Source: United States Department of Justice (video statements)
2LT Rao Harish– Religious Liberty in the Military – December 10, 2025
Rao joined the U.S. Army in 2015. During his basic training, through the advocacy of a chaplain, Rao received religious accommodations allowing him to both serve and practice his Hindu faith. Rao is now an Army officer and pursuing studies to enter the Chaplain Corps to provide spiritual support to Hindu and other servicemembers of faith.
Learn more about the Religious Liberty Commission: https://www.justice.gov/religious-liberty-commission
Noon briefing by Stéphane Dujarric, Spokesperson for the Secretary-General.
Highlights:
– UN80
– New York City Mayor
– Middle East
– UNDP
– Lebanon/Israel
– UNRWA
– Occupied Palestinian Territory
– Yemen
– Syria
– Sudan
– Venezuela
– Financial Contribution
UN80
This afternoon, the General Assembly will meet to consider a resolution that will move the UN80 initiative forward. The resolution focuses on Workstream II – the mandate lifecycle – and it’s important to note that this process has been led by Member States – through a working group co-chaired by New Zealand and Jamaica.
In his remarks this afternoon, the Secretary-General is expected to express his gratitude to the working group, and will remind us that the UN80 initiative included a recognition of the central role of the work of Member States in examining how mandates are created, implemented, and reviewed.
This was essential, he will add, not only to ease the burden on Member States who face an overwhelming volume of reports and meetings.
But also to help the Secretariat avoid duplication, fragmentation and inefficiency.
In that spirit, the resolution presented today reflects a shared understanding of the full mandate lifecycle – and a shared commitment to strengthen each step of it.
NEW YORK CITY MAYOR
The Secretary-General welcomed New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani this morning at UN Headquarters.
The Secretary-General thanked the Mayor for the outstanding relationship and support received from the host city.
Noting the critical role that cities play in today’s world, the Secretary-General discussed with the Mayor how to deepen the cooperation with the City of New York.
The Secretary-General looks forward to continuing the dialogue between the United Nations and New York City.
MIDDLE EAST
The Secretary-General’s Personal Representative on the Middle East conflict and its consequences, Jean Arnault, is in New York, where he has been holding extensive briefings and consultations internally and with Member States on ways the United Nations can be helpful in de-escalating the conflict and paving the way for a peaceful way forward through dialogue and negotiations.
Full Highlights: https://www.un.org/sg/en/content/noon-briefing-highlight?date=2026-03-31
Source: International Monetary Fund – IMF (video statements)
The global economy is being tested again. Profound and disruptive shifts in geopolitics, trade, and technology are reshaping the global economy. Now, the war in the Middle East poses a new challenge. At the 2026 IMF-World Bank Group Spring Meetings, global policymakers will gather to discuss how to manage these shocks and transformations while building resilience and unlocking new sources of growth. Join the conversation from April 13-18.
The Secretary-General welcomed New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani this morning at UN Headquarters. The Secretary-General thanked the Mayor for the outstanding relationship and support received from the host city.
Noting the critical role that cities play in today’s world, the Secretary-General discussed with the Mayor how to deepen the cooperation with the City of New York.
Source: Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) (video statements)
The small island nation of Cuba, just 90 miles from the U.S., utilizes an effective counterintelligence strategy to thwart American assets. In this roundtable discussion, FBI officials from the Counterintelligence Division discuss the history – and current events – of dealing with Cuban spies
For a full transcript and download, visit: http://fbi.gov/video-repository/ced-podcast-cuba-031726.mp4
Source: United Kingdom UK House of Lords (video statements)
A new House of Lords committee has been set up to look into the impact and effectiveness of the Domestic Abuse Act 2021.
Whether you’re someone with lived experience of domestic abuse, a frontline professional, an academic, a public body, a specialist domestic abuse organisation, a lawyer, or just interested in the Act, the committee wants to hear from you.
➡️ Hear more from committee chair, Baroness Kennedy of The Shaws and share your views by 20 April https://orlo.uk/qf2Z2
Source: United Kingdom UK Parliament (video statements)
If you look closely when you visit the Palace of Westminster, you can still see traces of suffragette protests.
In 1909, Marjorie Hume and three other suffragettes locked themselves to the statues in St Stephen’s Hall in protest. In the process of removing them, the authorities damaged the spur on Viscount Falkland’s boot.
📸 Viscount Falkland 1610-43, Sculpture by John Bell. UK Parliament, WOA S35.
