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
"The question is not whether young people should have access to social media, the question is whether social media should have access to young people."
On 12 May, 2026, Commission President von der Leyen gave th keynote speech at the European Summit on Artificial Intelligence and Children Copenhagen stating that Europe must reclaim childhood in the digital age by putting children’s safety above tech profits.
President von der Leyen called for stronger accountability for social media platforms, stricter protections against addictive and harmful online design, reliable age verification, and a possible minimum age for social media access.
The EU had already taken several key measures the EU has already taken — and plans to strengthen — to protect children online:
• Enforcing the Digital Services Act (DSA) against platforms with addictive or harmful designs.
• Using the Digital Markets Act (DMA) to prevent abuse of market power by major tech companies.
• Launching investigations into platforms such as TikTok, Meta, and X over child safety concerns.
• Creating a Special Panel of Experts on Child Safety Online to guide future action.
• Considering a legal proposal for a social media delay/minimum age requirement for children.
• Developing an EU age verification app with high privacy standards and open-source technology.
• Integrating age verification into European Digital Wallets.
• Advancing the principle of “safety by design” for online platforms and AI systems.
• Preparing a Digital Fairness Act targeting addictive design practices, attention-capture tactics, and subscription traps.
• Making children’s rights a priority in AI regulation and development.
• Promoting media literacy and digital education to help children think critically online.
Watch on the Audiovisual Portal of the European Commission:
https://audiovisual.ec.europa.eu/en/stories/M-009986
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Source: United States Department of Justice (video statements)
Here’s a reminder during #NationalPoliceWeek:
This Department of Justice is working tirelessly to restore law and order to our great nation. We will prosecute ANYONE who tries to touch an officer aggressively because we will ALWAYS BACK THE BLUE. 🇺🇸
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
The EU is strengthening efforts to better protect children online.
Speaking in Copenhagen, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen highlighted concerns around addictive platform design, cyberbullying, harmful content and AI-related risks affecting minors.
The European Commission is considering:
• Minimum age requirements for social media
• Stronger age verification tools
• New rules on addictive online features
How can we strengthen leadership pipelines? One overlooked answer: Invest in women’s sports. Data shows that investment in women’s sports creates a powerful yet under-appreciated talent pipeline, building future leaders, closing the gender gap and driving high-performing teams. Deloitte US Chair Lara Abrash shares insights from the firm’s research on women’s sports – both the billion-dollar economic opportunity it represents and the unsung way sports strengthens the leadership talent pipeline.
Abrash, active in a range of sports since her youth, will also break down the leadership skills, mindsets, and team dynamics sports uniquely cultivates. She’ll share the personal experiences that shaped how she leads and the way she approaches talent and capability. Her personal lessons learned can help anyone understand what’s needed to develop future leaders, improve team performance and build talent pipelines that last.
Key Insights:
Women’s sports is growing rapidly – but remains an untapped sector and opportunity for economies and communities.
Sports teaches girls how to team – but a range of factors make them more likely to drop out of sports than boys.
Great leaders are great coaches. Abrash reminds us that "Managers manage outcomes while leaders lead people."
Practice makes progress: Sports can build leaders who learn quickly from mistakes and adapt faster — skills key for a fast-paced AI era.
Sidestep the ‘superwoman’ myth: Sports shows we often accomplish more in groups. Women who admit they are less effective alone take the first step to building great teams and avoiding burnout.
About this episode:
Transcript – read here: https://www.weforum.org/podcasts/meet-the-leader/episodes/womens-sports-leadership-skills-gender-gap
Spotify – Listen here: https://tinyurl.com/yc4w9ytr
Related report:
Deloitte Research – Game-Changers: Unlocking the Potential of Women’s Sports: https://www.deloitte.com/global/en/Industries/tmt/perspectives/game-changers-unlocking-potential-women-sports.html
World Economic Forum – Sports for People and Planet: https://www.weforum.org/publications/sports-for-people-and-planet/
Related episodes:
What Astronauts Know About High-Performing Teams (That Many Don’t Understand)
Read here: https://tinyurl.com/3h2xkyv9
Listen here: https://tinyurl.com/mrmtwnb4
Watch here: https://youtu.be/AI_7QcZy5A8
Why Smart Ideas Don’t Always Land — and How to Build Creative, Curious Teams
Read here – Transcript: https://tinyurl.com/33b99j2u
Listen here – Spotify: https://tinyurl.com/5n8427nw
How to close gender gaps in tech – and the one skill AI can’t learn
Read here – Transcript: https://tinyurl.com/s2ppr7s2
Listen here – Spotify: https://tinyurl.com/5xkkhd5w
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Source: United Kingdom UK Parliament (video statements)
MPs on the Education Committee explore the role of parents, schools, and early years settings in fostering a love of reading in children.
The Committee is exploring the rapid decline in the number of children reading for pleasure and what action the government can take to improve the situation.
In the first panel, MPs will hear evidence on the role of parents and early years settings in developing a love of reading among young children. They will ask witnesses what obstacles prevent parents reading to their children, as well as whether early years settings prioritise preparing children for school above developing a love of reading.
In the second panel, MPs will explore how teachers and school library staff can encourage children to read for pleasure, how government support could help them, and what role the curriculum plays in developing children’s love of reading.
Witnesses:
Frank Young – Chief Executive at Parentkind
Professor Christine O’Farrelly – Research Professor and UKRI Future Leaders Fellow, PEDAL Centre for Research in Play, Education, Development and Learning at University of Cambridge
Julie Cigman – Early Education Associate, consultant and author at Early Education
Mrs Victoria Dilly – Chief Executive at School Library Association
Professor Robert Eaglestone – Professor of Contemporary Literature and Thought, Royal Holloway, University of London and Policy Lead at English Association
Dr Roger McDonald – Associate Professor of Primary Education (Literacy), Faculty of Education and Health at The University of Greenwich
"Every child held captive is one too many," asserted Commission President von der Leyen via video message on 11th May 2026. On that day, representatives of the European Union, Ukraine, Canada and international partners met in Brussels for the high-level meeting of the International Coalition for the Return of Ukrainian Children.
In her video message, President Ursula von der Leyen advocates for the return of deported children from Russia. Until today, about 20,000 abducted Ukrainian children remain in Russian institutions.
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Source: Republic of South Africa (video statements)
DEPUTY PRESIDENT MASHATILE DELIVERS A KEYNOTE ADDRESS AT THE 191ST ANNIVERSARY COMMEMORATION OF KUMKANI HINTSA KAKHAWUTA IN THE EASTERN CAPE
At the invitation of His Majesty King Ahlangene Sigcawu of the Xhosa Kingdom, Aah Vulikhaya!, the Deputy President of the Republic of South Africa, His Excellency Mr Shipokosa Paulus Mashatile, will on Tuesday, 12 May 2026, attend and deliver a keynote address at the Inaugural King Hintsa Annual Salutation and 191st Anniversary Commemoration of Kumkani Hintsa kaKhawuta at Gcuwa, in the Mnquma Local Municipality, Amathole District, Eastern Cape Province.
The memory of His Majesty King Hintsa, Aah Zanzolo!, will now be commemorated on an annual basis, in a comprehensive programne of memorialisation, bringing together an estimated 5 000 invited guests including Eastern Cape Premier Oscar Mabuyane, COGTA Minister Velenkosini Hlabisa, other Ministers, Deputy Ministers, Traditional and Khoi-San Leaders, Inter-Faith Leadership, Leaders of Political Parties, members of academia, business and community as well as media.
Media wishing to cover the event must please RSVP with their names, media houses and contact details to Ms Thabisa Molose (Office of the Premier) on 082 798 8220 or thabisa.molose@ecotp.gov.za
Media enquiries: Mr Keith Khoza, Acting Spokesperson to the Deputy President on 066 195 8840.
ISSUED JOINTLY BY THE PRESIDENCY AND EASTERN CAPE PROVINCIAL GOVERNMENT
