Myanmar, Lebanon & other topics – Daily Press Briefing (03 Aug 2026) | United Nations

Source: United Nations (video statements)

Noon briefing by Farhan Haq, Deputy Spokesperson for the Secretary-General.

Highlights:

– Myanmar
– Lebanon
– Occupied Palestinian Territory
– Ukraine
– Sudan/Office of the Personal Envoy
– Sudan
– Democratic Republic of the Congo
– Rwanda
– World Health Organization/Competition
– World Breastfeeding Week
– Financial Contribution
– Briefings

MYANMAR

Today, the UN took note of the announcement by the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) that a delegate has visited State Counsellor Aung San Suu Kyi in detention today, in accordance with the ICRC’s standards and procedures for visiting people deprived of liberty.

Previously, the Special Envoy of the Secretary-General on Myanmar, Julie Bishop has called for independent verifiable reports on State Counsellor Aung San Suu Kyi’s circumstances, including during her May visit to Myanmar.

The UN welcomes this development and reiterate its call for the swift and unconditional release of all those arbitrarily detained as a fundamental step towards conditions conducive to a credible and transparent political process.

The UN has consistently stressed that a viable political solution must be founded on an immediate cessation of violence and a genuine commitment to inclusive dialogue.

The Secretary-General has stressed 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.

LEBANON

The UN Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) continues to observe daily Israeli violations of Lebanese airspace. Between Thursday and Sunday, peacekeepers recorded 125 air violations, with the combined total overflight time exceeding 418 hours. Surveillance and armed drones were observed near or above UNIFIL positions in both sectors.

Peacekeepers also report extensive military activity on the ground in south Lebanon, including significant engineering works and active troop movements. Over the weekend, peacekeepers reported multiple Israel Defence Force artillery firing events across both sectors, as well as in areas north of the Litani River.

Separately, peacekeepers observed IDF activities in Lebanese territorial waters on both Saturday and Sunday.

Peacekeepers continue to face obstructions to their freedom of movement in south Lebanon. On Friday, UNIFIL patrols encountered temporary IDF roadblocks in both sectors, restricting movement in Sector East and along the coastal road in Naqoura in Sector West before access was restored. Separately, in Sector West, peacekeeping patrols were subjected to stone-throwing incidents over the weekend.

Yesterday, peacekeepers discovered unexploded ordnance and improvised explosive devices in Sector East. The items were safely destroyed on-site.

At the request of the Lebanese Army and following deconfliction with the IDF, a UNIFIL helicopter and personnel participated in efforts to extinguish a bushfire in the general areas of Shwayya and Ain Jerfa, outside the mission’s area of operations, yesterday afternoon.

On the humanitarian front, UNIFIL facilitated, in coordination with OCHA, seven humanitarian missions in both sectors on Thursday and Friday.

Full Highlights: https://www.un.org/sg/en/content/noon-briefing-highlight?date=2026-08-03

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

Inside the FBI Podcast: Agent-Impersonation Scams

Source: Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) (video statements)

On this episode of the Inside the FBI Podcast, we’ll discuss a new breed of government-impersonation scam in which bad actors role-play as special agents or their associates to scam people out of their money and personally identifiable information. We’ll explain how the scheme works, identify red flags you can watch out for, and explain how you can report special agent impersonators to the Bureau if they attempt to target you or a loved one. For a full transcript and additional resources, visit https://www.fbi.gov/podcasts.

If you or a loved one believe you may have been victimized by this scam—or if you suspect that you’ve already been in talks with one of the fraudsters behind it—you should contact the FBI immediately by phone at 1-800-CALL-FBI (1-800-225-5324) or online at https://tips.fbi.gov.

You can also visit https://www.fbi.gov/scams to learn more about common frauds and scams, including the hallmarks of these schemes and how to report them to the proper authorities, including—but not limited to—the FBI.
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https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JvgSP7MmRcY

Remarks by FBI Salt Lake City Special Agent in Charge Robert Bohls on the Twin Falls Shooting

Source: Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) (video statements)

Remarks by FBI Salt Lake City Special Agent in Charge Robert Bohls on the August 2, 2026, Twin Falls shooting.
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https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NRTD_hdgw1g

Critical Minerals: DRC’s vision for peace

Source: United Nations (video statements)

Critical minerals are the backbone of 21st-century security and technology. In this interview, Professor Jean-Marie Kanda, Senior Advisor to the President of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) for Mining, Energy, and Hydrocarbons, explains why critical minerals have become a global strategic issue and outlines the country’s vision for a more transparent, traceable, and responsibly governed mining sector. The discussion explores how stronger international cooperation, improved governance, and effective traceability mechanisms could help ensure that critical minerals become a force for sustainable development and peace, rather than conflict.

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

Why AI Needs Regulation & How Fire Clouds Worsen European Fires | WEF | Stories of the Week

Source: World Economic Forum (video statements)

This week’s top stories of the week include:

00:12 – A philosopher on why AI needs regulation:
Atoosa Kasirzadeh, philosopher and Assistant Professor at Carnegie Mellon University, explains why she believes an ethical framework must go hand in hand with the development of artificial intelligence.

02:06 – How fire clouds worsen European fires:
As France and Spain battle terrifying wildfires, experts believe they’ve spotted a phenomenon new to the region: fire clouds. These occur when a wildfire is so large and severe it generates its own weather system, including thunderstorms, which can spread the fire with gusts of wind and even ignite new areas with lightning strikes.

03:27 – Why are companies interested in Moon dust?:
Helium-3 is an incredibly precious resource, used to cool quantum computers, supercharge medical imaging – and could even one day enable nuclear fusion. But just a few kilograms are produced on Earth each year, and each kilo is valued at $20 million. There is one place where helium-3 is abundant, though: the Moon. Now start-ups like Interlune are looking to mine this rare resource using autonomous solar-powered robots.

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The World Economic Forum is the International Organization for Public-Private Cooperation. It provides a global, impartial and not-for-profit platform for meaningful connection between stakeholders to establish trust, and build initiatives for cooperation and progress.

Find out more below:
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https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Na6lX9ne8fk

Did you guess correctly?

Source: European Central Bank (video statements)

Did you guess correctly?

1️⃣ The digital euro is designed for everyone, regardless of your digital skills. Inclusion is key.

2️⃣ Your personal data will remain private. The ECB won’t be able to identify you during payments.

3️⃣ You can use the digital euro offline by adding funds to your account. Convenient, right?

https://www.youtube.com/shorts/AioZV3glBa4

FBI Director: ‘We’re Attacking Criminals Everywhere’

Source: Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) (video statements)

In a July 30, 2026 media interview, FBI Director Kash Patel said, "When you have 1.1 million fewer violent incidences in one year, that’s because this FBI has arrested twice as many violent offenders around the world in that same time period. It’s not an accident."
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https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Cej1rzk3JEo