Category: MIL-OSI

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China, Pakistan, Middle East & other topics – Daily Press Briefing (17 July 2026) | United Nations

Source: United Nations (video statements)

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

Highlights:

• Secretary-General/China
• Deputy Secretary-General
• Pakistan
• Middle East
• Lebanon
• Occupied Palestinian Territory
• Democratic Republic Of The Congo
• Venezuela
• Nelson Mandela International Day

SECRETARY-GENERAL/CHINA

This morning, in Shanghai, the Secretary-General addressed the opening ceremony of the World Artificial Intelligence Conference. He said that Artificial Intelligence can be humanity’s greatest opportunity in the 21st century, and it could also become one of its greatest risks.

The Secretary-General underscored that the technology that will shape the future of humanity must be shaped by all humanity, and it cannot be governed by a handful of countries or a handful of companies. He pointed out that few areas hold greater promise for our common future than the application of AI to sustainable development, but it won’t happen if the historical injustices of the past are repeated in the technologies of the future.

Also in the morning, the Secretary-General toured an exhibition of China’s MAZU meteorological AI early-warning system. In the afternoon, he attended the World Artificial Intelligence Conference Meteorological Forum. In his remarks, he noted that the Forum shows one of the clearest ways AI can serve humanity: by helping save lives.

The Secretary-General said that early-warning systems are the most cost-effective protection against climate disaster. He noted that 128 countries now have multi-hazard early-warning systems, more than double since 2015, but one-third remain unprotected.

The Secretary-General stressed that we urgently need to accelerate, and artificial intelligence can help.

Also today, the Secretary-General met with Chinese President Xi Jinping. The Secretary-General thanked President Xi for China’s consistent support for multilateralism and the United Nations and its activities, including peacekeeping.

The Secretary-General reaffirmed his strong commitment to UN reform, fully in line with the UN Charter and International Law, and full respect for the equilibrium among the three pillars of the United Nations activities: peace and security, sustainable development and human rights, and to enhance the cooperation with China in all of them.

The Secretary-General also held a bilateral meeting with Foreign Minister Wang Yi.

DEPUTY SECRETARY-GENERAL

The Deputy Secretary-General, Amina Mohammed, will be arriving shortly in Sierra Leone, at the invitation of the Government, to participate in the 69th Ordinary Session of the Authority of Heads of State and Government of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) and the Summit on the Future of Regional Integration.

The Deputy Secretary-General will address the Summit and participate in discussions on the economic, development and security priorities of the region. She will reaffirm the United Nations’ strong partnership with ECOWAS and its support for regional efforts to strengthen peace and security, economic cooperation and regional integration, while accelerating progress towards the Sustainable Development Goals.

While in Sierra Leone, the Deputy Secretary-General will hold bilateral meetings with leaders attending the Summit and other senior officials.  

She will return to New York on Monday.

PAKISTAN

The Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs, Tom Fletcher, is wrapping-up a visit to Pakistan today, which was focused on climate risk, disaster preparedness and resilience.

Today, he visited Hassanabad Nala, a flood-affected village near the Shisper Glacier in Gilgit-Baltistan, where he met residents and saw projects helping communities prepare for recurring climate-related hazards. He also visited the Hunza Solar Project, highlighting the opportunities to build resilience through clean energy.

Throughout his visit, Mr. Fletcher stressed that Pakistan is on the front line of the climate crisis, while also demonstrating practical approaches from which other climate-vulnerable countries can learn.

He called for stronger international support to help countries prepare for, and respond to, disasters.

Full Highlights: https://www.un.org/sg/en/content/noon-briefing-highlight?date=2026-07-17

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-bvU6JeGUGg

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Are you brave enough to be an FBI bomb tech? Hear what it takes.

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

Dismantling dangerous devices takes a lot of guts. For bomb technicians at the FBI, it’s what they’ve trained their entire lives to do. Hear the role they play in protecting some of the nation’s largest special events, and the advanced training they receive to become professional problem solvers.

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Follow us on social media:
X: https://twitter.com/fbi
Facebook: https://facebook.com/FBI
Instagram: https://instagram.com/fbi
YouTube: youtube.com/user/fbi

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MLE6gWIcgE8

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The Beautiful Chaos of 24 EU Languages

Source: Council of the European Union (video statements)

A few fun facts about the EU’s 24 official languages, because more languages means more stories worth celebrating.

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This is the official YouTube channel of the European Council and the Council of the European Union. The European Council is the highest political body of the European Union. It brings together the heads of state or government of all member states, as well as its President and the President of the European Commission. It shapes the EU’s political agenda, addresses major challenges and sets strategic priorities, such as those outlined in the Strategic Agenda 2024–2029. This seeks to build a Europe that is free and democratic, strong and secure, prosperous and competitive.

The European Council also plays a key role in crisis management, from responding to Russia’s war in Ukraine to tackling the COVID-19 pandemic. Decisions are typically made by consensus. Its meetings, often called ‘European summits’, take place at least four times a year in Brussels. The Council of the European Union (often referred to as the ‘Council’) is where the EU’s day-to-day legislative and policy work takes place. Bringing together ministers from each EU member state, it negotiates and adopts laws, usually in partnership with the European Parliament, across 10 policy areas, from foreign affairs to energy. Unlike the European Council, the Council of the European Union operates under a rotating six-month presidency. Each member state holds the presidency in turn. Meetings are held regularly in Brussels and Luxembourg, ensuring that every EU country, regardless of size, has an equal voice in shaping European policies.

https://www.youtube.com/shorts/3vfmRKoarJo

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UN chief António Guterres calls on AI progress to help prevent climate disasters

Source: United Nations (video statements)

Secretary-General António Guterres addressed the ‘Dialogue on Early Warnings for All in Response to Climate Change’ at the World Artificial Intelligence Conference Meteorological Forum in Shanghai, China.
He called for accelerated progress on AI-powered early warning systems to prevent climate disasters.

https://www.youtube.com/shorts/k5z6IzTJPmU

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UK What is the UK’s role in the new Syria? | Foreign Affairs Committee

Source: United Kingdom UK Parliament (video statements)

Nearly two years since the fall of the Assad regime in Syria, the country is still feeling the effects of a devastating civil war.

The UK Government has announced £349m in aid to Syria over the past year, but its diplomatic, security, humanitarian, and accountability strategies remain unclear.

The Foreign Affairs Committee is launching a new inquiry looking into this.

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

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Venezuela: “Thousands of families displaced & infrastructure destroyed – Presser | United Nations

Source: United Nations (video statements)

“Thousands of families have been displaced, while homes, health facilities, water systems and other critical infrastructure have been damaged or destroyed,” said Lia Poggio, Chief of Mission in Venezuela for the International Organization for Migration (IOM).

Briefing reporters in New York today (16 Jul) while speaking virtually from Caracas on the aftermath of the 24 June earthquake and subsequent aftershocks, which struck seven states, Lia Poggio said La Guaira was hit the hardest among them.

IOM has launched a 12-month appeal to fund lifesaving assistance, shelter support and early recovery efforts, Poggio said.

For three weeks, she continued, IOM has worked with Venezuelan authorities, UN partners and humanitarian organizations through a coordination mechanism set up with the host government.

To date, the agency has assisted almost 7,000 people in displacement sites, Poggio noted, delivering over 10,000 services including temporary shelter, health care and psychosocial support.

“While humanitarian assistance remains essential, the response is increasingly shifting towards early recovery,” she said, citing housing, infrastructure and livelihoods as priorities “to helping families and communities move forward with dignity and hope.”

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cZvPR0lqPos