices feeding through to broader costs across the economy. In developing economies, inflation is projected to rise from 4.2 percent in 2025 to 5.2 percent in 2026.

In developed economies, inflation is forecast to increase from 2.6 per cent in 2025 to 2.9 per cent in 2026, edging further above central bank targets in most countries.

Ingo Pitterle, Officer-in-charge at the Global Economic Monitoring Branch, Economic Analysis and Policy Division at UN DESA, said, “If the growth picture is concerning, the inflation picture is in some ways even more immediately pressing. We have to understand that the price shock is landing much faster than the output shock and for many households is already being felt. As the figure shows, we have revised our 2026 inflation forecast up moderately for developed economies but more significantly for economies in transition and developing economies.”

He continued, “Worldwide, we have lifted our inflation projections for 2026 in nine out of ten countries. The global disinflation trend we had welcomed at the start of the year has not just stalled; it has gone into reverse.”

He stated, “The broader lesson is clear: reducing reliance on volatile fossil fuel markets through investment in renewables and diversification is now more urgent than ever.”

Ukraine: One of the Largest Aerial Bombardments - Security Council Briefing | United Nations

Wed, 20 May 2026 05:30:22 +0200

Author: United Nations - Bewertung: 12x - Views:220 Briefing by Kayoko Gotoh, Director and Officer-in-Charge for Europe, Central Asia, and the Americas, Departments of Political and Peacebuilding Affairs and Peace Operations, on Maintenance of peace and security of Ukraine.

Gotoh reported, “In the last week alone, we witnessed one of the largest aerial bombardments of Ukraine since the Russian Federation’s full-scale invasion in February 2022. Between 13 and 14 May, the Russian Federation reportedly launched more than 1,500 drones and dozens of missiles targeting Ukrainian cities across the country.”

She added, “Last month alone, at least 238 civilians were killed and 1,404 injured in Ukraine. This represents the highest monthly number of civilian casualties recorded since July 2025. It also reflects a continuing pattern of rising civilian harm.”

“Inside the Russian Federation, reported Ukrainian strikes have also led to increasing civilian casualties and damage to civilian infrastructure, including to residential buildings.”

She concluded, “Although direct talks, which are currently paused, have yet to result in a breakthrough, diplomacy has made it possible for thousands of prisoners of war to return home, and for remains of fallen soldiers to be laid to rest. Negotiations should resume without further delays to prevent further escalation and to make meaningful progress towards a full, immediate and unconditional ceasefire.”

Ebola response #drc #kenya

Tue, 19 May 2026 23:10:52 +0200

Author: United Nations - Bewertung: 13x - Views:172 A fast-spreading Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) has health workers rushing to stop transmission while the roll out of any potential vaccine is months away, the UN World Health Organization (WHO) said on Tuesday.
WHO’s representative in DRC, Dr Anne Ancia, told reporters in Geneva that there are more than 500 suspected cases including 130 suspected deaths, but that only 30 cases have been confirmed in the country so far.
The agency is working closely with the authorities and rushing more testing kits to eastern DRC to identify cases of infection of Bundibugyo virus, a species of Ebola virus for which there are no vaccines or therapeutics.
Logistic inter-agency coordination allowed urgent critical medical supplies to be sent from Nairobi, Kenya to Kinshasa and Bunia in the DRC.

Friends of Football, SG Travel & other topics - Daily Press Briefing (19 May 2026) | United Nations

Tue, 19 May 2026 19:56:58 +0200

Author: United Nations - Bewertung: 4x - Views:66 Noon Briefing by Stéphane Dujarric, Spokesperson for the Secretary-General.

Highlights:
- Friends of Football
- Football
- SG Travels
- Mosque Attack
- Ebola
- Uganda
- Security Council - Ukraine
- Security Council - Middle East
- UNIFIL
- Lebanon
- Occupied Palestinian Territory
- South Sudan
- Haiti
- Science Forward Podcast
- Financial Contribution

----

FRIENDS OF FOOTBALL

There will be an event in the General Assembly hall this afternoon from 3 p.m. Representatives from Member States, permanent observers, particularly ambassadors, as well as high-ranking guests from the Secretariat and top soccer players, will participate in the marking of World Football Day. The event this year focuses on “Refugees and Soccer.”

This event is being co-hosted by Bahrain and Tajikistan, who are the co-chairs of the UN Friends of Football.

And starting at 5 p.m., there will be a soccer tournament taking place on the North lawn with permanent representatives, more junior diplomats, and a number of former professional soccer players as well as the President of the General Assembly herself. They will be competing against each other in regional groups, using a knockout system.

5 pm, North lawn. Be there. Wear your jerseys.

FOOTBALL

The UN Refugee Agency today announced its “Game-changing Team”, a symbolic team comprised of soccer players who have backgrounds as refugees or displaced people.

The team embodies hope, courage, resilience and the power of what is possible when people displaced by war and persecution are met with safety, opportunity and welcome. And it highlights the power of football to be more than a game; for young refugees it can be healing, it can bring hope, belonging. It also has the power to change lives.

This team is captained by UNHCR Goodwill Ambassador Alphonso Davies, who was born in a refugee camp in Ghana after his parents fled war in Liberia. You all know that he is the current of the Canadian national football team.

SG TRAVELS

The Secretary-General is in Tokyo today. This morning, he chaired the biannual session of the UN System Chief Executives Board for Coordination, known as the CEB, which brings together the heads of all UN agencies, for better coordination across the UN system.

During these sessions, the CEB members reflect on current world affairs as they affect and relate to the UN system, while engaging in deliberations on “Megatrends Transforming the World”, as well as the UN80 Initiative.

Tomorrow, the Secretary-General will have an audience with His Majesty, the Emperor of Japan.

He will also meet with the Minister for Foreign Affairs, Mr. Motegi Toshimitsu. Before leaving Japan, he will also hold a press conference at the National Press club in Tokyo, and we will of course share those remarks with you.

Full Highlights: https://www.un.org/sg/en/content/noon-briefing-highlight?date=2026-05-19

Ebola response #drc

Tue, 19 May 2026 18:03:18 +0200

Author: United Nations - Bewertung: 14x - Views:116 A fast-spreading Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of the Congo# (DRC) has health workers rushing to stop transmission while the roll out of any potential vaccine is months away, the UN World Health Organization (WHO) said on Tuesday.

WHO’s representative in DRC, Dr Anne Ancia, told reporters in Geneva that there are more than 500 suspected cases including 130 suspected deaths, but that only 30 cases have been confirmed in the country so far.

The agency is working closely with the authorities and rushing more testing kits to eastern DRC to identify cases of infection of Bundibugyo virus, a species of Ebola virus for which there are no vaccines or therapeutics.

Logistic inter-agency coordination allowed urgent critical medical supplies to be sent from Nairobi, Kenya to Kinshasa and Bunia in the DRC.

Why is my life so expensive?

Tue, 19 May 2026 10:00:30 +0200

Author: European Central Bank - Bewertung: 0x - Views:11 Catherine’s favorite falafel wrap went from €5 to €7 - and it sent her down a rabbit hole.

Join our host as she explores a simple question: why do prices seem to be going up all the time? Along the way, you’ll uncover what’s behind the cost-of-living squeeze, why it hits people differently and what the ECB is doing about it.

The views expressed of the speakers and not necessarily those of the European Central Bank.

Further reading:
Espresso Economics - Inflation stats vs your reality: the disconnect explained https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mi-gZoA9WGk

ECB Instagram https://www.instagram.com/europeancentralbank

Displaced Families in #Gaza Face Growing Rat Infestation

Tue, 19 May 2026 01:44:34 +0200

Author: United Nations - Bewertung: 3x - Views:11 Thousands of displaced families in the Gaza Strip are living through escalating fear and suffering inside overcrowded tents as rodents and insects spread through shelters and displacement camps amid deteriorating health and environmental conditions caused by mounting waste and the collapse of sewage services.

Teams from the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA) carry out sanitation campaigns and pesticide spraying operations inside displacement camps and schools turned into shelters, amid warnings that health risks will worsen if the waste and infrastructure crisis continues unresolved.

#UAE: Drone strike near nuclear power plant

Tue, 19 May 2026 01:32:21 +0200

Author: United Nations - Bewertung: 0x - Views:10 UN Secretary-General António Guterres issued a statement saying he was deeply alarmed by reports of drone strikes near the Barakah Nuclear Power Plant in the United Arab Emirates (UAE).

The Secretary-General recalled that he has consistently warned against any further escalation of the Middle East conflict.

The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) was informed of a fire at an electrical generator near the UAE's sole nuclear plant on Monday.

United Arab Emirates, Iraq & other topics - Daily Press Briefing (18 May 2026) | United Nations

Mon, 18 May 2026 19:43:16 +0200

Author: United Nations - Bewertung: 2x - Views:32 Noon briefing by Farhan Haq, Deputy Spokesperson for the Secretary-General.

Highlights:
SG Travels/Japan
Deputy Secretary-General
United Arab Emirates
World Health Assembly
Iraq
Lebanon
Occupied Palestinian Territory
Ebola/Democratic Republic of the Congo
Somalia
Sudan
Ukraine
Protection of Civilians week
Guests tomorrow

SG TRAVELS/JAPAN

The Secretary-General is in Tokyo, where today, he attended an event at UN University with the Minister for Foreign Affairs of Japan, Motegi Toshimitsu, entitled “Celebrating 70: Japan–UN Cooperation, Expo 2025 & the Future of Multilateralism,” held as Japan marks the 70th anniversary of its admission to the United Nations.

In his remarks, the Secretary-General said that he has visited Japan more than 20 times in his capacity as UN High Commissioner for Refugees and as Secretary-General. He has always found strategic cooperation and support that benefited millions of people around the world. The Secretary-General added that the spirit of working together for human progress was on full display at Expo 2025 and the UN Pavilion in Osaka in Japan.

Also on Monday, the Secretary-General held a meeting with the Prime Minister, Takaichi Sanae. They exchanged views on global and regional peace and security, including the situations on the Korean Peninsula and in the Middle East, as well as on UN reforms.

Tomorrow, the Secretary-General will chair the sessions of the UN System Chief Executives Board for Coordination, also known as the CEB, which brings together the heads of the UN system’s organizations. CEB Members will reflect on current world affairs. And they will engage in deliberations on Megatrends: Transforming the World and the UN80 initiative.

DEPUTY SECRETARY-GENERAL

Meanwhile, the Deputy Secretary-General, Amina Mohammed, in her capacity as Chair of the UN Sustainable Development Goals Group, convened a meeting of the Group in Tokyo today, bringing together heads of UN agencies.

Discussions focused on leveraging the full strength of the United Nations development system to respond to the scale of today’s challenges and get the Sustainable Development Goals back on track.

UNITED ARAB EMIRATES

The Secretary-General said earlier today that he was deeply alarmed by reports that drone strikes set fire yesterday to an electrical generator within the perimeter of the Barakah Nuclear Power Plant, in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates. 

The Secretary-General has consistently warned against any further escalation of the conflict in the Middle East, and this incident provides yet another reason for all sides to halt the fighting completely.

There must be no further attacks near civilian infrastructure, including nuclear power plants. Attacks on nuclear installations are totally unacceptable, a violation of international law and must be condemned. 

The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) is following the situation closely and is in constant contact with the UAE authorities, ready to provide assistance, if needed.

WORLD HEALTH ASSEMBLY

Also today, the Secretary-General addressed the opening of the World Health Assembly via a pre-recorded video message.

He said that the annual gathering is a vital opportunity for Member States to align and accelerate efforts to address global health challenges, in a context where challenges have rarely felt more daunting.

Over the past year, cuts to bilateral and multilateral aid have disrupted health systems and widened inequalities, he said.

The World Health Organization has reprioritized and recalibrated, while preserving core functions while providing technical leadership, operational support, and a trusted convening space.

The Secretary-General said WHO stands at the centre of our global health architecture, adding that it must be strong and independent, with ample and sustainable financing.

His full message is online.

Full Highlights: https://www.un.org/sg/en/content/noon-briefing-highlight?date=2026-05-18

World Urban Forum: Host Country Video at Opening Ceremony | United Nations

Mon, 18 May 2026 17:00:02 +0200

Author: United Nations - Bewertung: 5x - Views:24 The thirteenth session of the World Urban Forum (WUF13) takes place in Baku, Azerbaijan, from 17 to 22 May 2026. The theme of WUF13 is: Housing the world: Safe and resilient cities and communities.

World Urban Forum WUF13 Opening - UN Chief's remarks | United Nations

Mon, 18 May 2026 15:44:25 +0200

Author: United Nations - Bewertung: 15x - Views:157 Video message by António Guterres, Secretary-General of the United Nations, for the Opening Ceremony of the Thirteenth session of the World Urban Forum (WUF13).

The thirteenth session of the World Urban Forum (WUF13) takes place in Baku, Azerbaijan, from 17 to 22 May 2026. The theme of WUF13 is: Housing the world: Safe and resilient cities and communities.

Flag raising ceremony - World Urban Forum (WUF13) | United Nations

Sun, 17 May 2026 16:03:43 +0200

Author: United Nations - Bewertung: 19x - Views:204 The thirteenth session of the World Urban Forum (WUF13) takes place in Baku, Azerbaijan, from 17 to 22 May 2026. The theme of WUF13 is: Housing the world: Safe and Resilient Cities and Communities.

Today is International Day against Homophobia, Biphobia and Transphobia 🏳️‍🌈🏳️‍⚧️

Sun, 17 May 2026 10:00:06 +0200

Author: European Central Bank - Bewertung: 0x - Views:0 Together we can shape a better future where everyone receives fair and equal treatment.

At the ECB we are raising the pride flag to stand with the LGBT+ community and reaffirm our commitment to diversity and inclusion in Europe and across the world.

Cuba - Press Conference | United Nations

Fri, 15 May 2026 22:00:09 +0200

Author: United Nations - Bewertung: 9x - Views:85

Live - The International Research Forum on Monetary Policy (Day 1)

Tue, 05 May 2026 11:12:28 +0200

Author: European Central Bank - Bewertung: 0x - Views:0 Euro Area Business Cycle Network, European Central Bank and Federal Reserve Board.

This is the 14th edition of the biennial conference series organised by the Euro Area Business Cycle Network, the ECB, and the Federal Reserve Board. The conference promotes the discussion of innovative research on theoretical and empirical macroeconomic issues with relevance for monetary policy.

Programme: https://www.ecb.europa.eu/press/conferences/html/20260518_14th_intl_research_forum_on_mon_pol.en.html

Live - The International Research Forum on Monetary Policy (Day 2)

Tue, 05 May 2026 11:13:45 +0200

Political and humanitarian situations in Syria - OCHA Briefing | United Nations

Fri, 15 May 2026 20:00:05 +0200

Author: United Nations - Bewertung: 18x - Views:155

Senior Appointment, Syria & other topics - Daily Press Briefing (15 May 2026) | United Nations

Fri, 15 May 2026 20:21:49 +0200

Author: United Nations - Bewertung: 2x - Views:13 Noon briefing by Farhan Haq, Deputy Spokesperson for the Secretary-General.

Highlights:
- Senior Appointment
- Security Council/Syria

SENIOR APPOINTMENT

The United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres announced today the appointment of Jeanine Hennis-Plasschaert of the Netherlands as his new Under-Secretary-General for Safety and Security. She will succeed Gilles Michaud of Canada, to whom the Secretary-General expressed his utmost gratitude for his leadership and tireless service to the Organization amidst the challenges posed by the increasing complexity of crises.

Ms. Hennis-Plasschaert brings to the position more than 30 years of experience in diplomacy, mediation and international security. She has served since 2024 as the United Nations Special Coordinator for Lebanon, working with national, regional and international actors to advance stability in the face of compounding domestic and regional crises. She also served as Special Representative of the Secretary-General for Iraq and Head of the United Nations Assistance Mission for Iraq (UNAMI) from 2018 to 2024. She was also Minister of Defence of the Netherlands.

SECURITY COUNCIL/SYRIA

This morning, the Security Council members held an open session on Syria. Briefing via VTC, Deputy Special Envoy for Syria, Claudio Cordone, said that he hopes to soon reach an understanding with the Government on broad areas for cooperation, building on proposals made in March and the valuable discussions held since then, as well as on the relocation of the Geneva-based staff to Damascus. Mr. Cordone said that he will return to Damascus next week to advance discussions on the transition and his Office’s role in supporting it.

For his part, Under Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs, Tom Fletcher, warned that humanitarian needs in Syria remain significant. About two-thirds of the population – that’s about 15.6 million people – and most of them are women and children, require help this year.

He added that current funding levels mean we will reach only about half of them. Almost halfway through the year, the humanitarian appeal is still barely more than 16 per cent funded, with some $480 million received towards the $2.9 billion needed.

He underscored that predictable and flexible humanitarian financing is essential to reach more people and make full use of improved access that we now have to many areas in Syria.

YEMEN

In a statement issued last night, the Secretary-General welcomed the deal reached between the parties to the conflict in Yemen to release more than 1,600 conflict-related detainees, the largest such release agreed upon since the start of the conflict in Yemen. This achievement is the result of weeks of direct negotiations in Amman, Jordan, under the auspices of the United Nations.

The Secretary-General calls on the parties to move swiftly toward implementing the deal in cooperation with the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), so that families can be reunited as soon as possible. He also calls on them to work toward further releases, in line with their obligations under the 2018 Stockholm Agreement to release all conflict-related detainees for all.

He calls on the Government of Yemen and the Houthis to build on the positive momentum generated by Thursday’s deal and engage constructively with his Special Envoy on Yemen towards an inclusive political process for a just and lasting peace in Yemen.

The Secretary-General further urges the Houthis to immediately and unconditionally release all arbitrarily detained personnel from the United Nations, NGOs, civil society and diplomatic missions. He reaffirms that the United Nations system is determined to work through all possible channels to secure their safe release. The full statement is online.

Full Highlights: https://www.un.org/sg/en/content/noon-briefing-highlight?date=2026-05-15

Political and humanitarian situations in Syria - Security Council Briefing | United Nations

Fri, 15 May 2026 18:43:29 +0200

Author: United Nations - Bewertung: 0x - Views:2

#Ukraine: Civilian Casualties After Large-Scale Attacks

Fri, 15 May 2026 16:00:55 +0200

Author: United Nations - Bewertung: 2x - Views:4 The UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs reported that large-scale attacks over the past day struck Kyiv and other areas in western and central Ukraine, damaging civilian infrastructure and causing more than 140 civilian casualties, including children.

Yemen agreement - Parties agree to release 1,600 detainees

Fri, 15 May 2026 14:56:39 +0200

Author: United Nations - Bewertung: 0x - Views:0 More than 1,600 conflict-related detainees in Yemen will be released, under a UN-brokered agreement reached after months of negotiations in Jordan, marking the largest prisoner release deal since the country’s civil war began and offering a rare sign of progress in stalled peace efforts.

U.S. Announces $1.8 Billion in Humanitarian Aid

Fri, 15 May 2026 14:00:09 +0200

Author: United Nations - Bewertung: 0x - Views:16 The United States announced an additional $1.8 billion in humanitarian assistance, as UN officials press ahead with reforms focused on efficiency, accountability and delivering aid worldwide.

World Urban Forum (WUF13) promo video | United Nations

Fri, 15 May 2026 10:50:13 +0200

Author: United Nations - Bewertung: 0x - Views:15 The thirteenth session of the World Urban Forum (WUF13) takes place in Baku, Azerbaijan, from 17 to 22 May 2026. The theme of WUF13 is: Housing the world: Safe and resilient cities and communities.

#UNAIDS Briefing on the Status of Global #AIDS Response

Fri, 15 May 2026 11:03:51 +0200

Author: United Nations - Bewertung: 1x - Views:9 Winnie Byanyima, Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS) on the Interactive Multi-Stakeholder Hearing for the 2026 High-level Meeting on HIV/AIDS.

UN Secretary-General advocates for Africa

Fri, 15 May 2026 10:33:30 +0200

Author: United Nations - Bewertung: 0x - Views:14 UN Secretary-General António Guterres arrived in Nairobi, Kenya ahead of the inaugural Africa Forward Summit, where he called for reform of global institutions and greater representation for Africa. He said the continent’s vast potential continues to be constrained by an unfair international system, pointing to high borrowing costs, climate injustice and underrepresentation in global decision making bodies.

Press - Official Opening Press Conference of WUF13 (WUF13)

Fri, 15 May 2026 09:07:11 +0200

Author: United Nations - Bewertung: 0x - Views:0 The thirteenth session of the World Urban Forum (WUF13) takes place in Baku, Azerbaijan, from 17 to 22 May 2026. The theme of WUF13 is: Housing the world: Safe and resilient cities and communities.

The official opening press conference of the thirteenth session of the World Urban Forum (WUF13) will set the tone for the week, introducing the theme “Housing the world: Safe and resilient cities and communities” and outlining key priorities for addressing the global housing crisis, strengthening urban resilience, and advancing sustainable urban development in cities and communities worldwide.

Opening Ceremony - Thirteenth session of the World Urban Forum (WUF13) | United Nations

Fri, 15 May 2026 09:14:53 +0200

Author: United Nations - Bewertung: 1x - Views:0 The thirteenth session of the World Urban Forum (WUF13) takes place in Baku, Azerbaijan, from 17 to 22 May 2026. The theme of WUF13 is: Housing the world: Safe and resilient cities and communities.

Opening Ceremony of the Thirteenth Session of the World Urban Forum - WUF13

Closing Ceremony of the Thirteenth Session of the World Urban Forum - WUF13 | United Nations

Fri, 15 May 2026 09:21:31 +0200

Cambodian LGBTQI+ Activist Sparks Social Change | United Nations

Fri, 15 May 2026 08:00:15 +0200

Author: United Nations - Bewertung: 20x - Views:204 Panha (Max) Theng, a Cambodian storyteller and communications consultant, uses media to foster empathy and drive social change. As co-founder of Sampi TV and 606 Digital, she creates authentic, character-driven stories on identity, gender, and community to promote a more inclusive society.

To learn more: https://www.un.org/youthaffairs/en/panha-theng

UN / United States Humanitarian System Funding - Press Conference | United Nations

Thu, 14 May 2026 21:37:20 +0200

Author: United Nations - Bewertung: 20x - Views:159 The United States today (14 May) announced a contribution of an additional $1.8 billion for the life-saving humanitarian work of the United Nations and humanitarian partners around the world.

At a press conference at UN Headquarters in New York, US Ambassador Mike Waltz said, “our partnership, our burden sharing, has increased, but duplication and inefficiencies have decreased that cost time, taxpayer money and, frankly, lives,” adding that this collaboration on reform “reflects President Trump's priorities for the UN and helping it reach its potential.”

Waltz said, “we found that when the UN does what it does best, delivering humanitarian aid in remote, difficult locations at scale with a reliable and affordable supply chain, it can and does succeed. It's only then, when the organization strays from its core mission, that it tends to not perform nearly as well as it should.”

The Ambassador said this 1.8 billion in humanitarian funding “will save more lives around the world but also drive forward the reforms that we've put in place for efficiency, accountability and lasting impact.”

For his part, the United Nations Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs, Tom Fletcher, said, “we are facing rising needs. Over 300 million people need our support. And we're facing declining global funding. And we are, as a result, overstretched, under-resourced and literally under attack.”

Fletcher said the humanitarian response plan he presented last December, aimed at raising 23 billion dollars to save 87 million lives, “against the odds is working.”

He said, “we are fundraising for that 23 billion dollars, and up to this point in advance of the announcement that you've just heard, we've raised 7.38 billion dollars from 65 member states, plus other public and private sources of funding.”

Fletcher stressed that “the most important number that I have for you today on the delivery of that plan is that we have already reached in the first four months of the year, 14.4 million people with life-saving support.”

With this fresh funding, he said, “we will save millions of lives.”

Also briefing, the US Senior Official for Foreign Assistance, Humanitarian Affairs, and Religious Freedom, Jeremy P. Lewin said, “the way we were funding this system before did not work for the United States and our taxpayers.”

Lewin said, “we're not responsible to the United Nations,” and pointing to Waltz added, “we work for, I work for the American people. He works for the American people, no one else.”

Responding to a journalist question on past comments he had made, Fletcher said, “I wish there was more money being spent on humanitarian action and less money in the world being spent on war. I would love much more of that funding to be going to the plan to help us raise that 23 billion. You can do the maths. I've told you I need 23 billion to save 87 million lives. And I'm sad that a lot of money at the moment is being spent on drones. We're seeing it in all of the crisis areas where we're working. The arms dealers are getting richer at the moment at the expense of the people who I serve. And it's driving up humanitarian needs. But, you know, we're here with a piece of good news today about a very significant chunk of US funding that they have chosen to spend on humanitarian action.”

Lewin for his part said, “there are a lot of countries that are sitting on the sidelines and making criticisms of the United States and talking about humanitarian impacts. Many of them are wealthy. Many of them have not shown up for this plan or any other plan. All of the other developed countries have cut many by much more than us. And they are putting their money towards things that are less hyper prioritized towards light saving aid. They're saving social programs at the expense of life saving aid. And so there are a lot of countries that criticize the actions of President Trump. But when it comes to humanitarian lifesaving aid and, you know, you can do all the math, it's visible. And Thomas said it, we are still here as the most generous country in the world.”

Secretary-General António Guterres welcomed today’s announcement.

Humanitarian Contribution & other topics - Daily Press Briefing (14 May 2026) | United Nations

Thu, 14 May 2026 21:38:40 +0200

Author: United Nations - Bewertung: 7x - Views:48 Noon briefing by Farhan Haq, Deputy Spokesperson for the Secretary-General.

Highlights:
- Humanitarian Contribution by the United States
- Yemen
- Trip Announcement
- Deputy Secretary-General
- UNIFIL
- Lebanon
- Occupied Palestinian Territory
- Ukraine
- Cuba
- Haiti
- Children and Armed Conflict
- ECOSOC

HUMANITARIAN CONTRIBUTION BY THE UNITED STATES

The Secretary-General welcomes today’s announcement by the United States of an additional $1.8 billion for the life-saving humanitarian work of the United Nations and our humanitarian partners around the world.

This commitment will allow humanitarians to reach millions of people in the most urgent crises with lifesaving support.

YEMEN

Turning to Yemen, we welcome a major breakthrough in efforts to secure the release of conflict-related detainees. The parties to the conflict in Yemen agreed to release more than 1,600 conflict-related detainees - the largest such release deal since the start of the conflict. This outcome is the result of 14 weeks of intensive negotiations under the auspices of the United Nations in Amman, Jordan.

The UN Special Envoy for Yemen, Hans Grundberg, said that this is a moment of profound relief for thousands of Yemenis who have endured long and painful waits for the return of their family members.

Today’s agreement builds on an earlier round of negotiations in December 2025 in Muscat, Oman. As next steps, the parties have also agreed to reconvene to negotiate further releases, to conduct joint visits to one another’s detention facilities, and to ensure access to all detainees. We thank Jordan for hosting and supporting this round of negotiations, and the Sultanate of Oman and Switzerland for hosting the earlier rounds of talks.

We continue to call for the release of all those arbitrarily detained by the Houthis, including personnel from the UN, NGOs, civil society and diplomatic missions, as well as their families.

We expect a more official statement later today.

TRIP ANNOUNCEMENT

The Secretary-General will travel to Tokyo, Japan this weekend, where he will chair the biannual session of the UN System Chief Executives Board for Coordination, also known as the CEB, which brings together the heads of the UN system’s organizations.  

While in Japan, the Secretary-General will have an audience with His Majesty the Emperor of Japan. He is also scheduled to meet with senior officials, including the Prime Minister, Sanae Takaichi, as well as with the Minister for Foreign Affairs, Motegi Toshimitsu.

Also in Tokyo, the Secretary-General will participate in a high-level symposium entitled “Celebrating 70: Japan-UN Cooperation, EXPO 2025, and the Future of Multilateralism,” which will highlight Japan’s continued partnership with the United Nations and its commitment to multilateralism.

The symposium, hosted jointly by the United Nations University and the UN Information Centre, Tokyo, will bring together senior UN officials, representatives of the Government of Japan, and Japanese youth leaders for an open exchange on today’s challenges and the path ahead.

The Secretary-General is expected to hold a press conference on 20 May, and we will share additional information closer to that date. He is expected to be back in New York on Wednesday.

Full Highlights: https://www.un.org/sg/en/content/noon-briefing-highlight?date=2026-05-14

2026 Interactive Hearing on HIV/AIDS - Press Conference | United Nations

Thu, 14 May 2026 22:00:41 +0200

Author: United Nations - Bewertung: 0x - Views:4 Executive Director of UNAIDS Winnie Byanyima told reporters, “we are at a perilous moment in the global AIDS response. Decades of progress are now at risk because the world is pulling back just when we need to push forward.”

Byanyima and Nigerian-born advocate for LGBTQI+ rights Micheal Ighodaro briefed reporters today (14 May) on the Interactive Multi-Stakeholder Hearing for the 2026 High-level Meeting on HIV/AIDS. The General Assembly will convene a high-level meeting on HIV/AIDS on 22 and 23 June 2026 at the UN Headquarters in New York.

The UNAIDS chief said that due to funding cuts, “prevention services have collapsed. Treatment expansion has stalled. Community organizations were the backbone of the response are being forced to shut their doors.”

She gave some examples of immediate and devastating impacts. In Uganda, Prep, which is a prevention tool, its uptake fell by 31 percent in just nine months between December 2024 and September of 2025. In Burundi, it fell by 64 percent in the same period. Even the most basic prevention tools are slipping out of reach. In Nigeria, for example, condom distribution fell by 55 percent in just three months from December 2024 to March 2025, Byanyima said.

She highlighted that the human cost is “unbearable,” stating in 2024, at UNAIDS’s last count, 570 girls and young women were infected by HIV every day of that year. “And yet, our count is that 60 percent of women led HIV organizations have lost their funding or shut down completely. People most at risk are being abandoned,” Byanyima added.

The UNAIDS chief also pointed out that the world is witnessing “a coordinated global pushback on human rights, the very rights that make progress against HIV possible - gender equality, sexual reproductive health and rights, the rights of LGBTQ people are under attack in many parts of the world.”

“But this is not accidental” she said, “it is organized. It's well funded. It is geopolitical. It is proxy wars for critical minerals, for energy, for influence that are being fought instrumentaling the rights of the most marginalized people away from people.”

The Executive Director reiterated, “science is offering us solutions that could end this epidemic by 2030,” however the sudden cut in funding, plus the pushback on human rights, “is pulling us away from achieving the end of AIDS.”

Speaking about the upcoming high-level meeting on HIV/AIDS in June, Byanyima said, “it is at that meeting that governments will be recommitting to a progressive, actionable political declaration to steer the world in the right direction, setting ambitious targets for 2030, a direction that could save millions of lives and end AIDS as a public health threat.”

The Executive Director said, “Today, there are 9.3 million people living with HIV waiting to get on treatment. We must get them on. At the last count, we had 1.3 million new infections in 2024. We must stop new infections, and it's possible.”

Micheal Ighodaro is a Nigerian-born advocate for LGBTQI+ rights. He is currently serving as the Executive Director of Global Black Gay Men Connect (GBGMC). Sharing his experience with living with HIV, he said, “if I stop taking my medications right now, I could literally die. I will have no future. That is the same for many people around the world.”

Ighodaro reiterated, “the AIDS response is not over. We have so much more to fight for,” adding that the high-level meeting with the participation of civil society can “ensure Member States and the world realizes that we don't have a cure. We have amazing science. We have long-acting prevention treatment, but we don't have a cure. So we have so much more to do. We have structural barriers. We have human rights barriers across different sectors.”

Chad: Nearly 1 million people fled from Sudan - Press Conference | United Nations

Thu, 14 May 2026 04:30:27 +0200

Author: United Nations - Bewertung: 53x - Views:491 Press conference by Andrew Saberton, UNFPA's (United Nations Population Fund) Deputy Executive Director for Management. He briefed reporters on his recent mission to Chad and the situation for women and girls in the country.

Eastern Chad is facing a rapidly escalating humanitarian crisis as 927,452 refugees have crossed into Chad since the outbreak of conflict in Sudan in April 2023, bringing the number of displaced people in Chad to approximately 1.3 million.

Women and children make up 75 percent of the refugee population, underscoring the deeply gendered impact of the humanitarian crisis.

Among the displaced are approximately 68,880 pregnant women, while more than 91,000 babies are expected to be born in refugee camps over the next year.

Chad already records one of the highest maternal mortality rates in the world—860 deaths per 100,000 live births—and the current influx is pushing an already fragile and overstretched health system to its limits.

Overcrowded camps and limited healthcare are sharply increasing risks for women and newborns, turning every delivery into a potentially life-threatening event.

During a seven-day high-level mission to Chad, UNFPA Deputy Executive Director for Management Andrew Saberton travelled to: the capital N’djamena, as well as Abeche and Adre in eastern Chad; and to Idrimi Refugee Camp in Iriba, to witness the scale of the emergency firsthand.

UNFPA teams are on the ground supporting the Government of Chad to strengthen emergency reproductive health services; deploy mobile clinics and set up safe spaces for survivors of gender-based violence.

However, operations are increasingly constrained by a mammoth funding gap for UNFPA’s humanitarian response with just 2.5 percent of UNFPA’s Chad programmes funded. This represents a 44 percent drop on our poor funding in 2025.

Despite its own severe economic and humanitarian pressures, Chad continues to keep its borders open to people fleeing violence.

UNFPA expressed deep appreciation for the Government of Chad and existing donors supporting the response, while warning that current resources remain far below what is needed.

UNFPA calls on the international community to sustain and scale up support and ensure that the needs and dignity of women and girls remain at the centre of the humanitarian response.

UNIFIL, Palestine, Syria & other topics - Daily Press Briefing (13 May 2026) | United Nations

Wed, 13 May 2026 19:37:40 +0200

Author: United Nations - Bewertung: 13x - Views:184 Noon briefing by Farhan Haq, Deputy Spokesperson for the Secretary-General.

Highlights:

Secretary-General/Travel
UNIFIL
Occupied Palestinian Territory
Syria
Sudan
Sudan/Humanitarian
South Sudan
Nigeria
Ukraine
Haiti
Republic of Korea
Financial Contribution

SECRETARY-GENERAL/TRAVEL

The Secretary-General is in Addis Ababa, where he is wrapping up his day. Earlier he participated in the 10th African Union-United Nations High-Level Dialogue, alongside the Chairperson of the AU Commission, Mahmoud Ali Youssouf.

In his opening remarks, the Secretary-General said that this was a moment of great emotion for him, as it most likely would be his last summit with the African Union as Secretary-General. He told the African Union delegation that they could count on the United Nations to support the AU fully in their initiatives and ensure that the international community understands that Africa's success is absolutely essential for global success.

Following a working lunch, the Chairperson and the Secretary-General publicly signed a Declaration Reaffirming the Principles of the Joint Frameworks. The declaration reaffirms the strategic partnership between the United Nations and the African Union, emphasizing their shared commitment to multilateralism, African leadership, and the integrated pursuit of peace and security, sustainable development, and human rights.

In remarks to the press afterwards, the Secretary-General said that from the start of his mandate, he has taken steps to build a unique strategic partnership with the African Union.

The Secretary-General reiterated his call for fairer representation of Africa among the Security Council’s permanent members. “This is not about privilege or symbolism,” the Secretary-General said. “This is about ensuring that the Council is fit for purpose and able to act with legitimacy and effectiveness.”

Referring to a number of conflicts on the continent, the Secretary-General enumerated the various examples of the close cooperation between the UN and the AU in support of the African Union’s “silencing the guns” initiatives.

In concluding his opening remarks, the Secretary-General said he had always believed that Africa should be seen for what it is: a continent of immense richness and promise. In answer to a question from a journalist on foreign interference in African conflicts, the Secretary-General said that it was absolutely intolerable that countries external to Africa interfere in African conflicts, providing weapons and political support, only to serve their own strategic or economic interests.

Later in the afternoon, the Secretary-General, along with the Chairperson of the African Union Commission, were joined by President Emmanuel Macron for a meeting. During the meeting, they discussed the needed reforms of the multilateral and international financial architecture in an effort to make it more fair to those on the African continent, and beyond. They also exchanged views on the impact of the current conflict in the Middle East and how to mitigate it for African countries.

UNIFIL

Our peacekeepers from the UN Interim Force in Lebanon say they are increasingly concerned about the activities of Hezbollah members and Israeli soldiers near UN positions, including the increased use of drones, which has resulted in explosions in and around their bases and that puts peacekeepers at risk.

On Monday, three presumed Hizbullah drones detonated in an area where Israel Defense Forces (IDF) soldiers could have been present, within metres of UNIFIL’s Naqoura headquarters. Another drone detonated in the same area on Tuesday.

A few minutes later, a presumed Hizbullah drone detonated inside UNIFIL's Naqoura headquarters. No one was injured, but some buildings were damaged.

UNIFIL continues to remind all actors to avoid operating in proximity of United Nations positions and personnel, and further urge all actors to avoid any actions that could put peacekeepers in danger. UNIFIL protested IDF presence, activities, and movement of personnel and vehicles near the headquarters. Peacekeepers have also protested the activities of non-state actors near our positions to the Lebanese Armed Forces.

Despite the challenges, peacekeepers continue to impartially report what is happening on the ground in south Lebanon to the Security Council.

Full Highlights: https://www.un.org/sg/en/content/noon-briefing-highlight?date=2026-05-13

DRC: Peace Advocate goes on patrol with Bangladeshi peacekeepers | United Nations

Wed, 13 May 2026 12:01:14 +0200

Author: United Nations - Bewertung: 5x - Views:38 During a wide-ranging visit to Bunia in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, UN Global Peace Advocate Maryam Bukar Hassan, aka alhanislam, took part in a patrol by the Bangladeshi contingent of the UN mission, MONUSCO. Hassan engaged with women traders and community leaders on the security and economic challenges they face on a daily basis. She also met with women peacekeepers from the Bangladeshi, Indonesian, and Nepalese contingents, who shared their experiences in peacekeeping and the realities of their engagement as women serving communities.

Lastly, Hassan visited Martyrs' Monument, which was erected in tribute to fallen peacekeepers. She reflected on the service and sacrifice of peacekeepers who have to spend time away from their families to protect people in some of the world's most complex environments.

#Bangladesh #InvestInPeace #ServingForPeace

Supervision Newsletter - May 2026

Wed, 13 May 2026 11:04:27 +0200

Author: European Central Bank - Bewertung: 4x - Views:30 "Market fragmentation is banks’ real constraint"

Supervision will not pivot away from resilience, says Frank Elderson, Vice-Chair of the ECB Supervisory Board, stressing that the banking union is key to competitiveness. He clarifies that ECB guidance is not law and explains the risks behind Anthropic’s Mythos.

Read the full interview here:
https://www.bankingsupervision.europa.eu/press/interviews/date/2026/html/ssm.in260513~cb8e1269c5.en.html

Tensions remain a concern in Bosnia and Herzegovina - BiH Briefing | United Nations

Tue, 12 May 2026 23:35:17 +0200

Author: United Nations - Bewertung: 10x - Views:160 “While the overall security situation in Bosnia and Herzegovina remains stable, potentially disruptive tensions remain an issue of concern,” the High Representative for Bosnia and Herzegovina said.

Briefing the Security Council in New York today (12 May), High Representative for Bosnia and Herzegovina Christian Schmidt said, “We are witnessing deliberate attempts to deconstruct state-level institutions by blocking them and preventing them from performing the responsibilities they were created for.”

Schmidt outlined four priorities for the current year. “The preservation of the institutional order established under the Dayton Peace Agreement, restoration of institutional functionality, a resolution of the issue of apportionment of state property and ensuring the timely introduction of election technologies ahead of the General Elections in October 2026,” he said.

The briefing, Schmidt's last before his anticipated departure, came days after he announced his resignation. “Under the prevailing circumstances, I took my personal decision to end my mandate as High Representative for Bosnia and Herzegovina based on the Dayton General Agreement for Peace and several United Nations Security Council's Resolutions and which I have received by Decision of the Steering Board of the Peace Implementation Council in 2021,” he said. “The process to appoint my successor has begun and I plan to depart my role in June.”

Denis Bećirović, Chairman of the Presidency of Bosnia and Herzegovina, addressed the Council under rule 37, warning that the country had narrowly avoided armed conflict in the past year. “A very difficult year 2025 is behind us. The anti-Dayton policy of the leadership of the entity Republika Srpska brought Bosnia and Herzegovina to the brink of armed conflict. The war scenario was avoided thanks to institutional and responsible action in the legal and foreign policy domains,” he said.

Bećirović added, “Bosnia and Herzegovina has fulfilled the conditions to receive an invitation for membership in NATO. Our results would have been even better if there had not been constant obstructions and blockades from the entity Republika Srpska.”

Turning to the question of responsibility for the country's political crisis, the Presidency Chairman said, “The problem of Bosnia and Herzegovina is not High Representative, but rather the anti-Dayton policy that openly advocates the destruction of the Dayton Peace Agreement and Bosnia and Herzegovina.”

He also said, “Advocating ethnic divisions in Bosnia and Herzegovina is not a policy. It is a direct threat to peace.”
Also addressing the Council under rule 37, Serbia's Permanent Representative Radomir Ilić reaffirmed his country's support for the peace framework. “Serbia reaffirms its consistent and principled position of respect for the territorial integrity of Bosnia and Herzegovina in accordance with the Dayton Peace Agreement, which remains the cornerstone of peace, stability and constitutional order in the country,” he said.

Ilić added, “The issue is not centralization versus decentralization nor functionality versus protection. What is needed is precisely what the Dayton Agreement Peace Agreement has already prescribed: constitutional balance and functionality through consent.”

He concluded, “Serbia believes that the future of Bosnia-Herzegovina lies in the hands of its legitimate domestic actors. Dialog, compromise and mutual understanding among them are indispensable.”

Russia's Deputy Permanent Representative Anna Evstigneeva said, “We recall that the Bosnian issue remains on the agenda of the Security Council under Chapter VII of the United Nations Charter, and there has been a long-standing practice of approval of High representatives. This did not apply to Christian Schmidt.” She said, “Schmidt never had, nor does he currently have the right to speak on behalf of the international community, nor to send any documentation to the Security Council.”

Delivering on the promise of Sevilla

Tue, 12 May 2026 22:26:08 +0200

Author: United Nations - Bewertung: 8x - Views:68 In a world tormented by war, crises and an already fragile economy, financing challenges, including in response to shocks, continue to obstruct progress towards sustainable development. Many of the poorest and most vulnerable countries are experiencing a “financing squeeze”, suffering from historically high debt service burdens, unprecedented declines in aid, and structurally low tax revenue. A more fragmented world economy is undermining trade, investment and capital flows.

On-demand video link on UN Web TV: https://webtv.un.org/en/asset/k19/k19e7vy6zq
Read more: https://desapublications.un.org/un-desa-voice/feature/may-2026/delivering-promise-sevilla

UNIFIL, Lebanon, Palestine & other topics - Daily Press Briefing (12 May 2026) | United Nations

Tue, 12 May 2026 19:10:12 +0200

Author: United Nations - Bewertung: 14x - Views:163 Noon briefing by Farhan Haq, Deputy Spokesperson for the Secretary-General.

Highlights:
• Secretary-General Travel
• UNIFIL
• Lebanon/Humanitarian
• Occupied Palestinian Territory
• Sudan
• Ukraine
• Security Council
• International Day

SECRETARY-GENERAL/TRAVEL

In Nairobi today, the Secretary-General participated in the opening session of the "Africa Forward Summit: Africa-France Partnerships for Innovation and Growth", co-chaired by French President Emmanuel Macron and Kenyan President William Ruto. 

In his remarks, the Secretary-General said that the title for this conference is apt, given that Africa is a driver of global change: "This is not a continent waiting for solutions. This is a continent producing them,” he said. 

He underscored Africa’s efforts in reforming an international system that was designed largely without African voices and continues to operate without adequate representation from the continent.  

The Secretary-General said that Africa’s obstacles include collapsing aid budgets, borrowing costs twice those of wealthy nations, 600 million people without electricity, and a climate crisis that Africa did not cause but suffers from disproportionately. 

In closing, he pushed for increased partnership - one that is equal, mutually beneficial, and generational. When Africa succeeds, the whole world wins, he said.  

On the sidelines of the summit, the Secretary-General held a number of bilateral discussions. With President John Dramani Mahama of Ghana, he exchanged views on the recent developments in the Sahel. He also commended the president on his efforts to promote regional security and cooperation. 

Later, the Secretary-General met the President of Egypt, Abdelfattah Al Sisi.  They discussed the situations in Sudan, Libya and the Middle East.

The Secretary-General expressed his appreciation for Egypt’s constructive diplomatic engagement to resolve regional issues. 

About an hour ago, the Secretary-General left Nairobi for Addis Ababa to attend the annual AU/UN conference.  

UNIFIL

UNIFIL peacekeepers have reported a concerning increase in drone activity, particularly in Sector West. Over the past 24 hours, peacekeepers observed multiple drones flying over or near UN positions in Shama, Al Mansouri, Al Bayada, and between Ramyah and Beit Lif. An armed quadcopter exploded after crossing Al Bayada hill. At this stage, UNIFIL has not confirmed the origin of the drones observed.

Separately yesterday, three presumed Hizbullah drones impacted an area near UNIFIL’s headquarters in Naqoura where Israel Defense Forces troops were present. No UN property was damaged and no peacekeepers were injured. An additional drone crashed inside the headquarters area on Sunday; it was unarmed, and an investigation into its origin is ongoing. Preliminary findings indicate the drone was of Iranian manufacture, suggesting it was a Hezbollah asset.

UNIFIL continues to remind all actors to avoid operating in proximity to United Nations positions and personnel, and urges all parties to refrain from actions that could endanger peacekeepers. UNIFIL has protested the presence and activities of Israeli soldiers and vehicles near its headquarters to the Israel Defense Forces, and the activities of non‑state actors near UN positions to the Lebanese Armed Forces.

Peacekeepers continue to report extensive Israel Defense Forces military activity across the area of operations, including high‑density armored movements, large‑scale engineering and demolition works, and sustained logistical traffic. Yesterday, peacekeepers recorded 340 launches of projectiles attributed to the Israel Defense Forces and 11 attributed to non-state actors in Lebanon, including Hizbullah.

Full Highlights: https://www.un.org/sg/en/content/noon-briefing-highlight?date=2026-05-12

Bulgaria’s euro changeover: what happened to prices? With Christine Gartner and Ginevra Aguiari

Tue, 12 May 2026 05:00:12 +0200

Author: European Central Bank - Bewertung: 0x - Views:4 Did prices rise when Bulgaria adopted the euro? Or were fears of inflation misplaced? The numbers tell a clear story.

Christine Gartner and Ginevra Aguiari talk about what really happened to prices and inflation in Bulgaria and explain how perceptions and expectations have changed.
The views expressed are those of the speakers and not necessarily those of the European Central Bank.

Further reading
The ECB Blog – Euro adoption and price increases in Bulgaria: separating myths from facts
https://www.ecb.europa.eu/press/blog/date/2026/html/ecb.blog20260409~cc951a0d29.en.html

ECB Instagram
https://www.instagram.com/europeancentralbank

DESA & UNFF on the launch of the Global Forest Goals Report 2026 - Press Conference | United Nations

Mon, 11 May 2026 20:10:00 +0200

Author: United Nations - Bewertung: 14x - Views:122 Press Conference by Bjørg Sandkjær, UN Department of Economic and Social Affairs (DESA) and Juliette Biao, UN Forum on Forests Secretariat (UNFF) on the launch of the Global Forest Goals Report 2026.

Hantavirus, UNIFIL, Lebanon & other topics - Daily Press Briefing (11 May 2026) | United Nations

Mon, 11 May 2026 20:06:03 +0200

Author: United Nations - Bewertung: 7x - Views:64 Noon Briefing by Farhan Haq, Deputy Spokesperson for the Secretary-General.

Highlights:
- Secretary-General/Travel
- Hantavirus
- UNIFIL
- Lebanon
- Occupied Palestinian Territory
- Sudan
- Democratic Republic of the Congo
- Haiti
- Ukraine
----------------------

SECRETARY-GENERAL/TRAVEL

Today in Nairobi, the Secretary-General, along with President William Ruto of Kenya, Deputy Secretary-General Amina Mohammed and UNON Director-General Zainab Bangura, participated in the ground-breaking ceremony for a new conference hall and the inauguration of a new office complex on the grounds of the UN Offices in Nairobi (UNON).

In his remarks, the Secretary-General said that this was a reaffirmation of the central role that Africa – and Kenya – play in the life and future of the United Nations. The UN presence in Nairobi is “where the future of multilateralism is being shaped – every day,” Mr. Guterres said.

The new offices buildings are the UN Nigeria office’s first net-zero building – featuring year-round, on-site solar power. The expanded conference facilities will add further solar installations, bringing the complex to energy neutrality by 2030.

In a press conference after the groundbreaking at UNON, the Secretary-General said that the United Nations must be closer to the people it serves – connected to their realities and equipped to support the solutions they are building.

He added that, too often, “African countries are expected to live with decisions made in institutions where they do not have equal voice.” This is why reform of the Security Council cannot wait, along with reform of the international financial institutions, where Africa is clearly under-represented.

HANTAVIRUS

This morning, the World Health Organization said that there are nine cases of hantavirus infection, seven of which are confirmed, including the latest case reported by France. Three deaths have also been reported among the cases.

WHO announced that the last remaining passengers on the hantavirus-hit cruise ship will have disembarked the MV Hondius by the end of today. Passengers are departing the Canary Islands by specially arranged flights.

WHO said that more than 30 crew members will remain on the ship and will sail it onward to Rotterdam, a journey expected to take several days.

Over the weekend, the Secretary-General expressed his support for the government of Spain and others as they manage the hantavirus in close coordination with WHO.

While the current public health risk from the virus remains low, the Secretary-General stressed that it’s important that international health efforts ensure the safety of all, including passengers and crew of the MV Hondius.

Today, WHO had a team of eight staff in Tenerife in the Canary Islands coordinating with the Spanish authorities and other partners on site.

UNIFIL

A quick update from the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL). Between Friday and today, UNIFIL has continued to record extensive military activity across its area of operations. During this period, peacekeepers observed more than 1,296 trajectories of projectiles attributed to the Israel Defense Forces, and 64 trajectories of projectiles attributed to Hizbullah.

Incidents involving the denial of freedom of movement to UNIFIL peacekeepers continue to occur daily. On Saturday, an IDF tank blocked a UNIFIL movement near Al Qawzah in Sector West and an IDF bulldozer restricted peacekeepers' movement near Al Bayada also in Sector West, forcing the UNIFIL personnel to turn back in both instances. We reiterate the responsibility of all actors to ensure UNIFIL has unrestricted freedom of movement in the discharge of its mandated functions.

LEBANON

From Lebanon, OCHA reports that the humanitarian situation continues to deteriorate despite the ceasefire that was announced on April 17th..

More than 100 strikes were reported in the past 24 hours alone, while 87 people were killed over the weekend. Today, the Ministry of Public Health reported that two paramedics affiliated with the Islamic Health Committee were killed, and several others were wounded, in airstrikes targeting health‑related sites in the towns of Qalaway and Tibnin in southern Lebanon. The paramedics were responding to earlier incidents when they were killed.

Since the start of the escalation on March 2nd, the World Health Organization has recorded 158 attacks on healthcare, resulting in 108 deaths and 249 injuries.

Attacks on humanitarian and medical personnel are unacceptable and further undermine an overstretched health system and access to emergency care for civilians.

Full Highlight: https://www.un.org/sg/en/content/noon-briefing-highlight?date=2026-05-11

#WHO Responds to #Hantavirus Outbreak

Mon, 11 May 2026 18:58:08 +0200

Author: United Nations - Bewertung: 0x - Views:38 The World Health Organization is supporting the response to a hantavirus outbreak aboard a passenger ship after its arrival in Tenerife, Canary Islands. Passengers and crew are disembarking under health monitoring measures, with specially arranged flights taking them home as WHO teams continue investigations and advise governments on follow-up procedures.

Take care of forests and they will take care of us

Mon, 11 May 2026 14:09:57 +0200

Author: United Nations - Bewertung: 32x - Views:226 Healing the planet by helping forests tops the agenda at the UN

Please let me know if you create a link and I'll send it to colleagues for posting on their Trello board plus of course put it in the notificator and send that Monday morning.

Presentation of the reports | European Financial Integration 2026

Mon, 11 May 2026 10:37:21 +0200

Author: European Central Bank - Bewertung: 2x - Views:5 Presentation of the ECB's report on Financial Integration and Structure in the Euro Area:
John Fell, Deputy Director General of the Directorate General Macroprudential Policy and Financial Stability, ECB

Presentation of the European Commission’s European Financial Stability and Integration Review:
Alexandra Jour-Schroeder, Deputy Director-General of the Directorate-General for Financial Stability, Financial Services and Capital Markets Union (DG FISMA), European Commission

The conference took place on 7 May 2026.

See the conference programme here:
https://www.ecb.europa.eu/press/conferences/html/260507-european-financial-integration.en.html

Watch all sessions from the conference: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P1Y49BF8mTQ&list=PLnVAEZuF9FZlLRLPr0lrYXqh4DcZfWRBT

Session 1 | European Financial Integration 2026

Mon, 11 May 2026 10:37:26 +0200

Author: European Central Bank - Bewertung: 2x - Views:4 From pillars to portfolios: rethinking pensions for an entrepreneurial Europe

Chair: Alexandra Jour-Schroeder, Deputy Director-General of DG FISMA, European Commission

Panellists:
• Stéphanie Yon-Courtin, Member of the European Parliament (Renew Europe Group)
• Geraldine Leegwater, CEO, PGGM Investment Management
• Beate Petry, Head of Global Pensions & Benefits, BASF SE, and Chairwoman of the Arbeitsgemeinschaft für betriebliche Altersversorgung e.V. (German pension association)
• Patrick Hoedjes, Head of the Policy and Supervisory Convergence Department, European Insurance and Occupational Pensions Authority
• Tabea Bucher-Koenen, Professor of Finance, University of Mannheim, and Head of the Pensions and Sustainable Financial Markets Research Unit, Leibniz Centre for European Economic Research (ZEW)

The conference took place on 7 May 2026.

See the conference programme here:
https://www.ecb.europa.eu/press/conferences/html/260507-european-financial-integration.en.html

Watch all sessions from the conference:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P1Y49BF8mTQ&list=PLnVAEZuF9FZlLRLPr0lrYXqh4DcZfWRBT

Session 2 | European Financial Integration 2026

Mon, 11 May 2026 10:37:31 +0200

Author: European Central Bank - Bewertung: 1x - Views:8 Session 2

How can a more integrated banking sector enhance the competitiveness of the EU economy?

Chair: Frank Elderson, member of the Executive Board and Vice-Chair of the Single Supervisory Mechanism, ECB

Panellists:
• Jonás Fernández Álvarez, Member of the European Parliament (Progressive Alliance of Socialists and Democrats) and member of the European Parliament’s Committee on Economic and Monetary Affairs
• María Abascal, Director General of the Spanish Banking Association and Chair of EBF Executive Committee
• Britta Schmidt, Senior EU Banks Analyst, Autonomous Research
• Ignazio Angeloni, Senior Policy Fellow, Leibniz Institute for Financial Research SAFE (Sustainable Architecture for Finance in Europe), Goethe University Frankfurt

The conference took place on 7 May 2026.

See the conference programme here:
https://www.ecb.europa.eu/press/conferences/html/260507-european-financial-integration.en.html

Watch all sessions from the conference:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P1Y49BF8mTQ&list=PLnVAEZuF9FZlLRLPr0lrYXqh4DcZfWRBT

Keynote speech: De Guindos | European Financial Integration 2026

Mon, 11 May 2026 10:37:37 +0200

Author: European Central Bank - Bewertung: 0x - Views:3 Keynote speech by Luis De Guindos, Vice-President of the European Central Bank, at the joint conference of the European Commission and the European Central Bank “European Financial Integration 2026”.

The conference took place on 7 May 2026.

See the conference programme here:
https://www.ecb.europa.eu/press/conferences/html/260507-european-financial-integration.en.html

Watch all sessions from the conference:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Pl21D9J6kVk&list=PLnVAEZuF9FZlLRLPr0lrYXqh4DcZfWRBT

Fireside chat with Enrico Letta | European Financial Integration 2026

Mon, 11 May 2026 10:37:40 +0200

Author: European Central Bank - Bewertung: 0x - Views:0 Fireside chat: “Is the strategy for building the savings and investments union effective?”

Enrico Letta, President of the Jacques Delors Institute and former President of the Italian Council of Ministers

Moderator: Rebecca Christie, Senior Fellow, Bruegel

The conference took place on 7 May 2026.

See the conference programme here:
https://www.ecb.europa.eu/press/conferences/html/260507-european-financial-integration.en.html

Watch all sessions from the conference:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P1Y49BF8mTQ&list=PLnVAEZuF9FZlLRLPr0lrYXqh4DcZfWRBT

Keynote speech: Albuquerque | European Financial Integration 2026

Mon, 11 May 2026 10:37:43 +0200

Author: European Central Bank - Bewertung: 0x - Views:1 Keynote speech by Maria Luís Albuquerque, European Commissioner for Financial Services and the Savings and Investments Union, at the joint conference of the European Commission and the European Central Bank “European Financial Integration 2026”.

The conference took place on 7 May 2026.

See the conference programme here:
https://www.ecb.europa.eu/press/conferences/html/260507-european-financial-integration.en.html

Watch all sessions from the conference:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P1Y49BF8mTQ&list=PLnVAEZuF9FZlLRLPr0lrYXqh4DcZfWRBT

Central African Republic: Fragile but hopeful - Press Conference | United Nations

Sat, 09 May 2026 04:30:31 +0200

Author: United Nations - Bewertung: 7x - Views:130 Edem Wosornu, Director of OCHA’s Crisis Response Division, speaking to journalists fresh from her first-ever visit to the country, which “is determined to get itself out of crisis mode.”

“The country is fragile, but the country is hopeful,” she said, but warned that “if we don't sustain the funding, we will see ourselves slipping back into crisis mode –a context, a situation, we can't afford.”

Nuclear Non-Proliferation 2026 | United Nations

Sat, 09 May 2026 06:00:13 +0200

Author: United Nations - Bewertung: 15x - Views:83 United Nations Under-Secretary-General and High Representative for Disarmament Affairs, Ms. Izumi Nakamitsu, explains why the NPT (Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons) Review Conference this year is critical for nuclear disarmament.

Kenya and Ethiopia, UNIFIL & other topics - Daily Press Briefing (8 May 2026) | United Nations

Fri, 08 May 2026 22:55:30 +0200

Author: United Nations - Bewertung: 6x - Views:76 Noon briefing by Farhan Haq, Deputy Spokesperson for the Secretary-General.

Highlights:

TRIP ANNOUNCEMENT/ KENYA AND ETHIOPIA

On Sunday evening, the Secretary-General will arrive in Nairobi, Kenya.

On Monday, he will hold a bilateral meeting with the President of Kenya, William Ruto, before joining him for the inauguration of new UN offices and the groundbreaking of a new conference facility at the UN Office at Nairobi.

During the ceremony, the Secretary-General will highlight the importance of the Kenyan capital as the only UN headquarters in Africa. He will add that the expansion of our campus in Nairobi also sends a clear message that the United Nations must be closer to the regions that it serves, connected to people’s realities and equipped to support solutions where they are being built.

Later on Monday, the Secretary-General will hold a press conference, a townhall meeting with our colleagues based in Kenya, and hold a number of bilateral meetings, before attending a state dinner hosted by the President of Kenya.

On Tuesday, the Secretary-General will deliver remarks during the Opening ceremony of the Africa Forward Summit. In his remarks, he is expected to renew his appeal for global reforms to ensure that Africa has the voice, representation and decision-making power it deserves.

Later in the day, Mr. Guterres will deliver remarks during a plenary session of the Africa Forward Summit focusing on peace and security on the African continent.

Both sessions can be seen live on UN WebTV.

On Tuesday evening, the Secretary-General will travel to Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, for the 10th African Union-United Nations Annual Conference, which is scheduled on the following day.

Discussions this year will include topics such as the impact of the latest conflict in the Middle East on the African continent and the AU theme of the year: Assuring Sustainable Water Availability and Safe Sanitation Systems.

Following the conclusion of the AU-UN annual conference on Wednesday afternoon, the Secretary-General will have a meeting with the Chairperson of the African Union Commission and the President of France.

In the evening, he will also attend a reception hosted by the Prime Minister of Ethiopia to commemorate the 80th Anniversary of the United Nations, which will include the launch of commemorative Ethiopian stamps.

The Secretary-General is expected back in New York on Thursday, 14 May.

UNIFIL

Yesterday, two humanitarian organizations successfully conducted missions to Tyre in Sector West, in Lebanon, following coordination with the UNIFIL–OCHA civil‑military coordination cell and deconfliction through the UNIFIL Liaison Branch.

UNIFIL continues to report extensive Israeli Defense Forces activity across its area of operations, including armoured movements, large‑scale engineering works, sustained logistical traffic, and significant air activity, mainly in Sector East. UNIFIL also observed drone activity in Sector West, reportedly conducted by Hizbullah.

Once again, IDF personnel temporarily blocked a UNIFIL convoy north of Al Naqoura yesterday. We underscore that UNIFIL must be able to carry out its mandate without obstruction, and that freedom of movement for peacekeepers must be fully respected at all times.

Yesterday, the IDF issued displacement orders for residents of Deir Zahrani, Bfarwe, and Habbouche, calling on civilians to evacuate at least 1,000 meters toward open areas. Since the ceasefire, such orders have doubled, now affecting at least dozens of towns and villages and forcing tens of thousands of people in southern Lebanon to flee once again. We urge all parties to uphold international humanitarian law and to protect civilians and civilian infrastructure.

LEBANON

Also from Lebanon, OCHA reports that the humanitarian situation remains fragile as violence and displacement continue to affect civilians across the country.

Humanitarian needs remain severe, particularly in the health sector. Our health partners continue to support the Ministry of Public Health in maintaining essential services despite the insecurity and repeated attacks on healthcare facilities. To date, more than 58,000 health consultations have been provided, alongside medication for acute diseases.

According to the Ministry of Public Health, between Wednesday and yesterday evening, at least 12 people were killed and dozens of others were injured. We are deeply concerned by reports from the Lebanese Ministry of Public Health that an ambulance team was struck by an Israeli strike in Majdal Silim, resulting in the death of one paramedic and the injury of another. Attacks affecting medical crews are particularly alarming; international humanitarian law is clear that medical personnel, facilities, and vehicles must be protected at all times.

Full Highlights: https://www.un.org/sg/en/content/noon-briefing-highlight?date=2026-05-08

Central African Republic still 'fragile': UN Humanitarian Office #CAR #OCHA

Fri, 08 May 2026 22:22:12 +0200

Author: United Nations - Bewertung: 6x - Views:240 OCHA Official Returns from her First Visit to The Central African Republic

Her Grandmother Survived the Holocaust in #ukraine

Fri, 08 May 2026 19:06:58 +0200

Author: United Nations - Bewertung: 15x - Views:166 As part of the annual UN remembrance days (8–9 May) dedicated to victims of World War II, this video features the personal testimony of a Roma survivor from Ukraine presented at the United Nations, recounting experiences of the Holocaust in Eastern Europe.

Sudanese refugees: Over 1.3 million fled to South Sudan - Special Envoy Briefing | United Nations

Fri, 08 May 2026 13:00:29 +0200

Author: United Nations - Bewertung: 0x - Views:1 Briefing via VTC, the Special Envoy for the Horn of Africa, Guang Cong told the Council that “since the start of the war in Sudan in 2023, over 1.3 million Sudanese refugees and South Sudanese returnees have fled to South Sudan,” and added that “this massive influx has compounded an already dire humanitarian situation.”

Cong said his Office continues to engage with the Abyei High-Level Committee and other stakeholders to support preparations for renewed bilateral talks, while urging progress on benchmarks tied to the mission’s mandate renewal and broader concerns.

He said, “I will continue to support efforts to resolve outstanding issues from the Comprehensive Peace Agreement between Sudan and South Sudan, and will continue to provide support to the Personal Envoy of the Secretary-General for Sudan, the African Union and IGAD (Intergovernmental Authority on Development) as well as other partners in the ongoing efforts to end the war in Sudan and to initiate a political process that should also include South Kordofan and the Blue Nile states.”

Cong said he will also “continue to engage with the governments of Sudan and South Sudan to restart dialogue on the final status of Abyei.”

Sudan and South Sudan: Security environment deteriorated - DPPA Briefing | United Nations

Fri, 08 May 2026 04:30:07 +0200

Author: United Nations - Bewertung: 7x - Views:44 Assistant Secretary-General for Africa Martha Pobee told the Security Council that the political environment in Abyei has remained “constrained by the conflicts in the Sudan and instability in South Sudan,” limiting progress by the two countries “towards resolving their disputes over the management of the Abyei territory and its final status.”

Pobee noted that the security environment “deteriorated over the past six months, mostly due to criminality, weapons proliferation and the presence of unauthorised armed actors, which have combined to create a complex and volatile threat environment.”

The Interim Security Force for Abyei (UNISFA), she said, “recorded 196 security incidents, with 58 fatalities and 69 injuries, marking a significant increase from the previous reporting period.”

Pobee noted that the mission continues to conduct robust patrols and rapid response operations, while also supporting weapons disposal, mine action and humanitarian access, adding that sustained engagement by the Council will remain essential to uphold the demilitarized status of Abyei and advance a durable political solution.

She said, “the immediate withdrawal of all unauthorised forces, including the South Sudan People's Defence Forces and the Rapid Support Forces from the Abyei area, remains essential.”

Iran on the Strait of Hormuz Draft Resolution - Security Council Media Stakeout | United Nations

Thu, 07 May 2026 23:50:25 +0200

Author: United Nations - Bewertung: 3x - Views:22 Iranian Ambassador Amir-Saeid Iravani told reporters in New York that “the only viable solution in the Strait of Hormuz is a permanent end to the war, the lifting of maritime blockade, and the restoration of normal passage,” and said a Security Council draft resolution tabled by the United States and Bahrain is “flawed, politically motivated” and drafted “under the pretext of freedom of navigation to advance its political agenda and legitimize unlawful actions, not to resolve the crisis.”

Iravani said, “the draft falsely accused Iran of violating the ceasefire of 8th April, while deliberately concealing material facts. It also attributes serious violations to Iran, including attacks on vessels and placement of sea mines without presenting credible and verified evidence.”

He said the text “ignores the unlawful maritime blockade imposed by the United States, as well as attacks on the seizure of Iranian vessels,” constituting “a material breach of the ceasefire, violation of the prohibition on the sea of force, and serious infringement of freedom of navigation.”

The Iranian Ambassador said, “the claim that the current situation constitutes a threat to international peace and security has no objective or credible basis” and the invocation of chapter seven of the UN Charter “is wholly unjustified, disproportionate and based on politically motivated allegation and it serves further military objectives.”

If adopted, he said, the resolution would “seriously damage the credibility and impartiality of the Security Council, it would politicize the Council's enforcement power and establish a dangerous precedent for legitimizing unilateral coercive measures and unlawful action by the United States against the sovereignty and sovereign rights of coastal states.”

Iravani stressed that “Iran remains fully prepared to resolve normal maritime traffic and ensure freedom of navigation in the Strait of Hormuz, provided that the war is permanently ended, and the unlawful blockade is lifted.”

The question today before the Council members, he said, was, “why should a member state located thousands of miles away from the Persian Gulf and acting in a destabilizing manner, be permitted to use the Security Council to advance its political agenda in the Persian Gulf? while Iran, as a coastal state of the Strait of Hormuz, is denied its lawful rights to defend its security and sovereignty and is instead threatened with enforcement action on the chapter seven of the Charter.”

Iravani said, “the United States has neither the legal, political, nor moral standing to portray itself as a defender of freedom of navigation or maritime security” adding that it has “continued its internationally wrongful act by imposing a so-called maritime blockade, unlawfully seizing Iranian commercial vessels like pirates, and taking their crews hostage.”

Hantavirus outbreak: public health risk remains low

Thu, 07 May 2026 23:12:00 +0200

Author: United Nations - Bewertung: 2x - Views:26 A deadly #hantavirus outbreak aboard a cruise ship in the Atlantic Ocean poses a low global public health risk according to World Health Organization (WHO) Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus.

Eight cases have been reported so far, including five laboratory-confirmed infections and three suspected cases linked to the rare Andes strain of hantavirus.

Strait of Hormuz Draft Resolution - Joint Media Stakeout | United Nations

Thu, 07 May 2026 21:46:23 +0200

Author: United Nations - Bewertung: 25x - Views:198 Bahrain together with the United States, with the backing of Kuwait, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates, circulated a draft resolution earlier this week to the Security Council on the situation of Strait of Hormuz. It calls on Iran to cease attacks, mining, and tolling in the Strait as well as to participate in the UN’s efforts to establish a humanitarian corridor.

Speaking to reporters today (7 May) in New York, Bahrain’s Ambassador Jamal Fares Alrowaiei said, “the draft resolution is guided by the clear principal - freedom of navigation in accordance with the international law, as reflected in the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea.:”

Ambassador Alrowaiei emphasized that it also supports ongoing efforts to seek durable peace in the region and encourages dialog in the regard. “This initiative reflects our strong commitment to regional security, to multilateral cooperation, and to the peaceful resolution of dispute,” he said.

US Ambassador Mike Waltz pointed out that the draft revolution is “an evolution “of resolution 2817. It “requires Iran to do some very simple, straightforward things, the Ambassador said, “cease its attacks on commercial shipping, cease mining and remove its mines from an international waterway; cease tolling, charging illegal tolls in the Strait of Hormuz, and allow the UN to move forward with humanitarian aid, lifesaving aid, through that international corridor.”

The US Ambassador stated that now it is left for the international community to choose, “are the countries of the Council choosing to stand with a regime that slaughters its own people, that brutalize its neighbors, that strangles the world's economy? Or are they standing with the shining cities of Manama, Kuwait City, Dubai, Riyadh, Doha with the people that seek a better future for not only their people, but for the region and for the world?”

“I know what decision the United States is making,” Ambassador Waltz reiterated, “we're choosing to stand with the freedom of navigation. We're choosing to stand with international law. We're choosing to stand with our partners as we move forward.”

For his part, Ambassador of the United Arab Emirates Mohamed Abushahab said, “while the draft resolution does not give any authorization or impose sanctions on Iran, by acting under Chapter VII, the Council would make clear that its decisions in this resolution are binding and that the Council is serious about them, and that it may consider further measures if its decisions are not implemented.”

Ambassador of Qatar Alya Ahmed bin Saif Al-Thani said, “we look forward to continuing our engagement intensively with Member States to secure the support for this timely Security Council resolution on guaranteeing the freedom of navigation while protecting maritime waterways.”

The Ambassadors at the press encounters are US Ambassador Mike Waltz, Ambassador Jamal Fares Alrowaiei, Bahrain’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations, Ambassador Mohamed Issa Abushahab, UAE’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations, Ambassador Abdulaziz M. Alwasil, Saudi Arabia’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations, Ambassador Alya Ahmed Saif Al-Thani, Qatar’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations, and Ambassador Tareq M. A. M. Albanai, Kuwait’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations.

Hantavirus, Palestine, Lebanon & other topics - Daily Press Briefing (07 May 2026) | United Nations

Thu, 07 May 2026 20:19:57 +0200

Author: United Nations - Bewertung: 2x - Views:26 Noon Briefing by Stéphane Dujarric, Spokesperson for the Secretary-General.

Highlights:
- beyond GDP
- Migration Review Forum
- Hantavirus
- Lebanon
- UNIFIL
- Occupied Palestinian Territory
- Western Sahara
- Sudan
- Somalia
- Security Council/UNISFA
- Human Rights
- Happening at the UN
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BEYOND GDP

This afternoon at 3 pm, the Secretary-General’s High-Level Expert Group on Beyond GDP will present their report to Member States, outlining recommendations for a country-owned and universally applicable set of indicators that go beyond GDP to guide policy and decision-making.

The Secretary-General will make remarks at the event and will say that the report being launched today is a landmark step in correcting a longstanding blind spot in measuring progress: The over-reliance on Gross Domestic Product.

He will say that while GDP will continue to be an important measurement, it will not be the only one. Our world needs a more sophisticated, more diverse, and more humane accounting system.

The report, titled “Counting What Counts: A Compass of Progress for People and Planet,” offers the United Nations’ first global framework for moving beyond GDP, proposing a wider set of measures to guide economic policy toward well-being and environmental sustainability.

MIGRATION REVIEW FORUM

This morning, in the General Assembly, the Secretary-General addressed the International Migration Review Forum.

He reminded Member States that migration is an integral part of the human story, an activity as old as humanity itself, adding that migration is not the crisis. The crisis, he said, is the world’s collective failure to manage it together.

Since the adoption of the Global Compact for Safe, Orderly and Regular Migration, the Secretary-General said Member States have taken concrete steps to expand regular pathways, to strengthen labour mobility initiatives, to improve search‑and‑rescue, enhance data systems, and support for safe return and reintegration.

HANTAVIRUS

I want to give you an update on the situation regarding the hantavirus, and this from our colleagues in Cabo Verde, where Patricia Portela de Souza, who is the Resident UN Coordinator in that country, together with the World Health Organization Representative there, Dr. Ann Lindstrand. They worked closely with national authorities to support the response to cases of hantavirus linked to a commercial vessel in the Atlantic Ocean. The ship, according to our information, is sailing for the Canary Islands. So far, eight cases have been reported, including three deaths.

In line with the framework of International Health Regulations, the response so far has involved close coordination between national authorities, and bilateral partners — particularly the Netherlands, Spain and the United Kingdom, many of whom are coordinating remotely from outside the country, as well as the vessel’s own operators.

WHO and the UN team have also supported with tracking and investigating cases, guidance to health professionals, infection prevention measures on board the ship, laboratory investigations and the provision of medical supplies for the vessel. A WHO expert boarded the ship in Cabo Verde, and has been joined by two doctors from the Netherlands and an expert from the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control. They will stay aboard the ship until it reaches its next destination in the Canary Islands.

They are conducting a medical assessment of everyone on board and gathering information to assess the risk of infection.

The World Health Organization has provided guidance to the ship’s operator on the management of health on board the vessel. They are developing step-by-step operational guidance for the safe and respectful disembarkation and onward travel of passengers and crew when they arrive.

More broadly, WHO will continue to work with the countries to ensure that the patients, the contacts, the passengers and crew have the information and support they need to stay safe and prevent the spread of the virus.

LEBANON

Moving to Lebanon. The Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs says that the humanitarian situation there remains volatile. Wednesday evening’s Israeli strike on Beirut’s ‌southern suburbs caused a new wave of displacements of civilians, who, as you can imagine, had already been impacted by months of conflict. This was the first attack on Lebanon’s capital since the ceasefire announcement of April 17th and its subsequent extension. This is obviously a very alarming development. We are deeply worried also about reports of civilians also being killed in the attack and that also includes children.

Full Highlight: https://www.un.org/sg/en/content/noon-briefing-highlight?date=2026-05-07

'Migration is an integral part of the human story' - UN Chief | United Nations

Thu, 07 May 2026 18:35:27 +0200

Author: United Nations - Bewertung: 23x - Views:154 Opening remarks by António Guterres, Secretary-General of the United Nations, at the Opening of the International Migration Review Forum 2026.

European Financial Integration 2026 | European Commission and European Central Bank joint conference

Thu, 26 Feb 2026 15:56:49 +0100

Author: European Central Bank - Bewertung: 5x - Views:144 European Financial Integration 2026: joint conference of the European Commission and the European Central Bank.

The conference takes place on 7 May 2026.

See the conference programme here:
https://www.ecb.europa.eu/press/conferences/html/260507-european-financial-integration.en.html

How a landmark resolution on mandates will improve the work of UN organizations | United Nations

Thu, 07 May 2026 05:00:09 +0200

Author: United Nations - Bewertung: 30x - Views:247 How can the United Nations work more clearly, coherently and effectively in a rapidly changing world?
This short explainer video breaks down the practical implications of the General Assembly resolution on Mandate Creation, Implementation and Review for an Efficient and Effective United Nations — a key milestone under Workstream 2 of the UN80 Initiative.
Featuring Ambassadors Brian Wallace of Jamaica and Carolyn Schwalger of New Zealand, Co-Chairs of the General Assembly’s Ad Hoc Working Group on Mandate Implementation Review, the video explains:
▪️ What UN mandates are
▪️ Why mandate reform matters
▪️ What changes in practice
▪️ How the resolution aims to improve clarity, coordination, accountability and delivery across the UN system
▪️ What happens next as implementation moves forward
At its core, the resolution is about helping the United Nations focus better, work better and deliver better for people and planet.

The 2026 NPT Review Conference is Critical

Wed, 06 May 2026 23:17:19 +0200

Author: United Nations - Bewertung: 6x - Views:142 Under-Secretary-General and High Representative for Disarmament Affairs, Ms. Izumi Nakamitsu, explains why the NPT (Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons) Review Conference this year is critical for nuclear disarmament.

#Hantavirus: #WHO responds to cruise ship outbreak

Wed, 06 May 2026 22:42:49 +0200

Author: United Nations - Bewertung: 3x - Views:173 An outbreak of deadly hantavirus aboard a cruise ship in the Atlantic Ocean has triggered an international public health response.

The UN World Health Organization (WHO) is coordinating evacuations and risk assessments following the death of three people and multiple suspected infections.

To date, one case has been confirmed after verification in a laboratory, but there are five additional suspected cases among those on board.

"The World Health Organization is judging that the risk of a global outbreak is low" said Ann Lindstrand, WHO Representative in Cabo Verde.

Middle East, Palestine, Lebanon & other topics - Daily Press Briefing (06 May 2026) | United Nations

Wed, 06 May 2026 21:10:42 +0200

Author: United Nations - Bewertung: 3x - Views:76 Noon Briefing by Stéphane Dujarric, Spokesperson for the Secretary-General.

Highlights:
- Secretary-General Statement/Ted Turner
- Middle East
- Lebanon/Humanitarian
- UNIFIL
- Occupied Palestinian Territory
- Ukraine
- Democratic Republic of the Congo
- Chad
- Forum on Science, Technology and Innovation
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SECRETARY-GENERAL STATEMENT/TED TURNER

I was deeply saddened to learn of the passing of Ted Turner – a visionary whose conviction, generosity and audacious spirit left a lasting imprint on the United Nations and our world.

Ted Turner believed in the United Nations – and in its purpose – at a defining moment. And he invested in that mission.

Ted Turner bet on humanity – and in the process helped strengthen the security of his own country and reinforce our common values.

His $1 billion dollar commitment to the United Nations – and subsequent creation of the United Nations Foundation – represented at the time the largest individual philanthropic gift in modern history.

But it was not just his commitment of resources, his legacy will be his ongoing advocacy for the United Nations and the importance of diplomacy.

Ted Turner never stopped pushing for the world to do better, and to do better through the United Nations.

He helped expand our reach, mobilize partnerships, and drive action on many of the defining challenges of our time – from global health to peace, human rights, and the protection of our planet.

I am deeply grateful for his extraordinary commitment to international problem-solving and his unwavering support for the ideals of the United Nations Charter. I extend my deepest condolences to his family and loved ones.

His legacy endures – as we keep striving for a stronger United Nations and a better world for all.

MIDDLE EAST

Rosemary DiCarlo, the Under-Secretary-General for Political and Peacebuilding Affairs, briefed the Security Council in closed consultations this morning on the Middle East. She talked about the recent missile and drone attacks on the United Arab Emirates.

Ms. DiCarlo underscored that from the start of the conflict on 28 February, the Secretary-General has condemned all unlawful attacks in the Middle East and beyond. He has also stressed that Security Council resolution 2817 must be respected and civilians and civilian infrastructure must be protected.

The Secretary-General’s Personal Envoy for the Middle East conflict and its consequences, Jean Arnault, is continuing diplomatic consultations in the region.

The United Nations remains committed to supporting all efforts aimed at a comprehensive and durable resolution of the conflict.

LEBANON/HUMANITARIAN

Turning to Lebanon, we have seen the reports of the newly issued evacuation orders for a dozen Lebanese areas across South, Nabatieh and Bekaa areas. We note with deep concern these evacuation orders and airstrikes against Lebanese towns, targeting areas both south of the Litani River and far beyond it, including Saida and the West Bekaa. We reiterate that civilians and civilian infrastructure must be respected and protected at all times.

This is forcing further displacement of civilians already impacted by months of hostilities. We and our humanitarian partners continue to support the response. The UN Refugee Agency and our partners have reached more than 158,000 displaced people with psychosocial support, dignity kits, cash assistance and other services.

However, significant risks persist, including movement restrictions, psychological distress, lack of documentation and heightened exposure to exploitation, particularly for women and children.

Meanwhile, OCHA reports that as strikes continue, particularly in southern Lebanon, the death toll is rising daily. Overnight, one emergency worker was killed, three others were injured in an Israeli strike in the southern municipality of Kfar Dounine in Nabatieh. Another emergency worker was injured in a subsequent strike in the same area while responding.

Full Highlights: https://www.un.org/sg/en/content/noon-briefing-highlight

Bahrain & UAE on Iran - Joint Security Council Media Stakeout | United Nations

Wed, 06 May 2026 16:40:15 +0200

Author: United Nations - Bewertung: 13x - Views:100 Joint comments to the media delivered by Jamal Fares Alrowaiei, Permanent Representative of the Kingdom of Bahrain to the United Nations, and Mohamed Abushahab, Permanent Representative of the United Arab Emirates to the United Nations, on Iran.

304 Million Migrants Across the Globe in 2024 - Press Conference | United Nations

Wed, 06 May 2026 05:00:17 +0200

Author: United Nations - Bewertung: 18x - Views:156 Press conference by Zoe Brennan, International Organization for Migration (IOM) Spokesperson, and Jonathan Prentice, Head of the UN Network on Migration, on the launch of the World Migration Report. They were joined virtually by Pablo Rojas Coppari and Stuart Russell Campo from IOM's research team to address any technical questions on the report.

Zoe Brennan said ensuring safe and regular pathways, supporting skills, mobility and strengthening regional cooperation “are concrete steps that respect national borders and priorities and help countries manage migration more effectively while delivering real benefits for economies and people alike.”

Brennan said, “when migration is well managed, it supports jobs, economic growth, stability and social cohesion,” and added that “migrants contribute as workers and entrepreneurs and consumers, and through the skills, innovation and connections they bring across borders.”

By the end of 2024, she said, “an estimated 83.4 million people were internally displaced within their own countries, the highest number ever recorded, driven by conflict, violence and disasters.”

This, Brennan said, “underscores that most displacement happens within countries rather than across borders.”

Responding to a reporter’s question, Stuart Campo from IOM’s research team said, “while we saw in the last year a reduction in attempted crossings on the central Mediterranean route, which is one of the major routes, we saw a doubling in the number of migrants who went missing or were found dead. So, this shows that these routes are becoming more dangerous and treacherous.”

According to the report, international migration remains relatively uncommon in global terms, with around 304 million international migrants worldwide in mid-2024, 3.7 percent of the global population.

Human displacement, the report finds, continues to rise, with over 120 million people displaced globally by the end of 2024, including refugees, asylum-seekers, and internally displaced persons, reflecting the scale and persistence of protracted conflicts and compounding crises.

Environmental disruption is now a defining feature of contemporary mobility, as record‑breaking temperatures, droughts, wildfires, and storms increasingly interact with poverty, weak infrastructure and governance challenges to influence displacement, migration, and immobility, according to the report.

Lebanon, UAE, Sudan & other topics - Daily Press Briefing (5 May 2026) | United Nations

Tue, 05 May 2026 20:31:02 +0200

Author: United Nations - Bewertung: 10x - Views:133 Noon briefing by Stéphane Dujarric, Spokesperson for the Secretary-General.

Highlights:
UNIFIL
Lebanon/Humanitarian
Lebanon/Security Council
Occupied Palestinian Territory
Iran/UAE
Personal Envoy for the Middle East Crisis and its Consequences
Sudan
Democratic Republic of the Congo
Democratic Republic of the Congo/Peacekeeping
Peacekeeping
Mali
Ukraine
Portuguese Language Day
Financial contribution

UNIFIL

Turning to UNIFIL. Our peacekeeping mission in southern Lebanon reported that yesterday saw the highest number of exchanges of fire between the Israel Defense Forces and armed groups, including Hezbollah, and that was the highest number inside Lebanon since the cessation of hostilities of 17 April. The mission recorded 619 launches by the Israel Defense Forces impacting in Lebanon and 30 launches towards Israeli targets.

Peacekeepers reported several Israeli airstrikes by fighter aircraft in Sector East. Separately, near Adshit al Qusayr and Alman, Israel Defense Forces helicopters engaged ground targets using machine-gun fire. Peacekeepers also observed two weaponized drones, identified by them as belonging to Hezbollah, over Al Bayyadah in Sector West, with one subsequently impacting an Israel Defense Forces presence in the area.

We urge all sides to exercise maximum restraint and uphold the cessation of hostilities.

Meanwhile, the Office of the Special Coordinator for Lebanon, Jeanine Hennis-Plasschaert and UNIFIL on the ground continue to support the parties to fulfill their obligations under Security Council resolution 1701.

Despite operational risks and movement constraints, our peacekeepers are remaining in position in southern Lebanon. Over the past week, assistance has reached displaced families by ongoing hostilities, both within and beyond our area of operations. Yesterday, UNIFIL distributed over 360 dry food parcels to people displaced from Kafr Dounin Municipality within the mission’s area of responsibility and who are currently living in Beirut, and nearby areas. The donation specifically targeted families outside of collective shelters, who have been largely left out of the crisis response efforts.

A large convoy of about 30 trucks reached Rmeich in Sector West with UNIFIL’s support. That took place yesterday. They carried essential goods, including food supplies, livestock, vegetables and fruit. These items had been purchased by shop owners in Beirut and delivered to support local communities in southern Lebanon. The Lebanese Ministry of Energy also contributed fuel trucks as a donation to several villages who are in Sector West of UNIFIL’s area of operations.

LEBANON/HUMANITARIAN

The UN and its humanitarian partners in Lebanon are continuing to support the response whenever access allows us to.

Cash assistance remains a critical lifeline for people. More than 435,000 Lebanese people impacted by the conflict have been supported through Government-led social safety net. That was implemented not only of course by the Lebanese Government, but also by the World Food Programme, and other humanitarian partners. Over 100,000 Syrian refugees in Lebanon have also been reached through expanded cash assistance programmes.

We and our partners are also addressing essential water and nutrition needs. To date, since 2 March, our food security partners have distributed more than 7.8 million hot and cold meals and over 105,000 meal boxes, in addition to 3.8 million litres of bottled water, 64,000 cubic metres of water through large trucks, and nearly 740,000 litres of fuel have been delivered to sustain critical water services to more than 628,000 human beings.

Meanwhile, the humanitarian situation continues to deteriorate, with nearly a quarter of the population in Lebanon now facing acute food insecurity. Repeated displacements, loss of livelihoods and damage to infrastructure are further compounding needs and deepening the crisis.

Full Highlights: https://www.un.org/sg/en/content/noon-briefing-highlight?date=2026-05-05

27 wonderful years of the euro ✨

Tue, 05 May 2026 10:00:00 +0200

Author: European Central Bank - Bewertung: 0x - Views:13 From safeguarding the future of euro banknotes to keeping prices stable and banks safe, we’re here for our shared currency – hallelujah 🥰

5 FACTS: UN Mission in South Sudan

Tue, 05 May 2026 05:00:19 +0200

Author: United Nations - Bewertung: 6x - Views:55 With tensions rising in #southsudan, the risk of a return to large-scale conflict is real, with potentially devastating consequences for both the country and the wider region. Nearly 10 million people—four out of five South Sudanese—need humanitarian assistance, as violence, displacement and spillover from the conflict in Sudan continue to strain already vulnerable communities. Ahead of the UN Security Council meeting on Friday 17, this five-fact video highlights the vital role of UNMISS in protecting civilians, supporting peace efforts, promoting human rights, and enabling the delivery of humanitarian aid.

Lebanon/Israel, Lebanon & other topics - Daily Press Briefing (4 May 2026) | United Nations

Mon, 04 May 2026 20:23:46 +0200

Author: United Nations - Bewertung: 5x - Views:89 Noon Briefing by Stéphane Dujarric, Spokesperson for the Secretary-General.

Highlights:
- Lebanon/Israel
- Lebanon/Humanitarian
- Occupied Palestinian Territory
- Iran/Narges Mohammadi
- UNOPS
- Syria
- Sudan
- Ukraine
- UNDP report

LEBANON/ISRAEL

UNIFIL says that today they have facilitated an aid convoy of around 30 trucks to Rmeich along the Blue Line, where approximately 7,000 residents remain.

This comes as the situation remains volatile. Over the weekend, UNIFIL observed intensive IDF activity, including extensive airstrikes near a number of villages on the south, as well as continued naval activity off the coast of Naqoura. Furthermore, UNIFIL reported drone activity in its area of operations including Hizbullah-operated drones.

On Friday, UNIFIL patrols faced restrictions to their freedom of movement near Al Bayyadah, where Israeli tanks blocked the road.

The same day, IDF machine gun fire impacted a UNIFIL position near At-Tiri, in the Bint Jbeil district, with one round striking a vehicle inside the compound.

Peacekeepers must never be targeted, and their safety and security must be guaranteed at all times.

LEBANON/HUMANITARIAN

The humanitarian situation in Lebanon remains volatile despite the announced extension of the ceasefire. Yesterday, the Ministry of Health reported 13 people were killed, including at least one child and four women, and 32 injured as a result of strikes in several locations in the southern parts of Lebanon.

On Sunday, displacement orders were renewed in 11 villages and towns in Nabatieh, followed by airstrikes, causing new displacement according to local authorities.

People continue to be on the move, with reports of some people returning to shelters after attempting to go back to their homes, which in some cases were reportedly inaccessible or destroyed. Authorities estimate that more than 124,000 people are residing in 625 schools and other public buildings being used as collective shelters.

Despite growing and deepening humanitarian needs, the Lebanon Flash Appeal remains significantly underfunded. We’ve received only 38 per cent, or $117 million, of the $308 million we need, which is limiting our ability to reach the vulnerable people at scale.

OCCUPIED PALESTINIAN TERRITORY

The Emergency Relief Coordinator, Tom Fletcher, said on social media that more than six months since the Gaza ceasefire agreement, we continue to work strenuously to help Palestinians in Gaza, but we need sustained access, the protection of civilians, neutrality and partnership.

Last week, our partners leading on emergency shelter assistance delivered tents, bedding items and other supplies to nearly 4,500 households.

One shelter partner also installed 150 improved emergency shelters in Khan Younis. These shelters are made of plastic sheets and other materials available and aim to provide displaced families with immediate solutions as soon as restricted materials are allowed entry.

On health, concerns remain over skin diseases and other medical issues linked to the presence of pests and rodents.

In addition, our partners report that more than 6,600 people need prosthetic and rehabilitation care.

That includes thousands of people who have received amputations since October 2023, yet only eight prosthetic technicians are available to respond.

Our partners say that one in five amputees is a child, but with severe shortages of specialists and restricted entry of prosthetic materials, it could take five years or more to meet today’s needs.

International prosthetic technicians are urgently needed, as well as the unimpeded entry of prosthetics materials, which remain restricted by the Israeli authorities.

Full Highlights: https://www.un.org/sg/en/content/noon-briefing-highlight?date=2026-05-04

Nuclear War Prevention Depends on This #disarmament #reality

Sun, 03 May 2026 17:10:49 +0200

Author: United Nations - Bewertung: 1x - Views:70 Young people are engaging with the power of arts and storytelling to communicate the critical impact of nuclear weapons. This initiative - a collaboration between the UN Office for Disarmament Affairs and the Government of #japan - emphasizes the need for youth involvement in achieving a world without nuclear weapons, promoting public awareness through creative methods. By sharing personal narratives and artistic expressions, participants aim to foster peace and global security.

World Press Freedom Day 2026 - UN Chief's Message | United Nations

Sun, 03 May 2026 14:00:17 +0200

Author: United Nations - Bewertung: 20x - Views:157 Video Message by António Guterres, Secretary-General of the United Nations, on World Press Freedom Day 2026.

"People often say that in war, truth is the first casualty.

But far too frequently, the first casualties are the journalists who risk everything to report that truth – not only in war, but wherever those in power fear scrutiny.

Across the globe, media workers risk censorship, surveillance, legal harassment – and even death.

Recent years have seen a sharp rise in the number of journalists killed – often deliberately targeted – in war zones.

Eighty-five percent of the crimes committed against journalists go uninvestigated and unpunished: an unacceptable level of impunity.

Economic pressures, new technologies, and active manipulation are also putting press freedom under unprecedented strain.

When access to reliable information erodes, mistrust takes root.

When public debate is distorted, social cohesion weakens.

And when journalism is undermined, crises become far more difficult to prevent and resolve.

All freedom depends on press freedom.

Without it, there can be no human rights, no sustainable development – and no peace.

On this World Press Freedom Day, let us protect the rights of journalists, and build a world where the truth – and truth-tellers – are safe".

More info: https://www.un.org/en/observances/press-freedom-day

China: President of the Security Council for the month of May 2026 -Press Conference |United Nations

Sat, 02 May 2026 15:00:10 +0200

Author: United Nations - Bewertung: 35x - Views:228 Chinese Ambassador Fu Cong said that if the Strait of Hormuz remains closed by the time of a planned visit to China by US President Donald Trump, “this issue will be high on the agenda of the bilateral talks” adding that the China-US relations go "far beyond” the Strait.

As China assumes the presidency of the UN Security Council for May, Ambassador Cong today (01 May) outlined priorities for the month, including a ministerial-level open debate on 26 May titled “Upholding the purposes and principles of the UN Charter.” The meeting is expected to be chaired by Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi.

On the Strait of Hormuz, Ambassador Cong called for its reopening “as quickly as possible,” saying the responsibility lies with both sides. He said Iran should lift restrictions in the Strait, while the United States should end its naval blockade.

The Chinese diplomat also expressed concern over recent statements suggesting the US-Iran ceasefire could be temporary and that further military action might be considered. He said the international community should speak out against a resumption of hostilities.

Addressing China–US relations, Ambassador Cong said it is in the interest of both countries and the wider international community for the ties to remain “steady, sound and sustainable.” He added that “mutual respect, peaceful coexistence, and win-win cooperation” are key to the relationship’s development.

The Chinese diplomat continued, “the world is big enough to accommodate both China and the United States, it doesn't have to be a zero-sum game between the two countries. He said preparations are underway for what he described as a “historic visit” by the US president, adding that China hopes the visit will take place.

At the United Nations, Ambassador Cong said China and the United States have “space to cooperation.” He said, “it is incumbent upon both China and the United States to help maintain the international order and to support the role of the UN and the biggest financial contributors of the organization. And there are a lot of commonalities in the positions in how the UN is run.”

He emphasized, “the UN is for all Member States, so no big power should adopt this approach that the interests of that big country should be put above the interests of the entire membership.”

Asked about China’s military involvement with Iran, Ambassador Cong said, “there is no military cooperation between China and Iran,” and described allegations to the contrary by some US officials as “false.” He said China sympathizes with the suffering of the Iranian people and supports efforts to bring an end to the fighting.

On the selection of the next UN Secretary-General, the Chinese diplomat said China supports the principle of geographical rotation and would welcome the appointment of a woman to the post.

Ambassador Cong concluded by reaffirming China’s continued support for the United Nations and for countries of the Global South, saying China’s ability to provide assistance would grow as the country develops.

Girls’ Day at the ECB: inside our Girls’ IT Bootcamp 💻

Sat, 02 May 2026 10:00:00 +0200

Author: European Central Bank - Bewertung: 6x - Views:220 Last week we brought Girls’ Day to the ECB with an IT bootcamp 💻

Over two days, girls from across Europe met IT experts and took part in hands on workshops – they even brought LEGO robots to life!

They also discovered more about the ECB through visits to our main building, Visitor Centre and Banknotes Lab.

A big well done to everyone who took part — the future of tech is looking bright 🚀

#GirlsDay #EuropeanCentralBank #ECB #Euro

Myanmar, Palestine & other topics - Daily Press Briefing (1 May 2026) | United Nations

Fri, 01 May 2026 20:12:52 +0200

Author: United Nations - Bewertung: 2x - Views:33 Noon briefing by Farhan Haq, Deputy Spokesperson for the Secretary-General.

Highlights:
- Myanmar
- Occupied Palestinian Territory
- Ukraine
- Cuba
- Venezuela
- Trip Announcement
- Special Representative for Children and Armed Conflict
- Middle East
- Abyei
- Mauritania
- International Days
- World Press Freedom Day
- Financial Contribution

MYANMAR

The Secretary-General has taken note of the transfer of State Counsellor Daw Aung San Suu Kyi to a designated residence. The Secretary-General appeals for the swift and unconditional release of all those arbitrarily detained as a fundamental step towards conditions conducive to a credible political process.

The Secretary-General reiterates that a viable political solution must be founded on an immediate cessation of violence and a genuine commitment to inclusive dialogue. He stresses the importance of continued dialogue between all relevant Myanmar stakeholders and his Special Envoy on how the United Nations and its partners, in particular ASEAN, can help support efforts towards a peaceful solution in the interests of the people of Myanmar as called for by the Security Council and the General Assembly.

OCCUPIED PALESTINIAN TERRITORY

Turning to the Occupied Palestinian Territory, the Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs warns that we continue to receive reports of gunfire and strikes hitting residential areas across Gaza, causing civilian casualties. Yesterday, in Jabalya Camp, a UN school sheltering displaced families was hit by gunfire, and two people were injured. 

OCHA reiterates that, under international humanitarian law, civilians and civilian infrastructure must be protected.

Meanwhile, humanitarians working on sanitation tell us that four in every five sewage pumping stations are not functioning. As a result, every day, about 40,000 cubic metres of untreated sewage are flowing into the sea and areas where families are staying. Restrictions on the entry of essential items like generators and spare parts must be lifted so that water can be properly pumped and prevent the further collapse of these systems.  

On food security, the Food and Agriculture Organization said yesterday that it has now provided cash assistance to every herding household with at least one sheep or goat that survived the hostilities. That’s more than 2,000 herding households reached, one quarter of them headed by women.  

This has supported the production of milk and protein locally, which are a powerful way to combat malnutrition, especially among children.

In the West Bank, last week, the Israeli authorities delivered final eviction notices, by mid-May, to seven more families in the Batn al Hawa area of East Jerusalem. That’s to make way for settlers to take over the building, placing more than 40 people, half of them children, at risk of imminent displacement.

So far in 2026, 17 families – including 30 children – have been forcibly evicted from their homes in that neighbourhood. 

OCHA calls once again for the protection of civilians. Evictions, demolitions and violence have grave physical, social, economic and emotional impacts, and they deepen humanitarian needs. 

UKRAINE

From Ukraine, OCHA tells us that between Monday and the early hours of today, we and our humanitarian partners reached front-line communities in eastern and southern Ukraine through six aid convoys, delivering urgently needed assistance in the regions of Dnipro, Donetsk, Kharkiv and Kherson.

The convoys reached 4,000 people with food, hygiene items, dignity kits, generators, clothing and first-aid kits.

Meanwhile, over the past day, attacks and hostilities across Ukraine reportedly killed at least two civilians and injured 58 others, with the regions of Dnipro, Sumy, Kherson, Kharkiv and Odesa among the hardest hit. Homes, a school, railway infrastructure and shops were damaged.

Our humanitarian partners responded quickly in Odesa and Dnipro, providing shelter, psychosocial support, legal aid, hot meals, hygiene kits and materials for emergency repairs. In Dnipro, drone strikes also damaged or destroyed humanitarian vehicles, though thankfully no injuries were reported.

Yesterday and today, local authorities, with support from our humanitarian partners, evacuated nearly 370 people, including 25 children, from frontline areas of Donetsk.

Full Highlights: https://www.un.org/sg/en/content/noon-briefing-highlight?date=2026-05-01

‘Ambassadors of the Cosmos’ arrive at the United Nations | United Nations

Fri, 01 May 2026 19:07:49 +0200

Author: United Nations - Bewertung: 1x - Views:8 Back from a mission to the moon, astronauts from Artemis II arrived at United Nations Headquarters with a message for humanity about our shared purpose on Earth.

International Day of Vesak 2026 - UN Chief's Message | United Nations

Fri, 01 May 2026 16:00:30 +0200

Author: United Nations - Bewertung: 4x - Views:32 Video message by António Guterres, Secretary-General of the United Nations, on the International Day of Vesak.

"On the Day of Vesak, Buddhists around the world commemorate the birth, enlightenment, and passing of the Buddha.

This year, Vesak comes at a moment when the human family is embroiled in geopolitical tensions, division and conflict.

In 2023 I had the honour of visiting the Buddha’s birthplace in Lumbini, Nepal. It reinforced my conviction that the antidote to this turmoil can be found in his timeless teachings of non-violence, compassion and service to others.

Guided by the Buddha’s example, let us summon our shared humanity and build the more peaceful and sustainable world all people need and deserve.

Happy Vesak Day to all".

More info: https://www.un.org/en/observances/vesak-day

West Bank and Gaza - Press Conference | United Nations

Fri, 01 May 2026 14:01:07 +0200

Author: United Nations - Bewertung: 6x - Views:49 Press Conference by Julius Van Der Walt, UN Mine Action Service (UNMAS) in the Occupied Palestinian Territory (OPT) on the situation in the West Bank and Gaza as it concerns unexploded ordnance and access.

Non-proliferation: DPRK continued ballistic missile launches - DPPA Briefing | United Nations

Fri, 01 May 2026 04:30:04 +0200

Author: United Nations - Bewertung: 12x - Views:83 Briefing by Rosemary DiCarlo, Under-Secretary-General for Political and Peacebuilding Affairs, on Non-proliferation/Democratic People’s Republic of Korea.

UN Women & other topics - Daily Press Briefing (30 April 2026) | United Nations

Thu, 30 Apr 2026 21:05:34 +0200

Author: United Nations - Bewertung: 14x - Views:117 Noon briefing by Stéphane Dujarric, Spokesperson for the Secretary-General.

Highlights
Press Freedom/Women Journalists
Secretary-General/Iran
Security Council
Lebanon
Occupied Palestinian Territory
Somalia
South Sudan
Democratic Republic of the Congo
Cameroon
The Gambia
Solomon Islands/Micronesia
Senior Personnel Appointment - Colombia
Jazz Day

PRESS FREEDOM/WOMEN JOURNALISTS

Ahead of World Press Freedom Day, which falls on Sunday, a new analysis from UN Women and their partners, sheds light on a growing and deeply troubling reality. The toll of online violence on women in public life, especially women journalists and media workers.

The findings are stark. Nearly half of women journalists say they self-censor on social media, and more than one in five in their professional work, just to avoid abuse. Many report harassment ranging from non-consensual sharing of personal images to so-called “deepfakes” which are as you may know are AI-generated or AI-altered images, videos, or audio to that make it look like someone said or did something they never actually did. This abuse is often coordinated and designed to silence women’s voices and undermine their credibility, according to the analysis.

Beyond limiting expression, the impact is deeply personal. Significant numbers report anxiety, depression, and even post-traumatic stress linked to the violence they face online.

The report also underscores the serious gaps in legal protection, leaving billions of women and girls without adequate safeguards against cyber harassment. The full report is available online.

Also related to the World Press Freedom Day, UNESCO today announced the Sudanese Journalists Syndicate as the laureate of the UNESCO/Guillermo Cano World Press Freedom Prize. This in recognition of the role the Syndicate has played in condemning the deliberate targeting of journalists in the ongoing conflict in Sudan.

SECRETARY-GENERAL/IRAN

The Secretary-General this morning spoke to you about the continuing crisis in the Middle East, where, he said, the consequences grow dramatically worse with each passing hour.

Even in the best-case scenario, he said, this year’s global economic growth will still drop, from 3.4 to 3.1 percent, while inflation will climb from 3.8 to 4.4 percent. By contrast, in the worst scenario, inflation skyrockets past 6 percent, growth plummets to 2 percent, and immense suffering takes hold, especially among the world’s most vulnerable countries and people.

Mr. Guterres appealed to the parties: Open the Strait. Let all ships pass. Let the global economy breathe again.

He said that the Secretary-General of the International Maritime Organization, Arsenio Dominguez, is, as you know, developing a framework to securely evacuate ships and seafarers from the conflict zone, obviously, if it is safe to do so.

Meanwhile, Jorge Moreira da Silva, the head of the UN Office of Project Services (UNOPS), who is leading the Task Force for the Strait of Hormuz for the UN, will be heading to the region to continue his active consultations for a possible humanitarian corridor to be ready if the worst-case scenario materializes.

Full Highlights: https://www.un.org/sg/en/content/noon-briefing-highlight?date=2026-04-30

Two nurses. Four generations. One belief — that every child deserves to grow up protected.

Thu, 30 Apr 2026 20:35:47 +0200

Author: United Nations - Bewertung: 4x - Views:8 This World Immunization Week, a family shares what they've seen, what they've carried, and why vaccines matter across every generation.

For every generation, vaccines work.
#WorldImmunizationWeek #VaccinesWork #WHО #PublicHealth #Nurses

Not My Words: The Actor Who Carries the Voice of Genocide | United Nations

Thu, 30 Apr 2026 20:45:02 +0200

Author: United Nations - Bewertung: 5x - Views:92 The 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi in Rwanda remains one of the darkest chapters in human history. In just one hundred days, more than one million women, men, and children were murdered—overwhelmingly Tutsi. Long before the killing began, a wave of propaganda flooded the airwaves, spreading fear, normalizing hate, and stripping people of their humanity. Words came first—and words helped make the violence possible.

Diogène Ntarindwa, known by his stage name Atome, is a Rwandan playwright and comedian whose life has been shaped by this history. Born in Burundi to Rwandan parents who fled earlier massacres of the Tutsi, he later joined the Rwandan Patriotic Front and entered Kigali in 1994 while the genocide was still underway. He describes himself not as a survivor, but as a witness.

In Hate Radio, directed by Milo Rau and presented in its U.S. premiere at St. Ann’s Warehouse in February 2026, Diogène performs the role of Kantano, a real-life broadcaster for Radio Télévision Libre des Mille Collines (RTLM). The play places audiences inside the RTLM studio—often called “Radio Machete”—where hate speech was delivered through jokes, music, and chilling everyday banter.

RTLM played a critical role in inciting violence; its co-founder was later convicted by the UN International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda. For Diogène, performing Hate Radio is an act of testimony. After more than 250 performances, carrying these words ensures their danger is never forgotten—and never repeated.

At UN Headquarters, Diogène sits with the Special Advisor on the Prevention of Genocide to discuss how language escalates from insult to incitement — and visits the "Kwibuka Flame of Hope," a permanent memorial installed at UN Headquarters in New York in 2024 as a gift from Rwanda. It stands as a tribute to the victims and survivors of the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi and as a reminder of our shared responsibility to confront hate before it takes root.

In recognition of 7 April 1994, the start of the genocide, this date is observed each year as the International Day of Reflection on the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi in Rwanda.

In 2004, the United Nations established the Office of the Special Adviser on the Prevention of Genocide, on the basis of the lessons learned from the failures of prevention in Rwanda in 1994 and Srebrenica in 1995, to provide early warning, analysis, and advice to the Secretary‑General on prevention of genocide and other atrocity crimes.

LEARN MORE:
🔗 Outreach Programme on the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi in Rwanda: https://www.un.org/en/preventgenocide...
🔗 Office of the Special Adviser on the Prevention of Genocide: https://www.un.org/en/genocide-preven...
🔗 International Day of Reflection: https://www.un.org/en/preventgenocide...
🔗 Kwibuka Flame of Hope: https://www.un.org/en/preventgenocide...
🔗 United Nations Audiovisual Library: https://media.un.org/avlibrary/en

0:00 — The Radio Broadcasts That Incited Genocide in Rwanda
0:29 — The 1994 Genocide Against the Tutsi: What Happened
0:56 — St Ann’s Warehouse: The Post-It That Waited 10 Years
1:35 — Diogène Ntarindwa: The Actor Who Was a Witness
2:25 — How Repetition and Propaganda Normalize Hate Speech
3:47 — From Incitement to Prevention: A Conversation at the United Nations
5:01 — The Kwibuka Flame: Rwanda's Memorial at the United Nations

Gaza farmers struggle

Thu, 30 Apr 2026 17:39:40 +0200

Author: United Nations - Bewertung: 0x - Views:12 Gaza’s farmers struggle amid price hikes and devastated lands.
Across damaged agricultural lands in Gaza, farmers attempt to resume work while income sources shrink and production costs rise to unprecedented levels.

Strait of Hormuz: Concerned about the curtailment of navigational rights - UN Chief | United Nations

Thu, 30 Apr 2026 17:45:14 +0200

Author: United Nations - Bewertung: 4x - Views:37 “I am deeply concerned about the curtailment of navigational rights and freedoms in the area of the Strait of Hormuz,” United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres said.
Briefing reporters in New York City, United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres said, “The longer this vital artery is choked, the harder it will be to reverse the damage. And the higher the cost to humanity. Developing countries will be hit the hardest, as crushing debt impedes their ability to cope. With lost jobs, deeper poverty, and more hunger.”

He added, “The crisis has already locked in losses for months to come. Every day that ships cannot move escalates these costs and amplifies their reverberations across the global economy.”

The Secretary-General outlined three possible scenarios. In the best case, even if restrictions are lifted immediately, recovery would be slow, with weaker growth, higher inflation and lingering trade disruptions. A prolonged mid-range disruption would significantly slow global growth, push tens of millions into poverty and deepen hunger due to fertilizer shortages. In the worst-case scenario, disruptions lasting through the end of the year could trigger a global recession, soaring inflation and widespread humanitarian suffering, particularly in developing countries.

Turning to the path forward, Guterres sent a message to all parties involved: “Navigational rights and freedoms must be restored immediately, as affirmed by the Security Council in Resolution 2817. Open the Strait. Let all ships pass. Let the global economy breathe again. That requires more than physical reopening. It requires shipping to be safe, predictable and insurable.”

The Secretary-General also urged all parties “to refrain from actions that could undermine the ceasefire.”

He said, “I have remained in close contact with a number of parties, as has my Personal Envoy Jean Arnault. All our interlocutors – independent of their different perspectives – recognize the need to work towards a peaceful, comprehensive, and durable resolution to the conflict.”

On UN efforts to address the crisis, Guterres stated, “The Secretary-General of the International Maritime Organization, Arsenio Dominguez, is developing a framework to securely evacuate ships and seafarers from the conflict zone provided it is safe to do so. And the head of the UN Office of Project Services, Jorge Moreira da Silva, who is leading the UN Task Force for the Strait of Hormuz, will be heading to the region to continue his active consultations for a possible humanitarian corridor to be ready if the worst-case scenarios materialize.”

President Lagarde presents the latest monetary policy decisions – 30 April 2026

Thu, 30 Apr 2026 17:03:38 +0200

Author: European Central Bank - Bewertung: 5x - Views:45 Today our Governing Council decided on monetary policy.

Listen to President Christine Lagarde present today’s decisions. The statement also covers:
• how the economy is performing
• how we expect prices to develop
• the risks to the economic outlook
• the dynamics behind financial and monetary conditions

Published and recorded during our press conference on 30 April 2026.

Our monetary policy statement at a glance, 30 April 2026 https://www.ecb.europa.eu/press/press_conference/visual-mps/2026/html/mopo_statement_explained_april.en.html

Christine Lagarde, Luis de Guindos: Monetary policy statement, 30 April 2026 https://www.ecb.europa.eu/press/press_conference/monetary-policy-statement/2026/html/ecb.is260430~f99cb123a8.en.html

Monetary policy decisions, 30 April 2026 https://www.ecb.europa.eu/press/pr/date/2026/html/ecb.mp260430~81b7179e6f.en.html

Combined monetary policy decisions and statement, 30 April 2026 https://www.ecb.europa.eu/press/press_conference/monetary-policy-statement/shared/pdf/ecb.ds260430~1c397fa90c.en.pdf

European Central Bank
https://www.ecb.europa.eu/home/html/index.en.html

Why transition away from fossil fuels?

Thu, 30 Apr 2026 15:36:24 +0200

Author: United Nations - Bewertung: 1x - Views:34 As the situation in the Strait of Hormuz has shown, a global economy that is built on fossil fuels is inherently volatile and unstable. Assistant Secretary-General of the UN Climate Action Team, Selwin Hart, explains how the just transition away from fossil fuels is no longer just a climate imperative – it's an economic and development imperative.

ECB Governing Council Press Conference - 30 April 2026

Tue, 21 Apr 2026 09:12:02 +0200

Author: European Central Bank - Bewertung: 0x - Views:0 ECB President Christine Lagarde explains the Governing Council's monetary policy decisions and will answer questions from journalists at the Governing Council press conference to be held on Thursday, 30 April 2026 at 14:45 CEST in Frankfurt am Main.

The Uniting Force of #Jazz: The Village Vanguard | United Nations

Thu, 30 Apr 2026 05:30:03 +0200

Author: United Nations - Bewertung: 12x - Views:95 The Village Vanguard is the oldest jazz club in New York City, founded by Max Gordon in 1935. The club worked as a platform to present all kinds of cultural and political events and became primarily a jazz music venue in 1957. Since then, the club has hosted many renowned jazz musicians from around the world, including Sonny Rollins, John Coltrane, Bill Evans, and Thelonious Monk.

UN News and UN Video interviews the current owner of the club, Deborah Gordon and three-time Grammy Award-winning American jazz pianist Sullivan Joseph Fortner for the International Jazz Day on 30 April.
The Day was proclaimed by UNESCO in 2011 to celebrate the power of jazz as a force for peace, dialogue and mutual understanding.

2026 International Jazz Day All-Star Global Concert (Chicago, USA) | United Nations

Thu, 30 Apr 2026 04:44:27 +0200

Author: United Nations - Bewertung: 3x - Views:0 Renowned musicians from around the world will gather on 30 April in the US city of Chicago for an All-Star Global Concert to mark International Jazz Day. The concert, now in its 15th edition, brings together celebrated artists and audiences to reaffirm the power of jazz in fostering intercultural dialogue, unity and artistic exchange.

The event’s lineup, announced by UNESCO and the Herbie Hancock Institute of Jazz, includes musicians Gregory Porter (United States of America), James Morrison (Australia), Tiger Okoshi (Japan), Mandisi Dyantyis (South Africa), Antonio Sánchez (Mexico), Mino Cinélu (Martinique, France) and many more.

Established by the General Conference of UNESCO in 2011 and recognized by the United Nations General Assembly, International Jazz Day brings together countries and communities worldwide every 30 April. The annual International Jazz Day celebration highlights the power of jazz and its role in promoting peace, dialogue among cultures, diversity and respect for human dignity.

International Jazz Day has become a global movement reaching more than 2 billion people annually on all continents through education programmes, performances, community outreach, radio, television and streaming, along with electronic, print and social media.

More information: https://jazzday.com/

Nuclear expansion testing: “It may never be able to be stopped” - Press Conference | United Nations

Thu, 30 Apr 2026 03:30:28 +0200

Author: United Nations - Bewertung: 7x - Views:86 Press conference by Robert Floyd, Executive Secretary of the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty Organization (CTBTO), on the vital role of the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty (CTBT) in advancing the NPT's (Eleventh Review Conference of the Parties to the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons) non-proliferation and disarmament objectives.

Floyd addressed the press on the vital role of the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty (CTBT) in advancing the non-proliferation and disarmament objectives of the Eleventh Review Conference of the Parties to the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons (NPT).

He said, “The NPT Review Conference and Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty Review Conference here this week, but for the next four weeks, is an important review of the cornerstone of the nuclear nonproliferation and disarmament architecture.”

He said that CTBTO “is about implementing a treaty that sits within that architecture, and that is a treaty, the Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban Treaty, banning nuclear explosions of any size - from the tiniest to the largest. That is an essential part of being able to stop the spread of nuclear weapons around the world from state to state, and also to limit the further development of nuclear weapons.”

He continued, “The Treaty has not yet entered into force, and therefore is not legally binding, but our international monitoring system will detect a nuclear weapon explosion of 500 tons of TNT or above, anywhere across the face of the planet, or underwater, underground, it will be detected. And that is a powerful benefit to all humanity, because any state that thinks of developing a nuclear weapon would need to test one, and if they did, it will be known to all.”

He highlighted, “In the current situation, the CTBT and the ban on testing is a little bit more in front of mind than what it has been for a long time, particularly when states are threatening to return to testing and the likelihood that if one state tests, others would and even more would potentially then go into a spiral of expanded testing. That is a spiral that we do not want to see start, because it may never be able to be stopped.”

He reported, “We have 187 states have signed. 178 have ratified. But there are nine specific ones that still need to ratify so the treaty could become legally binding. That is an important issue.”

Answering a question, he said, “We need to see a way that the United States of America, the Russian Federation, the People's Republic of China, might be able to address the treaty and its ratification together. It is, I think, quite unlikely that any one of them would move on that without the others simultaneously moving together. And that certainly is something that I would encourage all of those states to consider, and that would certainly be a powerful step forward.”

Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons - Press Conference | United Nations

Thu, 30 Apr 2026 04:30:17 +0200

Author: United Nations - Bewertung: 10x - Views:80 Press conference by Rafael Mariano Grossi, Director General of the International Atomic Energy Agency, on the Eleventh Review Conference of the Parties to the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons (NPT).

International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) Chief Rafael Mariano Grossi said the Review Conference of the NPT taking place “almost immediately” after the start of a war “that has been predicated on the possibility of one country developing nuclear weapons,” constitutes a challenge because, “there are sides in a war, and people obviously do not see eye to eye.”

Taking questions from journalists in New York as the 11th Review Conference of the Parties to the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons (NPT) gets underway, Grossi said Iran had declared a new enrichment facility before the June 2025 United States and Israeli coordinated strikes on Iran’s nuclear sites.

He said, “we immediately requested access to it, which was granted, actually. And paradoxically, access was going to take place on June 13th, on the day the attacks commenced. So, we were not in a position to visit this place. So, we could not say at this point whether this place was simply an empty hall, or a place where already cascades and centrifuges were being placed for operation.”

Asked about the possibility of finding consensus on Iran, Grossi said, “in the past, we would have resolutions adopted without a vote at this United Nations Security Council on Iran. Many, several. And then, equally, when the JCPoA was adopted. That common denominator among the membership and in particular the five permanent members of the Security Council is no longer there. It doesn't mean, and we should strive for that maybe, it doesn't mean that we cannot reconstruct some degree of consensus around what is happening there. But at the moment, unlike in the past, we don't have it.”

Asked about the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant in Ukraine, he said, “the most important thing at the moment, is to ensure that there is no accident. It's not an easy task, I can assure you. We are at the moment negotiating the sixth ceasefire. We were able to achieve five already, and the sixth is necessary now to conduct some indispensable repairs on the external power lines that feeds the nuclear power plant there. So, this is our main objective at the moment.”

Asked about Iran’s highly enriched uranium and whether it is still at the Isfahan site, the IAEA Director-General said, “there is no peace. There is only a ceasefire. And there is probably this difficulty in accessing. Until my inspectors can go and verify that there is no access, we cannot confirm that this is the situation. We are being told that this is the case. So, there are lots of things we tried last year with the Cairo Agreement to pave the way for a return of the inspectors there, but of course, with the new war episode this is still delayed.”

Asked about the possibility reviving the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action” (JCPoA) as a starting point for new negotiations, he said, “Iran in the past few years has had an exponential progress in its program. It has last generation centrifuges, it has different compounds in Esfahan, and we were talking about just new facilities. So, it's a completely different ball game, as one would say here in America. So JCPoA could not constitute a basis We need to look into something different.”

The NPT Review Conference is being held from 27 April to 22 May 2026 at United Nations Headquarters in New York. The NPT, in force since 1970 and extended indefinitely in 1995, is considered the cornerstone of the global nuclear non-proliferation regime.

Two nurses. Four generations. One belief — that every child deserves to grow up protected.

Thu, 30 Apr 2026 00:18:53 +0200

Author: United Nations - Bewertung: 5x - Views:16 This World Immunization Week, a family shares what they've seen, what they've carried, and why vaccines matter across every generation.

For every generation, vaccines work.
#WorldImmunizationWeek #VaccinesWork #WHО #PublicHealth #Nurses

Lebanon, UNIFIL, West Bank & other topics - Daily Press Briefing (29 April 2026) | United Nations

Wed, 29 Apr 2026 20:31:00 +0200

Author: United Nations - Bewertung: 10x - Views:149 Noon briefing by Stéphane Dujarric, Spokesperson for the Secretary-General.

Highlights:
Deputy Secretary-General
Lebanon
UNIFIL
Occupied Palestinian Territory
West Bank
Iran
Yemen
Somalia
Sudan
South Sudan
Democratic Republic of the Congo/Peacekeeping
Democratic Republic of the Congo/Humanitarian
Information integrity
Victim's Rights Advocate Report
Climate/Europe
International Day

DEPUTY SECRETARY-GENERAL

The Deputy Secretary-General is back in New York City, following her recent visits to Australia and Singapore earlier this week, in which she engaged with government leaders, civil society, the private sector, media, youth on advancing gender equality, multilateral cooperation and responses to global challenges.

In Singapore yesterday, the Deputy Secretary-General paid a courtesy call on the country’s President, Tharman Shanmugaratnam, and exchanged views on key international developments, UN80 reforms and Singapore’s leading role on artificial intelligence and new technology. She thanked the President for Singapore’s strong support for the United Nations and multilateral cooperation.

Prior to that, during a visit to Melbourne, the Deputy Secretary-General delivered the keynote address at the Opening Plenary of the Women Deliver 2026 Conference, underscoring that women’s rights are human rights and warned of a global rollback on gender equality amid conflict, climate shocks, shrinking resources and growing pushback against women’s autonomy.

LEBANON

The Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs tells us that the situation in Lebanon continues to be fragile and volatile given the insecurity, especially in the southern part of Lebanon. Lebanese authorities reported that three civil defence rescue workers were killed in the southern part of the country when two strikes hit a building in Tyre District. That took place yesterday. Authorities said the emergency teams were responding to people wounded in an earlier strike at the same place.

The incident underscores the risks faced by civilians, including emergency and humanitarian workers. According to the World Health Organization, since the start of the conflict, the number of attacks on healthcare has climbed to 149, with 100 deaths and 233 injured. Attacks on civilians and civilian infrastructure, and health workers are not only unacceptable, they are against international humanitarian law, as we keep saying.

All parties in this conflict have to observe their obligations under these laws.

Today, Israeli authorities issued a new displacement order south of the Litani River, covering 16 areas and instructing residents to move to the nearby town of Saida.

Women and children remain disproportionately affected. There are reports they are facing increased psychological distress and are bearing the brunt of the impacts of displacement, family separation, and economic hardship. Risks of gender-based violence remain high, particularly in overcrowded shelters.

We and our partners are responding to the mounting needs where access allows.

Compounding the situation, today our colleagues at the Food and Agriculture Organization and the World Food Programme warned that the sharp escalation in violence has reversed recent food security gains and pushed the country back into crisis. This is what the latest Integrated Food Security Phase Classification (IPC) for Lebanon tells us.

The projected analysis reveals that 1.24 million people, that’s nearly one in four of the population that was looked at, are expected to face food insecurity levels classified as Crisis or IPC Phase 3 or worse, between April and August of this year. IPC 3 means that people start skipping meals or start selling some of their [possessions] in order to buy food.

But despite these growing needs, the humanitarian response remains significantly underfunded. The Lebanon Flash Appeal has received just over $117 million, which is only 38 per cent of the money that we need, which is $308 million.

Full Highlights: https://www.un.org/sg/en/content/noon-briefing-highlight?date=2026-04-29

Not My Words: The Actor Who Carries the Voice of Genocide | United Nations

Wed, 29 Apr 2026 20:00:30 +0200

Author: United Nations - Bewertung: 12x - Views:140 The 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi in Rwanda remains one of the darkest chapters in human history. In just one hundred days, more than one million women, men, and children were murdered—overwhelmingly Tutsi. Long before the killing began, a wave of propaganda flooded the airwaves, spreading fear, normalizing hate, and stripping people of their humanity. Words came first—and words helped make the violence possible.

Diogène Ntarindwa, known by his stage name Atome, is a Rwandan playwright and comedian whose life has been shaped by this history. Born in Burundi to Rwandan parents who fled earlier massacres of the Tutsi, he later joined the Rwandan Patriotic Front and entered Kigali in 1994 while the genocide was still underway. He describes himself not as a survivor, but as a witness.

In Hate Radio, directed by Milo Rau and presented in its U.S. premiere at St. Ann’s Warehouse in February 2026, Diogène performs the role of Kantano, a real-life broadcaster for Radio Télévision Libre des Mille Collines (RTLM). The play places audiences inside the RTLM studio—often called “Radio Machete”—where hate speech was delivered through jokes, music, and chilling everyday banter.

RTLM played a critical role in inciting violence; its co-founder was later convicted by the UN International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda. For Diogène, performing Hate Radio is an act of testimony. After more than 250 performances, carrying these words ensures their danger is never forgotten—and never repeated.

At UN Headquarters, Diogène sits with the Special Advisor on the Prevention of Genocide to discuss how language escalates from insult to incitement — and visits the "Kwibuka Flame of Hope," a permanent memorial installed at UN Headquarters in New York in 2024 as a gift from Rwanda. It stands as a tribute to the victims and survivors of the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi and as a reminder of our shared responsibility to confront hate before it takes root.

In recognition of 7 April 1994, the start of the genocide, this date is observed each year as the International Day of Reflection on the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi in Rwanda.

In 2004, the United Nations established the Office of the Special Adviser on the Prevention of Genocide, on the basis of the lessons learned from the failures of prevention in Rwanda in 1994 and Srebrenica in 1995, to provide early warning, analysis, and advice to the Secretary‑General on prevention of genocide and other atrocity crimes.

LEARN MORE:
🔗 Outreach Programme on the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi in Rwanda: https://www.un.org/en/preventgenocide...
🔗 Office of the Special Adviser on the Prevention of Genocide: https://www.un.org/en/genocide-preven...
🔗 International Day of Reflection: https://www.un.org/en/preventgenocide...
🔗 Kwibuka Flame of Hope: https://www.un.org/en/preventgenocide...
🔗 United Nations Audiovisual Library: https://media.un.org/avlibrary/en

0:00 — The Radio Broadcasts That Incited Genocide in Rwanda
0:29 — The 1994 Genocide Against the Tutsi: What Happened
0:56 — St Ann’s Warehouse: The Post-It That Waited 10 Years
1:35 — Diogène Ntarindwa: The Actor Who Was a Witness
2:25 — How Repetition and Propaganda Normalize Hate Speech
3:47 — From Incitement to Prevention: A Conversation at the United Nations 5:01 — The Kwibuka Flame: Rwanda's Memorial at the United Nations

South Sudan Integrated Food Security Phase Classification Report - Press Conference | United Nations

Wed, 29 Apr 2026 17:46:15 +0200

Author: United Nations - Bewertung: 4x - Views:16 Hunger intensifies in South Sudan as 7.8 million people face high acute food insecurity and 2.2 million children suffer acute malnutrition, UN Agencies warned.

The Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), the World Food Programme (WFP) and UNICEF today warned that a deepening hunger crisis in South Sudan is pushing 7.8 million people into high levels of acute food insecurity (IPC Phase 3 or above) between April and July 2026, according to the latest Integrated Food Security Phase Classification (IPC) analysis. This represents 56 percent of the population—one of the highest levels of acute food insecurity in the world today.

Among those projected to be acutely food insecure, 73,300 people are facing Catastrophe (IPC Phase 5), the most severe level of acute food insecurity. This represents a dramatic increase of 160 per cent from the last estimate. Meanwhile, 2.5 million people are in Emergency (IPC Phase 4) and 5.3 million in Crisis (IPC Phase 3).

The crisis is being driven by escalating conflict, mass displacement, economic decline, climate shocks, flooding, and below-capacity agricultural production, all of which are reducing food availability and limiting families’ access to enough food. In Jonglei alone, nearly 300,000 people have been displaced, leaving many communities cut off from humanitarian assistance, while rising food prices, disrupted markets, and weak household purchasing power are further deepening food insecurity.

At the same time, acute malnutrition is being exacerbated by lack of access to health and nutrition services where facilities have been damaged or closed due to conflict. In addition, the shortages of supplies and funding have reduced access to life-saving treatment. Disease outbreaks, including cholera, malaria, and measles, are compounding the crisis, particularly among vulnerable and already acutely malnourished children.

The agencies warn of a credible risk of famine in four counties across Upper Nile and Jonglei states. Conflict-affected communities have been cut off from food, markets, and essential services, under a worst-case scenario of escalating conflict, further displacement, and constrained humanitarian access. The IPC projects 11 counties across Upper Nile, Unity, and Jonglei states to face IPC Acute Malnutrition Phase 5 (Extremely Critical) outcomes. Humanitarian assistance is being scaled up in some areas, but coverage remains uneven, with some communities still inaccessible and receiving little or no support.

For children, the nutrition situation has continued to worsen. Currently, 2.2 million children aged 6 months to five years old are suffering from acute malnutrition, an increase of 100,000 cases when compared to six months ago. Through July this year, 700,000 children are projected to face severe acute malnutrition, the deadliest form. Similarly, 1.2 million pregnant and breastfeeding women are acutely malnourished, placing both mothers and infants at heightened risk.

At the same time, flooding and below-capacity agricultural production are further undermining food availability.

FAO, WFP and UNICEF - along with the Nutrition and WASH clusters - are calling on the international community and governments to act immediately. Sustained funding for food assistance, nutrition programmes, clean water and sanitation, and health services are critical to prevent further deterioration.

Parties to the conflict must ensure safe, rapid, and unfettered humanitarian access to all affected areas must be guaranteed without delay. Sustained funding for food assistance, nutrition programmes, clean water and sanitation, and health services is critical to prevent further deterioration. The agencies are also urging all parties to the conflict to protect civilians and enable the delivery of life-saving assistance. Without rapid, large-scale intervention, the people of South Sudan risk facing an irreversible humanitarian catastrophe.