Source: Republic of South Africa (video statements)
Deputy President Paul Mashatile delivers a keynote address at The NEPAD@25 Business Breakfast Century City, Cape Town.
ICC El Hishri case: Opening of confirmation of charges hearing – 2nd session ENGLISH
Source: International Criminal Court (video statements)
El Hishri case: Opening of confirmation of charges hearing – 2nd session
ICC El Hishri case: Day 2 of confirmation of charges hearing – 2nd session ENGLISH
Source: International Criminal Court (video statements)
El Hishri case: Day 2 of confirmation of charges hearing – 2nd session
ICC El Hishri case: Day 2 of Confirmation of Charges Hearing, 20 May 2026 – 2nd session
Source: International Criminal Court (video statements)
El Hishri case: Day 2 of Confirmation of Charges Hearing, 20 May 2026 – 2nd session
ICC El Hishri case: Day 3 of confirmation of charges hearing – 1st session ENGLISH
Source: International Criminal Court (video statements)
El Hishri case: Day 3 of confirmation of charges hearing – 1st session
UK Islamophobia | Lords Questions
Source: United Kingdom UK House of Lords (video statements)
Members questioned the government on hate speech and Islamophobia at the Unite the Kingdom march held in London on 16 May.
📺 Watch question in full https://orlo.uk/W99YW
#WFP #Haiti: Rising gang violence displaces thousands
Source: United Nations (video statements)
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.
Security Council: Civilians in conflict under spotlight amid rising global toll
Source: United Nations (video statements)
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.
Acting AG Blanche on the superseding indictment of Raul Castro and five Castro regime co-defendants
Source: United States Department of Justice (video statements)
Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche on the superseding indictment of Raul Castro and five Castro regime co-defendants: "For nearly 30 years the families of four murdered Americans have waited for justice…My message today is clear: The United States and President Trump does not and will not forget its citizens."
United States, Iran, UNIFIL & other topics – Daily Press Briefing (20 May 2026) | United Nations
Source: United Nations (video statements)
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