Source: United Nations (video statements)
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.
Source: United Nations (video statements)
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/
Source: United Nations (video statements)
Noon Briefing by Stéphane Dujarric, Spokesperson for the Secretary-General.
High lights:
– General Assembly
– Secretary-General / El Niño and La Niña Update
– Ukraine
– Lebanon
– Occupied Palestinian Territory
– Sudan / Consultations
– Sudan
– Democratic Republic of the Congo
– Haiti
– Bangladesh
– Global Dialogue on AI Governance
GENERAL ASSEMBLY
This morning, the Secretary-General spoke at the General Assembly meeting, in which Khalilur Rahman of Bangladesh was elected as the forthcoming President of 81st session of the General Assembly. The secretary-general said that the new President-Elect’s theme is an inspiring call to action for the multilateral system — “Restoring Trust, Managing Transformation: A United Nations that Delivers for All.”
The Secretary-General also paid tribute to Annalena Baerbock of Germany for her outstanding leadership during the 80th Session of the General Assembly. He noted how Ms. Baerbock, over her term, pushed Member States forward on the implementation of the Pact for the Future and had organized interactive dialogues with the candidates for the next Secretary-General.
He said that the Pact for the Future and the UN80 Initiative represent a blueprint for action, a blueprint for solutions and bold reforms to carry the United Nations into the future
The work of the General Assembly, he added, is critical to bringing these commitments to life and delivering real solutions and results that can renew the world’s faith in the work that the UN does.
And Morocco was selected to be the first seat for the next General Assembly session
SECRETARY-GENERAL/ EL NIÑO AND LA NIÑA UPDATE
In a video message released today on the World Meteorological Organization El Niño / La Niña Update, the Secretary-General noted that the science is clear: El Niño is arriving on our doorstep in the coming months with 90 per cent certainty. He stressed that the world must treat it as the urgent climate warning that it is.
The Secretary-General warned that El Niño conditions will pour fuel on the fire of a warming world. He emphasized that the only effective response is climate action equal to the crisis, ending out addiction to fossil fuels, accelerating the shift to renewables, protecting the most vulnerable, and delivering early warning systems for all.
UKRAINE
The Secretary-General strongly condemns the latest overnight large-scale missile and drone attacks by the armed forces of the Russian Federation on Ukrainian cities, including Kyiv, Dnipro and Kharkiv. These attacks reportedly killed at least 20 people, including two children, injured more than 100 others, and resulted in widespread destruction of residential and other civilian infrastructure.
Once again, we emphasize that attacks against civilians and civilian infrastructure are prohibited under international humanitarian law and must end immediately. We also reiterate the Secretary-General’s urgent appeal for immediate de-escalation leading to a full, immediate and unconditional ceasefire in this conflict.
The Humanitarian Coordinator in Ukraine, Matthias Schmale, also condemned the attacks. Our humanitarian colleagues noted that rescue operations were ongoing as of this morning.
Mr. Schmale pointed out that, instead of enjoying the start of the school summer break, children and their families spent the night in shelters, awakened by air raid sirens and explosions.
Humanitarian organizations, including our own UN agencies, are fully mobilized and providing first aid and psychological support, distributing emergency relief items, and registering affected people for humanitarian cash assistance.
And as you know, yesterday afternoon, the Security Council met to hold a briefing on Threats to International Peace and Security, following a request by Romania.
Full Highlights: https://www.un.org/sg/en/content/noon-briefing-highlight?date=2026-06-02
Source: International Monetary Fund – IMF (video statements)
As global powers face rising geopolitical tensions, sanctions, export controls, and tariffs are once again tools of leverage, marking the resurgence of geoeconomics, where economic policy and national security converge. This approach to business was largely abandoned by the West after the Cold War, though for most other countries, geopolitics and economics have always been closely linked. Josh Lipsky is the founding director of the GeoEconomics Center at the Atlantic Council, and Matteo Maggiori is a professor of finance at the Stanford Graduate School of Business. In this podcast, they discuss the new face of geoeconomics and its seemingly vengeful comeback.
Transcript:
https://traffic.libsyn.com/imfpodcast/Lipsky-Maggiori-VIDEO-transcript-IMF_Podcast.pdf
Read their articles in Finance & Development magazine.
https://www.imf.org/fandd
Source: International Monetary Fund – IMF (video statements)
How can countries balance national resilience with global cooperation in a Finance & Development Magazine
fragmented world? Read more in F&D’s June 2026 issue: https://www.imf.org/en/publications/fandd
Source: United Nations (video statements)
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
Source: United Kingdom UK House of Lords (video statements)
Members questioned the government on targeted prostate cancer screening following a question from Baroness Royall of Blaisdon on Tuesday 2 June.
➡️ Watch the full question https://orlo.uk/IO2Zs
Source: United Nations (video statements)
Khalilur Rahman of Bangladesh has been elected as President of the UN General Assembly at its 81st session.
Source: European Commission (video statements)
Europe is preparing for an intense wildfire season.
The EU is deploying nearly 800 firefighters, 22 aircraft and 5 helicopters across southern Europe as part of its biggest wildfire response ever.
From Greece to Portugal, European countries are joining forces to protect people, forests and homes during the 2026 summer fire season.
#EUCivilProtection #Wildfires #EU
Source: United Kingdom UK House of Lords (video statements)
The Civil Aviation (Consumer Protection and Regulatory Reform) Bill is focused on supporting the aviation industry and related consumer rights. Members debate the key themes of the bill at second reading.
Find out more https://www.parliament.uk/business/news/2026/may-2026/civil-aviation-bill/
Catch-up on House of Lords business:
Watch live events: https://parliamentlive.tv/Lords
Read the latest news: https://www.parliament.uk/lords/
Stay up to date with the House of Lords on social media:
• X: https://twitter.com/UKHouseofLords
• Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/houseoflords.parliament.uk
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/UKHouseofLords/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/UKHouseofLords
• Flickr: https://flickr.com/photos/ukhouseoflords/albums
• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-house-of-lords
• Threads: https://www.threads.net/@UKHouseOfLords
#HouseOfLords #UKParliament
